My updates are a bit slower now cause i've fracture my wrist and hand. And i've had stuff going on outside FF. I'm trying to do as much as I can at the time. Be patient. Thanks for the reviews, follows, and favs you guys are great.

Carol woke to the sounds of muffled talking and her hand stretched out next to her feeling the emptiness of Sophia's missing body. Snapping up and out of the bed in a heart beat her eyes searched for her baby girl before she heard her bubbling laughter. Moving from the bed she got dressed and left the safety of the RV stepping into the cool morning air. It was even light yet and she was already searching for her daughter.

"Good morning Carol." Rick spoke softly.

Nodding her head she stifled a yawn,"Is Sophia out here?"

Rick nodded sipping his coffee the steam washing past his eyes. Jerking his head she looked over seeing Sophia trailing after the brothers. Her heart sunk watching as Mac broke down the tent while Daryl leaned against the truck. She smiled though when she seen Sophia mirror him exactly and her mind flashed back to lastnight seeing her doing the same then.

"How long has she been out here?" Carol questioned.

Rick looked at her thoughtfully, "Longer than I have. Early riser that one."

Rick set down and Carol copied him her eyes still watching the three a ways away from them. She couldn't hear what was being said but Sophia's laughter was like music to her ears. Her smile was infectious and had Mac smiling while coaxing a smirk from Daryl.

"Those two seem different." Rick noted.

Carol looked over at him hugging her arms around herself, "What do you mean?"

Rick kept his eyes on them, "They keep to themselves but are quick to speak up. More Mac than Daryl. You don't mess with one of the other clearly. Shane's busted ribs and broke nose are evidence enough of that." Rick shot her a smile, "But for them to be so gruff watching them with that girl is...is it not what you would expect."

Carol chewed her lip letting her eyes go back to them seeing Sophia pull something out unclear what she had. Daryl dropped down to one knee in front of her and Carol raised an eyebrow watching them. Mac raised up his eyes went to her suddenly as Rick moved away towards his tent. His eyes never left her and his smile widened as Daryl stayed even with Sophia. She couldn't see what Daryl was doing and Mac's smile was making her uncomfortable.

Standing up she moved towards them the same time Daryl moved back to his feet with silent grace. Sophia's eyes were bright and on him her smile widening, "It wouldn't go on for me." She huffed.

Daryl shook his head, "Just do it the way I showed you."

"Mornin' silver fox."

Her face burned red, "Good mornin' Mac." Her eyes flicked to Sophia then Daryl, "Mornin' Daryl."

"Come...to wish us luck?" Mac grinned his eyes dancing.

Carol tilted her head at him in challenge her eyes flicking to her daughter who was watching them quietly. Just as quietly as Daryl was both of them gazing at them both. His eyes burned across her skin leaving her feeling flushed before his eyes went to the sky. Mac sighed and lit a cigarette shaking his head at his brother.

"How far off?" Mac questioned.

Daryl's eyes went back to him, "About half an hour and half." Carol raised an eyebrow at him and he shrugged at her, "Sunrise."

Carol's eyes went to the sky and she searched for what gave him this idea. They knew so much more about doing things in this world than she ever would. They knew how to survive in this world of chaos while the rest of the group was left reeling and trying to pick up the slack.

Mac moved suddenly, "I'll be back."

Sophia snorted, "He's going to find tits aint he?"

Daryl barked out a laugh before being able to swallow it down the sound taking Carol by surprise. Even with him trying to stop deep chuckles rolled through him causing his face to widen in a smile.

"Sophia!" Carol tsk'd.

Sophia crossed her arms, "What?"

"Don't talk like that." Carol was trying not to smile or laugh but it was failing her. Daryl's soft chuckle was making it harder for her to scold the girl in the face of his amusement.

"Well it's the truth he's gonna go say good bye to tits." Sophia looked up at Daryl but he just looked at Carol.

She didn't miss the way Sophia said goodbye and she knew Daryl didn't either even if the girl herself didn't get what was being said. She clearly over heard some conversation between the brothers and was running with it. Shaking her head she looked her daughter over seeing something strapped to her belt, it was a small leather sheath.

Daryl followed her eyes and Sophia shifted showing it off thrusting her little hip out, "Like it?"

Carol eyed her, "Where did you get it?"

Sophia whipped the knife with flourish out but Daryl caught her wrist shaking his head, "Told you it wasn't a toy Kit."

Sophia let her eyes drop holding the knife out to Carol to inspect. It was small make but well done. She looked at Daryl,"This is original work."

He nodded chewing his lip but saying nothing. She inspected it some more and her eyes went to the knife on his own hip. The handles were the same made but this one was a smaller version of his. He'd given it to her or Mac one. She felt her chest tighten and emotion rise in her throat threatening to choke her as she looked at it. Blinking back tears at the thought of these men leaving she smiled handing it back to her daughter.

Sophia resheathed it snapping the latch and looked at Daryl again, he nodded at her and she smiled. She yawned suddenly and blinked heavily, "Well Mac is being slow as shit."

Carol blew out a breath, "Sophia language!"

Daryl chuckled but Sophia glared through her red face. She looked back at Daryl, "Promise?"

He eyed her before nodding swiftly at her, "I do."

At his words Sophia's body visibly relaxed and she smiled at him. Her little hand lingering on her knife hilt before she moved past them. She trotted away and Carol watched after her daughter aware she was missing something. Daryl watched her go and she seen an odd look cross his face, almost protective. She swallowed again at the realization that him and Mac had been the type of men she needed in her life not Ed. Sophia needed that guiding strength that Daryl offered. She just hoped she didn't take them being gone so hard.

"You gave her a knife." Carol's voice was soft.

Daryl looked at her before looking down, "I did...I guess I should have said something to you about it first."

Carol shook her head, "No she needs to be able to protect herself in this world."

Daryl licked his lips as Mac started back towards them. "You both do."

She looked at him taking in his strong profile committing it to memory. He shifted on his feet his eyes meeting hers briefly the look in them knocking her back. Shyness and something else. She tried to place it but he looked away before she could and she sighed.

Carol smiled at him, "Take care of yourself and your warped other half."

"Might be warped darlin' but it hits all the right spots so I'm told." Mac chimed in.

Carol blushed again and walked away from the pair of them. She started on getting things ready for breakfast as Sophia set watching them sadly from her chair. "Mama why can't we go with them?"

Carol looked at her stirring the pot, "Just can't baby."

Sophia grumbled but it was drowned out by the sound of the bike coming to life. Carol looked over her shoulder her eyes finding Daryl straddling the bike as Mac got in the truck. He pulled a pair of dark sun glasses on and she swallowed at the image. His hands gripped the handlebars tightly the gloves flexing with his hands making her mouth water. She shook her head going back to what she was doing. She couldn't do this to herself. She was never gonna see them again and letting thoughts of that man invade her brain like that would only make for long night.

Carol made Sophia a plate as the group started stirring and made herself one setting back. Her eyes went to where their camp had been and she felt a hollowness settle over her. Andrea made her way over taking a cup of coffee her eyes searching the area as well before she blew out a breath.

"Can't believe this."

Carol looked down at her, "What?" her voice low.

Andrea met her eyes and Carol seen the red around her eyes rimming her pale green ones, "Leaving Merle behind and them having to go get him...it's not fair."

Carol nodded, "It wasn't right."

"Are we going to see them again? They are going into Atlanta! of all places..."

Carol chewed her food hearing the despair in Andrea's voice even with her resolve intact. "Men like that were made for this world. They don't break, don't bend, they survive."

Both women nodded Andrea smiling at her before her face tinted red, "Sophia called me tits earlier."

Carol sighed, "I told her to stop that. I don't know why she does that."

"Mac...he was calling me that." Andrea snorted.

Carol smiled, "She picked up talking like them."

Both women laughed again as Rick stood up getting their attention. "We've decided we're going to the CDC. We want to be gone in today. Lets start breaking down the gear." His voice was firm.

Carol swallowed meeting his eyes as he looked at her. She motioned Sophia over and they got what they would need. Their was nothing left to break down of the tent they'd shared with Ed. They only needed to get the few small things they still had and they were done. Carol spent the rest of the time trying to help where she could. She was worried about being on the move but there was nothing to be done about it and the walkers were getting closer. All the more reason to move camps.