Rick, Carl, Michonne, Daryl and Beth sat around in their makeshift tents and sleeping bags, deciding what to do. It seems that they were divided, Beth, Carl and Rick thought they should join the group of strangers while Michonne and Daryl agreed it would be a really stupid idea.

"You must be getting' some heat stroke if ya'll think we should go with them, after everything with the Governor."

"I agree with Daryl… I'm hesitant to trust them so soon." Michonne said indecisively.

"I was with them for a few weeks; they're good people just like you guys. They can help us find Maggie and Glenn and Sasha and everyone!" Beth twirled the necklace around in her fingers while she talked, she was clearly nervous they would decide not to go with them after all.

"Carl what do you think?" Rick asked brusquely. "If Beth trusts them then so do I." He looked at her and smiled, before looking away. You could see the transparent love Carl felt for Beth. He constantly checked on her, tried to be near her and agreed with her. Michonne noticed it during her time at the prison, and felt sad for Carl. It was clear Beth did not notice Carl's feelings and she didn't think either of them could possibly close the age gap.

"I think we should travel with them just for the moment, find the others, and then from there we can make our next move." Although Rick had renounced his leadership role, they still all looked to him to give the final answer on everything.

Daryl scoffed at Rick, picked up his crossbow and wandered off to hunt so he could think alone. He was grateful to the strangers for saving Beth sure, but he couldn't help be worried for the people he had come to care so much about. He didn't want any of them of get hurt. The woman who called herself Jasmine seemed kind but there was something off about her. Even though he had assumed she was the leader at first, it later became apparent that she didn't really have a say in what was going on. She acted like an outsider at the same time as being one of the most important members of her group. Michael made it clear he was the decision maker. Daryl wasn't too sure about him, he came across as cocky but he was clever. Daryl saw the sly glint in his eye, the same one he saw in The Governor.

'What's up between Jasmine and Michael anyways?' Daryl wondered. It looked as if Michael liked her, the way he put his arm around her and the way he flirtingly teased her. Daryl shook his head. Who fucking cared if those two were together. Daryl spent the rest of the afternoon tracking a deer, making sure to herd it near where the others were so he didn't go too far alone. He was just about to shoot it when he felt a tap on his shoulder.

"Ah, damn it to hell!" He whipped around and saw the petite brunette he only recently was thinking about, standing before him. "What the hell do you want? You scared off my deer; I've been her tracking for hours."

"Sorry." She sure didn't look sorry.

"Are you going to tell me why the hell you're sneaking up on me?"

"It's getting dark, I was just about to head to your camp to hear if you guys are gonna come with us. I saw you so I figured we could walk there together." She smiled warmly, and it really pissed Daryl off.

"Fine."

"Alrighty."

They left together, using the distant light of their fire to guide them. "So did one of you guys steal Arianna's underwear?" Daryl turned beat red and Jasmine laughed, "I'm totally kidding! I saw everything; we've been keeping an eye on you for a while. The others cracked up so bad when I told them what happened." "Yeah well…" Daryl was at a loss for words. He was completely out of his comfort zone.

"Do you have any questions you wanna ask me? Ya know, before you decide?" Her long, dark hair tickled his shoulder as they walked.

"Who's the leader of your group?"

"Michael. I know he seems a little…cold. He always makes decisions that are best for everyone, so I don't complain." Daryl already thought this, but now he had confirmation. He wasn't sure how he felt about this; Michael could turn out to be using them for an ulterior motive that Jasmine might not know about. Or Jasmine could be on it with him and the rest. Daryl needed to stop assuming she was going to be a good person, just because he thought she was beautiful. Damn it! Daryl internally chastised himself, he couldn't think of her like that.

"I guess we'll find out about Michael for ourselves, I'm pretty sure my people want to go with you so looks like I'm stuck with you."

"You make it sound like you don't?" Jasmine asked curiously, tilting her head.

"I don't."

"Well then, why wouldn't you go off on your own? You seem like that kind of guy, who works best when he's by himself. I don't want you to, just wondering. You're a mystery I feel like solving, Mr. Crossbow."

He had to think about that for a minute. She let him, walking beside him silently till he could answer honestly. He didn't even know why he cared to answer this strange woman, but something compelled him. Why did he stay? He could pick up and leave them whenever he wanted. It would be dangerous being alone, that's for sure. But there was something more. Daryl thought of Carl, the little man who just wanted to be like his dad. Then there was Michonne, the friend he only recently made, a tough woman who could handle herself. There was Rick, his brother. And Beth, the girl who taught him that he didn't have to be who he was before. He didn't have to be the hick who traveled with his asshole brother, looting and drinking and doing stupid shit. He could care, about people, about things. He didn't have to be alone anymore.

"They're my family, that's why."

Jasmine looked at him and smiled, her hair swinging. She believed him, and she thought that there was more to this man named Daryl than the tough boy act he put on. She put her hand gently on his arm, before pulling away quickly. Daryl looked down at the small girl, embarrassed, but he brushed it off. They spent the rest of the walk to his camp in comfortable silence. When they got there, her group was already there waiting. Daryl wondered why she would walk with him instead of going with her own people. She stayed by his side, even with the dark glare Michael gave her. She said he was a mystery, but Daryl was beginning to think that she was an even bigger mystery than he ever imagined.

"So?" Michael said roughly, while throwing glances in Jasmine's direction. Rick looked at Daryl before answering. "So you're sure that you'll help us find our people?"

"As long as you help us find ours. Then after that, you can decide to leave or stay with us and go to the safe haven we heard about in Washington. The more people we have, the safer it'll be to get there." Michael spoke calmly and professionally, but smirked while he talked. It was completely off-setting and opposite.

"I guess we have a deal."

"You guys can have the night to be by yourselves and keep talking it over, and after that we'll travel together during the day, and camping at night together." Michael turned and left, with Katie and Adrianna trailing after him. Ben waved and giggled as his eyes met Beth's, before walking off with Jason, who also leered at her. Daryl noticed this and made a note that he would have to keep watch on Beth. He wasn't going to let anything happen to her again, ever.

"See you guys tomorrow!" Jasmine said excitedly, before running off after the others. "So you guys were together?" Rick asked with a hint of mischief in his voice. "She just wanted to make sure I didn't kill them in their sleep." He said, before setting down the squirrels he caught and sat down to start skinning them. Rick and Carl gave him the look but he just ignored them and pretended he didn't see it. They all ate together before going to sleep, wondering what tomorrow was going to be like.