All You Leave Behind

by Lynnth2014

Carol's on the run from a mistake in her recent past, but the only place she can go has the man she ran from originally. She had to find somewhere safe for her daughter, and that meant going home, back to her friends and family, back where they would find happiness. But with light, there is always dark, and he was Carol's. He would find them, it was only a matter of time.

31. Ready Or Not

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

––

"No, no, no, no!"

Phillip looked with wide, horrified eyes as Caesar tried to push him away, but he was locked into place. He couldn't move, couldn't breath, couldn't even blink. He wanted to run over to her, but he just couldn't make his body move. Caesar probably wouldn't let him move if he was able.

They had a 10-45. Blake and Martinez were heading to the location, because it was just a 10-45. It wasn't supposed to be like this. It wasn't supposed to be her. Oh, dear God, why was it her? He knew something was wrong, but he kept praying that it was just that she'd left him for not listening, for not choosing her and Penny instantly. It would've been so much better if she'd just left him and she was just getting things—an apartment, a new school, a car Phillip wouldn't be able to find, change her name maybe—settled before she came for Penny. It would've been so much better if she had just left him. She would still be alive, and he wouldn't have to arrest his brother for murder.

"What the hell is Blake doing here?" The captain demanded to know. "Get him the hell out of here!"

"Get your partner out of here!" one of the detective shouted at Martinez. "Now!"

They'd found some of Elizabeth's body that night and were digging around...for the rest of her. Her face hadn't been damaged, so they knew who it was. They just didn't realize they'd sent Phillip to the crime scene until it was too late.

"C'mon, Phillip, let's go." He jerked on his arm. "Don't look. Don't look!"

It was too late for that. It was exceedingly too late for that. He'd seen his wife head resting in gravel about twenty feet from her right arm and her foot was about ten feet from her torso that was half buried with her left arm still attached, the finger that held her rings had been removed. They hadn't recovered it yet. They hadn't recovered it yet. They hadn't recovered it yet. They hadn't recovered it yet.

––

It'd been two weeks since Karen arrived. She was doing quite well, although sometimes Daryl heard her sobbing in her room when he walked by. She was planning on moving into the summerhouse in a few days, because she didn't want to go back to their house. It was too much, and she didn't want Ed to try and hurt her, because she didn't want to put her baby at risk. She also didn't contact any of Milton's family, and she'd blended her phone so they couldn't try to contact her—she promised to buy them a new blender later. He didn't care. They didn't even use it. It was a wedding gift. He was surprised the damn thing still worked.

Carol had been training more and more with Maggie when she had free time. She had made a place for Milton in her heart and mourned him a little each day. She was there for Karen, even went to her first doctor's appointment with her—everything look really good—and she'd even gone shopping for clothes with Karen since she didn't have any here. She had some in the summerhouse, but she wasn't ready to go there just yet. There were too many memories of Milton there, she said. Carol wondered how she was going to live there if she couldn't even go there for clothes.

Sophia's name and birth certificate had been changed, much to her delight—she went around telling everybody she was officially a Dixon—and Carol had held off on changing her name. She couldn't think which name suited her anymore. She'd changed so much, so she wasn't a Harrison or a Greene anymore really. She was never a Horvath. She was just last-nameless. She went by Greene mostly, just out of a habit.

Daryl peered in on Carol. She hadn't left bed all morning, but he heard giggling from time to time, and he knew Sophia wasn't home. Karen had taken her out, because she needed to be with someone as innocent and happy as Sophia and something else about maternal instincts. He was too busy having Carol scare the shit out of him to listen to Karen. Who the hell had her laughing?

"What the hell are you doin'?" He finally asked.

"Beth." She sat up. "She keeps texting me." She smiled a little. "And Mag too."

"Well, thank God. I thought you'd lost your damn mind."

"No. I just stayed up too late last night, so I've been asleep mostly." She crawled over to him. "I thought you were working today."

"I'm 'bout to head out."

She nodded. "I'm going to take a shower and speak with Dale. There's something I need to do."

"Are you ever gonna get a gift for Sasha? That shower thing is coming up soon, isn't it?"

"Yes, it is. I've already gotten her gift." She stepped off the bed. "It's for the twins, not her, but still."

"What is it?"

"You know how I've been knitting lately." He nodded. "I made two little bears. A purple one and a blue one. They're so cute and really soft. I used black for the eyes, which was hard to do, so I hope she likes them. I hope the babies like them."

"I'm sure she and the twins will."

She kissed him. "Get to work. I will see you tonight."

He nodded.

"Unless you want to join me." She arched a brow, smirking teasingly.

"Don't got time."

She checked the time on her phone. "I have to meet Dale in half in hour. I'm going to be late. Damn it!" She ran into the bathroom, and he chuckled. She poked her head out. "You know what, Daryl, just go to work!"

He shook his head and left the house, going to the shop.

– – –

Amy and Felix walked through town after rehearsals, both thoroughly pleased with how well today's rehearsals went. Paige was spending time with Dale, and they were picking her up for dinner in a few hours. Amy adored Felix. He was just the greatest guy she'd ever met, and she was so glad Paige liked him too. He was going to be in their lives for a long time, she hoped.

"I can wait for opening night. I'm just so excited."

"Are your parents coming?" He looked at her.

"They say they will, but I doubt they will." One of the last times she performed before she ran away, they didn't make it. She knew they missed one, because Ethan had just died, and they were too heartbroken to leave the house. They couldn't tell the girls why their eyes were rimmed with red or why they didn't eat much, because they wanted to respect his wish. She completely understood that, and she didn't blame them anymore for missing her performance. Still, she just knew they wouldn't make it. They never did.

"They'll come." He nudged his arm into hers. "You'll have to introduce me."

"Oh, right away. I can't let them say one word to me until they've met you."

He laughed, and she rolled her eyes.

"How's Paige doing?"

"What do you mean?"

"She told me she saw Merle hanging around your house. How does she feels about that creep being around?" He searched her eyes. "She—Oh, shit. I didn't know she didn't tell you."

She frowned. Merle's been hanging around the house? When? She never saw him. After they slept together a couple weeks ago, she tried to call him once, but he never answered. She figured he assumed she wanted more, so she stopped trying to call him. She didn't want more. She had a lot. She had Fee and her daughter and family. So why was he lurking? "That's a little creepy. I'll have to talk to him about it."

"I guess he wants you back," he suggested. "Should I be worried? About the drugs?"

"Fee, we talked about Merle. That was one of the first things we talked about at the start of our relationship, so no. Merle doesn't do the "back" thing. Once you're gone, you're gone. He's just a guy who used to give me pills, but not anymore, I promise."

"All right, let's talk about something else. We shouldn't raise your blood pressure."

"Oh, ha ha." He smirked. "I want to buy a house sometime soon, so will you come with me?" She moved hair out of her eyes. "You'll probably be over there a lot anyway."

He smiled. "Yeah, I'll help."

"Thank you."

They walked to where they were picking up Paige, Dale had a meeting in a few minutes, so they wouldn't be able to speak to him. Felix had already met Dale and Andrea. They'd had dinner with them a few nights ago, and they both really liked him. Amy was so relieved. All there was next were her parents. They were all going out to dinner after her—their performance, and she was nervous about how they would take to him. She wanted them to get along, because he was important to her.

"Uncle Felix!" Paige hopped off the bench and ran over to him.

He scooped her up. "Oh, you're getting bigger and bigger each time I see you." He smiled.

"I missed you." She smiled back at him.

"I missed you too."

Amy grinned at the sight of them. "Are you ready for dinner?"

"Uh-huh." She nodded. "Dale went inside already. I was waiting with Pat."

Amy turned and waved at Pat before she disappeared inside. "How does Mexican sound? I am craving something spicy."

"Me too." Fee set Paige down the ground and took her hand. "How does that sound to you, Paige?"

"All right." She gripped her mom's hand. "Can we get ice cream afterward?"

"This is your doing," Amy told him. "Every time we go out, she expects ice cream, and when I say no, I get "But Felix let me"."

He laughed. "I regret nothing."

"Fine, but when she's older and wants expensive shoes and dresses, I'll say, "Felix will get them for you"." She smirked.

"And I will."

She shook her head. "Let's go, and Uncle Felix can pay for the ice cream."

"And you'll owe me." He smirked back at her smugly.

––

Amy rolled over in bed to look at Fee as rained poured down outside, and he looked over at her. The only one sleep was Paige, who was passed out in between them. They just came back here after dinner and it started raining, so they just stayed over. He didn't mind. It wouldn't be the first time.

"Thank you," she whispered softly.

"What for?" He searched her eyes.

"For just being you." She reached over and clasped his hand.

"I don't know who else to be."

She smiled. "Good. Don't ever change then."

"Yes, Master." She giggled softly at wide-eyed expression paired with the monotone voice. "Go to sleep, Am. It's late, and we have a long day ahead of us tomorrow."

She closed her eyes. "Good night, Fee."

"Night, Am."

––

"She's going to love it," Carol spoke to Dale over the phone, brushing her hair.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?"

"Yes, I'm positive." She crossed her legs, setting her brush on the nightstand. "I need to do something good."

"What does that mean?"

"Nothing. It's just—I'm exhausted, so who knows what I'm saying?" She laughed. "I'm going to put some coffee on. I will see you at three."

"At three then."

"Bye, Dale."

"Goodbye."

She hung up and glanced over at Daryl, tucking hair behind her ear. She slipped out of bed, changed out of her nightclothes and into a dress and boots. She checked in on Karen, finding her sleeping peacefully for once, her hand on her stomach—something she'd been doing since she discovered she was pregnant. Carol scooped up the quilt Karen had kicked to the floor and covered her with it then checked in one Sophia, finding her beautiful little girl sleeping deeply, Dee Dee to the right and Ethan to the left.

She left the house and felt someone watching her. She glanced over through her hair to make it appear as if she wasn't actually looking around, but there wasn't anybody there. She shook the feeling and got into her car. She had quite a lot to do today. She had to work the Greene Leaf, meet Dale at three to discuss what she wanted to do with her share of her father's inheritance, and then she had buy something nice for Amy's debut in a couple weeks. She didn't have anything really nice, and she wanted to look her best.

She was going to make Karen go too. She rarely when anywhere and had fun. She spent time with Sophia, but Sophia would tell her that Aunt Karen always looked sad. Carol knew what Karen really needed was to go to Milton's funeral, which had been delayed because nobody claimed his body. She went to the morgue, but she couldn't go all the way. She ran out, and they eventually contacted his parents when they realized his wife wasn't coming to claim him. They were having him cremated and spreading his ashes in a few days. Karen said she wasn't going, said she couldn't be around his family. She couldn't force Karen onto a plane though. She might have to try. For Milton, she would try.

Carol unlocked the Greene Leaf and was immediately shoved inside by someone. She groaned and fell to her knees, and before she could get up, someone grabbed her elbow and hauled her to her feet. She couldn't get a look at the person, because it was still dark in the Greene Leaf and dark outside even. She'd come in early to check on supplies and get a really good cup of coffee then buy any supplies that they were running low on. No one knew she would be here, not even Daryl.

She could tell by the shape of the hand that grabbed her and by the smell, it was a man. She had pepper spray inside her purse, but it had been knocked to the ground with her, so she would have to fight. She could and would fight, just like Maggie taught her.

The man slammed her into the counter, grabbing her hands instantly and pinning then down onto the counter, and he used leg to stop her from kicking. She struggled to get free as he tightened a belt around her wrists, and she grunted, trying her hardest to get free, but he was strong. He slipped another belt around her knees, holding her by the back of her neck as he tightened and buckled the belt.

"This isn't personal," he told her, his hot breath brushing against her ear.

"Who are you?" she demanded. "What do you want?"

"All you need to know is this isn't personal." He pulled a needle out of his pocket, she saw it in the corner of her eye, and he removed the cap.

"Please—I have a daughter. She's only five years old. Please, don't do this."

"Shhh." He ran a hand down her back. "Shh. Just breathe. Count with me. It'll be so quick. One."

"Please." She spoke through clenched teeth.

He grabbed the back of her hair, ripping her away from the counter, she cried out, and he smacked her face into the cash register. "I said count. One!"

She groaned loudly, feeling warm blood on her temple, her jaw ached, and she saw black spots in her eyes. She tried to clear her vision as pain throbbed against her temple, and she saw the a blade by the register. It was from Shawn, she knew by the brownie crumbs on the blade. He always stole a well-sized chuck of brownie for him and Sasha to have and the jerk always left the knife out.

When she didn't say one, he punched her hard in the back, jerking her forward, and she cried out. He gripped her neck, and she felt him moving hair so that he could stab the needle into her neck. She grabbed the blade of the knife, cutting herself as she gripped it, and she turned it around to the black hilt.

"One," she managed after a second, and his fingers stopped messing with her hair.

"Two."

She slouched back on the counter so that her ass was against his pelvis, gripping the knife tightly in both hands. "Two." She felt him shift his weight, she shifted all of her weight to the left and licked at the blood in the corner of her mouth. "Three!" She slammed her weight into his pelvis to allow herself to move then thrust the knife into his hip as it was the only point she could reach before she fell to the ground.

"Ah!" he cried out, stumbling back, his fingers gripping the locket and yanking it off her neck.

She collapsed onto the floor when his body moved away from hers. She instantly worked on the belt around her knees, because with her legs free, she could kick this son of a bitch where it hurt. The sound of grunting suddenly vanished, she looked up and he was gone. She ran her eyes over the Greene Leaf, her heart pumping rapidly in her chest and her breaths leaving in whooshes as adrenaline coursed through her. There were no signs that he had been there, but she noticed a few drops of blood on the floor. That was all that was left of him.

"What the hell?" She jerked her legs out of the belt and kicked it away, trying to calm her heart. She managed to stand up, groaning at the pain that exploded in her forehead. Oh, God. She sucked in a breath through her teeth. Who the hell was that? She didn't even get a good look at his face. She just knew that he smelled like coffee and earth. She grabbed the phone just inside the door to the kitchen and started to press 9 then stopped. What good would calling the police do? She didn't see his face. She didn't know who he might be. She had no idea who might want to hurt her that lived here. She had no idea who would send him either. Ed wouldn't let someone else take her out. He would want to do it herself, so who sent this asshole?

She swallowed, feeling blood drip down her face. She needed medical attention one way or another, and next time, it might be Jacqui here or Molly. Was she really going to put them at risk just because she didn't want to deal with the police? No, never. She called the police. She wasn't going to endanger them.

Twenty minutes later, Carol in the back of an ambulance, wincing as the paramedic cleaned off blood from her temple. She'd given her statement to the police, they got the blood and a partial print off the belt around her knees, but there oddly weren't any on the belt he'd wrapped around her wrists. She knew if he wasn't in the system, it wouldn't do they much good.

"This guy knew what he was doin'." Rick shook his head. "His prints probably won't flag a match, but I promise you, we will find him. The bakery next door has cameras, so does the Greene Leaf. We'll look over the video, and we'll get him."

Maggie pushed through the officers and ran over to Carol. "Oh, thank God." She hugged her. "I heard about what happened. Are you all right?"

"Yes and no." She pointed to her forehead then her lip. "And I have a bruise the size of a soccer ball on my back, but I'm alive."

"Your wrists." Maggie paled. "Oh, God."

"They don't hurt. I hardly feel any pain."

"What'd they give you?" Maggie suddenly realized how calm Carol was.

"A slight sedative," Rick answered. "She'll be in pain when it wears off."

"I'll take her home."

"I called Daryl, left a message." He set a hand on Maggie's shoulder. "We need you here to help keep people back, calm 'em down."

She looked at her sister and nodded. "I'll be back later with something for you to drink." She squeezed Carol's hand then went to handle to the crowd that was forming.

"Get better," Rick instructed. "And don't drive. Wait until Daryl gets here."

––

Fifteen minutes later, Maggie sat Carol down in her backseat and gave her a glass of water from the Greene Leaf, and Carol set it against her burning temple, groaning. Maggie tried to get some food in her, but Carol said no. She wasn't hungry. Her mouth ached from the head bash into the cash register.

"Daryl will be here soon. Even if he didn't get the message, Shane went to go get him."

"Is he bringing Sophia?" She lowered the glass. "I don't want her to see me like this."

"But she will. You can't not go home."

She swallowed. "They won't find this guy."

"That's not true!"

"Maggie, come on." She looked at her sister. "He could've killed me after I stabbed him, because I was still bound and he had the knife, but he didn't. He knew his blood was useless to them, so he went back to regroup. He's going to find me when I'm alone and try again."

"No. You're not gonna be alone. You'll have somebody with you at all times, and—"

"Mag, I think he can take on two people easily."

"Then you carry a gun." She locked eyes with Carol. "You carry it in an ankle holster, and if he gets you alone, shoot him in the leg, just disable him and call us. He won't get you. I promise."

"Get off of me!" Daryl's voice boomed. "Get outta the way!"

"Let him by," Rick told the officer. "He's with me."

"Where is she?"

"In her car with Maggie. Right through there."

He ran over to them, Carol peeked up at him from where she sat in the backseat, and he didn't see anything really wrong, just that her cheek and jaw were a swollen. He reached down and gently gripped her chin, turned her head. Her pale skin was starting to bruise at the temple, and she had a bandage on her temple with a cut to the corner of her mouth.

"Who did this?" Daryl demanded, his voice tight.

"We don't know." Maggie took the glass of water. "We're looking over the cameras from Yumi's bakery and the Greene Leaf. We can only hope we get a clean shot. It was dark, and there were no witnesses."

"Did he say anythin'?" Daryl looked over and saw her wrists. "Jesus."

"He said it wasn't personal." Carol licked her bottom lip. "I don't know why he said it."

Daryl saw her legs and let out a soft exhaled.

Maggie saw Rick motion for her, so she exited the car and hurried over to him.

"What else?" Daryl brushed his thumb over her knee gently. "Did he hurt you anywhere else?"

"Just my back, but I'll be all right." She moved his hand off her knee. "Where's Sophia?"

"In bed still. I left her with Karen."

"Did you tell her what happened?"

He shook his head. "She woke me up 'cause my phone kept ringin'. I listened to the message then found Shane at the door. He drove me here." He still wore his night clothes of sweats and a gray t-shirt. "How are you feelin'?"

"Sore. I just want to go home and soak in the tub for an hour then meet Dale and buy a dress."

"You ain't really gonna meet him today."

"Yes, I am. I'll be fine, Daryl. I handled myself in there quite well, in fact."

"I know you did, but what if he comes back?"

"I'm installing better cameras in the shop, and probably some alarm system." She rubbed her arm.

"Lemme come with you."

"No." She shook her head. "You have to work, and I don't need a babysitter. Trust me to protect myself, okay?"

"I do, but...I can't lose you."

She smiled. "You won't." She caressed his cheek with her thumb. "I would kiss you, but—"

He leaned up and kissed her forehead gently, and she closed her eyes for a second. "Let's get you home."

She moved into the passenger seat, Daryl gave her his jacket to cover herself in, because she kept shivering, and he drove them home. Karen was pacing the first floor when they came home, and she paled at the sight of Carol's face.

"Oh, my God."

"I'm okay." Carol held her hands out. "It was just... I don't know. Someone attacked me, but I'm stabbed him and clearly lived, so don't worry."

"Who did this?" Karen stared at the nasty bruise along Carol's face.

"I didn't see his face. All I know it that my attacker was a man. I managed to get some blood from him when I stabbed him, so let's hope it flags a match."

"I'll draw you a bath and put one some tea."

"Screw the tea. Can I have wine or something?"

She smiled. "Okay, I'll get you some wine."

"Thank you." Carol shrugged off Daryl's jacket, hanging it up on the hook. "I'm going to talk to Sophia, explain what happened."

Daryl kissed the top of her head. "Let me."

"No, I have this." She headed upstairs and to Sophia's bedroom, seeing the light on. She opened the door and saw Sophia on the bed, her head sweeping up the minute the door opened and she gasped. "Hey."

"Mommy, what happened?!"

"Good afternoon." Carol bent down beside Sophia's bed. "How are you?"

"I'm fine. Mommy, what happened to your face?" Sophia reached out to touch it, but stopped short. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. There was a break-in at the Greene Leaf, but I stopped him. This is just a little bruise. I'll be fine. It's worse than it looks."

"It looks really, really bad. Does it hurt?"

"It does, but I'm wearing it with pride. It means that I survived."

Sophia frowned. "Did the police get him?"

"Not yet, but they will." She grasped Sophia's hands. "So until then, I need you to be extra careful. I want you to listen to your father and to Karen and don't wander off, all right? You only speak to people you know or that I know. Promise me."

"I promise."

"That's my girl." She kissed her forehead lightly. "I'm going to meet Dale at three. Do you want to come with me?"

She nodded.

"Great." She smiled a little. "I'm getting a bath, so if you need anything, get Daryl or Karen."

"Okay." She leaned over and kissed her mom's forehead. "Feel better."

Carol's heart tugged. "Aww, I will." She hugged her little girl tightly then released her and went to the bathroom, where Karen was adding soap to the hot water. "It smells good in here."

"That would be the lavender." She stood up. "It'll relax you."

"Thank you." Carol bent down to unzip her boots.

"Was it Ed?"

She met Karen's eyes. "No. I don't know if it had anything to do with Ed, to be honest. I mean, why sent someone else to kill me? Was his plan to have this man drug me and take me back to Ed? Was this man just going to kill me?"

"If Ed did send him, he won't leave until he has you. Alive or unconscious."

"I know. That's why I'm going to strike first." She closed the bathroom door once she made sure Daryl wasn't listening. "We're going back for Milton's funeral, and I'm going to have a word with Ed."

"You can't be serious, Carol. He'll kill you!"

"He may try to, but I won't let him put my child and husband at risk. Or you and your unborn child. I've put too many of my loved ones in danger. I won't do it anymore."

"Husband?"

"What?" Carol stared at her.

"You just called Daryl your husband."

"Boyfriend—Daryl—whatever! You know who I'm talking about!"

"You want to marry him again?" Karen leaned against the counter, watching the water as it filled the tub.

"That's not what we're talking. I refuse to let Ed do this to me any longer. I will not live in fear. I'm sick of fear. Ed will no longer ruin my life!"

"Shh, Sophia will hear you." She shut the water off. "Just bathe. We'll talk later, honey." She rubbed her arm then left the bathroom.

She groaned and ran her hands through her hair, wincing at the pain it caused. She groaned and glanced over, seeing her face in the mirror and looking away. She removed her shoes and shimmed out of her dress. She turned and looked at the bruise on her back, sweeping her hair over her shoulder and groaning at the sight of it. Damn, his fist was massive.

She set her dress and underclothes in the hamper, stepping into the tub and sitting down. "Hmm." She hugged her arms, not wanting to lean back, because of the bruise that would surely hit the back of the tub.

The door opened, she glanced over, and Daryl entered, closing the door behind him.

"What are you doing?" She started to rise, but he shook his head. "What is it?"

"Nothin'." He stopped by the sink. "Called Hershel, told him what happened."

"What did he say?"

"Wished you well and told you to rest up. He doesn't want you to work the Leaf for a while."

"Doesn't want me to work or anybody?" She studied his face. "He wants me to close it for a while, doesn't he?"

"Yeah."

"Fantastic! That's just fantastic!" she grumbled bitterly. "Let's take away the other only thing I have to do with my life, because I got attacked. Why can't you two understand that I held my own? For once, I protected myself in a good way! I look like I didn't, but I did!"

"I am proud of you."

"Really? Because you're not even looking at me." She pulled her legs in. "I know my face is puffy, but it's not festering with infection."

He smirked. "I am proud." He walked over and sat beside her. "C'mere, turn around."

She turned in the tub so that her backed faced him, he snatched up her body wash and squirted some onto his hands. She inhaled deeply when he began to gently massage her shoulders, and she shuddered a little, but not because she didn't like it.

"That feel good?"

"Yeah." She closed here eyes as his long fingers kneaded at the knots in her shoulders, and she moaned softly. "Heh, you should join me in here. My feet and legs could use massaged as well," she teased.

He snorted a little. "You wish."

She set her hand on her chest and frowned, her eyes opening. She gasped and shot up. "Oh, my God, my locket!" She gripped her throat. "He—he took my locket! No! No, no, no, no, no!"

Daryl dipped his hands into the water and rose. "Your necklace?"

"He—he must have taken it! He grabbed it when he fell, and—and I forgot about it. I was trying to get free. Oh, my God, no!" Tears burned in her eyes. "I have to go back. Maybe—maybe he didn't take it. Maybe it slid somewhere!"

He watched her dry off, wiping off the body wash, and she hurried down the hall with the towel around her. He frowned and followed her, she was already dressed by the time he got into their room, and she ran out of the room. "Carol, slow down!" He chased after her. "Carol, stop!"

"No!" She was out the front door without another word.

"What the hell?" Karen blinked. "Where's she going?"

"Back to the Greene Leaf. He took her necklace." He continued after Carol, barely catching her before she pulled out, and he hopped into the car. "Drive carefully, please."

She gunned it to the Greene Leaf, and since all of the cops were trying to find her attacker, she luckily didn't get pulled over. She barely stopped the car before she slid out and ran into the Greene Leaf. He made sure every brake was properly employed then ambled in as she dropped to her knees and looked under the counter.

"Carol?" He flicked the lights on, bending down to look for her locket.

"What?" Panicked filled her voice as she crawled around, desperately trying to find it.

"What's so special 'bout the locket?" He moved a plant aside, checking behind it.

"It's the one you gave me with my engagement ring inside." She wiped her nose as her eyes burned. "It has a little bit of Ethan's hair, and—and the engagement ring too. Where is it?" She blinked hard to try and clear her vision. "Please, please, be here."

They searched the Greene Leaf, looking everywhere from the plants to the dusty space under the counter. It wasn't there, and Daryl knew she wasn't going to stop looking. That asshole took it with him went he stumbled out, and Carol wasn't going to accept that.

He set a hand on her shoulder. "Carol?"

"No!" She looked at him with misty eyes. "It's here! I know it's here." Her voice broke. "It has to be here. He can't have it. He can't; I refuse!"

"It ain't here."

She whimpered and sat back on her heels. "That's all I have left. It can't be gone. What if he doesn't come back? What if the police don't find him, Daryl?" Tears ran down her cheeks, and he pulled her into his arms. "What if I never get it back?" she sobbed.

That locket had been with her for seven years, holding a few locks of Ethan's hair and her engagement ring from her marriage to Daryl and her now the cross her mom had given her. It was everything she ever needed jewelry wise. If she could grab one replaceable thing ever, say there was a fire and she had time to grab one thing, she would grab that. It was the most important thing to her that wasn't alive! And it was gone...

––

"Bill, bill, bill." Shawn tossed the stick to the Toosie Pop he was eating into the yard as he headed inside. "Oh, and bill." He set his camera bag on the floor and dropped the mail into the basket.

"Shawn?"

"Yes?" He looked over and saw a look of discomfort on his wife's face. "What is it?"

"Something feels weird, Shawn." She had a hand on her stomach and another on the couch, clutching it tightly. "It's not a good weird. I don't—Ah!"

"Okay, umm I have no idea what to say, nor do I want to waste time guessing, so we'll go to the hospital. I'm positive everything's all right, but let's just be sure."

"Are you sure it'll be all right?"

"Hey, Sasha, look at me. Look at me. Trust me, I'm sure it'll be all right. Gimme your hand." He helped her hand up and groaned softly at how tightly she held his hand. "C'mon." He guided her out the door as she groaned again, and he helped her into the car.

At the hospital, he paced the lobby, having already called T and Jacqui and told them word for word what she told him. He was just waiting now, slowly losing his mind. It was better he wasn't in there, because the doctor would try to kill him. He had too much energy to burn he was terrified. God, please don't let anything be wrong. He started to think about his mom's letter, part of it anyway.

Shawn Tanner Greene, my sarcastic monkey photographer.

Where do I even begin with you? You're the most infuriating of all my children, and I sometimes would like to kick you. With love, of course. I would never want to actually physically harm you. Yeah, I'll go with that. I've been through the many other writings I've written for your sisters, and I think I may leave them a scrapbook of them, but I don't know. I know you would do that for your wife and twins. That's actually why I'm doing this, because when you gave me that book in the hospital, it brought me such comfort. When I would wake up in the night, dreaming of what might happen to you all if I had died, I'd worry you wouldn't make peace with it. I worried you would blame yourselves for not keeping an eye on me, blah, blah, blah.

To be honest, I've had a couple glasses of wine before I started writing this. I haven't had wine in years, because Hershel abhors liquor, and I just never really was one for drinking. I've felt I needed it before I started this. It's one of my harder letters to write. You're my son, my only son, and I have so much I want to tell you. I don't know where to start, so I'll just start with this. It's probably the best way to start this, I think.

When I was pregnant with you, I worried endlessly about you. I couldn't lose you, not after I lost Emily, and I kept praying every night you'd just be healthy. The sex, the personality, the eye color and hair color, and the who you would be more like did not matter to me. I just wanted you to live. I didn't want to hold another dead baby in my arms, so when the doctor put you in my arms, I just couldn't stop staring at you. You weren't a slight baby, I'll tell you, but that made me happier. You were this cute, chubby little man, who later had a fondness of chewing on my necklaces, and I just watched you, felt you shifting in my arms. It was so amazing. Ethan couldn't let go of you when I finally let him hold you. I was just too stunned to even speak, so I watched him with you. He was so...lost. He wasn't sure how to hold you at first then he wasn't sure if you liked him, because you wouldn't look at him. He then went on a twenty minute freak out about how he wasn't sure he could do this well, because he had nothing to draw off of. His father wasn't the kindest of men, and he didn't tolerate disobedience—it took many years for him to accept Ethan's choice, and by that time, Ethan cared even less about his opinion. I just shook my head at him, and we talked the rest of the day. That night, Ethan was out cold in the chair beside me, and I picked you up and held you to my chest, skin to skin, and I felt your body heat against mine, you breathing with me, and I closed my eyes. I knew I would protect you for the rest of your life, and I knew that if you were the only child Ethan and I were ever able to have that would be okay. You were enough.

Ethan said I coddled you too much, held you too often, and he worried that you wouldn't be able to function without me. If I hadn't gotten pregnant with Carol, he probably would've been right, which meant he would've told me 'I told you so' with that smug smile he had. He was always right when it came to you, or almost right. He thought you would grow up and become a therapist, though I hear you double as one.

I remember when you and Sasha came to the Greene Leaf to have a word with Jacqui and me. We weren't expecting you two to tell us you were dating—we already knew—but it was sweet of you to tell us. T-dog didn't know, and it was probably better that Jacqui told him, not you both. He loves you, but Sasha's his baby girl, always will be. To be perfectly honest, I never thought you would be interested in Sasha. She's almost the exact opposite of you: by-the-book, fearless, more stubborn than any other living being. I would have thought maybe you were going to ask out Lilly; but when we came home from that snow storm, and you two were all cuddled up by the fireplace, I knew that was never going to happen. I saw the look you gave her when you two said goodbye. It must have been quite a few hours alone you two had. I never want to know, because that blanket belonged to my Nana, and I wouldn't want someone to have to burn it clean. Anyway, after seeing you and Sasha together on New Years Eve, I was very...happy. You were smiling widely, quite literally from ear to ear, and you were laughing deeply and back to your old self. I was almost in tears, because I know that Carol leaving was hard on you as well. You never wanted to admit it, and you kept trying to act like everything was all right, even though we never believe you. I thought maybe we'd be stuck with the fake smiles and laughs and sarcasm, but then along came Sasha. At least she won't wind up passed out on the floor in the hallway—you still need to make that up to Hershel and Otis and...well, God.

I'm glad we talked today at the hospital. I've been wanting to have that talk with you for many years now, but the timing was never right. I don't know if I have a sense of my time coming to end or if I just want to leave no regrets behind, I felt that was the right time. You are the best of Ethan and me, and I love you. I will always love you. I wasn't always proud of you, because you've made some horrible decisions, but these last ten years you've made me more proud of you than I have words for. I know you'll do well in your career, and you'll make an amazing father.

If I see you shaking your head and questioning my judgment, I will make you regret that in the afterlife, young man. You are not going to fail as a parent, because it's impossible. You are kind and generous and funny and a good man. You'll raise your children to be the same, hopefully Sasha will help them mature and not annoy as often as you do—I love you dearly nevertheless—and you'll make a great grandfather one day. You've grown up around two of the best fathers, four good men and plenty of women to not be able to be a decent father. I don't want to go into detail, because it'll go straight to your head, and I think it's big enough already, don't you?

And you already make a good uncle. Sophia absolutely adores you. She talks about you all the time, and she loves you so much. You can't just block out how much you mean to her and how you've guided her. I heard about the nightmare and the story of Ethan. It was very sweet of you, and it's really nice to tell her about him without really telling her about him.

Yeah, then the lecturing went on and on. Thanks, Mom. Gah! He was running out of fingernails to chew. What the hell was taking so long? It had to have been an hour by now. He checked his watch. Oh. Really? It's barely been... He saw Sasha and Dr. S. "Finally! You took your sweet time, didn't you?"

"Shawn." Sasha took his hand.

"Sorry. That was so rude. What's going on?"

"She's perfectly fine."

"Oh, thank God."

"She was experiencing Braxton Hicks contractions. Mild discomfort in the uterine wall."

"And that's normal? Everything's normal?"

"Yes."

"There's no danger to her or the babies?"

"No. No, the contractions can be unnerving if you don't know what they are, but she is fine."

Sasha smiled. "Thank you, Dr. S."

He gave a nod and left them.

"'Oh, thank God'? I thought you said everything would be all right?" Sasha eyed him.

"What the hell do I know? I take pictures for a living; I'm no doctor!"

"Well, you were right. Everything is good."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure." She smiled at him. "Now, let's go. This was no big deal, thank God."

"Sasha!" her parents rushed over to her.

She sent him a glare. "I told you not to call them."

"Is everything all right?" T asked, looking her over.

"Yes, yes. It was Braxton Hicks."

"Oh?" Jacqui exhaled deeply. "Good. That's fine. I'm surprised you even felt that."

"That's good to know. If you'll excuse me, I have to go back into the exam room, so excuse me." She walked toward it, but Shawn grabbed her arm. "What?"

"Is something wrong?"

"No, nothing's wrong. I just—I forgot my underwear in there," she whispered.

"Oh." He released her. "You can do that by yourself."

"I should hope so." She smirked and went back to the room.

"You don't do well under pressure, do you?" T asked Shawn.

"Nope, not at all." He turned to face him. "Does that make me a unsuited to be a parent?"

"Of course not," Jacqui replied.

"Even though it wasn't anything, thank you for bringing her to the hospital," T said.

"You do remember that she's my wife, correct?" he teased.

He smacked him with a bag of Twizzlers.

"Why do you have candy? And can I have them? Answer the second one first."

"We were at the movies when you called, and no, you can't." Jacqui crossed her arms. "We might be able to make back in time to see the movie if we leave now. If there's anything else, let us know. Tell her we had to go."

He nodded and waited for Sasha, and he smiled at her when she came back out.

"What?" She narrowed her eyes.

"Nothing, I just know what I want to name our daughter now."

"Oh, do tell."

"Nah. You will just have to wait and see." He kissed her and felt his phone vibrating in his pocket. He checked the number and saw it was Maggie. He hit ignore and laced his fingers through Sasha's. "Let's get something eat." He would speak to Maggie later. She probably wanted to remind him about the shower or something.

––

Amy set the box in her trunk, glancing around to see if Merle was lurking about, but she didn't see anybody or feel any eyes on her. She always checked, and never saw anything. Maybe Paige was just dreaming about seeing Merle hanging around.

Felix carried out a box. "So, canned food drive?"

"Yep." She pushed her box back so there would be room. "Thanks for coming to help."

"No problem."

"Mommy, wait." Paige ran over to her and held up a pink bag. "Here, these are from Andrea to T-dog."

"Oh?" She took the bag. "I don't think I want to know."

"I do." Fee plucked the bag from her hands and peeked inside. "Huh, boring. It just some key rings with his shop's logo on them." He held it out to her, and she snatched it. "Grabby."

"Get in the car so we can get to rehearsals. We both can't be late. Think of what the others will assume."

"I fu—freaking hate drama." He closed the truck. "I'm driving."

"No way. It's my car."

"It's your dad's car. He bought it for you."

"Because my car died on me last week! It's in my name and eve—Shut up, Fee! I'm driving."

He chuckled. "Yes, ma'am."

Paige glanced between them and smiled a little. "Be home on time, 'kay?"

"With you helping to cook dinner, I will driver over other cars. I won't miss dinner for the world." She kissed Sophia's forehead. "I love you, baby. Get inside."

"Bye, Uncle Felix!" She waved then turned and hurried back inside to her aunt.

"I like nicknames, but I feel old when she calls me that."

"How about Daddy Felix?" Amy teased. "Papa Felix? Poppy Fee!"

He swiped her keys. "You're lucky you're hot."

"Felix Julian Manning," she warned.

"Oh, but we can't be late." He winked at her then got in the driver's seat.

She shook her head and walked around to the passenger side. "I control the music then."

"For now." He backed out.

Amy and Felix and Paige didn't notice the man watching them across the street, scrutinizing them with wild eyes as he preformed self-surgery on himself, stitching up the hole that had been stabbed into his hip.

"Little Amy Elyssa Horvath," he breathed, groaning as he pulled the needle through, and he chuckled, his pupils dilating. "Harrison, Greene. Greene, Harrison. Horvath, Horvath. Easy. Drug and take, drug and take. Harrison, Harrison."

––

Carol waited for Sophia by the front door, Daryl was watching her closely from the kitchen with Karen, and she rocked back and forth on her heels, occasionally touching her neck, half-expecting the necklace to just reappear.

Sophia adjusted her shoe and hopped off the couch. "I'm ready."

"Let's go."

"Carol—" Daryl started.

"Don't. I've lost a lot of things these past couple of weeks, and I really don't want to sit here and just think about it. Besides, I promised Dale, and I won't keep him waiting." She opened the door. "Karen, think about it, please."

"Bye, Daddy."

"Bye." Daryl looked at Karen once Carol and Sophia left. "Think 'bout what?"

"Going to Milton's funeral." She took a drink of tea.

Carol drove to meet Dale, listening to Florence and the Machine's Heartlines, and she didn't bother hiding her bruised face or red-rimmed eyed. She was a mess, but she was alive. She knew her father knew, and Maggie probably told Beth and Shawn. She texted them all and told them to not worry about it. She didn't want it to be blown out of proportion. He came, she stabbed him, that's all. She knew that son of a bitch would come back for, probably when she wasn't expecting it. She would always be expecting it, and when he came, she was going to make him give that locket back. He'd better pray to God that everything was still inside.

"Mommy?" Sophia peered at her by leaning over in her seat.

"Hmm?" She glanced in the mirror. "What is it, baby?"

"I'm hungry."

"We'll eat with Dale. How does that sound?"

"Good, I guess." She paused. "Do you have gum?"

"I'll check at the next red light."

She didn't have any gum to give her, so she have her a butterscotch candy before she made the last turn. She parked outside the building, and she got out, helping Sophia out of the car. She adjusted her purse and closed the door, locking them.

"Hey, Mommy?" Sophia looked up at her.

"Yeah?" She gathered her hair out from under her purse strap.

"I'm sorry about your necklace; I know it meant a lot to you. Oh, and I love you."

Carol smiled. "I love you too, and thank you." She bent down. "I'm sorry if I was a little rude when we came back."

"It's all right." She smiled back.

"You mean more to me than any locket," Carol set her hands on Sophia's rosy cheeks, "and I am so blessed to have you in my life."

Her smile widened. "Me too. I'm proud to call you my mommy," Sophia hugged her tightly, "'cause you're a survivor."

Carol's heart melted, and she blinked back tears. "I don't even care if Daryl or Karen made you say that, you beautiful little angel." She picked her up and kissed her cheek. "Let's go meet Dale before I cry my eyes out in the parking lot."

Carol carried her inside and up the stairs to the studio, Dale was speaking with the man who had inspected the building for them, and Carol set Sophia down to let her roam the room. She smiled, ignoring the wide-eyed look they gave her, and she stuffed her hands into her pants pockets.

"Oh, my God, Carol. What happened?" Dale couldn't taken his eyes off her face.

"Watch the news. I'm sure it'll be there."

"Carol." His voice was stern, but full of concern.

"Fine, I will tell you at lunch." She turned to the man and shook his hand. "Carol Greene, we spoke on the phone."

"Yes, it's nice to finally meet you." He smiled, looking into her eyes. "Shall we get down to business?"

"Yes, please."

Ever since Dale informed Shawn and Carol of their money, Carol wanted to do something really nice with her money. She'd made an account that only she and Daryl could access with a little under half the money just in case. She was saving some of the money to finish working on the house, and she was using some to buy Amy a studio to teach dance in. She'd seen the way Amy looked while dancing with the girls, and she wanted to surprise Amy. Amy wasn't going to ask her parents for money ever—she nearly had a heart attack when her father bought her a new car—and Carol didn't want her to have to deal with a loan. It was an early birthday gift, or so she'd tell Amy so she wouldn't freak out and make her try to sell it.

Sophia looked around the room, not really sure what she thought of it. She knew she wanted to take classes with Amy as soon as she could. It was really fun dancing with her, and Amy was a really good teacher. She was excited to see how Amy wound react. She'd never really see her aunt surprised, so this was going to be fun! She loved to see people surprised, especially when it wasn't surprise out of fear. She didn't like that at all.

She spotted another door. She pushed it open, glancing back as her mom and Dale spoke to the man who helped them up it or something. They looked like they were having a serious conversation, so she didn't ask if it was all right to check it out. She didn't want to be rude. She decided not to go very far, so she poked her head out, seeing another stairwell. She glanced back at her mom then back to the stairwell, gasping when a man appeared.

"Shh." He held a finger to his lip then motioned for her to come here.

"Who are you?" She didn't move.

"I'm an old friend of your mom's." He smiled sweetly. "You can call me Paul."

"My mommy doesn't have a friend named Paul."

"We've fallen out of touch." He climbed up the steps.

Sophia's eyes went to blood seeping through his shirt over his hip. "Are you okay?"

He crouched down. "I will be. What's your name?"

"I don't wanna say."

"Aww, well okay." He looked her over. She was cute, looked just like her mom, and she had the prettiest hair, that was long, red curls, and big gray-blue eyes just like her father's. Of course, he didn't know that he wasn't the father, but he knew. He always knew. "You're a little bigger than the picture."

"Picture?" She frowned, her foot moving back inside.

"Hey, let's play a game, sweetheart."

"I don't want to play a game."

"Oh, you'll hurt my feelings. It's a really fun game."

She pursed her lips. "What...what kinda game is it?"

He held out his hand. "It's one you surely know: hide and seek."

"I love hide and seek!"

"Betcha you can't beat me."

"I bet I can!" She stepped out of the room and the door shut.

"C'mon, I know a great place to play."

"I—I shouldn't go without my mommy."

"Carol said it was okay, hon. That's why I'm here."

"You know my mommy's name?"

He nodded. "I told you we're friends."

"What's her middle name?" she tested him.

"Suzanne."

"Her favorite color?"

"Purple."

"Her birth month."

"Easy, it's May. Yours is March." He smiled. "Tell me about your cousin's birthday. What's—what's her name too?"

"Paige?"

"Yeah, Paige."

"Well, go ask Amy."

His eyes flashed. "I think I will, but later." Much later. He wanted to play. "Wanna play with me?"

"If my mommy says it's okay then...yeah!" She smiled, nodding vigorously. "Let's go play!"

He smirked, scratching his head, pushing hair back by his ear, and Sophia saw a scar there. He noticed her eyes. "Old bullet wound."

"Bullet?" She reached over and touched it; he closed his eyes at the feel of her soft skin on his. "Did it hurt?"

"Yes, it did hurt. It hurt quite a lot, but I survived." He grasped her little hand. "C'mon, let's go play, kiddo."

They headed down the stairs, the inspector showed Carol his only issue with the building, but Dale and she both agreed it would be easily fixed. She turned to meet his eyes and noticed that Sophia wasn't in the room.

"Sophia?" Carol walked over to the door Sophia was hanging around and opened it. "Baby, I told—"

Sophia wasn't there.

Her blood ran cold. "Oh, no!"

"What is it?" Dale asked. "Where's Sophia?"

"Check that door!" She ran down the stairs. "Sophia!" She walked through the first floor. "Sophia!" She scanned the room then bolted out the front door. "Sophia!" She screamed, searching the street, but there were only people giving her off looks.

The world spun around her, she looked from man to man, trying to see if any of them were the man who attacked her; but no, they weren't familiar in anyway. The women were looking at her face, mostly because of the bruises, and she didn't recognize any of them. He didn't have an accomplish. God, she hoped not. She wouldn't able to tell who she was, because she didn't know him. God, where was she?

"Sophia!" She glanced over and saw Dale shaking his head, and she felt like passing out.

"So—Sophia!" She walked by a bench, her knees growing week. "Baby!"

"Boo!" Sophia jumped out, Carol gasped deeply, and she giggled.

"Sophia." She dropped to her knees and grabbed her. "How many times do I have to tell you to stay in my sight?! You promised me!"

"What's wrong, Mommy?" Sophia frowned, seeing the tears in her mother's eyes and her tight grip. "You said it was okay!"

Carol lectured Sophia, unaware of the man sitting on the bench across the street, smirking and running his fingers over the silver chain to her locket.

––

"She said it was okay," Sophia argued with her father that night when he came to tuck her in. "Why am I in trouble? Mommy said okay!"

Daryl shook his head. "Look, just don't worry 'bout it. She's stressed, probably forgot. You know better than to go anywhere without us."

"But I didn't go al—"

"Let it go, runt. Get some sleep. It's over."

"I didn't do anything wrong!"

"Good night." He kissed her forehead, she groaned, and he left, pulling the door closed. He shook his head, glad that nothing happened to her, and he wandered down the hall, not sure if he wanted to watch TV or go to bed. He heard Karen and Carol talking in the guest bedroom.

"You promise?" That was Carol.

"Of course I promise! That's not even a question!" That was Karen. "I'll work it out when I go back."

"I would come, but... Don't tell Daryl this, all right?"

"I swear."

She whispered so that only Karen could hear, and he leaned in close, but he didn't make any of it out. "...so, hug Noah and Daya for me."

"I will."

"Be careful too. If I lost you to him..."

"I'll be with Milton's parents. They have security systems everywhere, and once they learn I'm carrying their only son's baby, they'll try to put me in a bubble wrap room."

She laughed. "Stay hidden."

"I will."

"Make peace with his death. You've been holding back, and that's not doing you any good."

"I hate to just leave in the middle of the night, but I promised they I would help with the wake. I begged for them to have one, because I want to remember the best of Milton with his family." She paused. "Oh, I have a gift for Sasha."

"Really? You didn't have to. You hardly know her."

"Well, I met up with Ty a week ago, and we had tea. He was very sweet to me, and I have no need of this. It was a gift from Phillip, and I don't want it, but I think Sasha will love it."

"It's beautiful."

"I'll buy another one later since she's having twins. Tell her I said congratulations."

"I will."

"My taxi will be here in ten minutes, and I should get my stuff downstairs."

"I'll get Daryl to help. You shouldn't do any heavy lifting."

He scrambled to their bedroom, plopping down on the bed, and Carol came in a minute later. "Hmm?"

"I need help moving Karen's bags."

He hopped up, and they carried the bags downstairs while Karen said goodbye to Sophia, who was still pouting about getting yelled at. Daryl said goodbye to her and helped load the trunk of the taxi with Carol. He stood by Carol as Karen drove off, and Carol rubbed her arms.

"I want to talk to you."

"Let's go inside."

After ensuring each lock was locked, every window was latched and Sophia was tucked in and finally sleeping, they returned to their bedroom to talk. Bella was circling in Daryl's lap, he tried to move her, but she dug her claws in, and he just let her be. Carol smiled and petted her once.

"Let me speak first."

He nodded.

"When Karen told me Milton's parents were arranging a funeral, I wanted to go back with her and deal with Ed once and for all." She searched his eyes. "I don't know what I intended to do. Talk, maybe. I dunno."

He shifted, watching her.

"I was just so angry. I know he had something to do with Milton's death; I know he did. Milton drives like a snail, especially in the rain and snow and—and the dark! He wouldn't have gone off the road, but there's no way to prove Ed rammed his car into Milton's or tampered with the brakes or anything, because the car met a fiery death. I'm surprised they even recovered his body."

"Carol?"

"I just... I want it over, but I want to do this together." She met his eyes. "When Amy's performance is over, I want to find Ed and work this out face-to-face with you by my side. I'm sure once he knows Sophia isn't his, he'll eventually move on. If I could prove he murdered Milton, I would have him arrested in a heartbeat, but that bastard is smart. He probably had the car he used scrapped."

"Why'd you change your mind?"

"The baby." She shook her head and ran a hand over her hair. "If I tracked him down and dealt with him, he may somehow knock me unconscious or—or immobilize me. He would torture me for sure, but not physically. He would have someone killed Karen or cause her to lose Milton's baby, and I couldn't live with myself if that happened. I've lost a child, and I don't want Karen to know that pain."

"Go Little Milton," he muttered.

She smiled. "After the shower and performance, I want this settled. I want to live my life with you and Sophia without feeling like Ed's presence right over my shoulder." She wrapped her arms around his neck. "I want us to be happy and safe, and I can only be safe—completely safe—if I know Ed's out of the picture for good. He's crazed, but only because of Sophia. He'll probably snap when he learns Sophia isn't his, but he'll get over it and me."

"Then what?" He set his hands on her elbows.

"We can work on our relationship and the house and...making more little Dixons one day," she teased.

He half-smiled. "Marry me when this is over."

"What?" She laughed then saw he was serious. "Oh, not again, Daryl!"

He chuckled. "I'm kiddin'. I just wanna be with you, don't care if we're married or not."

"You ass." She kissed him, ignoring the pain in her mouth. She leaned into him, Bella squeezed out and scampered out of the room, and she pulled back. "Since we aren't planning on making more Dixons at this point in our relationship, I say—as a way of honoring making life—we make love for the majority of the night."

"You're insatiable."

She giggled. "No, I just love you and I love being one with you."

He kissed her gently, his hands sliding down her arms to her hips, pulling her closer, and he leaned back so that they fell back onto the bed. He was careful not to hurt her, and he didn't touch her back, because he wasn't entirely sure where that bruise was.

He had just slipped his hands underneath her shirt when someone knocked on the door, he groaned low in his throat, and Carol frowned, wondering who was at the door at this hour. She climbed off him, Daryl rolled off the bed and followed her down the stairs.

"You speak," Carol whispered. "It's your house, after all."

"Who's there?" Daryl barked through the door.

"It's me, Phillip Blake."

Carol tensed. "Oh, shit."

– – –

"Isn't it a little awkward?" Carol asked Ed, setting a hand on the baby bump. "It's been four months, and I—I don't think I'm ready to meet him just yet."

"You met Victoria just last week," he pressed. "That went fine."

She whimpered. "All right, fine. Let's just do this."

He kissed her softly. "It'll be fine." He laced his fingers through hers. "It's just a dinner."

"I know, but it's still going to be weird." She pursed her lips. "What do I say to him?"

"I hear "hello" works well."

"Oh, ha ha, smartass." She rolled her eyes as they walked. "I mean, I'm four months pregnant, and we're getting married next week. Won't he be offended that I'm only just meeting him?"

"He's been busy with his wife and kid, and we've been busy too with the wedding. He'll understand."

"I hope so. I've only ever met one brother, and that didn't go well."

"What happened?" He met her eyes.

"Everything that could have gone wrong went horribly, horribly wrong." She didn't want to tell Ed about Daryl and Merle. She avoided bringing them up as much as possibly. It was easy to avoid in the day, but at night, she would dream about Daryl and what would've happened if Ethan had made it. Or if she hadn't left and if this baby was his. It made her wake up aching. Ed wasn't Daryl. He would never compare to Daryl. She sometimes wondered if Ed knew that she was in love with Daryl more than she was in love with him. She couldn't help it. He was her first love, and she would love him for the rest of her life. She only hoped she loved Ed more one day, otherwise their relationship would become strained, and she wanted a happy home for her baby. For their baby.

"You never talk about other past relationships. I've told you about mine."

"I've only been in one other relationship." She shrugged. "It didn't end well."

"Did he switch to a new college and not tell you? Did he break up with you via text message or e-mail? Did he...Did he sleep with your best friend? Ooh, is she pregnant with his kid?"

"No, nothing like that."

"Did he abuse you?"

"What?!" she growled.

"I—Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night to get water or use the bathroom, and you're...whimpering about someone named Daryl. It's a soft, scared sound. I didn't mean to assume anything. I just...was curious. If he was, I could go kick his ass."

Oh, please, Daryl would destroy you, her mind shot back. "No. He never put his hands on me." She heaved a sigh. "He—he was good to me. He was loving and supportive and gentle. He's the best man I've ever—I'd ever met until now." She smiled at him. "We just grew apart, you know? He was getting promoted in work, and I was...just...there, you know, holding him back."

"I doubt that."

"No, I was."

"I bet Daryl thought you were this beautiful, radiant and intelligent light that he had to run to catch up with."

She rolled her eyes. "You're so tacky."

He grinned. "Well, I do try."

"And it's sweat, by the way. The whole glowing thing—yeah, that's just sweat."

He laughed. "Please tell me I'm not the only one who didn't know that."

"Oh, it'll be our little secret." She felt her fingers twitching against his, so she pulled her hand away and set them on her belly. So often her body rejected Ed. It was the strangest thing. She could never wear his clothes, because she would break out in a rash. She couldn't hold his hand too long either. Her fingers would twitch, like they were trying to shaking his hands off or something. Her fingers had even swollen, so she couldn't wear the engagement ring. It hung around her neck on a separate, short chain. She didn't want it to touch the locket ever. It was too important to her.

"So, boy or girl?" he asked, his hands in his pockets.

"I just want a healthy, living baby." She didn't look at him.

"I want a boy." He squinted at her. "I know we promised to wait until the baby was born, but I'm dying to know."

"We're waiting. We agreed."

He blew out a sigh. "Five more months. I don't know if I can do it."

"You'll have to." She looped her arm through his. "So, tell me about Phillip since we're going to meet him."

"He's loyal—blood always comes first with him. He likes Chopin, especially Raindrops. He's been married for about three years now to a woman named Elizabeth. They had a little girl about two years ago, Penelope. They call her Penny." He ran his tongue over his teeth. "He's in the drug unit or whatever it's called. He's a cop, but I told you that."

"They have a two-year-old?"

"Yeah, she's adorable. She's just like her dad."

"Oh, I can't wait to meet her. And Phil, of course."

"He doesn't do nicknames, so just Phillip." His tone was dark, but she shrugged it off.

They walked to his car, he saw someone he knew walk into a gas station across the street, and he glanced at Carol as she waited for him to unlock the car doors. He unlocked her door and asked, "Do you want to get something to drink? Some tea?"

"No, I'm all right."

"You sure? Do you want a snack? There's a gas station right there."

"Actually, I kinda do want some peanut butter. I'll go with you."

"No, no. You've walked enough, just sit and relax." He handed her the keys. "Five minutes."

She sat down in the car, closing the door and moving hair out of her eyes. She saw him enter the gas station, so she reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone, unlocking it. She connected to the Internet and looked up her old high school. On their website, they had pictures of the graduating classes for the past sixty years, and she scrolled through the years, finding hers. She found the Ds and saw the picture of Daryl, smiling to herself.

He was a grouch about it, but she wanted him to get his senior pictures, as did Annette. Carol had pestered him and begged him to smile, but of course he didn't. He looked pretty handsome though, those piercing gray-blue eyes seemed to stare back at her as if Daryl could really see her, and her eyes burned. She backed out and held down the recent search of her school website until the option to erase it from her history permanently came up. She selected yes and returned to the home screen.

Don't do this to yourself. Don't think about before, just don't. Daryl doesn't need you. He doesn't, so just stop it. You're a grown woman, and you're pregnant and engaged. You can't afford to screw this up, because this baby is going to be his or her father, so stop. You let Daryl go so that he could be happy, and it's only been a few months. Once you're married and the baby's born, it'll be all right. It has to be.

She ran a hand under eyes. "God, give me strength, please." She snuffled and tried to shake off this feeling. How do you shake off love?

Ed returned seven minutes later with a Reese's fast break. "How is this?"

"Perfect." She forced herself to smile. "Thank you."

He drove them to Phillip's house, which was really quite nice. Elizabeth met them at the door, smiling brightly at Carol, and Ed gave a nod. Carol noticed the look they shared and got the feeling they weren't too fond of each other. She didn't bother to ask what that was about, just walked to inside. She saw Penny and gasped at how adorable the little girl was.

"Told you," Ed whispered by her ear. "Go on. She's your niece."

Elizabeth followed Carol. "Feeling maternal?"

"A little bit." She nodded.

"I was that way too when I was pregnant." She smiled and looked her over. "You're just...so cute. I'm sorry, but I just can't resist." She set her hands on Carol's belly. "Do you know what you're having?"

"A human, I hope."

She laughed. "Sorry, I meant the sex."

"We've decided to wait. We want to be surprised." She smiled. "Right?"

"Yeah." Ed nodded. "Umm, where's my brother?"

"He's in his office. I'll go get him."

"I'll get him." He walked out of the room.

Elizabeth's jaw tightened. "How far along are you?"

"Four months." She narrowed her eyes. "Do you...um, do you not like Ed?"

"Why would you think that?"

"You're about to break your teeth, for one."

"We don't always see eye-to-eye. He's my brother-in-law, so I just grin and bear it." She clasped her hands. "If you need anything, don't hesitate to come to me or my husband."

"And Victoria."

"I wouldn't suggest it. She's not eve—"

"Do you need help setting the table?" Ed interrupted her, jogging over to them. "I'll help you, Liz."

"Sure."

Carol just smiled as they left. "I'll...stand here." She looked down at Penny and crouched down. "You are so beautiful."

"Well, thank you."

She jumped and stood up as a man approached her.

"It's me, Phillip Blake. The older brother." He held his hand out. "It's nice to meet you, Carol."

"Oh, hi." She shook his hand. "I'm sorry. I'm a little scatterbrained lately."

"Don't worry about it." He smiled and gestured to her stomach. "Wow, I guess you don't waste time."

"A pleasant surprise." She shrugged a shoulder.

"Well..." he trailed off, just looking at her, and she shifted uncomfortably, not sure what to do. He just kept looking at her with those murky green eyes, making her skin crawl, and he chuckled a little. "Well, congratulations." He cleared his throat. "Can I get you a drink? Orange juice, perhaps?"

"Umm, I'm good for now." She crossed her arms. "Why Blake? Ed's last name is Peletier."

"I took my mother's maiden name when I graduated from high school. I wanted to carry on her name, and let Ed carry on our father's."

She nodded and Penny cooed.

He chuckled. "I think someone wants to meet her new aunt."

Carol slowly smiled. "I would certainly love to meet my new niece."

He bent down and picked her up. "Carol, this is Penelope or Penny Jane Blake. Penny, this is your new aunt, Carol Peletier."

Carol grasped her little fist. "Hey, Penny."

Phillip looked over her shoulder at Ed who looked in on them, and Phillip shifted his gaze to his daughter then to Carol. He shook his head and didn't look back at Ed or at the woman who didn't know what she was getting herself into.