A/N: Sorry this is so short. I lost part of this chapter and can't remember to recreate.
"Billy? What happened a ghra?" Moira was appalled by the big red bruise forming on his left cheek.
"Nuthin," the boy averted his eyes as he tried to lie to Moira.
"William Thompson!" Moira warned him with her voice.
"I mighta ...maybe sorta got into a fight," he mumbled under his breath.
"With?" Moira coaxed him to continue.
"Carl!" Billy spat out the name as if he was speaking the worst profanity.
"Why?" Moira had thought things had been getting better lately.
"He said some stuff," Billy muttered again, obviously reluctant to tell her what it was.
"You need to tell me what he could have possibly said to put you both to fists," Moira had been trying to teach the boy not to get sucked in by Carl's taunts.
"He said we were just gonna get them all killed. That we were nuthin' but more mouths to feed. He said his Daddy should have left us there in Woodbury for the walkers," Billy finished his tale.
"I see. And do you think Carl spoke the truth?" Moira was more concerned that Billy believed what Carl said than the swollen eye.
"I dunno. Maybe," the young boy admitted.
"Well, I can't tell you what everyone here thinks, but I can tell you what the others have said to me. For one, they have fresh food because of us. They also have electricity thanks to Tyreese. This place is now more secure with our help. Do you remember how gaunt and thin they all were when we got here? The way I see it, they need us at least as much as we need them." Moira explained in a way she hoped Billy could accept. "And just logically speaking, don't more people make you stronger?"
"Yeah, maybe you're right," Billy sounded almost surprised by Moira's rationale. "I wish I'd thought to say that though."
"I know that Carl's been giving you a bad time but you can't solve your problems with your fists. Sad to say but there'll be time aplenty for you to do that to walkers," Moira had taken up using Rick's groups terminology for the biters.
She settled Billy in with the other kids who were playing ball in the old exercise yard and with her blood boiling went off in search of Rick. She'd had enough of his son's antics and it was damn well going to stop or he'd no longer be welcome around her kids or her classroom.
She was so engrossed in the mental dressing down she was preparing for Rick in her head that she marched headlong into an already irritated Daryl Dixon. She'd been so intent on her task that she accidentally knocked them both to the ground with her on top of him.
At first Daryl had been furious, his first instinct was to shove her off, but then his body betrayed him as it responded to the lush female pressed so close. And then when he caught sight of David watching them from the roof he decided to linger in place awhile.
"So Lucky, what's got your panties all bunched up?" Moira could have sworn his eyes twinkled when he accused her. And the way his hands gripped her waist made her momentarily forget what she was so mad about.
"Stop calling me Lucky! I'm not a damn leprechaun!" She eventually pushed against his chest, remembering just why she was so angry.
"Settle down Lucky," Daryl actually smirked, rolling on top of her and resting there a bit longer than necessary before he kneeled off her and stood. He reached one hand down to help her up.
"I just told you not to call me that. Are you stupid or just plain oinery?" Moira pushed at his chest again, now fuming at Daryl too.
"Ain't stupid so guess it makes me oinery," he actually had the gall to smirk at her.
"Stop it. This is serious," Moira had managed to take a breath and begin to see the absurdity in her behavior.
"I can see that. So what's the thing that's made you so pissed?" Daryl surprised himself that he was actually interested. And if it was David bothering her he'd take great pleasure in giving him a Dixon lesson in manners.
Moira frowned as she stared at him. Should she tell Daryl? Maybe he'd tell her the best way to approach Rick.
"I was looking for Rick. I need to set down some ground rules regarding his son," Moira explained.
"What's Carl done now?" Daryl had been worried about the boy since Lori died. But he'd never seen the kid be purposefully cruel the way he'd been lately.
"He picked a fight with Billy who is sporting quite the shiner. Carl told Billy that Rick should have left us to be eaten by the walkers...that sort of thing," Moira explained. "But truth be told this is just the latest in a long line of incidents. I guess I'd hoped Carl would come around, after what you told me. But I'm afraid he's getting worse."
Daryl was concerned. The boy desperately needed his father but Rick seemed more content to fortify the prison and deal with the issues of the group than take care of Judith or Carl.
"Come on. I know where he is," Daryl's heart was actually heavy. This was not going to be easy for Rick to hear.
Rick did listen with a heavy heart to Moira tell him about the troubles with Carl. Had this happened a year ago he'd never have believed it of his boy. But deep down he knew Moira was telling the truth.
"Moira, I'm afraid. I'm losing him and I have no idea what to do about it," Rick ran a hand through his hair, feeling completely and utterly helpless.
"I understand he's had to see and do things no child should ever have to. He needs you. He might not say it. He may even fight you, but he needs you to be the parent." Moira spoke freely, for Carl's sake as much as Rick's.
"But there's so much still to be done," Rick had to admit that he found the difficulties of managing the prison easier to deal with than his son. He supposed he'd been letting Lori take the brunt of the responsibility of raising Carl. Maybe that's part of what rankled her for so many years.
"Rick," she whispered encouragingly. "We need you, there's no denying that. But day to day you CAN let the rest of us carry some of the weight." Moira tried to convince Rick that the prison would not crumble if he didn't spend every waking moment at the helm.
"I'll talk to him. I just have to ask that you give him one more chance. I'll talk to him right away," Rick assured her.
"Ok. Just spend some time with him. Do something fun," Moira tried to help and agreed to give Carl another chance.
-/-/-/-
"Billy?" Moira had been looking everywhere for the boy. She wanted to sit down and talk to him about Carl, see if she could smooth things over. She heard Buddy's excited barks in the distance and followed.
"kay, so keep yer fists up the whole time. Try again," Daryl was showing the young boy how to fight and Billy started again, hitting Daryl's open hands with all his might.
"Billy! What are ya doing?" Moira asked as she approached. She'd asked for Daryl's help but this wasn't what she expected.
"Hi Miss Riley," Billy kept his focus while he spoke. "Mister Daryl's teaching me to fight so I don't get my ass kicked next time."
"Excuse me, William!" Moira scolded and Billy stopped, his head now bowed in embarrasment.
"Sorry, I mean my behind kicked," Billy sheepishly corrected.
"That's a wee bit better. Listen, why don't you go gather up the children for dinner. Have them wash up," Moira suggested. Billy obviously wanted to stay out there with Daryl but he nodded his head and headed back inside.
Moira then turned to talk to Daryl.
"Kid asked fer my help," Daryl started first, immediately on the defensive.
"Hey, I'm not angry. I figure you know a lot more about what a young man needs to learn than I do," Moira shrugged, her shoulders defeated.
"Ya dun alright," Daryl complimented her. He saw how she cared for those kids and they, in turn, adored her.
"Thanks, but Billy didn't come to me about this, now did he?" Moira was aware she didn't have the skills to help these children survive. She needed help.
"Daryl? Will you help me?" Moira's voice hitched with emotion and he squinted his eyes as he frowned, confused by the request. "Help me teach them what they need to survive." She clarified.
"Not just Billy bit all of them. I usually have them play games and such, but considering this world as it is, I'm thinkin' we should teach them how to survive." Moira sounded resigned to this.
＂Prob'ly a good idea. They're old enough," Daryl offered. "They'll prob'ly love it."
"Any ideas?" Moira asked, feeling at a loss.
"Oughtta maybe teach the littluns to be scrappy and hide. Maybe have um run, climb, that sorta thang," Daryl stroked his goatee as he thought. "Put some grooves in the prison wall, have 'em climb."
"Literally, they'll be climbing the walls?" Moira joked and was surprised to see Daryl's lips curl up as he too laughed.
"Guess, they will, huh?" Daryl agreed, surprised at how much he enjoyed being with Lucky.
"The older ones oughtta learn ta fight. And learn ta shoot. And they all need ta learn some gun safety given that they are all over this place." Daryl could still remember how Merle sat him down before he was even old enough to go to school and taught him.
"You're right. Thank you," Moira couldn't believe she hadn't thought of it sooner. the illusion of normalcy and safety of Woodbury had made it easy to forget just how terrifying this world could be.
-/-/-/-
"Moira, come sit with us," Carol called over to her, pointing to an empty chair by her with the adults. Moira normally sat with the children but, almost as they'd conspired together, Beth and Anna sat down with the children at either end so they could keep watch. Moira then smiled when Matt sat next to Beth who immediately began to blush.
Moira smiled gratefully and joined Carol. David took the spot beside Moira with Daryl periodically glaring at him from across the table. Moira chatted politely with David but was becoming more and more uncomfortable at David's obvious attention.
"Daryl had a great idea," Moira smiled at him and his head jerked up in surprise. "To teach the children things to help them survive. Things like guns, fighting, climbing,"
"If ya need help, I'll be glad to," David smiled at Moira, eager to take the focus off Daryl.
"That's very kind of you. I'll let you know," Moira was gracious, but then her attention turned next to Carol, who was visibly upset.
"Carol? What's wrong?" Moira turned to face her friend.
"Nothing. It's just I can't help but wonder if Sophia had known those things, then maybe...she might not have..." Carol couldn't finish and she wiped more tears away. Tyreese gave her hand a gentle squeeze under the table.
"Carol, there's no point in doing that to yourself. We did the best we could at the time," Rick spoke up to Carol. He still had his own share of regrets about the day Sophia ran into the woods.
With a tremulous smile, Carol nodded at Rick's words and Moira wrapped her arms around Carol's slim shoulders.
Dinner had been somewhat somber afterwards so Moira stayed and helped Carol until she was sure Carol was ok. in fact she and Andrea did the evening cleanup, giving Moira a chance to check in with Andrea and giving Carol some time with Tyreese. But now Moira needed some time for herself now.
She wandered the perimeter or the prison, feeling a bit of a chill in the night air.
"Lookin' fer yer dawg?" Daryl drawled from his spot against the wall. He had a bottle of whisky in his hands and Buddy was lyinh at his feet.
"Just looking for a bit of quiet. The prison is nice, but its hard living on top of each other," she leaned beside him, not seeing his smirk over her word choice. "Are ya sharin' that?" She nodded to the bottle he was holding. Wordlessly, he passed it to her.
"Slainte!" She toasted then held the bottle to her lips and drank a healthy shot. Then another and soon her blood was warming in her veins.
"Not bad ...for a girl," Daryl was a bit surprised at how well she shot the whisky but wasn't prepared to tell her that.
"Well, we Irish have a talent for it," she took another swig, then handed the bottle back to him.
"Where's yer boyfriend?" Daryl snapped at her, annoyed with himself for focusing on how nice she smelled and how much he liked the musical sound of his voice.
"What are you talking about?" Moira frowned at him, hurt that he was snapping at her.
"That guy...David. He's always sniffin' around ya," Daryl was embarrassed by his words but couldn't seem to help himself. "A guy don't do that fer no reason."
"You're being ridiculous," Moira turned to look at him, the alcohol making her laugh at how absurd he was being. "I barely know him."
"What are ya doin' out here with me?" Daryl meant to sound harsher than he did.
"Sharing a drink with a ... friend?" Moira turned to look at him, their faces so close he could feel her breath against his cheek. Her eyes were wide and shining in the moonlight.
She wanted him to kiss her. More than anything. Her heart was pounding so hard she could swear he could hear it too. Unconsciously, the tip of her tongue slid along her lower lip.
That was more than Daryl could take. He bent his head down and closed the frw inches between them. He slowly slid his lips over hers, using the tip of his tongue to taste the remnants of whiskey, groaning a little at how good she tasted.
Moira moaned into his mouth, leaning into him and softly holding his neck. Her tongue met his and before either of them realized it they were pressed tightly together. Daryl hungrily explored her, thrusting his tongue and twisting with hers while his hands tightly held her waist. His body responded and when he pulled her hips close she could feel him pressing into her.
Suddenly he thrust away from her, leaving them both shocked and panting so hard they could see the smoke from their breath.
Daryl just stared at her, trying not to think about why her lips were so swollen or how her cheeks had become pink from stubble burn. And the way she was just looking up at him ... it suddenly terrified him.
Moira wanted him to kiss her again, but suddenly he just turned and walked away, leaving her alone in the dark.