Okay, I'm back! I've gotten my computer fixed, so hopefully, there won't be any more issues for a long time. Again, sorry for being gone so long, but you know, when shit happens, it happens!

I'm not . . . too happy with this comeback chapter. The only thing I'm remotely happy about, is the character arch that Ethan is starting to take. I think its a pretty realistic character arch and I think I might have fun with it. That and you start to see cracks form in the whole, JeremyxRositaxAbraham love triangle that I'm probably gonna have fun with later. The meet-up between Glenn and Maggie might come next chapter, as well - sorry for having to make you guys wait :)

Guest: Be happy - you know you do! ;)

HaloHunter89: So sorry for being gone so long! But I'm back, so updates should go on smoothly again! And btw, Daryl isn't the one who goes all beast mode in this chapter - pleasant change of pace, actually. And I agree, I'm starting to like how I'm writing Sam and Maggie's relationship more and more. Originally, I was a little hesitant about putting them together, but now I kinda like it :)

DarylDixon'sLover: Can't tell you if they will - that's all gonna be decided next season and by AMC. Sorry! :(

Love you all and its great to be back!

- Nagiana


"I'm well aware that it sounds bananas. But looking at the fossil records and knowing what I know about this virus, you cannot say for certain that this isn't what killed off the dinosaurs!"

Jeremy and Rosita both let out snorts of laughter at Eugene's words. They were walking along a set of train tracks towards what they assumed was Terminus. Eugene was ahead of them, walking side-by-side with Tara while Glenn once again, headed the group. Abraham walked ever silent behind them, eyes constantly scanning the surrounding tree lines for any Charlies in the bushes. Jeremy walked with Rosita on one side, Evan on the other.

"And do I believe that's what happened? No. But it is entertaining as Hell to picture a brontosaurus going after a stegosaurus! That right there is a videogame worth a pre-order!"

They came to a stop and Tara bent down to pick something up. "Oh Hell yeah – score!" Eugene spoke in that same flat, monotone voice of his. Jeremy's eyebrows furrowed in interest as he nodded towards them.

"What'd ya find?"

"A couple more of those, a little bleach and you've got yourself some bolts, sister." Eugene continued on, ignoring Jeremy's words, and Evan grinned and laughed as her father shook his head.

"Asshole." He muttered, and Evan glanced at him.

"Oh don't be so grumpy!" She told him and Rosita gave a laugh as she looked away.

"Mr. Grumpy didn't get sleep last night, did he?" She teased, following Evan's lead, and Jeremy rolled his eyes.

"Mr. Grumpy's just not in the mood."

"It's a homemade battery." Eugene quickly added, garnering their attention back onto their conversation, when Tara gave him a look of confusion She nodded at his explanation before holding it out to him.

"Here."

"For reals?" He asked, his eyebrows rising, and she nodded. "You don't want it?"

"No use for it." She answered him and he nodded as they continued walking again.

"Much obliged. And speaking of videogames, what kind of gamer were you?" He asked her and before she could open her mouth to speak, Jeremy interrupted her.

"Come on - not this topic again, Eugene! Jesus, not everyone your gonna meet out here, was a gamer back then!" He spoke, and Eugene rolled his eyes.

"Coming from the noob who only played Call of Duty? Not only is that cliché, speaking you were in the military, but it's also laughable!" He spoke, and Jeremy shook his head again as Evan and Rosita laughed. "RPGs? Racing, first person shooters?" He asked with a look thrown over his shoulder towards Jeremy and a look that Jeremy didn't hesitate to throw back with another muttered 'asshole' under his breath.


"Go to sleep. I got this."

Abraham smiled and glanced at Tara – his gun situated crossways across his lap. They were sitting there against the massive trunk of a tree, keeping watch while everyone else slept. For once, they were doing what Jeremy normally did. "Kind of you to say, but I ain't leaving our lives in your hands." He teased, and Tara shot him a look that he could barely see through the darkness of the night but one he knew he would probably be grinning at if he could.

"I only came along because you said you guys wanted help."

"Support. Not help." He corrected her, and she rolled her eyes as he continued: "Getting you guys as far down the tracks as we can and then seven becomes five again as soon as we find a vehicle."

"Or two." She didn't hesitate to correct, and he gave her a look.

"What makes you say that?" He asked, and Tara gave a nonchalant shrug.

"From how he acted when Glenn said that he knew Tessa, I'd say that as soon as we meet up with the rest of Glenn's group, and he sees that one of those people is that woman he's been trying his damndest to find for so long, something tells me that Jeremy and his daughter aren't going to be too keen in following you around any longer - best friend or not. And you said it yourself – Rosita goes where Jeremy goes. A blind man could see the closeness between them and she and Evan don't exactly hate each other. Hell, I'd say Rosita is the closest thing to a friend or a big sister that Evan has now. So when it boils down to it, who do you think she'll pick?"

Abraham stayed silent, knowing but not wanting to admit that she was right. Eventually, he nodded. "I'll cross that bridge when we come to it."

"And will that bridge entail you taking a swing at your best friend if she doesn't choose you?"

"She's a grown woman and Jeremy's a grown man. He's good looking and he's got a big dick for a white guy, which is normally why women flock to him in the first place. However, he's also more fucked up in the head than I've ever seen a man be before! The only reason he's still clinging to that last strain of sanity he has, is because he's allowed to blow off all that excess steam by killing Charlies every day. Take that away and he's gonna be one volatile son-of-a-bitch with one Hell of an itchy trigger finger! And if she's too stupid to want that kind of uncertainty in a relationship, then who am I to stop her?"

Tara shook her head. "Still doesn't mean it won't hurt enough to where your gonna wanna swing at him." Abraham nodded.

"That is true."

"Who'll win?"

Abraham looked away. "He will. I don't have the rage inside me that'll make me win like he does."

She shook her head. "You're his best friend -"

"And he's the guy who has the gall to fuck my girlfriend and then walk around the next day like I'm too stupid enough to not notice!" He interrupted her, his voice testy. "I'd appreciate it a lot more if they didn't try to fuckin' cover it up and just came out and told me! It'd be a lot easier on their parts and it'd be one less of a headache and heartache for me!"

"Sometimes, it's not that easy . . ." Tara spoke, her voice quiet, and Abraham let out a scoff.

"Yeah, whatever!" He mumbled as he craned his head to look behind them. When he turned to glance back at her, he saw her forehead was resting on her knees. He gave a little laugh. "You should go to bed." When she didn't answer him, he sighed. "You know . . . I figured maybe the reason you were following him around, was because you were in love with him. Girl who is helping the guy she loves, get back to his girl. And in that case, closing your eyes would be too damn tragic." Tara let out a laugh.

"If that was the case . . ."

"Yeah."

"So tell me, how does it feel closing your eyes, and knowing your girlfriend smells like another man?"

Abraham let out a grin and a laugh. "Woo, now there's a good comeback – right in the male pride! Good job – you're learning!" He chuckled, and she smiled as he turned to face her, a look of amusement in his eyes. "But I saw the way you were looking down her shirt when she served you dinner. And fuck, I don't blame you! The things are damn near hypnotic! Hell, me and Jeremy can't keep our faces out of them, remember?" He laughed before shaking his head. "Fuck me, you know? Eugene spends all day staring at her ass and Jeremy spends half the night fucking her ass and giving it to her better than I ever could!" He shook his head, a look of melancholy coming to his face. "And really – and this might sound terribly depressing – but I'm not really angry, per say, I'm just . . . it just means my berry's shot."

"I'm awfully sorry about that."

"Well . . . I'm right and I'm wrong. We all do dumb shit in our lives. Mine's just not able to let go a girl who clearly is not interested in me anymore."

Tara let out a little laugh. "We all do stupid shit . . . smartest thing I've heard in a while."


Tessa watched impassively as the bayonet slid through the walker's skull before the man wielding it stuck it firmly in the ground. The walker fell to the ground as he spread his legs and undid the fly to his jeans. She looked away when Daryl's hand on the small of her back garnered her attention. She glanced up at him, only to see his gaze stormy, as he took a seat next to her.

"What's wrong?"

"That bitch has you all messed up, don't she? Has you walking around here like a fuckin' dead man – same as that boy of yours?" He let out a laugh and a shake of his head. "Hell, bitches mess everyone up!"

"Almost got into a fight with jackass 'cause of a rabbit." He muttered, nodding to the guy with the compound bow that had entered the camp behind him. He turned a wary look onto her. "Anythin' happen?" He ask and she shook her head as she glanced at Ethan sitting behind her. He stared silently off into the woods, as silent as he tended to be nowadays. Daryl frowned slightly, and Tessa swallowed hard. Ever since Wren had been taken alongside Beth, Ethan had fallen into a brooding and silent phase. He hardly spoke unless spoken to and even then they were short and choppy sentences accompanied by the occasional grunt. He hardly joked anymore with Daryl and only gave a small smile instead of only egging him on like he used to whenever he said something even remotely resembling lewd. Even the others in their new found group, gave their son a little bit of a wide birth when he shot them a look with those cold, dead eyes of his.

Their son had grown up. Fifteen-years-old and he was already as tough as nails - maybe even more-so. Tessa just wished there had been a different catalyst to his strength instead of Wren being taken from them to parts unknown.

Tessa shook her head. "No. Everything's fine."

"And what 'bout him?"

"I'm fine."

Ethan's voice was clipped and gruff when he answered his father, and without even a glance in his direction. Daryl opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted by the very same guy who he had almost shanked back in the woods if Joe hadn't come between them in time. He nodded towards Daryl and his eyes immediately snapped onto his as his words registered in his brain:

"Lost a rabbit to him." He told Joe, and the older man turned to gaze at him. "Lost a rabbit to him 'cause of the bitch and those kids sitting beside him. And all because he didn't know about the rule!" He spat, the anger in his voice directed towards Joe, whose jaw hardened slightly.

Daryl's teeth grit in anger as well, and he hardly noticed it when Ethan slowly turned his head to gaze at him, face still remarkably expressionless. The man smirked as he began walking towards him.

"Lou, now you wait just a minute -!"

"But really, I don't think I can blame you, man. Damn, don't you look good, momma? Damn well good enough to eat -!"

Daryl's jaw hardened and he let out a growl as he immediately got to his feet and put himself in-between Lou and Tessa. He saw Joe tense over Lou's shoulder, especially when Lou had carried carelessly on without heeding his words. His teeth grit and Lou tried unsuccessfully to stare Daryl down for a moment, but gave up when he realized the impossibility of it. Instead, he smiled. "You got iron in your blood, Daryl. You know - I like that. You don't find that very often out here anymore. Can make things interesting." He told him and Daryl arched an eyebrow, his eyes still full of anger and disgust.

"Ya mess with my family and ya'll figure out how much iron's in my blood, asshole!" He warned him, his voice hard and icy cold, and Len nodded.

"I can respect that. I just . . ." He gave a shrug and heaved a sigh. Everything seemed like a powder keg now just threatening to blow. Everybody was frozen – not knowing how this conversation was going to end – and even Joe seemed uncertain of how to diffuse the situation. Tessa had a tighter grip on the twins while Ethan had Len pierced with a cold gaze that he was determined to avoid, although it didn't keep him from breaking out into a sweat underneath it, nevertheless. "With the way things are right now, it just . . . it seems unfair to rest of the human race to be monogamous, you know? Why keep her all to yourself when -"

Len didn't finish his sentence. His word curbed roughly off and his eyes widened when a flash of anger flitted across Daryl's face. He moved to grab him up, but a blur out of the corner of his eye, made him stop. His eyes widened, as did Tessa and everyone else's there, when he Ethan, teeth grit in anger, roughly yank Len up by his collar and pulled him into him, their noses inches apart. "Ya think my deddy is the only one in this family who has iron in his blood, asshole?" He hissed, and Len's eyes grew wide with fear as Ethan continued on. "Ya mess with my family, and ya'll see how much iron is in my blood - Len!" He hissed through gritted teeth and Len quickly nodded, a motion that had Ethan throwing him roughly away from him before moving to stand beside Daryl. Tessa felt her heart pounding in her chest and Daryl swallowed hard as Joe turned an impassive glance onto Daryl.

"Your boy has some bite to him." He told him, and Daryl nodded.

"Like I taught him." Joe nodded.

"I like that. It's needed nowadays." He told him and Daryl nodded in agreement as Joe turned his eyes onto Len. He held his briefly before turning the same gaze onto each of the men present. "Unless you want that young man there ripping out your throats, I suggest you keep your eyes and hands to yourself – understand?" He spoke and immediately, everyone nodded. Daryl shot Ethan a smile – proud of his son – but if it went noticed by Ethan, he didn't show it. He instead, turned right around and moved back to the same place he had been occupying until seconds ago. As he shifted back into the comfortable position he had been in, his eyes falling onto the same direction that they had been gazing into, Daryl met Tessa's uneasy look with one of her own. For the first time, Daryl was scared of what his son was turning into.

Or was tempted to turn into.


"Wow, you are an ass!"

"Rosita . . ."

"She will do whatever you ask because she feels like she owes you!" Rosita continued, heedless of the warning tone in Jeremy's voice, as she pinned a look of anger onto Glenn. Tara, wincing from the pain in her knee from where she had been forced to land on it by Abraham pushing both her and Eugene out of the path of a falling walker, shook her head.

"Rosita, I'm fine -!"

"Like Hell you are!" She interrupted her angrily and when Jeremy reached out to take ahold of her arm, she yanked herself out of his grip.

"Rosita -!"

"I'm only fucking saying the truth, Jeremy!" She snapped at him and he wordlessly opened his mouth but only ended up closing it seconds later. What could he say? He knew she was speaking the truth, Tara knew, even Glenn knew. So what could he possibly say? "So man up! Stay here for a few hours at the most!" She continued, and Glenn glanced at Tara, only to find that she avoided his gaze. So instead, he turned an angry gaze onto Abraham.

"You only care about keeping Eugene safe, huh? That's the only reason you wanna stay here? So we go until sundown – I give Eugene my riot gear – right here, right now, everybody wins." He spoke and when Rosita opened her mouth to say something, Jeremy quickly shushed her. She shot him an angry look and spoke nonetheless.

"Except for her, right?" She spoke testily and with a nod in Tara's direction. She was still favoring her uninjured leg and Abraham silenced her with a look.

"You're not her momma." He told her and a livid look immediately appeared in her eyes.

"You mother -!"

"Rosita!" She promptly shut up at Jeremy's snap that was quickly apologized for when he placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Rosita, if she says she can walk, then . . . let her walk, okay?" Rosita stood there for a moment, teeth on edge, before giving a stiff nod and crossing her arms in front of her chest. Abraham nodded too before turning a look onto Glenn.

"You have yourself a deal."

Glenn nodded and began undoing the buckles to his riot gear as Tara turned a thankful look onto Rosita. She gave her a stiff smile back but averted her eyes quickly when Jeremy's hand moved down from her shoulder, to the small of her back. It was a movement that did not go unnoticed by Abraham.