A/N: Hey Everyone! New Chapter! Hope you like it!

Daryl followed Rick to his truck, they were set to head off the next day and have one more try at crossing the border. No one had hope that it would happen and spirits were low, the hunter felt as if it was his job to change that. Michonnes idea was still in the back of his mind, it was a pretty solid plan if they could get to the coast safely and then find the right boat.

Daryl had been considering trying to get a barge, it would be difficult but that way they could take their vehicles to the island in case any survivors showed up and tried to take them. They could also use the barge to transport the dead walkers back to the main land.

It was certainly worth considering, though he still had hope of getting out of state and finding somewhere safe to live, maybe they could find a rich gated community, they could make it a community for all survivors. It would take some time to do but they could start the clear out like the prison, form groups and start from there.

"We really need to get moving again" Rick sighed "I don't know how we're going to get to Tennessee"

Daryl stared down at the map following the routes in his mind; they'd tried all but one of them, it would be their last chance to get out of Georgia.

"We can follow this route, it's the only one we haven't been down" he pointed at the place on the map as the former sheriff nodded, they would have to drive 120 miles west and then start heading north, they'd cut around all major towns and drive through more farm surrounded highway, there were likely to be cars in the way but provided there were only a few walkers around they'd be able to clear a path.

"Looks good, we'll set off first thing tomorrow morning. Provided we take no more than a couple of stops on the way, we should be able to reach the boarder in less than two days" he sounded hopeful, something that lifted Daryl's spirits a little "I'm going to inform Tyreese of the plan."

The man he considered his brother gave him a nod and left, Daryl felt strange thinking of Rick as his brother. He felt as if he was betraying Merle for even thinking it, Rick had been a better man to him than Merle ever was. His big brother couldn't get away fast enough when he was at the right age; He left Daryl to take the beatings, the drunken nights and the pain. Merle simply had not cared enough to save him too.

"What's on your mind?" Michonnes voice came from beside him, startling him, he wasn't used to how careful and quiet she was with her movements compared to the rest of the group.

"just thinkin' 'bout Merle" he shrugged, he was entirely sure what made him want to reveal all to Michonne

"What about him?" she stood close, closer than most people do

"Jus' about how bad of a brother he was, I never understood why he didn't take me with him when he left" he admitted

"How old was he?" she questioned, her voice turning quiet and sombre

"17, he just up and left as soon as he could. Pa had been beating Merle and sometimes me whenever he got the chance, Ma was already dead so no one stopped him. Didn't help that sometimes Merle took his aggression out on me as well, about a third of these scars would be from Merle, the rest were from Pa. When Merle left Pa was furious when he came home and found him gone, took it out on me, and gave me the worst beating of my life." His heart was in his throat as he tried to hide the emotion coming through in his tone "I never really forgave Merle for that, I always thought blood was thicker than water, made him more important than he shoulda been, but he was still my brotha; I couldn't stop caring or hoping." A single tear ran down his face as he wiped it away

"You didn't deserve any of it, I hope you know that" she said quietly, her hand coming to rest on his forearm. He couldn't ignore the indescribable feeling that coursed through him at their contact. He didn't really understand it either, what was she doing? What was so different?

He couldn't find the words to answer her in that moment, his thoughts racing; he couldn't keep a single thought long enough to form a sentence.

"Your father was an asshole and Merle was selfish. My father was an asshole too, except I had a mother who took me and my siblings away from that situation" to say Daryl was surprised by this was an understatement, he'd built Michonne up to be somewhat of a higher being, she was smart, she was pretty, she'd had a family and career. She wasn't like him.

"When I was 10, I walked through the school gates with my sisters to find my mother waiting for us, the car was all packed up with as much stuff as she could possibly take for five people. We left and never looked back. Seemed like my father was happy to see us gone because he never came knocking." She sighed "My siblings were young enough to block out all the bad memories, though most of them would've been me taking the beating for them."

"Yew were beat by yer father? Ain't never seen any scars on yew" he studied her as she smiled meekly at him before lifting her shirt to turning her back to him

"See the scar on my left shoulder, that was one of the worse beatings I took, he used a belt, didn't stop for at least 10 minutes." He studied the scar carefully, likening it to the ones on his back; he'd taken more than his fair share of beatings with the belt as well. "It was usually mum first and then me if he was extra angry, or if one of the girls managed to piss him off just by being a kid, it was one of them but I always stepped in, took the beating instead" she sighed as she dropped her shirt, Daryl guessed she'd lost her siblings too.

They stood in silence, both unsure of what to say, their stories were the same yet different, Daryl couldn't help but wonder if he'd have been saved from all those beatings had their mother not drunk herself into a stupor every night. He tried not to remember her negatively; he wanted something from his childhood to be positive, his good memories were vague but he cherished them.

"You were lucky" Daryl said quietly, he wished his mother hadn't turned to alcohol, maybe she'd have saved at least him.

"I know, never went a day without thanking my mum and working hard for her" he watched as a sad smile formed on her face "Just wish I could've saved her, and the girls."

He didn't react when her warm hand slipped into his, he didn't really know how to react, and he'd never had a girlfriend. Merle usually scared them away when he was a teenager and then he became reclusive. Women had never been important until now, he noticed himself thinking about her almost all the time. She mattered more to him than a lot of people, it was a different type of caring with her, the others we're family but they didn't make his heart rate speed up, he didn't want to hold them tight and never let go.

He felt like a teenager all over again, he felt nervous, excited and somewhat scared; it was as if holding hands was a crime.

It didn't help that they were both private people in a world where there was no privacy or safety in secrets. It was bad enough that Carol knew of his feelings or at least had a fair idea of what was going on, the idea of being the source of the group's gossip irked him.

"Michonne, Daryl, can you guys come over here, Maggie and I have some news." Glenn's voice came from the other side of the truck, surprisingly Daryl didn't jump away from Michonne, he knew the Korean wouldn't say anything.

Daryl had already figured out what the announcement would be well before they decided to make it, Maggie was pregnant. It was obvious in his mind but he wasn't about to take the odd glory away from them. She'd looked a little rough around the edges but not upset. At the prison and on the farm they'd certainly made no secret of their rendezvous'.

He didn't let go of Michonnes hand as they walked together, in reality he didn't want to let go.

The group stood in a cluster, everyone keeping a nervous watch "Well…uh…Maggie and I…Maggie is pregnant." Glenn sounded like he might throw up or pass out as the brunette grinned at everyone.

There was a collective round of congratulations; everyone was thrilled for the young couple. Even Daryl had to admit he was pretty happy for them; he knew what they had to do; they had to settle. They had to get out of state, find out what was happening in Tennessee and make sure everyone was safe.