Disclaimer: I do not own The Walking Dead.

AN: Thanks for sticking with me this far! I know it's still very rough I just went back and spell checked the first 6 chapters and changed a few other mistakes that i had made. This all has just sort of come together as it goes. Not sure what I'm really doing with it. Just a basic idea and hopefully it comes together in the end. But then again if you've read my other stories, you'll find that it's sort of how I roll. Lol enjoy!!!!

Daryl leaned up against a tree while he and Aaron stopped for a bit to eat. They had been gone for a couple hours and Daryl was getting a bit of a knot in his stomach. Like some thing was pulling him back to Alexandria. He knew it was June. Just like she had all those years back. If she was around, he wasn't that far behind.

He started to think about what Tony had said to him. And slowly everything started to sink in. Tony said 'She may have seen us. But she had only been with you.'

Daryl had a very hard time believing it. It hadn't been a secret that June had many boyfriends. She was with them until she got tired of them, then would move on to the next. Then again, most of the time the relationship ended with him getting involved with her again. Tony may have been telling the truth, instead of throwing the jealous ex flag at him.

Daryl took a bite of an apple and shook his head. There was no way. He couldn't make himself believe it. And that didn't explain Justice. If June was her mother…. He didn't want to think about it. Or believe what June, and in a way Tony, had implied. He just felt like it was a ploy to hide the truth once again. Then, there was the conversation he had had with July.

FLASHBACK

July sat down with a groan as he handed a beer over to Daryl. Daryl took it, but didn't take a drink. He wanted to have a clear head for the conversation he was about to have with his best friend.

"Justice sure is a cutie isn't she." Daryl said and July chuckled.

"Cutie? Have you gone soft man?" July asked taking a drink of the beer. He then looked up into the kitchen where his sister was helping make Thanksgiving diner. The then looked back at Daryl. "She looks a lot like her momma."

Daryl cleared his throat. "Yeah man. Sorry about your lose. Bet she was a great gal if she could tie you down."

July rolled his eyes realizing it went right over Daryl's head. "Yeah, thanks man."

"You know, June shouldn't have to raise that baby on her own." Daryl said glaring his friend down. "Her dad should step up a bit."

July turned on his friend and set his jaw. "Yeah, I guess your right."

He got to his feet and walked into the kitchen. Daryl saw July grab his sister's arm and take her aside. After a few seconds, July ran a hand through his head and shook his head at his sister then came back and sat down next to Daryl. "So she told you Justice was mine."

"That she did." Daryl said the tipped his beer back. Screw a clear head. He was going to need that drink after all. "Why would you just drop her off with your sister, man? I thought you where better than that."

July clinched his jaw again. "You have no clue what has been going on. You of all people have no room to judge."

Daryl chuckled and grabbed his friend's shirt. "I have no room to judge? Who the hell do you think has been here every day helping take care of that kid? Sure the hell hasn't been you. and if you don't start manning up, I can take care of you. Do you really want that July?"

July pushed him off just as June walked into the room with a wobbling, walking Justice. "Yeah, maybe her father should step up."

END FLASHBACK

Daryl ran a hand over his face, realizing that July had known the whole time. I mean he had to have known, since Justice wasn't his.

"You look deep in thought." Aaron said pulling Daryl out of his head. Daryl didn't say anything just took a bite from his apple. He then threw it out into the field.

"I've lost my apatite." Daryl said and Aaron sighed a bit. He had a feeling that Daryl's head was back home with a couple of sisters and not in the task in hand.

"You know, when I found your group, I hoped you where June's Daryl." Aaron said with a smile. "You are kind of a legend around Alexandria thanks to her."

"Yeah, I sure feel like it." Daryl said getting to his feet. Aaron followed his lead and stood up as well.

"They didn't expect you to ever show up." Aaron admitted. "June and Aden where kind of the unofficial power couple. Even though many people knew she wasn't happy. She was one of the first people I brought home. She wasn't in the best shape. Sort of just went threw the motions. I haven't seen her smile since you showed up."

Daryl glared over at him. "Why are you telling me all this? Why would you even think I care?"

Aaron shrugged. "We all see it Daryl. We knew you two have a past. But I didn't realize how much bringing you in would mean to her, till I saw the way you where with her. When you saved her from that wreck, you never left her side till she woke up. You care for her."

Daryl's anger flared up in him. "You have no idea what you're talking about."

Aaron nodded and put his hands up to show he was going to stop. He didn't want to push the man. He didn't know too much about him, but he could be a bit scary when he wanted to be. He wasn't sure if Daryl had been that way before all this, or if all this had changed him. All he knew was that a good friend of his was in love with him. All he really wanted to know is if the man felt the same. And by the way he got so defensive about her, he had his answer.

"Let's head out." Daryl said heading to his bike. Aaron nodded and followed him. He wasn't going to disagree with the man any time soon. He could tell he was on edge.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

June seemed to be in a bit of a fog. Most of the people around her thought it was because of the loss of Aden, but Justice and Daryl's family knew better. They had seen the change in Daryl, when he came down the stairs after putting June to bed. None of them knew what had happened. But Daryl had pulled away, then left with out even saying good-bye to June.

"She'll be fine." Justice assured Carol as she sat on the kitchen island. Carol was making lunch for those who couldn't. She was supposed to be helping, but Carol wouldn't have it that day. She knew the girl just needed to talk. "She was like this when we left him behind. She'll either find a new replacement or be fine the moment he walks back into this place."

"I don't like the sound of the replacement part of what you just said." Carol said giving the girl a stern motherly look. Justice bowed her head.

"That's how it's always gone." Justice said sadly. "June lets herself get close to him, then she pulls away. I thought it was going to be different this time. But you saw him. He looked almost heartbroken."

Carol smiled up at the girl. "You sure know a lot for such a young girl. I'm guessing it's the way you where raised."

Justice smiled back at her. "Yeah, I was raised by June and pretty much Daryl. That was till I was old enough to do a few things on my own. Then it was just me, myself and I."

"Not much of a childhood." Carol said a bit under her breath.

Justice shrugged. "I was kind of an outcast back home. Didn't have friends. Just my books. Carl is probably the first friend I had."

Carol smirked at the girl and could see Justice's cheeks turn a light pink. "He's a good kid. I'm glad you two became friends. And you help a great deal with Judith."

At the sound of her name, Justice glanced down at the video baby monitor to see the baby was still fast asleep. Justice had become very attached to the child. This had sparked the friendship between her and Carl. If it wasn't for that baby, Justice would still be sitting on her porch, reading whatever book she had gotten a hold of that day. She owed more to that baby girl than any one knew.

"Here, why don't you help me with this casserole?" Carol said patting the girl's leg. Justice smiled and jumped down to help. "It's for you and your sister."

Justice's head shot up and looked at Carol a small tear trying to make an escape and she quickly wiped it away. "Thank you Carol."

"Don't thank me yet." Carol said with a smirk. "You're going to be making it. It's about time you start learning to cook anyways."

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Justice carried the warm casserole dish too her home. She wasn't surprised to see June sitting in the same spot she had left her in that morning. She shook her head, took the casserole inside, and placed it in the oven. She then went back out on to the porch and sat down next to her sister.

"You need to come in side to eat." Justice said as she leaned into June and placed her head on her shoulder. June didn't say a word to her sister. Just wrapped an arm around her shoulder, kissed the top of her head, and nodded. Justice got to her feet and June slowly followed. June led her to the kitchen table and sat her down. Then went to grab the casserole. She made them both plates and sat down across from her sister.

June took a bite then smiled up at Justice. "Carol is a good cook."

Justice blushed. "I made it. I mean with Carol's instructions."

June reached over the table and took the girl's hand. "You made this?"

Justice nodded and June smiled at her. "It's good. I'm proud of you. Don't let me forget to tell Carol thanks for teaching you. It's something I wouldn't be able to teach you."

Justice giggled. "Yeah I know. You burn spaghetti."

June laughed and flung a fork full of food at her. Justice laughed and did the same thing to June. It was good to see her sister laughing again. She knew June was going to be ok. Even though the smile didn't quite make it to her eyes. Justice knew then, that June had a secret and it was on the verge of coming out. She just prayed it didn't have to do with Daryl. She couldn't handle any more June and Daryl drama.

June and Justice started eating smiling at each other from time to time, when there was a scream from out side. June jumped to her feet, knocking the chair back behind her. Justice looked up at her sister with fear in her eyes. They where both thinking the same thing. The roamers got in. June rushed to the front door and almost sighed in relief when she saw that is was only a fight.

"Stay here." June said knowing Justice was only a few feet behind her. June rushed out to the street where every one was gathering around the fight. It was Rick and Jessie's husband. They where rolling around on the ground fighting for control. Every so often getting a lucky punch in. Jessie's husband got control as he tried to choke Rick out. Jessie started to walk up to them but June stopped her.

"Not a good idea." June said put Jessie pushed her away and attempted to get Pete off Rick. Instead of helping, Jessie got a backhand to the face. June quickly went to Jessie's side as Rick rolled Pete over and was now in control.

June heard Justice try to stop Carl as he went to pull his dad off. Rick pushed Carl aside. He landed not far away from Jessie and June. Justice and Enid rushed up to Carl's side and helped him to his feet.

"I have to stop him." Carl demanded. Justice stood in his way.

"It's only going to get you hurt." Justice protested. "They are in their own world right now. They aren't going to realize who is trying to stop them. Getting involved at this point is just stupid. We have to wait till one of them gets pulled out of their head."

Rick rolled over and put Pete in a chokehold. Justice turned her face away and looked at June. It must have brought back a few memories. Fights where some thing that had happened a lot in their house before. July, their father, Daryl, Merle. Some random friend of July or Daryl's. There was always a fight and usually it had started over the simplest things. From the last beer, to claiming some one else's game. To June.

Jessie cried out for them to stop. Saying over and over that she didn't want this. June almost smirked to herself realizing what was going on. Rick had taken a liking to Jessie, and he was finally going to put a stop to Pete beating her.

"Stop it." Deanna said when she finally reached the fight. "Stop it right now."

For some reason that pulled Rick out of his head. But he wasn't about to give Pete the satisfaction that he was done with him. "Touch them again and I kill you."

"Damn it Rick! I said stop!" Deanna demanded.

"Or what?" Rick said pulling a gun on a few of the men, who had taken a few steps towards him. "You going to kick me out?"

Not thinking, Justice reached down and took Carl's hand. She knew if Deanna said yes. That meant Carl and Judith would have to go as well. Carl didn't say any thing. He just looked down at her hand and tightened his grip on it.

"Put that gun down Rick." Deanna said calmly. She knew the man had a short fuzz from being out there for so long. But she had never seen this coming.

"You still don't get it." Rick said lowering the gun. Until he started on a rant. "None of you do. We know what needs to be done and we do it. We're the ones who live. You, you just sit and plan and hesitate. You pretend like you know when you don't. You wish things weren't what they are. We'll you want to live? You want this place to stay standing? Your way of doing things is done. Things don't get better because you want them too. Starting right now, we have to live in the real world. We have to control who lives here."

"That's never been more clear to me than it is right now." Deanna said and June held her breath. Sometimes Deanna needed to watch what she said. She had away of digging when things where bad already.

"Me? Me? You… you mean.. You mean me?" Rick said with a sarcastic laugh. he couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Your way is gonna destroy this place. It's gonna get people killed. It's already gotten people killed. And I'm not gonna stand by and just let it happen. If you don't fight, you die. I'm not gonna stand by and…"

Rick never got the chance to finish his crazed rant. Michonne seemed to come out of nowhere and hit Rick in the back of the head. Knocking him out cold.

"Every one back to their houses." Deanna demanded. She then looked at the men standing around her. "Take them both in. I have a lot to consider."

"Aden and I told you they were bad news." Nicholas at once started chirping in Deanna's ear.

"Shut up Nicholas." June growled at him. "I'm sure you ran just like you did the last time. Aden told me how you just left them. Maybe if you had their guts, they'd all still be alive."

"No one wants to hear from the town slut." Nicholas growled. Deanna stopped and glared up at him.

"I never want to hear you talk to her like that again." Deanna said sternly.

"Might as well blame her for his death." Nicholas demanded. He just never knew when to stop.

"Nick." Spencer warned. When he realized Nicholas wasn't going to stop Spencer finished for him. "June left Aden for one of them. So what. We all saw it happening. Even Aden. She had nothing to do with what happened. You and I both know it."

Deanna slowly turned and looked at June. "Would your answer change?"

June looked her square in the eyes. "No."

Deanna nodded and headed for her house again, ignoring Nicholas and Spencer's bickering. June put an arm around Jessie's shoulders and started to lead her to her house.

"Justice?" June called. Justice let go of Carl's hand and rushed up to her. "Take the others back to Jessie's house. See if you can get it picked up. I'll see if Carol will look in on all of you. I think Jessie is going to need a bit of time."

"I'm fine." Jessie protested but June shook her head.

"I know your not." June said, "I know better than most would."

June walked past Carol, who nodded at her. She had heard what the woman had said. She didn't have to be asked. She took Sam and lead him back to her house.

June lead Jessie the rest of the way to her house, and put her down on the couch. She went to the bathroom and got out witch hazel and a cotton ball and headed back down to Jessie.

"Here." June said handing the items to her. "Apply ever two hours. It will take the swelling and the bruise down."

Jessie laughed and took them from here. "Such a simple fix. That would have been helpful many times before. How did you know?"

June sat down next to the woman. "I grew up with my brother and Daryl. And I once got into a bad relationship. I let him hit me a few times before I couldn't hide the bruises any more."

Jessie looked at the girl in shock. Out of all the women in the community, June was one that didn't look like she'd let a man hit her. "How did you get out of it?"

June smiled. "Daryl. I was only sixteen when it happened. Young and stupid. I had been avoiding Daryl and his brother for weeks, hoping it would get better. Daryl would try to pick me up from school. He'd try to stop me in the woods. We only lived a mile apart back then. So avoiding him was hard to do."

Jessie listen to the girl and had a feeling this was the first time she was admitting to this happening. But she still wasn't sure where she was going with this. Even though the hitting was the same, Jessie was married to Pete. June was just dating a boy.

"Well a friend of mine saw Daryl waiting outside for me after school. Knowing I'd never say anything, she went and told him." June took a deep breath. "He waited there at the school till the boy came out. He didn't even stand a chance. Daryl had him pinned. And he just kept beating on him. I kept asking him to stop but he didn't. Not till he nearly killed the boy. He then took me to his bike and drove me home. How he never got arrested for that one I will never know. I was so pissed off at him. Where did he get off stepping into something that wasn't his business? He was just a friend of my brothers that I had a bit of a crush on back then."

"Where are you going with this?" Jessie asked. She was starting to get a little annoyed with the girl. Acting like she knew what was going on in Jessie's life.

"My point is, when Daryl took me home, and I yelled at him for what seemed like hours. He said something that I have never forgotten." June said keeping her calm with Jessie. "All it takes is for some one to step in and show they care. And then maybe you'll make the right choice."

June smiled. "I didn't know what he meant back then. But I never went back to that boy. And the next time he tried to put his hands on me, I fought back. What I'm trying to say is, some times you need that one person to do what you couldn't. Fight back. Don't be too hard on Rick."