This is my first try at a AU story, it is Caryl based but will have points of views from different characters as well. I have about 10 chapters written at the moment and i plan to keep ahead with writing the chapters. so i will be able to update regular apart from weekends. i have no idea how long this story will be because there will be a lot happening. there is chapter 1, hope you enjoy and please review. :)

i don't own the walking dead or the characters.

This story is beta by Lil' Ass Kicker, you should check out her stories.

Chapter 1

January 18

Carol's POV

Carol woke to the sound of rain hitting her bedroom window, she glanced at her alarm clock and noticed it was 10.00 in the morning, she smiled to herself while realizing that this was the first time she had slept in, she had slept all-night and didn't have any nightmares. She was happy and felt safe for the first time since leaving Ed a week ago and moving to Georgia, with help from her friend Lori, she had managed to find this house and a job at the local pub, tonight was going to be her first shift, she was slowly going to get her life back bit by bit, she knew that the nightmare's might always be there, along with her scars both physical and mental, but with help from Lori she didn't feel ashamed anymore.

Carol jump out of bed ready to start her day she was meeting Lori for coffee at 12.00, Carol took a quick shower and got dressed, she chose a pair of black leggings and a white jumper that showed off her curves she slipped on a pair of brown ankle boots. she took a quick look in the mirror, she wasn't flawless. She knew that much. But she nothing like Ed had describe. She wasn't an ugly woman. She wasn't beautiful like most woman but she wasn't hideous like he had always implied. She wasn't skin and bones but she was fit enough. Her stomach was flat and her hips and thighs were firm. She wasn't ashamed of her body the way he had wanted her to be. She had suffered and she had survived, and now she was going to get her life back. She took one last look in the mirror as She pulled her auburn hair back into a pony trail. She felt good wearing something that she had picked out instead of what Ed had brought her, when she first moved there, one of the first things she did was to buy a whole new wardrobe.

She locked up the house and made her way to her car, she drove the short distance into town and parked her car just around the corner from the coffee shop. As she walked through the door she noticed that Lori wasn't here yet, so she decided to order herself a latte and a slice of lemon cake. She paid for her coffee and cake and took a sit in the corner by the window while she waited for Lori. She was half way though her cake by the time Lori showed up.

"Sorry I'm late." Lori said as she put her coffee on the table and took a seat. "How are you, you nervous about tonight?"

"I'm good I managed to sleep all night without having nightmares, I'm a bit nervous about tonight, as I haven't worked in two years, since before I met Ed, cause he didn't like me working. But I'm running out of the savings I managed to keep back." Carol answered.

"I'm glad you slept well, and I'm sure you will do fine tonight, Andrea is really nice and you have done bar work before." Lori said.

"That's true, thank you for helping me to get this job Lori, you have been great, I don't know what I would have done without you and Rick." Carol told her.

"you're more than welcome Carol, we both glad to able to help you out, have you heard anything from Ed?"

"No nothing, I changed my number like Rick said, and he doesn't know that I talk to you both still, so I doubt he would think to look for me there."

"Well that's good then."

"How is Rick?" Carol asked

"He is good, got called out on a case, but we will both be there later tonight to see how you're doing." Lori answered.

"Thank you Lori you guys are the best, anyway I must get back and get ready I start at 6.00." Carol said as she stood up.

"Ok, good luck," Lori said and pulled Carol in for a quick hug "We see you later."

"See you later Lori."

By the time Carol got home it was nearly 3.00pm, she had just enough time to have something to eat and get ready before she had to go, as the bar was at least a half hour drive from here. she made a quick sandwich and seat down to eat it, thinking about tonight, she was glad that Lori had managed to get her the job at the bar, she did bar work before she met Ed and enjoyed it. when she met Andrea last week she had seemed nice and she was looking forward to working with her, she was glad that Lori and Rick were going to pop by later as well.

After a quick shower Carol got dressed she had chosen a pair of tight blue jeans, and a black V-neck cut top. She finished the outfit of with a pair of black knee high boots, which she wore outside her jeans and a blue necklace that matched her eyes. She let her hair fall on both sides of shoulders. She wore very little make-up. She looked at herself in the mirror. She looked good the outfit she chose was perfect for tonight. She grab her leather jacket on her way out the door. She felt good about tonight.