Chapter Two

Daryl was upset. He was upset at himself for threatening Sophia with a switch, upset at himself for blushing when Carol kissed him, and upset at Carl for badgering Sophia with a bunch of questions.

He was leaning against the barn, whittling away at that piece of wood, watching the two of them. Carl had hardly believed it when he had heard Sophia had come home. After pitchin' a fit about not getting to see her until that morning, he ran to her and grabbed on to her hand and dragged her outside. Now, he was walking around the little campsite, going on and on with the questions.

Didn't his parents tell him how to act around her? They stuck their nose in everyone else's business, but when it came to their own son…Daryl grunted. Sophia was quiet, not really paying much attention to the questions being thrown at her. She didn't want to have to explain everything in every little detail to Carl. She just wanted to be left alone.

Daryl found Carol, sitting on the porch, also watching her daughter. He grunted again, put away the knife and the piece of wood, and went to her.

"Hey there," she smiled up at him.

"Hey there yourself," Daryl nodded over towards Sophia, "Can't he give her a break?"

"He just missed her is all," Carol sighed, "He's just curious."

"I was um…thinking," Daryl shuffled his feat back and forth, not really knowing how to say what he was trying to say, "…maybe we could…um…you and me that is…uh…take Sophia for a day…and just…go…um…fishing?"

Carol was touched by his suggestion, and smiled warmly up at the man she had come to care for, "Daryl, that is a lovely idea! I could put together a picnic for us and I think it'll be just what she needs."

"Alright. Come get me when y'all are ready to go."

"Daryl," Carol touched his arm, "don't you think you should be the one to tell her?"

Daryl blushed again, "Well…er…I don't know much about talkin' to kids."

"Just go to her," Carol encouraged. Daryl nodded and abandoned the porch.

As Carol watched him go to Sophia, she couldn't help but feel a sense of awe. In the midst of the world completely falling apart, at that particular moment, everything felt perfect.

"Hey kid!" Daryl called towards Sophia.

"What?" Carl shouted back.

"The other kid," Daryl continued, "Lima-bean," his voice softened, and Sophia looked up at him, recognizing the nickname he had given her the day before.

"Hey," she smiled.

"Hey kid," Daryl returned the smile, "so I was talkin' to your mama and she and I both think that it'd be fun if the three of us went fishing together. We could spend a day just out by the lake and she said she'd pack us a picnic…"

"Really?" Sophia's face lit up, and Daryl could feel his heart melt. Damn kid had him wrapped around her little finger already, and there was nothing he could do about it.

"Yeah…if you want to go."

"I want to go!"

Daryl decided to tease her a bit, "Really? Because I don't think you really want to…I think you're just…"

"I want to go! Please! I really want to go!"

"Are you sure…"

"Please!"

"Alright," Daryl grinned, "let's go get ready."

"Have fun!" Carl waved to Sophia.

"See you later!"

Carol packed a picnic of chicken sandwiches, pudding, fresh fruit, carrot sticks, and juice boxes while Daryl gathered the fishing poles. Sophia was practically jumping up and down with excitement, but tried her best to help with everything she could.

It was about noon when everything was ready to go.

"This will be fun," Carol said as Daryl led her and her daughter to the lake, "I haven't done anything like this in years."

"I want to catch a great big fish!"

"Lima-bean, you're so tiny I'd be surprised if that great big fish of yours didn't drag you in after it," Daryl laughed.

"Yeah?" Sophia challenged as they neared the lake, "Well I bet you catch just one puny little fish that's too small to be considered even bait!"

"Why don't I just tie you to the pole and stick you in?" Daryl asked, "Fish love lima-beans!"

"You wouldn't!"

"Maybe I wouldn't, but what's stopping me from grabbing you up right now and tossing you in the water!"

Sophia squealed as Daryl dropped the fishing poles and chased after her. He grabbed her and swung her around while Carol sat up the picnic. After eating, Daryl helped Sophia stick some of the chicken through the hook of her fishing pole.

"I bet I catch a bigger fish than you," Sophia stuck her tongue out at him; Daryl returned the favor.

Carol leaned back against a tree trunk and watched the two of them, their feet in the water. Everything seemed so perfect. It was almost like they were a real family – something Carol hadn't had in a long time. She smiled as Sophia kicked a huge splash of water at Daryl and Daryl did the same, only with more force, drenching her. Sophia was happy. Her baby girl was safe, and happy, and Carol was in paradise.

"I got something!" Sophia cried, losing control of her pole.

Daryl went to her and helped her reel in the catch. Sure enough, there – on the other end of the line – was a catfish, squirming and thrashing about.

"What should we do with it?" Sophia asked.

"We could keep it," Daryl suggested, "and have fried catfish for dinner tonight."

"Or we could let it go," Sophia offered, "it might have a family that'd miss it."

"It's a fish," Daryl rolled his eyes, then softened, "but if you want to let it go, I guess that's fine by me."

"Go on," Sophia released the thrashing fish, "go on back to your home."

Daryl smiled at the gentleness she displayed towards the fish – a damn fish for goodness' sakes! But she wanted to let it go, wanted to let it go home to its family.

Family.

Daryl let that word roll around in his head for a bit. Family.

Daryl excused himself to go sit with Carol. He ruffled Sophia's hair as he waded out of the water, towards the woman who he'd become head-over-heels for.

"Hey there," he sat down next to Carol.

"Hey yourself," she smiled as warm as the sunbeams that were dancing on the water, "Thank you for this."

"Aw," Daryl shrugged, "it's nothing."

"It's everything," Carol objected, "Look at her. She's having the best time with you. She adores you."

"She does not," Daryl argued, but that damn blush was teasing at his cheeks again.

"You know she does," Carol put a hand on his thigh, causing an instant electrifying shiver to go up his spine.

"She's alright…for a kid."

"You adore her too," Carol didn't move her hand.

"Woman," Daryl shot her a look.

"You do."

"So what? I never said I didn't have a heart."

"This whole thing – the picnic, the fishing – it means the world to her, Daryl. Sometimes…she misses her dad. The way he used to be before drinking got to him. But you…you've done more for that little girl in a month than he did for her in five years."

"Nah," Daryl picked at a blade of grass.

"You're blushing again."

"Carol…" Daryl wagged a finger at her, "Don't you tease me."

"But it's just so much fun."

"That's it."

Daryl grabbed Carol, swung her over his shoulder, carried her over to the water, and dropped her in. Sophia rushed over, enjoying her mother's laughter and squeals as Daryl splashed at her. Sophia couldn't remember the last time her mom had been so happy.

"Daryl Dixon!" Carol desperately tried to sound angry, but her smile and the sparkle of her eyes completely gave her away, "Help me up this instant!"

"Fine," Daryl reached down to offer her a hand, and Carol – much to his surprise – pulled him in.

"Oh you're gonna get it!" Daryl splashed over towards her and began splashing her as Sophia joined in.

The three of them were laughing so hard, and Daryl didn't even try to hide the smile on his face.

"They're drenched," Lori nodded towards the trio making their way towards the farm.

"Looks like they had fun," Andrea smiled, "Do you see Sophia holding Daryl's hand?"

"He does have a soft spot for that little girl."

"And for her mama," Andrea reminded her.

"Yes, and for her mama," Lori agreed.

"Sophia, go on up and get out of those we clothes. Then you can go talk with Carl," Carol said.

Sophia skipped up the porch steps and into the house.

"Looks like y'all had fun," Andrea grinned.

"It wasn't too awful," Daryl sat down the fishing poles, "Didn't catch much. Kid caught a catfish but wanted to let it go."

"That's fine," Lori smiled, "we have plenty of food for dinner tonight anyways. But seems to me, y'all are wetter than the fish!"

"Someone thought he'd be funny," Carol turned to Daryl.

"And someone wouldn't leave well enough alone and deserved to be thrown in the water."

Sophia interrupted just as Carol was about to say something, "Mama, I'm all changed. May I go see Carl now?"

"Sure thing, baby. I'll go on up and get changed too," she excused herself.

"Yeah, I gotta uh…talk to Glen."

Once the door clamored shut, Andrea eyed Lori, "Since when does Daryl have to talk to Glen?"

"Since when does Carol flirt?" Lori pointed out, sharing the same knowing expression as Andrea.

Carol shut the bedroom door behind her, and locked it. Daryl reached up and cupped her cheek in the palm of his hand. Her face seemed so small in comparison to his hands. He feared the wrong move would break her and wanted to be extra gentle with her.

"Daryl," Carol let out his name of the breath of a whisper.

"Carol," Daryl stroked her cheek with his thumb.

"What are we doing?" She asked.

"I don't know what you're doing, but woman, I'm trying to fight the urge to kiss you right now."

"Fight it?"

Daryl didn't know what to say. He was scared – absolutely terrified – of hurting her. She seemed so small, so sweet compared to him.

"Well then, while you're busy fighting it," Carol stepped closer to him, closing the space that been between them, "I'm going to just…"

She kissed him.

Daryl didn't know what was going on for a second, but quickly followed her lead. He began kissing her back, enjoying the taste of her. Daryl swore she tasted like strawberries and sunshine.

Almost as quickly as it happened, they pulled away – both blushing.

"I-I don't know what came over me," Carol stammered.

"Whatever it was," Daryl didn't even care about the goofy grin on his face, "I liked it. It should come over you more often."

"Maybe it will," Carol smiled.

"You'll catch a cold," Daryl nodded to her dripping clothes, "I'll just step out and let you…"

Carol stopped him, "Who said you had to leave?"