AN: Okay, so I was playin' the walking dead survival instinct game today, and I swear…it's purpose it to make people feel bad about themselves…because they knew they aren't as badass as Daryl Dixon…that's how I feel anyway! I mean I die ALL THE TIME! It's just not fair. But, I love what Daryl says when he kills walkers from time to time, so I laugh and then I get distracted and *sigh* lol.

Daryl couldn't sleep, not with the sobs from the other side of the wall anyway. They didn't belong to Marie, but Gavin. She'd told him about Shane, not exactly what had happened but the fact that he was gone. They had decided it was best for Marie and Daryl to sleep in separate rooms, partially because Gavin was already crying before they went to sleep…nearly 3 hours ago. He sighed, and gave up. He rose from the bed, and stalked into the next room. He opened the door and saw Marie cuddling her son, trying to calm him down.

"Daryl?" she asked quietly, looking up at him from the bed.

"Can here 'im from the other room," he stated, motioning to the kid.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. They both looked at the dark haired boy when he sniffled and his crying ceased.

"Daryl?" he asked.

"Ya, what's up?" the blue eyed man asked, moving over to the bed, Gavin reached up and grabbed Daryl's hand in his.

"Lay down wif us?" he asked imploringly.

"Will it keep ya quiet?" he asked half jokingly, tousling the boy's hair.

"Yeah," he batted his dark brown eyes a few times and Daryl sighed. Marie scooted back, bringing Gavin with her to make room. The older man plopped down onto the bed and the young boy was immediately quieter. Soon, Marie noticed the slowed, relaxed breathing of her sleeping son.

"How did you do that?" she asked. "I've been trying to calm him down for hours!" she wasn't man, but really, really surprised.

"Dunno. 'Least we can sleep now," he sighed.

"I'm sorry…for everything with Shane…I shouldn't have let him kiss me…I should've slapped him upside his freakin' head! I just-"

"Shh. Sleep," he didn't really want to talk about that, it could be saved for another time, when he wasn't running on six hours of sleep for two days.

"Yeah," Marie mumbled. She couldn't sleep, not even if Gavin wasn't crying. She felt to guilt stricken. On one hand, she was glad that with Shane doing what he did for the benefit of her and Gavin, that he got a final kiss or whatever, but she shouldn't have. She should have stuck to her guns and told him to stay back rather then kiss him back for even a split second.

"Yer not gonna sleep, are ya?"

"I will…" she said unconvincingly, she was just so guilt stricken it was driving her nuts. Daryl sighed and turned over, looking at her.

"No ya won't," he replied knowing that she'd be up the rest of the night and be absolutely no good the next day. "I get that ya was with him, and ya had a kid, but you tol' me, promised me that if ya wanted to be with him, that's where ya'd be."

"I know…and I meant it…if I could take that kiss back, I would. In a heartbeat."

"He tol' me you was the one to stop it," the blue eyed man said quietly.

"I was…but I let it happen to begin with…"

He weighed his options, knowing that this was a big deal either way. If things were normal…he'd tell her to go to hell, and move on with his life. But everything was far from normal. There were dead people walking around and Marie…he liked her more than he was willing to admit.

"I forgive ya," he gave in.

Rick sat up that night, watching over the camp, he couldn't shake how terrible he felt for just…leaving. Marie was his sister! And he simply left her! Too much had happened in the last few hours…he wasn't himself. First, he shot his best friend…granted he was a walker, but still. And then, he didn't even so much as yell at Daryl for killing Shane, he didn't get an explanation either. And then…to put the cherry on top of this apocalypse Sunday, he left his own damn sister. He didn't even think to go back and look for her…he just…left.

"Something bothering you, Rick?" Hershel's voice asked, drawing him from his thoughts.

"I left her…I didn't wait…we just left…" he said, his voice quivering. Yet, somehow he knew she was alive. And, another thought popped into his head, he'd left Gavin too. His one and only nephew, and he'd just left!

"You had to Rick…we were exposed and everybody was terrified."

"It doesn't matter. That's my baby sister and she's my responsibility to look after."

"Marie's an adult, she knows how to take care of herself. You can't blame yourself. You have your wife and son to look after."

"What a wife she is," Rick mumbled. After he'd told her about Shane, she slapped him across the face and ran back to camp, balling her eyes out. And, he couldn't fault Shane for that. He had eyes for Rick's sister, not his wife.

"I know you and Lori are going through something rough, but you have a child to take care of."

"You don't get it…she doesn't want me to be that baby's father. Hell, she doesn't even want me around."

"You'll work through it," Hershel tried to be positive, but he say the looks of hate Lori was sending her husband's way all day. And it wasn't right.

"Do you think Fort Benning's right…I mean I dunno it just feels off…"

"What do ya mean, 'it feels off'? That was the plan wasn't it?"

"I guess…but don't plans change? What if they headed west…or east…or…I don't know! Shouldn't we've seen some sign of them by now?"

"Th'hell should I know? Do I look like a fuckin' GPS?"

"I'm just saying! Why are you being like this?" she asked, yelling back at him, not understanding his anger. They were in the truck driving down the road, towards Fort Benning. Marie was in the middle and Gavin was by the window, given as though he should have the seatbelt that wasn't just across his lap.

"'Cause ya can't even make up yer mind of where we're fuckin' goin'!"

"Like you have any better ideas."

"Maybe I do!"
"Okay, let's hear 'em?"

"We need to be considerin' not findin' the rest of 'em and head west, low population…"

"We can't."

"Why?"

"Because…I left Sophia with them…and my brother and my nephew are part of that group…" Daryl's face and tone softened a bit. He knew what it was like to lose the only family he had. His brother was still missing.

"Okay," he sighed. "We'll fine 'em," his hand patted her knee comfortingly.

"Thank you," she said, making herself slightly taller to press a loving kiss to his cheek. Wow, that fight died down fast, she thought to herself. He nodded and tried to keep the heat from rising to his cheeks. Dixons didn't blush. Plain and simple.

"So, where are we goin'? Fort Benning or…"

"I guess we just head that way… see what we come up with.

Evening was upon them yet again and they'd come across a small town right as their truck ran completely out of fuel.

"Guess this is where we stop…" Marie said with a sigh. "Gavin, you stay by my side, at all times. You understand me?"

"Yes momma."

"Okay."

"And you stay close to me. Don't want to get separated," Daryl told her.

They got out into the ghost town and Daryl grabbed the red jerry can from the bed of the truck along with a hose. It was a disgusting thought to Marie for someone to have to inhale those gas fumes to siphon the fuel they needed.

"Keep guard," he handed her his crossbow as they came across a green Ford Taurus. It still amazed her that he trusted her with his precious crossbow. She did a quick sweep of the area, Gavin was a few feet away simply looking around at the scenery next to a crashed car with the door next to him bent outwards. As she looked at the rest of the empty street, she thought about how much she loved her son. She couldn't live without him, it was plain and simple. Hell, if it wasn't for him, she and her mother had likely would've just given up at the very beginning.

"Momma!" Gavin's scream caused her to whip around, she aimed Daryl's crossbow at the walker that was nearly in grasp of her son and she shot it, perfectly in the eye, the rotten corpse fell to the ground with at smack onto the pavement.

"Are you okay baby?" she asked, kneeling before her son, cupping his face in her hand. "Are you hurt at all?" he looked at her with teary brown eyes, the salty liquid began to drip down his cheeks.

"I-I-" he stuttered, she pulled him into a hug. "Momma, my arm hurts," he said, finally getting out what he had wanted to. She pulled back quickly and examined her son's left arm.

"I don't see anything sweetheart."

"This one," he held out his right arm, there were three angry looking scratch marks.

"Did that thing to that to you?" she asked, her own tears welling up in her eyes. When he nodded she wanted to just die right then and there on the concrete.

"C'mon, let's find a place to sleep fer the night," Daryl said, very gently, as his hand smoothed over her back, in attempt to take away the pain.

"I…"
"Ya need to stand up…an' we need to find a safer place," he helped her up from the ground and picked up the smaller boy, he led them into the one story motel in front of them. He did a quick sweep of the main lobby and then found one of the rooms, he set Gavin down on the bed. "Sit down. Imma do a sweep of the whole place," he commanded. Marie nodded numbly. She sat on the bed quietly and pulled Gavin into her lap. She cried softly as she ripped off the bottom of her shirt and tied it tightly to his wound.

"What's the matter momma?" her son asked sweetly, only breaking her heart.

"I'm just scared is all," she tried to blow it off.

"Is I gonna die?" he asked. Her heart shattered into a million pieces like a snow globe being dropped from a ten story building.

"No, I won't let that happen," she said, kissing her son's raven hair repetitively.

"I got scratched…dat's what happens…"

"No, not to you. I'm gonna keep you alive my sweet boy."

"Momma-"

"No baby. No. You're gonna be just fine," she said between her sobs. Everything was wrong…first she'd lost Shane, then they got separated from her brother, nephew, and pretty much daughter, and now? Now she was going to lose her only son. The little boy she loved more than anything, all because of her own stupidity. She'd looked away…for a brief moment, trying to sweep over the whole street, and bam! A walker comes out of nowhere from underneath a car and scratches him.

Daryl came back in silently and pushed the dresser in front of the door. He'd killed a few select walkers but it wasn't anything he couldn't handle. But this? The sight before him? Was way out of his reach. He had no idea how to handle Marie completely falling to pieces for the second day in a row, but this time, she wasn't broke to the point of she could be glued back together. No, now she was shattered. All of her pieces everywhere.

"Momma…I's sleepy. Lay down with me? You too Daryl," Gavin said, maturely. Daryl nodded. How could he really say no?

"First," he pulled out the bottle of alcohol he'd found. "Let me see yer arm," Gavin held out his arm and Daryl untied the binding before pouring a little bit on the wound to disinfect it, then he tied it back. The young boy winced but quickly moved on.

"Okay," Marie sniffled, taking to the left side of the bed. Daryl took the right and Gavin lay in the middle. The dark haired woman laid on her side, facing her son, and Daryl at the same time. She ran her hands through the raven hair that reminded her so much of Shane…the boy really was like his miniature twin.

"Momma, it's otay. Ya don't have ta worry 'bout me," he said quietly.

"But I do," she whispered, kissing his forehead. Daryl made the first move, he reached over and took her hand. He felt like he just needed to be there for her. There wasn't anything he could say to take back what had happened. "Dear God," she said out loud once her son was sound asleep. "If you even exist…please…don't take my son…why can't it be me…I can't…I can't lose him," she was praying to the best of her abilities. Her sobs took over once more and Daryl would've given anything to be able to say anything….do anything. But, if he were to simply say that it would be okay, he'd be lying through his teeth. "I have something important to ask of you…" she said her voice strained.

"I won't make ya do it yerself. I'll take care a it," he said, his thumb gently running across the back of her hand.

"Thank you," she breathed. Half shocked that he knew exactly what she was about to say. No matter what…she would never be able to hurt the life that she created…whether he was trying to kill her or not.

All she could do now was pray for a miracle.

Megan- :( indeed. I didn't really want to kill Shane off and all but…it kind of had to be done…and at least my way, he wasn't a psychotic asshole…he was doing what he thought was right.

HarleyMastiff82- I'm glad, I thought of that while I was on like chapter 10 maybe? One of the ways AMC and such was considering doing it was having Rick pick up Shane's gun to shoot him and it just click, as in he didn't' really have a plan to kill Rick after all. And I liked writing the letter, in fact I did that a few weeks back because it was one of those, "okay, I know this is where I wanna go, I just have to get there".

Violet Lylybelle- Yeah, Lori is more annoying than usual, isn't she? Especially after this chapter…Wasn't really ever a fan, although I cried when she died…Rick's reaction like broke my heart, he was so amazing right then. And speaking of Rick, he felt the guilt this chapter pretty bad. I had to think about how they didn't go back for Andrea either…I know that she wasn't Rick's sister and Carol saw her go down…but they didn't even consider going back…You will just have to wait and see when they all meet up again. Thank you! I tried to make Shane's letter sweet so that he'd be remembered as the good guy. The Olly Murs song is good I found it by accident on youtube…I like his song "Troublemaker" and yeah. I say "cray-on" my friend that I'm arguing with says "crown" and then our other friend, who thinks were stupid for having such a petty argument says "cran". Thanks for your response though!

VintageSun- I'm sorry it made you cry. But I'm glad you like how Shane died, and I try to keep things original. Daryl was really made at the time...so he wasn't really rejecting her just hurt...but yeah.

Hope and Love- That's how my friend says it, I say "cray-on" but it could be your southern accent lol. I live in Ohio...we don't really have an accent (that I realize).

AN: I have a feeling a lot of you hate me right now…I think I hate myself a bit too…well a lot. I just…I had to write this because about a month ago…I had a very vivid detailed dream about this exact thing…it was weird and well I had to…I've never had a dream about TWD with one of my OCs in it…so I figured I'd use it. Please review anyhow….