Chapter Summary:

Starting to get glimpses into Carol's life in Alexandria with Ed and Sophia. My goal was to show just how isolated domestic abuse can be.

Carol looked out the window in her kitchen; taking in the sight of the new arrivals on the porch of one of their houses. In the three days they had been there, they had made efforts to know people, but still stayed together all in one house. They took their meals together and you never saw one of them alone. She supposed not being alone was part of the survival skills they must have amassed while on the road. Carol was at least lucky in the fact that she had never had to experience that need for survival on the road. The idea of being open to the entire world of bad things that were now snarling and tearing apart their reality was terrifying. She knew about survival though. She had had to survive the last 13 years with Ed after all.

She felt guilty that she was spying on them through the window like some biddy housewives did who also lived here in Alexandria. Right now she had no choice however. The bruise on her left eye and cheek made sure she stayed out of the view of others. She knew others surely suspected Ed hit her, but she was not going to give them that confirmation. She was ashamed enough that Deanna knew.

When they first arrived in Alexandria, it was only two days after the army had sent Deanna and her family there. They had held out in a hotel until then, and had not had to venture far without walls of some sort. The army had evacuated their hotel and sent her, Ed and Sophia to Alexandria ten miles away. They had an escort as well, so it's not like Ed had to step up and be a protective force or anything. When they arrived, she had the remains of bruises on her forehead and cheek. As the community started to form and Deanna gave out jobs, she had started to meet with all the residents individually. She still remembered what Deanna said to her.

"You are a good mother Carol. Anybody can see how much Sophia means to you. I will make sure that any job you have here in the community allows you to continue to be a constant presence in her life." Then she hesitated. "Does Ed ever hit Sophia too?" Carol was shocked and did her best to convince Deanna that their family was fine – with no violence. "Excuse my language Carol, but that is bullshit. There is not enough makeup in the world to hide every color of those bruises you are sporting. Don't give me any lame ass excuses about falling either. I was married once before Reg. I gave every excuse in the book to explain away my bruises. Now, I will repeat. Does he hit Sophia?"

"No. Just me." Carol said.

Deanna decided that her family would stay and all be given jobs. The goal being that Sophia and Carol would be working at times after Ed was home from his job. Thus giving them only a small fraction of day hours where they would be alone with him. He had only hit her once (that Deanna knew about) since. When that happened Deanna said that all Carol had to do was say the word – and Ed would be banished from Alexandra. She could not do that though. She could not handle this world on her own, and as shitty of a husband and father that Ed was, at least he offered her family some sense of usefulness to the community. He was after all helping to build up the walls that protected them. Deanna did make it clear though that if it continued, the decision would be taken out of Carol's hands and made by her. So Carol hid. She had an inkling that Deanna suspected what was going on; but she made sure she never went outside when she was bruised. Alexandria residents were so afraid of sickness, all she had to do was say she had the flu, and people left her alone.

Tomorrow she had to meet with one of the new residents though. She had no idea what Deanna had in mind, but it had something to do with their assigned job. She wondered what Daryl Dixon would be like? What would Deanna find for him to do?

Daryl Dixon was pissed. He was beyond pissed. He and every member of his group had stressed to Deanna his abilities. His hunting, tracking and weaponry skills were unmatched in the group. He knew he gave worth in that role. Now here he was, shit deep in this weird community that pretended that there weren't thousands of dead ready to kill them all. Here he was getting ready to be teamed up with a housewife he didn't know. Somebody he didn't want to know. Somebody that as far as he could see; was a Stepford wife in the apocalypse.

Deanna had made it clear to him that he was to work directly with Carol and her daughter – helping them how he best saw fit throughout their day. She was vague in her explanation to him. She asked that he be wherever they were at all times. He was to listen and observe – and report back in two days his observations. She assured him that his purpose would be made clear; but would not explain any further than that. All Daryl thought was this was a cluster-fuck waiting to happen. Even if they were to be under attack or the rest of the community was falling apart with no food – still Daryl had to stay with them. 48 hours of being a lap dog. Just fucking perfect.

Now he and Deanna were walking up to Carol's front step. When Deanna rang the bell, Carol answered and had a wide smile on her face that Daryl knew was fake as hell. "Carol Peletier, meet Daryl Dixon". Daryl grunted his hello and Carol's smile faltered. "Daryl is going to help you out for the next couple of days. He is going to be the brawn that you need in order to get all our pantry and households in order with the group of new additions. I want you to have access to a vacant house – the yellow one at the corner. That house will become pantry, group kitchen, and clinic all in one. All shifting of those three facilities into one centralized one will be up to you. Solely your brains with help of Daryl's brawn. The result of what you do in the next two days will help determine what is next for Alexandria's planning for the future."

Carol thanked Deanna and was left alone with the visibly unhappy Daryl.

"Well Daryl, I am happy to meet you in person. Deanna's directions are a surprise to me – so I hope I can get things going quickly and you can be free to do more important things. I guess the first thing that should happen is that we should go map out the areas of the new house and decide how to set things up?"

Daryl just eyed her and said "whatever lady." He didn't mind helping people who were nice, and she seemed nice enough. He just wished he knew what Deanna had in store for them in the next two days.

"Sophia, you are going to be late to meet the kids at the park. Please come out and meet somebody and get moving. Daddy is already gone for the day at work". A girl of about 13 started through the front door and froze at the sight of him. She flinched and moved closer to her mother. "Sophia, meet Daryl Dixon. He is going to help me out today with some building movements. Say hello."

"Hello Mr. Dixon" the girl said beneath her eyelashes – not meeting his eyes.

"Hello Sophia. Deanna said I am to help you out if you need anything too. If you need somethin', come find your mama and that's where ya will find me." Daryl said. He knew instantly when he saw Sophia at least some of what Deanna had in mind.

Deanna had pushed him in his interview about his childhood. He didn't want to tell her anything because he never told people much. However it seemed like she already knew. How, he didn't know. Looking at Sophia and her guarded expression reminded him so much of how he looked at new adults when he was a kid. Sizing them up. Friend or foe. He suddenly understood. She was not a happy little girl, and if her upbringing was like his, then her mama must be hurting as well. He was suddenly very aware of how Carol carried herself. He would definitely be keeping an eye on both of them very carefully.