I want to thank everyone for the reviews and also for following and favoriting this story. It really means a lot. So this is a shorter chapter than last time and of course our favorite couple is going to be fighting. It's not going to be an easy thing for them by any means. I also wanted to make a not that if any of the characters are off canon this is an AU story and of course they're not going to be perfect. I change them to fit the way I write. I do not own anything except my crazy brain and no profit was made.

Beth had been aching to go on another run. Now that she was on one she just wished she was back at the prison. She had been taking care of the baby for some time now, Beth had been calling her Judith. Lori had said she always liked that name. Now she was stuck with Daryl trying to grab baby clothes and formula. They hadn't really spoken. Mumbled hellos quiet nods of the head. THat was it.

"Stay by me." He demanded. She rolled her eyes and pushed past him.

"You're not my daddy." She found several containers of formula and began to pack the bag she carried with her.

"Dammit!" He growled. "Ya don' listen to a damn thing I say do ya?"

"Nope." She quickly moved on to the clothes grabbing things in Judith's current size as well as the next size up. A loud moan alerted them to the walkers outside. "Shit."

"Stay close." She nodded. This was no time for petty arguments. Depending on the number of walkers, things could get bad. He looked out the window and saw no more than thirty walkers. He ducked back down and looked at her. "Think ya can book it to tha car?"

"Yea." She smiled as she handed him the bag that had the formula and gripped her own bag a little tighter. "Think you can keep up old man?" She smirked before she raced towards the waiting vehicle. She was glad they took the car rather than Daryl's bike. Going on a run with his bike was damn near impossible, it would have been even worse with the bulky bags that held the stuff for Judith.

Everything seemed to slow as she made it to the car. She turned back to see several of the walkers swarm Daryl. He managed to get away, but one of the walkers grabbed the bag, causing it to tears. The containers of formula spilled. Only a few remained in the bag. Just as Daryl made it to the car Beth was already set in her decision. She gripped the crowbar she had brought with her a little tighter and made a dash for the formula.

"BETH!" Daryl screamed after her, taking a walker down as he did so. "Beth! Get back to the car!"

"We need the formula for Judith! We can't leave it." She smashed in the head of two walkers before stabbing a third. Several others were slowly shuffling towards her as she grabbed as many as she could. The only problem being that she could no longer defend herself. She ducked under one walker, dodging past another as she stood back up. Some of them were freshly turned and were quicker than the others. She tossed the formula into her seat and jumped in. Before she could shut the door Daryl had already floored it.

The car ride back was silent. She knew he was mad, maybe mad wasn't the right word. Pissed seemed more accurate. He gripped the steering wheel tightly he tried his best to breath in and out slowly. The prison came up on them quickly and Daryl was getting more furious as they drove through the gates. Beth saw where this was heading and began to throw the formula into a spare bag they had. She glared at him before hopping out of the truck to meet her sister.

"Beth?!" There was a panicked tone to Maggie's voice. "Are you okay? Is everything alright?" Beth looked down to see her clothes were covered in walker goo. She made a face and handed Maggie the bags.

"Will you take these to Carol. She's got Judith, I'm going to go wash off." Maggie nodded silently, a confused look marred her features. Carol and Beth had been taking care of Judith off and on since Lori's death. Rick hadn't taken it well and as Merle so lovingly put it. 'hopped the next train to crazyville.' Beth rolled her eyes at the memory of that particular speech.

"Greene!" She heard Daryl calling for her, but she kept moving. "Get yer ass back here!" She remained silent, but picked up the pace. It didn't matter he caught up with her anyways. He grabbed onto her wrist tightly causing her to stop. "What the hell were ya thinkin'?! Ya coulda got killed!"

"Judith needed the formula!" She spat out. She was well aware that everyone out in the yard was watching.

"Judith needs you!"

"Not if she starves to death she won't!"

"I told ya ta stay by me!" He huffed. "I told ya ta get in the car!"

"You're not my daddy! You're not my boyfriend! You can't tell me what to do!" She turned to walk away and almost ran into Merle, who for once looked astonished at how angry they were. "And YOU!" She pointed at the man in front of her.

"WHhat the hell'd I do?"

"Keep your damn brother out of my way." She stormed off in a huff not bothering to look back at anyone. Daryl kicked at the ground and watched her storm away.

"What'd ya do now?" Merle rolled his eyes. "Actin' like a broad ya never called back after a one night stand." Daryl remained quiet and looked anywhere, but at his brother. "Holy shit!" Merle glared at him. "What tha hell'd ya do?!"

"We had sex...that night we were stuck in the house." Daryl knew he was in deep shit. Merle treated Beth like the little sister they never had. He was thoroughly expecting an ass beating, but to his surprise it never came.

"Yer a dumbass. Can' take a girl like babydoll and treat 'er like a ten dollar whore." Merle shook his head. "no wonder she don' wanna be seen by you. Fix it!" With that he stormed off to go help with something else.

Beth ignored him for another week. Whenever he walked into a room she would walk out with some excuse about the baby. He was at a loss. How was he suppose to fix it if he couldn't get near here and it wasn't like he could enlist help. Not too many people would want to keep him around after he told them what really happened.

Daryl was never a good sleeper. Usually just a few hours at a time. On his nights to take watch it worked great, but the other nights he often found himself wandering around the prison tossing a ball or just thinking. Only a few people kept the odd hours he did, Rick was often off mumbling to himself about Lori, Glenn and Maggie could be heard moaning at all hours of the day.

A small cry of a baby broke through his thoughts. He walked into the small area where they all ate to see Beth swaying back and forth with baby Judith in her arms. Something about the idea with Beth holding a baby seemed so right. She had a small smile on her face as she sang absently to the baby, trying her best to calm the poor thing down. She took to mothering Judith like a duck to water. It was just natural and he wasn't gonna lie it gave him all types of ideas he was doing his best to avoid. He paused for a moment to hear her sing.

Hush-by, Don't you cry

Go to sleepy little baby

When you wake you shall have

All the pretty little horses

Blacks and bays, dapples and grays

Coach and six a little horses

When you wake you shall have

All the pretty little horses

Hush-by, Don't you cry

Go to sleepy little baby

When you wake you shall have

All the pretty little horses

He was in awe of her ability not only to sing, but to calm little Judith. The baby seemed to finally be asleep and as Beth made a move to go put her down in the crib that now occupied her room Daryl cleared his throat. She turned to smile at him.

"I was wondering when you were going to speak up." She smiled at him softly.

"Need ta talk." She nodded.

"Let me go put her down first."

Beth sat down on the table next to him with a quiet sigh. She looked exhausted. It was really taking a toll on Beth, all this mothering nonstop with no break. He felt bad taking what little time she had to sleep, but this had to be taken care of now.

"I don't wan' ya ta hate me anymore." Daryl said softly.

"Oh, Daryl." She frowned. "I don't hate you...I would very much like to hate you, but it's impossible."

"Why ya avoidin' me then?"

"Because it hurts to see you." He frowned. Why would it hurt? "Look, I understand that whatever happened in the house didn't really mean much to you...Just blowing off steam I guess."

"That's not-" She cut him off quickly

"Look, I get it and trust me I was more than willing, but you can't keep stringing me along. If you don't want to be with me then leave me be and let me find someone who does." She quickly kissed his cheek before darting back to her own bed. His cheek burned and he couldn't help, but feel that things just got a whole lot worse and a whole lot more complicated.

Beth had finally had enough. She loved Judith she really did, but she needed a break and so did Carol. Rick had shirked his duties long enough. Hell, Judith was almost a month old and he had barely touched her. She understood that he needed time, but this was getting ridiculous.

"Rick!" She yelled at him. She had given Judith to Maggie for awhile. She couldn't yell in front of the baby.

"Beth?!" He panicked. "Is everything okay? Judith? You?! Are you alright?" He let his hand touch her cheek and she flinched back slightly.

"Everything's fine Rick, but we need to talk."

"About what?" He raised and eyebrow. This was no longer the same meek blonde girl he met at the farm. Spending all that time with Merle and Daryl had changed her. Not in a bad way she was spunkier and she certainly didn't take any crap from anyone.

"About Judith and Carol and I watching after her."

"I appreciate what-"

"Stop right there Rick Grimes, I was not done talking." He paused and smiled at her. He liked this new Beth. "You need to take responsibility for your baby! Carol and I need our sleep too. Now don't get me wrong I love Judith as if she was my own, but she's not. She's your daughter and I know that you had a hard time after Lori died, but so did I. We all have lost people Rick, So get your act together and take care of your daughter." She frowned wondering if she had maybe gone to far. "Look we never know when we might go in this world...I don't want you to die without Judith ever really knowing you." Rick nodded once.

"Your right Beth." He smiled. "Don't know why I think you would ever be wrong, but I do need to start watching her, raising her. Could you help me...?" Beth smiled and nodded.

"Of course."

"Beth! Rick!" Maggie came running out with Judith.

"Is everything okay Maggie?" Beth was worried.

"Oh yea." she smiled handing the baby to Beth. "I just told Glenn I'd meet up with him to..." She trailed off and blushed.

"Well go on then." Beth smiled. Rick and Beth laughed as Maggie booked it back into the Prison.

"May I?" Rick motioned for the baby. Beth smiled and handed Judith over. As Beth burbled happily in her father's arms Beth and Rick laughed and smiled at the tiny child. Neither was aware that Daryl was watching from the yard.

"Looks like someone's movin' in on yer girl." Merle smirked.

"She ain't my girl." Daryl growled. "She made that clear last night."

"Well...they do look like one good-lookin' happy family." Merle clapped him on the back and walked away wondering how much longer his brother was going to last before he snapped and beat Rick's face in. He was giving him two days, a week tops.

So what did you think? Any questions, comments and of course reviews are always welcome. Any suggestions on how I can improve are also welcome. Again I want to thank everyone for reviewing, following and favoriting this story. It really does mean a lot to me and I love getting those notices in my email in box!