"Better Days"

Author: carmen_085

Disclaimer: I don't own any Walking Dead characters. Original characters are mine

Author's Note: This story is AU and in it Sophia is never a walker. Takes place on the farm while Daryl is searching for the girl. My first attempt at Walking Dead fanfiction, hope you like it! Please review! I know it's been forever but I'm finishing it even though ten million things have happened on the show since. Thanks to those who stuck in and kept up with this one.

Chapter 12

'And the one poor child who saved this world

And there's ten million more who probably could

If we all just stopped and said a prayer for them'

December

Taking a long drag on his cigarette Daryl rocked the chair back putting his feet up on the deck railing. The backyard was dark as his eyes scanned all the way back to the wood's line. Blowing the smoke out he allowed his eyes to drift shut for a moment. He had failed. He promised them that they would find Rick, Lori, Carol and the others. He told them he would do everything he could and he did...he really did. But they ran out of time and before he knew it winter was here and they had no place to call their own. That might have been ok for a rough asshole like him; he was used to no heat, no water, and no home. But it wasn't ok for them.

Carl got sick a couple of weeks ago; first it was a cough then a fever. Daryl had never felt so helpless as he did watching that boy shivering next to the fire, the cold winter wind blowing through their camp. He knew if they didn't find something and find it fast he was going to die. Daryl carried the boy for miles and then just when he thought there was no more hope, when he thought that everything was lost; they stumbled out of the trees and there it was. A plan of new homes far back in the woods.

Daryl cleared one of the houses at the far end of the plan; Sophia was his lookout. Carl, in no condition to use his gun, gave it to Sophia as she stood on the front porch with it held straight out in shaky arms. When he knew it was safe he took them upstairs and locked them in the back bedroom with strict instructions to not open the door for anyone or anything. It took him almost a whole day of clearing and rummaging through houses before he found what he needed. Antibiotics, Tylenol, warm clothes that would actually fit the two of them. It was the first time he had been completely separated from the both of them since this whole thing began. It was terrifying for him to think about what would come next if something happened to him right now. If someone or something hurt him, took him, or worse. Pushing those thoughts from his mind he kept moving. That wasn't an option and it wasn't going to happen.

Staring out into the darkness Daryl watched as it began to snow. Pulling his collar up he shook his head remembering those first few days here. He made it back to them and Carl took the medicine and eventually everything went back to normal. Well...as normal as it could be nowadays. And after that the realization dawned on all three of them that it was over. They had run out of time and now if they wanted to live they would need to stay put for winter. Of course, that also meant that they would probably never see their folks again. They cried for weeks. Daryl, absolutely powerless to do anything, just sat and watched. They understood why but that didn't mean they weren't angry about it. Occasionally that anger would be directed at Daryl for not doing more to find them before winter came. He knew he had screwed up, knew he had failed them in almost every way that counted. He kept them alive but for what?

Standing up he stamped the cigarette out on the concrete. No use dwelling on it, wouldn't change shit that was for sure. Opening the back door he was quick to slip inside not letting too much of the cold air follow him. The house he picked was a smaller one; easier to heat, easier to keep watch. Lucky for them there was a wood burning fireplace in the basement. Slipping his coat off he descended the stairs, immediately feeling the welcome heat.

"I beat you !" In front of the fire Carl and Sophia bent over a well used Monopoly board as his eyes drifted to the two of them. Carl sat with his usual pout while Sophia gleefully counted her paper money. Although this entire situation was nothing but a pile of shit; it did give Daryl some satisfaction to know that this place gave them the opportunity to relax and just be kids. "Daryl want to play?"

Grunting he sat on the couch kicking his feet up on the coffee table. Sometimes he would play, most of the time he left them to it while tended to more mundane tasks; taking inventory of their supplies, checking the perimeter, or going up to the second floor to see what he could see. "No...you guys keep playing." Letting his eyes drift shut for a moment he wondered when he would need to make the next run. Their food supplies were starting to dwindle and while Georgia winters typically weren't that bad he didn't think that would be the case this year. Last thing he wanted was to be down to their last can of tuna come mid January.

"Hey you know what I think is coming up?" Daryl wasn't sure if Carl was talking to him or Sophia. Opening his eyes the boy looked at him expectantly.

"What Carl?"

"Christmas. I think it might be tomorrow or the day after." Daryl blinked a few times as he stared back. Truth be told he had forgotten all about holidays. They didn't mean much to him before and they sure as hell didn't mean anything now. If this had been last year or even six months ago he would have grunted and told them to piss off . But they had lost so much in the last year he couldn't take another thing from them even if he wanted to.

So despite himself and the fact that he didn't know the first thing about having a nice Christmas for two kids who definitely deserved it, he looked back at them and smiled.

"What do you guys wanted to do?" Sophia looked up, the Monopoly pieces falling out of her hand in sheer surprise. Her and Carl had talked about it earlier, between the two of them, and never did she imagine that Daryl would do anything but grunt and walk away.

"Oh can we put a tree up? Can we?" Sophia looked like she was about to burst with excitement. While clearing the house Daryl found a heap of old christmas stuff in the garage, including an artificial tree. Nodding he looked at Carl as the boy stared back in anticipation.

"What about presents? I know we can't go out like before but I'm sure theres something in here we can find." Kid like Carl probably got everything he wanted for Christmas and then some. But still even Daryl had to acknowledge that Christmas meant presents, and this house was full of useless shit they could wrap up.

"Presents sound good." Daryl had a couple of things in his pack for them anyway. Things he had found along the way and saved so that the next time something awful happened he could at least take their mind off it with a present.

"Are you serious ? We can really have Christmas tomorrow?" Sophia was now standing unable to contain her excitement. Daryl ducked his head before nodding. He didn't deserve to have these moments with them. This should be for their parents and he had done nothing so far to even consider himself close to that.

Without warning Sophia launched herself into Daryl wrapping her arms around his shoulders. The moment didn't last long enough for Daryl to get over himself and hug her back. Without another second wasted her and Carl took off toward the garage to drag the Christmas tree inside.

"Carl...you got your gun?" Pausing for a moment he stopped to look at Daryl.

"Always." Patting his waist band he turned to leave.

"Keep watch out there and check before you open that door." Daryl knew that both Carl and Sophia knew better than to just charge out the door without checking for walkers, but still he felt the need to say something. Sitting back he closed his eyes for a moment before pushing up to his feet grabbing the cross bow and shouldering it. Holding a flashlight steady Sophia and Carl emerged from the garage carrying a large box labeled 'tree'. Daryl nodded to the red and green plastic container they left behind.

"Want me to grab that?"

"Sure." They said in unison as he heard Sophia laughing about something as they giddily tore into the tree box.

Gingerly Daryl stepped over some overturned boxes of shit left behind. Bending over something caught his eye on the floor. Against the wall behind a work bench was a kid's compound bow. He had been looking all over for a bow for Carl, the gun was great but it was becoming impractical. Ever since they left Walmart he hadn't seen another opportunity for ammo as he imagined most places had been throughly cleaned out by now. Looking over his shoulder he heard them busy in the other room as he slid the bow out and looked at it carefully. It was in great shape, probably bought for some little asshole who decided to play video games instead. Pulling on the string Daryl was pleased when it showed no signs of give. Smiling a little he was happy that he found such an awesome present for Carl. Turning he slid it on top of one of the cabinets. Tomorrow he would come back out and get it. Leaning against the doorway, a smirk tugged at the corners of his mouth as he watched the two of them ripping through decorations.

Daryl folded his legs under him as he stared at his mother in baited anticipation. She was having a good day today. She was out of bed, dressed, and her hair was combed. The cold winter wind rattled the windows of the old house as Daryl drew the blanket closer around his neck. He knew what day it was, kind of hard not to. Christmas Eve. While most kids waited expectantly for loads of presents, Daryl could only hope the holiday would bring a twenty four hour reprieve from his old man's continuous tirade. Normally Christmas passed in the Dixon household without much fanfare. His mother might get out of bed, his old man usually drank himself into oblivion, and if he was lucky Merle would show up and take him out to shoot squirrels in the woods. But not this year.

They decorated a little tree together, Daryl didn't even know that they had a tree but lo and behold there it was. He didn't know how to do it. Lights and then tinsel or tinsel and lights ? And then the worn, faded thread balls, how many should go on the tree? He sat there on the floor watching her with rapt attention, trying to memorize everything about this moment. He has been alive for seven years but as far as he was concerned this was his first Christmas. He didn't care if nothing came after this because this was enough. Being here with her, decorating a tree; he was like every other kid for once. He belonged somewhere...and to someone...but more than all that he was safe.

That night they sat in front of the tree, just the two of them. She read him The Night Before Christmas and they drank expired hot chocolate, the marshmallows hard as rocks. She cuddled him close under the blankets and he could smell her...he could still smell her if he thought real hard. Baby powder and shampoo. Delicate, fresh, comforting. The next day wasn't much but to Daryl it was everything. Somehow she managed to find him a couple of presents that she wrapped haphazardly in newspaper. A book, a new pair of socks, a deck of cards. Looking back years later he realized it was probably stuff she found laying around the house. That didn't matter, though. Someone had taken the time to not only give him something but also make it special...make it a surprise. Daryl fell asleep that night in her arms in front of their little Christmas tree listening to carols on the radio.

The next morning when he woke she was back in the bedroom, shades drawn, with a black eye smoking a cigarette. His daddy passed out on the chair across from him and their little tree on the floor, the lights broken, the tinsel ripped, and those colored balls smashed into the floorboards. He never had another Christmas. December twenty fifth came every year, sure as shit, but it never meant anything. Just another day to get through.

"What do you think ?" Sophia's voice broke him out of his thoughts as he blinked a few times. The tree looked real good, considering. They even managed to find a string of battery operated lights that flickered on and off. Carl watched his gaze as he was quick to jump up.

"I know. We need to turn the lights off. Don't want nobody seeing it from outside...and the batteries we could use them for something else..." Daryl took a step forward as he leaned on the back of the couch.

"It's ok Carl. You can leave them on tonight." Both of them stared at Daryl in disbelief. This was an uncharacteristic departure that neither of them had expected. Survival was the only thing Daryl thought about, his entire existence devoted to staying alive but not actually living. Lifting one leg up he sat on the back of the couch as he stared at the tree. His eyes flicked closed for a moment as he smelled shampoo and baby powder, those rock hard marshmallows rolling around on his tongue. Opening his eyes he ducked his head before looking back up. "It's a real nice tree."

Sophia took a hesitant step toward Daryl looking both hopeful and fearful. "Can we go upstairs just for a couple minutes to look for presents. We won't put any lights on and we won't make a sound." Daryl nodded grabbing his crossbow as he followed them toward the stairs.

"Sure. I'll be right by the door keeping watch." Sophia and Carl didn't wait a second as they both dashed up the stairs in their socks. The rest of the house was cold compared to the basement. That wood burning fireplace had been their salvation. Without it and this house, Daryl wasn't sure what would have happened. Slipping his shoes on at the top of the stairs he turned before looking back at the glowing tree and crackling fire. It almost seemed normal. Turning his eyes toward the backyard he saw a lone walker ambling slowly across the grass Normal...right...what the hell was that anymore?

"Daryl...Daryl...wake up..." Sophia's soft voice broke through his dreamless sleep as he blinked a few times. Normally he would be bolt upright and racing for his crossbow but there was something about her tone that didn't alarm him at all. She sounded happy...excited even. Her face came into focus as he looked at the grin on her face and the light in her eyes. God, he wished she could look like this everyday. "You have to see it..."

Sitting up slowly he rolled his neck side to side. When he slept it was usually only for an hour or two at a time on the couch. Most times he didn't even bother to take his boots off. Carl was still asleep on the mattress that he and Sophia shared in front of the fireplace. The light of early morning illuminated the basement in a dim gray as Sophia pulled him but the forearm. Stepping up onto the bench below the window she pushed her nose against the glass making a ring of steam.

"Snow." Blinking against the whiteness Daryl's eyes roved the outside landscape. No walkers, no people, just a perfect blanket of white. He couldn't remember the last time there was a white Christmas in Georgia, couldn't remember the last time he would care either. Next to him Sophia trembled with excitement or chill or maybe both. Shrugging his flannel shirt off he wrapped it around her shoulders, leaning in next to her he pressed his lips against her hair as he whispered in her ear.

"Merry Christmas." Hugging his shirt around her, her lips spread into a wide smile. Daryl couldn't help but smile himself as they stood there gazing out at a world that for just a moment seemed perfect.

"Holy Shit ! It's Christmas morning !" Carl was wide awake as he threw the blankets off of himself. Daryl turned toward him and smirked.

"Watch that mouth, Carl." Rolling his eyes, Carl didn't seem to see the need in manners anymore. Shaking his head Daryl flipped his wrist toward the tree. "Still time for Santa to pass this place up...take your shit someplace else.."

Carl snorted in amusement. Like that was going to happen. Getting out of bed he turned and threw another log on the fire. "I don't believe in Santa." He turned to Daryl looking quite pompous for a twelve year old kid. "Haven't for years." Daryl rolled his eyes, somehow he didn't believe that.

"Can we open presents now?" Sophia jumped down off the bench and hopped over to where Carl sat by the fire. Daryl nodded as he slipped his shoes and coat on.

"Sure. Just gonna check the house and bring some more firewood in..." Daryl heard them laughing as he ascended the stairs slowly. He didn't know what they found for each other but he did take note of a few things under the tree wrapped sloppily in towels, blankets or whatever else they could find. The upstairs was cold as he quietly shut the basement door behind him. His eyes scanned the backyard; the peacefulness of it all was almost unsettling as he stepped out onto the back porch.

It had been years and years since a winter like this had hit Georgia. Seemed like the earth was trying to cleanse itself and start over. Sliding a cigarette out of his pocket he put it between his teeth as he popped the collar of his jacket higher. He knew there wasn't really a chance in hell they would find the others now. Not after this. Rick didn't find a place to hunker down and ride out the winter; he was as good as dead. Might still be good as dead. They had gotten lucky finding this place but that didn't meant they couldn't lose it. There was nothing in the world that belonged to you anymore. Not things, not places, and not even people. Just because you had it today didn't mean it would be yours tomorrow.

Taking a few puffs Daryl threw the cigarette into the snow as he hefted an armful of logs off the ground. Before he stepped inside the house he took one last look around. Nothing. Not even a walker. Locking the door behind him he didn't bother slipping his coat or shoes off until he was in the warmth of the basement. Carl had managed to find an old Yahtzee set somewhere in the house as he and Sophia jangled the dice in the metal container. Daryl had to smirk; great game for trying to stay quiet. He would let them play for a while before he inevitably had to ruin their fun. Walking past them he threw a couple of logs on the fire as he walked toward the garage. He wasn't sure how Carl would react to the bow. It would be something that would take skill and practice. Taking it down off the cabinet Daryl wiped the dust off. Best he could do given the circumstances.

Standing in the doorway he watched them for a moment before walking closer. "Hey Carl..." The boy dripped the can of dice as he shot to this feet.

"Is that for me?" Daryl nodded. Carl looked excited and he was relieved for that but this was no toy.

"Yep." Running over Carl stood in front of Daryl eyeing the weapon with baited breath. "But listen, just like your gun it's no toy. Need to be careful...and need to practice with it, get good before you try to use it on a walker." Daryl paused handing the bow to Carl as the boy stared at it reverently. "Carl...I'm serious. You're going to need to really work on this..."

Looking up at Daryl he was confused, "You'll teach me, though." Daryl nodded. Of course he would. "Then I know I'll be the best." He didn't know how to respond to that so he just ducked his head and stared at his feet. Could Daryl make him the best? Of course he could, but it wasn't that. It was Carl's blind faith in him that left him speechless. Bounding over Sophia looked at the bow and then back to Carl.

"Wow, Carl...that's so cool." Leaning over Daryl pulled something out of his pack and handed it to her.

"Didn't wrap it or nothin. Hope you like it." Holding the hunting knife up she inspected it carefully before affixing it onto her belt. Six month ago she would have been horrified at such a gift. Daryl remembered that doll she was holding when this whole mess started back at the highway. She had changed though, ever since that night in the camp with Merle and that asshole against the tree. Everyone changed...you had no choice if you wanted to live. Looking at the knife hanging from her belt she looked back up at Daryl.

"I want to be able to take care of myself. Will you show me?" She stared at him with purpose. Daryl nodded. Of course he would show her; he would show her everything she wanted to know. She didn't even need to ask.

Darkness had begun to fall as Daryl leaned his head back against the couch kicking his feet up on the coffee table. There were board games all over the floor and the place looked a mess but that was ok because it was Christmas. After the initial excitement of the day worn off, they both passed out and he had a few hours to go out and hunt up a couple rabbits for dinner. His eyelids slipped down as he stared at the fire crackling in the hearth. On one side of him Carl thumbed through a comic book that Sophia found under the bed upstairs. On the other side Sophia leaned against his side reading the Nancy Drew that Daryl had found upstairs in the attic. They were content, at least for the moment, and in this world that was better than he could hope. A warm house, a full belly, and happy with a life none of them asked for.

"Hey Sophia...I think we forgot something." Carl pushed himself up off the couch as Sophia watched him move behind the tree suddenly jumping up herself.

"I can't believe we forgot." Daryl looked at them confused as to what this was all about. Hesitantly Carl produced something wrapped in a dish towel. Coming back to sit on either side of them they stared at him in nervous anticipation.

Grunting, Daryl's eyes darted between the two as Carl hesitantly held it out. "It isn't much but it was all we could find for you."

Daryl shook his head unsure how to handle this. "Didn't have to get me anything...told you guys that..."

Reaching out Sophia put her hand on Daryl's. "It's Christmas, though." Daryl looked at her for a moment before rubbing his fingers over hers. All the shit that kid had been through and she still believed in the magic of Christmas. Carefully Carl placed the gift in Daryl's lap. Exhaling loudly, Daryl took the object and began to unwrap it. He already knew it was a ceramic mug just by how it felt. Letting the dish towel fall away his breath hitched as he read the inscription on the side.

'World's Greatest Dad'. Running his rough finger over the words he didn't know what to feel. Carl was first to speak as he scooted a little closer to Daryl. "We want you to know that we're ok...that we know we won't see our families again. That we're happy just being with you."

Sophia looked at him although he couldn't look back. "We're happy being with you forever." Daryl set the cup down and stood up as he felt tears come to his eyes. Blinking a few times he went over to the basement window and leaned his face against the cool glass. His shoulders rose and fell as he took a few deep breaths. He didn't know how to process emotions, never learned...never had anyone to show him. So most of the time he tried not to feel anything. He had found long ago it was just easier that way. And that worked for him in the old world; because really his life didn't mean much then. He was just existing so it was easy to feel nothing. But in this world, it was impossible to feel nothing. Life and death every day, people depending on him; he was a human being and for the first time he actually felt like it. Swiping at his face with the worn, blue flannel shirt Daryl opened his mouth to say something but nothing came out.

"Daryl..." Sophia's hesitant voice began. "We're really sorry if you don't like it." Don't like it? Holy shit how do you say that you love it? That it means more to you than anything you've ever been given in your whole life. That you'll keep it forever. Turning around Daryl shook his head as he looked away. Turning slowly he came to sit on the coffee table facing them both, the crackling fire warming his back. Rubbing his knuckles he swallowed hard; words were never something he was good with.

"Nah...I um..." Sophia sat back against the couch pulling her legs to her chest. Letting a whoosh of air from his lungs he finally met their eyes. "Nobody...nobody ever cared about me before. Whether I was around or not..." He had no idea where he was going with this. Chewing on his bottom lip his voice wavered with emotion. "It means a lot that you both want to be with me. That I'm good enough..." He trailed off not trusting himself to say anything else.

Carl chewed on his bottom lip before finally speaking, "I had a good dad. I was lucky and I know that." He stopped talking for a moment. "But I would have been just as lucky if you were my dad." Daryl jerked his head up to be met with a face full of sincerity. "I mean it. In this world or the old one...I would have been lucky." Daryl could do nothing as the back of his throat suddenly felt tight. Sliding her knees down, Sophia move forward crossing her legs in front of her. Tenatively she reached out and put her hand over Daryl's as he took her fingers in his and squeezed.

"I would have done anything for a dad like you." While her words made him feel good, he also knew what kind of father she did have. Looking at the ceiling her eyes met his as he saw tears in them. "I never felt safe in my whole life until the day you found me." Daryl closed his eyes as he looked away. He wanted to get up and run away so that he could break down without them seeing it but Sophia was holding onto his hand so tight he couldn't let go. A tear rolled down his cheek as he struggled to contain the sob that caught in his throat.

Carl and Sophia exchanged a glance before standing up and wrapping their arms around him. Daryl shifted so that he could wrap them both up against his chest. Somehow..someway he had done it. They were happy with him. Despite the crying, the anger, the hurt, the fear...somehow he had earned their trust. He wasn't his father...not even close.

"We're going to be ok...somehow we're going to be ok."

June

He wasn't sure what he saw moving in the woods. So he stopped the car, got out and started walking. Bringing the rifle up he held it out in front as he moved quietly. He saw a flash of white, he was sure of it.

"Drop the rifle." From around a tree five feet behind him a man stepped out holding a crossbow. He was lean and muscular. His hair was long and hung in his eyes as sweat beaded up on his brow. He wasn't messing around; his finger was already on the trigger.

"Let's talk about this..." He didn't drop the rifle but instead swung around so that he was now pointing it at the crossbow wielding stranger. Out of the corner of his eye he saw the bushes on either side of him move as two more people appeared, kids by his judgment although he couldn't see them clearly. Letting the gun drop he looked side to side. A young girl with long blonde hair pulled tight on her head in a bun and a boy about the same age with a sheriff's hat. The girl had a knife in one hand and a gun in the other, while the boy pointed a fully cocked bow at his head. Shit... who were these people? "OK...ok." Placing the gun on the ground he stepped back slowly raising his hands.

"Where's your people?" The crossbow bobbed up and down as the surly stranger behind it took a step toward him.

"Where's yours?" The boy with the bow stepped in closer now.

"You're looking at it. Been on the run for almost a year now."

He lowered his hands then and looked at Daryl in amazement. "You been on the run with two kids for almost a year?" Lowering the crossbow Daryl nodded before giving Carl and Sophia the sign to relax.

"Yeah. Lost our group last year this time. Ain't seen a single one of them since."

The man extended his hand toward Daryl to shake. "I'm Tyrese. Me and my sister were on a supply run when we saw something in the woods." Looking at Carl and Sophia his eyes came back to Daryl. "These your kids?"

"Yeah.." The girl answered this time. "Both of us." Looking between them and then back to Daryl he wondered if that was a lie.

"If you two kids don't want to be with him anymore...it's ok. You can come with me. We have a place a safe place..."

Sophia looked at him as if he were crazy as Carl brought his bow back up. "Hey dipshit..." Daryl smirked at that as Tyrese turned toward him in shock. "He's our dad. We want to be with him." Taking a step closer Carl looked Tyrese in the eye. "We would die for him and he would die for us. And that's all your ass needs to know." Carl shot Daryl a look and smirked as Daryl shook his head.

"Ok...ok." Bending over Tyrese picked his rife up before walking past Daryl back toward the road. "If you change your mind...we have a safe place. A community; women, children, men who can fight." Looking back at Carl and Sophia he met Daryl's eyes as he nodded a serious tone in his features. "The world's becoming more and more dangerous everyday...and I'm not talking about the dead...We're in a prison about five miles up the road." Tyrese turned and looked at them all once more. "Think about it."

Daryl watched him go. Think about it...

TBC...one more chapter to go !