Disclaimer: I do not own The Walking Dead. I also have no claim on any pop culture references that I may use throughout my writings. I only own my OCs. Enjoy the read.

[310]

0o0o0 Then 0o0o0

"It's too quiet in here," Isabell said to Daryl as she threw herself onto the couch on top of him.

Daryl grunted against the force of her body on his.

"Let's put on some loud music or something." Isabell looked up at Daryl like she'd had the best idea. "We could dance naked in the livin' room."

"Iz, we can't dance," Daryl reminded her.

"Well, it's not like anybody's watchin'."

"We ain't had quiet for a long time. You wanted it quiet. Enjoy it," He explained. "We needed the quiet, at least for a weekend."

"I know, but now I don't want it. I need chaos again. I want my little girl." Isabell pouted. "Where the hell is Merle when you need him?"

"You feelin' okay?" Daryl snorted, earning an eye roll from Isabell. He groaned and picked himself and Isabell up off the couch.

Isabell squealed in delight, feeling weightless.

"We don't need Harley. We don't need Merle," Daryl explained. He carried her off to their shared bedroom and gently threw her onto the bed. "We need ta relax," Daryl said as he sat down next to her.

Isabell looked up at the man in confusion.

Daryl smirked. "Lay on yer stomach."

Isabell smiled, knowing what was coming. She pulled her shirt over her head and stripped off her bra.

After she'd gotten comfortable on the bed, Daryl straddled Isabell, hovering over her butt. His hands quickly wrapped themselves around her shoulders, pushing in places where he knew she would relax instantly.

Isabell closed her eyes at the contact, enjoying the feel of his hands pushing the knots right out of her back.

Now and then, she would feel a pop and moan into the sheet. "You were right, D. It's been a while since we had time for this."

"Shuddup," Daryl ordered jokingly.

Isabell laughed. "Yes, sir."

Daryl leaned over her and began pressing kisses to the middle of Isabell's back, making the chills fall where his lips left.

Isabell would shudder every time his lips touched her back. She would moan when she felt his teeth nip her lightly. Isabell didn't want him to hold back anymore. "Daryl?"

Daryl sat up. "Wha?"

Isabell quickly flipped over underneath him, grazing herself against him.

Daryl hissed at the contact. "Wha' are you doin'?"

"Shut up," she said as she pulled him down to her by his shirt. The two quickly got lost in each other, and Isabell hadn't complained about the quiet again.

Once the two managed to have their fun, Daryl quickly fell asleep next to Isabell. It had been a long day.

Isabell, even with the excitement of her wedding day, knew she wouldn't be sleeping. She opted for turning on the small TV that was kept in the corner of the room, keeping the volume low. It was already on a news channel. She'd been keeping an eye on strange things that were happening in the world. Fires were popping up in other states. Sicknesses, a pandemic-level threat, killing hundreds.

The current picture on the screen was of a city in rubble. There were fires in every corner shown. Isabell watched in horror as the people of the town were running across the screen, shouting and screaming for their lives, and others were moving at a much slower pace. The name of the city flashed across the screen.

Isabell's eyes went wide when it clicked in her brain. "Daryl!" She shouted, trying to get him to wake. She crawled out of bed and started to get dressed as quickly as she could with her clothes strewn about the room. "Daryl, wake up!"

Daryl groggily opened his eyes and cursed at her.

"Daryl, look at the fucking TV," She ordered, pulling her shirt over her head. A few tears burned her eyes.

Daryl turned his head. "Fire?"

"She's there, Daryl. She's in the city tonight. Garrett said they were going to see a movie."

"Who's seeing a movie?"

Isabell's voice cracked. "Harley."

0o0o0 Now 0o0o0

0o0o0 Isabell 0o0o0

Isabell had hardly slept, waiting for Daryl to come back to the prison for her. It was rough, the way things were going, and her not getting any sleep to compensate for the stress. Isabell hadn't even stopped for a moment to figure out what actually happened while the others were in Woodbury. It almost didn't matter whether she found out from the others because if Merle had anything to do with it, it was bad. Especially if Merle was the reason that Daryl wouldn't have come back. Merle is what happened to Glenn's face, and while Isabell felt terrible for that fact, it didn't mean that Daryl needed to leave, too.

Isabell sat outside the crow's nest, leaning against the wall with her knees to her chest and her arms crossed over them, holding her head.

"Oh."

Isabell's head jerked up, spotting both Glenn and Carl behind her. "Oh?" She questioned, repeating his word.

"I didn't think anyone was on watch," Glenn admitted.

"I wasn't. Not really. I've been waiting on Daryl."

"Oh," He looked away, checking Carl behind him. "Izzy, I don't think - "

"I know," Isabell said quickly, not wanting to hear the words come out of his mouth. He probably didn't feel all that bad, given that Merle was with him. "He ain't comin'."

Glenn sighed. "You mind stayin' on watch? Carl and I are gonna clear the admin block. That's where the others came from."

Isabell knew that, but she also knew it didn't matter. She'd seen the strangers leave last night.

"And Rick…" He looked over the field, spotting the sheriff out by the bridge built over the stream. "He's not doing so good again."

Isabell nodded. She'd been watching him for most of the morning. "Hand over the rifle," Isabell said, holding out her hand to grab the stock. She dropped her knees, spreading out her legs.

Glenn unwrapped the strap from around his body and handed Isabell the gun. "Thanks," He turned to leave. "C'mon, Carl."

"One sec," the child said. Carl moved around Glenn to get closer to Isabell. He stared down at her curiously. "You were gonna leave?" Carl asked, tilting his head slightly.

"Daryl's my family, Carl," Isabell responded, not being able to look the child in the face. Her eyes were glued on the gun in her lap. "Thought he was anyway."

"But you said we were family, too, right?"

The question made Isabell glance up at him quickly with a furrowed brow. Her eyes watered before she showed a small smile. "Yeah, we're family."

Carl glanced at the bags that were sitting beside Isabell. "Can we take your bags back inside?"

Isabell hesitated. She looked at the treeline, hoping that Daryl would appear through them. The problem was, Isabell knew he wouldn't be coming back, not if he wasn't already. The blonde nodded. "Put them in that empty cell. The one by AK that Daryl took our mattresses from. I'll move back in tonight.

Carl nodded, grabbing a bag and handing it back to Glenn before grabbing the other for himself.

Glenn helped Isabell to her feet.

Isabell nodded at both of them, wrapping the rifle strap around her body and then her bow. "Thanks."

"We got ya."

Carl held his fist out to Isabell.

Isabell bumped it with her own and then was left to her thoughts and the rifle in her hand.

0o0o0 Daryl 0o0o0

Daryl couldn't believe it himself when he decided to point his crossbow at Merle's head. He had to. There was a baby and, in the back of his head, Daryl couldn't stop thinking about Lil' Ass-Kicker. What if it were them that they came across? Would he feel right stealing from his friends? The only people that he'd had for nearly eight months?

Daryl walked away from his brother, not even bothering to scavenge the remaining cars for supplies. He didn't need them. Daryl wouldn't be camping for much longer.

"The shit you doin', pointin' that thing at me?" Merle's voice thundered after him.

Daryl kept his pace even as he walked through the thick trees. "They were scared, man."

Merle caught up quickly, tailing his brother. "They were rude, is what they were. Rude, and they owed us a token of gratitude.

Daryl scoffed. "They didn't owe us anythin'."

"You helpin' people out of the goodness of your heart? Even though you might die doin' it? Is that something your Sheriff Rick taught you?"

Daryl stopped, turning to face his brother. "There was a baby!"

Merle gawked. "Oh, otherwise you would have just left them to the biters, then?"

Daryl knew that wasn't what their argument was about, so he spat some truths. "Man, I went back for you. You weren't there. Sure found Izzy near death though, you wanna explain that?" He asked, not receiving an answer. "Man, she did everything she could to try and be a family with you, and you fought her at every turn."

"Oh, fuck." Merle rolled his eyes, shoving that comment off. "Bella was never tickled around me. Since the beginning."

"Because you always gave her shit! She helped you get off that roof, didn't she? Even though you were the one who landed yourself handcuffed there. You did that. You asked for it." Daryl insisted.

Merle chuckled to himself. "You know - you know what's funny to me? You and Sheriff Rick are like this now." He said, twisting his first two fingers together. "Right? I bet you a penny and a fiddle of gold that you never told him or Bella that we were plannin' on robbin' that camp blind."

"It didn't happen."

"Yeah, it didn't 'cause I wasn't there to help you."

"What, like when we were kids, huh?" Daryl questioned, spitting the words in his brother's face. Anything that Isabell ever said about Merle was right. He knew that now. He was done trying to hide his shit from his brother. "Who left who then?"

"What?" Merle roared, anger in his voice. "Huh? Is that why I lost my hand?"

Daryl shouted back, stepping up to Merle. "You lost your hand 'cause you're a simpleminded piece of shit." Daryl was done, so he went to leave.

Merle grabbed onto his brother's vest, clearly not done with the argument.

Daryl fell at the force, and then tension on his shirt made it rip. His backpack fell off his shoulder, revealing his back to his brother. Daryl's heart dropped once he felt the air on his bareback.

Merle loosened his grip at the sight, stunned.

Daryl did the best he could, trying to get his shirt back, covering the many scars that glittered his back in the sunlight.

"I - " Merle stuttered, at a loss for words. "I didn't know he was - "

Daryl threw his backpack on, wrapping both arms through the straps to hide the shame he felt. "Yeah, he did. He did the same to you. That's why you left first."

"I had to, man. I would have killed him otherwise."

Daryl got up and continued in the direction that he knew was familiar.

"Where you goin'?" Merle asked.

Daryl paused. "Back where I belong."

"I can't go with you. I tried to kill that black bitch. Damn near killed the Chinese kid."

Daryl scoffed. "He's Korean."

"Whatever," Merle said, not giving a single fuck. "Doesn't matter, man. I just can't go with you."

Daryl thought, looking at the dirt, waving around one of his bolts. "You know, I may be the one walking away, but you're the one that's leavin' - again."

0o0o0 Isabell 0o0o0

Isabell had set herself up in the tower behind the glass with one of the windows opened slightly so that shooting through it wouldn't be a problem if she had to. She watched as Glenn pulled away from the prison in their truck, and she passed him a nod. Isabell wasn't sure where he was going, but she had the faintest of ideas.

Rick was still walking around outside the fences, and Isabell made sure to check where he was every few minutes just to be sure that he was alright.

It wasn't long after Glenn left that Hershel hobbled his way down the fenceline, shouting quietly for Rick.

Rick looked like he wanted nothing to do with whatever Hershel had to say, but still, he obliged and walked over.

Isabell sighed. She was exhausted, not to mention heartbroken. Isabell hated herself for not volunteering to go to Woodbury with the others. At least if she had, she would be with Daryl. Though, that would have meant leaving Carl and the best friend that she'd found in Carol. And Judith. Isabell's heart sank at the thought. Isabell had promised Lori that she would look after her children. What kind of person would she be if she ignored a dead woman's pleas for her children?

Isabell wouldn't have been able to leave. It would be a struggle picking between Daryl and the kids, but she'd already lost her own kid. Isabell needed to protect the ones whom she felt close to.

The sound of a rifle shot pulled Isabell from her thoughts. She glanced through the scope mounted on the weapon in her hands, trying to find where the shot had come from. Before Isabell's eye could get close to the metal, another shot sounded, smashing the glass around her. She felt a few tiny pieces pierce the skin of her face as she ducked to the ground, covering her eyes. Isabell waited a moment before peeking over the walls and looking to the tower closer to the fences.

There was a man perched inside it.

"Shit," Isabell cursed out loud, moving around to the other side of the tower. She saw Beth and Carl running for the cell block, and someone was stuck in the middle of the yard, hiding behind… Was that Axel? "Holy shit, Carol." Isabell hurried to the stairs leading down the tower. At the bottom, she took a deep breath, calming herself and getting herself together. A second passed, and she burst through the door, running for Carol. Isabell grabbed the woman's arm, helping her to her feet and running to the wall for cover.

Beth had come back out with weapons, handing one to Carol.

Isabell quickly unwrapped her bow from her shoulders, passing it to Carl. "Hold this. Carl, Beth, I need you two trying for the one in the tower. Right now, he has the high ground, and we can't have that." Isabell surveyed the field. There was a truck parked near where Rick was on the outside of the fences. The first gate to the grassy area was open, thankfully. "Carol, you cover me. I'm goin' to help Rick and Hershel get back, closin' that gate in the process."

Carol nodded without an argument.

The blonde took another deep breath. "Now," Isabell said, running off without thinking too much about it. She ran into the fields, slamming the gate to the yard shut behind her. When Isabell turned back, she'd noticed a box truck driving up fast, heading right for the gates, just as the shooting stopped. She watched it for a moment at the checkpoint. The ramp attached to the truck dropped, and walkers made their way out of it.

"Fuck," Isabell cursed. She pulled the machete out from the sheath at her belt. Isabell fought her way through walkers in the attempt to get to Hershel, meeting Michonne at the bus. She pulled the other woman to her feet and went towards Hershel.

The yellow truck that was parked and shooting at them had sped off just as Glenn had returned with the silver truck.

Isabell shouted, jumping up in the middle of the field. "Glenn!"

Glenn turned his head, spotting Isabell, turning the truck into the grass.

Isabell helped Hershel to his feet, grabbing his crutches.

Glenn stopped the truck near them.

Isabell dropped the tailgate, pushing Hershel up into the bed of the truck before getting in herself. "Michonne!" She shouted for the other woman who was still fighting off walkers.

Michonne stopped her fight, looking back. She jumped into the bed as Glenn sped off back to the courtyard.

Isabell steadied herself onto the side of the truck, shooting down a couple of walkers as they drove back to the concrete.

Maggie, Carl, Carol, and Beth were all just outside the gate, shooting as well. Once the truck was safely in the fences of the prices, the four of them pushed the gate closed, sealing them safely inside.

Isabell jumped out of the back of the truck while Maggie and Beth went to help their father. "Did anyone see what happened to Rick down there?" she asked, getting headshakes in return. "Alright, I'm goin' down there to find him."

Michonne shook her head. "You can't do that."

"Shove off; he'd do the same thing for me."

The gate behind them shook, and everyone turned quickly. Rick was fine, standing near the metal, pushing it open.

What Isabell didn't expect to see was Daryl helping him to do so. She paused, shocked at the sight of the two of them closing the gate again.

Daryl turned back around, meeting her gaze sheepishly.

Isabell's eyes filled with anger while a fire burned deep inside her belly. "You...son of a bitch, Daryl Dixon." She took furious, quick steps to him, pushing him back against the chain-link metal. "You fucking asshole!"

Daryl pushed her comfortingly, moving away from the fence, knowing that the more Isabell yelled, the more walkers she'd attract in their direction.

Isabell fought against the hold but still stepped backward away from him. "Can't fuckin' believe you would just - " She shook her head. "Just leave!"

Daryl did not argue with her, but he knew he fucked up big time. He knew he was guilty of the worst thing.

"What the fuck happened to family, huh?" Isabell questioned of him, hardly aware of the others around her. She pulled the long chain out from under her shirt, unwrapping it from around her neck. "What the fuck happened with that?" Isabell asked, pressing the chain into his chest. "'Till death do us part, my ass. You left willingly." Isabell wasn't sure where her outburst was coming from. She was running off only the adrenaline from the ambush, having not eaten or slept.

Daryl caught the necklace as Isabell dropped her hand from his chest, stepping away from him. He looked down at the ball chain in his hands, finding two rings attached in his palm. Daryl stared down at the objects in his hands, shocked to see them. The rings that they had bought for each other. The one Daryl bought for Isabell long before she even wanted it. He worked hard for it, and she had it this whole time.

Isabell faltered, her shoulders dropping as she watched him study the rings in his hand. She could feel everything that he thought without him saying a single word. Isabell knew Daryl. He didn't want to leave her. The way he looked at their rings cemented that all the more. Isabell sighed, giving Daryl a once-over. His shirt was torn and hanging off his back, revealing the shine of the many scars he hid under his backpack. "What-what happened to your shirt?"

"Hey!" a new voice shouted.

Isabell groaned, just at the sound of his voice. She looked around Daryl, spotted Merle having appeared at the gate.

Rick was sliding the fence back open for the tall man.

Isabell stared him down as he entered the yard. There was the problem right there.

Merle met Isabell's eyes. "Well, if it isn't the in-law?" He smirked.

Once the fence was closed, Rick followed the others back to the cell block, leaving the Dixon clan to fight it out for themselves.

Merle sauntered towards Isabell. "How you doin', Bella?"

Isabell took in a hard breath, moving around Daryl and meeting Merle halfway. She threw her fist into his face but was stopped from hitting him again. There was an arm around her waist. Isabell fought against the hold but ultimately lost, being put down a few yards from Merle. In her face was Daryl, standing between her and Merle.

Daryl gave Isabell a look, telling her to leave it.

Isabell raised a brow at him. "Are you fuckin' kiddin' me right now? You leave me here, and you think you have a say in anything I do? That bastard left me for dead! Twice! He deserves to have his face beat in."

"Drop it, Izzy," Daryl said, holding out the necklace that she threw at him.

Isabell looked down at his hand, shaking her head. "Let's get you another shirt," She said, turning both herself and Daryl towards the cell block to head inside. Once they were safe in the building, Isabell gestured to the top floor. "I had Carl move my bags into the cell at the end. I'm stayin' there."

Daryl nodded, holding the rings tight in his fist still. "You want me there?"

"I don't know yet. Just go get changed.

Daryl nodded again, leaving her side.

Isabell knew she and Daryl were the last ones to get into the cell block, so she called for Carl, who peeked out of his cell. "Keys."

Carl took them off of his belt and threw them to the blonde.

Isabell closed the cellblock door, locking the group in and Merle out.

Merle approached the door, a smirk still ever-present on his face. "C'mon. We're family."

"Fuck you, Merle." Isabell turned back to the group, giving Carl his keys back and finding Rick and Glenn joined at the hip, discussing their options.

"What are we gonna do, Rick?" Glenn asked.

Rick shook his head, not having much of a plan yet.

Isabell inserted herself, needing to speak to Rick by herself and wanting to finish the pair's conversation. "We think it through. Make sure that we have a good enough plan before we start doing anything."

Rick nodded, studying Isabell. "We'll take the night."

"Are you sure? We were just attacked," Glenn insisted, appalled.

"And that's how we know we're good for the night. He drove off. Dropped some walkers at our doorstep and hit the pavement. If he wanted to kill us, he would have while he was here." Isabell promised. "One of us stays up, keeping watch on the breezeway. One in here, watching Merle. The rest of us come up with ideas that we can brainstorm in the morning."

Rick looked at Glenn, shrugging. "Isabell's right. We take the night. Think of some plans. Discuss in the morning."

Isabell nodded. She looked to Rick, watching from the corner of her eye as Glenn walked away. The blonde felt a tension between her and the sheriff. "What I said yesterday about...everything. I'm not sorry. I still believe it. You should have given him a chance," Isabell said quietly, not wanting Merle to hear that she was sticking up for him.

"I know. Which is why I'm gonna try now."

"Still, I might have been a little dramatic."

Rick smirked on one side of his mouth. "Wouldn't expect anything less."

"Give me some credit, man. I'm usually more level-headed."

The sheriff nodded, looking towards Glenn and Maggie's cell. "I can't promise anything when it comes to those two. Or anyone else for that matter."

Isabell followed his gaze. "I know. I'm gonna talk to Daryl. Figure out a plan. Merle's gonna do better this time."

"You know that?"

"I do. Because I'm not leaving Daryl to be the one to fix the problem. He's too biased towards his brother, and I hope that by eventually telling Merle that I'm vouching for him, he'll change his mind about bein' an asshole."

Rick chuckled. "Alright, let me know how it plays out."

"Well, if the man isn't dead inside the week, you'll know it went great." Isabell sighed. "Now, I gotta figure out what to do with another problem I'm having." She glanced behind her, watching Daryl grab the mattresses from the perch they used to sleep in and dragging them into the cell. Isabell shook her head, turning her attention back to Rick.

"I wouldn't be so hard on him. He came back."

"Damage is done, Rick. He left."

"But he came back. That means those rings you threw his way meant somethin' to him."

Isabell looked away from the sheriff, pursing her lips.

"You told us your last name was Isaacs."

"It was. Before we got married."

Rick smirked. "Have a good night, Mrs. Dixon."

Isabell blushed hard. She thought about it for a moment and realized she'd never gotten the chance to be called that. "You, too, Rick."