"Unlock it," Daryl growled instruction to Stephen. He motioned to Jack's handcuffs. Jack had woken on the front steps of the police station and tried to get to his feet as the group emerged from the building. Daryl stopped short as his anger welled; it had been a while since he'd felt this much rage. Hands-free, Jack frantically searched and fumbled for his walkie-talkie, but Stephen had destroyed it earlier. He had no way to call for backup and his partner was still out cold. The residual effects of whiskey slowed his movement, but his fear and adrenaline pushed his futile attempt to get on his feet. Daryl stomped the man down with his boot and stood with his foot on his chest. "Got something for you." He aimed the crossbow at his forehead between his eyes. Jack was shaking, sweating and trying to avoid Daryl's eyes, merciless slits. After a minute, Daryl swung the bow away and grabbed his knife. He dropped to his knees and sliced Jack's cheek from chin to corner of his eye. Then kicked him in the ribs, hearing them crack, for good measure.

"Piece a shit!" He muttered and turned away.

"Hey boy, you ain't finished." Merle called after Daryl. "He's still breathing."

Daryl turned back. "What?" He winced.

"He doesn't deserve to live after what he did to you, now take care of it!"

Daryl was fifteen again. Merle ordering him to do something he knew wasn't right. Only he wasn't a kid anymore and he had to get Danni out of here.

"Nah, let's go, we're wasting time." He dismissed Merle. He'd paid the asshole back enough. Daryl's attitude confused and angered Merle. He grabbed his brother by the shoulder and shoved him back toward Jack writhing on the ground. "Do it."

"Leave him alone!" Danni jumped to Daryl's defense, but he gruffly snapped, "Stay out of this!"

She stepped back, surprised.

Merle laughed and handed Daryl his own gun. "That's more like it brother. Put that little woman in her place; she needs to learn to control that damn trap of hers."

"You really wanna do this now?" Daryl asked exasperated."You shut up about her!"

"Here!" Merle shoved the gun into Daryl's hand.

"Gunshot will attract attention. Let's just go!" Daryl dismissed Merle.

"He's right we have to move now. Someone's bound to come soon," Stephen said to remind them of the urgency of the situation and to prevent Merle and Daryl's conflict from escalating. "We' re not gonna be invisible for much longer."

Daryl put the gun back in Merle's hand and walked away. Merle glared, first at Daryl's retreating back, then down at the man who'd tortured his brother. "Told you I'd git out of there. Time to break that face of yours like I promised." Merle grinned.

A gunshot shattered their silent cover.

"Jesus Merle you didn't have to..." Daryl started but saw Jack still alive, but Merle's boot crushing his face. The shot had come from around the corner as two of the Governor's men arrived for the second watch shift and saw the escaping prisoners. Stephen and Merle fired back as the small group made it to an opening in the rusted sheet metal doors propped against junked school buses that served as Woodbury's rear barricade.

"C'mon," Merle shouted "we still got time before anybody else is onto us!" He referred to people. Walkers, on the other hand, converged as the four of them hit the street outside Woodbury. Worrying about noise was the last thing on their minds as they took aim and shot her way through the group of rotting corpses and headed into the woods. Danni heard another exchange of gunfire from the top of the barricade, not daring to look behind, but kept Daryl in her peripheral vision. He pulled her along beside him, turning to fire his gun as they ran.

Once the shooting stopped and they got deeper into the trees, they slowed to a walk and Danni thought they were free and clear. She was thankful for the bright moon guiding them.

Suddenly Stephen fell to the ground. He'd been hit by two of the first bullets, one in his abdomen, and the other in his chest. He managed to ignore the pain until now, but he'd been slowly bleeding out. Danni lowered herself to her knees beside him and tried help him sit up. Burgundy soaked the front of his sweatshirt. He was tough and made it this far, but the blood loss was finally too much.

"Oh no, no, no, get up, you can make it. " She whispered. "This is nothing. You can do it."

"Not this time angel." He coughed the words and lay back. He hadn't called her that since their first year together. She hated it and he knew it. She started to cry and hit his chest.

"No, you are getting up now. Now!"

Daryl leaned over and tried to pull her back. She shook off his hand. "Stephen get up!"

He went on, trying to suck in full breaths. "Sometimes we aren't meant to know somebody forever. Some journeys are meant to end. Know what I'm saying?"

"I think so." She sobbed the words. He'd said that in her dream

"People leave your life to make room for new ones. You go on and have your beautiful kids, okay?" His voice was weakening. She was dizzy with déjà vu and the bright light flashed behind her eyes as she relived the dream. It was clear now, Stephen was dying. His blood covered her hands and she smelled rusted metal. She pounded on his chest with her fist. "Get up! Get up!" He wasn't responding. "Don't go! You just came back. Get the fuck up now!" Again she felt blood gush warm and slippery through her fingers as she pressed her palm against the bullet wound in his abdomen. She was crying now, tears falling on the face beneath her mixing with crimson. She felt a hand on her shoulder pulling her back, but not before Stephen smiled weakly and said "Hey angel, I made my amends to you."

Gave into the call.

You took a chance and

You took a fall for us.

"It's no use. You know I have to, right?" Daryl said, almost pleading with her to accept it. He pulled her to her feet. "I have to."

She froze with the realization that Stephen would turn. Daryl had to put a bullet in his brain. It was her dream happening now, Stephen was the dying man and Daryl had the gun that would ultimately save him.

Stephen nodded as Daryl stood over him and aimed the gun. As he took the shot, his face was expressionless, except for an earnest spark in his eye. "Sorry, brother." He rasped honestly as he pulled the trigger and the crack of the shot rang out.

Danni turned away stunned, horrified and blinded with instant grief. Without realizing what she was doing, she grabbed Merle in a strong hug and pressed her face into his chest. She tried to erase the image of Stephen bleeding out on the ground as Daryl put the bullet in his brain.

Merle coughed and shifted, caught off guard. "What the hell?" He grumbled softly as she held on tightly so she wouldn't crumple to the ground. He put his good arm around her, a bewildered expression playing on his face. After a few seconds, Danni saw where she was. She coughed and backed up, without looking Merle in the eye.

"Can't go straight back to the prison in case he's following." Merle cleared his throat."Its gonna be the Gov'ner's first priority now to find your group and we aint leading him right back there."

"Wait." Danni interrupted. "We can't just leave him here like this." She motioned to Stephen.

"No time to bury him," Daryl stated the obvious.

"Can't we at least put him behind a tree or something. Please. Don't leave him laying out here like we don't care." She swiped the last few tears from her cheeks.

Daryl nodded over to Merle, who scowled and sighed out loud. They dragged the body a few feet off the trail and propped it against the tree trunk. Danni slipped Stephen's black flight jacket from his shoulders and held it close. That sweatshirt, that damn sweatshirt he always wore. Looking at it now all bloodstained and shot through with bullet holes she couldn't stop the tears from starting up again. He looked like he was sleeping if she just focused on his face. He'd just come back and now she was saying goodbye. He'd cleaned up her last mess.

You came thoughtfully,

Loved me faithfully

You taught me honor,

You did it for me.

Now I am strong

You gave me all

You gave all you had, and now I am whole.

"Cant stay here it's too dangerous," Daryl said quietly, shifting uncomfortably and feeling awkward as she cried over this other guy. "Danni, its... its done."

She stood slowly and put on the jacket.

Merle couldn't handle the prickly, nagging silence for one more minute so he gave direction. "Let's go. Now I reckon its best to stay off the road and take a detour so we make sure we're not being followed."

Why do you care? Danni would have asked if she weren't still in shock. She did have a feeling, however, that Merle had no intention of heading back to the prison after this little detour.

"You're right," Daryl admitted.

"Course I'm right, now hurry her ass up."

Daryl pulled Danni by her arm, turning her away from her ex-boyfriend's corpse."You okay? We gotta move."

... ... ... ... ... ... .. ... ... ... ... ...

They walked for what felt like hours in total silence, through the trees and brush of the night woods bathed in the moon's silver. They not only watched out for Walkers but also people. This double threat heightened tension in both Merle and Daryl.

Danni felt light-headed and unreal. Stephen was gone. He'd come back into her life, immediately reversed yet another of her bad decisions and got himself killed in the process. If she hadn't been so angry and impulsive, this never would have happened. Stephen had always cleaned her up and put her on the straight path. This time he'd saved Daryl's life as well as her own and her babies. People leave your life to make room for new ones. She tried to convince herself to accept and believe this was fated. She didn't want blame to take over. 'Guilt is a useless emotion'. Stephen would say that to her if he were here now, along with 'you choose sadness, it has never once chosen you.'Not this time. She had to tell herself those things now.

They were still hiking as weak sunlight brought an early dawn over the horizon above the trees.

Daryl heard running water. "C'mon." He said and spit from the side of his mouth. "This way."

"You giving the directions now?" Merle tried to dismiss him.

"Hear it? It's water, a creek or something. Down there." He started off toward the source of the sound.

"Fine." Merle followed.

Sure enough at the bottom of a grassy hill within in a small clearing in the pines, they found a fast-moving stream.

"Hey. Let me clean you up." It was the first thing Danni said since they'd left Stephen's body.

He nodded, glad she'd finally spoken. It was easier to worry about her and how she was handling the Stephen thing than to think about himself. Maybe she'd start talking now. He figured she'd have a lot to say, hell, she always had a lot to say. Where was it now?

She looked at her bloody, battered husband and remembered the desperate hug back in Woodbury. Do you want to talk about it was something she never had and never would ask Daryl. That wasn't how he worked. She knew he'd talk if he wanted to and that he very well might never want to. It was easier to worry about him and what he felt than to think about Stephen. Daryl needed her support now, whether he admitted it or not, she knew something had shaken him back there.

She took his hand and led him to the water's edge where they sat on the bank facing each other. Merle grimaced at the display and sat back against a tree a few yards away chewing on a stalk of long grass.

"God look at you." Dried blood splattered Daryl's face, streaked his neck and covered his chest. His shirt was stained dark with it. He had a bruise developing on his right cheekbone and his eye was swollen. She unbuttoned his dark gray work shirt and he tilted his shoulders down so she could slip it off. She soaked the rag he always carried in his back pocket in the clear, cool creek water then carefully wiped the blood from his neck and chest. She scrubbed the crusted blood from his skin, gently pushing his head back to reach his neck better. "That's gonna scar," she said softly and kissed the fresh knife wound running across his neck. He jerked back.

"Just one more for the collection." He spit to the side, acting tough like it was nothing, but his voice was soft and far away. Something in his tone and the way he said just one more told her what he was struggling with. She put her lips back on his throat, this time she didn't let him move away. The past reared its ugly power making him feel weak and defenseless.

"You won another battle baby, that's all" She said lovingly.

Merle observed them from his place against the trunk of the tree. Danni tending to Daryl's wounds stunned him. How did she do it? No one could ever touch that boy. When Daryl turned and leaned toward her so she could reach the top of his shoulder, Merle was shocked; well, as shocked as Merle could be. There they were, the faded red-brown slashes across his younger brother's back. He knew it had happened but never let himself actually think about it. He hadn't been there. Well, he was here now. He wasn't leaving Daryl again which meant Daryl was coming with him.

She had gotten him almost completely clean of blood. Now that he was sitting, his adrenaline rush left him and realized the soreness in his ribs. He watched her soak his shirt in the bubbling creek water and ring it out repeatedly until the bloody rinse water ran clear. She spread it out on a rock to dry.

Missed a spot, she murmured. She licked her thumb and rubbed it on his chest, over some last remnants of dried blood. Then she started to massage his shoulders, needing to feel him. Before she knew it she'd gently put her lips on his.

Daryl relaxed into her comforting touch. Her hands, as usual, felt right and she knew what to say. She knew what he needed. Even though Merle was probably watching, Daryl let her kiss him, open-mouthed and greedy taking his tongue, running her hands over his bare chest. He pushed his lips back, hard on hers and grasped the back of her neck, massaging it and twisting her hair in his fingers. Part of him felt self-conscious the other part proud. He wanted Merle to see this, what he had. He wasn't that sixteen year old kid who couldn't make it with the town prostitute. He was sick of Merle's jokes and put downs about him never getting any and not knowing how. He was damn sick of it.

Fuck Merle fuck him. Who cares if he's seeing this.

Danni had taken a chance with the kiss, figuring Daryl would stop because of Merle. He didn't. He surprised her. He needed the contact as much as she did. They finally pulled apart. They couldn't finish this the way they wanted to. She pushed the hair from his forehead and smiled mischievously. She removed the flannel, the one of Daryl's she'd been wearing over her t-shirt, and handed it to him, with the understanding he should put it on. As he buttoned it he felt something in the breast pocket. She nodded at him with an expectant expression and tiny smile. He shrugged and took the folded envelope out. When he took the black and white pictures out he looked confused, stunned and immediately glanced up at her.

"It's them. It's them and they're perfect." Her voice shook. "They're healthy Daryl. There's nothing wrong, they're perfect."

"How? You, these…" He looked at her. "Really?"

"Only good thing about that god forsaken hell hole of a town is their doctor."

He stared at the image on the sonogram. He swallowed hard and nodded.

"Look here she is." Danni scooted over beside him and pointed out Scout. "That's your little girl."

"And my boy, huh?" He put his finger on the other shadowy form.

... ... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... ... .

She had long sun colored hair. That's what Merle called it. Not just blonde, it was so golden that it glinted yellow like the sun all the way down her back. Luanne. She laughed at him, but always wanted him to say it. Sun colored. He imagined it flying, glittering in the wind as she rode behind him on his chopper down the narrow, twisting back roads at breakneck speed. He heard her laughing, egging him on to go faster, take sharper turns.. His little daredevil. She was tough too, tough as he was, really. They were the only two people in the world they'd let their respective guard down for.

Merle absently ran his forefinger over the thick knotted scar of an old bullet wound on the outside of his left shoulder. Tough alright. That was no lucky shot, the woman knew her way around a gun which made their fights so fucking exciting. Upped the ante he liked to say. Making up was always that much sweeter too. His smile suddenly faded.

He lit out the first chance he got. Some said he was a monster for leaving a pregnant woman on her own like that, but Merle was running from the bigger monster he was convinced he'd be if he stayed and tried to be a father. He had to run.

Now he realized he was trying to make his brother do the same thing. They'd had the same son of a bitch father after all. Wasn't it in the genes, some shit like that? He was protecting Daryl. Or was he trying to get Daryl follow in his footsteps so Merle wouldn't feel so guilty. Nah, he never felt guilty about anything; he spent his life trying to convince himself of that. Bottom line: he was alone. He was alone except for his brother and he was damned if he'd let a woman take Daryl away. Still, he was torn in two, another feeling he wasn't used to when he looked at Daryl smiling and saw how he accepted queenie's touch. By the looks of what they were doing down there and her condition, she'd made a man of him. He thought back to that first night on the highway and how he'd never really seen anything like her before. Her clothes, tattoos... he'd never have thought... but... she did it. No other woman ever came close. Merle grunted. That said something about her.

Little Rock and Roll Queenie was the one who got Daryl. The One.

He'd hit her. The last thing he'd ever done was backhand Luanne across the face when she'd flat out refused to get an abortion. She didn't flinch or cower from him. She said she wanted to keep the baby because it was his. His. That's when he lost it. She'd said she loved him and wanted his baby. He hit her again. Love?

"Shit! goddamn it!" He got up and started kicking the dirt and hitting the tree in a sudden fit of channeled rage. He hated remembering shit. When Daryl and Danni looked up at him, he shouted "Let's get moving you two!" He couldn't look at them for another minute.

... .. .. . .. . .. .. .. .. .

They trudged through the fallen leaves. Merle took the lead as morning turned to afternoon.

"Do you have any idea where we are?" Danni asked him.

"Smells to me like the Sawhatchee Creek."

Daryl countered "We didn't go west enough. There's a river down there, it's got to be the Yellow Jacket."

"You have a stroke, boy? We ain't never even come close to Yellow Jacket."

"We didn't go west. Just a little bit south. That's what I think."

"Know what I think? I may have lost my hand, but you lost your sense of direction."

"Yeah, we'll see."

Danni was sick of their constant arguing. She was also sick of the constant need to urinate. Lately, the Troublemakers seemed to think pushing on her bladder was fun. She slipped behind a tree to pee. Again. Neither of them noticed this time or the past, what felt like thirty times before.

The brothers were still bickering when she caught up.

"What do you want to bet?" Merle asked.

"I don't want to bet nothing. It's just a body of water. Why's everything gotta be a competition with you?"

"Whoa, whoa. Take it easy, little brother, trying to have a little fun here. No need to get your panties all in a bundle.

Daryl shook his head, let out a loud breath and aimed the crossbow at the air, just needing to do something while they walked. He kept repeating the action, like a bored, fidgety teenager.

Danni was still unusually quiet. Daryl slowed his pace so he was beside her.

"You need to eat something." He remembered what Herschel had said about low blood sugar. He also noticed how exhausted she looked She was fighting it, but he could see. "Come here. You okay? Need to stop for a minute?" He stood in front of her and brushed loose strands hair off her cheek.

"Aint that sweet." Merle muttered his voice dripping sarcasm and disdain.

She rolled her eyes and bristled at his attitude. "I'm fine, let's just go."

"It's okay we can stop." Daryl glared back at Merle. She shook her head and they kept moving.

Daryl kept his eyes and ears trained on any game. The woods were empty.

"Aint nothin out here except mosquitos and ants." He observed, defeat in his voice.

"Patience little brother. Sooner or later a squirrel will scurry past your path."

"Even so, not much food."

"Better than nothing."

"We gotta find a place to hole up for a little while," Daryl said looking at Danni's ashen, exhausted face again. He didn't want a repeat of the other day and have her collapse from exhaustion. "One of them houses we passed at the turnoff. Rest up and maybe find some food there."

"That what your new friends taught you. Loot for booty."

"Danni needs a break, she has to rest."

Merle looked over at the exhausted girl; he respected that she wasn't whining or complaining and was keeping up. For once Merle didn't have a smart ass or mean comment to make "Lead the way, Bro. "

The sun was setting when they came across a log hunting cabin. The door was locked but a couple of the windows were broken. Merle picked the lock and they entered. Danni noticed how orderly everything was. The place was sort of frozen in time as if no one had been here since before the Walker shit. The stone fireplace was still stacked with kindling ready to be lit. Daryl had managed to shoot a few squirrels as the day went on. He'd skin them and get them ready for roasting in the fireplace.

Danni headed for the cabin's small bedroom. The dark log walls made it seem small, but the large window brought in extra light, exposing a double bed and a small dresser, the only furniture in the room.

She lay on the bed and turned on her side to gaze out the window at the setting sun, orange and pink behind the trees. Before long her exhausted body forced her mind into sleep.

Daryl was skinning the squirrels on the back porch when Merle approached.

"Queenie's awful quiet don't cha' think? Now I don't know her all that well but I know she has a motor mouth on her and she ain't used it once today."

"She's tired. Jesus Merle."

"You believe that's all there is to it?"

"What are you doing? Trying get a rise outa me, for what?"

He stopped and grabbed Daryl's arm and yanked him aside roughly then half hissed, half-whispered into his face. "You gotta snap out of this Daryl. You didn't kill that slim shady son of a bitch back there, the Governor did that. Hell, you saved him by putting that bullet in his brain. Shit, I hated that little prick, but nobody deserves to turn into a biter."

"I know I didn't. Shit Merle, I had to do it. Only...now she's always gonna remember I'm the one who-"

"Fuck what she thinks little brother. 'Sides you should be happy that guy's outta the way."

"I am, real glad. But he saved our lives Merle."

"Whatever. Get over it and get over it now or we ain't gonna get outa this. Hear me?"

"Yeah."

"Good. Things are different now. You need to grow up. People do what they gotta do or they die. More dirty work these days. Get used to it. Tell queenie to get used to it too. Ain't no such thing as happy endings no more."

... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .

A large owl swooped down from the sky and perched itself on a branch directly in their path. Merle and Daryl instinctively aimed crossbow and gun at the winged creäture that seemed to be all eyes.

"Wait." Danni whispered, walking in front of both brothers. Daryl understood immediately and put his arm out in front of Merle. "What? This girl is certifiable. No doubt." Merle sighed with exaggeration.

She looked up as she approached the owl. The bird seemed to stare at Danni. She knew it was the same owl they'd seen at the ghost house. She'd save its life twice now. It reminded her to pull on her own power. She heard Nana Brigid's voice in her head. "You, like the owl, have great intuition and courage and always follow your instincts. You reveal hidden truths, see omens, secrets and help unmask those who wish to deceive you. This owl is also a sign that death is only a new beginning."

Do not forget who you are. The words echoed in her head in Nan's voice. Do not abandon your gift when you need it most.

As soon as it had appeared, the bird spread its wings and ascended with loud flapping of wings and rush of air.

"Daryl, did you see that? Did you hear..."

She woke to the empty room, asking her questions to the darkness. Shadows played on the ceiling, ghostly, tangled swaying branches from outside the window. She must have been asleep for over an hour.

"Hey, save some for me." She said emerging from the bedroom. Merle and Daryl were sitting on the floor by the stone fireplace eating the roasted squirrel Daryl had skinned earlier.

She sat between them and took the squirrel Daryl offered her. Better than nothing. She was starving.

The brothers ate noisily, Merle, the worst offender. She noticed they shared the habit of eating with their fingers, forgoing silverware, even though there was a box of plastic utensils and paper plates nearby. The chewed loudly, licking their lips and fingers eating quickly and competitively like they were used to one of them taking the last helping away from the other. Every man for himself, huh?

"Sorry, I couldn't find anything else." Daryl apologized. Before she could answer Merle interrupted.

"Nothing I like more than watching a woman eat squirrel."

"This isn't what you mean by it though, right? " Danni took the bait.

Merle laughed raucously at his own off-color joke. "No, it ain't queenie, no it ain't. Need another girl here for what I'm thinking, 'Appreciate your sense of humor, though-"

"Merle just shut the fuck up will ya?"

"Trying to have some fun. Queenie here don't mind, looks like she's been around, 'Ol Merle don't bother her none."

Daryl glared, knowing it was pointless to say anything else. Seeing them together explained a lot about Daryl's behavior.

She noticed he still had the sonogram envelope. He'd switched it to the pocket of his gray shirt when he changed after it had dried.

She smiled and felt his pride. She was giving him this, this pride because she was carrying his babies. She wanted to be alone with him, away from Merle. "You tired?"

Daryl shrugged.

"Well, I am."

He nodded.

"Sure you're not? It's been a long day."

He shrugged again.

"Jesus boy, even I know what she's trying to say!" Merle interrupted loudly. "Just close the damn door behind you. I sure as hell don't need to know what you two are gonna be getting up to now." Merle stood and flopped back onto the couch.

"Jesus Merle." Daryl, couldn't help but feel the twinge of humiliation Merle could always inflict.

Danni took Daryl's hand and pulled him up. "Ignore him." She said loudly. As she led Daryl to the bedroom, she looked back at Merle whose face showed a 'mind your own business' scowl.

She smiled an ' I won' at him.

In the soft glow of the three candles she'd lit, Danni still looked a little shell-shocked. She hadn't said much of anything in hours. Daryl wanted to comfort her, but as usual his mind was blank. He'd been afraid of saying the wrong thing. "Hey, you haven't talked since we were out in the woods. Some kind of record for you."

She didn't laugh. "Thank you for doing it. You always do what has to be done. I respect that, you know?" She remembered the owl's message.

"I had to."

"I know. You didn't kill him Daryl. You saved him. He didn't turn." She looked at him. "Stephen's gone. We are here now. Its supposed to be like this."

He believed her, but her face was still pained, her eyes far away. He felt distant, empty and lonely for her. He wanted her here with him. Really here. He did what he knew would work.

"I think I know what you need." He pulled her shirt off and dropped his head to her neck, kissing the hollow of her throat, and rubbing his thumbs over her nipples. She sighed and reached for him. "Are you sure? Your ribs, God you must be in so much pain."

He shook his head "Its okay, I feel better than I did last night. Been too long." He said against her ear. For both of them he thought. He took off the rest of her clothing as well as his own saying, "Not gonna lose me." He laid on his back and pulled her on top of him. "C'mon, it's easier this way," he said as she placed a thigh on either side of him, rubbing against his already sizable hard on. She smiled at how little it took, a look, a little kissing and he was there. The whole scene echoed the night in the Greene's farm after the horse had thrown Daryl when he looked for Sophia and Andrea shot him. The night of the spell, the night they conceived. It was hard to believe they'd gone through so much together. She looked down at his face and read the story it told.

"I'm not too heavy for you, am I?"

"Hell no, your body feels great. You ain't as big as you think."

"If I hurt you let me know."

He just shook his head, looking at her, beautiful above him, with her full, round belly. He meant it when he told her she was sexier than ever. He loved her new curves and how her eyes shone. Ultimately, he realized getting her pregnant was confirmation of his masculinity. He was damn proud. Her strength made her beautiful too. Her confidence and grace going through it all, taking one for the team, was beautiful to him. He knew how much she was doing for him, for them.

Instead of sliding herself onto his erection as he'd anticipated, she pulled him toward her and brushed her lips against his and kissed him softly. There was an undercurrent of affection as well as sensuality in the kiss, her tongue stabbed against his gently and sucked lightly while her hands caressed his body lazily and he lay back down.

She licked the palm of her right hand then slid it over the top of his erection stroking him softly then more urgently rubbing back and forth creating a tantalizing friction that left him gasping with pleasure. A shudder passed through his body and he had no choice but to drop his head back to the pillow and close his eyes. If he watched her doing it, he'd come in two seconds flat. Suddenly she stopped.

They both stayed there for a moment and looked at one another, sharing the silence in complete and utter comfort.

"Let me fuck you," he groaned, unable to wait another second to be inside her. He grabbed her hips and pushed her back moving her above him. "Now."

He was already hard enough for her to let him enter, but she pushed his hands away steadying herself above him, a knee on either side of his pelvis. She wanted to feel needed, she wanted him to be desperate for her like he used to be; like he'd die without her. She needed that assurance.

"C'mon, please..." His shoulders and head came off the mattress slightly and his breath hitched as his stomach tightened in anticipation. She couldn't keep his hands off of her hips so she let him guide her very slowly on to him and allowed him entry. She closed her eyes and sank down gently on him. He said please.

Her palms rested flat against his chest, as she moved her hips slowly back and forth. Then she began bringing her body up and pressing him very deeply inside as she came down, spinning her pelvis slowly. "I'm fucking you." Her voice was so low, throaty, and full of desire for him that his hips involuntarily jerked forward and he almost lost it then. She began thrusting down a bit faster on him, excited by the look of his face, feeling his nails digging into her thighs to stop him from climaxing too soon. As she increased her speed, his hands moved to grip her hips, pushing her down on him even harder. She watched the expressions on his face as he lay beneath her, eyes closed. She moved up and tilted her hips forward at the same time then moved down and tilted her hips backward, leaning forward as she did. She repeated this same motion at different paces, watching him. She loved his expression of want when she found the perfect pace.

Dizzy in ecstasy, her body moved faster and harder as their thrusts worked against each other and then his grip on her hips tightened pushing her clit against him, the friction set her off. Neither was completely in control of the fucking, they took turns.

She moaned hard, loudly uttering "Daryl. oh my God Daryl!" as her world spun and the waves rushed her. She continued to look at him, hardly able to focus on his features, as his hands pushed and pulled her hips back and forth. She could feel him sliding into her harder with urgency and as she contracted around him, his eyes now lost focus and she made him lose his sense of gravity. He groaned "Awww..." and expelled a loud, harsh breath. She felt him release deep inside and used her last bits of strength to keep moving a little bit faster, holding him. Then, she could see nothing at all, as the world shifted its center to this one point. With this one last thrust, she came harder the second time around and that maddeningly sweet ache pulseddown through her pelvis. It was almost too much to bear. She whimpered "Oh fuck..." and held her breath as the ache throbbed and fluttered to its finish. She leaned her palms on his chest, dizzy and shaking, looking at him while her breathing slowed. The rosy glow that had spread across her cheeks and her beautiful now brown eyes shone with a light that made Daryl's heart skip a beat. There was something about her that was indefinable, almost bordering on paranormal. She moved off him, still shaky and lay beside him, her head on his chest feeling his heart racing. They needed the release and the fulfillment sex gave them. It had been too long. They both lay there listening to the other's breathing, kissing a little, and generally savoring how good it felt to have found someone who stimulated them beyond the physical plane. As always, sex had reached them emotionally as well.

"Can I do something?" She asked. He looked at her questioningly. "Turn over." She ordered gently. "Please."

He did and she started to lightly trace the scars slashing across his back. He shuddered at first but let her continue. She hadn't had this much open access to his back since that night at the CDC, so long ago. He'd always remained slightly self-conscious and even as intimate as they were he never let her see his back in the light. He still changed his clothing facing her.

"What's this about? Why are you doin' this?" He started to ask.

Those were his marks, his shame. Daryl had never meant to share them, not even with Danni. It had just happened and sometimes he wished it hadn't. She never did anything to make him feel ashamed, that was his job. They were ugly and represented how weak he was. How he couldn't stand up to anybody, couldn't be a man. He'd never been able to protect himself. Never been able to do anything. Just like last night. That wasn't who he wanted to be. But the feeling never really left.

"We need the pain. It makes us who we are. But we don't have to be ashamed or controlled by it. It doesn't have to destroy us. I've said it to you before and I'll keep saying it until you believe me. It wasn't your fault."

How the hell does she always know what I'm thinking, feeling?

"I wish it never happened to you, but it did. It doesn't make you ugly or less of a man. You are the strongest man I've ever met. I love everything about you, even these." She continued to lightly trace the scars. She kissed them. "You fought, you survived." She paused. "Daryl, you never have to show them to me again. I don't care, I just wanted you to know."

He swallowed hard, not knowing what to say. Sometimes she said so much it overwhelmed him. She expressed herself to as great a degree that he didn't. No words came to him, so he turned back around.

He didn't want to talk about himself anymore. "Hey, let's look at 'em again." He pulled the ultrasound envelope from his shirt pocket on the floor.

"We made them and they're beautiful. Daryl they're perfect."

"Yeah, they're perfect."

... ... .. .. .. .. .. .

Merle lay on the couch in the adjoining room listening to them. Was he jealous? Jealous of queenie taking Daryl away or of what his brother had that he didn't? Not just getting laid. She was making Daryl happy. When he'd asked Luanne why she'd bothered with him, no good Merle Dixon, she always said 'I figure everybody deserves somebody who makes them look forward to tomorrow.' Well, except him. He'd blown his chance. He chuckled aloud at the thought. Little brother found it, huh? He thought about the hug queenie gave him. Maybe it was time to let up on her a little. Maybe.

Right now they were making too much goddamned noise. He couldn't take hearing one more moan or Oh God Daryl or fuck me hard. Queenie's damn motor mouth didn't stop even while she was getting fucked. Jesus he hated noisy bitches in bed. She was annoying but at least Daryl had it in him. He stepped outside slamming the screen door behind him.

Later that night, Danni was surprised to find Merle out on the rickety porch silently looking at the stars, doing what she had come to do. She didn't startle him, he spoke first, sensing her presence the way Daryl always did.

"You can see the hunter's belt up there" He mentioned "Orion."

"My nan called him Cernunnos in Celtic. Hunter and god of the winter sun."

Maybe Merle and I can have a real conversation, she thought, but then he said, "You should be thanking me darlin'."

"For what?"

"I taught Daryl everything he knows." Merle raised an eyebrow. Yeah, this was the Merle she knew.

"Oh you did huh?"

"Mmm hmm. Taught him how to handle a woman. Gave him all my secrets."

Danni wanted to laugh but instead she said. "I heard all about how you helped Daryl out in that area."

Merle didn't know if she was serious, so he changed the subject. "You know that boy acts differently around you. Different than with anybody else. I've known Daryl all his life and there ain't never been a person who could touch, never mind talk to him like you do. I mean he actually talks back right? Even his face looks different when he's around you. You know that?"

"I told you he loves me." She said it quietly.

"You love him too?" Merle could hardly get the word love out.

"Yeah."

"He ever raise a hand to you?"

"Never."

"Ever afraid he might?

"No. What are you trying to say? "

"Don't know what Daryl told you about himself but he ain't daddy material. We wasn't blessed with what you'd call father of the year."

"I figured as much. But that doesn't mean you have to be like him. Daryl isn't."

"And what you know about it?"'

"Let's just say my mom and your Dad would have gotten along just fine. Oh and my stepdad, that'd be number two, pretty handy with a belt like your father was."

Merle's face registered sympathy for a brief second before he scowled and said "Oh, so you had a tough life, huh little queenie, want me to throw a little pity party for you? That what you want?"

"No, I gave myself plenty of those. I'm just saying that you don't have to let them win. I'm not my mother. It took me a long time to believe it, but I do. You're not your father."

"Yeah there's that motor mouth again." He dismissed her.

"Stop trying to scare me off because it's not gonna work. And its a little late for that now anyway. Daryl's gonna be father in a few months. And he wants to be. I told you-"

"Then I'm making you an offer." Merle cut her off. "I'm only making it once, you got one chance. I'm taking Daryl and were getting out of here. Go off and make it on or own. The way it was 'sposed to be when this whole thing started. You can come with us. Now look, I don't like you, but like I said you do something for Daryl and well, the kids and all. You and me just stay out of each other's way."

"I'm going back to the prison. I'm pregnant, I need a stable place to have them."

"That your answer? I take it as a no to my offer."

"Daryl isn't leaving either. Things are different for him now."

"Yeah, they are. Rick says jump and Daryl wants to know how high."

"It's not like that. Rick needs him. Respects him. He depends on Daryl." She absently put her hands on her belly when she added "He's got a new family now."

"You keep telling yourself that."

"Don't ask Daryl to leave. Don't make him choose. It will kill him. He'll choose me, but it'll kill him to leave you."

"You keep trying to get under my skin, I'm gonna cut that tongue out."

"The truth is this could be your shot. With your skills it could be a whole new beginning. You could talk to Rick, talk to the group. You could stay with Daryl." I can't believe I'm saying this.

"There ain't gonna be no damn ticker tape parade for me there. Besides I ain't gonna live like sheep. That's all ya'll are you know. A bunch of damn sheep. Those people look at me like I'm the devil. I ain't begging."

"Yeah, it would be hard, but you won't even try? You're choosing to stay on the outside and now you want to take Daryl down with you? Not gonna happen."

"You're as much on the outside as I am, girl. I see it."

Not anymore, she thought. "What does that mean?"

"Let's just say it takes one to know one.'

"What are you talking about?"

"Just because a chicken has wings doesn't mean it can fly darlin'. You just think about it, you really want to spend the rest of your life catering to that bunch back there at the prison? You ain't their kind neither. I see it you know."

"You can't think like that anymore. The world is different now, you can't do things without people. "

Merle snorted and spit dismissively.

"You know that wall you put up Merle? Well, it keeps out pain, but it keeps out people too. You're going shut out Daryl if you aren't careful."

"So about my deal, I take your answer as no." He turned away, not giving her a chance to say another word.

... ... ... .. .. . .. .. .. ... .

Danni was agitated when she went back into the bedroom. "Damn him. " she muttered,

"Hey what's wrong? Why you up?" Daryl woke from his light sleep when he felt her lay back on the mattress beside him.

"I know he's your brother, but he's a goddamned bastard and he pisses me off."

"What did he say to you now?" He turned toward her and raised himself up one elbow.

"He wants me out of the picture you know. He really does."

"No, he don't. He talks a game, that's just Merle. He don't mean it."

"Daryl he doesn't want to go back to the prison. Even if you could get him there, the group isn't gonna want him. You know that right?"

"I'll talk to them. They'll understand. Merle, Merle's blood."

"It's not gonna work. He'll stir things up." She wanted to say cause problems.

"Its gotta work."

"It would be a tough sell."

"Sounds like maybe you want him gone too." When she didn't answer he added, "Don't ask me to leave him. I already did that once."

"I'd never do that. I'm with you, no matter what."

"Even if it means leaving the group? If they don't accept him?""

"Is that what you want?"

"No, but if I have to...he's my brother." Daryl's voice broke just a little when he said it. "And you're, you're-"

"Not going anywhere." She said and pushed him back down. She lay with her head on his shoulder, listening to him breath, watching the tangled branches sway on the ceiling.

Merle was only an enemy if she let him be one. She knew what she had to do and recalled the legacy of the strength card.

Strength indicates this is not a time to act out in rage or in hatred or even fear, but instead to look at the situation from a place of love and compassion. If you have doubted yourself, the Strength card gives you the confidence to fight those doubts. Additionally, if you are feeling worn out or stressed, Strength tells you are going to find the strength within yourself and within others to keep going. When Strength appears in a Tarot reading, be assured that you have enough.

She must not take the emotionally driven path, but make choices that are best for everyone. It was the biggest challenge she'd faced. She had to get Merle back to the prison then she had to convince Rick and the group to let him stay. She'd once done the same thing with Daryl. Brought him into the group and helped them to accept him. That was what was supposed to happen with Merle. That was fated. And of course the lion taming aspect:

Why would you, fair maiden, want to keep company with a beast?" Asks the Fool.

"Because he, also, is filled with a wonderful energy." The Maiden says. "It is wild and fierce, but it can be banked, like a fire in a hearth. I knew if he would take direction from me, we could all be warmed."

Time to tame the second Dixon lion.

Ultimately it was all for Daryl. She'd do it for him. She slipped quietly out of the bedroom making sure Daryl was still asleep.

"Hey," She called softly to Merle's back as he hunched and tended the fire. He never seemed to sleep.

"I have an offer for you." She approached and sat on the couch. He turned from the fire and stood looking down at her curiously.

"You come back to the prison and I'll do whatever I can to make them accept you. If it doesn't work Daryl and I will go with you. I Promise. I'll stay out of your way and you'll have your brother back."

Luanne had sun-colored hair and he'd lost her. Daryl didn't have to repeat his mistakes. "Deal."

He surprised her. "Really?" She almost fell over. "You're kidding. Where's the argument?"

"No argument honey." He gave her that shit eating grin, but his eyes were kind for a quick second. "You know what they say, forgive your enemies. It messes up their heads."

"Better make sure you know who your enemies are." She warned.

We assume others show love the same way we do — and if they don't, we worry it's not there.