Thank you for reading and reviewing.

Thanks too Annelisa, piratejessieswaby, Dino-SOAR, Brazen Hussy, Emberka-2012, BeingLolaStar, FanFicGirl10 and Effigy.

I have to say I agree with BeingLolaStar I like Daryl and Merle as a super daddy team so Hope's father will remain a mystery.

Please review.

Chapter 14.

The group stood around a freshly dug grave each member took a moment of silence. Sophia looked around and noticed Merle missing, she gently let go of her mothers hand a slid away from the group.

Merle was sitting on an old stone wall looking off into the woods when Sophia footsteps caught his attention. He knew they were Sophia's from the way she walked with light cautious steps.

"You best get back to ya ma girl." Merle muttered.

Sophia pulled her body up onto the stone wall to sit next to Merle. "Why aren't you at the funeral, you liked Rowan didn't you?" Merle confused Sophia, after he'd put Rowan down he had disappeared from the group and left Rick and T-Dogg to dig the grave and bury Rowan.

Merle kept his eyes on the tree line of the woods the truth was he hated funerals they were pointless things where people lied. At his fathers funeral people had turned up and said what a decent man his father was and how he was taken from them too soon. Merle's opinion was that his old man wasn't taken soon enough.

"Ain't none of your business." Merle replied curtly. Merle felt hollow inside. He never got to thank Rowan or say goodbye she just left him without closure like the rest of the people in his life.

Sophia sighed she could see Merle was upset his body was slumped forward and his eyes were full of sorrow. "Are you going to play with Hope today, I bet see misses you." Sophia hoped by mentioning his daughter Merle might smile or do something.

Merle shrugged he hadn't seen Hope for the last twenty four hours he been to numb after watching Rowan slip away and then having to put a bullet in her head just shattered him. "Daryl needs to bond." Merle muttered.

Sophia slipped her tiny hand into Merle's large one. "Can you teach me to shoot?" Sophia asked softly.

Merle looked down at Sophia. "You betta ask your ma fist." Merle muttered. Merle knew what Sophia was doing and in a way he was grateful to her it was nice to know someone did care.

Sophia gave and enthusiastic nod and smile she jumped down off the wall and made her way back to camp.

Daryl held Hope close to his body as he walked into the stables. Daryl walked up to a large grey horse.

"Look at this bug it's a horse." Daryl slowly placed Hope's palm softly on the horse's nose.

Hope giggled at the feeling of the creature's soft fur. "Baa." She laughed as the horse let out a large snort of air against her hand.

Daryl laughed and kissed Hope's chubby cheek. "No bug they go neigh but daddy will let ya off cause your too damn cute."

A small spider dangled from the top of the stable door making Hope squeal and cry. "Dada!" Daryl wasn't sure if she was crying for Merle or him, he hoped it was for him. Daryl wanted so much for his girl to call him dada.

Daryl squinted at the tiny spider that had upset his girl. "C'mon now bug you ain't got to be scared of that." Daryl shifted Hope's weight into one of his arms and extended his free hand catching the spider. He let the spider run across his fingers and thumb. "Look at him he ain't scary."

Hope gazed down at the spider zipping around Daryl's large hand she rocked her body in Daryl's arms and giggled.

"See bug he ain't a monster just a spider." Daryl placed the spider back on the stable door. "Let's go see Dale, see what food he's got." Daryl kissed the top of Hope's head.

Daryl walked out of the barn and towards the RV, Hope twisted her head around trying to take in all the new sights and sounds around her. Daryl made sure to walk as quick as he could otherwise people would want to stop him and talk to Hope and Daryl wanted to make the most of his Merle free time with Hope as he could.

Dale was stood on top of the RV and gave Daryl a smile as he walked towards him. "Hope you don't mind but I set up food for little miss sunshine."

"Thanks." Daryl called back up. "You seen Merle?" Daryl was worried about his brother from what Sophia had said Rowan was his only friend in Woodbury and without her Merle would never have been able to sneak Hope out, both Daryl and Merle owed Rowan a lot.

Dale shook his head. "You know your brother probably blowing off steam somewhere."

Daryl walked into the RV where a small plastic pink bowl of food sat on the side waiting for him. Daryl picked up the bowl.

"Looks good huh." Daryl looked at the mashed up food inside the bowl. "Ready for lunch."

Daryl sat down at the table and placed Hope on his lap he scooped a small spoonful of the food out of the bowl and placed it into Hope's mouth. Hope tilted her head up to look at Daryl she clutched her hands together and smiled making her tiny nose scrunch up.

Hope dunked her hand in her food and held her hand up towards Daryl. "Why thank you darlin'." Daryl smiled as he ate the mushy food out of Hope's hand.

Merle was still sat on the old brick wall when he noticed Shane leave the woods. Shane looked over at Merle and made his way towards him.

"Great just what I need, that dumb prick startin' on me." Merle thought to himself. As Shane got closer to Merle he thought about moving but soon realised he had nowhere to go.

"Hey." Shane stood in front of Merle. "Didn't see you at the funeral this morning."

Merle shrugged it was odd how a group that didn't care that he'd been missing for months all of a sudden noticed his absence. "Yeah we'll it ain't like I can do anythin' bout it Ro's dead and that's it."

Shane dropped his gaze to the floor he shuffled around uncomfortably on his feet. "I get it." Shane squinted up at Merle.

Merle huffed. "Get what?"

"You lost someone you loved. I get it, so have I." Shane felt it somehow cathartic to share the information with Merle. Shane had kept his feelings locked up for so long they'd started to eat at him, he couldn't talk to Rick his best friend about how he felt he couldn't talk to anybody.

Merle chuckled. "Oh yeah you're fuckin' officer Friendly's wife." Merle smirked. "Bet that went down like a ton of bricks when he found out."

Shane gave a sniff and a shrug. "He don't know and now Lori wants nothin to do with me but you...that girl liked you enough to die for you at least you get to morn your girl and put her behind you." Shane looked into Merle's eyes. "At least you still get to be a daddy I lost my chance."

Merle took a deep breath Shane was right Rowan had wanted better for Hope she had seen the good in Merle. "I ain't no pussy, I ain't up here cryin over a girl." Merle jumped down from the wall. "Just wanted to get away from you lot."

Shane chuckled. "Yeah the group can be a major pain in the ass but it's safer with them than without."

Merle shook his head. "We need to sort this place out if we're stayin."

Shane looked confused. "What do you mean?"

Merle started the walk back to the farm with Shane at his side. "This place is slap bang in the middle of a red zone. If we don't prepare then a herd is gonna blow through here and tear us apart."

Shane stopped walking as he tried to process the news. "What the hell man, are you being serious?"

Merle turned to face Shane. "Course I am I ain't about to put my baby in danger."

Shane stated walking again but this time his pace was faster and more urgent. "We need to tell the others." The pair walked towards the campsite together ready to do what needed to be done to protect their family.

The infirmary in Woodbury held a ghostly silence to it. Milton hadn't moved from his leader's side since doctor Stevens had finished with him.

Martinez walked into the room. "How's he doing?"

Milton looked away from the Governor. "Doctor Stevens says it's touch and go the next few days are vital." Milton removed his glasses and cleaned them on his shirt. "What are you going to do?"

Martinez bit his lip. "I'm going to take a small group out and search for Merle I want to find Hope for the Gov before he wakes up."

Milton nodded. "Just be careful and return before nightfall we need to make sure Woodbury is protected."

Martinez gave Milton a polite nod and left the room. Milton picked up a cup of tea and took a sip he'd tried to warn the Governor Merle was dangerous but he wouldn't listen and now he was paying the price and Milton knew if the Governor died then Woodbury would die along with him.

I always felt sorry for Shane he really loved Lori and Carl and watching them drift away must have been heart-breaking I really don't think he was a bad guy deep down he just snapped so I thought I'd give him someone to talk to and found it funny that it would be Merle.