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.

[311]

Isabell recovered as quickly as she could from being called Mrs. Dixon by Rick. She made her way up the stairs to the cell she would be sharing with Daryl. The mattresses were placed in their perspective homes on the bunk bed. He assumed Isabell wouldn't want to sleep next to him. Isabell leaned against the wall across from where Daryl sat on the bottom bunk, looking up at her.

Daryl fisted his fingers around the edge of the mattress with a nervous look on his face. "I think we can work on gettin' this frame outta here." He planned. "Set the mattresses up on the floor next to each other. Like they were out there."

"So, yer stayin'? Not bailing on me again?" Isabell questioned.

Daryl shook his head. "I'm not leavin'. This is home. You're home."

Isabell had so many things that she wanted to say at that moment. However, there was one thing she wanted to know more than the others. "When did you tell him?"

"Huh?"

"When did you tell Merle we got married?"

"After we lost you."

Isabell nodded, knowing that it made sense."

Daryl sat still for a moment. "I was kinda lost without ya. Not far off from how Rick is."

The blonde couldn't believe that he had admitted that to her. Nor could she think that Daryl could ever be like Rick is now. Daryl hardly ever lost himself.

"'M sorry," Daryl said.

Isabell raised a brow, surprised by the words. She had assumed that Daryl wouldn't be the first one to speak. He never was the one to say anything first, especially about whatever they were fighting about at the time. Daryl typically avoided the situation until it went away while Isabell festered in the tension.

"I shouldn't have left."

"I just want to point out that it wasn't me this time," Isabell said, her voice barely above a whisper. She didn't trust her voice not to crack with the emotion that she felt. Isabell knew how much the words would hurt him, and that's what she wanted to do. She had given into everything that she didn't agree with to keep a life with him because she knew she belonged with Daryl. Isabell had decided to marry him even though she knew what kind of disaster marriage brought to families. Of course, that didn't mean that Isabell wasn't hurt by her own words.

Daryl looked down at his lap. "I know."

Isabell crossed her arms over his chest. She took a deep breath, calming the lump that had formed in her throat. "What are we gonna do about Merle?" She asked, waiting a moment for an answer. When Isabell didn't receive one, she continued. "It's not gonna work with him being the way he is."

"I know."

"So, how do we make it work?"

Daryl shrugged. "It's just gotta."

Isabell scoffed, already frustrated with trying to stick up for her brother-in-law.

"Look, I'll deal with him, alright? I'll get him together."

"I've been trying to get that to happen since we bought our house, Daryl. I told you that if he was gonna be there, he'd have to be...not so Merle."

Daryl stood, unable to hold his anger in as he was seated. "Think I don't remember that?"

"Fifteen years of him bouncin' in and outta my house and shit hittin' the fan every time he did. Bringin' his drugged up self around my daughter."

"Our daughter." He corrected her.

Isabell sighed, nodding. "Our daughter." She put out her hands to signal that the man could calm down."I've been putting up with your brother since we were kids, D. Nothing's changed with him."

"I don't know what to tell ya, Iz. Other than he'll be better."

Isabell met Daryl's eyes, thinking he already looked like he'd been hit by a truck. "You know I'm helping, right? I'm vouching for him to Rick. I already told him."

Daryl stared at her, surprised by the thought.

"He's not blood, but he's family. The real problem is, anything that happens now is our responsibility." Isabell chewed on her lip for a moment. "But, D, you and me?" She let out a breath, already feeling the tears forming in her eyes, so she looked to the ceiling. "I love you," Isabell said, not looking back down for fear of the flood gates opening. "You gotta know that, but I can't have you leavin' me."

Daryl took a step forward, reaching, gently grabbing Isabell's chin to pull it down for their eyes to meet.

Isabell's lower lip trembled as she looked at him. "You knew how I felt about what we were doing in the first place. And if that wasn't enough of a 'fuck you, Isabell, you can't be happy,' we got married, and the world literally blew to shit."

"Us gettin' hitched had nothin' to do with that," Daryl assured her. "You know that, right?"

Isabell couldn't answer him. She would probably always believe that that was the case. It was rare that she got to be happy.

Daryl shook his head. "Look, I messed up. I know where I belong."

Isabell stared at him for a second as he dropped his hand from her face. She swallowed the lump in her throat, noticing that a stray tear had escaped. She wiped it away quickly. "I just don't want us to turn out like Rick and Lori."

"No way that's happenin'."

"'Cause I know they loved each other, but that bit at the end there…." Isabell trailed off, knowing Daryl could fill in the blanks. "And it's not like divorce is an option."

"Did you want it to be?" Daryl asked, his eyes lowering to his other hand, showing her his open palm, still holding their rings.

Isabell used a finger to push up his chin. She shook her head. "Not even kind of. I just - I'm hurt."

"I wouldn't have left if I didn't think you could handle it."

"I know. And I had that thought just before the Governor attacked. I wouldn't have been able to leave Carl or A.K."

Daryl nodded, having thought the same thing. He took the necklace in his hand and wrapped it around her heck. Daryl took the rings, pulling the neck of her shirt from her body to hide them under the fabric. "Why ain't you been wearin' it?"

Isabell chuckled. "It doesn't fit. Turns out the apocalypse is hell on my thick figure."

Daryl shook his head with a smirk at the corner of his mouth. He pushed forward, leaning his forehead against hers. "I'm here."

Isabell stared at his hands, grabbing them in her own. She nodded against his forehead. "Good."

0o0o0

The following day had definitely been one for the books. The group was torn between leaving the prison, staying and fighting whatever came their way or going after the Governor on his own turf. Isabell didn't much like the last idea, given how unsuccessful they were the first time they did that.

Merle decided he needed to put in his two cents, teaching the group how the Governor would be treating them. The man thought they should run.

Isabell disagreed with that, too. They needed to stay. Fortify. The prison was their home. They couldn't leave when they'd only just started to turn it into something worth living in. Not to mention that Judith wasn't old enough to be out on the road. They'd all be dead in minutes once she started crying.

The discussion had been tabled when Rick walked away. Isabell didn't blame him. He had a lot riding on his shoulders alone. Still, the Governor could attack them at any time.

When Rick finally returned inside the prison, it was after lunch, and he came with a much more leveled head. Rick addressed the group. "The field's filled with walkers." He placed his gun on the inside of his cell. "Didn't see any snipers out there, but we'll keep Maggie on watch."

Daryl and Isabell made their way down the stairs. They'd been talking about Merle most of the morning but still hadn't been able to pinpoint a solution. "I'll get up in the guard tower, take out half them walkers. Give these guys a chance to fix the fence." Daryl offered.

"Or use some of the cars to put the bus in place," Michonne suggested.

Isabell nodded. "That's a great idea."

"We can't access the field without burning through our bullets." Hershel reminded the group.

Glenn approached the five of them gathered at the bottom of the stairs. "So we're trapped here. There's barely any food or ammo."

"Daryl and I can do it." Isabell insisted. "Glenn, if you're up to it. We can be quick. Clear it like we did the courtyard when we first got here."

Daryl nodded. "Been here before. We'll be alright."

"That's when it was just us." Glenn sneered.

Daryl looked up at Glenn, having heard the venom in his tone.

"Before there was a snake in the nest." Glenn continued, gesturing to the common area of the cell block that Merle was still locked in.

Isabell grabbed Daryl's elbow, sensing the anger that was radiating off of him.

"Man, we gonna go through this again?" Daryl faced Glenn, pulling out of Isabell's grasp.

Isabell looked towards Michonne with an annoyed look at the masculinity battle happening in front of them.

Michonne stifled a smile, pursing her lips.

"Look, Merle's staying here. He's with us now. Get used to it." Daryl finished.

Rick tried to step between the two, but Daryl was done with the conversation and made his way up to their cell.

"Seriously, Rick," Glenn started, "I don't think Merle living here is really gonna fly."

Isabell eyed Rick as he looked in her direction.

Rick shook his head. "I can't kick him out."

"I wouldn't ask you to live with Shane after he tried to kill you." Glenn debated.

"That was an entirely different situation. Shane wasn't your brother," Isabell said, with a raised brow towards Glenn.

"It doesn't matter. You saw my face when I came back, right?"

Isabell looked away from Glenn, not wanting to argue about it. She caught Hershel's face as he was deep in thought. "What are you thinkin', Gramps?"

Hershel turned his head towards Isabell, not having noticed that she was studying him. He caught her nodding encouragingly. Hershel looked back at Glenn. "Merle has military experience. He may be erratic, but we shouldn't underestimate his loyalty to his family."

Isabell scoffed.

"Well, to his brother." Hershel corrected.

"What if we solve both problems at once?" Glenn suggested. "Deliver Merle to the Governor. Bargaining chip. Give him his traitor, maybe declare a truce."

"Absolutely not." Isabell shook her head.

Glenn begged. "C'mon."

Isabell interrupted before Glenn could continue. "I think Hershel should talk to him."

Rick turned his body to look at her. "You do?"

"He's the only one here who didn't know Merle before. The only one who could have an unbiased opinion on him." Isabell explained. "I think that's the only way we can figure out where his head is at."

Rick nodded once, looking towards Hershel questioningly.

"I can do that."

"Thanks," Isabell said with sincerity. Sticking up for Merle was going to be a tough job.

0o0o0

The fact that Andrea dared to show her face the day after the Governor attacked the prison but proved that she couldn't be trusted. At least not in Isabell's eyes. She held her rifle against the chainlink fence with Carol and Glenn in the breezeway, watching for any sign of the rest of the Woodbury army.

Even with everyone safe inside the cell block, Isabell decided to stay outside on watch, not feeling any emotional requirement to visit the blonde. They never got along anyway; what difference would it have made?

Daryl showed up in the breezeway after about twenty minutes had gone by.

Isabell relaxed her stance, stepping away from the chainlink. "How's Andrea?" she asked mockingly.

Daryl scoffed. "Thinks we need to sit and have a chat with 'Philip.'"

"That's not happening." Isabell laughed.

"No, it's not." He agreed. "He told her we fired first. Thinks we can all work it out as if it were a misunderstandin'."

"Well, she's right. I completely misunderstood that bullet that went straight through Axel's face."

Daryl pursed his lips. "I know you liked him."

"I had a good feelin' is all," Isabell shrugged. "He woulda worked out with the group. And I think he and Carol were gettin' along."

Daryl nodded. "Why don't you go lay down? I'll take over."

Isabell shook her head.

"Go on. I know you didn't sleep. Felt the bed shake all night."

"Wasn't the kind of bed shakin' you were after, was it?" She joked.

Daryl chuckled, "Nah, not really."

Isabell sighed. "Alright." She took a step towards him, kissing his cheek. "I'll see you later." Isabell made her way back into the cellblock and was annoyed to find Andrea on the perch with Carol and Judith. She groaned internally before pushing herself towards the two women just as Andrea passed Judith back to Carol.

Isabell cleared her throat to gain Andrea's attention.

"Isabell!" The blonde said with a sort of happiness in her tone.

Isabell shook her head. "Nah, we ain't friends. We never were."

Andrea took a step back.

"Because of that, I'm gonna tell you how it is. And Ima talk real slow. I know you were always terrible at listening and following directions. These groups that you're torn between? One of them is lyin' to you. I know which one it is." Isabell said matter-of-factly. "Now, I'm sure you have your doubts, but I've got one thing I want you to know. Even though I never liked you, I always had your back. We did. Your Governor knew that our people were in Woodbury long before you did, and he was actively keepin' it from you. He might be what you've got right now, but you've been a part of this group before. A lot longer than you've been with him."

Andrea stared, blankly, trying to absorb everything that she was told.

"Just somethin' to keep in mind on your way back."

"I never said I was going back," Andrea said, shaking her head.

Isabell crooked her head to the side. "You didn't have to." Isabell left, going back down the stairs, no longer wanted to be alone with her thoughts in an empty cell. She went to the primary common area to find Merle. Isabell sat down at the table with him with a grunt.

"Catch up with yer girl, Andrea?" Merle asked.

Isabell groaned. "I hate her."

"Yeah, she's a certain kind of stuck-up bitch I figured you would never get along with."

"Yeah? You know that much about me?"

"I know a lot about you, Bella."

Isabell scoffed. She shook her head. "You know, I don't really like you either."

Merle laughed at the thought. "Good thing I don't give a shit."

"I just want to remind you of somethin' real quick," Isabell said, narrowing her eyes at the man. "You left me to die in the herd that day. And then again at the department store. I should have killed you the second I saw your face, and I could have."

"Oh?"

"But I didn't," Isabell sighed. "'Cause I care about Daryl. And I hope we have at least that much in common."

Merle eyed her, not saying anything.

"Not that caring for someone is something that you would ever admit. That's how much I know about you." Isabell said, amused. "I mostly put you with you for his sake. And then, for Harley's. When you turned out to be her best friend."

Merle's gaze left Isabell's. "That so?"

"Yes. Keep in mind that these people won't put up with you. The way things are right now, they wouldn't even think twice about turning you away, and they haven't. I don't blame them, either. But so it's out there, I'm advocating for you to stay."

Merle leaned back in his seat, trying hard not to show his surprise at that statement. "You are?"

"I have." Isabell corrected. "How was your conversation with Hershel? You know, he is probably the only one here that you haven't completely and personally fucked over. That's why he's the only one who could talk to you without wanting to rip your head off."

Merle clicked his teeth.

"Thing about it is, we can't get rid of you, even if we wanted to. You know the Governor. You were his right-hand man, which is hilarious since you no longer have one."

"Watch it, Bella."

Isabell chuckled to herself. "You're going to help us. Give us the information we need to know to beat him. And I swear to God that I will kill you if you don't do your best to. And I don't care what Daryl has to say about it."

Merle smirked. "How's that? You're gonna stick me with that butter knife you got stuck to your belt?"

"Sure, I'll start there. But you forgot one important detail about me havin' grown up around you." Isabell folded her fingers together on top of the table. "Everythin' that you taught Daryl growin' up, you taught me, too. The little pest you thought I was following you around on camping and hunting trips actually absorbed the things you said. It's how I was able to survive on my own after you abandoned me and left me for dead."

Merle pursed his lips.

Isabell grinned. She was right, and he knew that she was. I'm protectin' you now, like my family. You'd better do the same for the one I built here."

Merle nodded once.

"Great." Isabell stood from the table, watching Beth stir the pot on the burner. "Hungry?"

0o0o0

It was starting to get dark. Everyone had just bid Andrea goodbye as they sent her away in one of the group's cars. Isabell was happy to see her leave but not so glad that it was with one of their cars. They still had enough vehicles to transport everyone, but that car went straight into the Governor's resource bin.

Isabell made her way over to Michonne, thinking she was one of the ones most affected by this impromptu visit. "How're you doin'?" She asked the other woman.

Michonne shrugged, clearly trying not to show how betrayed she felt.

"She never really knew what was going on with anything if that helps the situation."

Michonne looked towards Isabell.

"She's not a bad person. She tries not to be. She'll look after herself and the group, but in the wrong ways."

"There are right ways to be on the side of a psychopath?" Michonne challenged.

"Andrea probably doesn't see the bad between all the pomp and circumstance. Not really. Not yet." Isabell admitted. "She'll get there when she sees the truth now that she's seen how we are here."

"It's probably too late."

Isabell sighed, letting out a long breath. "Maybe, but there is a positive coming from all of this."

Michonne looked at Isabell with a raised brow.

"You're here. With us."

Michonne scoffed. I think you're the only one who thinks so."

"I doubt it," Isabell argued. "You're allowed in the cell block now. They're more worried about my dick of a brother-in-law than they are about you."

"So, you're on his side?"

"Only because he's family. The man sitting out there right now is nothing like the one I've seen."

"What do you mean?"

"He was a completely different person around my daughter."

Michonne's eyes fell.

Isabell knew what she was thinking; she'd recognized the look on Michonne's face. She remembered how determined Michonne had to be to bring the baby supplies to the prison. The woman had an injured leg, hobbling up to the gates and risking her life for somebody she didn't know. Only one real type of person would have known how vital those supplies were—a mother. Isabell sighed. "I'm sorry."

"Me, too." There was a brief pause as they watched the sunset before either of them said anything. "You should tell him that he's different."

"Who? Merle?" Isabell shook her head. "He doesn't want anything to do with that sappy bullshit. Man only deals in threats and grunts of superiority."

"If he really was different with your kid, it might prove that he's not that bad. He may just need a step back in that direction. Especially if he's also mourning her."

Isabell nodded, surprised by the statement. She hadn't thought of that. "You should stay." Isabell blurted out, getting an odd look from Michonne. "I'm not sure if you were planning on leaving us anytime soon, but you should stay."

"Isabell!" A male voice called from behind her.

Isabell turned her head, spotting Rick standing by the cellblock door. She held up her pointer finger, telling the man to wait a moment. "You comin' in?" Isabell asked, turning back to Michonne."

Michonne shook her head. "I'm gonna go up to the tower. Keep watch."

"Alright." She turned to leave but remembered. "Oh! I meant to say thank you for bringing that baby stuff to us. I don't think anybody ever got around to doing it, so, thanks."

Michonne nodded, leaving Isabell and heading for one of the guard towers.

Isabell made her way over to the door where Rick stood waiting for her. "What's up?"

"Everything okay?" He asked, his eyes trailing after Michonne

Isabell turned quickly, following his gaze before reverting her attention. "Everything's fine, Rick." She said with a laugh. "We were bonding."

Rick nodded. "Do you think she's okay?"

"I think she needs people," Isabell answered honestly. "She's been through a lot, and with the attachment, she seems to have on Andrea, I think she was the only person Michonne came to trust for a long time."

"But is she okay?"

Isabell thought. Would she be if she had spent so much time on her own after the loss of her child? Isabell confused herself with the question. She had ended up spending weekends on her own after not finding Harley. Isabell fought, and she survived. "Yes," She said, without a doubt.

Rick bobbed his head. "I'm goin' on a run tomorrow. Gonna take Carl with me."

"Oh, yeah? Where you goin'?"

"Home."

Isabell furrowed her brow, not even wanting to think about going back to her hometown. "Why?"

"I had that bag of guns back in Atlanta, but that was only some that I took from the station. I left a lot of them there in case anyone else was still alive."

"You think they're still there?"

"Worth the check."

"If you say so." Isabell watched Rick study the fields below them. "There's more to why you're going back."

"There was a man. Morgan. Did I tell you about him?"

"In passing."

"He never radioed me. I just want to see what happened. See if they even made it out alive."

"That's fair."

Rick nodded. "I'm gonna take her with me."

"You sure?"

"I gotta see for myself."

"She'll be fine. She's good people, Rick."

Rick showed a tight smile, recalling those were the words he'd said to Daryl about Isabell. "Good."