Rick enjoyed Amanda's company on his excursions around the fence line more than he would have thought. For the past few weeks it had become routine for them to make the inspection together. Her idle conversation kept him from falling into that black hole of guilt that was forever lurking nearby. Today it was just the two of them but often, Carl tagged along and much to his son's delight, she regaled them with tales about her life with the Dixon brothers. Sometimes, it was funny. Other times, not so much. One thing for sure, life with the Dixons was never boring. He heard the wistfulness in her voice when she spoke of her dad. As much as she bitched about him, she loved him dearly and apparently the man had doted on her. Rick just couldn't reconcile the image of a doting father with the drugged-out Merle Dixon he met briefly in Atlanta.

Last week, Glenn, Oscar, and Daryl found a sporting goods store that wasn't completely ransacked. Daryl brought back some new bolts for his crossbow, a couple of small bows and quivers of arrows for Beth and Carl, and a slew of baseball bats for everyone. Glenn, dear sweet Glenn, brought back a bag o' fun filled with baseballs, footballs, soccer balls and a couple of Frisbees. Rick smiled, remembering how Carl's face lit up when Glenn dumped the sack out onto the prison floor.

Amanda said Daryl was a great baseball player, probably could have gone pro. Rick tended to agree when he watched Daryl and Oscar hit balls across the yard. Amanda wasn't so bad either. She said she played softball in high school. She pitched and Daryl hit every ball, more than a few flying low and fast over the fence. Glenn complained about the "waste" of the balls but Daryl told him he should have thought about that when he forgot to get the mitts.

Rick and Amanda just finished walking the perimeter when Carl called out "Dad! Amanda! We're playing soccer. C'mon we need more people!" It was Glenn and Maggie against Carl and Beth. Herschel sat on the sidelines with Carol and Baby Judith who was gnawing on Carl's hat. Daryl and Oscar were on guard duty.

Rick started to protest, "Carl, I don't have t..."

Amanda poked him in the side. "Yes, you do have time," she admonished him in a gentle voice. "Don't disappoint Carl."

Carl was grinning...like a kid who didn't have the weight of the world on his shoulders. Shit. This was what he wanted, wasn't it, Rick thought. His son was laughing. He was happy. She was right. He couldn't let the boy down. He wasn't there for him when Lori...he pushed that thought away. He was here, now. "C'mon Dad, be on my team. Amanda can be on theirs."

"Gee thanks, I get picked last," she muttered.

Rick grinned down at her. "They must've seen you play before."

"Hey, that's not funny, Grimes." She shoved him backwards and took off running toward the others. "Race ya, old man!"

Rick watched her lithe form run, wild hair flying behind. Old man, my ass! He was going to prove her wrong. "You don't play fair, Amanda," he called as he closed in behind her. She tried to trip him but he swerved, easily passed her, and ran on to the make-believe field, stole the soccer ball from Maggie and kicked it straight between the two overturned trash cans they were using as a goal.

"SCORE!" yelled Carl and Beth.

"No way!" protested Glenn.

"Talk about not fair!" Amanda playfully punched Rick in the arm. He laughed and "punched" her back.

"Hey ref, aren't you going call foul or something?" Maggie asked her dad.

Herschel threw his arms up and yelled, "Goal!"

"That's for football, Herschel" Glenn complained.

"Don't be a poor sport." Rick clapped him on the back and handed over the ball. Glenn passed it to Maggie and smiled as she and Beth tussled over the it, both of them falling in a heap of laughter onto the grass while the ball rolled away. Amanda reached it before Rick and headed toward the goal but Carl was hot on her heels.

"No you don't, you little monster." She tried to dribble the ball around him. "Quit pushing, Carl! That's illegal!" She laughed and tried to knock him away. She was almost there. She was going to make her first goal! No one could stop her. Not even this little...

Whoosh!

She screamed as all the air flew out of her lungs when Rick grabbed her waist from behind and swung her feet off the ground. "Go Carl! go!" He cheered as they both fell to the ground. And Carl kicked the ball into the goal.

"We win!" Carl whooped and Beth joined him in a victory dance.

"For a cop, you sure play crooked," Amanda laughed breathlessly as she lay where she fell on top of Rick.

"Awww, Possum...don't be a sore loser." Rick propped up on his elbows, rolling her off.

"You can't call me that! It's bad enough I hear it from Daryl every day."

"You don't like it? I think its cute."

"No, it isn't." She reached over to hit his arm again but he caught her fist.

His blues eyes sparkled. "You have violent tendencies, young lady."

"Must be the Dixon blood. You going to do something about it, officer?"

Still grinning, he pushed her sweaty hair back, letting his hand linger just a moment against her cheek. His voice was soft, only for her. " Maybe. I know a few..."

"High-five, Dad!" Carl ran over. Rick dropped his hand from her face to high-five his son and Beth. "We make a great team."

"Yes, we do, son," he said, rising and giving Amanda a hand up. Her legs were a bit shaky. Her brain was still trying to process that tiny moment of intimacy. It couldn't have been her imagination. She touched her face and could still feel the heat of his touch. It had been real. She watched as father and son walked over to Herschel and Carol. He looked back at her and smiled then he picked up his baby girl and snuggled her neck. "Did you see Daddy and Brother crush the other team." The baby giggled and grabbed Rick's hair.

Amanda smiled at the sweet sight. He was a good daddy. Sweet and gentle.

"What the fuck's wrong with you?"

"Shit, Daryl! Don't sneak up on me."

He glared at her. "I ain't sneakin', girl. You're just standin' there like a damn fool when you're sposed to be on watch. Get your ass to the tower, now."

Daryl followed her. "Take a break, Oscar. Ya been here all day."

"Hell, man, it beats being inside," the ex-prisoner snorted. "But if ya'll need some privacy, I'll just head over to the west tower." Oscar had spent many nights camping out in one of the towers. After ten months of being trapped in the prison cafeteria in deplorable conditions he had no desire to be locked inside the walls again.

Daryl waited until the large man was out of earshot then turned sharply on his niece. "What the fuck was that about?"

"What the fuck are you talking about?" Amanda was confused.

He pointed towards the prison. "You moonin' over Rick. I thought maybe it was nothin'. You followin' him around like a bitch in heat but now I ain't so sure. What the fuck are you doin'?"

Bitch in heat? BITCH IN HEAT! "What did you just say?" She was furious. Her fists balled at her sides and she literally saw red. Must've been her damned Dixon blood boiling all the way up to her eyeballs. She was going to punch him. Bitch in heat?!

"Fuck!" he yelled as her fist connected. "You hit me?" He rubbed his bruised chin in disbelief. " You fuckin' hit me?"

Her right hand was throbbing. Damn, but she didn't know it'd hurt so bad to punch someone. "Don't you ever talk to me like that again!"

"Quit being selfish and grow up, Amanda Lynne Dixon."

"You forget that I'm not sixteen anymore. I am grown up."

"Then act like it!

"Rick's a good-lookin' man and if I want to look him, I will!"

"Shut up, ya little brat."

"I'm not a virgin, Uncle Daryl. I miss a man's touch."

"SHUT THE FUCK UP!" God, please make her shut up. I don't wanna hear this shit. I ain't never hit a woman and I ain't gonna start to now, but if she don't shut her damn mouth...

"Is it just Rick or is it any man. Because I'm pretty sure Oscar and Herschel are single. Think they're lonely, too? Would that make it easier for you?"

"Amanda..." He rubbed his hands over his face. Make her stop. Please!

"I mean really, Daryl. What's the problem?"

"Amanda..." He took in a really slow deep breath and exhaled. "I don't want to see ya get hurt, Possum. Either one of ya. His wife just died and..."

"Lori died over six months ago," she interrupted.

"Rick's been through a lot of shit and he doesn't need to deal with yours."

"Maybe my shit, as you so eloquently put it, is exactly what he needs."

"Daryl! Amanda!" Their heads jerked in unison as the object of their heated discussion made his way up the tower steps.

"Fuck," Daryl hissed.

Oh shit. Amanda cringed, hoping it was getting dark so Rick couldn't see her burning face.

"What's wrong with ya'll? You wanna bring all the walkers within the sound of your voice down on us? 'Cause I'm sure they can hear you at least a mile out." His voice was low and harsh.

"Sorry." Daryl mumbled and ran a hand through his hair. He refused to look his friend in the eye. He couldn't. Not right now.

"Daryl, get some rest man. I'll take over here."

"I can do it, Rick. It was just a little family misunderstandin'."

"Go on, Daryl. I said, I got it." Rick's tone left no room for arguments and frankly, Daryl was tired of arguing. Sleep sounded good. He grabbed his crossbow and left but not without giving Amanda a warning look that would have withered anyone else but a Dixon.

Rick turned his attention sharply to her. "Do we need to talk?"

She cringed even more. Shit, shit, shit! "How much did you hear?"

"Enough."

Thanks to all my lovely reviewers and followers. Your kind words and comments keep me going!

A special THANKS goes out to Siarh for her never-ending patience and support!