Thank you for reading and reviewing.

Thanks to Emberka-2012, Brazen Hussy, FanFicGirl10, Annelisa and DeviantDames.

FanFicGirl10 no it hasn't been confirmed that Merle is Hope's dad. Merle has just started saying he's the daddy. It's me being nasty because in the next couple of chapters there is going to be a Dixon brother reunion.

Chapter 6.

Merle lay on his stomach on the living room floor watching Hope crawl around him. He'd become like a human play mat for the child. Hope pulled on his ears, poked him in the eyes and left a trail of dribble from his forehead to his chin but Merle didn't care. He also didn't care when Hope crawled over his body an accidentally gave him a head-butt too the back of his head. He just laughed at his baby girl.

Hope crawled away from Merle and he whistled at her. Hope looked over her shoulder at Merle and rocked her body back and forth. "Daaaaaaa." She squealed.

Merle whistled again and Hope started crawling back over too Merle. She stopped right in front of his face and placed her head on his. "Daaaaaa." Dribble ran down her chin.

A small spider ran from under the table and across Hope's tiny hands. It made the child jump and Hope started to cry. Hope's tears of fear angered Merle; nothing was going to make his baby cry.

Merle lifted his huge hand and slammed it down on the spider killing it outright. "There you go squirt the mean spiders gone." Hope stopped crying and looked at Merle's hand.

Hope pointed at Merle's hand sitting palm down on the wooden floor. "Daaaaaa." She yelled.

Merle sat up and rubbed the remains of the spider over his pants. Hope moved forward to examine the black and red stain; before she could touch it Merle picked her up and placed her on his lap. "Daddy will stomp any amount of ass for you baby." Merle kissed her chubby cheeks.

Hope looked at Merle and gave him a large smile, that one smile was worth a thousand words to Merle. The little girls hand shot up to Merle's face and Hope rammed her finger up Merle's nose. "Hey." Merle laughed. "Listen. You can pick your friends and you can pick ya nose but you can't pick ya friends nose."

A small laugh came from the doorway. Merle knew the laugh it was Rowan. "Morning you two." She chuckled. Rowan watched Merle kiss Hope's face. "Time for daddy too go to work." Rowan sat next too Merle. She couldn't help but catch a glimpse of the sadness in Merle's eyes. The man was an unstoppable beast, Rowan had seen him in action but when it came to Hope he was as soft as a kitten.

"What you lookin' at woman." Merle snapped. He didn't appreciate people staring at him like a monkey in the zoo.

"Nothing." Rowan answered quickly she blushed and looked down at the floor.

Merle smirked he was fully aware that Rowan was embarrassed. A gentleman would leave the woman alone but Merle Dixon was no gentleman. "Now c'mon sweet ass don't be shy. If you wanna ride on ol' Merle just say." Rowan went a deeper shade of red and Merle smirked. "I'll pop the squirt down for a nap and we can bump uglies."

Rowan didn't know where to look or what to say. "Uh...the Governor told me to come and get you he's going to babysit Hope when you go scavenging." Rowan quickly stood up and exited the house knocking over a lamp on her way out. She stood on Merle's doorstep and exhaled. Merle maybe a soft touch when it came to his Hope but everyone else was just an annoyance to him.

Daryl and the rest of the group had made it to the farm. Rick stepped out of the house he looked like a ghost, it wasn't just the fact that he was whiter that a sheet it was also the look in his eyes. Rick looked broken and haunted. Daryl just gave Rick a small nod and Rick gave a weak smile in return.

"Shane's gone to get medical supplies." Rick muttered he looked like he was about to drop dead any second. "We can set up camp over there." Rick pointed over to a large field.

Dale placed a friendly hand on Rick's shoulder. "We'll take care of it all don't worry." Dale walked back to the RV. "Right let's set up camp." He instructed.

Daryl watched the rest of the group busy themselves with work. He didn't move from the spot he just stood staring at Rick. "Is he okay?" Daryl asked he looked up a Rick and squinted softly.

Rick rub his face and sighed. "We need that equipment." Rick's voice cracked as his body slumped down onto the porch step.

Daryl bit his nails and looked at the shell of a man. "He'll be fine Shane won't let him die." Daryl didn't care for Shane but it couldn't fault him when it came to Carl Shane would do anything.

Rick placed his face in his hands. "Then there's the operation. Not to mention if Carl gets an infection."

Daryl scowled. "Kids are tough." Daryl sat down beside Rick and smiled. "Hell I think nature's a bitch."

Rick looked over at Daryl. "What do you mean?" Rick was interested in Daryl's thoughts. Daryl didn't talk much but when he did it was a good idea to listen because Daryl's mind was a minefield of knowledge and wisdom.

Daryl bit his nails and smiled again. "Well nature throws a kid at ya and you do all you can to protect it but what nature fails to tell ya is that your kid is made too adapt and survive." Daryl placed his hand on his pocked feeling the outline of the charm bracelet. "You could place a kid with anyone and the kid would adapt. It's the adults that get screwed seven ways to Sunday." Daryl looked at Rick. "Men more than women. The women have the basics built in but us men we over think every situation and panic at the slightest bump." Daryl smiled as he thought about his attempt at baby proofing his house. "Yep we screw the women get them knocked up and nature screws us right back."

Rick's mouth twitched into a small smile. Daryl's speech sounded like a man of experience and the look in Daryl's eyes were that of a father. "I used to hate changing Carl's diaper. I did it once and dear god never again." Rick was trying to prod more information from Daryl.

Daryl laughed it was the first time Rick had ever seen Daryl laugh it sounded like a dogs bark. "Well you better go check on your boy." Daryl smiled.

Rick stood up and placed his hand on Daryl's shoulder he gave it a firm squeeze. "Thank you Daryl and you know you can talk to me anytime."

Daryl waited for Rick to disappear into the house before pulling out the small bracelet from his pocket. He felt a lump in his throat start to rise and he placed it back in his pocket. Daryl stood up; he needed to find Sophia he needed to make everything okay.

The Governor opened the door of his house letting Milton in. Milton looked more twitchy and nervous than usual.

"Are you sure this is a good idea." Milton asked placing an old record player on the table.

The Governor picked Hope out of her crib and rocked her in his arms. "Yes Penny loved to play with Hope before the outbreak and you said it yourself they need things they're close to."

Milton started the old record player and the song Bye Baby Bunting started to play. Hope bounced in the Governor's arms it looked like she was trying to dance.

"Well that's only a theory that the closer the bond the more humanity the patient retains." Milton nervously pushed his glasses up his nose. "But if Merle finds out."

The Governor started to get angry. "Well he won't, will he." He spat. The Governor placed Hope on the floor and walked towards a locked door. "Keep an eye on Hope whilst I collect Penny."

Milton smiled as he watched Hope place her palms on the table and hoist herself up. Hope reached out towards the record player. "Baaaaa." She squealed at Milton. The Governor walked into the room with Penny wrapped up in a straight jacket and a bag over her head. "Baaaaa." Hope squealed louder.

Penny pulled forward at the sound of Hope's squeals. "I really don't think this is a good idea." Milton watched Penny struggle.

The Governor grunted trying to hold Penny back. "It will be fine." The Governor pulled the bag away from Penny's head. The mutated girl stopped struggling and looked at Hope. "See." The Governor smiled. "She remembers." The Governor let go of Penny and she lumbered towards Hope.

Hope tilted her head and smiled at Penny she used the table to pull her wobbly legs closer to the strange creature. Penny smelt the air and gnashed her jaws together. Hope pointed at the music player. "BAAAAA!" She screamed.

Hope's squeal made Penny snarl and jump forward. Penny's body made contact with the table sending Hope flying backwards, Hope screamed as she hit her head on the hardwood floor. The Governor grabbed Penny and struggled to put the bag over her head.

"No Penny!" He yelled dragging the girl back into the room she came from.

Milton bent down and picked up Hope the little girl screamed and cried. "Daaaaaaa. Daaaaaaa." Milton placed his hand behind her head and felt a large lump starting to form.

The Governor entered the room and took Hope from Milton's arms. "We need to get her to doctor Steven." The Governor looked at Milton. "And not a word to Merle."

The Governor and Milton stood nervously in the infirmary whilst Doctor Stevens checked the back of Hope's head. The small girl grizzled and whined.

Dr Stevens looked at the worried expression on both men. "Don't worry it's just a bump but keep an eye on her just in case."

The Governor breathed a sigh of relief and laughed. "Thank god." The Governor wouldn't be able to forgive himself if anything were too happen to Hope. He loved her; she was his blood and his only family.

There was a knock at the door and wiry man wearing sunglasses and a bandana entered the room. "Guv I found something that may interest you."

"What is it Crowley." The Governor asked curiously.

Crowley leant his back against the wall. "Merle and I took a group scavenging in a nearby town and when I was there I saw two people. A woman and a Korean man."

The Governor was becoming impatient. "So."

"The woman called the man Glenn. There was a Glenn in Merle's group." Crowley removed his sunglasses. "I remember him telling me and then I remembered you told us that if we find out anything about Merle's group we're to tell you."

The Governor smirked. "Did Merle see him?"

Crowley shook his head. "No I made excuses so we had to move on." Crowley stood up straight. "I would have brought them here for questioning but then Merle would have known about them."

The Governor raised his hand silencing Crowley. "No you did good. I'm going to send a group to the town. Try and find them." The Governor picked up Hope. "Nobody tells Merle and as soon as you find Daryl." He kissed the top of Hope's head. "Kill him."

Milton looked shocked. "I thought you told Merle you would bring Daryl here."

"I tell Merle a lot of things to keep him on side." The Governor looked at Milton. "Listen one Dixon I can control but two of them...well that's like lighting a match in a powder keg."

Another small knock came from the door and Rowan stood in the doorway. She looked pale. "Uh...I've come to collect Hope. Is she okay?" Rowan looked at Hope's grumpy face.

"She's fine. Just a bump." The Governor handed Hope to Rowan and smiled. Rowan forced a smile back and started too walk towards the door.

Milton walked towards the dark haired woman. "Wait. I'll walk with you."

"Milton." The Governor's voice made him turn. "Remember what I said he doesn't need to know anything."

Milton just nodded as he left the room with Rowan. "So how much did you hear?" Milton asked as they walked down the street together.

Rowan held Hope closer to her body. "I heard nothing." She lied. "I better get Hope back to Merle." Rowan rushed towards Merle's house. She didn't know what to do with the information she had.

Milton watched Rowan dart down the street. He started to wonder if siding with the Governor was the right thing to do but if he didn't where would he go. Milton loved Woodbury and he loved his work. He took a deep breath and walked back towards his lab.