Author's Note: Thank you to everyone for taking a chance on my story. It's an unusual pairing and as a Caryl shipper, it has been a challenge. In my mind, Caryl are end game but my frustration for this season has made me vent my frustration out in writing out of the box.

I'd like to address the one guest reviewer. I appreciate you leaving a well thought out and polite review. However, I take umbrage on certain aspects of it. There is no doubt in my mind or most people's mind (MMB included) that Carol loves Daryl. Just because she didn't mention him as she was being banished doesn't mean she feels only flirty friendship. By the time she jiggled that locked door, she was in shut down mode. The words Rick used when he banished her were much like what a manipulative abuser would say to their victim. He knew what trigger words to use and he wielded them like a weapon. Daryl was not Carol's responsibility, those girls were her responsibility. That was the reason she spoke of them, because she had made a promise to their father. Rick used his law enforcement training to make sure he pushed all the victim buttons with her. If Carol and Daryl were just flirty friends, Rick would not have hesitated to tell Daryl and Daryl wouldn't have reacted the way he did. There's love between those two, no doubt in my mind.

Anyways, thanks so much for ALL the reviews! Please enjoy the next chapter and don't forget to critique me. It's my 17 year wedding anniversay today so I'm posting this before I get ready to go to the Melting Pot. YUMMY!

XOXO Pamela

2. Like a River

It didn't take long to make it to the main area of the camp. When they pulled up to where the cabins were, Carol was astonished at what she saw. It was a community. It looked like most of the dozen or so cabins were occupied. There was laundry hanging on clotheslines and gardens in front of almost every one. She practically had her face pressed against the glass so she could take everything in.

"Pretty impressive, huh? We've been here about six months now. There's about twelve of us total. We stay here in the cabins because it's right up against the river here but there is an area for RVs and campers over closer to the forest. People must have been squatting here after the turn but when we showed up, everyone was dead or biters. We put them down and cleaned out the rigs. We use them for storage mostly." Pete pulled the SUV in front of a cabin closest to the river.

Carol stepped out and the sounds of the river filled her ears. It was quite shallow where they stood. Rocks could be seen jutting up and there were small pockets of rapids. "It's beautiful," she breathed to herself.

"Lady, why don't you stop goddamn sightseeing and follow me." Mitch was suddenly in her face and she flinched instinctively. He grasped her arm roughly.

Suddenly Pete was right there, his hand squeezing the arm that held her. "Mitch, let go of her. You really think she's going to hurt you? You're scaring the shit out of her."

Mitch sneered at her but released her from his grip anyway. "Whatever. You know C's not gonna like this. Don't get too attached, bro. She ain't gonna be here long." And with that he stomped off toward one of the larger cabins.

"Come on. We gotta talk to Jefe. Find out where you're gonna stay tonight. I don't want to give Mitch too much time with him. He doesn't take well to new people. He's an asshole, but he's my asshole brother." Pete headed towards the cabin Mitch stomped off towards with Carol by his side. She felt like she was having déjà vu with the two brothers. It was just like Merle and Daryl all over again. It was a cosmic joke and if she thought she could get away with laughing at the irony of it all, she would have busted a gut. She knew if she laughed Pete would think she was a crazy lunatic and kick her right out.

They reached the cabin and Pete knocked before opening the door. A muffled voice told him to enter so he opened the door for Carol to go in first. The cabin was just like she remembered. A small sitting room with a fabric covered couch along with a wooden coffee table was what she first saw. Off to the right was the small banquette next to the cozy kitchen. If she remembered correctly, this size cabin had two bedrooms, both identical.

A handsome Hispanic man was sitting on the table of the banquette, a cigarette dangling out of his mouth. Mitch was standing next to him, shooting daggers at her and his brother.

"So, you're the diabla this yahoo has been bitching about. You don't look like you could hurt a fly, mama." He hopped off the table and put out the cigarette. Walking her way he held out his hand. "I'm Caesar. I'm the de facto leader of this merry group of misfits."

She took his hand. It was warm and calloused but his touch was gentle. She didn't know why but she wasn't nervous or afraid. "My name is Carol. I came here because I used to bring my daughter here for Girl Scouts. I was trying to find a safe place to stay." She slipped her hand out of his grasp.

"Mitch tells me you're alone. We don't see many loners now. Most people are at least with somebody else. What's your story?" She could tell he was a man that was good at reading people so she decided honesty was the best policy. She knew if she had any chance to stay she needed to be upfront.

Carol took a deep breath and steeled herself. "I was with a group. I've been with some of them since the beginning. More people were joining us all the time. There was an outbreak of some kind of horrible disease. It killed a couple of people within hours and they turned into walkers, killing others in our group." She desperately fought to maintain eye contact and stay strong. "There were two that we put into isolation. They were dying. I thought I could stop the disease from spreading, from infecting the kids. I killed them. Our leader found out and he took me out, gave me that wagon, supplies and told me to never come back. Said he couldn't trust me with his children. My dead best friend's children." With that, he carefully constructed walls crumbled down and a sob escaped.

The three men in front of her looked absolutely shocked. The only sound in the room was her muted sobs. Carol couldn't bring herself to look at them. She wiped her face and started to turn for the door. "I'm sorry. I'll just go. You have my word I won't come back here, I won't bother you." She almost made it to the door before she was stopped by Caesar.

"I appreciate your honesty. You don't see much of that anymore. There isn't much we haven't seen or done. I'm the last person that is going to cast stones." He looked at her earnestly, his deep brown eyes open, unjudging. "Welcome to our group, mama. There's an empty cabin two doors down from me. You just promise to be a productive member of our little society and I promise I won't throw you out like an unwanted dog. Can you shoot?" She nodded. "Any other talents?"

"Well, in my former life I was a domestic engineer so I can cook, clean, sew, wash and organize like nobody's business. I was teaching survival training to the kids back in my group. I thought it was important for the children to be able to protect themselves. We've lost too many not being prepared." She stopped herself before opening the old wound that was Sophia.

"No, you can't coddle the children from what's out there. I think you're going to make a fantastic addition here, Carol. Would you like me to walk you to your new place?" His smile was bright and genuine and for the first time in days, Carol didn't feel so burdened.

They walked out of the cabin, Pete and Mitch following them out the door. Pete called out to them, "I'll bring you some leftovers. Tomorrow morning we'll introduce you to the rest of the camp." The shy smile was back and Carol didn't know if she'd ever get used to the feeling she had when she saw it.

Carol and Caesar walked a small worn path through the grass right against the river bank. The cabin they were heading towards was one very close to the water itself. The rapids had tapered out to a flowing current at this location and a small dock jutted out into the water.

"This is one of my favorite spots for fishing." Caesar tilted his head, "And it's a great placed to work your demons out. I thought you would like it here." They stopped at the dock, both gazing out at the crystal water as it flowed past.

"It's more than I could ever have hoped for. I can't thank you enough for taking me in even after hearing my story." They were standing close together and she could feel the heat emanating from his body, warming her bones.

"Like I said, Hermosa, we have all done things to survive, to protect those we care about. You're no monster. We all have our demons to battle. No one should ever have to battle them alone." She felt his warm fingers press against her for a brief second before he left her alone. She stood at the dock, watching the river flow past. She felt right now that her life was like the river. For so long she flowed quietly without a ripple in the surface, afraid to make any waves. Then when she thought herself brave and strong her life transformed into the rapids, crashing over the rocks furiously, dangerously. Where the current would take her next she did not know but she was certain in the fact her life would flow freely from here on out.