"Daryl isn't it about time you get up?" Daryl struggled to open his eyes. After finally forcing his lead filled eyes open he realized something was wrong. He could feel a softness under his skin that was far from his world of grime and sleeping on floors. It was something he'd only experienced once in his life. He blinked the exhaustion from his mind and realized he was in a clean pure bed, in a room that looked like it belonged to an Ikea catalog rather than his life. The bed was huge and plush with big pillows and soft warm blankets cocooning him inside the bed. The room while tidy felt homey and lived it with different books on shelves ranging from classics to current popular novels. The breeze from outside the window carried the sound of children laughing and the smell of a cooking meat on a BBQ.

Daryl sat up trying to understand and figure out what exactly was going on. The sense of wrongness just wouldn't leave him. "Daryl?" He turned towards the voice and found a clean shaven Rick looking at him. This Rick looked closer to the Rick that he'd first met almost a year ago. Only there were no deep worry lines around his brow. Instead the lines were around his lips hinting that Rick smiled a lot. "You okay?" Rick asked concerned as Daryl stared at him wide eyed unable to say anything. "Are you still half asleep?" Rick chuckled rubbing Daryl's messy bed hair.

"Rick?" He whispered.

"Hm?"

"What's goin' on?" Rick peered at him his eyes crinkling in worry.

"Are you sure you're okay?" You're really pale." Rick pressed his hand to Daryl's forehead. "No fever. Maybe I should spend today taking care of you anyway." Rick said climbing on the bed and pressing his head against Daryl's chest. Rick smiled and hugged the hunter tightly. "I switched shifts with Shane today so we can spend the whole day together."

"Shane?" Daryl breathed a beat of cold sweat dripping down his face.

"Yeah he wanted to spend Friday night with Lori. So I agree to switch with him. So if you're planning to get into trouble wait until Friday okay?" Rick teased his eyes full of mirth. Daryl's mind struggled to keep up. He couldn't understand what was going on.

"Rick where's Carl?" He asked biting his lip. Rick titled his head in thought.

"Carl? Probably in school. I don't know. Why do you miss him? Want me to ask Shane and Lori if they want another date night Saturday. We could have him over while they're gone."

"He isn't here?" Daryl breathed his chest tight.

"No?" Rick smiled. "I know he spent those three days with us while Shane and Lori went on that trip but that doesn't mean he's ours. You can't just adopt a little brother. Though he does seem to adore you. Not that I blame him." Rick said squeezing Daryl's nose gently. "You're too cute not to adore."

"But that's…" Rick's forehead crinkled in worry.

"Daryl are you sure you're feeling okay? I'm worried about you." Rick pressed his forehead against Daryl's. The hunter blushed at the contact. "Maybe you're just trying to entice me back to bed huh?" Rick nuzzled his nose against Daryl's neck inhaling deeply. He wrapped his arms around the man and Daryl shakily squeezed back.

The calm stillness of the moment was shattered by a soft beeping noise from down below. "Damn." Rick chuckled. "Interrupted by food." Rick gave the hunter a quick peck on the lips before climbing off. "Come down when you're dressed." Rick called as he left the room.

Daryl pulled himself out of the bed and walked towards the closet. He cautiously opened the door and saw that there were some of his favorite clothes (that he'd been forced to leave behind after the walkers reached his house) mixed in next to Rick's clothes and police uniform. He fingered the fabric and realized it was clean and soft not caked in dirt and grime like all their clothes were normally. Even his clothes he took hunting were cleaned and maintained well. Something he'd never bothered with since he never saw the point, they'd get dirty again later anyway. But clearly someone had and took good care of his clothes. He noticed even his boots were cleaned from mud and gunk on the bottom. Daryl shrugged his shirt and winged vest on with his jeans that still had a hole in them. Despite the option of his old clothes Daryl knew these would be easiest to get away in. That's what mattered.

He searched under the pillows for his knife next but couldn't find it anywhere. He couldn't remember the last time he hadn't slept with a knife under his pillow. He used to do it as a child, it was a child ingrained in him. One that worked well with walkers that were just waiting to take a bite into the exhausted minds of the unprepared. Daryl worried his lip as he quietly stepped down the stairs. On all the walls was art and pictures. Mostly pictures he noticed. Pictures of him and Rick holding hands in front of monuments he'd only ever seen on TV. Several photos of them on a beach somewhere. Photos of Daryl on his bike giving a wink to the camera. Photos of Rick holding up a prize for winning a shooting competition. Even a few of him and Rick holding Carl up in front of a parade. Pictures of a life that Daryl didn't recognize.

His chest ached at the photos of happiness and joy that he didn't think could ever happen in their lives. He picked up one of him and Merle holding out a fresh kill. Merle didn't look as haunted as he normally looked. Instead he looked happy like things were actually going well. He didn't look like he was on any drugs in any of the pictures Daryl found of him. In fact he found several of Merle working on a house, what looked like this house. As Daryl finally descended the stairs he found a clean floor that opened to big windows with a big green lawn and huge trees dotting the property. Inside was full of more books, a big TV and couch. The feeling of being stuck in an Ikea catalog persisted intensified even.

On the mantle he found his beloved crossbow resting like it hadn't been used in a while. The crossbow was covered in a thin layer of dust, clearly it hadn't been used in a while. Daryl ran his fingers over it feeling like he'd found the one thing he remembered in this place.

The smell of meat tempted the hunter forward towards the next room which he discovered was a kitchen. Rick was standing in front of the stove humming softly to himself as he cooked. "Hey good morning sleepy head!"

"Mornin'." Daryl murmured. Rick stared long and hard at Daryl taking him in. "What?" The hunter asked feeling defensive.

"Nothing… it's just been a while since I've seen you wear that. Not that I don't like it. I just…" Rick shrugged and covered a sigh.

"What?" Daryl asked again trying to understand how his outfit had somehow taken the smile from Rick's lips.

"I was hoping we'd spend the day together. I know you haven't been hunting for a while but couldn't you wait? Just one more day?" He pleaded his blue eyes getting that depressed puppy quality.

"Sorry I just felt like wearin' it. I wasn' goin' anywhere." Daryl mumbled his cheeks hot. Rick's smile returned as he nodded.

"I understand! You look good in it. It's like comfort clothes right, sort of like comfort food?" Daryl shrugged. "Speaking of food I made a big breakfast." Rick put a plate full of eggs, bacon, toast, ham, and some freshly cut strawberries in front of Daryl. The hunter resisted the urge to drool. It had been so long since he'd seen food that looked that good. Daryl realized that he needed to make sure that Lori had enough to eat and pushed the food back slightly. He didn't want to tempt himself with a load of food that he wouldn't be getting much of. "Daryl what's wrong? Why aren't you eating?" Rick asked with a mouthful of toast, egg, and ham that he fashioned into a sandwich. Daryl glanced around and realized there was no hungry Lori and child needing his food. No Carl looking too thin for his age. It was just him and Rick in the kitchen.

Daryl ate with deep hesitation but after the first bite he couldn't help the deep rumble in his stomach. The taste awaking the hunger he'd spent those long winter months trying to suppress. He ate ravishingly loving the feeling of the food actually filling his stomach instead of leaving that gaping feeling of desperately wanting something more to eat. "Wow hungry huh?" Rick smiled taking a sip of coffee as he watched Daryl devour his food. "What do you want to do today?" Daryl shrugged working through the pile of bacon with zeal. "Maybe we should invite Merle over for lunch? What do you think?" Daryl stared at Rick hard. The last time his brother and Rick had interacted Rick left him stranded on a roof, would they really be able to get along? He highly doubted it. Was Rick trying to get himself killed?

A knock on a nearby window had Daryl jump. Walkers, his mind hissed as he grabbed the small knife on the table. How long before they break in? He tried to judge if he and Rick had the time to grab supplies before they needed to get as far away from the house as possible.

"Ya'll decent?" Daryl's body tensed at the voice.

"In here!" Rick called. Daryl half turned in utter disbelief. "Sometimes I think you're a mind reader." Rick smiled at the broad commanding presence in the doorway.

"Merle…" Daryl breathed staring at his brother. He looked like Daryl remembered him to look, only… not exactly the same. He had no scars peeking out under the edge of his shirt or littering his arms. His brother's eyes weren't full of hate like Daryl remembered them to be. Instead they had an almost content look to them.

"Sit down. I'll get you some food." Rick smiled standing up. Merle sauntered in and sat next to his brother before whispering in his ear.

"Ya've got such a nice pretty wife don' ya?" He teased, Daryl flushed in embarrassment. Despite the teasing he was desperate and wanted to ask so many questions. But his mind was caught on the wrongness of the moment. The fact that he was looking at a version of his brother that he had always secretly hoped Merle would become one day bothered him even more. This Merle was happy, teasing but happy.

"What's wrong Darylina?" Merle asked the old nickname giving a twinge to the hunter's stomach.

"Don't be mean to my Daryl." Rick said putting a plate of food in front of Merle. He laughed loudly at Rick's overly protective words.

"Alright Officer Friendly don' get yer panties in a knot." Merle said reaching over and tousling Daryl's hair. "I'm only playin'." Rick laughed along with Merle's joke. The hunter clenched his hands. Merle had rubbed his hair with his right hand… Daryl knew the hard way Merle didn't have a right hand. Hell he'd held it. But this Merle had both hands.

"Wrong." He breathed so low no one could hear him. This was wrong. Merle wouldn't be sitting down to breakfast with such a smile on his lips. Rick wouldn't be here ignoring their problems. This world was wrong. Daryl clenched his jaw and shut his eyes.

"Aren' ya just a stick in the mud?" Daryl's eyes snapped open. Leaning against the wall was Merle. But the Merle he remembered seeing last in the quarry outside of Atlanta. He was covered in dirt, grime, and scars. Merle was picking his teeth with a nail on his left hand. The right was missing.

"Merle." He whispered. Merle's blue eyes cut into Daryl before he looked at the men behind the hunter.

"Can' even let yerself believe that maybe this is the reality and everything else was a nightmare can ya?"

"It's too perfect." Daryl whispered glancing at the happy version of his brother and even happier Rick.

"And ya can' be worth perfection that right?" Merle shook his head a sigh on his tongue.

"Somethin' like that." Daryl breathed slowly rising to his feet and staring at his brother not backing down from his gaze.

"Ya know most people would want to believe the walkers and killin' and death was the dream. But yer screwed up enough to believe only pain can be your reality." Merle grinned and wrapped an arm around Daryl's shoulder. "Not that I'd expect any less from my brother."

"Daryl?" Rick asked smiling at him. A part of Daryl really did want to believe that this was reality but how could he? All the people who had mattered to him wasn't here. He couldn't just leave them in peril so he could live out some daydream fantasy.

"Sometimes dreamin' too deeply is dangerous." Merle warned in a low tone. Rick's eyes widened suddenly like he just realized that there were two Merle's in the room. Rick stood up with a clatter and reached out to Daryl. He felt his Merle pull him back slightly with the left arm around his shoulder. He yanked Daryl away from Rick's grasping reaching fingers. Rick looked hurt, his eyes bright with pain. He gently took Daryl's hand with both of his.

"Daryl don't you want to stay here?" He asked. "With me?" Rick's voice took an almost desperate quality. "You can be happy here. We all can." Daryl stared at the man, the warmth from his body felt real, so real. The food, the breeze, everything felt real. If he stayed here who could say that it wouldn't become his reality? The hunter felt divided. A part of him wanted this, had always wanted this. No death, no killing, just an easy simple life with Rick.

"Careful." Merle breathed in his ear. "Dream too deeply and ya might not make it back."

"What about our friends?" Daryl asked the thing that was bothering him. Rick smiled not stumbling over Daryl's question.

"They're all here. Alive. You can't say the same for that place." He glared at the Merle holding Daryl.

"Can ya really be happy in a place where nothin' ever changes?"

"Of course he can! We'll be together! We'll never go hungry or watch a friend die or kill people we care about!" Rick's grip tightened. "Daryl you want this don't you? You'll never have to fear or worry here."

"Ya'll never change here either." Merle whispered.

"That's fine!" Rick yelled before smiling hysterically at Daryl. "Trust me Daryl, nothing but tragedy and pain await you back there." Rick stared at him deeply, the heavy gravity in Rick's words made the hunter tremble.

"Ya made an oath didn' ya?" Merle whispered in his brother's ear, the words rocked him to the core. Rick's eyes widened and fear darkened his features.

"Oaths don't matter here!" Rick tried to plead desperately with the hunter.

"No but they matter to ya right?" Merle squeezed tightly. "Ya can' just run away from them. This can' be yer escape!" Daryl felt like he was being pulled backwards towards Merle and a darkness away from the bright light of Rick and the perfect world. Rick gripped his hand trying to pull the hunter back.

"Please stay with me!" He sobbed struggling to keep Daryl on this side.

"I can'." Daryl whispered putting his hand on top of Rick's. "This was a nice dream. One of the best I've had but it's just that, a dream." Rick looked crushed as his shoulders shook.

"Please please trust me! Don't go back." He begged his hand shaking.

"This isn' winter, ya can' stay here. Ya were saved then and I'm savin' ya now." Merle told the hunter and Daryl knew he was right. He couldn't stay no matter how tempting it was. No matter how much he wanted to.

"I'm sorry." He whispered to Rick, his hand slowly breaking free of the man's trembling fingers. Rick stared at him tears in his eyes. Before his Merle could drag him back to the dark the other Merle stood up and stared at Daryl his eyes emotionless and dead.

"Ya will regret this. As fragile as this world seems, yers is so much more. And everthin' is just waitin' to shatter. How far can ya fly after yer win' has been broken?"

Daryl opened his eyes, his mind clearing of the fog from the dream. He was on a hard stone floor at the end of the world where he belonged. He knew that his dream would have been a therapist's wet dream. But Daryl didn't see it as a necessity for him to try and figure out what his dream meant. At least it wasn't naked clowns screwing a hippo. Merle had told him that once after he'd had a nightmare as a child. It was something he'd always went back to when comparing his nightmares. As bad as his dreams got at least it wasn't that. But to call this a nightmare felt weird. He wasn't scared rather he felt resigned, like he'd left something behind in that peaceful kitchen. What it was though he had no idea.

Daryl realized it was still early morning, he woke to the sounds of the world just barely switching from nighttime activities to daytime. The natural born hunter in him felt the stirring urge to go out into the crisp morning and hunt. But his body ached painfully like he'd hiked for miles while carrying an oversized donkey on his back. The warmth at his back however almost lulled him back to sleep. It was comforting like slipping into a warm bath with a cold beer after a long day.

But the sleepiness in his mind cleared when a hot hand entwined with his. A nose nuzzled against the back of his neck. Daryl shivered at the tickling sensation.

"You smell nice." Rick mumbled his words slurred and had an adorably sleepy quality.

"Hardly." Daryl scoffed. "Are ya still asleep?" Rick gave a soft hmm but didn't respond aside from tightening his grip.

"Five more minutes." He breathed and Daryl sighed feeling restless and bored. Sure being in Rick's arms was comforting but he still felt strange. He wasn't used to waking up in the arms of someone else. After a solid minute Rick sighed and sat up. Daryl raised an eyebrow as the man stretched. "You kept shifting." Rick chuckled. "Regular little wiggle worm aren't you?"

"A what?" Daryl laughed shooting Rick a confused look. Rick's cheeks brightened when he realized what he had just said to the hunter.

"A wiggle worm. It's something I used to call Carl when he was a child." Rick scratched his cheek. "He used to move around so much after going to bed that he'd usually end up half outside the bed half in. Or with his feet on his pillow. I'd check on him a few times a night and right him in his bed. Thus the name…" Daryl grinned cheekily at Rick as he trailed off. Daryl didn't even try to hide his teasing grin.

Rick shook his head before they started to get dressed. Daryl quickly put his clothes on not wanting to be naked for much longer. While Rick took much longer and moved at a sluggish pace. When they were finally dressed Daryl cracked his back and prepared to go down the ladder. Rick however rested against the wall and watched him sleepily. "You are terrible Mr. Dixon." Daryl's gaze shot up to look at Rick. "Just going to kiss and run?"

"I thoguth ya would want to check on everythin'." Daryl blushed.

"We can do that later. Come on sit with me. Let's have just a few more minutes just for us." Daryl did as requested and sat next to Rick who smiled and took the hunter's hand in his. "So…" Daryl hummed in response. "Last night was fun." The hunter flushed but nodded. "Can I expect more fun times from you Mr. Dixon?" Daryl cleared his throat nervously.

"I might be willin' to set some time aside for ya." Rick grinned and squeezed Daryl's hand. The hunter returned the gesture.

"Alright, then let's go back to our game."

"Game?" Daryl asked softly.

"You know the whole I ask you a question you ask me one?" Daryl nodded it seemed like so long ago that they had started that. Rick was really the only one he knew who would be so interested in learning more about him. "I'll start." Rick stared at the wall for a moment before glancing at Daryl. "Why don't you sleep in the prison?" Daryl bit his lip.

"We haven' been here that long." Daryl tried to evade the topic. He couldn't believe Rick had noticed let alone asked about that particular problem first. Talk about cutting close to the bone.

"That's not an answer." Daryl exhaled after last night he knew Rick deserved some answers. There wasn't anyone he trusted more before or after last night. In fact after last night his trust had only grown exponentially. That was worth some answers right?

"I just can' stand bein' in those cages." Daryl sighed. Rick blinked but his eyes were full of understanding not judgment like the hunter had expected. "I've spent my whole life visitin' family and friends in prison and I worked hard to make sure I didn' end up in one."

"Yet we brought you here anyway." Rick sighed. "No… I forced you here didn't I?" He had a small self-deprecating smile on his lips.

"It was for the best of the group." Daryl said the same words he had been repeating like a mantra since they got here.

"But not for you." Rick shook his head. "You tried to tell me didn't you?" Daryl didn't respond, there was no point in being needlessly cruel. Rick didn't need to know how he had ignored everything Daryl had tried to tell him. It would just hurt him more. "I didn't listen. I'm sorry." Rick apologized his eyes full of sorrow.

"It's not yer fault. Ya were tryin' to find someplace safe."

"I get tunnel vision when I'm trying to get something done. I'm sorry I should have noticed how you were feeling."

"Again, ain' yer fault. It's my problem." Rick looked down and squeezed Daryl's hand again.

"But I want to help you with your problems." He paused and blushed slightly. "…If you'll let me." He breathed.

"Don' ya have enough problems without tryin' to fix mine?" Daryl mumbled looking away. He wasn't sure how to take the man's words. He'd never had anyone want to help him through anything. The Dixon's were supposed to solve their own problems. That's how he'd always treated his life.

"Sometimes your own problems seem smaller when helping those you care about with their problems." Rick shrugged. "Even with all my problems I will always want to help you." Rick took Daryl's hand and squeezed it. "You matter to me, meaning everything that troubles you troubles me." Daryl flushed and cleared his throat.

"Ya sound like a bad Hallmark commercial." Rick smiled softly.

"I like the way you always cover how you're feeling with a snarky comeback. It's cute." Daryl's cheeks burned brighter. He'd never realized that Rick had realized his automatic defense. When he was in school he was forced to write some dumb paper about his family life. He'd written a sarcastic witty and snarky paper, his teacher had responded with,

"You clearly use humor as a self-defense mechanism." Daryl hadn't known how to respond to that. The fact that Rick had realized it too bothered him. It felt like he was getting too close to finding weaknesses in his armor.

"Are you worried?" Rick asked softly. Daryl worried his lip. Was he? Maybe. Rick getting closer to him both thrilled and terrified him. Sure they'd gotten closer physically but it wasn't like he was some seventeen year old virgin. They'd both had sex before but how many people had he actually allowed to get close to him emotionally or mentally. How many hadn't been repulsed by what they learned or immediately betrayed him?

"Not worried exactly." Daryl mumbled.

"But concerned?" The hunter shrugged. "This is something new to both of us. We'll have to figure it out…" Rick squeezed Daryl's hand. "Together." Daryl gently squeezed back.

"We're in this together." He mumbled agreeing with Rick. Rick smiled broadly like Daryl's words had made him the happiest person on the planet. Daryl ignored the feeling in his gut that his family would be disgusted with him. After all he was the only Dixon left alive. What did it matter what a bunch of dead people thought of him? Daryl knew that wasn't enough to convince himself of that thought just yet but he hoped that soon it would be enough. That he would stop being haunted by the ghosts and nightmares of the Dixon family.

"So how can we solve this problem?" Rick asked thoughtfully. "Do you want to stay out here? You could make one of these guard towers your room." Daryl worried his lip he had never thought that could be an option for him. Did he want to stay out here? He did, but Daryl knew that should something go wrong he'd be too far away to help. It made him think of when he'd moved his tent away from the others on Hershel's farm. But at the same time he couldn't deny that the idea was an appealing one. He could leave the door open to get fresh air and it was high enough that he could pretend that he wasn't at the prison. Daryl stared at his hands hoping the answers would be somewhere in them. "You don't have to decide now." Rick mumbled. "I just wanted you to know you had options." Daryl nodded.

"Thanks I'll think on it."

"So it's your turn to ask something." Rick said gently after silence filled the air between them for a while.

"Are ya worried about the baby?" Daryl asked the first thing that came to his mind. Rick froze and the hunter felt like he'd shot himself in the foot. "Sorry…" He mumbled stumbling over the word.

"It's fine." Rick whispered glancing at Daryl. "I am worried. More than a little. There's so much unknown at this point. I don't even know if we'll be able to take care of a baby or not." Daryl squeezed Rick's hand hoping he could give him some level of assurance.

"We'll make it work. We will." Daryl promised. Rick smiled weakly at the hunter.

"There's just so much we can't account for. There's no way to know if this baby will make it." Rick chuckled darkly under his breathe, his eyes covered in shadows. "Hell we don't even know if we'll make it." Daryl stared hard at Rick, it had been a while since he'd seen the man so down and defeated. It didn't seem like the strong resilient leader he cared about.

"We'll make it." Daryl said forcefully.

"But-"

"We will. I'll make sure of it." Daryl gave a soft nod to his leader. The look in the hunter's eyes must have reassured Rick for he nodded and squeezed Daryl's hand.

"You're right. We can't give up. Not after everything we've been through." Daryl nodded and wished he couldn't hear Merle's laughing voice whispering how he'd just lied to Rick. They had to make it, Daryl decided even if it killed him. He'd make sure the group made it through all this no matter what. Silence took over once more as both men wrestled with their internal demons. Finally Rick sighed and looked at the hunter. His eyes clear of the doubt from moments before. "Is it my turn?" Daryl nodded but Rick hesitated for a moment. "You don't have to answer this one." He breathed giving Daryl a supportive look. "I was wondering if you could tell me what this one is from?" He asked running his fingertips under Daryl's shirt to the scar on his back.

The one that was a huge mass of scars that collected together to make almost an indent in his skin on his upper left hip. Daryl suddenly felt cold. He was freezing and could see his breath in front of him. He felt like he was a child again and he could see the white snow under his cheek. The pureness was slowly dyed deep crimson. Daryl trembled remembering that winter all those years ago. He struggled to bring himself back to the present. It was only Merle's reassuring whisper in his ear and Rick's warm hand in his that helped him return.

"Sorry." He mumbled looking down. "I don' really want to talk about that." Daryl said softly expecting Rick to be angry at his words. Instead Rick nodded his eyes full of understanding.

"That's fine. I don't want to push you." Daryl licked his lip and traced his thumb around Rick's hand.

"Someday I'll tell you about it." Daryl whispered and Rick smiled.

"I'll wait until you're ready." The hunter was relieved that Rick didn't push him. He wouldn't have blamed the man if he were annoyed at Daryl's silence. But Rick continued to surprise him with his continual patience and understanding. Rick sighed and put his head against the hunter's shoulder. "I hate to say this but we should probably go check on everyone." Daryl nodded.

"I was thinkin' the same thin'." Rick squeezed Daryl's hand again not moving just yet.

"I wish we could just stay here forever." Rick breathed. Daryl couldn't help but agree, for the moment it was just them being together. There was no problems, no worries. But Daryl knew it couldn't last. He sighed before standing, slowly pulling Rick on his feet as well. Rick grinned and gave the hunter a quick kiss on the lips. "Just one last moment before we have to be in charge again." Daryl flushed slightly but nodded. Rick started down the ladder first but he paused and looked up at the hunter. "By the way last night was amazing." Daryl turned red even up to his ears. "I look forward to another night like it, sometime soon!" Rick grinned before descending down the ladder leaving Daryl there in complete embarrassed shock.

Rick entered the prison first giving Daryl a quick wink before the door closed. Daryl inhaled and exhaled trying to smooth his expression into a relaxed one. He tried to work the embarrassed or overly happy 'just got laid' look off his face. His chest was warm when he thought of how he and Rick had held each other last night. The pain in his back was nothing compared to the warmth and joy in his chest. Daryl worked his expression into a neutral one and opened the door.

When he entered Carol was the first one to greet him. She handed him a bowl of food and smiled warmly.

"Good morning Daryl."

"Mornin'." He mumbled eating slowly. The food wasn't great but it was a massive improvement from what they'd had before. The benefit of dealing with the prisoners was clearly evident. "So what's goin' on?" He asked.

"Rick wants to move all the cars into the prison where they can't be seen and start dealing with the walkers."

"Makes sense." Daryl agreed.

"So how are you?" Daryl shrugged but Carol stared at him her eyes bright. "You didn't sleep in the prison last night did you." It didn't sound like a question at all. "So… did you do anything fun last night?" She smiled teasingly at him.

"Shut up." He mumbled his face growing hot.

"Well Glenn and Maggie didn't sleep here either." She said finally giving him a break. Daryl furrowed his brow.

"They slept in one of the towers the night before didn' they?"

"It seems to be the hip thing to do." She gave his side a little nudge with her elbow. Daryl shook his head and finished his meal before following Rick, Carol, and T outside.

They started easy moving the cars and ribbing Glenn and Maggie a little. It was obvious that they had been busy getting it on since last night. Daryl was just relieved that besides Carol no one seemed to realize he and Rick had been gone the whole night, let alone figure out what they were doing together. Daryl worked hard not to be constantly glancing at Rick. He wanted to at least pretend to hold a level of professionalism while they were working on getting the yard set up.

While he was thinking that the two prisoners from before Axel and Oscar slowly walked towards them looking completely nervous and scared. They did what any sane person would do and asked to join the group. Rick's eyes were dark at the thought and he glanced over to Daryl looking to see what he thought, the hunter shook his head slightly. Sure he understood what they wanted but that didn't mean they should just be allowed to join. Especially after what happened with Tomas trying to kill Rick.

Daryl clenched his jaw at the thought he didn't think they could trust the men after what their leader had done. Daryl ignored the men putting them in the locked double fences of the prison. The men were clearly desperate but Daryl couldn't bring himself to care. He only wanted to protect his group that's all.

Rick pulled everyone into a meeting to decide what they should do with the men. They talked it over, fear and reservations were consuming half of the group asides from T. He said words that sounded like they came directly from Dale's mouth when they had been deciding what to do with Randall. Carol didn't trust them, not forgetting the fact that they are convicts. Daryl felt a stab of sympathy as T tried to push to everyone to accept them into the group. As Daryl stared at the men he thought of his childhood and the life he'd grown up with. Family and friends in prison, he'd known people in prison his whole life. Hell he'd grown up with people disappearing for years because they'd gone to jail but still he couldn't bring himself to agree with T.

Not after what had happened just yesterday. He couldn't trust them, but more than that Daryl felt deep inside him the fear that he'd be dragged down to their level. He remembered what it was like being with Merle and his gang. How close he'd come on so many occasions to almost becoming just like them. He'd nearly become just like his brother more times than he could count. It was only his strength of will and desperate need to stay out of prison that had kept him clean enough to stay away from all those problems.

So when T asked if Daryl was with him, he refused. He couldn't risk it. The last thing Daryl needed was the group falling apart because some strangers tore them apart or worse because Daryl allowed himself to become another shadow of his brother. He had worked so hard until this moment to change into someone better than Merle and he couldn't stand to see all his hard work crumpling under his fingertips.

Rick gave no room for negotiation when he said that the deal with them stood and there was no way they'd bring the men into their fold. Daryl felt that it was the right call. With Hershel still hurt and Lori expecting they couldn't risk unknown elements. The hunter instead redirected his focus on the other tasks at hand such as moving the cars to the lot. They decided to move them pointing out so they could get away quickly if need to. Daryl nodded agreeing with Rick's idea. A quick escape was the best solution for them just in case.

While they got the keys Rick suddenly pulled the hunter aside and into the shadow of the building.

"Want to go with me to check out the armory?" He asked staring at the hunter with a tender look.

"Shouldn' we help with movin' the cars?"

"We could or we could go and check the armory. See how things look out there." Rick touched Daryl's arm, gently running his fingers teasingly down his skin.

"We don' have time for that." Daryl breathed, his skin feeling like it was electric.

"We have a little time." Rick whispered sweetly. "We're going to check out the armory. Let us know if anything happens." Rick called loudly to Glenn who nodded. With the prisoners kept in the fence and everyone working on gathering the bodies there was no danger to the group, and they did need weapons.

"Let's make it quick. I don' want to leave all the hard stuff to them." Daryl mumbled glancing at the rest of the group. Rick smiled and they started off together when they turned the corner he grabbed the hunter's hand tightly in his.

"It's like a date." He smiled.

"Messed up kind of date." The hunter responded. Rick shrugged.

"Maybe but at least we have some time together. That's what matters." Daryl was about to respond when they heard Rick's name being called loudly. Daryl froze fear shooting through him. He worried that something had happened to the group already. But Rick's eyes darkened considerably as he let Daryl's hand go. Rick started off towards the voice who turned out to be Lori. She came rushing towards them her eyes bright. Daryl leaned against the wall realizing that the look in her eyes was clearly a personal one. Rick grabbed her arm and tried to pull her away from the hunter to a secluded place but she wouldn't budge slapping his hands off her arm.

"No we'll talk here!" She screamed eyes wild and full of anger.

"Fine." Rick hissed his eyes dark. He kept his voice low clearly trying to keep the conversation between them. Lori didn't seem to share his sentiment and kept arguing loudly, loud enough for the hunter's sensitive ears to pick up.

"Where were you last night?" She cried moving closer to the man.

"Where I am is none your concern. I thought I made that perfectly clear." Rick growled pulling away from her.

"It is! What if something happened to you?" Rick sighed not able to defend against that kind of thinking. Suddenly Lori's dark eyes shot toward Daryl and they narrowed in hate. "Were you with him?" The venom and hate when she said him almost made the hunter tremble.

"It doesn't matter." Rick said his voice full of zero emotion. "Don't drag him into this."

"Don't give me that bullshit!" She slapped at his chest. "I can't believe you." Rick's eyes narrowed dangerously as his jaw set in a grim line of rage.

"You have no place to be saying that to me. Not after what you did." Lori looked crushed the anger stolen from her body.

"I made a mistake, I told you that. I'm sorry. How many times do I need to say it?" She whispered suddenly looking small and vulnerable.

"Let's just leave this alone." Rick sighed his shoulders sagging. "We have to make this work with us being in the same place but Lori I can't keep doing this." His voice soft and the anger from before gone.

"You're just going to forget about me and Carl?" She whispered.

"Now Lori I never said that." He said desperately trying to get her to understand him. Lori's body was shaking as her hands quivered around her arms like she was trying to hold herself together since Rick wouldn't get anywhere near her.

"How can you do this to us?"

"Lori."

"Sometimes I wonder if you care about us at all." Rick's hand clenched at Lori's words. His whole face looked like it had been broken and she'd just crushed the last of his mind. Even Daryl felt like he'd been hurt by her words. He couldn't understand where she'd come up with such a horrible thing to say. Clearly Rick cared, they wouldn't be here if he didn't. He worked harder than anyone to make sure Lori and Carl were safe. To suggest otherwise was just cruel. Lori looked at Daryl her eyes full of tears. "Clearly you care about him more than you do us."

With that Lori turned and walked away. Rick stood there staring at the ground his hands shaking from her words. Daryl felt that pain deep in his chest again realizing he'd just screwed things up for Rick more. He was reminded of what they had done the night before and how if only he had resisted his feelings Lori and Rick probably would be making up right now. Instead Daryl had just ruined Rick's life further. Daryl clenched his hair wanting to feel some sort of pain as penance. He knew that the man would never blame him even though he had every reason to hate the hunter.

The sound of boots in front of him made Daryl look up slowly. Rick gently touched his hand to the hunter's hair. He stroked his head tenderly without words. Rick's eyes were so guarded and pained that it made Daryl hurt on the inside as well. He didn't know how to respond. How could he help the man who had given up so much for him? Rick didn't deserve this kind of pain.

"I'm sorry." Daryl breathed dropping his eyes down again. Rick didn't respond, instead touching Daryl's cheek tenderly. He tilted the man's eyes upward and gently pressed his lips against the hunter's. Neither of them moved for a moment. There was no push forward to make it deeper, it was simply a reminder of their feelings and their connection. Daryl felt Rick's affection in the simple gesture and he hoped that Rick could feel the same. When Rick pulled away he gently stroked Daryl's cheek with a thumb. He sighed softly and took the hunter's hand leading them back towards the armory.

The men said nothing on the walk to the building. Both lost in their own mind. But Daryl took solace in having Rick's hand in his. The comforting warmth was something that he never thought he could get enough of. Daryl wished he were strong enough to call this thing with Rick off. But after last night he didn't have that in him. It disgusted him that he didn't have the will power. This thing with Rick was the one thing he didn't want to end. Rick opened the door to the armory without a word. They checked inside slowly, but Daryl's heart dropped almost instantly when they saw the state of the building. It looked like the whole place had been raided for the guns and ammo. The treasures they had hoped the place would hold was just another pipe dream.

A loud clang had Daryl jumping as he whipped around. Rick had kicked a chair over in anger and stood there panting.

"Goddamn it." He hissed through his teeth. "I was so sure. I mean goddamn." His fists were clenched in rage. Daryl shared his sentiment but knew they couldn't afford to be so defeated now.

"We'll start goin' on runs tomorrow." He promised. Rick looked up at him and nodded. "Come on let's get back." Rick let Daryl lead him out. They walked back quietly but before they rejoined the others, Rick took Daryl's hand.

"Don't let what she said bother you." Rick whispered. He stared at the hunter looking at him closely. "It doesn't matter what she says, it doesn't change how I feel about you." He paused biting his lip. "You know that right?" Daryl stared at Rick but couldn't bring himself to say anything. He wanted to say yes. But a large part of him still felt that he was to blame. He just couldn't get Lori's words out of his head. Did he trust Rick? Of course but Rick deserved to be with his family. So where did that leave him? "Daryl I-"

"Rick! Daryl!" Glenn called out to them jogging over. Rick pulled away from Daryl but he looked upset at having been interrupted. Daryl was glad for the break. He wouldn't have to worry about how to respond with Glenn around. "We've got the bodies ready to go and the cars too. Though Daryl you'll need to move your bike." Merle's bike, the hunter corrected in his mind. "Also T said the least we could do was give them some supplies so I gathered some stuff up." Rick nodded moving towards the yard.

Daryl made a beeline for the bike and ignored Axel as he tried to suggest working on Merle's bike.

"Don' even look at it." He growled starting it and driving away from the men as quickly as possible. Daryl wanted nothing to do with them especially since they were intending to leave them to fend for themselves. After that he followed Rick and Glenn outside of the fences where they could get firewood. Rick wanted to burn the bodies before they started to infect the soil. It was risky but better to risk it than have plants that were infested with walker guts

They noticed a single walker outside the fence and Glenn wanted to take it out but Rick refused knowing how low they were on ammo especially since the armory had nothing good in it. Daryl kept guard while Rick and Glenn gathered up the firewood. There were a few walkers straggling about but nothing big enough for them to need to take care of them just yet. Rick and Glenn walked back with their hands full of wood and Daryl held the fence open for them. In the corner of his eye he saw something moving.

Daryl felt his heart swell when he realized that he was seeing Hershel walking slowly on crutches across the yard. He pointed it out to Rick and Glenn who both looked so incredibly relieved. Glenn called out to Hershel and Daryl quickly shushed him when the walkers gave an angry searching growl. There was no break for them it seemed. Even after all the shit they'd been through the world just wouldn't cut them a break. Rick sighed deeply and rested his hand against the fence. The whole group rejoiced in Hershel's recovery everyone pausing to smile and enjoy the moment with each other.

Daryl felt like maybe for once things would be okay for a while. Like maybe they'd been cut a break. He sighed closing his eyes for a moment.

"Fat chance baby brother." Daryl heard his brother whisper in his ear. The hunter's eyes shot open, his guts feeling like they were ripping themselves apart. Daryl felt his blood run cold when he heard the screams. The horde of walkers inside the fence moving towards the group. Everything seemed to slow down to a crawl. The screaming and gunshots seemed muted and far away. "There's no such thin' as break for us. Dixon's are always damned." Merle whispered. Daryl closed his eyes wondering if he had caused this. Was this yet another thing that he was to blame for? The screams tore into his mind even before he started running and suddenly Daryl realized he wasn't fast enough. He was never fast enough.


Hey everyone! I'm so happy! Chapter 25! Yay! I hope you all enjoyed it. Like always if you can please review and let me know what you thought of it! Again thank you to everyone who reviewed (and followed and favorited) last time (especially because of the content of last chapter!) It really helped me to feel better about that chapter. Like I said I was super nervous about posting it! I'm glad everyone seemed to enjoy it! (planning on adding a few more in the future! yay!)

Anyway I hope everyone is as excited for season 5 as I am! I made it my goal to have this chapter out before the start of season 5 came out! I'm glad I made it!

I enjoyed the dream of Daryl's (how sad is it that he realized it wasn't real because he was too happy?) Anyway I hope to see you all in chapter 26! Again if you can review let me know what you think of this chapter! See you all soon in the next chapter!