Hi you guys. I have bad news. Earlier I spilled water on the keyboard and I think it really fried my laptop. So, I borrowed my brothers computer long enough to post this chapter for you. I'll try to get it fixed asap! I hope you enjoy it! Thank you all for reading and reviewing.

The Strangest Dreams

Chapter Fifteen

Homeless.

How the hell had he managed to end up homeless? Because Merle was a big dumb jackass, that's how.

Daryl sat in his truck, in the driveway to the house that he had, up until about thirty minutes ago, shared with his brother. The only reason he lived with Merle to begin with was because Merle was an idiot and needed to be looked after. The man couldn't manage to keep himself out of trouble for more than half a year at a time and the only reason he wasn't in trouble more often than that was because Daryl was usually there to stop him from doing really stupid shit.

Daryl scoffed. Schizophrenic. Merle had actually called him a Schizophrenic. And the bad thing was Merle actually believed that it was true. Right now he was in there blaming himself for Daryl's mental disorder. He had told Daryl that it was his fault that he had lost his mind. He hadn't been there for him when he should have been. Of course, the only reason Merle was blaming himself was because he was drunk. If he'd been sober then they would have most likely ended up in a fist fight.

Merle had begged him to stay away from Carol but Daryl had refused. There was no physical fucking way in hell he could stay away from the woman. So Merle had made good on his threat from earlier. If Daryl refused to stay away from Carol and get himself evaluated then Merle was throwing him out.

"Here."

Daryl damn near jumped out of his skin at the sudden voice. "What the fuck, Merle!" he yelled through the open window.

Merle shoved a one hundred dollar bill at him. "Take it. I ain't gonna have you starvin' and shit."

"I ain't gonna starve," he shoved Merle's hand back out the window. "You need it more than me."

Merle shook his head. "I ain't the one gonna be wonderin' the streets all tweaked out looking for ghosts and shit."

"They ain't ghost. They're called walkers and they're corpses. You don't listen to shit, ya know that?"

Merle just stood there staring at him. "Well, do you think you and your woman's leader will take ya in? You ain't gonna have to sleep in your truck are ya?"

Daryl groaned. "I'll call ya later or somethin'." He shoved the money back in Merle's hand and then backed out of the driveway.

He didn't have anywhere to go and it wasn't five yet but he wasn't going to just drive around until then. He would just go to Carol's early and hope it didn't make him look like some sap that couldn't stay away from her for a day. He'd stayed away from her plenty of days back at the prison. But this wasn't the prison. This was real life and he needed to keep an eye on her. He knew that as soon as Ed got the chance he was going to make her pay for the things she had done today. She'd humiliated the man and Daryl knew men like that. They didn't let things like that go.

Her car was there when he pulled up in the driveway so he got out and forced himself to walk, not run, to the door. He should have called her or something before he came here. Too late to do anything about it now.

He didn't even have a chance to knock before she opened the door, her head down as she rummaged around in her bag for something, and nearly ran into him. He caught her around the waist to steady her and she nearly jumped away from him.

Once she realized that it was him she relaxed. "You scared me," she said as she took a step back. "I tried to call you but Merle told me to go to hell and then he hung up on me."

He tried to swallow but his mouth had gone a little dry. He'd never seen her dressed up like that before. He liked to think that things like that didn't really matter to a guy like him but that obviously wasn't the case at the moment. He watched her walk towards the middle of the living room and had absolutely no idea what she was saying. The dress she was wearing wasn't too clingy or too short but the way it hugged her waist and then sort of fell around her hips made it impossible for him to look away.

From the small of her back all the way up to the back of her neck was exposed and he'd never imagined that he could get this turned on just by looking at a woman's back. She looked at him over her shoulder once she sat her bag down on the table. A small frown forming between her eyebrows.

"So, are you relieved?" she asked as she turned around to face him.

His eyes followed the necklace from the top swell of her breast to her lips and then finally he met her eyes. Even her eyes seemed brighter, larger, the blue more blue then he had ever seen them before.

"Daryl?" she looked worried now and he realized he'd stopped listening to her again.

"Yeah?" he croaked, his voice was higher than usual so he cleared his throat and cursed himself silently.

"Did you hear anything I've said since you got here?"

He shook his head, knowing he couldn't lie and tell her he had.

"You're off the hook. You don't have to go with me tonight." She offered him a small smile.

"I don't?" he couldn't help but feel relieved but then the obvious question came to mind. "Why?" She'd been dead set on conning him into going so what had changed her mind?

She shrugged. "Cause you were right. It isn't gonna be easy for you and me expecting you to do things you don't want too just because I want you around is selfish."

He wasn't sure what to say about that so he just didn't say anything at all. She gave him another of those perplexed looks and then looked down, fingering the fabric of the dress.

"God, I forgot I was even wearing this. I feel ridiculous." The color rushed to her face. "I found Amy today and she talked me into buying it. I didn't get to know her well at the quarry but she really is something else. She talked me into it."

"Good," he heard himself say without thinking.

She grinned. "Really?"

He nodded, swallowed, and then shifted from one foot the other, not knowing what else to say and feeling self conscious that he didn't know what to do with his hands. He shoved them into his pockets. He knew what he would like to be doing with his hands but he didn't really know how to go about getting to that point.

She crossed the room and stopped in front of him. "Are you alright?" she asked, that frown in place once more. "I thought you would be a lot happier about not going."

He felt a little like he was having sensory overload and once she got closer it got worse. There was a subtle but intoxicating scent drifting off of her and that was apparently the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back. Or more like the final hint of sexy that broke Daryl Dixon's thinly veiled self control.

He took the final step that would close the distance between them, keeping in mind that he needed to calm himself down and grabbing her around the waist anyway, not even easing into the kiss, just going right for it. She gave a little squeak of surprise that turned into a soft moan as his teeth tugged lightly at her pliant bottom lip. He used the tips of his fingers to follow the curve of her spine, goosebumps forming on her skin.

All too soon she pulled her face back, breaking the kiss. "Daryl..."

"Hmm..." he grazed her shoulder with his nose.

"I... uh... told Lori I'd be there early to help out. I told her I was already on my way," she breathed into his neck.

He dropped his hands to her hips and brought his head up so he could look at her again. "Well fuck," he muttered glumly.

"I was gonna leave you a note to just stay here and wait for us to get back. If I knew you would like the stupid dress that much I would have definitely told her I wouldn't be there till seven."

There was no way she could be serious. She was leaving? Now? "But I like the stupid dress," he kissed her again and she didn't put up a fight about it. Not at first anyway.

"And I like that you like it but I told Sophia I'd be there and I can't just not go," she said, her breathing becoming a bit ragged.

That was about the only thing she could have said to kill the mood. The little girl was waiting for her mama and he wasn't going to be a dick head and try to keep her from getting to her. He dropped his hands and took a small step back, just so she wasn't pressed against him so hard. Her hands, however, stayed around his neck.

"Stay here, okay. I'll try my best to get out of there quick."

He shook his head. "She's comin' home tonight. I can't be here when she gets back." He wanted to stay. Hell, he didn't have anywhere else he could go, but he wasn't about to stay here and make things really fucking complicated for that kid.

"She's gonna have to get used to you being around, Daryl. Unless you plan on only coming around when she isn't here."

The look she gave him told him that she was actually worried he'd do just that. The truth was, he hadn't really thought about that. Hell, neither of them had had time to think about anything at all. "What the hell are you gonna tell her?"

She bit her lip and then dropped her arms. "I don't know, I figured maybe you'd come up with something."

Before he could even get the words out of his mouth she pressed a finger to his lips.

"Kidding. She'll be fine. I'm not planning on hiding you and didn't you get kicked out today?"

He frowned. "How'd you know about that?"

She grinned. "Merle Dixon doesn't make threats unless he intends to follow through with them. If he told you to stay away from me or you're kicked out then I'm assuming since you're here, you're kicked out."

He scowled, his mood cooling further. "I ain't gotta stay here. I can take care of myself just fine. I think I proved that enough by now." Was she inviting him to stay here because she thought that maybe he didn't have anywhere else to go? There was no way in hell he was going to stay here if it was because she felt obligated...

"I want you here," she said, her face growing serious. "You don't have any idea what it was like to wake up and think that the one person..." She sighed heavily. "You don't know how it felt to think that I wasn't ever going to see you again. I know you need your space. I know you don't need me like that. But I need you right now. I need to know you aren't gonna disappear." She swallowed hard and looked down.

Once again he had no idea what he was suppose to say about that. He did understand, at least a little. "I woke up to you gone everyday, so don't tell me I don't know what it's like, alright," he joined her in looking down at his boots, not knowing what else to say, surprised he'd said anything at all.

"So, will you?"

He glanced up. She was looking at him with a hopeful expression on her face so he found himself nodding even though he had no idea what they were going to say to her daughter. She kissed him quickly and then grabbed her bag.

"I'll be back as soon as I can," she said over her shoulder.

As soon as she was out the door he flopped down on the couch and ran a hand through his hair. What the hell was he doing?

~H~

She couldn't help but regret leaving him there. She was still feeling light headed from his unpredictable reaction. She'd never really felt very desirable to men before. Not in years. It felt good to know that someone wanted her. And he had most definitely wanted her. There was no secret about that. It had her feeling giddy.

She felt a hand on her wrist right before she started the car. She jerked her hand out of the grip, expecting to look up into Ed's angry eyes. What she found was Daryl's smirking face. "I'm drivin'." He said as he opened the door.

She grinned and hopped out of the car. "You sure?" she asked, hoping he was.

He nodded. "Ain't gonna promise I wont tell Lori to fuck off but I'm in. As long as that's what you want."

"That's what I want. But please don't tell Lori to fuck off," she caught his face between her hands, "Please."

"I done told ya, I ain't gonna promise a damn thing," he said, and she could tell he meant it. At least maybe he would still try.

She kept looking over at him on the way there. She had to give him directions. He didn't seem to be upset about going with her anymore. Of course, this meant that they would have to spend more time there than she had planned. Hopefully since she would be there to help it would be ready faster and they could eat and leave. She didn't know what she was going to say to Sophia. She had not a clue.

Once they got there Carol was happy to see that Lori, with a strange expression on her face, greeted them both warmly. She had the nagging suspicion that Lori felt that strange familiarity with Daryl as she had with Carol herself. Rick stared at him also but she didn't worry about Daryl saying anything to the other man because Daryl was doing the same thing.

The men regarded each other for a long time before Rick finally reached for Daryl's hand and then shook it for much longer than necessary.

"Carol, you look amazing," Lori said with a smile. She had Carol's hand and led her towards the kitchen. Carol hadn't wanted to leave Daryl alone with Rick but if she had to get through this on her own then surely he could too. Shane wasn't there yet so that was a plus.

Carol was comfortable in a kitchen. Any kitchen. It didn't matter who it belonged too. Lori told her what needed to be done, where to find everything and then, after handing her an apron, they both went to work. It was almost like it had been on the farm. They both fell into a comfortable groove as they prepared the meal.

Sophia and Carl were out in the back yard. Carol was eager to see the girl but she wasn't going to smother her, even if she really wanted too.

"Carol, I really want to apologize for earlier," Lori said as she leaned her hip into the counter and crossed her arms over her chest. "I instantly judged your friend and it wasn't right. I hadn't ever met the man and I don't like people thinking I'm one of those types."

Carol glanced up and shrugged. "I think it's just a natural thing to do. I would have done it myself before my accident."

Lori was quiet for a long time but Carol could still feel her eyes on her. When she finally spoke her voice was low. "Carol. Can I ask you a question?"

The tone of her voice had Carol looking up, frowning. "Sure. Is everything all right?"

Lori laughed, a little nervously but it died quickly, as did the smile on her face that was obviously forced. "Why do I feel like I know you already? You and Sophia both. Even Daryl."

Carol felt her pulse quicken. What should she tell her? They couldn't come right out and start discussing walkers and the end of the world. That hadn't worked out so well with Merle. "I don't know."

Lori met her eyes and Carol was surprised to see that there were tears there that were threatening to spill over. "I dreamed the strangest thing last night," she said as she dabbed at her eyes. "And it was strange because it felt so real. You and Sophia were there, Carl and Shane. There were even people there that I didn't know. And one of them was Daryl. Rick was... Rick was gone and Shane got Carl and I out of town." Her voice broke there at the end and Carol couldn't help but wrap her arms around Lori's thin frame. Lori hugged her back. "There were people eating people. We..."

Carol shooshed her and ran a comforting hand up and down her back. She didn't know what to say. Lori was dreaming the same thing Daryl had dreamed. She was seeing the life that Carol had actually lived.

"Have you said anything to Rick?" Carol asked as Lori as she pulled away.

"He woke up in such a weird mood that I didn't want to tell him. He's been jumpy all day. He even cut their fishing trip short. Him and Shane got into an argument over nothing. I don't even know if Shane is coming tonight."

"I think we should finish cooking dinner and try to enjoy our evening and forget about everything else for a while."

Lori gave her a weak smile. "You're right. I feel ridiculous even telling you about all this."

"Don't," Carol said quickly.

Lori nodded and turned to the stove, checking the roast. Carol's head was reeling at the news of this strange dream but she wasn't granted the time to dwell on it. Sophia and Carl bounded into the kitchen, laughing and carrying on. It was so good to see the smile on her daughters face.

When Sophia caught sight of her she stopped in her tracks, her eyes widening. "Mom! You look beautiful," she said as a different kind of grin graced her lips.

Lori glanced over her shoulder. "I thought the same thing."

Carol flushed and then busied herself with a pie crust. "Thank you."

Just then the men decided to make an appearance. Shane was with them and it was the same Shane she remembered from the quarry. This wasn't the tortured soul from the farm.

"Oh, Carol, this is Rick's partner, Shane Walsh. Shane, this is Carol Peletier," Lori introduced them as she wiped her hands on a towel.

Carol searched his face in case maybe he ,too, would act strangely upon seeing her. His gaze swept over her but there was nothing questioning in the look. He was simply a man that was meeting a woman for the first time. He gave no indication that she was a familiar face to him. "I gotta say, Carol. I'm damn glad to see you lookin' as well as you do. When we rolled up on that crash we wasn't even sure if you'd..."

"Shane!" Lori snapped.

Shane's dark eyes slid over and met Lori's then he flashed Carol a crooked grin. "I'm glad to see that you've made yourself one hell of a recovery."

Carol nodded, not missing the narrowed eyed look that Daryl was giving him behind his back. "It's nice to finally meet you Shane," she said with a smile and then offered him her hand. She watched him when he took her hand but still there was nothing but that cocky grin.

She looked up and saw the expression on Daryl's face then and she was instantly filled with guilt, until she remembered that she hadn't been the one to force him to come. He had spotted Sophia and from the looks of it Sophia had spotted him. She looked from one face to the other as they studied one another. He looked like someone had punched him in the stomach, Sophia looked like she was seeing a ghost.

What the hell was going on here?

"Daryl?" Sophia whispered after the rest of them noticed the pair acting so strange.

He nodded and his face softened slightly.

"How did you know that?" Lori asked in a near whisper.

Sophia didn't take her eyes off of Daryl. The air in the room seemed to grow thick, like a strange humidity that left a slight chill on their skin.

"I've dreamed about you. I was lost and no matter how far I ran I couldn't find my mom. You were lookin' for me even though you were hurt. You didn't stop looking until one of those things got me and... you..." To everyone's surprise Carl reached out and grabbed Sophia's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.

Lori had covered her mouth with her hand, tears threatening to spill over again. Rick had sat down heavily in one of the kitchen chairs, his hands clasped tightly together as he stared off at nothing. Carol had a lump in her throat the size of Ed's fist and Shane, well, he was looking at all of them like they were insane but he was smart enough to not say a word.

"Didn't do much good in the end kid. I didn't find ya in time," Daryl said in a voice that contained as much pain as Carol had ever heard before.

Sophia shook her head, the corner of her mouth turning up. "You did more for me than my daddy ever did his whole life. Don't forget that."