The Hunter and the Widow

I do not own any of this! All power to AMC and Robert Kirkman!

As they drove away from Atlanta, Carol turned to her daughter, still thankful they had gotten out of the CDC alive. Honestly, she didn't think they were going to make it, thought it would end with her clutching Sophia as Daryl beat Jenner's' head in with an axe.

Daryl.

As she looked out of the front windshield, Carol could see him riding on his brother's motorcycle. Carol had thought after Daryl returned from Atlanta without Merle, he would disappear. She was very thankful that he stayed. She wouldn't be here if it wasn't for him.

Quarry Camp

As the screams rose out, Carol ran to Sophia. She had been sitting with Carl as Carol went to look in on Ed. She never made it into the tent. Just as she was opening the flap, she heard Amy scream as the walker ripped out her throat. As Carol ran, looking for her daughter, she spotted her with Lori and Carl. She ran, but was surprised as a walker jumped out from next to their tent. Carol ran, attempting to get back to Sophia, Carl and Lori who were all hiding behind Shane who was unloading a shot gun into as many walkers as he could.

Just as she got close, Carol felt grimy hands grab at her. She was sure she was gone, as suddenly there was a loud retort and the hands fell away from her. She looked over to her right, where Daryl stood.

He grabbed her hand, and shoved her in the direction of the group. As she ran, she looked back as the red neck followed her, protecting her and himself. She reached Sophia, checking her all over for fatal scratches or bites. She could hear screams; they sounded like Ed. She couldn't find it in herself to care anymore.

16 years she had suffered under Ed, dreading every moment with him. Now he was gone, and all she felt was release. Release from the fear that had gripped her, both for herself and her daughter. Now, in a world filled to the brim with fear, she was no longer afraid, at least of Ed.

As the shots and screaming ended, she looked to Daryl over Sophia's head. He nodded to her saying "Sophia ok?"

"Yes, no bites or scratches. Thank you Daryl, thank you!"

"Forget about it."

But she couldn't forget about it. He had saved her, and then followed to make sure she returned to her daughter safely, and then had made sure Sophia was okay.

Daryl hadn't left them, and now was leading the way through the mess of abandoned cars and bodies on the highway. As the RV in front of them slowed and smoked, he pulled around to circle around the car they were in.

Carol had found him doing that a lot since the attack at the quarry. He was always glancing over at her, and not just her.

The one night they spent at the CDC, after dinner when she had been showering, she had left Sophia in their room, telling her to stay with the group and not to wonder.

As she returned from the wonderful warm shower, she found their room empty. Figuring Sophia was with Lori and Carl; she dressed and left the room. As she walked down the hallway to the game room, she heard Sophia's voice in a room she heard her daughter's voice coming from somewhere she never expected: Daryl's room. As she looked in, she saw the two sitting on his bed, as he explained the working of his crossbow as he cleaned it. Somehow Daryl heard her, and glanced up, pulling Sophia's eyes as well.

"Mom, this is so cool! I know you won't let me have a gun yet but maybe a crossbow?" Sophia asked.

Carol thought for a moment. She wouldn't let Sophia handle a gun until she had a chance herself to be trained in them. A crossbow was just as dangerous, or so far had been more deadly than a gun in Daryl's hands. As she opened her mouth to speak, Daryl jumped in.

"This one's way too big for ya, but if we find a smaller one and your mom says it's ok, I'll teach ya."

As they both looked to her, Sophia with a hopeful expression and Daryl with a curiously close to a smile smirk, she sighed and nodded.

"But only as long as you follow everything Daryl says, and don't try any stunts."

"I promise mom!" Sophia ran to give Carol a hug, but stopped and quickly gave Daryl a hug, surprising the hunter. After getting her hug Carol turned to a yawning Sophia "the shower is open, why don't you get washed up and we'll get a good night's sleep."

As Sophia ran down the hall, Carol turned back to Daryl.

"Are you sure about teaching her? I said no to the gun because I haven't been trained in them myself. In just don't want her to hurt herself playing around."

"Don't worry about that. I'm gonna teach her right, how to respect every weapon, guns and crossbow if ya don't mind. I'd prefer that she's got the knowledge when she needs it, not that she needs the knowledge when she outta have it."

Carol smiled. "Okay, I trust you. Thank you."

"I can teach ya too, If that's okay with you." Daryl stated, suddenly looking almost shyly at her.

"I'd like that quite a bit." Carol looked in to his blue eyes and smiled.

As the convoy stopped, and gathered around the crippled RV, a plan came together. While they worked to fix the RV, the rest of the group would look for supplies. As she walked towards the first car, Carol saw Daryl heading off towards a group of cars with TDog. As he turned, he caught her eye and nodded to her. She nodded back, and walked towards the car with Lori.