When Daryl woke up in the morning he saw two big blue eyes staring at him. He heard a giggle and saw the bright smile. She was missing two teeth and it just made her smile even more cuter.
"Morning Daryl!" She said with another giggle.
Daryl sat up and scooped her up and sat her next to him.
"Morning Sophia!" Daryl responded with just as much enthusiasm as she had. He smiled and she giggled. It was a cute giggle kinda like the one you hear in a movie. Not scary movie either.
"Sophia I told you not to wake him up." Carol said walking into the living room from the bathroom.
"I didn't!" Sophia said.
"She didn't I woke up all on my own." Daryl responded. His stomach growled and he wanted some breakfast. "You guys like cereal. I have Fruit Loops. I don't really make breakfast." Daryl said as he got up from the couch.
"Mommy I want Cinnamon pancakes!" Sophia said jumping up and down.
"Did you say cinnamon pancakes?" Daryl asked they both looked at him with big eyes. "I love cinnamon pancakes! They're amazing!" Daryl added.
"If you have pancake mix and cinnamon. I can make them." Carol threw in.
Daryl smiled. He was happy that Carol was here even if it had only been because of her husband.
"I would love that" Daryl said looking right into Carols eyes. She smiled.
It was such a beautiful smile. When she smiled he could barely notice the bruises or that she had a fake tooth. She was so beautiful he thought. Carol nodded and went into the kitchen Daryl followed her and got out a pan and showed her where everything was. Carol admired the close space between them. She liked it. He did too.
"One of my horses just had a baby and I was wondering If I could take Sophia out to see it while your cooking. If you don't want any help. The barn is right there and you can come out and see her too if you want." Daryl asked. He thought she wasn't the kind of mother who would just let her daughter go off somewhere with a total stranger.
"I don't need help and I think she'll love it." Carol responded. She smiled which made him smile and that was that.
Daryl told Sophia he had a surprise for her and she was jumping up and down wanting to know what it is. He smiled and picked her up and carried her out to the barn.
Daryl had 5 horses and with the new baby it was now 6. Daryl wanted Sophia to forget about everything in her life and his friend Andrea told him to have her take care of or help take care of a horse it would keep her mind occupied and slowly she would forget all the bad things that happened to her and her mama.
When Daryl showed her the pony the look on Sophia's face made the world stop.
"My horse just had her a few days ago. I want her to be yours." Daryl told Sophia. She smiled.
"Do I get to name it?" Sophia asked.
"Yep. She's all yours. I'm gonna teach ya how to take car of her when you get back from school today. But I think she needs a name." He told her.
"Clementine. Clem for short." Sophia responded. Neither one of them had noticed that Carol was now in the barn too.
"That's a beautiful name Soph" Carol said breaking the silence.
Daryl turned and smiled.
"I think it is too." Daryl told Sophia but never stopped looking at Carol.
"Breakfast is ready" Carol said not breaking eye contact with Daryl. He shook his head and Sophia lead them both out of the barn basically running to get pancakes.
After breakfast Daryl washed up the dishes while Carol got herself and Sophia ready. They would drive to The Greene family farm and drop Sophia off the go to town and take care of things with Carol.
When They got to The Greene farm Patrica came running out giving Daryl a great big hug.
"Mama Pat this is Carol Ann and Sophia Ann. Sophia would like to come to your school." Daryl said picking Sophia up and having her laugh.
"Well ain't you the cutest little thing. Of course she can come to school here. They stayin' with you?" She asked as she lead them inside the house Sophia now walking right next to Carol.
"Yep. They're gonna be there for awhile. I can tell you everything tonight when we come to pick Sophia up if you'd like. Can you make your famous hamburgers?" Daryl asked.
Patrica said yes and lead Sophia down a hall to the "classroom". But before she did that Sophia gave Carol a hug and kiss and then gave Daryl a hug.
"You're coming back right?" Sophia asked him.
"Of course. I'll always be back" Daryl told her. They both waved good bye and then headed out to Daryl's black Ford truck.
"Are you really gonna tell her everything?" Carol asked when they were driving.
"Yeah. She'll think I stole ya or something if I don't. She won't tell no one but God." Daryl told Carol after seeing the worry on her face. He reached over and held her hand. "You're safe now." Daryl told her in the calmest voice he could do.
"Thank you" She responded.
They never let each others hand go.