AN: So, I didn't get much writing done over the weekend. I don't have much of an excuse other than I'm stressing myself out over tennis tryouts today…I wouldn't even be posting this today if it weren't for your awesome reviews! Keep 'em up!

"I can't believe people!" Marie exclaimed as soon as she arrived back at the cell she shared with Daryl.

"What's wrong?" he asked, cradling one of the twins, the other was asleep.

"This stupid little punk decided to pick on Gavin! I just wanted to punch him in his face! He just…Ugh!"

"Where's he at? More importantly, where's his parents?" Daryl wouldn't go after the kid, no, he would find the parents responsible for a little brat.
"How should I know? I don't even know the little asshole's name!"

"C'mon, we're gonna go find 'im," Daryl wasn't going to let somebody treat Gavin poorly. Just as they were about to leave the cell, Sophia, Carl, and Gavin came walking back in.

"Look after them for a minute?" Marie asked.

"Why? What's goin' on?" Carl asked.

"We got a problem to deal with," Daryl stated vaguely before he and Marie headed back towards the gym. They weren't sure where else to look.

"I already scared him a bit," Marie said.

"Well ya ain't as scary as me, babe. Nobody messes with my family," he opened the gym doors. Marie gasped when she saw the same group of punks around a new target.

"Where are you going?" Sophia asked Carl.

"They may need my help," Gavin had explained that some rude boy pushed him. "Plus I think I know who they're talkin' 'bout. Kid named Cole."

"Well be careful," Sophia said timidly. She didn't want to see Carl hurt.

"'Course," he made his way to the gymnasium and found something rather unexpected.

Daryl had Cole by the shirt collar and was shouting, "Ya wanna eat yer teeth? First ya pick on kids ten years younger than ya! Now girls? Ya don't pick on girls!" The specific girl he was talking about was Amanda. Marie held the little girl's hand and stayed back. Daryl was seeing red and she was only going to stop him if he was in danger of killing the boy. It was fine for him to intimidate the punk, but he was still underage.

"C'mon man, let him go," one of the other two boys said.

"Yer gonna be next! This little prick's gettin' it first 'cause he's yer Goddamn leader!"

Carl noticed one of the kids pick up a bat that they had. He rolled his eyes at the cowardice of the boy and grabbed the end of the bat before he could do anything. "If you're gonna fight someone, don't take the spineless way! Fight like a man!" Carl exclaimed.

Marie decided it was about time for her to step in when Carl and another boy began getting into it. The last thing she wanted was her nephew to get injured. They were fighting over a bat, she walked over. "Okay kid, Carl, both of you just put it down," she commanded in a motherly tone. The third boy had left the gym.

In the midst of all of the chaos, the parent of one of the bratty children decided to check on them. "Hey man! What 're you doin' with your hands on my kid!" a portly man asked, walking over to Daryl.

"He pushed my kid an' was messin' with my niece!" Daryl replied. Their shouting match drew the attention of the rest of the arguing group.

"So? You're a grown ass man. You can't be hurtin' a kid!"

"An' it's better fer him? My kid's three! My niece is ten! He's messin' with my family an' I don' need that! Keep yer kid 'way from 'em!" Daryl took the boy's arm and pushed him to his father. "Take that one too!" he motioned to the other kid. Daryl started to angrily march out the door, when the other man called after him.

"You think we're finished here? Think you can jus' lay your hands on my boy and walk away."

"Look, dude," Marie began. "Can you just-"

"Keep your whore outa this," the guy said.

"Don't you dare call my aunt a whore!" Carl exclaimed. He was the first to react. Daryl was a bit shocked that this man was so stupid.

"Babe, go git yer brother, take Carl with ya," Daryl said through gritted teeth. Marie knew that the guy was going to get it, and she could allow that. So, she did what Daryl asked and went and got Rick. She wouldn't question his reasons for wanting her brother in there.

"C'mon Carl," she said quietly. She also realized that Daryl didn't want her nephew to see the violence, he was still very impressionable. She made her way out of the gym and through corridors until she found Rick on watch. "Rick," she started. He turned; Michonne was sitting next to him, watching as well. "Can I barrow you for a few minutes? Carl can stay on watch in your place…"

"What's going on?" he asked, raking his hand through his hair.

"Long story…I'll explain on the way…Just come on!" he agreed and she did just as she said. By the time they got there, it was only Daryl and the nameless man. The latter's face was bloodied and swollen.

"A'right, break it up," Rick commanded. He may not have been the leader anymore, but he still had the essence of one. Daryl backed away from the other man, daring him to try anything.

"I want him out!" Daryl exclaimed.

"We'll bring it before the council," Rick stated. He didn't hold much power anymore, but he was on the council they'd created. It was in place for the large decisions, and this couldn't be made with only Glenn and Daryl. "For now, I'll take 'im to one of the cells." Rick knew that Daryl was fuming, but all of that wasn't grounds to send a man to his death. "I'll get 'em all together. We'll meet in the library." Rick left without further ado.

"C'mon, let's go wait for everyone else," Marie said calmly. She brought her hand to rest on his back comfortingly. He was tense, but nodded anyway. They made the short trip to the library and took a seat at the large table. She wasn't quite sure what to say, she didn't think thanking him would be really appropriate, she was grateful that he was so willing to beat some guy up for her and Gavin. "You called Gavin your kid back there…" she decided to point out. He just nodded and mumbled an apology. "You don't need to apologize, Daryl. It's fine, really," she gave him a calm smile and patted his hand.

After a few moments, the rest of the 'council' made their way to the library. Marie, Daryl, Maggie, Glenn, Tyreese, Sasha, Rick, Michonne, Elizabeth, and Milton made up said council. They all took their respective seats and Rick explained the predicament they found themselves in. All the while, Marie found herself trying to wash the blood off of Daryl's knuckles.

"What does everyone think?" Rick asked.

"Do you really think killing him is the best way to handle this?" Milton asked.

"We wouldn't be killing him," Marie stated.

"Might as well be," Sasha said. "The way I see it, you send anyone back out there, they won't live long."

"He's a danger to the group," Daryl said.

"No, he's stupid and sexist maybe, but I don't know how dangerous that is from inside these walls…" Elizabeth pointed out.

"If we're not goin' to send 'im out of 'ere, there should at least be some rules and restrictions on him," Maggie suggested. "What cell block is he from?"

Everybody just kind of looked at each other. Nobody said that there weren't downfalls to the council being made up of people that were more or less part of the originals. Tyreese, Sasha, Milton, and Michonne were the only added members, and they mostly stuck with the main prison group.

"No matter what, I think Maggie's on to something," Rick said. "He and his boy should have to stay out of the gym and not get within a few feet of either of you," he suggested.

"And what, we count this as a warning?" Marie asked.

"Precisely," Milton agreed.

"That way we aren't responsible for his death and we keep him from bothering anybody else," Tyreese said.

"Daryl?" Marie looked at him.

"He bother's us 'gain, he's gonna eat 'is teeth," he mumbled. "His punk son, too."

"Okay," Rick agreed. "Everybody else okay with that?" There were murmurs of yeses and in Daryl's case an affirming grunt. "I'll let him no. Everybody, go about your day." Once everyone else had left, Marie and Daryl were left in the library alone.

"Hey, you got 'im, okay?" she noticed his far off look and felt the need to say something. He didn't meet her eyes, he just continued to look at his hand in his lap.

"Jus' wish that asshole would jus' go 'way…"

"He won't bother us. And if he does, you can just kick his ass again," she gave him a small smile and gently ran her hand across his stubbly cheek. He still hadn't met her gaze. "Don't shut down on me please." It had been a while since he'd gotten like this. Most of the time he'd talk out his issues, but now he was being a closed book and she couldn't understand for the life of her why.

"Guess ya could be right…" he said halfheartedly. "Jus' don' want anybody to screw up what we got 'ere. This prison's 'possed to be safe. Shouldn't have to worry 'bout assholes like that."

"I agree," she said. She was just happy he was speaking again. "And I also know that if some other asshole comes along that you will be here," she stood and pressed a chaste kiss to his lips. He too stood and pulled her in for another kiss. She couldn't help but respond by wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling them closer.

"Where's my momma?" Gavin asked Carl and Sophia.

"I don't know, she should've been back by now…" Sophia said. "But I'm sure she will be back soon, okay?"

"But-"

"Hi," Marie said, peaking back into the cell. "Sorry, we needed to talk some things out," she said, looking at Daryl. He gave her a knowing smirk. "Were they all good?" she asked.

"Parker and Airy have been asleep since you left," Carl said. "And Gavin just now started asking where you were…"

"I'm sorry you two always seem to get stuck with all of them…"

"I like watching them," Sophia said with a grin.

"Well I'm glad. But if for some reason, you don't want to, just let me know."

"Don't think that's gonna happen," Carl said lowly. He knew how much Sophia loved the kids. She'd spend all day with them if she could. There was a knock on the bars of the cell. Everyone looked up and to see Jenna standing there. Marie inwardly groaned.

"C'mon Gavin, Sophia. Let's go find something to do," Carl said. He sensed that they adults wanted to talk alone. The three of them scampered off.

"Daryl, can I talk to you alone for a sec?" she asked.

"Anything ya gotta say, ya can say in front of her," Daryl said, gesturing to Marie.

"Fine, I just wanted to thank you for earlier…standing up for Amanda and all. She told me."

"Didn't do it for ya. Boys ain't got no business pickin' on 'er."

"I still appreciate it…" Jenna said. "I mean nobody's ever done anything like that for her." Amanda was raised solely by Jenna. The blonde had left Merle after he'd gotten arrested-again, and she didn't find out she was pregnant until much later. By that time she didn't have much of a choice but to have Amanda and raise her alone. Jenna had a thought and she realized why she wanted to be close to Daryl so much now. He was the closest thing to Merle that could really exist. They'd grown up together and Jenna knew that deep down, being with Merle was the closest thing she'd had to love. She hadn't ever looked at Daryl in that way before she saw him that day. But now, she realized she'd killed whatever friendship they had before.

"Are we done here?" he asked gruffly. "I got things to do."

"I guess so." Her demeanor was different. She wasn't confident or sassy like usual, Marie noticed. Which, she found rather odd. Suddenly, a blood curdling scream drew everyone's attention.

AN: It was short again…sorry. I'm not sure how I feel about it either…I hope it was okay. Please review :).