This is a very AU story that takes place with no apocalypse. Daryl moves to the small town of Sweet Junction with his brother in an attempt to start fresh, when he gets there, though, he never expects the turn that his life is going to take. Many characters from the show as well as OCs. It will eventually have Caryl as the primary relationship. Merle/Andrea as well.

I'm really bad at summaries...

(There is a one night stand between Daryl and another character that takes place in one chapter if you need that warning.)

'Tethered' is a depiction of the way Daryl and Carol's relationship first develops (we start out on the farm, post Sophia).  You'll see them as friends first.  They slowly become more.  You're in for tons of angst, feels, some humor, flirtation, and so much wonderful tension!   Fair warning: you'll encounter language, violence and adult situations.

"Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain." (Isaiah 40:4)

Single parenthood to a traumatised child, a lingering wrist injury, and a nerve-wracking return to orchestra life - Carol isn't sure she's ready to cope with any of it, especially when someone she hoped was gone from her life makes a re-entry; but she finds unexpected solace in the passageways of the concert hall, in the person of a reticent artist completing a carving across the back of the stage.

It had become a festering ache beneath the surface of his skin, this need he had to protect her, to save her … because he was certain he was the only one who could in a world gone to hell.

Caryl and Mandrea, AU.  Life began at forty and only got better from there.  Carol had a good job, amazing friends, and a happy life.  She didn’t need love, and she didn’t need romance.  Besides, she already knew that all men were the same.  They would all, eventually, be guilty of the same crimes.  That didn’t make her jaded; it just made her aware.  Could one man prove to her that he was different?  Could he prove to her that he was an innocent man?