"Are you saying-" Danni asked as Daryl pulled her along beside him towards the truck.

"We have as much claim to that place as any of them. You dreamed it, you found it; it's yours."

"Slow down," She complained looking back at Merle walking at a snail's pace a ways behind them. Daryl stopped and narrowed his eyes. "We belong there."

"They don't want us. What happened to don't beg?"

"Its Merle they don't want."

"So you mean go back without him?"

"We can't do this out here. I promised to take care of you and keep you safe. That's what I'm doing."

"Without Merle?" She asked again.

He shrugged. Who am I? What do I want to fight for? He knew he was a man who had to keep his family safe and alive. He had a responsibility to Danni.

"If I have to."

"You don't really mean that."

Daryl turned and watched his brother following several yards behind them. Danni saw his torn ambivalent, expression. "Don't matter." He sighed with resolve.

"After everything we went through? You just found him, you can't leave him out here. I know you. You can't."

Daryl looked at her incredulously. "I thought you-'

"You need him. You can't-"

"Can't what?" As if on cue Merle sauntered up to them.

"We're going back."

"Back to that bunch of... they drove you out. They the kind of people you want to place your bets on again? Dunno little brother…you sound crazier than a shithouse rat right now."

"There's food, shelter, weapons, a pot to piss in. What's so bad about that? Besides Herschel's a doctor and Danni needs a safe place to have the babies. We're going."

"You gonna beg them, beg them to take you back? That what I taught you? You know how pathetic you sound right now?"

Daryl dismissed him and kept moving toward the pickup. He thinks I'm an idiot. Daryl looked over at Danni. She didn't think so. Fuck Merle; always a stubborn son of a bitch.

"Hey, man. You know I can't go with you."

"You could if you wanted to." He stopped, but Danni continued, leaving the brothers to their conversation.

"I nearly killed the Chinese kid, you heard what your new friends were saying about me back there."

Again Daryl didn't answer just shook his head.

"Knew it would come down to this you choosing queenie over me. Choosing the people who made me lose my damn hand. I see how it is…"

"Man I ain't choosing nobody over you. You're the one choosing. If you weren't such a self-centered piece of shit none of this woulda' happened. You cut your own hand off, you did! How many times I gotta say it? I went back for you! You just took off like you always did, just like when we was kids! Who left who then?" Daryl started away from him.

"So that's what this is about?" Merle shouted. "You leaving me here trying get even? Don't walk away from me! You don't know..." Merle reached for Daryl and caught his shirt pulling back with more force that he meant to. Daryl tripped and fell forward on his knees as the worn material gave way and tore open revealing the marks of weakness, shame and mutilation he had fought to hide from his brother his whole life. Now it was out there in plain sight. Exposed. Merle stared down at the horror he tried to pretend didn't exist; all that he'd blocked out with the violence, drugs and drinking and his own self-destruction for all those years. It had been worse than he'd thought. And it hadn't worked.

"I… " He didn't know what to say.

It was one thing to recognize Daryl's flinching and inability to be touched, but to see the physical evidence of what their father had done was another. Merle felt his own shame at leaving Daryl there alone. He was ultimately responsible for what happened to his brother. He hadn't protected him. Daryl was right; he was a self-centered piece of shit who thought only about himself. His shock and discomfort at feeling emotion kept him from speaking or even getting angry for the moment.

Daryl remained still for a second knowing he couldn't hide it any longer. Merle had his proof that he was a weak pussy who couldn't defend himself.

Neither man spoke for almost thirty seconds, but it felt like an eternity. Finally, Daryl picked up some arrows and the crossbow which had landed on the ground in front of him. He stood and walked toward Danni, who'd retreated to the front of the truck while the brothers had it out. She wordlessly pulled another shirt from his backpack and helped him put it on.

"Hey, where are you going?" Merle asked regaining his composure. "I'm still talking to you!" His shame morphed quickly to anger and defensiveness a faulty coping skill both brothers often used.

"Yeah what else is new? Why don't you try shutting your damn trap for one second? Stop telling me what to do all the time!"

"You turn around and say that to my face! Huh?"

"Merle shut the fuck up!" Danni couldn't hold back any longer. She turned to Daryl, "And you too. Stop fighting against each other and start fighting for each other. Isn't it time? The past is over; let it go. This is your second chance, you both said that, so don't blow it. Stop being idiots!"

They stared at her wordlessly.

"I'm done." She wearily turned and pulled herself up into the cab of the truck, leaned back against the seat and closed her eyes. Her head hurt and her back was aching. She let her hair out of its ponytail and fanned it forward like a curtain then pulled the hood of her sweatshirt on and tried to block everything out.

" Are you coming?" Daryl asked Merle when Danni's words finally sunk in.

"I... I just can't go with you."

Daryl pressed his lips together tightly and nodded. His voice lost it's the deep gravel and took on the tone of his younger self. "You know, I may be the one walking away... but you're the one that's leaving. Again."

Merle watched Daryl round the front of the truck get into the driver's seat. He noticed Danni lay her head on Daryl's shoulder. Damn it all, was she right? Was the past over for Daryl? Could his younger brother ever forgive him for running out and leaving him in the hands of that monster? God he wanted a drink. His face contorted as it battled regret and fought his pride and every instinct screamed for him to let Daryl go. I don't deserve a second chance. Sun colored hair. Finally, he trudged toward the vehicle. He opened the door.

"Move over queenie." Was all he said as he got in beside her.

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

"Hey!" Daryl shouted. "Open up!"

Rick saw the battered red pickup outside the gate and almost didn't believe it. He had the second chance to listen to his conscience as Herschel said. He let them in and after locking the gate hopped on the back hitching a ride up the dirt drive.

Daryl jumped down from the truck and immediately approached Rick. "We're not asking this time. It's gonna work, we'll make it work. Hell, we take our own cell block if that's what you want."

Merle was silent for a change, trying his best to coöperate.

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Your place is here. All three of you."

Daryl shot a glance back at Merle.

Rick stared at Danni who stood between the two brothers looking weary and burdened. He'd let her down earlier and his regret pained him. She was back and he'd make sure she'd never have to leave again. He suddenly moved toward her and took her into his arms giving her a tight hug.

She was caught completely by surprise but didn't move for a few seconds. She hugged him back quickly, then pulled away. " I-"

"Look I'm glad your back and I'm sorry about before, It won't happen again." Rick explained "Don't worry about the others." He headed inside.

She looked at Daryl and shrugged.

The group was quietly resigned to the situation. Glenn and Maggie were still actively upset, but knew they had no choice but to accept Merle. As everyone sat around the common table, Rick pulled Daryl aside. "I'm trusting you to keep an eye on your brother. I'm glad your back really, but if he causes a problem its on you."

Daryl nodded. "This is all I'm asking for."

"Now we have a situation with Walkers getting in the tombs. I need your help figuring out where they're coming from and clearing them out. They're getting too close."

Daryl nodded. "What do you want to do?"

As they continued to speak quietly the rest of the group began to disperse when Merle cleared his throat and spoke, stopping them and surprising everyone most of all Daryl.

"You know, if we're gonna live under the same roof, we should clear the air." He looked at Glenn. "That whole beat down thing, that was just business. Carrying out orders."

"Hmm. Like the Gestapo." Maggie shot back.

"Yeah. Exactly."

The group stood around looking doubtful.

"I've done a lot of things I ain't proud of. Before and after. Anyway, hope we can get past it. Let bygones be bygones."

Merle's demeanor was calmer and Danni thought he was actually trying. She figured that was as close to an apology as Merle Dixon was capable of.

"You know, I think if we try we can make this work." Andrea suddenly interjected. "Merle you sound sincere. And we can always use another set of strong capable hands around here.'

"Thanks Blondie. That's the spirit."

No one else echoed Andrea's sentiment. In fact an even more uncomfortable silence followed her statement. When the silence started to get too heavy, Rick stepped in and told everyone Merle was staying and they'd better get used to it so Danni tried to let the tension leave her. She heard him say 'trial period' and 'put him in his own cell block away from us if it comes to that.'

She still couldn't look at the group. She'd have to talk to Glenn and Maggie, but right now the way they were glaring told her it was not the right time. Besides she felt betrayed by their earlier actions and needed time to let the stinging rejection fade. Danni felt everyone's disapproving, disappointed eyes on her. Carol's expression surprised her most of all. Glenn's and Maggie's she could understand, but Carol looked almost like her mom had looked when she thought Danni was making a life destroying decision, which was all the time. She didn't need that now; that feeling like you can't win no matter what you do. She noticed Merle staring at her. She just nodded and turned away heading outside. Daryl was about to follow when his brother took his arm. "What's say you and I get that shit unpacked again, huh?" He sensed she needed time to herself.

"Danni I'm glad you're back." Rick walked up behind her. She didn't say anything just continued to stare through the chain link at the overgrown yard where some black crows picked at the carrion on the ground. "I know I Iet you down before."

She shrugged. "Not the first time somebody has. I'll live."

"I'm sorry about that. Think we can get past it?"

She motioned to the crows. "There's been a ton of them around lately, huh?"

"They're out there all the time now. I've never seen so many before."

"Crows will eat almost anything; they can survive anywhere. They are associated with magic, unseen forces and spiritual strength." She sounded like she was reciting lessons from memory. "Morrigan is an Irish and Celtic Goddess. She can shapeshift into a crow or raven. They say she would take this form and fly over battlefields calling on the spirits of dead warriors. She's connected to the Great Irish Mother Goddess Danu. The Morrigan is like a warrior mother. She was so badass she gave birth to twins right after running a race against a horse. She won." The message was not lost on Danni. Seeing the crows sent an energy pulsing through her. The crows were here because of her and she knew it. But why? Why was she being chosen?

Rick listened, not sure why she was telling him this.

"Some legends say she is a war-goddess but my Nan taught me that she is the mother goddess of sovereignty who guides and protects a king."

"Why are you say-?"

'We're okay Rick. You and me. We're fine."

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

Danni spent the rest of the evening after dinner unpacking and getting their space back to its comfortable homey state. She glanced at the items for the babies and felt relief. Relief for when they were here. Getting them here was what was worrying her lately. The closer she came to labor the more reality set in and scared her. She always thought she was an expert at handling pain. Tattoos were nothing after whippings. But the unknown pain of childbirth was scaring the shit out of her. It could last hours; a whole day, right? Most women got really good pain meds. Not her. She knew she should stop thinking about it.

She curled up on her bed with a pile of Sophia's books and her tarot cards. Sometimes reading children's books was the only way to figure out how she felt.

"Hey." Daryl's unmistakable gravelled tone pulled her away from her Aesop's fables book.

She looked up.

"Can I….?" He went on.

"You don't need to ask."

"Thought maybe you wanted to be alone. "

She shook her head. "Not from you. Just everybody else. They are giving me a headache."

"Want me to talk any of 'em? Glenn?"

"I can't believe you just said that."

He shrugged. "Don't like seeing you like this." His voice was softer than usual.

She gave a small smile. "Thanks for getting us back here."

"To what? All this?" He said it sarcastically, but Danni was serious.

"Its home."

He nodded and turned the corner of his mouth into a small smile.

"Now lay down I'll read to you."

"Yes ma'am." He stretched out beside her as she sat with the book on her lap. She absently brushed the shaggy bangs off his eyes and stroked his hair as she read.

She began the fable: A Fox was boasting to a Cat of its clever devices for escaping its enemies. "I have a whole bag of tricks" he said, 'which contains a hundred ways of escaping my enemies.'

"I have only one," said the Cat "but I can generally manage with that."

Just at that moment they heard the cry of a pack of hounds coming towards them, and the Cat immediately scampered up a tree and hid herself in the boughs.

"This is my plan," said the Cat. "What are you going to do?"

The Fox thought first of one way, then of another, and while he was debating, the hounds came nearer and nearer, and at last the Fox in his confusion was caught up by the hounds and soon killed by the huntsmen. Miss Puss, who had been looking on, said, the moral of this fable is Better one safe way than a hundred on which you cannot reckon."

As usual her soothing, voice put him to sleep. She looked down at his face. It appeared troubled like he was somewhere he'd rather not be.

The rough hand on his shoulder woke him, the next thing he knew fourteen year old Daryl hit the floor hard. He barely had his eyes open when the old man dragged him by the arm out to the table. Daryl stood, rubbing his eyes adjusting to the low light in the main room of the trailer. His gut twisted and he almost puked up bile which was all he had in his stomach when he saw the surface of the table. The more than half empty bottle of whiskey and the old pistol. Merle was already sitting there resigned, his face a mess of cuts and bruises, one eye already swollen shut. That's right Merle was back; he was on parole and needed an address.

Fuck, not again. Daryl's breath started to get shallower and he felt dizzy.

"Have a seat boy. Time to play the game." His old man half slurred half snarled with a mean squint.

Daryl slumped into the wooden chair and couldn't look Merle in the eye.

His father smacked him across the face. "Sit up boy."

"We got ourselves a game here. You and me." Merle gestured between them, his voice loud with bravado, trying to play it cool. He wanted Daryl to focus on him, try to gain some strength from him. The desperation in his brother's eyes was killing him.

Merle laughed at their father. "You want a game. Let's play. It's okay Daryl, you're okay."

Daryl knew Merle was doing his best Robert DeNiro in the Deer Hunter impression. He laughed defiantly at their old man as daddy Dixon loaded his lucky bullet into Granddad's revolver, and spun the chamber with a rolling click.

He slammed the pistol on the table between his sons and spun it like the arrow on a kid's board game. The muzzle of the gun pointed to Merle indicating he'd go first. Their father held his shotgun to Daryl's shoulder just to make sure Merle didn't get any ideas about pointing the pistol anywhere other than his own temple. He knew Daryl was his older son's one weakness. The adrenaline coursed through Merle's veins. He looked hard at Daryl, willing his younger brother to be tough and not show fear or weakness in front of the sadistic bastard. Merle guffawed and hesitated just a bit too long. The old man backhanded him hard across the face. "You want a game?" he echoed DeNiro putting the gun to his temple. He roared and pulled the trigger. With the click Merle grimaced and grunted defiantly at their father who then slid the gun across the table to Daryl while grinning wickedly.

Merle saw Daryl's panic rise, his breathing growing more shallow. He shook his head and clenching his jaw looked up quickly at Merle.

Their father hit Daryl so hard across the face he nearly fell out of the chair.

"You motherfucker!" Merle shouted at their father. Then to Daryl, "Its gonna be alright boy, pick up that gun and just shoot."

"Dammit it." Daryl's voice was strangled, and felt like his lungs would explode. "This is fucked!" He slammed the gun back down. Their father hit him again.

"You bastard, goddamn you I'm gonna fuckin' kill you!" Merle screamed again at their old man.

"Yeah and I'll kill this little shit right here." He shoved the hunting rifle harder into Daryl's shoulder. Merle turned his attention back to Daryl.

"Do it, fucking pussy, c'mon. I thought you weren't no weak piece of shit!" Merle egged him on trying to get him angry.

Daryl held the gun to his head with a shaking hand and stared Merle in the eye. Merle didn't doubt the old man would kill them both. His drunken rages were worse since their mother had died.

"Do it fuckin pussy, go on unless you don't got the guts? Do it!" Merle was almost screaming, trying to push Daryl to his limit. "Stop actin' like a little bitch! Do it!"

Merle's voice was filling Daryl's head fighting with the panic already in there. His breathing was short and quick between gritted teeth. He squinted refusing to let tears of terror escape while he counted to three and pulled the trigger. 'Not a bitch, not a pussy!' he screamed silently in his head. With the click he dropped the gun onto the table, expelling all his breath and almost vomited.

"Ha ha ha! " Merle started that maniacal laugh again. "Ya did it." Merle was almost kind when he said it. A tear of terrified relief did escape Daryl's slitted eyes as he almost smiled in victory. Until the old man put the gun back into Merle's hand and aimed the rifle at him still grinning.

Merle kept up the laugh. He tried to get Daryl to laugh with him. "Alright, all right we're showing this prick."

Daryl halfheartedly joined Mere's almost psychotic chortling at that point. He got another hard backhand across the bridge of his nose. Merle's eyes were so full of rage and hatred for his father that Daryl swore he'd turn the gun on him. Part of him wanted him to, just like the scene in the movie where DeNiro saves Walken and kills their Viet Cong captors and gets them out. It never happened. The old man must have some power over Merle too.

They struggled through one more turn each when the old man announced gleefully it was round five "dead man's round."

"You two pathetic worthless excuses for men. Ain't no sons a mine." He said suddenly, stopping the game and grabbed the pistol from Merle. He looked down at Daryl's crotch. "Least ya didn't piss yourself this time. Still a weak ass pussy. "

He stumbled off to the living room and fell into his beat up recliner to pass out. Merle saw Daryl still shaking. No matter how many times the bastard put them through this he never got used to it.

"C'mon Daryl let's go. Get your shoes on we're getting out of here."

They got into the truck and headed out so Merle could score. He had a way to just forget. Daryl didn't have that luxury. He never took to drugs, saw Merle do too many stupid things. He pulled a bottle of whiskey from the glove box and took a shot. It stopped his shaking, but not the feeling of helplessness. That never left anymore. Daryl looked out at the night sky wondering how there could be stars and that moon and it was all so calm and normal up there while down here his life was chaos...pure hell. The pine trees whipped by as Merle broke the speed limit on the winding back roads. Daryl wanted to keep driving and never go back but that never happened.

"We won again little brother. Now come on keep drinking and get that shit outa your head."

Daryl grunted. Won. The whole point of winning Russian roulette is living just to die another day.

And then Merle was gone again and it was just Daryl alone. His old man making him play the game by himself. He wished one of these days his daddy would just let him play out dead man's round. Then it would be over. He'd put the gun to his temple yell 'fuck' as loud as he could and instead of the click of an empty chamber he'd hear a thunder-clap then nothing; he'd finally be free."

"Hey, wake up.. are you okay? "

Daryl opened his eyes, a cold sweat covered his entire body and he couldn't breath; his heart was pounding out of his chest.

"You were yelling, are you okay?"

He could hardly focus on Danni. He was still back in his dream putting that gun to his head. He got up and started pacing, unable to shake the memory of the many nights his father made him play the game. It was worse without Merle.

"Daryl talk to me please. Please."

He kept pacing.

"Sometimes we put walls up not to keep people out but to see cares enough to knock them down."

"One of your quote things?" His voice was shaky, but her quirky habit of reciting those damn sayings of hers, comforted him.

"I've never seen you have a nightmare before. What the fuck happened to you in Woodbury? That's what this is about isn't? You can tell me."

"You just won't let it go. Fine, you wanna know?" Maybe she was right. He hadn't had nightmares about his past since before he met Danni. It was like she had cured him or something, but now they were back. He couldn't look at her. He just walked in small circles as he spoke.

"Before they put Merle and me together in that pit, I was alone. They had a sack over my head. My hands were tied behind my back. No weapons. Know how that feels?" His voice got angry. "Do you? Shit I couldn't do nothing. That what you wanna know? What weak piece of shit I am! They were beating the crap out of me and I couldn't do a goddamned thing. Couldn't fight back... couldn't see where the punches were coming from. Couldn't fight back." He repeated the phrase. He was quiet for a good minute, but his face told her there was more; something worse.

"They...took turns holding a gun to my head and played Russian roulette." He spat it out. "Know how that feels? Those pricks watched me, waiting to see me break down and beg for my life. Taking turns pulling that trigger, laughing at me. Didn't do it. I didn't let them win. But knowing I was gonna die...just taking it. Do you know what it feels like? Like you're already dead and there ain't nothing you can do…..helpless." When he said that word his voice broke harder than she'd ever heard. "Those assholes made me feel that again, something I thought was gone." He couldn't believe he was admitting this to her.

Just like he used to make me feel. "My stepdad did the same thing to me."

"What do you mean?"

He knew what had happened to Danni. All the stuff she'd told Carol hadn't changed how he felt about her. Hell, he loved her more, respected her more. Maybe it was time for him to tell her. To trust that she'd understand, that she wouldn't reject him.

He sat down slowly and faced her. "You ever see 'The Deer Hunter'?"

"Sure."

"You know the Russian roulette scene... well my old man used to make me and Merle…"

"Oh my god." she said knowing what he was about to say. "No." she couldn't think of anything more horrific. What that must have done to him….done to Merle… "He didn't-"

"Yeah. Yeah, he did."

She looked at the pain and the vulnerability in his face. It was only for her.

"All the time. And when Merle was gone he made me do it alone. All five rounds just for me. Sometimes I wanted the bullet to be there, just to stop everything." He snorted and let the breath hiss between his teeth. "So? Think I'm too fucked up for you now?"

She shook her head sadly. "Never. You know that."

"Nice family you married into huh? Hit the Jackpot. What's it they say it's all in the genes." He tried to sound flip, but she heard the pain.

"Don't do that. I'm not worried."

He chewed ferociously on the skin around his thumbnail as he went on. "When I was a kid, him touching me was all pain. Hitting, whipping... shit it didn't matter, it was just about the pain. He bent my fingers so far back they broke. All about feeling the pain and keeping quiet. It was worse when you-"

"Cried or screamed. I know." Danni finished. He looked over and nodded.

"Worse when you tried to stop it so-"

"You just didn't. I know that too."

"I just let him. I just took it so I figured it was true I was a weak piece of shit. I didn't get out. I didn't leave like Merle did. I wasn't strong enough. He said I was worthless every day of my damn life. Worthless, ugly, stupid and good for nothing. I was just alone and figured I was 'sposed to be alone. Even when he was gone and it was me and Merle again, I was used to Merle saying I was an idiot, and I never did nothing right. Pushing me around, beating the shit outa me when he was high. I never thought for myself cause I was afraid of Merle, of what he'd say or do to me if I did. Danni I didn't want to be like him, but he's my brother. My brother... but so much seemed wrong-"

"You're not like him. You weren't supposed to be him."

"Danni, you told me I wasn't stupid. Remember that night after you hurt your head? When I brought you the pills. I said Merle told me if was gonna be stupid I better be tough. You got all out of sorts at that and made me see it different. I acted pissed at you, but I wasn't. I was pissed at myself for all the years I just took it. I know he was just trying to make me tough, but I could never be what he wanted me to be, what the old man wanted me to be. But you never wanted me to be nothing." He looked up and those eyes pierced her heart so hard it skipped beats and made her dizzy. "With you I could just...be. I don't know how to say it right, shit. "

"You're saying it right." She said, her voice low and encouraging.

"You let me be...just be me."

She nodded. She wanted to tell him he did the same thing for her, but couldn't find her voice.

"You never wanted nothing from me, but I wanted to give you something." He looked down and mumbled. "Doesn't make sense." He brought his eyes back up to hers and winced."I felt like I wanted to take care of you. Never felt that before. Wasn't sure how to... I just had to."

"I think I know. The boots." She whispered, but he heard.

"Yeah," he gave a self-deprecating snort. "I was a dumbass, can't believe I did that."

"I can. It was one of the most important things you ever did. You sent me these signals and sometimes I thought I was reading them wrong, but you just kept sending them."

"And the first time I touched you... when I hoisted you up to the ladder that day in Atlanta. I didn't think twice, just did it and I figure that means something. I never did nothing like that before." He told her once that he remembered everything; he had a place in his head for every moment of their relationship. "You didn't mind, you didn't act disgusted by me."

"Disgusted? If you only knew what was going through my head."

"Danni, with you I never think, I just do shit." He shook his head. That day with Ed. He'd gone over it a million times because it changed everything. He never thought twice; he didn't know her and didn't care to. She was that weird girl from the highway trying too hard and wearing useless shoes. But when he saw her being threatened he had the urge to keep her safe. It was automatic.

"And you let me do it. You let me do stuff my way. You treat me like a person, you know?"

"Daryl you are a person."

He looked down.

"Hey don't... don't look away. I want you to believe in yourself as much as I do. There's an old tape playing in your head. Who's on that tape? Your dad? Merle? You don't need it anymore. Don't listen to them anymore, listen to yourself. It's time. You know it is."

"Why did you want to bring him back then? Why do you want him here?"

"What I see is that you're two brothers that have been looking for each other maybe for your whole lives. There's a chance for a new sort of life here cause you're not that kid anymore. You're not even the same guy, I met back on the highway. Call me crazy, but there are parts of Merle that are changing, can't you tell? A little...maybe?" She shook her head. "Maybe not." They both laughed. "Daryl I have this kinda hope that things might get better and there's a chance that you and Merle can be new people, better people with each other. Maybe take it to a different level, grow and maybe start to talk. Shutting each other out and running away is never gonna heal your past. It's harder, but the right path always is. Besides you are your own person even with Merle around. You listened to yourself on that bridge. That was you talking; just you and look where you got us. Back home, safe. All of us even Merle. You did it."

How did she do it? Put everything into words like that.

Daryl remembered all those nights they played the game. Merle tried to help him the only way he know how.

He nodded. "Whenever I got pissed at you in the beginning it was really at myself. You kept telling me stuff I didn't want to hear at first. No matter what I did or said you just didn't stop."

"I wore you down didn't I?"

"Yeah and you still do."

"Its annoying isn't it?"

"Hell yeah, it is." He was grateful she lightened the mood. He was starting to get uncomfortable with his openness. She knew when it was too much for him.

"Rick needs you and he knows it. I want you to know it. Look at how he's been since you came back. He depends on you because he knows he can."

"I guess." He did feel it. He liked that Rick depended on him to get stuff done.

"So modest." She became serious. "Thank you for telling me all that. You know you are the bravest person I ever met. The strongest."

He was relieved to hear her say it. He felt empty but not drained. "I feel like that about you."

He turned with a weary sigh and laid on his stomach. She pushed his shirt up and he let her look at his scars again, without hesitation.

"Now what are you doing?" He mumbled.

"You won, you really did." She kissed his neck and traced his spine with her palm.

"Why the demons?" She asked really getting a look at the tattoo on the right side of his back for the first time. She had always focused on the lashes, but the ink called to her. The black demons were flying into each other over his shoulder-blade." Must have hurt over the bone." She traced his shoulder-blade. "And the other one here," she pulled right his arm out and turned it up to see the devil design. You never talk about them. You know about all mine."

He sighed. "Now don't make a big deal out of this."

"Me? When do I make a big deal out of anything?"

He shook his head and raised an eyebrow. "You are so...fuck it. When I was a kid, my mom took me to a fortune teller. The one in our town, conjure woman, you know, kinda like you I guess. Mom went for herself but dragged me along. When the lady looked at me she said...she said I have three demons in me... or following me or something. An' these demons are always telling me to do bad stuff."

"What? How old were you?"

"Six. Maybe seven. So anyway, when I was seventeen or something, a friend of Merle's learning how to do tattoos practiced on me. I told him to put them demons on the outside."

"Demons?" She asked again.

He rolled over. "Yeah. I never believed it. But sometimes I thought maybe that's why so much bad shit happened to me."

"She was wrong. There is no evil you. I'd sense it you know I would. What else did she say?"

"Nothing. I don't remember. "

"C'mon there must have been something else. Demons are a big deal."

"This is why I never told you about it because I knew you'd do this."

"But it means something. She saw into you. And you had dreams about the troublemakers." She touched her stomach. "Daryl do you ever think you are-"

He pulled her down carefully and kissed her to stop where she was going with this.

"I know what you're doing." She murmured into his mouth.

"Good, then just shut up for a damn minute or hour..."

She giggled. "An hour, huh?"

He was glad he didn't tell her about that moment in Woodbury in the arena when he swore she was there; when he heard her voice say those words he'd never have remembered on his own. He'd smelled honeysuckle, smelled her. He'd never hear the end of that.