Hope everyone had an amazing weekend! The TWD première was amazing! My Caryl heart soared!

Mac paced the room after Carol had forced him out of the house. His eyes kept cutting to where he knew Martinez was cutting wood at with Glenn helping as much as his scrawny ass could. Mac sucked in a breath and headed towards them. He needed to be sure before he reacted harshly and went on a killing spree. It was either a huge fucking coincidence or something was fucking going on for that man to be here.

Martinez's eyes lifted to his and he seen anticipation and understanding there. Mac raised his brow and looked at Glenn the other man looking unsure before he set his shit down and Mac pointed for him to leave. He had no words to mix with Glenn right now.

"You know me and Daryl." There was no question there.

Martinez set the axe a good ways away. Good choice for how volatile Mac was. "I do...somewhat we met briefly."

"Did you follow this group?" Mac snapped circling him his temper starting to come unhinged.

Martinez shook his head and set down on the splitting block, "No that...that was all by accident coming up on your brother out there like that. I'm no surprised he didn't recognize me right away with the hit he took. He okay?"

"Fine." Mac looked at him studying him. He could read people easily and he didn't see a bit of lies in Martinez at the moment. "Rick and Shane why have neither of them placed you yet?"

"I didn't have but a few minutes handling those men and you seen how that went." Martinez shrugged, "I have no reason to lie here Mac. I handed those men off to you and Daryl back at Atlanta and that was the only time I seen them. Phillip had stopped trusting me when I refused to participate in some things..."

Mac nodded, "Shane wants you gone."

Martinez smiled flashing perfect teeth, "Yeah he made his threats earlier. Something about taking me out back and shooting me in the head."

Mac smiled at the sneer in Martinez's voice but was cut off when Hershel appeared next to them. He had a severe look on his face that Mac knew better than anyone. He'd been on the receiving end of that look more times than he could count.

"What are you two out here gabbing about?"

Martinez smiled and took a drink of the water offered to him while Mac leaned against the wood pile, "Killing Shane."

Both sets of eyes flashed to him and he seen Martinez's go wide with the casual way he spoke. Hershel on the other hand had a even more severe look but it was no longer flashing around but focused.

"Your brother wont let me see his side."

Mac huffed and shook his head, "I got him mostly cleaned up before Carol came in there and ran everyone off."

"Did something happen? I thought you said he was okay." Martinez's voice was worried and he kept looking between them.

Hershel nodded, "He was fine after you got him home son but Shane decided to go out there and poke the bear." Hershel moved to set down and Mac moved giving him just enough room causing the older man to shoulder him out-of-the-way at the seat. "Mac don't make me get Annette and say your sick."

Mac grimaced, "No no let her fawn all over Daryl."

Martinez smiled, "I thought you said Carol wont let anyone else over there?"

"You don't know Annette that boy is gonna get smothered in mothering." Hershel smiled winking at Mac.

Merle strolled over Rick walking with him both looking to be in deep thought. Rick had a scowl on his face and Merle had the same pensive look that Hershel was giving. Rick started speaking directly to them all and shaking his head.

"I just tried to talk to Shane about this. He is saying that so long as Daryl and Martinez are around we aren't safe." Rick's voice was hard.

Hershel never wavered when he looked at Rick, "Your man isn't right son and I think we all know it. I'd be willing to over look some things he's said...But Annette heard the way he spoke of our daughter, he hit Carol, and he assaulted that man in there that is as good as my son and I don't over look things like this."

"And you shouldn't sir." Rick rubbed his face, "He's talking to the group trying to get some to leave with him."

"He isn't going out there only to come back and start shit again." Mac snapped. "He ATTACKED my brother goddamn it!"

Merle's hand hit Mac's shoulder clamping down and holding him in place as his hackles raised. "Mac has a point. Shane has it in his head that this group is his...he made some remarks about Carol and her girl who aint exactly sane. That woman aint showed him a bit of interest but suddenly he thinks that they want him. I seen him talking Sophia up a minute ago."

Mac's head swiveled around at Merle, "You seen that motherfucker talking to Kit and didn't break his neck?"

Merle glared down at Mac a warning riding his features as he sucked his teeth and his grip got tighter. "That little girl don't even know what happened yet I'm guessing. And to answer your question no I told her that Andrea needed her."

Mac snarled and stood storming away leaving all the men behind him. Fucking Shane lost his mind if he thought he was going to get close to that little girl. If Mac had to drag him out of here when no one was looking and they were all sleeping he would. He wasn't going to hurt his brother or those two with him if was the last thing Mac done before all hell broke loose. And it would. He could feel it in his bones and the weight of the breath he took. There was a storm coming and he was cold...it was cold around here sooner than it should be.

"KIT!" Mac's voice boomed across the yard seeing her setting on the porch and Shane walking right for her.

Lifting her eyes she seen Mac and jumped up sprinting for him a ready smile on her features. It was a good thing the world fuckin' ended is all he knew. If his brother had met Carol before the world turned to shit and they had been together then he knew he'd kill every little bastard for even looking at Kit. Just the thought of some little smooth talking little bastard hitting on her when she got older made his blood pressure raise. Eyes searching he seen Carl watching Sophia and bristled even more he'd have to watch that little snarky shit.

"Where is everyone Mac?" Sophia panted looking up at him bouncing on her feet. "I went to go out and get my mom and Andrea wouldn't let me."

Mac's eyes went over her shoulder and seen Shane watching her and waiting. Snarling he scooped Sophia up and over his shoulder in a fireman's carry and started walking with long purposeful strides. Sophia set and tapped out a beat on his back as her little form stayed draped over his shoulder. Shane spit to the side as his hand ran over his head and he turned watching them storm by.

"Mac do you know Taylor Swift?"

"What the fuck is a Taylor Swift?"

Sophia snorted and laughed against his back her drumming pausing, "First Mac it's a girl! She's a singer."

"Why the fuck would I know who this twat was?" Mac huffed.

"Mom is gonna get you for talking like that around me! She already gets on my ass about it!" Sophia's voice amused as she hummed.

Mac grinned at the thought of causing Sophia to speak more like him, "Your mom is stuck with us Dixon's Kit. We aint changing are we?"

Sophia stayed quiet his words registering in her head. Her little arms tightened around his torso as much as she could the way she was on his shoulder making it difficult. "Am I a Dixon Mac? Y'all aren't gonna throw me away like Ed did? You wont get tired of me and my mama..." The hurt and worry in her small voice had him pausing midstep.

Mac swung her around planting her feet on the ground and got down on one knee meeting her eyes. Sophia didn't look away as she searched his face in earnest. "Why the fuck would you think anyone would throw you away cause that piece of shit Ed did?"

Sophia shrugged and looked around, "Shane said that Daryl wanted us to all go now that he's found Merle and got this place...his home. Where do we fit in at his home with all you all?"

"First Shane can suck a dick and stop listening to that fucking moron. IN fact don't even goddamn speak to him or go around him you fucking understand me? He aint right in the head girl." Mac forced her to meet his eyes, "You asked if something happened and yes it did. He hit your mama and got in a fight with Daryl."

Sophia's face flushed in anger, "Where are they!"

"We're getting there." Mac grinned, "But do me a favor Kit."

Sophia nodded and her eyes went hard looking over his shoulder and she reminded him of Daryl. Bringing her eyes back to his she raised a brow, "Anything."

"Don't walk around the property alone. Stay with me, my brothers, Annette, Hershel, Maggie, and Andrea...Rick too."

"Not Glenn?"

Mac smiled, "Yeah Glenn but just being honest that boy aint got the ass to fight off Shane."

Sophia clucked her tongue, "So Andrea has a bigger ass?"

"Mac what are you teaching her!" Andrea snapped just from behind him.

Mac pivoted on his foot and looked at her, "First off she's got a point you have a bigger ass than Glenn and second stop fucking sneaking around."

Andrea smiled at them and raised a brow, "I wasn't sneaking."

Sophia slapped his shoulder, "Why is Shane still here?"

Mac's eyes went to her and that anger was in her face again. She looked like she wanted to hit him or anyone around, "Cause some bullshit about keeping our humanity."

Mac started walking again and Sophia's small feet were making little dust puffs as she tried to keep up. Andrea was walking with them and grabbed his wrist forcing him to slow down.

"You're gonna give her a heart attack trying to keep up with you."

Mac looked down at Sophia and seen her little face set but she was humming again. "What the hell are you humming?"

"He's the reason for the teardrops on my guitar the only thing that keeps me wishing on a wishing star..." Sophia's soft voice sung aloud, "He's the song in the car I keep singing, don't know why I do."

"OH what fresh hell is this?" Mac groaned, "What kind of stupid shit your mom let you listen to? That aint fuckin' music."

"Thats Taylor Swift." Sophia grinned up at him.

Mac shook his head and redirected them towards his place, "No fuck that Kit you wanna be a Dixon we're scrubbing that mind yours of that unbearable bullshit."

Andrea was laughing walking with them and elbowed him, "You adopting Sophia?"

Mac busted out laughing and looked down at them both as he held the door open, "Fuck she's already out of diapers and can tell me why the fuck she's crying. Hard parts over."

Andrea made a face and Sophia huffed, "Does that mean I can call you dad then? Wont that be weird with my mom with your brother and you my dad?"

Mac set down and started rifling through a box and looked, "About that...how about I stay the fucked up weird uncle who shows you messed up shit and gives you bad habits my brother and your mom get to deal with."

"Deal." Sophia plopped down next to him and watched his hands, "So you think you got better than music?"

Mac looked over flipping to a song and nodded his head, "I don't think little girl I fuckin' know."

"And what would it be Mac?" Andrea asked setting next to him and pulling Sophia around in front of her. Her hands started working through her tangles and braiding it for her. "Are you sure you don't want to sing about tear drops on a guitar and wishing on a wishing star?"

Mac turned his head the guitars starting to the first song..."Stop or I'll wish my foot into your face and by that I mean I'll kick you out that door."

Sophia started tapping her fingers to the music and Mac smiled. She quickly picked up the beat and started humming it, "What is this?"

"For whom the bell tolls by Metallica." Mac leaned back on his hands watching Andrea continue to braid Sophia's hair while the little girl set enjoying the music. "Told you...this is real music."