Domestic Goddess

Carol woke up as Daryl got dressed. "Wanta go hunting this morning" he mumbled. She wasn't surprised; Daryl had not really had anytime to lose himself in the woods for a while.

"I can make some breakfast if you'll give me a few minutes". She started to slide out of bed but Daryl sat down on the bed beside her.

"I'll just grab something from the kitchen. I hunt better hungry anyway. More motivated." He kissed her good morning. "Be safe, I won't be long. I can't leave a hot chick like you very long with all these lonely men around". Daryl kissed her again, but slid off the bed and out the door.

Carol watched him go with an understanding smile. Daryl needed some alone time. He loved her but he was a long time loner. He would always need time away from her and everyone else. He had left his comfort zone in committing himself to her, and some part of him was probably clamoring to get away from her for a while. He would be back soon hungry and horny; the woods would get cold and lonely after a few hours and he would bring back an offering of food. Some men weren't born to be lap dogs; you just let them go and they would come home when home called to them.

Carol got out of bed and got dressed. She had things to do today. She and Eugene were going to work on the water lines in the basement. She had learned plumbing the hard way; Ed would screw something up and she would read home repair books until she figured out how to fix it. Later, Michonne was going to work with her, Eugene, and Beth on using swords and knives. She hurried because there was so much to do.

Eugene was already up when she got downstairs. He had been out to check on the furnace and the house was warm. She made breakfast as he read plumbing manuals. It seemed that the previous owner had been a fix-it kind of guy who had a library of home repair manuals. The task today was to hook up the hot water to the basement shower.

Morgan, Rick, Michonnne, and Carl were going on a run to pick up the rest of the food found on a run yesterday. Beth and Elijah were going on a quick run to pick up oil for vehicles. Carol suspected that the trip was more like a date than a run. They were going with the big group and then coming back after they got the oil. Judith was going to hang out with her and Eugene.

The plumbing job turned out to take twice the amount of time they had allotted for it. Carol appreciated Eugene's patience. He worked as a methodical pace and even talked a bit, "Daryl left awfully early this morning". Eugene seemed to be wanting an answer by the way he watched her.

Carol realized that Eugene thought something was wrong between her and Daryl. His dark eyes were more kind than curious and she smiled at him, "It's alright, Eugene. Daryl just needed to get away a bit in the woods and to think things out once in a while."

Eugene nodded, "I understand that. I always was a loner growing up and I thought I didn't need people around me. Then this all happened and I found out I couldn't make it on my own." He hesitated a bit, "I enjoy living in this house. It's already a home. You are a domestic goddess."

Carol laughed, "This domestic goddess better get the plumbing fixed before everyone gets home or we'll be in deep shit, literally and figuratively". Eugene laughed and agreed.

Tyreese had come to visit and he seemed eager to help. Carol thought she had a solution but she let the two men fail first. They seemed skeptical of her plan but went along with it good naturedly. They got the hot water turned on by lunch time. Beth and Elijah were back by then and they made lunch for the plumbing crew.

Tyreese talked with Carol as they ate lunch. He wasn't happy that Sasha and Bob were getting closer. He liked Bob personally but Tyreese was worried about Bob being a drunk. Carol let him talk; she was getting a needy vibe from Tyreese. She wondered if he was happy in the other house and Daryl's space down in the basement was open.

Abraham was the next arrival. He glowered at Eugene who continued to eat beside of Carol. Abe seemed awfully enthusiastic about lunch and he ate as hungrily as he poured out his troubles to Carol . They were having problems dividing up the chores at the house. Carol figured that the men thought the women should do all the cooking, cleaning, and laundry. Carol thought about Maggie and Sasha; they had went on runs regularly at the prison. They weren't really the domestic type. She carefully pointed out that the men might have to do their share of household duties. Abraham didn't seem happy to hear it, but he really wasn't in charge anymore. His "mission" was over.

Daryl came back from hunting to find Carol eating with Eugene, Tyreese, and Abraham at one end of the table. He kissed Carol and warned the others, "Stay the hell away from my wife, get your own hot chick. This one is mine." Daryl got a plate of food and Eugene shifted over so Daryl could sit beside of Carol.

Morgan's crew came back and the house stayed noisy after that. They had seen some survivors while they were out but they had disappeared before they got close. It looked like two women and a couple of kids.

Carol managed to have private conversations with the adult members of the household. They were agreeable to Tyreese moving in. Carol followed him out in yard as he got ready to leave and invited him to live with them. He hugged her and she had the sudden memory of him hugging her at the grove before everything went so wrong. "You know that I can never repay you for your kindness and understanding." Carol hugged him close. "We would love to have you here."

Tyreese said, "I'll be back with my things in a little while. Thank you, my sister."

Carol swallowed a lump in her throat, "Anytime, my brother".

Rick and Carl were doing the lunch dishes inside. Abraham was eyeing them, but saying nothing. The place was noisy with conversation and discussion of afternoon chores. They kept using words like "the list" and "surplus" and "worst case scenario". Abraham figured out that this group had sat down and actually made concrete plans for survival. It seemed like they were better organized about everything.

Carol and Michonne talked as they put the food found on the run for storage. Carol was curious about the survivors they had glimpsed this morning. "So what did you think about the people you saw today? Are they a threat? Are they part of a bigger group?"

Michonne took her time to answer. "Two white women in their thirties. Two children younger than six. They are savvy enough not to trust newcomers and they disappeared like they are smart enough to have an escape plan. They are on their own I think and bringing the children on a run because they don't have anyone to leave them with at their place."

Carol nodded, "That makes sense. Maybe they'll come back to that place this afternoon. How about if you and I went back and see if we can make some kind of contact. I hate to think of two women with children trying to make it here through the winter."

Michonne snorted, "Trying to save the damn world. Can you get permission from your husband to go on a run? He doesn't like you to get out of the house."

Carol gave her a reproving look, but knew Michonne well enough to translate her conversation. She wanted to go make contact but didn't want Daryl to get all pissy about Carol going with her. "I'll talk to Daryl and you meet me at the truck. We don't want to be gone too long because I want to work out with the sword for a while."

Daryl was predictably irate that Carol was leaving. "What in the shit are you running off for now?" He blustered around, offered to go with them, and finally accepted that she was going with Michonne.

"I'll be back soon. Maybe I'll find some hot chicks for these lonely men". Carol went upstairs to get her run bag and Daryl followed her up there.

He sat on the bed as she checked through her bag. Daryl thought the herd that held them hostage at the church and tried a new tactic. He kissed her and pulled her close to him. "Just stay here with me this afternoon. I missed you today."

Carol laughed and pushed him away, "Using sex to seduce me out of a run. Good try though". She gave Daryl a warm wet kiss that made him reach for her again as she darted away.

Michonne was waiting in the truck when she got there. "You're all flushed; he tried sex to keep you there, didn't he? Well, was it good for you?"

Carol laughed, "It would have been but it will be even better this evening. I spent all morning with Eugene and Tyreese. Nice guys but they can't plumb worth shit. I want out of the house and some girl time this afternoon".

Michonne roared out of the driveway just to torque Morgan up who was watching them go. He had offered to accompany them. She reminded him that she could take care of herself. He might have tried sex if he ever knew how often she thought about being with him. She waved at him and he waved back. Nice man.

"You're smiling at him. Again. You don't even bother with the glower and the grumpy face anymore. So when are you going to make your move?" Carol loved rattling Michonne's cage.

"Shut the fuck up. Just cause you wanna play house with the lonely hunter doesn't mean that the rest of us are marching two by two into the ark." Michonne slowed down and drove down the steep road carefully.

Carol looked over at Michonne, "I had an epiphany last night sometime between the second and third orgasm. That shit was good and Daryl and I had wasted way too much time in our lives. We don't get promised another day so I am saying this because I love you and Morgan. You grab him and hold on. Morgan is a good man, a grownup man, and a keeper". Carol decided to just enjoy the view out her window and they drove in silence for the ten minutes it took them to get to the warehouse.

They parked a distance away from place and found a convenient viewing area and settled down to see if anyone showed back up. It was a long shot but Carol thought there was a chance. They probably wouldn't come back unless they needed food and they got scared off this morning. They might be back to try again because she didn't think they would bring the children out unless there was a good reason.

Michonne just waited without much hope that they would show up. She found herself thinking about Morgan. He was a grownup man; you could trust Morgan with your life. She had been attracted to Rick but he had banished Carol into this world. Knowing that he was capable of that had changed her feelings toward him. She would always love Carl but she had found herself backpedalling away from Rick and closer to Morgan all the time.

Michonne saw the little group slipping in. The two women were moving cautiously and the two children were right behind them. One woman was blond and Michonne thought that she looked like Andrea. The other woman had light brown hair and looked to be slightly younger. One of the children was biracial and the other white. They looked scared and tired. She didn't see any guns, just a couple of knives between them.

Carol was already planning how she could talk to the women about helping them without scaring them off. She pointed at one exit and indicated that she was taking the other. She went quietly to the entrance and waited until she knew that Michonne would have had enough time to be at the only other way out. Carol then stepped out so that she could be seen, "Please don't be afraid, we aren't going to hurt you".

The two women whirled to go out the other way and Michonne stepped out. She looked intimidating and they grabbed their knives and headed back toward Carol. "We left our men at home. It's just the two of us and we just want to help you." Carol kept her voice low and controlled. The women looked like they were ready to charge her and she didn't want anyone to get hurt.

The blond woman said, "We don't need any help". She was trying to be aggressive but she was too weary to pull it off.

Carol looked at the children, "They need help. We will give you food if you need it. We can find a vehicle if you don't have one. We don't need to know where you live. Just tell us what you need us to do".

Their voices must have carried because Carol could hear the lurching gait of walkers behind her. "Go up those stairs and wait for us. Michonne, we've got company." Michonne was already there with her katana unsheathed and was swinging in wide arcs. Carol stepped away from her and begin to take out walkers coming in behind Michonne. They worked together and soon they put down the dozen or so walkers that had wandered in.

Michonne led the way up the stairs. She was worried that the women might try to attack them but they were sitting on the floor with the children when they got to the landing. The fight was out of them. Michonne put her katana back in its scabbard and went to the women. "We need to go, there might be more around. What can we do to help? These children are hungry and we will give you food, water, whatever you need, but we need to go now".

The blond woman said, "Our vehicle broke down and we ran out of food. It's just the two of us now. There were more of us but they went on a run and never came back. That was months ago and now winter is coming. We don't know what to do."

Carol moved closer to them, "Hello, my name is Carol and this is Michonne. We are part of a larger group, but they are good people. They are really going to be angry at me, but do you want to come with us? We can take you somewhere else, but I don't know the area very well."

The blond woman stared at her for a while, "My name is Sarah and this is my friend Rachel. This is Michael and this is Alia". Carol thought that Michael looked like Sarah with his blond hair and blue eyes. Alia was biracial and didn't look much like either of the women.

Michonne said, "We have a truck out back. I want you to follow me to the truck and no talking. Okay?" The children nodded. Michonne started down the steps and the children got in line behind her. Sarah and Rachel followed the children and Carol came last. They managed to get everyone on the truck though it was a tight fit. Alia sat up front with Carol and the other three got in the back. She hadn't spoken yet, but leaned against Carol as if she was too tired to do anything but sleep. Rachel spoke for the first time, "Sarah and I would like it very much if you would let us go with you to your place".

Michonne nodded, "We will be there soon. We will go in first and talk to the group, but we will take care of you".

Sarah asked, "Why would you take us in?"

Carol said, "Because we know what this world is like without the protection of a group." She put her arm around Alia and the little girl smiled at her.

Michonne drove back watching for someone that might be following them, but there was no one behind them. She parked in the driveway and saw that most of the group was working outside on some project or other. Carol hopped out of the car and held her hand out for Alia to take.

Michonne just stood back as Carol told them they had found survivors and they had taken them in. Daryl had smiled at the little girl and opened the door so that the others could get out of the truck. Morgan stood beside her. "Glad you got back here so soon. Daryl and I were coming after in another thirty minutes."

Michonne said, "Let's go on a run and get some clothes for those children. We haven't got anything their size." Morgan grinned at her and she felt her heart turn over. She could hear the music that signaled that you were ready to go into the ark two by two.

Beth had come to meet them and welcomed the women to their group. She and Carol sent them all to the showers and found clean clothes for the women, but there wasn't anything for the children. Michonne asked for their sizes and Carol made a guess.

Beth had dinner started and she and Carol got it finished. Rick said that he and Carl would give up their room to the women. He smiled at Carol and said, "I am glad that the basement has hot water now". He and Tyreese went downstairs to figure out the sleeping arrangements.

Carol fed the children early. They looked too tired and worn out to wait. They were dressed in some old t shirts that went to their ankles. Sarah explained that Michael was her son, but Alia had belonged to a member of their group that had been on the run and never came back.

Morgan and Michonne came back with clothes for the children and after dinner they sorted out the sleeping arrangements. Sarah and Rachel said that one room was fine with them. Tyreese had volunteered to go back to the other house, but no one wanted him to go.

Eugene and Tyreese did the dishes and discussed their next project. They should expand the living quarters downstairs and make a couple of bedrooms. They would draw up a schematic tomorrow and talk to Carol about it. Eugene said, "She is a domestic goddess, you know". Tyreese laughed, "Yeah, she is. There is a reason why this house works and it is mostly Carol".

Daryl had the first watch and didn't get back to Carol until late that night. She was reading by lamplight when he came into the room. She smiled at him and he smirked and went into the bathroom. He soon back out and scooted into bed beside her. "Now is it my turn?"

Carol laughed, "I missed you today. We have another building project starting tomorrow. I hope those guys can run wire better than they can plumb."

Daryl kissed her and said, "I don't want to talk about your little friends. I want to be your friend right now. Please just kiss me like you did when you ran off with Michonne. I missed you too. So did you get to practice your sword?" Carol thought about the walkers that she and Michonne had killed today, "Just a little while".

Daryl kissed her neck and bit gently on an earlobe. "I want to practice with my sword now."

Carol giggled, "Seriously, did you just say that?" She kissed him like she had that afternoon and Daryl decided that he was a damn lucky man to be married to a hot chick like Carol. He pulled off his sleeping pants and kissed his way down her body. He was going to show her some swordsmanship tonight.

AN

I wanted to add some new characters. I miss Andrea in this story and so Sarah shows up. I I don't know much about Rachel. She could be Eugene's soul mate. I know that is a stretch. Any ideas?

I think Daryl would run off to the woods once in a while.

Review please.