A Secret

Chapter 3

A/N: I'm putting Here We Go Again on hold for a bit. It's just I'm having so much trouble staying focussed on it, but with this story I feel really into it. I'll get back to Here We Go Again eventually, don't worry. For now though, I'm going to work on this story. So I hope you enjoy it!
McBrideReedusLover.~

"Hey Sophia, are you okay?" Carl asked as he ran up to her at recess. All day it seemed like something was bothering her. She was his best friend, if something was wrong, he wanted to help her. He'd listen to her problems.

"I guess." Sophia shrugged. She was a little upset, mainly because her mom hadn't spent much time with her lately. Saturday was the first and the last time they'd hung out in a while. Lately, Carol had been acting all girly and texting Daryl. Sophia didn't understand why she had to. Wasn't she enough to make her mother smile? Didn't her mother enjoy spending time with her?

"Something must be bothering you. You can tell me, I won't tell a soul." Carl gave her a friendly smile.

"It's just, my mom. She hasn't paid much attention to me since that barbecue. She is so interested in Daryl." Right now, she didn't really like Daryl. He was taking her mom away from her. She really hoped that Carol only liked Daryl as a friend. If it were anything more, Sophia would go insane. She did not want her mother dating Daryl Dixon.

"Daryl Dixon?" Carl asked. Sophia nodded. "My dad hangs out with him sometimes. He's pretty cool. He has a crossbow and a motorcycle! It's the coolest thing ever!" Carl beamed. He still remembered the day Daryl brought it over for him to see. Usually, Daryl didn't talk to him, but when he asked about the crossbow, it was like Daryl had transformed into someone completely different.

"He has a crossbow?" Sophia tilted her head. She had always wanted to see one of those. She had seen one on television before, but never in real life. She wanted to learn how to shoot one.

"Yeah! You should ask him about it if you ever see him again! I'm sure he'd tell you all about it!" Sophia considered this. Maybe, just maybe, she could get along with Daryl. Carl seemed to be fond of him, maybe she should give him a shot as well? Besides, Carol always seemed to smile when he was mentioned, or when she was talking to him. Maybe them being together wouldn't be so bad after all.

"Hey mom?" Sophia asked as her mother cooked dinner.

"Yes?" Carol glanced back at Sophia.

"Are you going to see Daryl any time soon?" She was very interested in that crossbow. "If you do, can I come with you?"

Carol stopped. Her daughter wanted to spend time with Daryl? Lately she seemed disgusted every time she mentioned him. Was her daughter feeling okay? "Why do you want to come with me if I do see him?"

"I don't know..." Sophia shrugged. Carol raised a brow at her, and turned back around.

"I guess if you want to, you could. Though I haven't planned to see him." Carol turned off the stove. She grabbed two bowls and poured an even amount of soup in each. "Here you go. Chicken noodle, your favorite."

"Yay!" Sophia smiled and quickly started to eat. Carol chuckled and took a spoonful of her own.

"Oh, did you decide what you want to do for your birthday?" Carol asked, looking at her daughter as she practically inhaled the soup. "And slow down."

Sophia slowly put the spoon down and gave her mother a guilty smile. "Sorry. And I was thinking you and me could go to the fair. It will be in town during my birthday! We could go on the giant rollercoasters and everything!"

Carol thought about it. Her on a rollercoaster? Did not sound pretty. She'd probably throw up. "Well, we can go to the fair. But going on the rollercoaster, that I'm not so sure about. Unless you want me to blow chunks everywhere." She smirked.

"Ew no! Please don't!" Sophia shuddered.

"Then I probably won't be going on a huge rollercoaster with you." Carol winked and started to eat the rest of her soup.

"Maybe Daryl could come with us?" Carol almost spit out her soup. Sophia wanted Daryl to go with them?

"What? To your birthday? Why?" Carol looked shocked at her daughter.

"I don't know..." Sophia mumbled.

"Sophia Peletier." Carol looked at her daughter. "Tell me why."

"Well Carl said he has a really cool crossbow and I really want to see it and he also has a motorcycle I've always wanted to go on one and maybe he could go on the rollercoasters with me because he's a guy and guys like to do that sort of thing!" Sophia ran out of breath and couldn't continue talking.

"Wow." Sophia had said that so fast Carol barely caught any of it. "Well, the next time I talk to him I'll ask him, if you're sure you want him there."

"Okay!" Sophia smiled. "Can I eat my soup now?"

Carol just laughed. "Yes, you can eat your soup now."

"Did you call him yet? What did he say?" Sophia asked as she came back from bike riding with Carl. She put her helemt by her shoes and sat on the couch by her mother.

"I haven't called him yet..." Carol shook her head. "I wasn't planning on- Sophia what are you doing?"

"Calling him for you." Sophia had her mothers cell phone and was looking for his number in the contact list. "I want to see that crossbow mom." She pressed the dial button and held the phone up to her mothers ear. "There."

"Sophia!" Carol as starting to freak out a bit. She had never called him before. Typing to him and actually talking to him were two completely different things. And the way Sophia was staring at her wasn't helping. "Hi, Daryl? It's Carol." Sophia was very close to her. She pushed her daughter away from her face, and Sophia just giggled. "Yeah, well, the thing is" She glanced at Sophia, who was staring at her again. "You remember Sophia. She is having a birthday in a few weeks, and wants to go to the fair. She was wondering if you would come with us and ride the rollercoaster with her, since I won't dare do that." She chuckled. "Yeah, I can give you exact date once it gets closer. We're still in the beginning stages of planning."

"Don't forget about the crossbow!" Sophia whispered to her mother.

"Oh, and Daryl?" She looked at Sophia. "Sophia was also wondering about your crossbow? She wants to see it when you come to her little birthday." Sophia put her ear up to the phone, attempting to hear. Carol stood up and walked into the other room. Sophia frowned and then followed her mother. "Great, we'll talk to you later. Bye bye." Carol hung up the phone. "You're lucky kid." She nudged Sophia with a smile. "He agreed to going to your party, and he agreed to showing you the crossbow."

"Yes!" Sophia jumped up and down. "Oh it will be so awesome! I can't wait! Thanks mom!" Sophia threw her arms around her mother. Carol laughed and hugged her daughter.

"Well, it wouldn't have happened if you hadn't forced me to call him. So you made your own wish come true."

"Thanks me!" Sophia threw her arms around herself, a goofy smile on her face. Carol shook her head and laughed. She loved her daughter. "It will be so fun to have a birthday party for once!" Carol's smile faded. Sophia never had a birthday party, or got presents very often. Only when Ed was away, which was hardly ever. She remembered once time, she went out and bought Sophia a bike. She planned on hiding it from Ed at the Grimes house, and then pretending that Lori had given it to her. Unfortunately, he came home before she had the chance to take it there.

Carol took the bike out of the trunk with some difficulty. She was trying to hurry so she could lock it up in the shed for the night. Lori and Rick were out for their anniversary, so she couldn't bring the bike tonight. She closed the trunk and locked the car. She started making her way up the driveway with the bike, when she heard the sound of tires coming up behind her. 'Please don't be Ed...' She thought. She glanced back. Sure enough, there he was. When he stepped out of the van, he didn't look too happy.

"What the fuck is this?" He growled at her, grabbing her wrist. Carol dropped the bike on the ground.

"Well... I got it for Sophia..." Carol whimpered as his grip tightened.

"You think we're fucking made of money? You don't have a job. No one would hire a worthless piece of shit anyway." She winced as his grip on her wrist tightened once again. "We don't have the money for stupid shit like this. You better take it back right now."

"It's her birthday in two days Ed. She deserves something..." Carol whispered.

"What the fuck did you say to me?" Ed growled.

"I said... She deserves to have something for her birthday..." She let out a cry when his hand struck her face.

"I said take it back you worthless bitch!" He smacked her again, only this time, it was a lot harder. She fell to the pavement, her lip bleeding. "Get the fuck up and do as I say!" When she tried to get up, he just hit her down again. She couldn't help the tears from flowing. "Don't you fucking cry!" He shouted. His fist came down hard on her face. She would surely have a black eye tomorrow. "If that thing ain't returned in the next half an hour, your a damn dead woman, you hear me?" With one final kick, he stormed into the house. Carol continued to lie on the pavement, tears flowing down her swollen cheek. The tears stung her raw skin.

"Mom..." Carol looked up to see Sophia standing there, her teddy bear in her arms. "Are you okay mommy?"

"Yes dear..." Carol struggled to stand up. Sophia ran to her side and tried to help her up. She did the best she could, after all, she was only eight. She glanced around. "Listen to me baby. You take this bike. I bought it for you. Take it, and ride it to Carl's house okay. Beth should be looking after him while Rick and Lori are out. Tell her I sent you there. And... I'll pick you up in the morning." Carol brought her daughter close, and kissed her on the forehead.

"But mommy..."

"Shhh, just go. Don't worry about me. I'll be fine. Just, just don't come back until I go get you." Sophia nodded, and hopped on the bike. She had learned how to bike thanks to Carl. Carol watched as her daughter disappeared down the street. She looked at the house, and then at her car. She could easily run right now. But she knew she couldn't. No matter how much she wanted to, she just couldn't. When she went inside, there would be hell to pay. He would know she didn't take the bike back. He would know. With a deep breath, she opened the door, and stepped inside.

"Mom? Are you okay?" Sophia asked. Carol snapped out of her painful memory.

"Yes, I'm fine Soph. Come on, let's get you to bed now." She put her arm around Sophia and walked up the stairs with her. Sophia crawled into bed, and Carol put the covers over her. "Tomorrow is your last day of school. Excited?"

"Yes! We're having a fun day tomorrow. No work!" Sophia grinned. Carol could tell her daughter was getting sleepy. "It will be so much fun." She started to yawn.

"Well, better get some sleep then." Carol smiled. "Goodnight sweetheart." She kissed her forehead and walked to the door. "Have good dreams."

"Goodnight mom. Love you." She smiled sleepily.

"Love you too baby." Carol shut off the light and closed the door. She looked up at the clock. It was only ten, but she felt exhausted. She figured she should have a shower first. She grabbed a clean pair of pajamas, and headed into the washroom. She turned on the water, getting it to the right temperature before stepping in. The water was warm on her cold skin. She instantly relaxed, all her stress washing away, the bad memory slowly fading to the back of her mind. With a sigh, she washed her hair, and stepped out of the shower. She was greeted with an instant rush of cool air. She quickly covered herself with the towel. Carol glanced down at her arms. The bruises had finally started to fade. Hopefully, they would be cleared up by the time Sophia's little party was. Her little girl's first party. She smiled to herself. Atleast she could give her daughter something, even if she didn't have the money for a present. She put those thoughts aside for now, and dried herself off. She slipped into her cozy pajamas, and placed her clothes and the towel in the hamper. Walking into her room, she collapsed on the soft bed, and almost instantly, she fell asleep, glad that the day was over.

A/N: Thank you for reading chapter 3! I'm sorry about the memory, it was sad for me to write, believe me! R&R lovelies!
McBrideReedusLover.~