Shorter update but there is a time jump here. Something I want to point out to people with this story is: While we don't see or hear from Carol often it should be understood that her story line IS following that of the show. Her time line will be the same as far as being on the road and things you can guess that happened and we know that happened. Only difference Andrea is there with her and Daryl isn't. I'm sorry this one is shorter and my updates are less often. I've been very busy and now I've been dealing with my dog having puppies today. :D Hope everyone had a great weekend.

They were safe here. Safe. Something that felt foreign to them after the time they'd had over the winter. They had fences. Carol's eyes swept over the group as they moved bodies. It wasn't perfect but it felt like the best they were going to see in this world.

Carol sighed rubbing her chest as Andrea walked up next to her. Bumping her hip into Carol, "When we find her she will love being able to come outside."

Carol smiled and nodded at her friend. Andrea had an unshakeable faith that her daughter was alive. They both did. She was more thankful for that then the fences around her. Andrea had kept her going when Carol felt like she was ready to just quit. She had strength and she showed Carol she did too. She needed that.

"She will." Carol smiled, "You think we'll have to rest before we'll need to do a run."

Andrea's eyes went to Lori causing Carol's to follow, "We need to get ready for the baby."

Carol nodded along. She had hoped that things between the Grimes family would be on better terms but it seemed that was done. Lori had made herself clear on the farm who she wanted to be the father of her child. She made it clear who she wanted. She chose Shane. They all seen the results it had on Rick but like the man he was he didn't abandon his son or the woman he'd once loved. When Shane got killed when the farm was overrun he kept Lori alive. He kept her safe and the baby but it was clear it was over. There was no love there. It seemed even Carl understood and that was echoing into the way he treated his mother. He didn't go to her as often for things opting instead for his father.

"Think we can do that." Carol agreed.

Andrea made a face as Carl ran up to Rick speaking quickly. He was still so young in a lot of ways. They'd done everything they could when on the road to keep him safe and away from danger. He resented Rick for it a lot but it was clear he idolized his father.

"I just want to do something that might ease the tension." Andrea spoke quietly.

Carol shot her a look but Andrea just grinned at her, "She hates you."

Andrea made a face, "If I knew she was going to keep seeing them both I'd never slept with Shane. Besides it's like I said we were interrupted and I was severely unimpressed from that experience. I don't know why Lori was so hot for it.."

Carol chuckled blushing some, "Yeah I've heard all about your mystery man."

Andrea and Carol started walking up the hill. Andrea had a wide smile on her face and sighed, "Shane tried his shit with that man and he just raised a brow at him completely unfazed! You should have seen him Carol, those eyes aren't something you would ever forget."

"So you and Shane had sex but what you remember from that day was some man coming up on you all?"

Andrea started laughing again as they walked into the group. "Carol you don't ever forget a face like that. Mac...yeah I remember him."

Rick turned to them smiling as they finished the walk up to them. Carl walked away going to Hershel as Maggie and Glenn came up on them as well. Rick shifted in place ignoring Lori's questioning eyes and looking to then small group in front of him. T-Dogg was on watch despite them now having fences.

"We done good today." Rick nodded to them all his hands going to his hips, "If we can get this place secured we might be able to stay here longer."

Glenn cleared his throat, "We need to make a run soon. We need food, baby supplies, and more clothes."

"Dad was saying that we should check a library for books about pregnancy and medical…." Maggie's eyes went to Carol, "He thinks it would be good to have help."

Carol nodded, "Since I'm the only other person here who's had kids I think me and Andrea can handle that run."

Andrea smiled and nodded. Rick looked between them and pinched the bridge of his nose, "We'll get things set up here and when we know the area better we'll start working on that run."

"Still we need food now." Glenn started.

Sophia grinned walking through the house with Brian trailing her. She could hear him cursing under his breath as she walked up the steps. She was ignoring him though. He didn't get it. He wasn't out there with them when they were on the way here.

"He's gonna get mad!" Brian bitched.

Sophia turned at the top of the stairs, "If you're scared of your dad getting mad then walk away." Sophia chirped.

"What the fuck." He hissed still trailing her.

Sophia walked into Hannah and Mac's bedroom ignoring Brian's disgusted groan when she walked towards the bed. She shot him a look and he crossed his arms over his chest refusing to help. Shrugging she went about what she was doing laughing to herself. She knew Daryl would at least get a laugh out of it.

Working quick she switched everything around shoving the others under the bed. The sound of the door opening and slamming below let her know that Mac was home. Hannah never slammed the door. His heavy footsteps echoed and she took off running out of the room knocking Brian out of the doorway and causing him to fall into the hallway.

Brian fell with a loud grunt that followed into a groan as he laid there. Mac's footsteps never faltered but he picked his pace up. Sophia went to move by Brian but he kicked her in the back of the leg causing her knee to buckle and her hit the ground next to him. Mac crested the last step and paused looking at them sprawled all over the floor.

Brian was panting looking at his dad his face flushed in embarrassment and Sophia glared at him. Catching him not looking she slapped in the side of the head and was up moving towards Mac before he could hit her back. He was bitching again but it was the way Mac was watching them that made her pause.

"What the fuck are you two doing up here?" He shot a look to his son that made Brian paused in raising up. "Why the hell are you two laying up here like a bunch of weirdos?"

Sophia grinned at him, "We were coming to get something and Brian fell."

"Oh fuck you." Brian snapped pushing himself standing, "She fucking knocked me down."

Sophia turned glaring at him, "Shut the hell up whiny ass."

"Fuck you!" Brian snapped again, "You bossy bitch."

Sophia crossed her arms over her chest and Mac chuckled, "Get the fuck down stairs. Sophia Daryl's lookin' for you."

Sophia gave him a wide smile and ran down the steps. She heard Brian get caught by him and laughed as she burst out the door. She was no doubt going to hear the second he found what she done. He'd laugh or he wouldn't. She couldn't wait to tell Daryl though.

Racing down the street she rounded the corner and seen Merle and Daryl. Not stopping when she heard her named bellowed a few minutes later she kept running. Mac's voice was loud and thundered behind her. She couldn't tell if there was amusement or rage in his voice was either way she loved it.

Martinez elbowed Daryl and he turned looking at her and his eyes widened. She heard Brian's loud laughter and his boots. It wasn't his fast footfalls that made her heart leap into her throat though. It was the heavy and gaining ones coming from behind her. Sucking in a deep breath Sophia ran harder now slowing down a bit.

Merle stepped in closer to his brother grinning like a lunatic. Sophia launched herself the last few feet slamming into Daryl and damn near climbing him like a squirrel. Her arms went around his neck and she wrapped her legs around his waist anchoring herself to him. She felt his entire body shift as she slammed into him that hard and that took a step back his arm going around her and Merle was there his hand hitting on his shoulder balancing him.

"You did it?" Merle questioned.

Brian was there next moving around behind his uncles panting and smiling up at her. "Fuck yeah she did."

Daryl turned his head looking to Brian as Mac made it to them. Mac claimed all their attention instantly though, "Really!" His voice was coming in hard fast pants as his chest heaved.

Sophia clung tighter to Daryl and gave Mac a brilliant smile, "But you were so sad yours got left behind you picked out."