Disclaimer: I own nothing.

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Carol glanced back for the hundredth time since she and Sophia had stepped off the bus. She didn't like this. She didn't trust this. She kept waiting for him to appear with every step she took. She could see his face, those hate-filled eyes just searing into her, blaming her for many things. She wasn't even sure what she had done most days.

Sophia was hugging her doll close to her chest, very pale and silent in front of her mother. She didn't like this place. She didn't like the other place either. She never wanted to call it home. Home was where you were supposed to be safe, where you're supposed to be able to laugh and to be happy and be yourself. That place wasn't home. It was a nightmare that she and her mother had to live through. She used to hope she would wake up one day, and it'd all be better. Her mom would smile, and it would be a real smile, and everything would be all right. She was only ten, soon to be eleven, but she knew that her dream would never happen. It was just a child's wishful thinking.

Carol wouldn't—or maybe just couldn't—meet anyone's eyes, worrying they might recognize her, tell Ed where she was, and he would come and drag them back. She had to be strong for once. She had to put Sophia first. She was going to get away from him. This would work. It would. Inhaling deeply, she moved her arms from around her daughter's small shoulders and rubbed her arms, but only briefly. She was fearful. She felt that if she didn't keep a hand on Sophia that Ed would swoop in and take her little girl away from her forever. She couldn't bear to lose her baby girl; Sophia was all she had left in the world. That's why she was here. She could do this. She could.

A woman with short brown hair showed them where they would be staying. She was very kind, as were her compassionate green eyes—full of genuine warmth and concern. She gave Sophia a green lollypop, making her smile a little, and it made Carol smile, loosening the knots in the pit of her stomach only slightly. The young woman held the door open to their room, Sophia stuck her head in and smiled at the bunk beds. She hurried over to them and climbing up to the top bunk, giggling softly at the sight of a couple stuffed animals by the pillow—Dad hardly let her have any toys. She'd always liked a bunk bed. She even wanted some for her room once a long time ago, but...Dad never approved. Her friends...had bunk beds.

"Let me know if you need anything," the young woman told them, smiling softly.

"Thank you." Carol held their bag closer, even though there was nothing of value inside. "Thank you so much, miss."

"Please, call me Maggie." She stepped back. "Have a good night's rest. You look like you need it."

Carol nodded. "Sophia, what do you say?"

"Thank you, Ms. Maggie." She smiled around the stick of the lollypop. Her mom taught her to always smile when she gave thanks.

"I'll see you two in the morning. Um, the bathroom is right down the hall to the left." Carol nodded again. "And if you need anything later on tonight, say after one or two, just let Jeanette know. She'll get it for you. Or try to."

"We won't be any trouble," she assured Maggie.

"And you aren't by askin'." She set her hand on the doorknob. "I'll leave y'all to it. Good night." She pulled the door closed behind her.

Exhaling deeply a breath she didn't know she'd been holding, Carol looked over the small room. There was a little desk, a metal chair, a small lamp with a red lampshade and a book on childhood abuse that made the lump in her throat swell; the bunk beds were decorated with green and pink—a green stripped pillowcase, a solid green pillowcase, a pink blanket. It was cute. It was even comfortable according to Sophia. It was also safe. For now.

"Here, honey, change into your nightclothes." She set the bag down on the desk and unzipped it, pulling out the pale pink pajamas with the cherry blossoms design on them.

Sophia climbed down and took them, tossing them onto the bed to kick off her tennis shoes, which were too big for her anyhow. "Are we staying here long?" She glanced up at her mom as she unbuttoned her jeans.

"I don't know, baby." Her eyes were locked on the book beside the bag, and she reached over and turned it onto its front so she couldn't see the title anymore. "Just get changed and get some sleep, okay?" She looked over her shoulder as Sophia finished buttoning her nightshirt. She offered her daughter a reassuring smile then glanced into the bag at her own nightclothes. She wasn't going to be sleeping tonight. She was too terrified to sleep, but she wasn't going to let Sophia go without sleep.

Sophia folded her jeans and t-shirt. "Here, Mom."

"Get into bed." She accepted the clothes and placed them into the bag. "Do you have to use the bathroom or anything first?"

She pressed her lips together. "No, I'm good. Can I brush my teeth?"

"We didn't bring toothbrushes or toothpaste."

"Oh. Okay." She sighed a little. She always brushed her teeth before bed and in the morning. "I'll just say my prayers then."

Carol refolded Sophia's clothes as she prayed, trying not to overhear what her daughter was saying in an effective hushed tone, but she could still make out most of what was being whispered due to small room. She had to close her eyes to keep from crying at "Please, don't let him find us. Don't let him hurt Mom anymore. Let us have a new start." She had no words to express how those few words dug into her. She could hardly breathe for a minute, but luckily Sophia finished.

"Okay then. Good night, Mom." She kissed her mom's cheek then climbed into bed, crawling under the soft, warm blankets and cuddling her doll close to her chest.

"I'll be right back, baby."

She shot up. "Where are you going?"

"To the bathroom. I'll be right back." She gave the young girl a small smile.

Sophia nodded and lied back down on her back, eyes on the door as her mom walked out. She didn't like the dark. No, it wasn't that. She didn't like what was in the dark. She was scared her dad would be in the dark, waiting for her and her mom. She didn't want him to show up here and hurt her mom anymore. If she were bigger or stronger, she would put a stop to it. She would stand up to him. She would be strong for her mom and stop him...but she wasn't. And that sucked more than anything.

Carol pulled the bathroom door closed behind her, sliding down the door and collapsing into a heap on the floor, her hand over her mouth. She never wanted those words to come out of her daughter's mouth. She always tried her very best to hide Ed's abuse, and she always tried so hard to ensure Sophia had a normal childhood, but she had been failing at that. She was still failing at that. What kind of life could she prove for her baby girl? She had no education passed a high school diploma, and she had no skills, because Ed never let her have a job. She only had one back in school, because she had to pay for gas. She was forty years old and that girl felt as if she existed practically a lifetime ago. Or possibly never. She didn't even know what she could do or what she wanted to do other than escape Ed and raise her daughter right.

She curled up against the door, her arms around her knees, the sobs that shook through her body left her breathless, left her throat sore. She didn't know what she was going to do tomorrow. She had nothing: no money, no car, no one to turn to. She was completely alone like Ed wanted her to be. She had a sister, but they weren't on good terms. Karen had been related to Carol by marriage since they were about six years old, and they had always been close, but Karen never liked Ed. She always hated him, especially when he would grab Carol or spoke to her a condescending way. The few hours before they were married, Karen sat there and begged Carol not to marry him. She offered Carol a home and a good future, but she was too scared of being alone. She knew nobody else would want her worthless, fat ass, so she just...settled. After Sophia was born, Karen tried to be in her life again, just for Sophia's sake, but she couldn't bear to see Carol's busted lip or bruised ribs and face, or hear yet another shitty excuse as to why she had those injuries. Eventually, she stopped coming by, and every year Sophia received a birthday card, a Christmas card, Valentines day card and even a Halloween card from Karen, Tyreese and her baby cousin Madison. If Carol called now... Well, there wasn't a chance in hell Karen would pick up.

She snuffled and heard a clunk! noise from one of the stalls. She wiped her eyes, trying to clear her vision, and she heard a man let out a sigh. She scrambled to her feet immediately, fear crippling her, and she stood there with wide, teary eyes, heart pounding. Oh, God. Who was there?

Daryl Dixon, who hid at the sound of someone entering the bathroom in tears, cursed mentally when the candy bar he'd bought for lunch and never ate slipped out of his jacket. He had been the janitor there for about two years now, and they treated him well enough for a Dixon. They understood his circumstances, and they paid him well enough. He didn't need much, and he grew up with nothing, so it was enough. He had a day job, but he hated it. It was almost ironic; his place was a pit, but he cleaned for a living. He was cleaning the bathroom after one of the little girls got sick, and he'd heard someone enter. He automatically stepped into the stall to avoid an awkward situation, but the woman started to cry really hard. He didn't want to make her any more uncomfortable or upset, so he hid. He hated to hear these woman cry, and he heard them cry often, but this woman—the power of her sobs tore into him. And he'd been caught. Son of a bitch. He just made this a thousand times worse. Jesus Christ, he should've just let his presence be known.

He waited a minute, hoping he would somehow find the courage to step out and apologize, but it only make him want to barricade the damn door and never ever leave. When the woman made no sound of leaving, he exhaled inaudibly and walked out of the stall, swiping his candy bar on the way. He scratched the back of his head and lifted his gaze the to the woman, trying to find words to explain himself. He really had none.

Carol eyed the man when he finally emerged from the stall, her entire body exhaling in relief that it wasn't Ed or someone Ed knew, but she was still a little scare. Who was this man? Why was in the restroom at this time of night? She ran her eyes over him in the dim light the moon provided. He was tall, well-built with unruly dark hair that practically touched his broad shoulders, but that was about all she could make out. She didn't know what to say to him, but she wiped quickly at her face, not wanting him to see her like this. Ed didn't approve of tears.

Daryl chewed his bottom lip, taking in a good look of the small woman at the door. She had really short hair like a handful of the women here—some had no hair, a small few had longer hair, guess it depended on the man. The woman weighed probably a hundred pounds wet, and she wore a tan pants and a shirt that was too old for her. Hell, he'd never even seen a shirt like that in real life, not even in the store. Where the hell did her asshole husband find that ugly ass thing? His grandmother's closet or a trash can? Christ. He really must have lacked in the looks department otherwise he wouldn't have made her severally unattractive. He kicked himself mentally. He didn't want to do that. He didn't want to be that type of man. He didn't even know what she looked like, not really. For all he knew, she was beautiful. He was no catch himself...

Minutes literally passed as the silence went on, Carol shifted, fingers knotting as she grasped for words, and Daryl just chewed his lip, holding the candy bar. Finally, Daryl spoke.

"Sorry 'bout this," he murmured, gesturing to the room vaguely with the candy bar.

"No, it was my fault. I wasn't..." she trailed off as he shook his head.

"You don't gotta think like that here," he said. "It's on me. I just...didn't wanna embarrass you. Shit, I did worse than that. I'm just real sorry." He cleared his throat then walked by her, stopping before he walked out. He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a red bandana and offered it to her, to dry her tears. "Here."

"Oh, no. I'm fine," she insisted. "Really."

He didn't pull his hand back. "Take it."

She swallowed and accepted the bandana, a few tears falling free. "Thank you... I'm sorry, I don't know what to call you."

"Daryl."

"Daryl...?"

"Just Daryl."

She sniffed. "Then thank you, Daryl."

He gave a nod and exited the bathroom, heading down to the supply closet to grab a few things before he moved into the lobby to clean.

Carol looked at the red bandana that had obviously been worn down from years of use and probably meant a lot to the mysterious man who was mostly likely the janitor. She hoped he was janitor. She let out a small, sad laugh as a burning sensation across her cheeks and nose. She smiled to herself, gently folding the bandana, and she took a deep, calming breath. She'd been gone for too long. She needed to check on Sophia.

That was probably the first and only time a man who wasn't her father given her something just out of kindness. She wouldn't forget that, and she would get this back to him before... before what? Before she went crawling back to Ed? Before she somehow found a way to survive on without any help? Unfortunately, it would probably be Ed. She was just too scared of being alone, it seemed. Sophia was the light of her light, but she was just a child. It was different. There were things she was too young to understand, and financially...

She didn't have the energy for these thoughts. She just needed to sit down. Opening the bathroom door, she headed back to her room and found Sophia passed out on the top bunk, snug and warm. She smiled at the sight of it and set the bandana down on the desk, giving it a pat. She moved over to the window and peered out, seeing the moon. It was a crescent moon. Sophia called crescent moons "God's thumbnail". It was peaceful and beautifully bright, even for such a small portion. If only she could be as calming and radiant as that small sliver of moon.

She glanced over at Sophia again and wrapped her arms around herself. God, could she really just crawl right back to Ed? Was there nothing else? No one else? Her eyes filled with tears, and she began to pray. That's all she ever did anymore. She had to pray. Without God, who else could she turn to?