Gaiz! Thanks so much for the great reviews! Sounds like ya'll are going through as much withdrawls as I am! .. Which is why I plan on rewatching the whole series ;). I swear, I could stare at Rick for hours on end. Love that mofo. Andy, you are as great an actor, as you are to look at ! 3 Anybody ready to see which way this FF is gonna turn? OOOH it's going to BLOW your MINDS. MINDBLOWN. Again, thanks for love errbody. Back at cha! and if anybody has and RICK ff to recommend, don't hesitate. I love Daryl, but I see so much of him on here already, lol. Thanks again!

** ALSOOO, I realized I kind of lost track of my chappys! I'm really like, one more ahead of what I'd been putting for the past few. SORRY. Anywho, keep them reviews coming! I love 'em!


CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

"Carl, get down!" Rick whispered forcefully. "I need you to bring the kids upstairs, hide them. Hide with them. Protect them."

Carl looked at his father. He saw where he was beginning to resemble him more and more, in the shape of his eyes and features. His father was calm, but serious. He nodded.

"Son, we'll be okay down here. I'll do anything to keep all of you safe. " Rick placed his hand on his son's shoulder.

Carl lightly nodded, and in one swift motion grabbed Judith and Harland's hands, and crept upstairs.

"See 'em yet?"

Rick lightly jumped startled by Poppy's words. "You should go up-"

"Rick, I've been taking care of my son on my own for a long time now. I can hold my own. I can shoot, you know. I don't carry this thing around for nothing." She smirked at him, feeling confident in their abilities not only as shooters, but as parents. We got this!

Rick shifted his weight to his other foot. The two were crouched low, out of site, but were able to see the bright red truck outside.

"There are two I can see so far. I can't make out the back seat."

"What's the plan, Sherrif?"

"We stand our ground."

They watched as one man got out of the truck. He was about the same age as Rick and Poppy. He had sandy brown hair, shaved close to his head in a buzz-cut. He wore ripped muscle shirt, covered in blood, with jeans in the same condition. This man .. Poppy stared at him, something ringing in her head, but not quite being able to understand what it was. Until he turned around, and she got a good look at his face. She clasped a hand over her mouth.

"Oh my God. Rick - Rick that's him. Har's dad!"

Rick turned to her. "Are you sure?"

"Y-yes, positive. I don't believe it. I'm going out there."

"What?"

"I have to. He'll know me, it'll be okay."

"You used to know him, you don't anymore. This new world, it can change people, you-"

"Rick. I'll bring my gun. This is the best chance we have. I'm doing this whether you like it or not."

She stood up, and place a hand on his shoulder. "Stay close. Just in case."

Poppy drew in a deep breath and stepped through the door. "What are you boys looking for?" She didn't want to call him out. She needed to play her cards just right, maybe get him to leave. She never told Rick her plan, not that she got a chance, but she didn't want him to give anything away. She hoped it wouldn't ruin anything between them.

Harland's dad turned to look at her. She watched as his face became puzzled, then flashed with recognition. "Poppy?!"

"Rem?! Remmington? Is it really you?!"

"Baby! You're looking good! I thought I'd never see you again! I was so worried about you, and -" Rem paused.

Asshole. You don't even remember his name. Poppy thought. "Harland." She said aloud, trying to mask the annoyance in her face.

"What are you doing out here all alone, baby girl?"

She tried not to roll her eyes. Seeing him, she began to realize how much she loathed him. She once again had to put on a mask, this one to hide disgust. She began to approach him.

"I could say the same for you, but you have someone with you, hon." She said fake-sweet. She tried not to gag on the last word.

"Who? Him? He's just a guy I found not too far from here. He'd been walking. He hadn't really wanted a ride, but when I persisted he finally gave in. Aren't I the best? I saved his life!"

Poppy looked around to the guy in the passenger seat. He was kind of cute, wearing a leather vest she assumed used to be a jacket, and ripped jeans. She saw he carried a cross bow. Looked tough, like he didn't need any life saving.

"Hey, darling. " She called.

The man nodded.

"Well, hold up just a sec. 'Darling'? We just found each other, you ain't running off on me again, are ya girl?" Rem called. Poppy remembered he was the jealous type, and was intentionally trying to use it to her advantage. The guy in the truck seemed pretty tough, but there was just him. He didn't seem all too interested in her, but maybe Rem would get jealous enough to leave.

"Sorry baby" Gag. "I was just batting my eyelashes is all. No harm done. Right, err-" She motioned to the man in the passenger seat.

"Daryl." He told her.

"Right, Daryl."

"So, you got enough room for us in there?"

"I just got here myself about 15 minutes ago. Place is cleaned right out, full of dead bodies. Ain't nothing in there."

"Where's the kid?" Rem asked.

Shit. I wasn't counting on that. "He's holed up inside for the minute. Didn't know who you were, and I couldn't take that chance."

"And you thought you could protect him all by yourself? Baby, that's so sweet. I see you've got a big gun. You probably can't even use that thing." He cooed.

"Oh, don't you worry, I've been holding my own for a long time." She said. This guy was a pig, and an idiot. She considered showing him how well she could shoot by putting a bullet between his eyes, then she heard the front door to the house close.

"And just who is this?" Rem asked jealously.

"None of your damn business." Rick answered for her.

"I believe it is. This is my fiance here, see?" Rem lifted Poppy's left hand, showing Rick the ring.

"Don't act like you own her. You don't own her." Rick answered him angrily.

"This your boyfriend?" Rem looked at Poppy.

Poppy eyed Rick. She hoped this wouldn't hurt him. Technically nothing had been said about them being an item, but she had to play the helpless girl card.

"Rick is - Rick was a sherrif. We used to know each other when we were kids. We met up here. Don't be silly, baby" Poppy grabbed his face, and choked back the spew that threatened to emerge. "I've only got eyes for you. Ever since the day you left." She tried to move in for a kiss, but he stopped her.

"You're the one who left."

Before Poppy could angrily reply, he smashed his lips against hers. Rem's lips were hard and cold despite the hot weather. He kissed fast and messily. It was nothing like the way Rick had been kissing her. She let the kiss continue on, but was happy when it had ended. She looked over at Rick to see a look of pain cross his face. It felt like she had been punched in the stomach. She wanted to call out, 'Can't you see? This is fake! I don't want to do this, but I need him to go. Even if he takes me with him, I'll kill him to leave. I'll come back before you'll even know I'm gone.'

But of course, she couldn't.

"This one" Rem started. "Ran off on me two weeks before we were supposed to be married. Left me alone, ran off with my boy .. Harlem? Ahh, Harland? See? It's been so long I can't even remember his name. Anyway, she left and I never heard from her again. But she kept the ring. Did you get cold feet?"

She wanted to punch him. Kick him. Stab him, shoot him - whatever. She just hated him so much, she almost lost her composure. "Guess so." She said through gritted teeth.

"Oh, baby you're shaking."

"I guess I just missed you that much." She lied.

She looked at Rick with a look that read, 'I'm lying. All of it - it's a lie. I have a plan.' She saw understanding flash across his features.

"Pretty nice place. We clean out the bodies, we could stay here for a while. Just me and you, and the kid."

Poppy's heart began to pound. No! It wasn't what she had wanted him to say. She had to turn this around. Now he had his eyes on the place, she knew he wouldn't leave. Think on your feet, Pop. C'mon!

"What about Rick and Daryl?" Not to mention Carl and Judith. She wouldn't, if she didn't have to.

Rick's head poked up at the mention of the name. "Daryl?"

"He's the one in the truck."

Rick walked over to the truck, his hand hovering above his gun. He walked around to the passenger side and stuck his head in. "Holy shit."

"Rick? You son'bitch!" Daryl smiled and jumped out of the truck. The two shook hands and smiled.

"Good to see you. We weren't sure were you had gone to in search of him."

A look of pain crossed Daryl's expression. " I found him, but-"

"And Carol?"

A deeper pained look crossed him.

Rick nodded. "I'm sorry."

Daryl nodded in return. "Dang man, it is good to see you. Where-" He cut off, afraid to mention the kids in front of Rem. Rick nodded to him to let him no they were safe, and Daryl smiled.

"You two know each other?" Poppy smiled at their reunion. It was nice to see Rick so happy. And she instantly liked this Daryl once she saw past his exterior.

"Daryl's a good friend." Rick said.

A thought crossed Poppy's mind. What if they just told Rem to leave? Daryl would be on their side for sure. Worst came to worst, force could be used. Then she thought about the kids hiding upstairs. How was she going to do this? She looked over to Rick for help.

"You're staying, we're staying."

"Now wait a minute, buddy-"

"I'm staying." Rick gave Rem a stone-cold look. It sent shivers up Poppy's spine. She knew he meant business.

"I guess we could negotiate... Now we have to clear those bodies out."

"Already been taken care of." Rick answered. He didn't like that this guy had his hands all over Poppy; nor the fact that he had to stay there with them, with the kids; but if he had to, he would shoot him.

The group turned and began to walk towards the house. Rick and Daryl following behind Poppy and Remmington.

"I don't like this guy. Plan was to drop him off and take his truck. He's an asshole. Was telling me he left his girlfriend to turn. Then he finds her? What's up with this shit?" Daryl whispered to Rick.

"I don't like him anymore than you. Keep an eye out. He gets out of hand, I'll kill him myself."

"She yours?"

"It's a long story."

At the same time Rick and Daryl were whispering, Rem had whispered in Poppy's ear. "First thing I'm doing when we get inside, is finding a nice big bed, baby. And you and me, we're gonna ..." He trailed off with sexual slurs Poppy ignored. She thought of the kids upstairs. She thought of Rick's pain, then understanding. Then she thought of Rick's pain at a kiss - a fake one. He hadn't known at the time, but still. If she saw him kiss someone else, she had to admit, she wouldn't be fond of it. What if she did have to have fake sex with Rem? That would be way worse, considering she hadn't expected it do have to go so far.

She turned around and looked at Rick, shooting an apologetic glance his way. He nodded and lightly smirked.

"Carl, Judith, Harland." Rick called the group. They came downstairs, Carl in the lead, pistol ready.

"Who's this?" he asked.

"He's going to be staying here."

Carl shot his dad a confused look. Rick shot one back that told him to listen. Carl obeyed. Judith ran downstairs past Carl to Rick. "Daddy, everyting okay?" Rick knelt down and hugged her. "Yeah baby. Don't worry. Daddy will always protect you."

"Is that Carl? And Little Ass-Kicker? You're both almost all grown up!" Daryl called.

Carl ran to Daryl and wrapped him in a hug. "Judy, do you remember him? It's Daryl! Remember? From the stories I sometimes tell you?"

Judith nodded with slight recognition and walked over to Daryl. "You Darwyl?"

He laughed, "Yes, little lady."

"Carl tell me stories about you. Me like you!" She gave him a hug and he smiled.

"You're so big now!" He looked over to Rick who was also smiling. With Poppy and Daryl on his side, they would be safe.

Harland stood at the top of the steps, frozen. Who was the strange man with his arm around his mom?

Poppy pulled away from Rem. "I'm going to go talk to him." She approached her son, and whispered in his ear, "That man used to be your father. He wasn't around, he is not anymore. Play along. But do not believe a word he says. Rick and I will protect you."

Harland whispered back, "And Judy and Carl too?"

Poppy nodded at her son and held back tears. They hadn't been with the group for more than a day and a half and already they had all had such an impact on them. You take people for granted until there's a zombie apocalypse outside your door. She took his hand and lead him downstairs.

"Rem this is-"

"Yeah, I know, Harlem."

"Harland." The little boy said annoyed.

"Yeah. Right. Not what I remember, but okay. Anyway, I'm your daddy, got it? And me and mommy got some business to take care off, so you can sit with the nice people over there." Rem looked over to Rick. "Where's the bedrooms around here?"

Anger crossed Rick's face. She saw him clench his hands into fists. He didn't answer.

"Whatever, I'll find it myself. C'mon baby." Rem grabbed her hand and pushed past Harland to walk upstairs. Rick began to follow, but she turned to him and mouthed 'no'. She knew she could prolong the whole sex thing if she had to. Prolong it to the point of it never happening. He stopped surprised, but let it go. If that didn't work, she'd shoot him. He turned to Harland.

"Har, how about you come sit with Carl and Judy and have some lunch? Daryl and I can tell ya'll some stories."

Harland smiled and grabbed Rick's hand. "Rick, can I tell you a secret?"

Rick knelt down so the little boy could whisper in his ear. "I hope that if my mommy gets a new boyfriend. It isn't that man. He's rude. And not my daddy."

Rick nodded. "I hear ya little guy."

"But no Rick, you don't understand" Harland continued. "I hope my mommy chooses you. You could protect us, and you used to be friends and you make her smile." Rick was taken aback by the child's honesty. He smiled and ruffled the kid's hair.

"C'mon, how bout some lunch?"

As the walked over to the small coffee table, Rick glanced upstairs. If he puts a hand on her, I'll kill him.


Totes random author comment, BUUUT DARYL'S BACK! YAAY! :) I'm sure you all like that idea! Walking Dead is turning into a little soap, ain't it? :)

That being said, more badassery from Rick to come! 3 (And the others!)