Wow. It feels like FOREVER since I've written. I needed to get this chapter out there. Haven't watched the new episode yet, I'm still reeling because LIZZY KILLED MIKA! WHY!? Anyways, please review! :)

"What the hell is wrong with you!?" Rick demanded, gaping at Carl, who stared back, his own gaze stone cold. He was pissed off in general that his Dad had walked in on them kissing, and even more so because he was, in his eyes, overreacting.

"Do you have any idea what could happen if you got her pregnant!?" Rick demanded, now almost in an all-out panic. All he could see was Lori's brown eyes, her smile….

"What the hell do you think we were doing!?" Carl burst out, both horrified and offended his father would think he was so… eager… to grow up and sleep with a girl. "We were KISSING! That's it! I wouldn't- WE wouldn't- we were THERE, Dad, we saw what happens…." Carl trailed off, upset and at a loss for words.

"Pull your hair up." Daryl said suddenly, staring at Jamie.

He was feeling hurt and shocked that Jamie had kept this from him. What if she'd gotten hurt or something, what if it was something he couldn't fix? Didn't she trust him enough, after all they'd been through together? Still, he was raised tough, and he hid all his feelings well. All Jamie saw was her father glaring down at her, mouth set in a firm line. His anger was like heat on her skin.

She avoided her gaze, but looked up, confused, when he spoke. "What?"

"Hair up. Now." Daryl ordered.

She looked confused but obeyed, pulling her hair back.

Daryl circled her, inspecting her neck for marks. If he found one hickey, one mark on his little girl, he and Carl were going to have a long, LONG talk…. He looked over at Carl suspiciously, checking. The boy's fly was up, a good sign that he hadn't been getting excited, but still, he was wary…

"Get your ass up to the guard tower." Daryl said, looking down at Jamie.

"Hell no! I stay with Carl! Whatever you gotta say, say it to both of us." Jamie stepped forward beside Carl, her knuckles brushing his. Carl turned and smiled at her slightly, earlier stress about his Dad's accusations forgotten. He was glad for her support, glad for her beside him, and they exchanged a look for a moment. The glance didn't go unnoticed by their parents, who locked eyes for a moment.

Rick cleared his throat suddenly, awkward. "How long has… this… been going on?" Rick asked.

"And just what exactly do you mean 'this'?" Carl asked, eyes narrowed, a hint of venom in his voice.

"You know damn well what I mean!" Rick snapped, beads of sweat breaking out on his forehead. Really, the man was a wreck- he'd lost his wife durting chioldbirth- he'd be damned if his son had gotten a girl pregnant and it happened again.

Carl narrowed his eyes further still, before sighing, looking away. "A few weeks."

"WEEKS!?" Rick exploded.

"And just what the hell were you two doing?" Daryl asked, voice like gravel, muscular arms crossed across his chest.

Everything was falling into place, now. Why Carl had ran to her when she'd been trapped outside the fence, why he'd drank with her, why they'd both been late to the fire all those nights…. And it pissed the hell out of him.

"He touch you? Hurt you?" Daryl growled, glaring at Jamie. His eyes were on fire, and he was ready to pounce.

"I… DAD! He's my BOYFRIEND! It's not like he's some criminal. We BOTH wanted to be together…."

"The last thing we need is a teenage pregnancy right now!" Rick burst out.

"Will you shut the fuck up about pregnancy!? We're THIRTEEN! The last thing we need to worry about is another baby. I'm not dumb enough to get her knocked up during a freakin' apocalypse like YOU!" Carl's eyes were blazing, as well, now, and the look of pain on Rick's face was excruciating.

Rick had had a sneaking suspicion that his son blamed him for Lori dying- and he blamed himself, too. They'd both done it. If he hadn't done his half that night and made love with her, she'd still be here….

"Shut the hell up." Rick tore his gaze away from the boy, looking distressed.

Daryl moved forward again, glaring at Carl.

"Did you touch her? At all? Listen Grimes, you've seen a soft side to me so far, but if you approach her EVER again…."

"Dad!" Jamie snapped, pushing Daryl back and glaring. "I'm not some puppet you can control. I LOVE him."

"You think you do. You don't. It's jest hormones and shit…." Daryl said, glaring at Carl, still.

"So you can Carol are just hormones, too?"

"What!? Where the hell do you get that!?"

Jamie scoffed, rolling her eyes and crossing her arms. Daryl's alarm was just proof she'd struck the truth.

"Don't you roll your eyes are me, girl!" Daryl said, irritated.

"I'll do what I want to, dammit." Jamie said, turn and taking Carl's hand. Their eyes met for a moment before their lips collided again.

Daryl reached to pull her back, but she stepped forward and Carl stepped back, out of reach.

Carl smiled, Jamie hands were clasped around his neck and smiling. Carl's hands were under her jaws, cupping her cheeks.

"Jamie!" Daryl's heavy hand landed on her shoulder, pulling her from Carl and spinning her around, one hand around her shoulder, to avoid the bullet wound, the other holding her firm.

"Get your ass up to the guard tower!"

"No!" Jamie put both hands on his chest and shoved him roughly away. "He's my boyfriend, and I'll kiss him if I want to!"

With that said, she pivoted and was on Carl again. The chain link fence jingled as he felt his back being pushing against it, her lips firmly on his. God, she was heavenly. He'd never had a girl like this, push him up against the wall and be able to rule him like this.

He knew she was doing it to get at Daryl, but he didn't mind at all helping her out. He smiled, her lips on his...

"Get away from him!" Daryl finally managed to pry her off, picking her up bridal-style. "Quit being such a bastard!" he was startled. He'd never known Jamie could DO that, would DO that, kiss a boy like she was some kind of whore. And if things kept going on like this, she might get pregnant...

"Don't call me that!" Jamie squirmed, struggling to get out from his muscular arms.

"Then quit being one!" and Daryl turned, carrying his fighting, struggling teenage daughter up away into the darkness, up to the guard tower.

Carl was looking dazed, but there was a small smile on his lips. That was his girl. She never did anything half way, including making out with him to piss off her father, and it'd been amazing...

Rick stared at his son, looking disappointed and ashamed. "What would your mother say?"

Carl snapped back to reality then. Without Jamie beside him, all that pent-up rage exploded.

"What would mom say!? She told me before they cut her open to always do the right thing! If it was easy, not to do it, because it's WRONG! You may not make loving Jamie easy, but I'll keep doing it, because it's RIGHT!"

He shoved past his father, heading back towards the direction of the fire.

"Get your ass up to the cell, Carl!"

"Don't have to tell me twice!"

Daryl sat, back against the wall, knees almost pulled to his chest. The heels of his hands were pressed against either side of his forehead, messing up his hair.

Every now and then he looked across the room at Jamie's sleeping form. She was across the room in the corner, as far away from him as she could get, her back to him.

He'd carried his squirming, pissed off teenager upstairs where they'd had somewhat of a shouting match. He'd locked the guard tower door to be sure she didn't sneak out, she'd cussed a little before curling up and drifting off to sleep, and now they were here.

"Dammit." he muttered. He was clueless. All he knew was he'd promised to protect Jamie. He'd been a teenage boy once- growing up in his neighborhood, he'd almost done some things he would've regret. But he'd stopped himself, remembering that was the kind of shit his father would've done.

That said- he knew exactly what was going through Carl's head. Jamie was innocent, inexperienced, in the ways of love. He'd been through it all before. And he'd protect her until his dying breath. He was already pissed as hell she'd kept this from him. What if things had gone bad, if she'd needed help, and she hadn't told him?

And even then, he'd seen the dreamy look on Carl's face when she kissed him. And he'd do all he could to keep them from one another.

"You're gonna gimme a heart attack someday." he said, looking over at her sleeping form. She didn't respond- her hair was splayed about her, and she was fast asleep. Daryl sighed. He'd have to keep an eye on her more often.