Author's note: Hey everyone, I'm very excited to start a new story after finishing my Sherlock one! This is going to be a Caryl story that AU/ before the dead rise, I'm not really sure about the details just yet. Anyone else really excited for season 4 in just a few days time? Sorry no Daryl in this chapter, but soon I promise! I would be very happy if you review for me!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything but the story itself.

Carol watched as the cars on her road just drove by, she was sitting in her drive-way; in her parked car. Ed had left for work only an hour ago and she was trying to work up the courage to leave. It had been like this every day this week; Ed leaves, she packs and sits in her car. Yesterday she had actually pulled out of the drive-way and ended going to the grocery store. Then she went back home, un-packed and started supper. Then Ed had come home around 6 before proceeding to insult the meatloaf she had made, (a recipe that had been her mother's) and then dragging her to bed for sex that she didn't want. Then he had the nerve to tell her in his post-organism haze that she should hurry up and go do the dishes. Carol didn't think she had ever been out of bed so fast, a chance to get away from being hurt and naked with her husband. At least he had already fallen to sleep by the time she had gotten back.

Still, she couldn't just make herself leave. She knew that this was pathetic, this was the man liked to use her as a punching bag. This was the man who pushed her down the stairs when she was pregnant, the man who ridiculed her on a daily basis. So why was it so hard to leave? She already knew the answer because that's what rang through her head every time she got in that car; he was the one who provided for her and what if she wasn't able to find somewhere to stay or a job to sustain herself with? Or the absolute worst option, what if he came and found her? If that happened would she fight back or just let him take her back home and punish her.

Carol gripped the steering wheels tightly and gritted her teeth; she wouldn't leave today, too many thoughts were already swarming through her mind. Doubt trudged through her mind and shadowed everything. Grabbing her suitcase out of the backseat, she headed back into the house. She had to unpack and put everything back exactly where she had got it from, or there would be trouble later. She didn't need there to be trouble later. Yesterday had been enough trouble and she hadn't even done anything wrong; she was still sore and was walking with a slight limp today.

Half way through her unpacking, the phone rang and she had to rush over to pick it up. "To rings bitch? You should answer the damn phone faster, especially for your god damned husband." A voice slurred in her ear. It was barely noon and he was at work, yet Ed still managed to sound like he has been drinking for hours. "Sorry dear, I was looking at recipes for what to make tonight." She answered timidly. A large belch rang through the phone before Ed continued, "Don't bother, gonna poker 'ith the boy's tonight, won't be home 'till after work tomorrow." A smile came to Carol's face; a day without Ed was always a good day. "Alright sweetheart, have fun." She managed to whisper before Ed cut her off by slamming the phone down. What was even the point of calling her if he didn't care what she had to say, that was by definition what the phone was for, conversation.

Still, this turned out to be a better day then she had imagined it would be, and she didn't even need to cook today which means she could actually go and do something. Like go on a trip to the local library; she didn't have a card but sometimes she liked to just go and read books. Besides Ed would rip or destroy any book she brought home, he claimed that reading was a waste of time and that he didn't want such useless things in his house. Carol would've liked to be able to claim that drinking was a waste of time, but that would just tend badly. She wasn't even aloud to have recipe books in the house, all her recipes were written down on cards that were long faded and stained.

She would have to walk, unable to drive or Ed would notice that she had gone out somewhere and be angry with her. Still, it was a nice sunny day and the 25 minute walk would be refreshing for her. Not that she hadn't made the walk to the library in the pouring rain before, or thick snow. The library was her hideaway for when Ed was out.

Besides going to the library was always fun, because she knew most of the staff. Andrea was one of the local librarians, who always worked from 10-5 on weekdays. They had become friends over the past few years and it was always nice to go and see her. Andrea would always amaze her with stories of her latest conquests, boyfriends, what her little sister was doing in school and many other amazing things. Carol never really had any stories to tell, but that didn't put Andrea off. Perhaps it made their relationship better that Andrea just did most of the talking.

She couldn't help but smile just thinking about how nice it would be to catch up for a bit; it had been over two weeks since her last visit. Andrea probably had a whole string of stories to tell her, along with a hundred questions to why she hadn't been back sooner. Her reply to those questions was always the same; sorry I haven't been out of the house, I've been so busy with insert chore here. That reply really stopped working the first few times, but Andrea has been really nice about it so far and hasn't questioned it. Maybe she was waiting for Carol to bring it up to talk about, who knows maybe one day she would.

Carol decided to go to the store and pick up some junk food to bring to Andrea as an apology. (She would buy some Ed when he came home, then he wouldn't question why she had spent some money) Then they could talk like they were having one of those sleep over's that she used to have as a young teen. She had loved those moments so much and wished they could still happen. Ed didn't want her to have friends at all, which is why he didn't know about Andrea. It was safer for both her and Andrea that way.

After making her way to the library and stopping for a few treats for them; she opened the big doors that revealed the librarians desk at the other side of the large room that had many shelves and comfy chairs. Right away she saw Andrea bolt up from her slouched over a book posture, and wave at her. "Hey Carol, I'm so happy to see you!" Andrea shouted at her and Carol couldn't help but giggle, Andrea always got really mad at people for being too loud then did things like yell loudly across the room herself. "Come on over here, you can sit behind the desk with me." Andrea finished; that was another rule to be broken. No one but librarians behind the desk and then with the rule of no food which she never followed or enforced, Andrea had to be the worst librarian ever. She definitely got the award for being the best friend though, and for that Carol was eternally grateful.