There were a lot of little diners in the small towns surrounding Atlanta. Everyone had their favorite and when all else failed there was always the Waffle House. The diner Daryl took her too she had only been once before. It was good, they all were, but Ted didn't take her out much so she really didn't have much experience dining out.

"So zombies huh?" Carol struck up the conversation. "Did you ever imagine you'd be on a TV show about zombies?"

"Can't say I ever imagined being on no TV show at all," he drawled in that low grunty tone of his, that was strangely sexy.

The waitress brought their coffee. "You wanna share a piece of pie? Pecan?" Carol asked, feeling the need to treat herself. Daryl shrugged. "Can we get a slice of Pecan, two forks?" she requested from the tiny brunette server. "So, your brother, you okay with that?"

He shrugged again. "It's probably for the best. This is 'bout the only way to get him to set foot in rehab."

Carol nodded. The waitress returned with the pie and she handed Daryl a fork. It was kind of weird to share a slice of pie with a complete stranger but they both dug in and started eating. After a few bites it seemed normal.

"So, this is a pretty big deal, huh?" she said, once she was done chewing. "You excited? You don't really seem excited."

"You don't neither," he threw the question back at her.

Carol knew he was right. "I haven't, uh, haven't really had many good things happen to me, ya know? If it wasn't for bad luck I wouldn't have any at all." She took a sip of coffee. "I know it's silly, but I'm scared to get excited." She set down the cup. "So what about you?"

Daryl sighed. "I just really don't think this whole thing is for me. I just wanna be in the woods."

"Then why are you doing it?" Carol asked, curious as to why he would put himself through something he really didn't want to do.

He looked a bit embarrassed. "The money," he said honestly. "Once it's over and I get paid, I can just disappear." It sounded like a great plan, but Carol wondered if it was realistic. If this show was as big as they were expecting could a huge celebrity just leave it all behind and disappear? She didn't comment because she really wasn't in the mood to burst anyone's bubble.

The was a moment of awkward silence while Carol thought of another question. It was clear that Daryl was not a conversationalist, though she didn't mind. He was still polite. Sometimes it was nice to be around someone who just listened. "Do you have a big family? Wife? Kids?" She was pretty sure she knew the answer, but she asked anyway.

Daryl shook his head. "Nah, just Merle and me. That's all." Well at least they had that in common. Since she got the courage to leave Ted Carol had been pretty alone in the world. Her parents had passed years ago, no kids, she was an only child and Ted hadn't allowed her to make any friends. She was definitely looking forward to being around people, if she got the job.

"Are you, uh, married?" Daryl asked tentatively, his cheeks turning pink. He was making an effort and she appreciated that he was trying in his own awkward little way.

"I was," Carol admitted. "My divorce was just finalized about a month ago."

"Oh, I'm sorry," he replied sympathetically.

"Don't be, he was an abusive asshole." The whole world would know sooner or later, so she figured it wouldn't hurt to tell a man who was about to be a co worker.

She saw something in his eyes, it was more than sympathy - it was empathy - he understood her ordeal. This time when he spoke it sounded different even though it was the same words, "I'm sorry." She wanted to ask. She wanted to confirm that they shared a connection. But he wasn't offering and she didn't want to push in case it wasn't something he talked about. She studied his face a moment. She liked the bad boy look he presented, right down to the squinty eyes. They were a really pretty blue when she looked close.

A voice interrupted the moment. "Daryl, I didn't see you come in," squealed a tall redheaded waitress holding a coffee pot. "Okay, I can see them wanting you, with that pretty boy face and all - but Merle? Really? Where is that asshole anyway?"

Daryl looked uncomfortable. "What're you talking about?"

"The TV show silly," she drawled with a giggle.

"How do you know about that?" he asked, looking shocked. Carol was wondering the same thing herself. They had just found out - how could people possibly know already?

She swatted his arm. "You know news travels fast in a small town." Daryl glared at her. "And there was an article in today's paper. Here - " she wandered off and returned with a newspaper. Carol looked at the headline: The Lucky Ones. "It's all rumors but judging by your reaction, I'm guessing it's true about you and Merle at least." She touched his shoulder again, "Don't forget the little people when you become a big star, Handsome." With that she was gone.

Carol took a quick glance around the room. There were a lot of people talking and staring at them, mostly at Daryl. He turned the paper so they could both read and Carol started to quickly skim the article. It talked about how there had been open casting calls for locals to audition for a new TV show. Then it went on to name several "suspected" individuals who had been offered roles. Two police officers, Shane Walsh and Rick Grimes, as well as Rick's son Carl and wife Lori, brothers Merle and Daryl Dixon, sisters Andrea and Amy (last name not disclosed), Dale Horvath, Glenn Rhee, Theodore "T-Dog" Douglas, and Carol Peletier - Shit, her name was there too - right there in black and white.

The article talked more about the show and the revolutionary idea they had to cast locals. It also said they would film everything in the Atlanta area, bringing a lot of attention and hopefully business to the local communities. The last line was strangely unnerving - Friends, family, neighbors - chances are someone you know is about to become a famous TV star, or as we have dubbed them - The lucky ones.

Carol was mistified. "How do they know? We just found out ourselves."

Daryl grunted. "Someone tipped em off." He looked rather annoyed.

"Well I guess it was bound to come out eventually," she rationalized. "Might as well get used to people knowing." It made her a bit nervous because nothing was official yet and she really was paranoid about jinxing it.

Out of the corner of her eye Carol saw two teenage girls approaching. "Um, Mr. Dixon?" They both giggled and looked nervous. "Can we have your autograph?" Carol bit her lip, Daryl was staring at them blankly like they were speaking another language. "Please?" the other girl added, giving him a sweet little pout. It was probably innocent, but the way they looked so starstruck and enamoured by a middle aged man was a bit creepy.

"Uh, I guess so," he muttered taking the pen and napkin. He scribbled on it and handed it back.

"Thank you so much," they gushed giggling excitedly. Carol listened as they walked away. "Oh my God, he's so hot," one of them whispered.

"What the fuck was that?" Daryl asked, once again looking extremely uncomfortable. Oh the poor, poor man, he had no clue what he was in for. She perversely enjoyed watching him squirm. There was something so shy and childlike about him that she found instantly endearing. They were going to be good friends, she could tell already.

Carol smiled at him. "Welcome to your new life Pookie."