He would live in the townhouse next to them. They didn't know he was there to protect them, but after what that bastard Ed had exposed them to, they were going to need him just in case things went south. Daryl was briefed as to their situation a week ago.

Ed was mixed up with with the wrong group of people and found himself on the end of a silencer to the temple. Unbeknownst to the shooter, Shellie was home. She was suppose to be picking up her daughter, Katie, from an overnight trip she had been on with family friends, but got a call that the group was delayed because severe weather had moved into the area, and travel was suspended until the next day. Hidden in the bedroom closet, Shellie watched the event unfold as Ed plead for his life.

"Merle, I got your money, man. I do! I would never steal from you!" Ed's eyes held fear as he knew that he was done for. He had been stealing small amounts of money from a petty cash pot that he was given to transport drugs from state to state. Could you call it petty cash if it held thousands of dollars at one time? You could in the drug world and that is why Ed assumed he'd never be found out. Merle caught wind of this when the cartel's "bookkeeper" finally discovered what was going on. It took them a while to trace it back to Ed, as the amounts were miniscule in the overall world of the drug trafficking.

Smacking Ed's cheek as he talked, Merle replied, "Ed, Ed, Ed...did you really think that I was so stupid I wouldn't find out what you have been doing!? I take care of you, your family and this is how you repay me? I've set the petty cash pots with certain amounts, monitored what you were taking in and what was flowing out. It's been short a while now."

Changing his tune, he pleaded, "I'll give it all back! Let's go right now. I'll get it for you and promise it will never happen again! Of course I appreciate what you have done for me!" Ed began to piss himself as he heard the safety click off.

Shellie watched as Merle leaned over and said, "No one steals from me, you stupid bastard. You are lucky your wife and kid are not here right now, otherwise I'd take them and sell them to the highest bidder. Just for fun, you fuckwad. Lucky for them, we have found your private stash and cleared the debt."

She heard the shot and saw Ed slump to the floor. The blood began to pool around him as Shellie kept her hand over her mouth to stifle any noise she may make. Merle turned to his henchman and said, "We're out."

It took about two years from the time Shellie saw Ed get shot, to her testifying in a closed proceeding, to beginning her new life. After several months of counseling and a final witness protection location being set up, she was ready to move on. Luckily, Katie was only three and didn't really understand what was going on. Ed hardly spent any time with her because he didn't like children, so there weren't any concerns about her saying something about her dad.

The FBI were not concerned with Shellie being discovered because Merle and his people still hadn't figured out who saw him shoot Ed, but decided on witness protection as an extra measure of precaution to make sure that they were safe. Shellie turned off the engine and turned to face her daughter. Katie's hair used to hang in long light brown ringlets all the way down her back, but now she had a pixie style cut that actually framed her beautiful little face. "Come on, Sophia. Let's check out our new home." Shellie had worked with a moving team online and laid out where she wanted their personal items placed inside. The only thing she would have to worry about were their suitcases in the car.

As she went around and lifted Sophia out of the car, the man who lived next door was coming out his front door. He didn't have a uniform on, but she knew he was an officer by the badge clipped on his belt. She held her daughter's hand as she walked up the path. He approached her, extended his hand and said, "Hi! You must be my new neighbors. I'm Daryl, Daryl Dixon."

Uncertainty crept into her thoughts, but she didn't want to appear rude. "Hi! Yes. I'm Carol Peletier and this is my daughter, Sophia." She shook his hand and smiled when Sophia reached out and tried to put her hand on top of theirs.

Daryl bent down and looked at the little girl, grabbed her hand and said, "Yes, Miss Sophia. It is lovely to meet you, too." The little girl smiled a toothy grin at him before she clung to her mother's leg. He looked back at Carol as he stood up and was amazed at how blue her eyes were. "I better get to work. It was nice to meet you ladies." Smiling, he turned and made his way down the path to his truck.

"Nice to meet you as well," Carol called as she watched him leave. He certainly is easy on the eyes, she thought as she walked up the stoop and unlocked the door.