{Anything wrote in italics is prior to the apocalypse.}

With a quick farewell to the women at the quarry, Molly grabbed her bag in which she had put the wet clothes she had just washed and made the short walk back to camp. The sun shone brightly above her, glinting off the shimmering water behind her and reflecting like crystals. As she made her way through camp, Molly noticed the rays that cascaded over the small patches of grass.

She smiled softly as she passed Carl and Sophia who were reading what looked to be some old comics by the water barrels. She made a mental note to ask Carl if he might be up for reading with Jacob sometime as she took a quick look around, thankful to see that Merle was no longer in sight. However, her brows furrowed when she noticed that Glenn and Jacob were stood in front of Ed by his tent.

Making her way towards them, she kept her ears open as a frown over took her face at the way Ed was glaring at her boy. "Mumma use string to knot them." Jacob said, his small arm reaching up as he pointed towards the bag Ed was trying to tie. He coward back into Glenn slightly when he noticed the look Ed had sent his way. The older man scoffed as he dropped the bag and stood up, taking a few feet towards the two.

Molly noticed the change in Ed almost as soon as he had stood up. She moved faster, dropping the bag next to Amy who she had just passed, she jogged towards the three of them, her facial expression showing just how she felt with the older man moving towards her son like that.

"You really think a bit of string is gone keep this tied?" Ed growled as shook his head, rubbing at his chin in annoyance. "Little boys should be seen and not heard! Don't give a shit what your mama does! Giving me stupid advice as if I'm gone nee-"

"Hey!" Molly growled, reaching Glenn and bending down to grab Jacob's hand as she glared up at Ed. "Get a kick out of scary little kids, do you?" She twisted Jacob around slight as she slid her hands under his arms and lifted him into the air. "Do not assume you're smarter than him simply because you're older than him!"

Ed looked shook his head in disbelief before his eyes narrowed and he glared down at Molly. Just as he was about to say something else, Molly noticed his eyes move to look over her shoulder. He stared for a few moments before he scoffed once again and spun on his heal, swearing under his breath as he kicked at the ground and made his way towards his tent.

Molly waited until he was inside his tent before she turned to look over her shoulder, noticing that Shane had been sat at the fire, his shoulders tense as he offered her a curt nod. She shook her head slightly as she looked away. "You okay?"

"Well, I think so." Glenn told her, his cheeks reddening slightly when he noticed Molly's amused look. Jacob giggled as he rested his head on his mother's shoulder. "You were talking to him, right?"

Molly nodded as she released a quite laugh. "I'm glad you're okay too." She said, thanking him for watching Jacob before she set off towards her tent, deciding to insure Jacob was okay before she went back to get her bag. "I thought I told you I didn't want you around that man?" Molly muttered, vividly listening to the stones crunching beneath her boots. "You need to listen to what I tell you, Jake."

"I do!" Jacob said, realising an over exaggerated sigh that made Molly chuckle. "He called for Glenn to ask 'bout something and I saw he tried to tie the bags." He told her, his brows knitting together slightly as he lifted his head, raising a brow at his mother. "What did he mean that little boys should be seen and not listened?"

Molly's lips pursed together slightly as she tried to think of a way to tell him that Ed was a prick without using the same term. She placed him back on the ground when the two had made it back to their tent. Instead of letting him enter the tent like she usually did, Molly grabbed his arms gently and turned him to face her.

"People like Ed... They don't understand that sometimes, children can be smarter than adults." She told him, repeating the words her own father had told her when she was younger. "He thinks that he's brighter than you because he's older. So, I'm going to go ahead and apologize for him because he's wrong, okay?"

"Why?" Jacob asked, his face full of confusion as he raised a brow slightly. "You didn't do it, Mumma'."

Molly smiled at him, pride seeping through her at the fact that she had raised him the same way she had wanted him to be raised. "I just mean that adults should apologise to children when we're wrong. It's not your fault that he didn't want to take your amazing suggestion!" Molly said, watching his eyes light up. "You can go and play now." Jacob was quick to throw his arms around her shoulders and squeeze her as tightly as he could before he released her and stumbled off towards the tent. Molly watched him go, shaking her head slightly as a laugh left her lips at the fact he was just to pure.

The rest of the day had passed by in a blur. Molly had retrieved her bag and hung the clothes she had washed out on her truck, letting them dry in the sun while she played a few games with Jacob and even allowed Glenn to join in on the action for a little bit before he had to go and help Dale. The two of them had taken Lori up on her offer to eat with Carl, Shane and herself and had even enjoyed it.

As the sky began to darken, Molly had retreated to her tent with Jacob. Almost as soon as the toddlers head had hit his pillow, he was out. The silence and alone time allowed Molly to ponder on some of the thoughts she had been trying to keep at bay. She sighed deeply as she dropped onto her of tent next to Jacob's and looked up at the top of the tent, biting her lip slightly as she thought of her interaction with Merle Dixon.

To say it was a surprise would be an understatement. She had not been expecting to see either of the Dixon brothers ever again. However, to learn that both of them were currently somewhere nearby was causing anxiety to spread around her. She tilted her head, taking in Jacob's peaceful appearance as she felt her eyes burning slightly.

Before she could ponder too much on the resemblance of Jacob James and Daryl Dixon, Molly thought back to one of the times she had spent with Merle, a quiet chuckle leaving her as she wiped at her eyes and looked towards the tent once more, replaying the memory in her mind.

Then

"This is all your fault. You now that, right?" Molly demanded, resting her head against the wall behind her as she crossed her left leg over her right and sighed deeply. "Should never have agreed to go with you." She added, glaring up at Merle who was casually laid across on the metal bench with his arms tucked comfortably behind his head, from her spot on the ground beside him.

Merle mumbled something under his breath as Molly narrowed her eyes at his form, trying to make out just what he had said before he spoke up, "Tryin' ta' get some sleep here." He grumbled, one eye snapping open as he tilted his head and looked down at her with slight annoyance. "So, I suggest ya' shut tha' trap of yers' 'cause my head is bangin'."

"Does it look like I care about your fat head?" Molly asked, raising a brow as she scoffed lightly, shaking her own head and grumbling a few choice words under her breath. "You're the reason we're stuck in this shitty cell in the first place! Can't keep them fists of yours to yourself." Merle shook his head as soon as the words had left her mouth. He pushed himself up from the rather uncomfortable bench and turned to face her, giving her his best glare as he kicked her leg harshly.

"What the fuck!" Molly hissed, bringing her leg to her chest as she rubbed her hand across the part of her leg he had kicked, trying to sooth the shooting pain. "I could literally get you done for assault right now!"

"Ya' best not be telling Daryl wha' happened las' night!" Merle growled, his nose twitching as his glare never once faltered. "Ya' tell him an' I'll tell him how little Molly gambled las' months wages away!"

Molly gasped, her own eyes narrowing in return. "You wouldn't!"

"Try me you little rat." Merle mumbled, a smirk finally over taking his face as he noticed the night guard making his way towards the barred cell the two had been confined to one to many times that month. "You here ta' let us outta' 'ere or wha'?" He asked, as Molly straightened up from her place on the floor, a brow raising as she looked up at the guard in slight hope.

"You're each allowed one phone call. I suggest you call someone to come and pick you up because unless someone does, you two won't be out of here until tomorrow afternoon." The officer all but growled, rolling his eyes as he looked over the two briefly. "Dixon, you first."

"Why does he get to go first?" Molly all but yelled, throwing her hands in the air as she ignored the loud cackle Merle had released and watched the guard open the metal gate in order to take him to one of the phones. Molly couldn't help but release a small sigh of contentment. It had been the first time she had been alone in hours. She rubbed her forehead with her palm, trying to calm some of the pain she was feeling before she pushed herself from the ground and made her way towards the door. Her stomach growled slightly, a small reminder to her that she was in fact starving.

In no time, Merle and the guard come back around the corner. She could tell instantly that Daryl must have shouted at him on the phone as Merle's face was tense and a scowl had taken over. "You next, James."

Molly brushed past Merle when the guard had opened the gate, waiting for him to close it once more before the two of them had set off. The phones were located around a thing white wall, yards away from the holding cell. The guard took a few steps back, giving Molly some privacy as she pondered on just who to call. Though it took her a while to remember the number, a small grin over took her blank expression when she finally remembered it. She punched the number into the pad and waited for her call to be answered.

With her call made, Molly put the phone down and spun around, sending an over exaggerated grin to the guard who shook his head and raised a brow. "You managed to get someone to come and get you?"

"Something like that." Molly muttered, walking beside him as the two made their way back to the holding cell. In no time, she was sitting on the ground once again as Merle occupied the bench. "How mad was he?" She asked him, wincing slightly at the thought of facing Daryl once he arrived to get them.

"He was pissed." Merle muttered, shaking his head slightly. "Boy knows not ta' say shit ta' me though." Molly sighed deeply as she looked away from him. No matter how hard she tried, she could never figure out the relationship the two brothers had. It was obvious to her that the family love was there. It was just hidden under anger and slight resentment. To her, it seemed like they got themselves into arguments just because they could.

She wasn't sure how long she had sat on the ground, trying once again to figure the relationship the two had out. However, she knew that it must have been awhile as a grin overtook her face when she noticed the guard returning once more, slight annoyance written on his face as he held a large box in his arms. Molly pushed herself to her feet and made her way towards the cell.

"The phone call you're allowed by law is to enable you to contact your nearest and dearest and to arrange representation, should you need it." He grumbled, opening the cell as he shoved the box towards her.

Merle's booming laugh filled the air as Molly spun around and showed him the box, a grin on her face as she took a seat and pulled it open and let the smell fill her. "Ya' ordered pizza?"

"I was hungry." Molly spoke around a mouthful of pizza, a slice in her hand as she handed him the box. "You already rang Daryl and I couldn't think of anyone else to call. Didn't want to waste my one phone call on something useless." Merle agreed as he dug in as well.