Mackynzie POV

"Hey Savy mind comin over here to help?" I waved her over

The Italian woman nodded, coming over to me "What do you need?"

"Could you help me with sewing this shirt up? Ripped a big hole in it an I ave no clue how ta do it" I admitted

She chuckled "Of course Mackynzie. I'll help you" Savannah smiled "Follow me I just need to get the sewing supplies"

I followed her as she led me over to the trailer. She picked up a bag and brought it over to me.

"Alright, let's get started"

"You and your brother's, are you close…yes?"

"Merle and I don' always get along too well. Then again...who really does? But he has...some moments. Daryl and I...we've always been the closest. Been through hell together…" I sighed as I thought about all the times Daryl would get me out of a mess, or defended me

*Flashback*

"Give it back! That's mine!" a lil Mackynzie pleaded as a couple of boys held her doll above her head taunting her

"If ya want it reach for it" they laughed at her

Mackynzie scowled at them, they were a lot taller than the little 7 year old. These boys always hung around near the entrance of the park, picking on anyone who passed by. Well...anyone who was smaller than them anyways…

Mackynzie reached for her doll, but couldn't reach. the boys laughed at her, which only made her more angry. She looked up at the boy holding it, and stomped on his foot. He screamed out in pain, dropping the doll. Mackynzie quickly snatched it up and started running immediately, not looking back to see his reaction.

"Hey! Get back here!" the boys yelled at her and chased her

She ran down the street, not looking behind her once. Kynzie was faster than them , this she knew. She could outrun them anyday.

She took a quick turn down the street, she could see her big brother Daryl and a couple of his friends there. Now that Merle was gone, Daryl actually tried to hang around other people.

"Daryl! Daryl!"

"Kynzie? Whats goin on?" he ran over quickly, wondering why she seemed so upset.

"There are boys chasing after me!"

He chuckled "Already? Wow sis I think yer a lil too young for that"

She glared at him "Not that way. They were bullying me...pushing me around and took my dolly. So...I stomped on his foot…"

One of Daryl's friends smirked "Wow Daryl, your lil sis is quite the spitfire"

"Shut up Nick. Where are they now?"

Mackynzie pointed to the boys running towards them and she hid behind Daryl.

Daryl and his two friends made a wall between Kynzie and the guys after her. Daryl was mad, no one messed with his sister and got away with it. Afterall, they were the only people they had to rely on.

"You the guys terrorizin er?" Daryl said angrily

"Whats it ta you?" the guy said glaring, but a bit intimidated by his size

"I'm her big brother thas what it ta me ya prick"

"Now ya got im angry. You won't like when ya see him angry kiddies" one of Daryls friends said with a smirk

The main guy gulped and took a step back. "I ain't afraid o no redneck hussy"

That did it. Daryl swung on him, clocking him right in the face with his fist, sending the guy backwards.

"If I ever, EVER see you near my lil sis again I will stomp all yall asses, got it?"

The group of guys wide eyed, started running like the little sissies they were.

"You k Kynzie?"

She nodded, hugging her big brother tight "Thank you Daryl…"

"Don mention it…"

The two sat on top of a monkey bars at the park, swinging their legs over the side as the sun started to set.

"That was really brave..I wish I could be like you Daryl…" her tiny little voice rang out and she pouted

Daryl chuckled "Yer still lil Kynz, still got a lot to learn"

"Can you teach me?" she said with pleading eyes

He nodded "Course, can't leave my sis knowin nothin" Daryl looked up at the sky, it was starting to get dark "Shit, we're supposed to be home by now…"

"Is he going to be angry?" Mackynzie said worriedly

"If he even notices us...probably will be passed out drunk...again…"

"I hope so…"

They quietly snuck into the house, trying not to make any noises. Their father was on the couch, he looked like he was passed out. Daryl sighed in relief as they headed off to their rooms.

"Daryl..? Can I stay in your room tnight…?"

He nodded and put a finger to his lips, telling her to keep it down. She nodded and followed him.

"Daryl? Mac…? Is tha you?" Dread hit them as they heard the familiar drunken voice of their father. They didn't answer trying to sneak into their rooms.

"Why don't you answer me!" he got up sluggishly and cuffed Mackynzie in the face. Her eyes started to water as the pain hit her.

"It was my fault! Not hers! My fault we're late! Just..just leave her alone!" Daryl said trying to stand up for Mackynzie

"You smart mouthed boy. Thought I taught ya better than that! Ya stupid boy!" he punched Daryl in the gut, knocking the wind from his lungs.

Little Mackynzie was crying loudly, screaming for him to stop hitting Daryl. Their father turned around and hit Mackynzie again in her little jaw to stop her from crying, sending her backwards into the wall, whacking her little head against it. Blood trickled down her face as she fell unconscious.

He continued pounding Daryl, blood dripping down into his eyes. He closed his eyes, just wishing for it all to end, for his father to just kill him. It would be so much easier if he did. His head was pounding and his ears ringing as his father continued to yell loudly, he could no longer make out the words he was saying. Out of the corner of his eye he could see little Mackynzie crumpled into a heap.

This angered him, he couldn't give up, if he wasn't there, who would protect his sister? Certainly not Merle...or anyone else….Only he could...He struggled against his father's weight, kicking his father's stomach, sending him back. Weakly Daryl got up, hobbling over to the sink. His vision was a bit blurry from the beatings, a bit disoriented but he reached out, grabbing one of the few pots they had. As his father got up to go at him again Daryl swung it over their his father's head, knocking him out.

Daryl panted, trying to catch his breath, his body ached and one of his eyes was swelling shut. Even though he felt like he could pass out any minute from the pain, he had to hold out just a bit longer. He grabbed a bunch of stuff and put it into his room. Then he grabbed little Kynzie, picking her unconscious little body and gently placed her on his bed. Daryl hadn't hit his father that hard...so he wouldn't be out for long unfortunately. Daryl looked at his unconscious father, he had the chance, the chance to end all their suffering. He could kill him right here and now, and no one would care about his demise. Daryl wasn't a killer though, he couldn't do it, even if it meant it would end all his pain. It was going to be a long long night, again…

He quickly moved a bunch of stuff in front of the door, barricading it, making sure their father wouldn't be able to get in. If it could last until morning then they would be fine.

"D...Daryl…?" Mackynzie's little voice whimpered

"I'm ere lil sis"

"It hurts" she whimpered, tears spilling out of her eyes.

"I know baby girl. I'm going to fix ya right up. We're going to have a long night tonight"

"Why does Daddy hate us?" she sniffled

He shrugged, he couldn't answer that question because he truly didn't know himself. It had always been this way, he couldn't remember a time that he wasn't a complete asshole besides when he was passed out…

"He don't matter. He ain't no father…"

"Daryl?"

"Hmmm?"

"I love you big brother" she clung onto him, cuddling him, shutting her eyes and falling asleep.

He smiled weakly "Love ya too lil sis"

Daryl had let Mackynzie rest a bit before he fixed up both their wounds. They both lay in bed, clinging onto each other as their father woke, banging on the door and desperately trying to get in to get them.

"I'm going to kill both of ya worthless brats! You two lil pieces of shit! Get the fuck outta there now!"

Mackynzie whimpered, crying over the amount of pain her little body was dealing with and over the fear of their father getting in to them.

"Shhh...it's ok baby girl...I'm here...I'm here...I won't let im hurt you no more...shhh…." he kissed the top of her little head

If only he could keep that promise for good...but with a dirt bag father like they had...you never know what's going to happen...The only thing he would promise is he would never leave her alone, not with him, not ever.

*Flashback ends*

"He defended me gainst our worthless Dad...only reason I'm still alive…" I sighed

"Your brother...Daryl...He is a good man"

"The best I know" I smiled lightly