I seriously hate how slow fanfiction is with updating a story's reviews. It says I only have two reviews, but I have emails that say I have seven reviews. It takes like two days for the reviews to show up. But don't worry I am reading them and I am very appreciative of your reviews. They help encourage and inspire me to continue this story. I'm glad you all are enjoying this so far. I absolutely love Eli and Dean myself. This won't be following the show exactly, it will have scenes from it at points, but mostly it's my own story. Let me know what you think of this chapter and I'll make sure to check my email because that's the only way I see your reviews right away.


Daryl is sharpening his knives that night when Sophia walks over. "Mr. Dixon?" Daryl lifts his eyes and raises his eyebrow. "Thank you." She wraps her arms around him and held tightly, causing his eyes to grow wide. He stilled, unsure what to do or say. It isn't that he isn't used to kids, he has one, but he didn't expect this.

"The mighty hunters have returned!" The entire camp turns to see Dean walking out, while Eli just grunts from behind him, holding a big ten point buck on his shoulders.

"Sure, walk out all heroic, but don't help carry the deer." Eli grunts, but goes ignored by Dean.

"Who's hungry?" The group cheers and Daryl shakes his head until he feels soft tears landing on his shirt. He looks down to see Sophia staring up at him.

"You saved my mama today and your son brought us food... thank you." She burst into tears and held onto him tighter. Daryl froze, wide eyes filled with panic. He never was good with girls crying, especially on him.

"Sophia." Daryl lets out a sigh of relief as he hears Carol. He looks up and finds her making her way towards them. "I'm so sorry." Carol apologizes. "Sophia, let go." She tries to pull Sophia away, but she clings tighter. "Sophia." She gives an apologetic smile.

"Hey, Soph, you either let go or you'll miss out on the food." Sophia's head jumps up as she hears Eli.

"Eli!" She lets go of Daryl and runs for his son.

"Soph, I'm covered in blo-" She jumps on him, ignoring his words. He grunts, stumbling slightly, and holding her in his arms as Dean strings the deer up in a tree.

"I'm sorry." Carol whispers, causing Daryl to look up at her. His heart pounds in his chest at how close she is. Daryl bets she doesn't even realize what she does to him.

"It's fine." His voice is rougher and huskier than he wanted, but he doesn't regret it when he sees the effect it has on her. Her face fills with color and she takes a step back, obviously realizing how close they were together.

"What you think, pops?" Eli flops down beside him before his eyes went wide. "What the fuck happened?" He turns his dad's head to see his jaw, which had a nasty bruise. "Who the fuck hit you."

"Ed did." Sophia says, climbing into his lap. "Andrea said he was my mom's knight in shining armor." Daryl's face turns red as Eli raises an eyebrow.

"Oh really, care to share with the class uncle Daryl?" Dean grins.

"Don't you have a buck to skin?" Daryl growls.

"Yes, sir." Dean grins, staying where he is with an expected look on his face. "The longer it takes you to speak the longer it'll be before the deer is skinned and those women out there looked half starved and wild." Eli stares at his dad before picking Sophia up and standing.

"Come on, Dean."

"What, fuck no-"

"Let's go." Eli drags him off. "Amy will fill us in." Eli whispers, causing Dean to grin.

Eli holds Sophia in his arms as he walks down to the creek, while Dean works on skinning the buck. Sophia has been Eli's shadow since he got here and the second Carol talked to him the other day Sophia made her presence known, well he made her think that he didn't know previously that she was around. For some reason, she seems very interested in Eli and almost looks at him like a brother.

"I'm going to wash up, okay? First off, however, come here." Sophia walks over as Eli walks into the water. He scoops some water up and washes her arms, face, and legs that got bloody from jumping into his arms. "There, now, I'm going to go freshen up. Go ask your mama or my dad to get you some fresh clothes, okay?"

"Okay." She runs off, Eli waits until he can't see her before taking his jeans and shirt off. He kicks his boots and socks off and goes back into the water. He dives under, running his hands over his body to wash off all the blood. He comes up for air and runs a hand through his short hair. A content sigh escapes his lips as he closes his eyes and relaxes in the water. He always loved swimming, but these past few months Eli hasn't been able to relax. He stresses like his father. While Dean and Merle could care less if these people go starving Eli and his father are always worried about feeding everyone and keeping them safe. They go hunting every day just to have enough. The deer up there will be good for the night, they'll eat all over it and fill up, so that tomorrow the Dixons won't have to worry about them being as hungry as they are probably today.

"You going to lay in there all day, Dixon!" Eli opens his eyes and turns to see Amy standing on the beach. "Well?" Eli's face turns bright red as he sees Amy. He hasn't really spoken to her since the kiss in the woods. Eli isn't going to ignore his feelings, he'd be a hyporit with how he was trying to get his father to end up with Carol, but he still the awkward shy Dixon boy like his father.

"Hey, Amy." Eli smiles shyly as he walks to the beach.

"Brought you a towel to dry off with and a fresh set of clothes."

"Thanks, you didn't have to do that." Amy looks away and holds the towel out to him.

"I don't mind." Eli takes the towel and begins to dry off with it.

"Mind turning around."

"Oh, right, sorry." Amy turns around and Eli pulls off his wet boxers and looks through the pile. Of course Amy didn't grab him bockers. Eli rolls his eyes and slips his jeans on, not giving a shit about going commando. His jeans hung dangerously low on his hips, but he neither cares or notices. He slips on his muscle shirt and his red flannel because the night air is chilly, and then he sits down on the beach pulling on his socks and shoes.

"You can turn around now, thanks again by the way."

"No problem." Amy sits down beside him and the two stare out at the water.

"So, what happened with my dad today? Figure you saw it, right?"

"He didn't tell you?"

"Nope." Eli pops the p and pulls his eyes away from the water to look at her.

"Well, the girls and I were down here doing laundry."

"And?"

"And Ed was down here causing trouble."

"Did he hurt you?" Amy blushes and smiles.

"Aw, are you worried about me?" Eli rolls his eyes and scowls.

"Forget I even asked." Eli goes to stand up, but Amy pulls him back down.

"I'm sorry, it's just so fun to tease you." Eli glares at her, but she just giggles. "Anyways, Ed started shit and Andrea got involved and then all of us got involved, which made Ed hit Carol."

"Is Carol okay?" Eli asks, worrying filling his blue orbs.

"Yeah, she'll be okay. Your dad pulled him off her and started hitting him."

"My dad hates abusive assholes. It's the sure thing to set him off. If he sees a man hit a woman or child then my dad loses it. He raised me never to raise a hand to a woman or child."

"You Dixons are rough, but your good men." Amy says, wrapping her arms around his right arm and resting her cheek against his shoulder. She moves closer and the two are silent for a moment. "Ed got a hit on your dad, but your dad didn't even flinch. He just went at it with Ed. Had to be pulled off by your uncle."

"Sounds like him. Too pissed off to feel pain and too angry to stop."

"I don't think it's a good idea if Sophia and Carol slips in their tent tonight."

"My dad and I got a spare. We didn't bother with it because my uncle's tent is big enough for all four of us, but my dad and mine would be big enough for Carol and Sophia."

"She should put up near you guys. You guys are light sleepers, I'm sure even in your sleep you're listening out for danger."

"Yeah, it's just how we are." Eli agrees.

"So it's settled. She'll tent out near you guys. You guys will keep her and her daughter safe and your dad can get laid." Eli's eyes widen. "Oh, please I'm not an idiot. Your dad totally went knight and shining armor over Carol. There's totally something there."

"You're such a girl." Eli says with a roll of his eyes, pulling his arm out of Amy's tight hold.

"And you're such a guy." She says with her own roll of her eyes. "I don't you know a single romatic gesture."

"Want to bet?" She raises an eyebrow at him. "Look up." She looks up to see the sky filled with bright stars. "Beautiful view, to teenagers alone, I think it's pretty romantic." Her eyes meet Eli and he grins.

"Where's the romance?" Eli pulls her towards him and kisses her, her fingers tangling in his short hair. Eli pulls away a second later, resting his forehead against hers.

"How's that?"

"I take back what I said."

"Oh yeah?"

"You're such a guy that you only think with your dick." Eli's jaw drops as she gets up. "See you later Eli, don't forget to help Carol set up that extra tent of yours. Bye."

"I hate girls." Eli grumbles as he watches her walk off with a cocky air to her walk. "Bitch."

"Heard that!"

"Good."