A\N Hey there! ^.^

Ahh! The finale was soo good! Carol was kinda a bitch, no offense, I mean I love her and all, but I don't know...but there were cute Caryl moments! Maybe some story ideas there!

M'kay so this chapter is the one everyone's been waiting for!

To Serethiel96, Thank you! I really miss Sophia as well, and its okay if you miss an update, don't worry! I loved writing their kiss! ^.^ I think Carl killed Dale, personally. I've always hated Carl, and Dale was one of my favorites, so that kinda increased the hate! xD I think they're trying to make him grow up too fast, you're right, he should have grieved for Sophia more :P

Also to Abovetherim, Thank you! I hate Shane and Andrea, but if you liked the chapters then I'm really happy!

And to Crimson Fingertips, Thank you! I truly love writing this story and writing for all the characters ^.^

Also to Salvatore, Thank you! Well here's the chapter and there were a few really cute Caryl moments in there! :D

Finally to jaded79, I really wish they kill off Sophia, she was too cute! Thank you, and your reason about Dale was right too, he probably felt so guilty about not siding with him, and then the poor man died! :'(

So here it is!

Disclaimer: I don't own this, I suck, blah blah freakity blah!

Here it is! ^.^

Daryl

Maybe God hated Daryl, maybe he was pissed because he never bothered going to church. Whatever the case was, karma or God, Daryl Dixon had a terrible life. His father made him feel like the worst piece of shit in the world, and Merle didn't help. His Momma died when he was seven years old. Doctor said she died of cancer.

Daryl thought it was depression.

Life seemed utterly pointless to Daryl. No, he'd never thought of suicide, but if there was so much pain and remorse, why bother? Daryl really didn't have a reason. He glided through life, mindlessly did everything Merle ordered him to do, everything his Papa wanted him to do, and everything he felt they'd like him to do. But that changed, when he met two people that changed his life.

Sophia was small to him, and he thought he was going to crush her the first time he saw her. She was the only one he didn't glare at, and he didn't know why. Merle told him glaring initiated a fight, and fights were good. That way Daryl could prove he wasn't a pussy. But when Sophia was around him, he found his stance to be less menacing and his scowl was a bit softer than normal.

"Mr. Dixon?" A soft, squeaky voice asked. Daryl almost didn't hear it. He stepped away from his tent, as he was just about to head off with Rick, the black guy (Daryl didn't bother to learn his name), and Glenn. He looked about her, his scowl new on his face, and his clothes clean.

"What?" He snapped, scaring the girl a bit. Her small stance faltered as she looked up at him with an intrigued look upon her face. Daryl hated how little and scrawny she was, he hated that with one push of a finger, he could easily knock her down. It made him wonder if he was ever that tiny, his memories of his life were always filled with him mercilessly beating someone, or him getting mercilessly beat up. He was strong. She had a childhood.

"Will you do somethin' for me?" She asked quietly, not looking into his narrowed eyes. He scoffed and sadistically smiled at her.

"Why the hell do ya think yur so special?" He hissed, his spit full of disdain as he spewed the cold words to her. She looked crushed, but she didn't leave, which surprised Daryl. He had never talked to a kid before, and now here she was in front of him, not backing away.

"I don't, but I think...well..." She struggled for words as she fidgeted with her fingers. Her focus was on the ground, not wanting to look in his eyes. Like Daryl was ugly, a monster.

And to him, he was.

"I don't think I'm special...I just think you're nicer than you give yourself credit for...and I just need a favor," She whispered, her eyes were no longer at the supportive ground, but they were staring straight into Daryl's. He was taken aback by her request and her statement.

"Like hell I'm nice," He spat, shaking his head, "My life was focused 'round two things. Merle and fightin'. Merle taught me ev'rything. From eatin', to defenin' myself. He ain't nice, he beat me up and made me feel like the worst piece of shit in the world, but that's how I got tough, that's why I fight," Though his words were full of pride and the gleam in his eye was set on his statement, his face wasn't into it. It look distressed, hurt, angry...or at least to Sophia.

"You fight 'cause you're tough?" Sophia questioned, cocking her head, "If you are so tough, then you wouldn't put up with Merle! He's mean!"

"Don't ya dare act like you know 'im! I do!" Daryl shouted back, taking a step towards her. She didn't tremor with fear like Daryl had hoped she would. Instead, she held her ground, fierce and sure of herself, though the fear was clear as day on her face.

"I do! He's selfish, piggish, and mean!" She insisted, her bright face turning a deep red. Daryl felt his face reciprocate as her words were ringing the truth and were deteriorating his ears with each syllable and sound. He tried to hide his anger, for the sake of her, but this was his brother, this was his life.

"You don't know a fuckin' thing 'bout 'im! You have yur perfect little family, and I have Merle and my Papa!" His fists were clenched and at any moment, he knew they'd swing and he would hate himself for hitting a small, vulnerable little girl. He didn't see her tears on her face, but he heard the soft squeaks and hiccups.

"My family is not perfect!" She cried out, almost like she had to, to get her point across. Daryl couldn't miss the pain and agony in her usual chipper, sweet soprano. "I know Merle because my Daddy is like Merle. He's rude and mean and he only care about himself. He hits Mommy and...and me. I know my Daddy," She breathed out slowly, still looking Daryl dead in the eye, "I know Merle," He just looked at her, not knowing how to react to her words, but his anger was seeping down and he was glad it didn't resort to violence.

"I love Merle, but I hate him. He's the only thing I got. He was my life and I'm jus' like him so ya might as well add me to yur 'Douche bag of the Century' list," He said distastefully, his face mirroring his words. Sophia had a slight smile and looked up at him with almost...admiration.

"You're nothing like him, Mr. Dixon," She reassured him, "You're quiet and nice. You protect us and though you always seem like you wanna kill someone, you don't...I really think yur nice...at least, nice than Daddy will ever be," He was beyond flattered for her words, maybe even grateful. But fuck the world if anyone thought he was going to be a pussy and tell her that. Instead, he looked at her long and hard.

"So, what's yur favor?" He asked, his stance loosening. She seemed to relax at this and smiled brightly.

"I was wondering if you would keep Mommy safe from Daddy. You're the only one that can. Shane hurt him real bad, but I know you'd do a better job than him. You'd keep Mommy safe, not yourself for selfish reasons like Shane...so please Mr. Dixon?"

"Call me Daryl," He growled. She giggled sweetly and nodded.

"Okay, Daryl," Daryl never answered her question, but he did. When the walkers came, he pushed her roughly out of the way from a particularly fast one. He searched for her everyday at camp when they searched for Sophia and he desperately held on to her when Sophia emerged, because he wanted to keep that promise. And because Daryl Dixon broke Sophia's rule to the favor. He held on to Carol because he knew she was more to him than just another group member. She was him now, and he was determined as hell to keep her.

He already lost one of the most important women in his life.

He didn't need to lose another.

~ . ~

Daryl didn't do much praying in his life. He didn't go to his mother's grave, and he was set on not going to Sophia's, but he was so confused on how exactly Carol got him to diligently follow her to Sophia's grave. Her face was full of compassion and life when she wanted to visit her grave, Daryl just couldn't say no, he couldn't crush Carol's spirit like that. When they sat in front of her grave, Carol prayed, her eyes squeezed shut and her hands going white with how much force she put into her hands in the folded position.

He awkwardly sat before it and silently said something, 'Little girl. You were the strangest thing I've ever met in my life. I risked my life for you, 'cause I couldn't afford to forget my promise to you...and I shoulda told you, that I would die to save you too, not jus' yur Momma. But, I'm gonna save Carol now, Lord knows I'll die if she does. I've gotten in too deep with her, I'm feeling shitty things all 'cause you needed a favor. But...I ain't regretful of our talk, and I sure as hell ain't regrettin' meetin' yur Momma. I guess what I'm sayin' is, I'm gonna keep the promise I made to you. You and your Momma were the best thing that happened to me in this shitty world. So rest little girl, I'm gonna save her,"

As Carol gave him a watery smile, he pulled her close and let her cry in him as he stared upon the grave knowing he'd save Carol's life way before he'd ever save his. Maybe it was because he made a promise to a little girl, or perhaps his life was so shitty, there wasn't a point in saving it. Whatever it was, he knew one thing.

God had a cruel way of making someone's life shitty and taking such a bright little girl's...

Too soon.

A\N I hope you liked it! :D Next chapter is Momma Bear's...and the last one! :'( There are so many things I wanna say about this story, but I'll wait until the next chapter!

Please review and tell me what you think! ^.^

'Til next time! :)