"Rick says to put you here," Tyrese spoke as he stepped back and allowed Michonne and Daryl inside. "Sorry but he says we gotta lock you in. It's safe we cleared out the block already." He assured.

"Sorry if it seems like Rick is a hard ass," Carol said she had accompanied them because Sophia hadn't released her grip on Michonne. "It's just that we had to learn the hard way that we can't be so trusting of others."

"It don't matta, like ah said earlier we jus needed shelter for tha night, cause a Sophia, and now that we've found yew we know she'll be safe and Michonne and ah will leave at first light." Daryl stated. His words caused a reaction from Sophia and made her do something they had never seen her do before.

"No, No, No Michonne," She cried as she clung even tighter to Michonne's waist. "Don't leave me, don't leave me!" The child squealed out in a high-pitched tone. The four adults watched the frightened child in shock.

"Shhh," Michonne shushed at the child and pulled away from her long enough to get down on her knees so that she was at eye level with Sophia. "Stop all that fussing child, shhhh it's OK," Michonne reassured as she enveloped Sophia into her arms. She then looked up apologetically at Carol who stood nearby with tears streaming down her face and her hand over her mouth to keep in her own cries.

"Watcha screaming like a banshee fo'?" Daryl wondered aloud and he frowned down at the little girl. "We found yer momma, yew should be happy."

"No, she left me," Sophia said and Carol's legs gave out on her as a mournful scream left her lips. Daryl looked from the child to the mother and thought that maybe they both had the same crazy condition, passed from mother to child. "She left me."

"No Sophia, baby I didn't leave you." Carol said in a pleading tone and Daryl looked at her skeptically.

"So what yew jus misplaced her or sumthin?" He asked.

"No, we were traveling along a main highway, we got to a point where it was too congested, so we left the cars that we were in to move the other cars out of our way and also look through them for anything we could use." Carol began the tale of how they lost Sophia. "Out of nowhere a large herd of those 'things' came up from in front and behind us."

"Yeah they pretty much had us surrounded," Tyrese continued the story. "Sophia panicked and she ran off to the side down an embankment into the woods. We looked for you sweetie," He spoke directly to Sophia who stared up at him. "Yo momma was out in them woods for days from dawn to dusk, and she would only stop when we forced her. She never stopped looking fer you."

"Or hoping and praying that you were still alive and that I'd find you." Carol continued as she looked at her daughter with pleading eyes, still heartbroken over the thought that her child believed she had abandoned her.

"I was so scared and I got so lost, but didn't want to call for you because I didn't want the zombies to hear me and come get me." Sophia spoke out as she released Michonne and turned more to where her mother still sat on the floor.

"I know you were scared baby, but you must have been so brave because you made it. I'm so sorry that I didn't find you, but I never stopped looking baby, never, ever."

"Mommy," Sophia whimpered out as she ran into her mother's arms and they both sat wrapped around each other crying.


Sometime later in Cellblock C


"I miss her already," Michonne whispered out into the dark cell that she and Daryl had chosen to bunk in for the night. They had the entire block to themselves, and it held 100 or more cells, still they picked one to sleep in together. She had taken the top bunk while Daryl was on the bottom. When Michonne had climb in the top bunk after Daryl settled into the bottom one, Daryl had been stunned a bit, as well as disappointed. He had grown used to having her lie down beside him even though for the past few weeks he had place a barrier between in the form of Sophia. That had been due to the sudden erections he would get from having Michonne near. Sophia had been an easy deterrent but she was with her mother now. So Daryl knew that he and Michonne would have to finally deal with this attraction between then. An attraction she was vocal about but he still hid.

"Well least she back wit her momma, that's a miracle in itself." Daryl replied in a hushed tone. "It'll be easier for us now, not hav'n ta look after a little one and all."

"So you want to go back out there?" Michonne asked nervously. She had been excited to see that there were other survivors out that who were building their own new society. "Maybe we could convince these people to let us stay…."

"That guy, what's his name Rick…he made it pretty clear he don want us here, and ah can't say ah feels too comfortable bein here." Daryl said. "Ah know how ta survive out there, even wit all the walkers. 'Sides in this new world Humans scare me more than the damn walkers do." Michonne didn't reply and the cell grew silent for several moments before Daryl continued. "If'n yew wanna stay," He paused as he began to gnaw at his fingernails, something he did whenever he was anxious or nervous. "Ah'll talk wit that Rick guy, he might be ok wit a female join'n his group." Daryl then looked up when he saw the shadows of Michonne's dreadlocks dangle over the side of the bed. The moonlight that shone through the small window in the cell was at her back so it prevented him from making out the details of her face as she leaned down and looked at him.

"I don't want to stay without you, Daryl." She stated and he could hear the panic in her voice, he knew she was being genuine and it touched his heart. "I was thinking that maybe he'd let 'us' stay, but if you'd rather we take our chances on the outside than I'm good with that too." He absentmindedly reached up and gently tugged at one of her dangling dreads.

"This place seems secure and they all seem to have a little community goin here, so ah can't fault you if'n yew wanna stay. Me, ah've been locked up so much in my life ah jus can't see myself volunteer'n ta be here. 'Sides, I think it would prob'ly take some beg'n ta get that Rick guy ta come around ta us…let us stay, and ah aint never been tha beg'n type."

"Ok," Michonne said and Daryl could tell she was nodding her head by the way her dreads shook. "Then in the morning we'll leave. At first light just like you said, together." She said with conviction in her voice that she hoped told him that as far as she was concerned the decision was made and final. "Ok?" She sought his agreement and in reply, Daryl tugged again at her hair. He was touched that she wanted to stay with him even out among walkers. She truly had become his family and he didn't want to imagine going through the world without her with him. It was like a revelation to him and he decided that he wanted her and he'd have her.

"C'mon down here wit me, it's cold as hell in here." He barked out like a command that left no room for argument. Without saying anything Michonne leaped down from the top bunk and pulled the blankets up there with her. Daryl slid over in the twin bed until his back hit the wall. As Michonne spread the two quilt blankets over the bed, Daryl sat up a bit, pulled the dark grey t-shirt over his head, and tossed it onto the floor. Michonne stalled in her movements as his pale bare skin illuminated in the moonlit cell. "When it's cold out, body heat's tha best, 'specially skin on skin." He explained and hoped that she got what it was he was really trying to say to her. Michonne's heart began to pound as she stood, watching while Daryl moved beneath the covers for a moment before he pulled his blue jeans from under the covers and tossed them on the floor too. "Jus so you know ah aint offer'n you sex ta getcha ta stay wit me." He stated and Michonne's heart clinched a bit over what she saw a rejection. She thought again that she had misread Daryl. "Ah do want ya ta stay wit me, if you want to. Ah also…ah want ta be witcha. Ah like ya and ah care for ya. So that's why I wanna have sex witcha, 'cause I like ya 'Chonne, and wanna be witchu." Michonne was glad that the moonlight was at her back, because she was confident that Daryl couldn't see the way her eyes enlarged in shock or the goofy grin that played on her lips. She gripped the hem of the shirt she wore and pulled it over her head and tossed it aside. Her pants and undergarments quickly followed and then she slipped under the covers that Daryl held open for her.

Daryl moved his body over Michonne's and she was already breathless and panting in anticipation. He traced his fingers from her face down to her collarbone and further down to her breasts. He first circled her left nipple with his fingers and then her right.

"This first time is gone be over real quick, sorry but it's been a long time for me." Daryl said apologetically. "But ah promise ah aint gone leave ya unsatisfied." He added as he placed a soft kiss on her lips and then slid down her body and beneath the covers. She opened her legs more widely to allow him more access to her center. She then closed her eyes and licked her lips as she awaited the feel of his hot mouth on her. The quietness of the block suddenly filled with shouts and the lights that had been switched off, they were told to converse energy, suddenly flicked on.

"Hey you two get up!" Rick's gruff voice filled the cellblock.

"Fuck!" Daryl growled out his frustration at the interruption from beneath the covers as Michonne's mind screamed the same sentiment. Daryl scrambled from under the covers; he stood and made his way to his clothes, and tugged them back on hurriedly. He heard the footsteps just before Rick and Tyrese appeared at their cell door. Both men looked from where Daryl stood to Michonne who still lied in the bed clutching the covers around her naked form. Rick was courteous enough to look away and put his back to them, but Tyrese's eyes lingered a little too long on Michonne for Daryl's liking. "Ya got a star'n problem?" Daryl barked at Tyrese, who swiftly turned and copied Rick's stance with his back to the cell. Daryl snatched up Michonne's clothes as he kept hard eyes on the back of the large black man. He handed Michonne her clothes. "Hurry up and get dressed," He spoke in a lower, tone but it was still hard. Michonne jumped from the bed and quickly dressed. Once Michonne was fully clothed Daryl asked, "So where's tha fire?" Rick slowly turned and when he eyed Michonne and saw her dressed and standing at Daryl's side, he turn completely to address them. Tyrese did the same and stood just at Rick's back with his gun in hand.

"We just came under attack." Rick stated.

"Walkers?" Daryl asked curiously, as he bunched his brow a bit which deepened as he shot a glance at Tyrese, who was openly eyeballing Michonne.

"No it's a small group of people a couple of towns over. We've had issues with them before, but not in several months. Now suddenly they show back up when you two arrive." Rick explained. "I thought you said you needed shelter from walkers."

"We did, ya'll tha first people we've seen in months," Daryl confirmed. "Last person we've seen 'sides Sophia was some asshole call'n himself tha Gov'ner…Senator or some shit like that." At hearing the name, Rick started pacing.

"Fuck, I knew it. Those were his people that showed up tonight." Rick stated. "So you have some beef with the Governor and you brought it here to us? You need to leave, NOW!"

"Ah aint have no beef wit that fucker, I caught him trying to rape 'Chonne and ah put an arrow in his head." Daryl said.

"Wait, you…you killed him?" Rick asked and Daryl could see the hopeful excitement in the man's eyes.

"Yea, fucker deserved it too," Daryl proclaimed. "Ah take it yew won't be crying about it, huh?" Rick shook his head in disbelief as his body fell against the bars as if it had given out. A huge smile spread across Tyrese's face and the slapped Rick upon the back.

"They're back," Glenn huffed out and he stood at the entrance of the cellblock.

"Cmon'." Rick commanded as he led them all out of the block.