Carol smiled caustically at the woman that was approaching them. Even if she'd wanted to there was no way in heaven or hell she could have rearranged her features to look welcoming. She didn't need Daryl to tell her just what kind of trouble this woman has caused him before Logan was even big enough to walk.

"Everything in order?" Mary's voice was pleasant and honeyed, eyes only for Daryl.

Carol grit her teeth at the way her words struck her. It wasn't that she was saying anything harmful. It was more the air of superiority that washed over people around Mary. She thought she was entitled and Carol wanted to tear the fucking pedestal she'd erected down and beat her with it. Daryl himself seemed completely unbothered by her.

He looked up at Mary and raised a brow. The woman beamed at him and stepped closer to the table. There was an open chair next to him that Carol herself was partially standing behind. She knew without a doubt that Mary was going to take it.

"Carol please sit down." Liz simpered, "You have to be tired after cooking all this lovely food."

Carol's eyes shot over to the girls and Daryl pushed the chair out with his boot. His hand came up to his shoulder catching her own and dragging her around and down by him. She was struck by the sweetness of Liz's voices but the vindictive look radiating from the girl's eyes that were lazily gazing at Mary. Mary who was stuck mid-step on her way to set next to Daryl.

Sophia cleared her throat and leaned towards Carol. "I would have loved for my mom to be able to cook as good as you. Logan's lucky."

"I know I am." Logan's voice was loud in the quiet of the room as he strode into the room.

He threw a wink at Sophia that made Liz bristle. Brian was right behind him and threw an arm over Logan's shoulders. He was smiling widely despite Carol hearing a very vulgar fight from them not ten minutes ago. They looked like they could be twins if she didn't know any better. Logan had lighter hair that matched his fathers and Brian's was a sharp contrast much like his own, midnight black. Both had shocking blue eyes and now the only other thing separating their looks was the scars that marred Brian's face. Despite that it didn't dim his smile or bright eyes a bit.

Mary turned heated eyes towards Liz before looking where Logan was. He was making a plate and fighting Brian over a fork. Brian shoved a roll in his mouth looking like a puppy packing a bone around as he walked to the table. He set heavily by Mary making sure that Logan was further away from her. He turned eyes on her and his eyes scanned over her before he chewed thoughtfully.

"You look like shit." He remarked casually.

Mary pursed her lips, "Good to see you as well Brian."

"Don't misunderstand I wasn't trying to make conversation." He smiled and for the first time his stitches managed to make his smile look dangerous and him look like a predator. "I just wanted to insult you."

"Brian have some manners." Ruby chided leading Mac in by the wrist and Merle.

He nodded thoughtfully, "Why the fuck should I? She doesn't."

"Language!" Ruby snapped.

Logan finally came to the table and slid gracefully into the seat by Sophia. He directly across from Mary and Carol could tell he was tense. She wanted to get up and hug him. He shouldn't have to be around this woman if it bothered him so bad. Carol's hand dropped to Daryl's thigh where she could see his hand clenching and unclench as a fist. Forcing his hand to loosen she tangled her fingers with his and smoothed her thumb over the inside of his wrist.

"Well this looks fucking horrible." Merle grumbled.

"Language!" Ruby bristled looking towards Merle as he came to a stop at the table.

Merle made a great show of clearing his throat, "I meant to say this looks like a Kodak moment."

Logan snorted and coughed causing Merle to slap his back. Daryl sighed and Carol looked at him. He was watching his son and she could see a vein in his throat standing out. He looked ready to flip the table and drag Mary out the door by her hair. Carol thought for sure that the woman would have made an attempt to be more rude than she was. Then again Daryl called her a calculating bitch so maybe she was biding her time trying to find a weakness? Wasn't that what high school girls did?

Mac took the seat by Carol and grinned at her waggling his brows. His eyes dropped to where her hand was and his grin turned into a full smile. He leaned over towards her his voice was low. "Why haven't you stabbed her yet? I'm losing the bet."

A laugh startled out of Daryl at that and he leaned up looking around Carol at Mac. "I want in."

"See that's cheating. I can't very well let you in on the bet when you have the chance to change the odds in your favor." Mac chuckled, "Besides your part of it."

Daryl bristled and leaned around Carol. His shoulder was pressed into her breast and she was assaulted by the strong and delicious scent of his cologne, the woods, and his sweat that clung to him. Her face flushed and she turned her head slightly eyeing Mac. She knew immediately he was intentionally taunting Daryl to get a rise out of him.

"I warned you to stop putting me in your weird fucking schemes." Daryl said.

Mac licked his lips, "But darlin' you are so easy."

Daryl tried to lean more towards him his fist clenching. Carol's arm shot out stopping him. Her hand curled around his shoulder. Daryl stilled immediately.

"I have a question." Brian interrupted. All eyes turned him.

"We're not finished." Daryl warned before sliding back across Carol and into his own seat. Mary was watching him and her eyes turned to Carol and rage burned hot.

"We'll never be finished baby girl." Mac leered and Daryl snorted. Carol stared at Mac wide eyed at what he called Daryl. He just flipped his tongue at her causing her to flush violently and Daryl to scowl.

When Daryl and Mac both turned to Brian he shot an accusing glare at Ruby. "Why the hell do I get slapped and interrupted every time I say something but those two are over there threatening each other. And woe is me but they are BOTH cussing! Lest we forget that those two-" He pointed at his dad and Daryl, "Are both volatile and likely to get into a fist fight the second sugar ti-"

"BRIAN!" Logan snarled.

Brian huffed but nodded slowly. "Carol...Carol isn't between them making sure Daryl doesn't take a swing."

Carol smiled slightly but it was true. Daryl already warned her about Mac because he said that they fought a lot. She could already see it was the same way that Logan and Brian did. It wasn't that they hated each other or anything even close to that.

"Both of them are adults."

"Well that's some bullshit." Merle interrupted his mother. "You shoved a bar of soap in my mouth not thirty minutes ago."

Ruby glared but turned her eyes on Mac and Daryl. "Both of you mind your language and no fighting."

Daryl smiled and Mac mirrored him. He elbowed Carol seconds after Daryl done the same thing. "Like Carol could keep us from fighting. Mouse of a thing."

"She stabbed my dad." Logan interrupted his uncle. He took a bite and eating slowly watching Mac. "Of course she stitched him up afterwards but I wouldn't push her."

Mac spun and looked at her. "Why the fuck did you try to stab Daryl?"

" I didn't try." Carol cleared her throat. At his look she shrugged, "I didn't try, I did."

Mac's eyes went to Daryl and he searched him like he was looking for the scar. Daryl gestured towards his torso. Mac stared hard at him like he'd be able to stare through the shirt.

"You know I'm surprised it took someone this long to stab you. You're a dick." Merle's voice was amused.

Daryl looked over and arched a brow. "She didn't stab me for being a dick." Daryl's voice was affronted.

Logan met her eyes and he looked highly amused. "No….no she stabbed you cause she thought you were going to hurt me."

Daryl threw his hands into the air and pushed away from the table. He stood fluidly. "Like I'd ever fucking hurt you."

He walked out of the room and Logan's smile transformed right before Carol. He gave her a knowing look and she realized what he'd done. He'd lead the conversation intentionally so Mary heard that she wasn't some easily pushed around. That'd she'd even attacked his own dad. It wasn't even just that Logan goaded his dad until he'd snapped. No one misunderstood the air of anger that simmered in Daryl's voice as it'd lashed out. Mary even flinched at that and she knew that it was directed at her and how she'd thrown her own son away. Daryl would never forgive her even if Logan found a way too. Mary was tense and staring hard at her plate.

The rest of the meal was quiet and Carol ate slowly. Mary ate quietly and every now and then she'd see her shoot looks at both girls like she was reprimanding them for talking. It pissed her off. Mary wasn't there mother and if anything these girls kept her alive. Who did she think she was to treat them such a way.

As the room slowly started emptying she watched as Liz stood fluidly and walked right through the house the same direction Daryl went earlier. Mary left shortly after. Merle shot her a look and jerked his head after the woman. Carol arched her own brow. She knew just like she knew he did that Mary was going to corner Daryl eventually and that they'd likely get into a fight. She couldn't fight that for him. That was the mother of his kid and he needed handle that.

Logan snatched a roll off her plate and took a bite while blinking at her with big wide eyes. "Are you going to go after him?"

"No."

He scowled but laid his head over on her shoulder. His voice dropped so low she had to lean towards him her head laying against his own. "Are you going to keep denying to me, Logan- the person who saved you and introduced you to your husband, that you are indeed in some weird relationship with my dad?"

"Think highly of yourself don't you." Carol smiled down at him.

He smiled at her and nodded, "I do."

"Good."

"Answer me." He stared at her hard and it was his voice that reminded her that he was his father's son.

"Have I denied it?"

"You have- he has."

Carol pursed her lips and he blinked at her and then grinned leaning back. He looked her face over before nodding. "Good..good you needed to realize that she wasn't going to just back away for you. Jealousy makes your eyes brighter you know."

"I am not jealous." Carol hissed.

"Oh you are and it's eating you alive at the thought of her cornering him." Logan nodded and suddenly Brian's face appeared next to Logan's. He was bracing himself against Logan's back basically draped over him leaning with him. "She won't fight fair."

"So we..." Brian motioned to him and Logan their smiles becoming malicious, "are going to make sure that she is..." He licked his lips and beamed at her, "How was it we said again brother?"

Logan looked up at him and grinned. "Put her in her place."

"Yes that...we'll make sure she knows the pecking order." Brian said solemnly. It sounded fake coming from him and was.

Carol raised a brow, "You do realize that any attention you give her she's going to revel in."

Logan shrugged and leaned forward. He braced his hands on the back of Carol's chair. Carol looked up at him and Brian. Both looked intimidating but serious. Brian studied her but then seemed to come to a decision.

"I'm going to stop coming on to you." He sighed heavily. "It pains me to say that…and I won't guarantee I'll be able to completely keep from saying everything that comes to mind."

"If you call her sugar tits one more time though I'll cripple you." Logan warned.

"I get it. No talk about your moms tits." Brian snapped. "You've told me enough."

"Then listen!" Logan said.

Brain shrugged. "Anyways what drama queen is trying to say is that you make Daryl happy. You make Logan happy. You're a Dixon." Logan nodded adamantly. "We protect our own and you my lady are very much ours. Besides I'm claiming you as my mom now its decided."

Carol started laughing and stood. Both boys backed up giving her room but never lost that air of intimidation that she knew wasn't aimed at her. It was like the air that circled Logan and Merle when Shane first met her.

"It's decided is it?" Carol questioned.

"It is." Brian grinned at her. "Ew fuck I really can't hit on you now." He looked sick and then he pointedly looked at her chest before shaking his head. "Christ I ruined a perfect set of tits for myself."

Logan spun and threw a punch catching Brian dead center in the chest. "I fucking said stop!"

"I just said I was!"

"Then stop looking at her fucking boobs!" Logan snarled stepping in front of Carol.

Carol watched the slight changing in stances and knew immediately a fight was starting. Sophia turned regarding them and Carol raised a brow at the concern on both girls faces.

"Suck my dick Logan. I just said I wasn't going to do that shit anymore. I can't call her mom and then check her out. It's weird."

Logan nodded slowly but a deeper voice behind Carol startled all three of them. "Besides you keep leering at her you can deal with Daryl." Mac warned. Brian looked up immediately meeting his dad's eyes. Carol studied him and seen the sincerity of his words. "I'm sure you'd love to explain that you to him."

Brian paled and then shook his head. "I'm being good."

"It's fine." Carol looked at Mac. "He wasn't coming on to me. I think in his own weird little way he was apologizing."

He looked his son over and raised a brow. "I'm sure he was."

Brian glared but Logan grinned and pulled Brian into his side. "How confusing do you think it'd be for people if Brian calls her mom too."

"I'm sure they'll think we pass her back and forth." Mac shrugged. "Which will piss Daryl off. Call her mom."

Carol's eyes widened. "Do you intentionally try to antagonize him?"

"Yes." Mac smiled.

"Man child." Carol retorted.

Mac waggled his brows but said nothing else as he sauntered off. Carol turned to go and help with dishes but found Sophia already helping Ruby. Both waved her away. Logan and Brian started dragging her from the room. The second they walked further from the kitchen the sound of Daryl's raised voice thundered around them. It was unclear what he was saying but Merle, Mac, and Liz were all on the stairs staring out the windows in the living room. Logan tensed and immediately took off. No one made an attempt to grab him as he burst out of the front door and straight for his dad that was arguing with Mary.

Brian glowered and sprawled over the steps below his dad. Carol leaned back on the steps as well and Liz nudged her. She chewed her lip and looked out there.

"Are they going to be okay? Is he going to be mad at me and Sophia because she was with us?"

Carol frowned and shook her head. "He don't like her. That's nothing to do with you. Anything she's done or will do has no bearing on him and you."

Liz let out a breath and smiled. "He reminds me of someone."

Carol watched her for a second and could see a sheen of tears clinging to her thick eye lashes. No one made a move to question her. It was clear that she'd taken to Daryl quickly.

"Are you related to insufferable little bitch that maimed me?" Brian questioned abruptly.

Liz looked down at him, "And if I am?"

He sneered but it melted into a smile. "Next time you kick his ass I want to watch."

"The next time she slams a shovel into your face I hope she gives you matching scars."

Brian sniffed but looked off. Mac chuckled and Carol watched as his fingers sunk into Brian's hair and he tugged his head back inspecting the stitches.

"SHUT THE FUCK UP!" Echoed loudly and everyone paused at the sound of danger in Daryl's voice.

Logan was next to him but looked so small next to his father. Daryl looked wild and untamed as he faced Mary down. The woman was trying to hold on through the onslaught that was Daryl's rage and likely her idiotic words.

"How long till you think he storms away?" Merle questioned idly.

Mac studied them for a second. "Oh I don't know."

Liz studied them for a bit before looking back out towards Daryl and Logan. Worry was creasing her brow and Carol mirrored. They were both tense watching Logan and Daryl. Neither realizing that the other were both leaning forward the way they were. The men around them did and smiled at each other.

Logan stepped closer to his dad and Carol watched as his eyes shot down to his son. Logan was saying something and then he spun storming for the house. He looked murderous and older than he was. The door slammed open and he spared no one a glance.

Brian stood fluidly dusting himself off. "Well that's my cue." He disappeared after Logan.

Carol looked back over the same time Mary tried to grab Daryl's wrist. He wrenched away from her violently before moving towards the house. All eyes turned to Carol. She shifted and felt tension entering her body as Mary raced after Daryl. He stepped in the house and Merle nudged her forward with his knee and Mac pushed her by her shoulder. Carol stood and the movement made Daryl look over. His eyes were wild and dark her stomach tightened and he jerked his head for her to follow him. Walking down the steps Carol heard when Mary stepped in behind her. Ignoring her Carol rushed after the storm that was Daryl.

Unsure which way he went she gasped when his hand shot out catching her bicep. He spun her and pushed her in front of him. The clacking of Mary's boots were loud behind them and Carol ignored it. Daryl was pressed into her body, completely flush with her, she could feel his heart thundering against her back and bit her lip. Chewing her lip even more when she realized where he was guiding them too. A mean smile toyed with her lips knowing that Mary was trying to catch up to Daryl but it was only going to make her that more mad.

Carol pushed the door open the second she was close enough. Daryl didn't even pause in his steps before he was turning her. His mouth crashed into hers and Carol whimpered opening her mouth the second his tongue traced the seam of her lips. She was lost in him but registered the sound of his boot connecting with the door the same time he hoisted her up off the ground. The sound of the door slamming accompanied her legs wrapping around his waist. Carol bit down on Daryl's bot lip ripping a groan from deep in his chest as he pulled back from her. Her hands were tangled in his hair and she smiled down at him.

"Lock the door Daryl." Carol ordered, not a bit ashamed at how breathless she sounded. The lock clicked into place and she let out a breath.