"I hope it didn't cause Daryl any trouble, I would never do anything to cause problems for Daryl. I mean he looked for Sophia and almost died. I know how it might seem, but I did tell Hershel to forget I had said anything." Lori told Carol. "It was probably just from being tired or something. I haven't been sleeping very well lately. This baby is a night owl, real active once the sun goes down."

"I told them that it was just an honest mistake, no harm done." Carol said as she stirred the pot of beans simmering on the stove.

"How is Daryl by the way?" Lori asked. "I mean he's not the most open person in the group. He should have someone to talk to. Someone he can confide in. I worry about him always bottling things up."

"He has Merle, and if he really needs to talk to someone he knows he can talk to Rick." Carol told her.

"I was thinking someone softer, a woman. Someone who can listen when he needs to get things off his chest and being nurturing too. I mean most guys get kind of awkward when it comes to being emotional." Lori explained. "You have a connection with him, I mean the two of you were pretty close. You should let him know you're there for him, if he needs you."

Carol put down the spoon and came over to sit down with Lori. "You know you're right. Merle was going to tell him something today and it might be a bit much to process. I never knew that Daryl believed he was responsible for his mother's death, Merle told me what really happened. Maybe after Merle's tells him, it will at least take some weight off of Daryl's shoulders."

"Why would he think he was responsible for his mother's death." Lori asked leaning forward to hear every word.

"Daryl thinks she died in childbirth, all his life he's thought he killed her by being born." Carol shook her head. "Even if it is true, telling a child something like that is unbelievably cruel. Daryl's lived with that cruelty all his life.


"Hey Daryl, got a minute?" Lori asked. Seeing Merle and Daryl coming out of the office together talking.

"What do you think the slut wants now?" Merle asked.

"Only one way ta find out." Daryl sighed as he started walking toward where Lori was sitting. "What do you want Lori?" Daryl answered. "I ain't got tha patience ta deal with you conniving right now."

"Look, I know we've been rubbing each other the wrong way. And I wanted to apologize if I've been a bit snippy. It's just that with everything that's been going on...I guess I just took it out on you. I'm not saying lets be friends, but at least just bury the hatchet."

"Interesting choice of words there, 'bury the hatchet'." Daryl noted. "Okay we can 'bury the hatchet'. You leave me alone and I'll continue to avoid you like the plague. We ain't crossin paths there won't be no rubbin the wrong way."

"I'm trying to make peace here." Lori said.

"I know that Lori, but there's a bit of water went under this particular bridge. Can't say I'm gonna trust the foundation without some testin first. So don't push it. Ya passed the peace pipe but that don't mean I have ta smoke it." Daryl said turning and walking away.


"Rick I just thought you'd like to know I spoke to Daryl today." Lori said. "I thought maybe we could try to put an end to some of the tension."

"Did you now?" Rick asked.

"I offered to make peace, he wasn't exactly jumping at the offer." Lori snuggled down under the cover and closed here eyes. "My conscience is clear Rick, From this point on any strife is on him."

"Go to sleep. Lori." Rick turned away from Lori and fluffed the pillow. "Just leave him be and he'll leave you be."

"I think he's annoyed by the fact that I'm pregnant." Lori said quietly.

"What? Lori, Daryl doesn't care one way or the other that you're pregnant." Rick said.

"I think he's worried, Carol told me that Daryl's mother died in childbirth. I think he's scared. You know how he is, he won't say anything to anyone. He just suffers in silence like some martyr. Maybe you should reassure his that everything is fine, at least take some of the worry off of his mind."

"If Daryl wants to talk he knows where I am." Rick said. "Now please, go to sleep."


Carol finally found Merle sitting out in front of the store with a shotgun across his lap. After she had left Lori, she regretted having said anything. The warnings from Michonne, Andrea and Maggie had been nagging at her all afternoon.

Carol realized that if they were right, Lori could stir up serious trouble. If the were wrong then no harm done. But Merle needed to hear it from her before he heard the group whispering about it, that meant that Carol had to bite the bullet and tell Merle about her conversation.

"Hey girlie, ya just gonna stand there all night admirin me or you gonna come on over and sit wit me?" Merle's voice startled her.

"Merle." she said coming to stand in front of him. "I have to tell you something and it's probably going to make you mad."