Sophia was first down the stairs as she gently sprinkled the wildflowers and the daisies onto the stairs then on the floor and she headed for Daryl and Glenn. Daryl noticed how Carl was looking at her and Daryl frowned. He wasn't sure why, but he suddenly felt very protective and angry.

'What's wrong?" Glenn whispered.

"Carl's lookin' at Sophia," Daryl whispered.

"So?"

"He shouldn't be lookin' at her like that."

"Shit. You're not even married yet and you're turning into an overprotective dad."

Daryl blinked his eyes a few times.

"I am?" Daryl asked.

"Yeah," Glenn whispered.

Daryl looked at the stairs while Carol and Rick walked downstairs and Daryl felt his heart slamming in his chest.

He wasn't sure, but Carol looked like she was shimmering in a white light while she walked toward him then she noticed he wasn't wearing anything on his feet.

"Where are your shoes?" she whispered after Rick walked away and Daryl looked down at his feet.

"Took 'em off," Daryl whispered. Softly laughing, Carol turned as they watched Maggie and Hershel walk down the stairs and Andrea followed them, holding up the train of Maggie's wedding gown. Carol saw the stunned look on Glenn's face as Maggie walked to him and Carol slid her left hand into Daryl's right hand.

"Whoa," Glenn whispered.

Hershel picked up the Bible when he started the ceremony and Daryl wrapped his fingers around Carol's fingers. Daryl paid attention to what Hershel was saying while glancing at Carol from time-to-time and he rubbed her left index finger with his thumb.

When Hershel asked if there was someone who had any doubts about Glenn, Maggie, Carol and Daryl being wed, Rick and Lori looked over at Shane and Shane got up, walking to the screen door, opened the door and he left. The screen door slammed shut as Andrea got up and she went to follow him.

"Shane, wait!" she called out and he stopped, turned and he glared at her.

"Go back inside," Shane said.

"Not until you tell me where you're going."

"None of your damn business."

"Look, I know you're not happy…."

"Damn right, I'm not happy! This whole wedding thing?! It is a joke!"

"But Glenn and Maggie…"

"I'm not talking about Glenn and Maggie!"

Andrea watched Shane storm off as she sighed, looked at the house then she went to catch up with Shane.

Back in the house, Glenn and Maggie pledged their love for each other when Hershel looked at Daryl and Carol.

"Daryl, do you have anything you want to say to Carol?" Hershel asked.

"Uh….," Daryl said, looking back at the others before he looked at Carol. Something moved through him when he sighed and he took hold of her right hand. "Carol, growin' up the way I did, I always felt like I was nothin'. Nobody. That I could never do anythin' right. I drifted through life, not knowin' where the… Where I was goin'. Or if I had a place to sleep at night. I did whatever Merle said 'cause I was afraid I'd lose him. When the world went… When all this happened, I was sure I wasn't gonna live long. The sad thing is… I didn't care. Then Merle an' I arrived at the quarry. Merle said I had to act tough around everyone or they'd eat me alive. So, I did. What I didn't know was how meetin' you an' Sophia would change me. I started feelin' things I never felt before. Whenever Ed yelled at you or Sophia, I wanted to kill him. Make him pay fer treatin' you two like that. I began doin' things fer you because I wanted you to know there was someone who did care about you. Both of you. I want to protect you from this world. I know that ain't a sure thing, but, as long as I'm alive, I can try. I love you. Both of you. I also hope both of you can accept me fer all my good points an' the bad ones. I ain't perfect. Never was. I'm just…me."

Carol felt the tears rolling down her cheeks while the others looked at Daryl and they were stunned.

"I never heard him talk like that before," Dale whispered and T-Dog nodded.

"Daryl…," Carol said then she paused. "Like you, I felt like I was nothing. I did have loving parents and a grandmother who loved me, but it didn't change how I felt. When it came to love, I was really bad at it. Always picking the wrong guy. Having to deal with betrayal or abuse and feeling like it was my fault. Then there was Ed. Marrying him was the biggest mistake of my life. The only good which came from our relationship was my daughter."

She smiled at Sophia and Sophia blinked the tears from her eyes.

"I was a weak and, yes, pathetic woman. I had no will of my own. Ed made sure of that. He did whatever he wanted when it came to me and my daughter. He was a sick, deprived monster. Many of my friends asked why I didn't leave him and the answer was always the same. Fear. I was afraid of what he'd do to me or Sophia if we did leave. When the world fell apart, I found myself with some sense of freedom, but had no way to embrace it. Then you came along. I knew from the start you were someone special. You saved my life and Sophia's life. You gave me some of your courage and I became the woman I am today. If I ever lost you, I would lose a large part of me. I hope I never have to suffer that much pain. But, like you said, it's not a sure thing. There are many things which could take you from me or us from you. Also, I am not perfect either. So, yes, I accept you for who and what you are and I hope you accept me for who and what I am."

"Already do," he whispered, lightly squeezing her fingers.

Hershel continued the ceremony when he asked for the rings and Glenn and Daryl removed the boxes out of the pockets of the suit jackets. Glenn opened the ring box when he removed the rings and he handed the rings to Hershel. Hershel did a little prayer when he handed the rings to Glenn and Maggie and they made their vows before placing the rings on each other's left ring fingers.

Daryl looked at the ring box when he opened the ring box and he looked at the rings. The smaller gold band sat under the larger wedding ring and he dumped the rings into his right hand. He handed the rings to Hershel while Hershel looked at the smaller ring and Daryl glanced over at Sophia. Nodding, Hershel made a small prayer then he handed the rings back to Daryl and Daryl slid the wedding ring onto Carol's left ring finger.

"Sophia, come here," Daryl said and she walked to him. He held out his left hand as Sophia looked at the small ring and she frowned. "I need to know somethin'. Would you like to be my daughter?"

"Yes," Sophia said with a small grin.

He slid the small ring on her right ring finger and Sophia noticed the ring had her first initial on it. He held his arms out as she hugged him and he leaned down to kiss the top of her head. Moving back, Daryl let Carol place the wedding ring on his left ring finger and Hershel was blinking the tears out of his eyes.

Hershel finished the ceremony as Glenn kissed Maggie and Daryl kissed Carol and the others applauded. Daryl moved back as he held Sophia to his right side and Carol held onto his left hand.

A short time later, the dining room was filled with laughter and small talk while they ate the food Patricia and Beth had prepared and Daryl, Carl, Glenn, Jimmy and Daryl glanced over at the cake sitting on the side table.

"Not yet," Carol whispered. Daryl's lower lip stuck out slightly as he frowned and she fed him some chicken. He didn't mind the stares when he leaned over and he kissed her lips. Glenn leaned over to kiss Maggie as she softly giggled and Rick, Hershel, Otis and Dale rolled their eyes.

Andrea had talked Shane to return to the house as he glared at Daryl and Carol and he pushed the food on his plate around with his fork.

"Right," Patricia said, standing up. "Carl. Otis. Jimmy. Time to clear the table."

"What about the cake?" Carl asked.

"Yeah. What about the cake?" Jimmy asked.

"No cake until we clear the table and wash the dishes," Patricia said, pointing to the kitchen. Sighing, Carl and Jimmy got up as they helped her and Otis clear the table and she followed them into the kitchen.

Rick noticed the way Shane was glaring at Daryl and Rick rolled his fingers over the top of the glass.

"Ignore him," Lori whispered.

"I'm trying," Rick whispered, watching Daryl getting up and Daryl walked to the side table.

Daryl looked at the cake when he saw Congratulations Maggie, Glenn, Carol and Daryl written in pink icing and he resisted the urge to scoop some of the icing onto his finger. He hadn't seen Shane get up and walk to him when Daryl turned and Shane glared at him.

"You got somethin' to say to me?" Daryl grumbled, folding his arms over his chest.

"Yeah, I do. I don't know what you're trying to pull, but Carol's already been through one bad marriage. She doesn't deserve another," Shane said.

"Shane…," Rick warned.

"No!" he said as he looked at the others. "Are all of you willing to put her safety and that of her daughter in the hands of this loser?!"

"That's enough!" Hershel said.

Shane felt everyone's eyes on him when he moved closer, but Daryl didn't move back. They locked eyes as Shane growled and Daryl tilted his head to one side.

"Want to know something?" Shane asked with a cold look in his eyes. "If I had been on guard duty the day you got shot, I wouldn't have missed."

Rick noticed the look on Daryl's face, but Daryl didn't move.

"Leave him alone, Shane," Andrea said and Shane looked at her.

"Yeah, Man. Leave him alone," T-Dog said.

Daryl slightly arched his eyebrows up when Shane growled and swung at him. Daryl dodged while Shane slammed against the side table and Shane fell face first into the cake. He moved back while the icing dripped onto the carpet and laughter filled the air. Shane growled when he swept the cake off the table, stormed toward the screen door and he left the house.

"So much for the cake," Jimmy whispered and Carl nodded.

"Hold on," Patricia said. They watched her go into the kitchen when she returned with a tray of cupcakes and she smiled. "Had enough batter left over to make these. They were dessert for tomorrow night's dinner."

"See, this is why I love this woman," Otis said, walking to Patricia and he kissed her cheek. She passed the cupcakes out while Daryl looked at the screen door and Rick walked to him.

"Are you ok?" Rick asked.

"I'm fine," Daryl said, taking a lick of icing on the top of the cupcake.

"What you said to Carol…"

"I meant every word."

"I know."

Daryl broke off a piece of cupcake as he placed the piece of cupcake in his mouth, chewed then he swallowed.

"Uh… Rick, are you gonna to explain what I'm supposed to do on my weddin' night?" Daryl asked, licking his fingers. Rick started blushing when he nodded and Daryl snorted a laugh. "Shit. I told you I ain't no virgin."

"Ok," Rick said with a nod. He walked away as Dale walked closer and Daryl rolled his eyes.

"Hold it," Daryl said, holding his left hand up. "I know what to do on my weddin' night."

"How did you know that's what I wanted to talk to you about?" Dale asked.

"Just a guess."

Dale laughed then walked away and Daryl watched him go talk with Hershel and Otis. Sighing, Daryl bit into the cupcake and Carol walked closer.

"Here," she said as she wiped his mouth with a napkin and Daryl snorted a breath of air. "Sorry if I'm embarrassing you."

"It ain't that," Daryl said, looking at the wedding dress. A blush moved across Carol's cheeks as she nodded and he reached for the napkin. She handed him the napkin as he wiped his fingers off then he placed the napkin on the side table.

"Follow me," she whispered. He followed her to the hallway when they walked to the room where Daryl recovered from his injuries and they stood in the doorway. Daryl smiled when he carefully picked her up and she held onto his shoulder. "I thought Hershel said you were still not allowed to do any heavy lifting."

"You ain't heavy," he said with a grin. "Ready?"

"Yes, but just one thing. No ghosts in the room."

"Hunh?"

"No mentioning Ed or Merle. No thinking about them. They stay out here."

Nodding, Daryl carried her over the threshold as she smiled then he gently placed her on her feet. She closed the door when she saw the door had a lock and she locked the door. She noticed Daryl was standing near the bed as he moved the bedding back and she walked closer, sliding her arms around his waist. He looked down when he held her hands in his and she leaned her head against his back.

"Turn around."

Daryl turned to face her when she unbuttoned his shirt, slid the shirt open then she placed her hands against his chest. She felt the rise and fall of his breathing while he moved closer and she kissed his lips. He held the back of her head in his right hand, but the pins to keep the veil connected to her hair poked into his fingers.

"Shit," he whispered. He moved back to remove the pins as he placed the pins and the veil onto the small table near the bed then he moved his fingers through her hair. He liked that she let her hair grown out. He placed his forehead against hers as they locked eyes and her fingers gently stroked his chest. "Carol."

"Yeah?" she asked.

"I know we agreed to no ghosts in the room, but there are two ghosts I need you to know about."

"Ok."

She watched him removed the suit jacket then his shirt as he placed the shirt and suit jacket on the bed, turned around and he showed her the scars on his back.

"I already know about those," she said, moving her fingers along his back and she traced the demon tattoos.

"But you don't know how I got 'em."

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."

"I have to," he said, turning around and she saw the pain in his eyes.

"Go on."

"See, my mother wasn't really much of a mother. She spent most of her time in bed. Smokin', drinkin' an' complainin' about shit. When she was sober, she used t'smack us around. Bad mouthin' us. Makin' us feel like shit. When I was ten, she died."

"How?"

"She died in a fire after she fell asleep in bed with a lit cigarette in her hand."

"Oh."

"My father? He was worse. He drank. He took drugs. He fooled around with other women."

"He sounds like…," she said then paused and he knew who she was talking about.

"Yeah. He also liked beatin' the crap outta me. Outta both of us. That's why… That's why he left. Problem was I was too scared to leave."

"Believe it or not, but I do understand that part. The part about not being able to leave."

"Two years before everythin' went to shit? My dad… He got really drunk. I don't know set him off, but he came after me with a belt. Next thing I knew? He was beatin' the shit outta me. If my uncle hadn't been holdin' me down, I would've fought back. When my dad was done, he just called me a loser then he left the room."

Carol felt bile rising to her throat over the thought of Daryl being beaten and he placed his hands on her shoulders.

"Sorry. I shouldn't have said that," he said, lowering his head.

"No. You said you had to tell me. Finish it. What happened next?" she asked.

"I don't remember much. Just wakin' up in a hospital room. I was on my stomach an' my back was killin' me. My uncle said my father told th'cops I got beat up durin' a robbery."

"And they bought it?"

"Yeah," he said with a nod. He went silent for a second then he sighed and he lifted his head. "The doctor told me I nearly bled to death. Took a long time fer my back to heal. After that, I never wanted anyone to see my back."

"What happened? To your dad, I mean?"

"A Walker got him."

"Did he know about what your father did to you?"

Daryl knew she meant Merle and Daryl sighed.

"Nope," he said.

Carol walked behind him then he felt her fingers moving over each scar. She spread her fingers over them. Like she was trying to make them vanish. She then touched the demon tattoos and she smiled.

"When did you get the tattoos on your back?" she asked.

"I was twenty-one, I think," he said, turning around to look at her. He showed her the demon tattoo on his right bicep and she moved her fingers over the tattoo. "Got this when I was eighteen."

She looked at the smaller tattoos on his right hand then she kissed the back of his hand and he cupped her face in his left hand.

"Wanna screw around," she teased and he laughed. Nodding, he helped her get undressed then she helped him get undressed and she moved the bedding back. She got into bed as she went to rest on her back and he climbed onto the mattress. "Do you want me to go first?"

"No," he said, leaning over to kiss her and she held onto the sides of his head.

In the living room, Rick handed Lori a glass of water while Beth played the piano and Carl and Sophia were sitting on the couch. Rick noticed how sweet they looked together and he smiled.

"What's so funny?" Lori asked.

"Looks like I might need to have a talk with Carl," he said and she looked at Carl and Sophia.

"They do look cute."

"How are you feeling?"

"The baby's moving around a little. Nothing to worry about."

He moved his right hand over the baby bump then he kissed Lori and she placed her left hand over his hand.

"Uh, Rick? Where did Daryl and Carol go?" Glenn said while he and Maggie walked closer.

"I think they went to bed," Rick said and Glenn nodded.

"We're going to bed, too," Maggie said and Lori noticed the blush moving across Glenn's cheeks.

"Night," Lori said. They watched Maggie and Glenn heading upstairs when Rick looked toward the screen door and he frowned. "What's wrong?"

"I'm just worried about Shane," Rick said.

"What do you think he's going to do?"

"I don't know. That's why I need to go find him."

"Rick…"

"Don't worry," he said as he moved the suit jacket back and she saw he was wearing his holster. He looked around before checking to see if the Colt Python was loaded, placed the gun back in the holster then he headed for the screen door. He left the house while she crossed her arms over her stomach and she tried hard not to cry.

Outside, Rick removed the Colt Python from the holster as he searched the porch for any sign of Shane, but he didn't see him. He looked out into the darkness as he sighed and he headed for the stairs. The moon was out so he could barely see where he was going after he had walked down the stairs and he tried to figure out where Shane went.

"Shane," Rick called out. He headed for the camp while scanning the surroundings with his eyes and he held on tighter to the handle of the gun. He walked to the RV when he cautiously headed for the door then he stopped. He heard something behind him when he spun around, looked at T-Dog, Dale and Andrea and Dale held his hands up in surrender.

"Easy. Lori told us what's going on. We want to help you find Shane," Dale said.

"Do you have any flashlights?" Rick asked.

"Yeah."

Rick moved aside so he could go into the RV and Dale opened the door. Dale went inside then returned a few seconds later with some flashlights and Rick closed the door. Dale handed out the flashlights as they pushed the buttons and the dim light filled the darkness. Dale also handed out some guns, but Andrea shook her head and T-Dog checked to see if the gun was loaded.

"Let's go," Rick said.

"Which way?" T-Dog asked.

"I think we should go toward the woods."

They started walking while Rick led the way and he silently hoped they didn't find Shane.

The woods

Shane knew he was lost while he walked by the trees and he growled. He had wiped off the icing before he walked off, but he didn't go to the camp. He knew they would get on his case for what he did and he was sick and tired of hearing their praise for Daryl.

"Should have killed him and that fucking brother of his when they arrived at the quarry," he grumbled.

"Should have let those soldiers kill Rick back at the hospital, too," a voice said in his head.

"Yeah," he said with a nod.

Shane kept walking as something followed him and he flexed his fingers. He stopped as he placed his hands on his hips and he tried to figure out where he was.

"Fuck," he whispered. He turned to see several Walkers moving towards him as his eyes widened.