Those of you who have asked for more of Danni's dad will be happy with this one! Also its one of my very very M-rated chapters ;)

Love and thanks to you all for reading and being here!

xx

... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .

my daddy was a bank robber

but he never hurt nobody

he just loved to live that way

and he loved to steal your money

some is rich, and some is poor

that's the way the world is

but i don't believe in lying back

sayin' how bad your luck is

-The Clash

Danni pressed the heel of her boot on the flap of skin by the squirrel's tail that she'd made with her initial cuts. She dragged the hide back, up to the animal's arms and worked her finger in between the hide and the meat, tugging gently. She continued to pull the hide until was up around the squirrel's neck. Daryl told her that her hands shouldn't be messy at this point if she'd skinned correctly. They weren't. She deftly sliced through the meat with the hunting knife he'd given her until she reached bone. Then, with a quick snap of her the hand, as he'd shown her, she broke it in half slicing through any remaining meat to remove the head, arms, and feet entirely.

She didn't grimace and hardly noticed the smell anymore. Daryl had taught her a step by step way to skin and gut animals and she'd been practicing so regularly it didn't faze her anymore. It was for her children, for the good of her family.

Daryl nodded, proud that she was doing so well with this part. He'd only had her practice on small game so far. She'd been working hard, putting every spare moment that she wasn't taking care of the twins into building and setting traps, skinning and gutting game even cooking her kill. He could tell she was more exhausted than she'd ever been in her life. This outdoor stuff didn't come easily to her; in the beginning she was terrible at all of it but she was stubborn and kept working, because she knew she had to. That was Danni. He put his hand encouragingly on the back of her neck and started massaging.

"You know I had a dream about my father the other night." Danni mentioned, as casully as she could, while he hung the squirrels on the line.

He pulled his hand off of her and remained silent, watching her work.

"I've been thinking about him lately. Maybe it's because of the kids. You know he'd be a grandfather now."

Daryl dismissed her and motioned to one animal on which she'd left some skin intact. "Gotta redo that one."

"Hey, are you listing to me?"

"I heard you. Dreamed about your Dad."

"He'd be a grandpa. Imagine if Glenn and Maggie had a kid? Herschel would be here. He'd be a good grandpa."

"Herschel would." He said it competitively.

"Like My dad wouldn't be?"

"Look Danni I don't want to talk about this."

"But my dad-"

"Don't keep pushing this." He sighed and ran his hands back along the sweaty, wisps of dark hair on his forehead.

"You sound like you hate my dad. You don't even know him."

"Neither do you."

"Daryl he-"

"Left you, walked out on you. Didn't protect you. Now go on, start that rabbit."

"No."

"Fine, you wanna go there? Look, I wouldn't want that guy stepping one foot near our kids. Or near you either, for that matter."

Before she could interject, he went on. "Got no respect for a guy who'd run out on his family and leave his kids. You don't do that hear me? He's a weak, coward, sorry ass excuse for a man."

"Daryl you don't know him."

"And you do? You said he left when you were five. Can't know a man in five years."

"He's not the one who hurt me, it was-"

"He left you so he let it happen. Jesus, I get pissed thinking about it." He kicked a rock and watched it ricochet off the wall.

"That's it then?" Danni backed off aware his anger was building.

"Yup. And I'm glad I'll never have to meet the son of a bitch." He looked at her. "Sorry it bothers you, but you're mine, them kids are mine and somebody that abandoned you the way that son of a bitch did don't deserve to never get near you again. We got our family. Besides, why think about something that ain't never gonna happen. We got now. Danni. Today, that's what we got."

She nodded, understanding but not agreeing. Sometimes the way he stubbornly clung to the present irritated her. She knew there was no sense in arguing over something that would never happen. "No fighting okay? I hate to fight with you."

Daryl motioned to the rabbit already moving on from the issue of her father.

"OK, but lthis is ast one." Danni yawned and rolled her shoulders full of knots. The sun was lowering in the western edge of the prison yard. "I have to give the troublemakers a bath after this. Carol's probably had it with them by now anyway."

Daryl nodded in agreement happy to change he subject. "Getting late. Besides, that new guy might be awake, ready to start talking."

"Hey." She prompted and raised her eyebrow.

He thought for a minute and looked at her eyes the way she taught him. "Chocolate pudding." He answered.

She nodded. "Yeah, that's what I want for dinner tonight."

"Need to eat more than that."

"Um, not the point. You did it. That's the point."

He shrugged and half smiled.

Danni had been showing Daryl how to hone his ability to read her mind. Their connection was there but he was the weaker link and she wanted him to practice. He still had his doubts sometimes and chalked it up to coincidence. Danni knew he was wary and didn't want to think about sharing something like this with his mom. But she was making him practice. It was their deal. She'd learn how to survive in the wild and he'd learn how to read her mind at will.

... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .

"There are others." Tyreese sat at the common, table hungrily eating the pasta Carol had made for him. "I'm with a small group. Most of us never had anything to do with the Governor. We just showed up at Woodbury right before the bad went down. We're people just like you are people."

The group turned to Rick. He looked hard at Tyreese. "You'll have to forgive our suspicions, but the Governor, he meant to wipe us out."

"I know and we, the group I'm with, wanted nothing to do with it. Believe me. I'm good people and I can tell, sI cam ense, you all are too."

"Hey is there a doctor with you?" Danni suddenly interjected. "Doctor Londen I think her name was?"

"Yeah, Sarah. She's with us. Good thing too, we have some injuries."

"She helped me. She's the one who examined me when Stephen... " Danni paused, it still hurt, after all this time. "When we were there. She gave me my sonograms and my only real exam. She was great."

Rick's eyes darted between Tyreese and Danni. "You think-"

"I know her." Danni nodded. "She could be a help to us Rick. Another doctor besides Herschel? Could be really important."

Daryl nodded. "Rick she's got a point. Wouldn't hurt to at least go see."

Tyreese stood, visibly excited.

"I can't make any promises. We'll go with you, meet these people but whatever decision I make it stands. Understand?"

"Yeah man, thanks, thank you I understand. "

Rick approached Daryl. "We have other cell blocks. We could handle the extras no problem."

Daryl shrugged. "He said kids, families."

"Yeah, he did."

"Merle says he's okay. Wouldn't hurt to go check em out see what kind of people they are."

"I think so too. Morning? We head out with Tyreese?"

Daryl nodded.

"C'mon help me get them to bed?" Danni nudged Daryl away from Rick. "Can't do anything more about those people until tomorrow."

As Rick continued to talk with Tyreese and the rest of the group Daryl took Kiera from Danni's sling and headed upstairs after her.

An hour later, the prison was bathed in its silvery night light and quiet. Danni had just finished feeding the twins. She was settling them to her chest, singing to them. Daryl gently took Ryder from her and sat with his son. She went on with her song.

Tell me the legends of long ago

When the kings and queens would dance in the realm of the Black Rose

Play me the melodies I want to know

So I can teach my children, oh

Pray tell me the story of young C£ Chulainn

How his eyes were dark his expression sullen

And how he'd fight and always won

Oh tell me the legends of long ago

"Nice," he commented.

"It's a song my dad used to play when we were in the car. "Thin Lizzy "Roisin Dubh". The verse about Cu Chulainn. He was my dad's favorite warrior."

Daryl didn't answer. She saw him tense his jaw before leaning in to nuzzle Ryder's chest and then lay down on the mattress. When she joined him they put the babies between them. "She's her daddy's girl." Danni murmured watching Daryl settle Kiera who'd started a to fuss. "Sometimes a girl just wants her daddy."

Her eyes closed, exhaustion overtaking her.

"Peata Beag Dhaidí." daddy said patting her head as she sat next to him in the front seat of his Mercury Grand Marquis. Sometimes on Saturday afternoons daddy would take her to work with him on his stops in the city. Danni was only five, but she'd never forget. He smelled like cigarettes, something spicy and leather. His worn black leather jacket creaked as he moved to turn the steering wheel or gesture while he told one of his many stories.

The owners of the pubs and resteraunts all had brogues like daddy and Nan. Nice, old men grandfatherly, white haired standing behind their gleaming oak or cherry wood bars. Sparking bottles of whiskey and gin behind them lining the walls. Sometimes dad would get a thick white envelope from them. They'd smile at her sitting on the bar stool her feet dangling in her sneakers, drinking her Shirley Temple with extra cherries. She'd eat maraschino cherries untill she was sick. The bar owners would say how pretty she was with her black hair and dark eyes like her da. "Peata Beag Dhaidí " they'd say patting her head. Sometimes her dad didn't get an envelope. He'd look concerned, but the pain in the face of the older man made him pat his shoulder and leave, assuring him it would all be okay. Danni didn't really understand but even when daddy didn't get the thick envelope full of money she still got her cherries.

Danni loved those Saturday afternoons. Sometimes uncle Jackie would be there. He was funny and he'd always buy her candy. She got so sick one time from cherries and candy bars and soda that she threw up right out the car window. She was horrified until uncle Jackie and her daddy started laughing and said she's a true Doherty alright. Daddy and Jackie would fight over the music. Daddy wanted Thin Lizzy while Jackie loved the Rolling Stones. Daddy chalked it up to his brother-in-law being born in America. He couldn't appreciate Irish music.

"So who's your favorite?" Daddy would ask her. "The bravest warrior?"

"Fionn you know that."

"Ah, he's no Cu Chulainn." Jackie and daddy would insist.

And Danni would listen to him tell stories of his warrior hero, falling asleep in the car as the afternoon faded into evening. She'd wake the next morning in her bed, smelling her daddy's pancakes cooking on Sunday morning. That was when her mom was happy too. Her daddy called them "his girls". He'd hug and kiss them and say he'd never leave his girls. She and her mom would put on shows for him in the living room. Singing 1960's girl group songs into their hairbrushes. Her mom was so pretty and happy then. She smiled when she sang "He's a Rebel" right to her dad. Why daddy? Why did you leave your girls?

... ... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .

There were a few tents and a campfire. Exhausted, anxious refugees gathered around Tyreese, Rick and Merle. Merle knew some, but not all the former citizens of Woodbury among them. Daryl hung back, taking in the new people before him. He was willing to help the newcomers, but his suspicious nature was still intact. He scanned the woods for Walkers, listening intently for rustling in the brush, snarls and growls. So far, nothing. When he heard an Irish brogue, however, Daryl's thoughts left Walkers and turned to a new threat. His head snapped in the direction of a dark-haired man, graying a bit at the temples, in his mid fifties. He seemed to be in charge of the small group.

"You must have come along after I left, huh?" Merle observed.

Tyreese nodded. "Kieran and Jackie were only in Woodbury-

"For a week." The Irishman continued. He introduced himself. "Kieran Doherty," and extended a hand. He exuded an air of calm control more than authority. Much like Rick.

"Rick Grimes." He answered taking the hand.

I want you and our family safe. I need you to promise. Danni's words were in Daryl's head and he was almost dizzy when he said. "Not him." Daryl hadn't liked listening to Danni talk about her father but he'd listened to every word. He knew his name and that he had an accent and a brother-in-law Jackie. Sure as shit. It was Danni's father.

I promise.

Rick looked back surprised.

"He stays here. The rest of them can come back with us." Daryl stepped forward, his adamant tone surprising Rick. Even Merle looked confused but only for a moment. He suddenly realized who the man was.

"Why not me?"

"Doherty right? That your last name?"

"Yeah, lad that's what I said. Doherty. Nice to meet you all. We are grateful for-"

"I said not him." Daryl pushed his way past Rick when he heard the man's name again.

"What?

"You want these people coming in? Fine we'll take them in except for him."

"Lad you don't even know me-"

"I know you. " Daryl narrowed his eyes. "You ain't gettin' near my family."

The Irishman was confused, but a twinkle in his eye said he was used to trouble. "An' what's so special about your family that I, a perfect stranger, can't be near 'em?"

Rick pulled Daryl aside. 'You know what you're saying? Leave a man behind. You have a reason?"

"Yeah. I do."

Rick shrugged. These days trust was an expensive thing and he'd go with Daryl's gut. They didn't know these people, didn't owe them anything so if Daryl had a bad feeling about this guy, Rick respected him. "Okay then. He stays." Rick assured Daryl.

"Well, cousin I'll stay with you." A tall man with scruffy dark brown hair asserted.

A few of the other men and a woman also decided to stay behind with the Irishman.

Kieran looked at Daryl, feeling some sort of recognition. He couldn't place the man. He thought of his mother. Maybe a friend of hers. Of the clan?

"Maybe I do know you lad?" He offered. "We have met and I did you wrong?" Must be. Kieran thought. "Look I've made mistakes in my life and I try to make up for them. If I did cross you at some time, I'm sorry. The way things are now there's no time to be a royal arse if you know what I'm saying?"

Daryl glared.

"Alright then." Kieran conceded. "I don't go where i'm not wanted. We'll be fine on our own. Thanks for taking in some of us though."

The man seemed capable, a take charge leader type. He was not daunted by the rejection of Rick's group. In fact that twinkle in his eye never left. It was the look of a survivor. Someone who knew life's great joke but wasn't about to let the rest of the world in on it.

Camulus. Kieran thought watching the wings on Daryl's back as he walked away. He had a feeling they'd meet again.

... ... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .

You ever gonna tell queenie what you done? Leaving her old man back there?" Merle asked his knife neatly slicing the skin off the deer carcass.

Tyreese and the rest of the refugees from Woodbury had settled into the prison quickly. There were more mouths to feed, so Daryl and Merle took to hunting almost daily.

Daryl looked at Merle with disbelief. "Don't you go getting high and mighty on me about truth."

"I ain't. Hey, I don't blame you. I just know how you and quuenie are and you ain't good at keeping stuff from each other and this is a big one."

Daryl shook his head to dismiss Merle. "What?" You wanna give me relationship advice? You ain't never been in a relationship."

"Yeah, but I sure know how to fuck them up. I don't want to see you fuck this one up ."

Daryl grunted and turned back to the deer. "I'm protecting her. That son of a bitch walked out and left her with somebody like our dad."

"Hey, little brother, I just don't want this to come back and bite you in the ass."

"Mind your own business."

"You ain't been yourself since we left that man behind. I know you took my bottle. The whiskey from my cell. Ain't like you to be drinking. What's queenie saying about it?"

"It's the right thing Merle. I'm doing the right thing."

"Who you trying to convince? What's heavier? A pack of lies or a pack of truth? That's gotta be up to you."

... ... ... ... .. .. .. .

Danni looked around the boiler room. Merle said Daryl would probably be here. She had two distinct memories of the place. It's where she gave birth and it was the sight of one of the first dreams she'd ever had about Daryl. She spotted him His back was to her, in shadow, much like in that dream. The light was dusty as the weak setting sun filtered through the dirty windows.

"Here you are."

He didn't answer or turn to acknowledge her.

"I feel like you've been avoiding me." She finally decided to confront him since he'd been distant. He'd been spending more time in the woods for the last week. She thought it might have something to do with the newcomers, but at night she'd seen him talking, almost socializing with some of them. Dr Londen even had him laughing, she was building his ego about the health and liveliness of his kids. In fact Daryl was paying more attention to people he'd met last week than he was to her. She must have done something to piss him off.

"I give. What did I do?" She tried to keep her tone light.

"Nothing. I need some time alone."

She noticed the bottle of whiskey on the cluttered table and asked, "Why?"

He took a long swig as an answer.

"This isn't you." She waited then added. "Talk to me." Still nothing. "Fine. If you want to be alone, I 'll go."

He nodded drinking even more.

"But-"

"Here it comes, there's always a but." He muttered harshly with his whiskey tongue.

"Hey, I don't know what's going on but you don't get to talk to me like that."

He was angry, not at her but at himself. He'd lied to her and had to remain alone with the burden. His helplessness turned to aggression, his old coping skill. He'd tried Merle's way of trying to forget with alcohol. It wasn't working, in fact, it was making him feel everything more intensely.

"I said you can't talk to me like that."

He didn't answer. He couldn't, especially when he heard her voice break. There was something about his fear of losing her, of the imminent threat of someone taking what he had that brought out dominance. He'd lied to her. Daryl realized he'd never done that before. He'd kept possibly the biggest secret of her life. Of their lives together. But it was to protect her. That made it right. Protect her at all costs.

Daryl turned and stared hard at her. "Go. You shouldn't be here now."

"Why not?"

"I don't want to hurt you."

"Hurt me? You could never…"

"Jesus Danni, go!"

"Daryl...what?" She felt like something was wrong. Like he wasn't telling her everything. There was more to his attitude this time. "What did you do?"

He tilted the bottle back to his lips but she grabbed his wrist. "Don't. You're scaring me." She finally admitted.

He slammed it down on the table. "Yeah?"

She laughed nervously. "Daryl, what?"

Keeping a secret from her pushed him, made him agitated. He grabbed her hips and spun her around backing her up against the wall. "Look I need you. Now. Not gentle, not nice, not like usual, so go. I feel like I wanna hurt you. You should go." His breath was hot and tinged with bourbon.

Danni could only shake her head as he immobilized her with his eyes. A twinge of heat flashed low in her belly and the aching between her legs made her move closer to him. When she began to ride his thigh, he knew she wanted him too.

"Last chance...go..." He warned. They hadn't had sex in ages. She'd been so busy being a mom and working on her survival skills she could hardly keep her eyes open at the end of the day. He understood and was doing well at controlling himself, but the sight of her now, the alcohol and his guilty feelings about her father took over.

"No. Hurt me, if that's what you need." She whispered. He'd been like this a few times when they were first together. He needed to use her, to have her body. He needed to make a claim to settle the disquiet that tormented him; to exorcise a demon. For all the times he'd healed her, she knew she had her own way of healing him.

He pulled his lips back over his teeth for a quick moment and gestured with his chin for her to take her shirt off. She wasn't quick enough so he took his knife from its holster and sliced through the t-shirt making her gasp. She put her arms out but he was so forceful she couldn't stop him. He ran his hands over her belly up to her breasts shoving his tongue into her mouth, not letting her breath. His lips still bruised hers as he shrugged his vest off of his shoulders and put her fingers on the buttons of his shirt.

"Want me to stop?" He gruffly asked against her ear. She shook her head and quickly opened his shirt sliding her hands over his tight abdomen up to his chest. Before she could grab his biceps, he grasped her wrists in one hand and pinned them above her head.

She was lost and stopped thinking, as he nipped at her neck, pushing his body weight against her and crushing her against the wall. His teeth tugged against the thin straps of her bra. He unhooked it and continued to nip and bite his way down her chest. This was what he did when he was in a...mood. He needed an aggressive, up against the wall fuck.

Danni mewled softly and her legs went limp. She needed it just as much as he did. It had been far too long, and she loved the feel of Daryl's solid, sweaty body fully against hers. He wedged his knee in between her legs and pressed against her more firmly. She felt him smile against her neck, and arched into him. He continued to pin her wrists above her head with one hand and let the other explore. Her skin was so soft and smooth, and he loved the feel of it under his rough hands. He reached down and roughly pulled her leg up to hook onto his hip, planting it against his waist to keep it high. Danni whimpered and squirmed half-heartedly. She was enjoying the domination. She nudged her breasts against his mouth, hoping to get him to suck on them. Daryl ignored the attempt, focusing on the center of her thighs. He shoved her plaid skirt up. He could feel her heat and smell her arousal, every whiff of her beautiful scent making his cock twitch. He fumbled with her panties, groaning and stroking her pussy through them before getting out his knife and cutting one side leaving the lingerie dangling from her raised leg. He dropped the knife with clatter and plunged two fingers into her.

Throwing her head back, Danni whimpered loudly, beginning to buck against the two fingers stroking her walls almost immediately. Ever since that first night at the prison, he'd continued to refine this special talent. Daryl rasped at her encouragingly, adding his thumb to tease at her clit. "That's it, like that?" He nipped at her ear and breathed more dirty alcohol fueled words into it, making her whimper and moan as his fingers slid in and out of her. He never talked so much during sex and she had to admit she liked this side of him.

Another gasp came out of Danni's mouth as Daryl finally buried his face into her breasts. They were moving with his thrusts, and he couldn't handle not having them in his mouth any longer. As her moans got higher in pitch, he clamped his lips on first one nipple and the other, making her gasp and whimper his name. He wasn't going to be able to hang on much longer. His cock was weeping precum now, and throbbing angrily. He was hanging onto every shred of self-control to keep his fingers in her instead of his hard erection.

But he was waiting for it; she always begged him. She would look at him with her glazed eyes and bite her lip, teasing it with her teeth. She would loll her head back gasping and beg him to curve his fingers. Daryl was the only one who'd ever done it right, and to her liking. He didn't mind a bit. It satisfied some sort of deep, primal urge to be the only one who could make her keen and whimper in that way. It made him feel like he had staked his claim somehow. Every time she begged and looked at him with complete wanton and submission, he would smirk and curl his fingers, thinking, "Mine." Yeah, he wanted her to beg, and would hold out however long it took to break her down. He lashed his tongue over her breasts. She sighed and panted, squirming and bucking her hips against his moving fingers.

"I-" she started, taken aback by the burning lust in his eyes when he looked at her. He kept pushing his fingers into her, making her crazy and made no verbal reply to her moaning. "Please do it..." her voice trailed off as her head rolled back again.

"Do what?" He rasped and nipped at her exposed neck.

"That... that thing." She knew he knew exactly what she was talking about.

"What?" Daryl squeezed at her wrists to get her to look at him.

"Please!" She snapped her head forward and half glared, half moaned. She bit her lip, knowing what he wanted her to do. Daryl watched her, his blue eyes darkened with arousal and he ran his tongue along her lower lip. Danni's body shuddered involuntarily, and she flushed even redder than she was, knowing he loved seeing her like this.

"Please what?" There was no smile, just an intense, hot, aroused gaze coming from his eyes. "Tell me, Danni. Tell me what you want."

"Please, Daryl..." She bit her lip and gasped at him, bucking her hips and hearing her voice go up in pitch. "Please fuck me with your fingers. Curve them. I love it when you do that. It feels so fucking good when you make me come with your fingers, only you can." She looked at him hotly and teased her bottom lip with her teeth, making small noises of desire.

He nodded as his hard cock twitched. Something about her moaning for him always made his blood boil. He knew what to do. He let go of her wrists, and like dancers hitting their marks, their bodies shifted in the same familiar way they always did. One arm wrapped around her cocked leg and the other curved its fingers buried deep inside of her while one of her arms wrapped around his neck and the other snaked down to tease her swollen clit. Danni released her usual string of curses and Daryl muffled her mouth with his, thrusting his fingers into her pussy rapidly. He felt her body squirm and lose the ability to stand, so he put more pressure on her and kept her pinned. He let her mouth go and in between her gasps, she managed to hear him spurring her on.

"That it? I'm going to fuck you so hard after this. I'll fuck you however you want, just need to be inside you," Daryl growled right in her ear.

"Daryl-" Danni moaned gutturally as she bucked hard against him again and again. Finally she tensed then relaxed to lie limp against Daryl's body, looking up at him in a daze. He reached for his belt and she heard the popping of his zipper coming down.

"I ain't done with you yet." he growled and made his cock twitch against her belly. He licked two of his fingers clean and offered her the rest, groaning as she sucked on each of his fingers and lapped her tongue around them.

She smiled weakly and released his hand, raising an eyebrow as she clasped her hand around his hard length. "We can't. Not like this we don't have a condom, or-" Before she finished, he pushed into her so she couldn't keep telling him not to. There was no way he didn't know what he could do to her.

'I need you Danni, I need this. Now."

Her mind told her to stop him, but true to form her body wouldn't obey. Fuck it! Not again, you stupid girl Danni! But he feels so good...

She was so warm, wet and tight around him that as she clenched her pelvic muscles it was Daryl's turn to gasp as the hot pressure increased around his cock. He buried his face into her neck and bit down softly as she repeatedly clenched and relaxed around him. He was breathing heavily now, trying to hold control for as long as he could as she raked her nails down his back. He groaned loudly into her ear and lifted her higher as he began to slowly and smoothly move his hips, sliding in and out of her with ease. Her lips nibbled on his earlobe as she breathed an equally euphoric sigh of delight and managed to murmur, "Dar... you feel so good... better than anything I've ever..." Her voice trailed off as he growled low and began to thrust into her hard, but slow, loving the feel of the way her body jerked every time he slammed into her. He controlled his pace and intensity, but could not control the sounds he was making. He wanted her. He wanted her to come the way she just had, and wanted it to be while he was thrusting into her. Danni's body tingled all over and her nipples were swollen and tender the instant she heard him growl. The noise was so raw and animalistic that her body responded immediately, as of its own volition. The feeling of his length inside her was perfect and there was no pain, only mind-numbing pleasure and she wanted more. She wrapped her legs tighter around him and began to murmur against his ear. "I know you wanna fuck me hard Daryl...wanna hurt me..." her voice faded as he bit on her nipple and then on her collarbone. She squeezed her legs around him as hard as she possibly could, and lifted her hands to turn head to look at him, and was staggered by the want she saw in his eyes. She uttered four short words that set him ablaze. "So what's stopping you?"

A loud groan escaped his lips as he pressed them against hers, and he began to thrust faster into her, trying desperately to hang on to what shred of control he had. He knew he wasn't going to last long, and he wanted to feel her come around him before he exploded. Danni's back arched as he pounded into her, and he grabbed her hand and slid it down her body between them. "Touch yourself," he commanded, his mouth barely able to form the words. Danni obediently eased her fingers against her clit, the base of his cock nudging against them as he fucked her. She moaned as she began to rub, her sensitive clit sending bolts of electric heat through her as her other arm wrapped around him. His hips thrust faster into her and hers arched and rolled with him. Their bodies shone with sweat and their mouths teased each other, nipping and licking at flushed skin. He sucked on the hollow of her neck and groaned as he felt her fingers move. Her body was aching and begging for release. Daryl felt her tense and turned her head. "Look at me." His gaze burned into her eyes and he growled with a decision, "Come now." Danni's fingers worked faster and upon hearing Daryl's command. She bit her lip and looked back into his eyes with an equally burning gaze. His voice combined with the look his eyes drove her over the thin edge, and she gasped and shivered as her muscles clamped down on him once more.

"Its...now...I...unnnh " Danni's words were haltingly uttered and dragged out as her body tensed and Daryl lost all hope of hanging on. He leaned down and kissed Danni hard as he let go inside her, groaning into her slightly parted lips and thrusting through each spasm. She moaned encouragingly as her orgasm slowly faded and watched Daryl's face as he pulled back as he pursed his lips. His eyes were closed as he continued to thrust slowly into her, savoring the feel of the hot, now extremely wet, pressure engulfing him. Danni's orgasm made her even tighter, and Daryl's mind was reeling. He began to slow down and open his eyes, moaning softly as he looked at her. She looked back at him with bright eyes and reached for him as he pulled out of her.

She leaned back against the wall trying to catch her breath as her heart beat rapidly. As they adjusted their clothing, he was suddenly quiet and she realized what they'd done again. She tied the front of her cut t-shirt into halter.

"That was stupid. God Daryl we can't keep letting this happen."

"Saying you didn't like it?" He sounded almost hurt.

"No, I loved it, you know that it's not the problem. But we have to use something. We talked about this." She pushed the hair off her face.

"Hell Danni we're married, we're faithful. I like feeling you. It's better like this." He sounded defiant, like a teenage boy and she got more angry.

"Yeah and what if I get pregnant again, then how's that better?"

He knelt in front of her and placed his hands on her hips. Leaning in he nosed and kissed her belly. "If it happens, it does."

She tried to pull away, but he held on tightly. "Daryl you're drunk, you don't mean it."

"Maybe. Maybe not."

"You're like a crazy cat lady only with kids."

He stayed on his knees, face buried in her belly.

"We can't have another kid. Not again in this world." She added with finality. She couldn't understand his non chalance about it. Maybe something to do with family, a family of his own.

"I love you." She added noticing his scowl as he stood.

He nodded. And then lowered his head. "Look, Danni. I gotta tell you something." He squinted up at her.

Here it comes.

"Back at that camp there were other people. We didn't bring them all back."

"No?"

"No, and one was your father."

Danni laughed. "Yeah right."

"Its true."

She took a minute to process. The dreams, the memories. "My father. And you knew it was him?"

"Doherty, Kieran Doherty, right?"

"You lied to me?" It was a whisper of disbelief. "Lied? And now this? You fucked me without a condom. Fuck you Daryl two fucking strikes."

"Danni wait-"

"No, it's not fair. You know what you can do me. I've told you and you know!"

"Hey I told you to go, I warned you. Don't put it all on me." He sighed. "Besides that ain't the real issue right now is it? It's him."

"Why did you keep this from me?"

"He hurt you Danni and I won't let him do it again."

"But my dreams foretold this."

"You're always running to the past or to the future. I just want to keep you here with me now in the present. It's all we got."

"No, it isn't. I thought you could see that! You can go further, we can go further."

"Yeah, well how come you couldn't tell? How come you couldn't see in my head, see I that I left your father behind?"

"I...I don't know. Probably because you blocked me, you didn't want me know. You have the ability too."

He snorted and shook his head in frustration and tried to grab her arm. She pulled away. "Don't make me doubt myself or what we have. Not fair! And fucking me like that doesn't make this okay. You lied. How could you? Get away from me!"

"Where you going?"

"To find Rick." She turned. "He'll take me to my dad." She spat out accusingly.

Daryl grabbed her so forcefully she tripped backward. He hadn't meant it, but her head hit the concrete and she fell into unconsciousness.

Brigid watched Danni pace and clench her fists. He granddaughter just let out all her fear and frustration in a tirade of fury. "So what do I do Nan?" She pleaded, confused and totally frazzled. She wanted a sledgehammer to smash things, she wanted to rip her hair out in frustration, she wanted to curl up and cry. Danni hadn't felt such helpless anger in ages. Daryl's betrayal and then his carelessness combined made her feel alone. She was torn. She wanted to see her Dad, but Daryl was so adamant she didn't he'd lied.

"Drink your tea."

"I don't want any tea Nan."

"Why do you do this?" Brigid sat at the head of the kitchen table. The matriarch of their tribe of gypsies always sat at the head of any table even when Danni's grandfather had been alive. The kitchen was humming with Brigid's energy. The parakeets chirped in their cages, seven-day candles burned, herbs were drying on the window sills and the Dubliners played softly on the radio.

"What?" Danni asked confused by the question. "Do what?"

"Danni you're 31 years old and have been fighting before you were even born." With a laugh she added, "God when your Ma was carrying you, I swore you'd be a kick-boxer. Your sister calmly went along for the ride but you were fighting to get out. Probably why when it was time you were out in less than two hours." Having heard this spiel before, Danni just rolled her eyes, silently saying, "Whatever."

Getting serious she continued "Sweetie, don't be like me. It took me over sixty years to learn how to pick my battles, something your father knew. Not all fights can be won or are worth winning. Is this one worth it? Your da is my darling boy, I admit I sometimes only see good in him. But Daryl, now I gave you Daryl. I gave him to you." She paused. "He's a better man than his father and a better man than yours in many ways. Not all mind you, but its time you knew the truth about your father."

Danni sat across from her, listening intently. Finally.

"Lass you know I love this country. I miss Ireland, but we came here to start over. And it turns out maybe it wasn't such a grand idea. America was good for the family except for your father. He took the wrong opportunity from this land so full of them. He got involved with your uncles Jackie and Frankie, those Flannerys on your Ma's side. Family loyalty my arse, They used your da, set him up."

Nan grew angry and agitated as she stood and paced the kitchen. She clattered her cup on its saucer. "They did bank jobs and collected protection money. I told Kieran it was no life. He said it was just until he made enough money so that you could have everything; the best schools and a bigger house and all the material things that I told him didn't matter. But he was stubborn and he loved you. To a fault. The Flannerys dragged him into a heist with the Italians. Now I knew it was bad idea to start. Now your Da was no snitch at a time when they rewarded snitches. Soon they all regretted it. Look at the Italians, it wasn't the government that killed the mob it was their own rat bastards and look what we got in place. The fuckin' Russians and they are brutal, ruthless and kidnapping their own kind to sell as sex slaves. The Italians weren't heroes, but they wouldn't do shite like that. So are we better off, after all, the Italians snitched each other out? No. And where are the Irish? Self-destructed-"

"Nan, please! What are you talking about? The point, please. Dad?"

"What I'm telling you is the Irish didn't snitch, except for those Flannery boys. They hung your Da out to dry. Frankie wanted go in with Italians and so when it went wrong he turned him over. There was price on his head. The feds wanted him and the Italians too. I had no choice but to send him home to Ireland. He didn't want to go and leave you Danni. I made him do it. He needed to be protected. It's my fault you didn't have your da. He would have stayed with you. I am so sorry but he is my baby, my darling boy." Danni walked over and Nan gave her the hug she needed. It felt good to be in her arms again. "I know, Nan, I know."

"I'm telling you this so you'll understand, he's a good man, never meant to hurt you, he left or he'd have been dead."

"I knew it. See, I knew he didn't want to go. The truth will change Daryl's mind."

"It won't, love. Daryl believes a man should die to protect his family, or die trying. To a man like Daryl, your father is a coward for running away. Even if he were killed and couldn't have stopped what happened to you, he should have been there to try. That to Daryl is code."

"Why didn't he come back? Things must have calmed down after a few years. You said it yourself the mob ended up falling apart. Didn't he want to come back to us?"

Brigid smiled sadly, then stood and brought her cup to the sink.

Danni swallowed hard before asking her next question. "Did he know? Know about Tara, know about what happened to us? If he knew, he would have come back. He loved me Nan he wouldn't stand for-" Danni stopped suddenly understanding he grandmother's silence.

Brigid wrung her hands and stared out the kitchen window.

"He didn't, did he? You never told him." Danni's tone mixed shock and accusation.

"People don't always act the way you'd like them too under pressure. Human nature is not black and white; especially for a mother. You are a mother now Danni. I am not proud of it, no. I was afraid for my son. Those bastards wouldn't have rested til they put him in the ground. If he knew what was happening to you, he'd have been back here in a flash. They'd have killed him and you as well. You mother, your sister, that's how they operated. Yes. I thought I could protect you and your father if I kept it to myself."

"You what?" Danni hadn't raised her voice to Brigid since she was a teenager.

"I planned to take you and your sister away with the clan. I meant to, but that ma of yours brought the law into it and I couldn't take you without it being kidnapping. I tried to protect you as best as I could, but we traveled so much of the year and I couldn't take you with me. It killed me love, it killed me."

"Well, you did a shit job Nana! A shit job!"

"Danni please, you are a mother now, try to understand."

"I might be able understand, but I 'll always think you are wrong. I'd never do what you did. He could have taken us with him."

"He thought you'd be safer without him around, at least for a while."

"Fucked up, the whole thing was fucked up worse than I thought." She looked at her Nana. She was angry but sad. So sad for the mistakes, for Brigid's misguided love.

"I hope you can forgive me Danni. I hope you believe I loved you. I still do. But I made a mistake a terrible mistake and caused you pain. Tara paid for my mistake with her life and that is something I lived with every day. "

Danni shook her head. "I need time."

I gave you what I could to help you-"

"Daryl. But, I want to see dad Nan. I need to."

"It's up to you what you do now. You might not like what you find, or how things turn out. Getting your da back and altering things with your husband. Age old problem for some, love."

"It doesn't have to be a problem."

"Danni, love, don't shut me out. You are angry, but you are going to need me. And despite what you feel about me, I love you lass. I always have."

"Peata Beag Dhaidí" Danni repeated over and over in her sleep, tears streaming from her eyes. Daryl didn't know what the words meant. He sat by her, feeling like a fool, feeling responsible. Herschel and the new doctor examined her and said she had a mild concussion.

Danni awoke with a start. She'd been back in the in between world again talking to Nan or was it a dream?

"So, you really came across my dad of all people. You know how crazy that is right?" She propped herself up, closer to Daryl.

He nodded grabbing her hand relieved that she was awake. And talking. Of course talking. "Nothing's ever been normal for us." He answered.

"There isn't a point where things just can't get any weirder then, huh?"

"I'm sorry I lied, I was trying-"

"To keep your people close. Take care of me... of us. You're good at that. You're no good at lying though."

He laughed.

"Daryl you are a better man than my father in a lot of ways. Don't be afraid that you're not or that I wouldn't think so. He may have had his reasons to leave, but that doesn't mean he should have left. You'd never leave your family I know it. I just want the chance to see him. To tell him I'm here. I'm still here and I made it even though he wasn't there. Confront him. Does that make sense?"

"Yeah, it does. I'll take you to him. But first, get some rest."

"The kids? Where are they?"

"I got them. Well, Merle has them actually."

"Merle?"

Daryl shrugged. "Family."

"Family."

*Peata Beag Dhaidí -daddy's little pet