They fell asleep wrapped in each other's arms as usual. Daryl and Kelly had a king sized bed but they always gravitated towards each other during the night. Always when they woke up it was a massive jumble of arms and legs right in the middle of the bed. They could have been fine in a full bed but a king sized bed was great at certain times.

If Daryl wasn't nailing her in the kitchen or the bathtub, which wasn't often because of the kids, the big bed was great to throw her around in. But he woke up a few times during the night, which was unusual, he usually slept like a rock and peered out into the back yard. There was nothing and no one there.

He got up quietly, extricating himself from Kelly's arms without waking her and padded into the kitchen for a glass of water in just his boxer shorts. He looked out the kitchen window as he drank it and it was silent out there. But he knew Mac had been there, looking through the big garden window in their bathroom. Daryl had chosen this property because of the privacy in back, now it worried him.

Out front there was an unmarked car, he went to the other side of the house and waved out the window to Tyreese the officer out there. Then back to the kitchen to put his glass in the sink.

Tyreese would use Mac as a toothpick if he caught him sneaking around the house. That gave Daryl peace. This was going to come to a head at some point and it was going to be him or Mac he could just feel it.

He was startled when she appeared next to him wrapped in a throw that was always on the bench at the foot of the bed. Her eyes were sleepy, but it was clear she had been upset to wake up and find him not in the bed.

"Oh hey baby…" He turned and ran his hands through her hair, pulling her closer to him and wrapping his strong arms around her.

"Why are you up?"

Daryl sighed, he never lied to her, ever, "Thought I saw something outside earlier."

"When?"

"When we were in the tub…"

Kelly didn't say anything, but she went to the sliding glass door, unlocked and opened it forcefully, she was more than pissed. She missed her kids and this separation was all because of this asshole.

"Wait," Daryl grabbed the back of the throw but she was too fast and got outside, with him hot on her trail.

"I hope you got a good show motherfucker!" She yelled into the darkness as she made her way to the railing and faced the dark woods, Daryl couldn't stifle a chuckle. His girl was a force to be reckoned with every day of the week. She turned to him after they were back inside and had the door locked, "I want this over, I want him gone for good."

"Me too sweetheart," He pulled her close to him, "Me too."

"I'm sorry Daryl," She almost sobbed, "I brought him into our lives, this is my fault."

"Shhh shhh," He hugged her tighter, "The only person who's fault this is his, not yours, never yours honey."

He held her tight and comforted her, he always said all the right things and made her feel better and she hoped she brought him peace as well. They were a team, a family and if she had to kill Mac with her bare hands to keep him from her family, she would.

/

Rick, Shane and Daryl got together for lunch every Friday afternoon without fail at the same diner. It helped to get out of the office to review the week at work and troubleshoot any new cases they had. Daryl intended to let them know he had seen Mac on his property, but not about Merle's intention.

"Getting pretty tired of watching you fuck my girl, Dixon," Mac murmered as Daryl passed by his table to meet his friends. He wore a hat low over his eyes and no one had noticed him sitting there but he could not resist running his mouth. That was just who he was.

Daryl stopped short and rolled his shoulders the way he did when he was pissed off about something and about to snap. In reality he was ready to snap, knowing Mac had been spying on them the night before and possibly before that.

Daryl turned as Mac stood up and he grabbed his enemy's shirt, getting right into his face and making it clear that it wouldn't take much at this point for him to kill Mac..

"Listen to me you fuck, if you think I'm not gonna protect my family and do anything I have to, you are sadly mistaken. If we weren't in public right now I'd put a bullet in your head. "

"You can't stop me Dixon. It's you who approached me," Mac was amused by this and calmly replied, never breaking eye contact with his doppleganger, "I'm just eating my lunch. I'm doing nothing wrong or illegal and you just threatened me."

"Watch me," Daryl snarled as Rick and Shane came up behind him and stood there ready to jump in if needed.

"Your woman prefers me...isn't that what's got you all upset. I know you heard us…you can't fake that...you tell your friends here about Vegas? About how she couldn't wait to jump on my cock?"

Daryl had heard enough; he swung and connected with Mac's jaw, then turned and left without another word. Mac was expecting as much, he baited Dixon; it was good to know he could still push his buttons. That would come in handy.

"Just give her back to me Dixon, it's where she belongs and wants to be!" Mac called out just for decoration because Daryl was already outside lighting a cigarette.

Shane and Rick were in his face and blocked him from leaving momentarily. Both of them crossed their arms and took up the whole aisle.

"We didn't see a thing," Shane stated matter of factly, "We won't ever see a thing."

"The blue line huh?" Mac replied.

"Just a friendly warning…" Rick answered.

"Fine officer friendly," Mac snarked, "I'll keep it in mind."

They continued to block his way until Daryl got on his bike and left. Then both of them shoulder checked him as they left. Mac just smiled to himself, he just made friends wherever he went these days.

/