I'd like to thank EnglishPoet18 for helping me out with some ideas for this chapter. It was kicking my ass and thanks to her awesome ideas, I was able to push through it this morning and get back on track. Sorry it took a little longer to get it out to you, but...rl was being a bitch to me.

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT own any of The Walking Dead characters and I'm NOT making any money off of them! I only claim the OC characters I created for this story.

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CARYL ON!


The smell of hay along with the sound of animals and people talking in a distance brought Rick out of his slumber on the floor of the stall he and Beth shared. Cracking his eyes open, the sunlight drifted in from the cracks of the barn walls causing him to close his eyes back and slowly reopen them. For the first time in a long while, Rick had actually slept through the night.

Sitting up and wiping the sleep from his eyes he then looked over at Beth as she slept. A small smile played at the corner of his lips and he released a breath. He didn't know why the she had fallen for him like she had, but, he knew why he cared for her. She had been what he had needed in his life to move on from his grief of Lori, she allowed him to feel again. Not wanting to wake her, he got up quietly and picked up his boots as he left out the stall. Stopping when he looked up, he glanced back at her and then back to Carl as he sat waiting on a bale of hay near the barn door.

Taking a few steps away from the stall, Rick breathed out his son's name, "Carl."

Carl stood up, his hand on the butt of his gun and his long hair hanging down into his eyes. He'd given his hat to Sophia to hang on to for him earlier before he left to go to the barn. Now, he stood face to face with the man that had abandoned him and his sister, the man that had banished Carol, the man that had left them all behind without a second thought.

Carl's eyes narrowed as Rick took another step forward. His hand tightened around the gun and Carl took a step back, wanting to keep the distance between them. "Why are you even here?"

Adverting his eyes, Rick looked around the barn some, his weight mainly on his left leg. His free hand rested on his hip as his other hung at his side still holding his boots, "Why am I here? I'm here because of you, Carl...because of Judith..."

"Don't say her name," Carl growled, his grip tightening on his gun.

"She's my daughter..."

"No, she's not. You have no kids anymore...Rick. You lost your kids when you left us out there in the woods! You didn't give a shit about us then...why should you give a shit now?" Carl asked, anger lacing his voice.

Lowering his eyes, Rick released a heavy breath, dropping his boots to the ground. Walking over to one of the bales that had been placed up against the stall door to hold it open, he sat down, "I care, Carl. I've always cared about you and Judith. I know I haven't been a good father to either of you...but I did the best that I could." Running a tired hand through his hair and then down along his scruffy cheek to his chin, he then turned his eyes back to Carl, "I screwed up. I admit it...I screwed up. I never should have left."

"I thought...I thought all of you would do better without me. I knew Hershel would get you and Judith to the others...that you'd both be safer with them." Placing his elbows onto his knees, Rick held his head in his hands, his eyes staring down at the straw that littered the barn floor, "I was wrong, Carl...and I'm sorry. I'm sorry I hurt you...I'm sorry for not being the father you and Judith needed me to be..."

Carl swallowed down the lump that had formed in his throat at listening to Rick admission. He had seen the start of the downfall of his dad starting back at the quarry and then the downward spiral Rick had went into after his Lori's death. Carl had blamed Rick for not being there for all of them, for not being there for his sister when she was born, for not loving his mom like he was supposed too, but there was a list of others things as well that Carl held against him. A list that had brought death and hardship to their group because of Rick's decisions or lack thereof.

"We were your family!" Carl yelled at him, his temper rising fully and taking a step closer before stopping again. Starring him down, Carl's chest rose and fell quickly with each breath, his eyes cold, "It's all your fault! Everything! You should have killed him! You had the chance and you didn't and he killed Andrea and destroyed our home! Just like you didn't kill Andrew and he came back and killed mom and T-Dog...and almost Carol! And if you had just killed Randell then Shane and maybe Dale would still be here! All you cared about was yourself...and then your damn farming!"

Rick listened silently as Carl continued. His son was hurting and it was because of him and his decisions that Carl was now in this situation. Lowering his eyes back down when Carl fell silent, Rick glanced back up at him, remorse filling him, "I know I should have done things differently...I should have gotten rid of the threats. I thought..." Looking back up at Carl, Rick breathed out, "I thought by running them off we'd be safe, that I could protect them...but I was wrong. I was wrong."

Carl let go of the butt of his gun and turned, heading back to the barn door. Stopping and looking back at Rick over his shoulder, Carl eyed him for a few seconds and then turned back, leaving out the barn. His jaw clenched as he walked, thinking about his decision. He was halfway back to the house when he stopped, Daryl standing in front of him holding two plates. Carl looked up at the man, his eyes squinting in the morning sun, "I have my decision."

Daryl studied Carl for a moment and then looked towards the barn, "Everything okay?"

Taking in a deep breath, Carl nodded, "It will be I guess."

"Tell Merle ta get everyone together for a meetin' then," Daryl said and looked back at the boy. "No matter what ya decide, I'll stand behind ya."

"Thanks, Daryl," Carl said softly and then walked off, heading towards the house to find Merle.

Daryl watched Carl go and then turned back, walking swiftly to the barn. Going in, Daryl found Rick pulling on his boots, his face a mask of emotions. Handing over the two plates of food, Daryl then crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against one of the other stalls, "Gonna have a meetin' here shortly."

Rick took the plates into the stall and knelt down next to Beth. The girl opened her eyes, looking up at him and placed a gentle hand onto his forearm. Setting the plates to the side as she sat up, he then hugged the blonde to his chest, kissing her head and then letting her go. Pushing a plate to her and nodding for her to eat, Rick then stood back up and walked back out the stall to where Daryl was.

"He hates me."

"Can't say I blame 'em," Daryl's voice raspy. Scratching his stomach, Daryl then pushed off the stall, "What did you expect, Rick? Ya left your kids out in the middle of no where...barely any protection...food...and for what? You could take a piece of ass with ya but not your kids?"

Rick's jaw clenched at Daryl's referral to Beth and he breathed out, "Don't call her that."

Daryl snorted out a breath and paced back and forth some before getting up in Rick's face and starring him in the eyes. Daryl's jaw clenched with tension and his body vibrated from his anger, "I should beat ya ass right here..."

"Daryl..." Carol said from the door of the barn, watching his carefully.

Daryl's eyes stayed on Rick's for a few second's longer before he turned and headed over to Carol. Nodding as she whispered to him and placed a soothing hand onto his chest, he then gave her a nod and waited as she walked off. Picking his lips, Daryl lifted his chin, "Carl's made his decision." Walking over to Rick, Daryl shook his head, "So ya know...I don't care what Carl decides...I'm standin' behind him. But I'll never trust your ass again, Rick...never. Get Beth and let's go."

Rick went back into the stall as Beth got up, having overheard everything Daryl had said. Looking up at him, she wrapped her arms around him, whispering, "You still got me. I'm not gonna leave you."

His arms wrapped around her small frame and Rick buried his face into her neck, breathing in her scent. When they parted, he took her hand, leading her out the stall and to face their fate. He knew more then likely they would be leaving, he just hoped that he would be strong enough now to protect her like he should have done with Carl and Judith.


The group had gathered around the two picnic tables out behind the main house. Most stood, watching as Daryl led Rick and Beth from the barn with Chad trailing behind them with a rifle resting on his shoulder. Carol and Carla sat at one of the tables, Carol holding Dakota and Carla entertaining Judith. Sophia stood to the side next to Carl, whispering to him so only he could hear what she was saying.

Hershel sat at the other table with Maggie and Glenn. The family watching as the youngest Greene daughter came forward with Rick. Hershel has spent much of the following evening trying to talk to Beth but she refused to listen. She had claimed she was in love with the former sheriff and that he would take care of her from now on. Even Maggie had tried to talk to Beth but getting the same results.

The trio came to a standstill in front of everyone and Daryl looked around at everyone, "Yesterday I told Carl this decision would be up ta him...and I meant it. I don't care what the fuck he decides here, what he says goes. Don't wanna hear no shit from any of ya." His eyes settled on Merle for a moment and then looked over at the young boy, "What's it gonna be, Carl? Stay or go?"

Carl eyed Rick for several minutes, remaining silent. He could feel everyone's eyes on him, but he didn't care. This was one of the toughest decision's he had ever had to make. Finally, he looked at Daryl, "Stay." Several people including Merle shook their heads and grumbled under their breath but Carl pushed on, "I'm gonna give you one chance."

Carl looked around at the others and then looked at Daryl, "It's what you might do..." Daryl acknowledged Carl with a slight nod and then the boy looked at Rick, "It's funny ya know...Daryl's been more like a dad to me then you ever were, and we're not even related. Then again, he's taught me you don't have to have the same blood to be family. You just have to have trust and be trusted. These people here...they are my family now. I'd do anything for them and I know they'd do the same for me."

Taking a step forward, Carl took in a breath, his head tilting slightly, "I'm letting you stay...but don't expect to be my father. You don't tell me what to do anymore...you lost that right when you walked away from us that night. Also both of you stay away from Judith and the other kids here." Carl then turned his focus to Beth, "There is other chores here you can do. This ain't going to be like at the prison...you will work like the rest of us."

Rick shifted his weight and sighed, running a hand through his hair and looking down at the ground. It was hard to listen to his son talk to him like that, but, Rick realized in that moment just how much he had hurt Carl. Looking back over at him, he raised his brow, "Thank you, Carl. We'll...we'll follow the rules."

"We need the extra help...don't think I'm doing you any favors," Carl said and then turned and walked off, Sophia trailing behind him.

Looking around the group, Daryl spoke up, "It's settled then. For the time being, you two can stay. You'll be added to the watch schedule and will be assigned chores like the rest of us. Until you can prove we can trust ya though...ya asses are stayin' in the barn. First time ya break the rules...ya gone."

"We understand," Rick said, speaking for the both of them and giving Beth's hand a squeeze. Looking at his former friend, Rick sighed, "Thank you, Daryl."

"Wasn't my call...if it had been you'd be walkin'," Daryl grumbled lowly. Swinging his arm out towards the others, he walked towards the table, his voice rising, "Meetin' over."

Everyone started heading off, some speaking quietly amongst themselves. Merle got Daryl's attention and his brother came over to him. Making sure to keep his voice low, he glanced over at Rick and Beth as Hershel and Maggie walked over to them, "Ya know why the kid did it don't ya?"

When Daryl shook his head, Merle sucked his teeth and crossed his arm's over his chest, "Think back, boy...you did the same as Rick when ya found me. Left them high and dry. Yeah, ya came back a few days later but ya still left them. They welcomed ya back with open arms...me on the other hand, hell, they didn't want me there...I had ta prove myself to all of 'em."

"What's ya point?"

"Point is...he's not letting himself go cold, 'lil brother. He's learnin' ta be a man...make decision's like an adult. He's showin' Rick he's grown up...that he's not that kid anymore. That he at least does have a heart." Merle chuckled and sighed and pulled out a cigarette, "Fuck...I'm with you on letting their ass walk, I don't trust that fucker...but I see where he's goin' with this too."

Daryl nodded, thinking about what his brother was saying and sighed before looking back up at him, "I'm gonna go check on him. Let Rick and Beth eat and then get them out there helpin' plow up that new area we got sectioned off."

When Daryl went to move, Merle grabbed hold of his arm, looking him in the eyes, "Might also want ta talk ta him 'bout him and Sophia. Noticed they been gettin' mighty close lately."

Daryl smirked and nodded, "Yeah, Carol mentioned that ta me earlier at breakfast. Told me not ta put an arrow in his ass."

Merle chuckled, "Yeah, like old man Foster did with us when we was growin' up and tryin' ta sneak peeks at his girls."

Daryl rolled his eyes and groused, "I'll kill his ass if he tries that shit with Sophia..."

Merle laughed at his brothers reaction and walked away, leaving him there to stew. If anything, Daryl would put the fear of God into Carl when it came to Sophia. He might not be girl's real dad, but he'd be damned if he didn't act like it.