Daryl sat at the table at least a full five minutes after Hershel left. He didn't know what to do. Well, first, he would probably punch his brother in the face for letting him walk in the room with a hickey on his neck without a warning. Asshole.

Second, what was he going to do about Beth? Did he want to settle down with her? Truthfully, he had no fuckin' idea. He hadn't even thought about it. Maybe he should have, though. He should have thought past his immediate pleasure, but damn, it was so hard when she was around to think about anything else. Literally. She smelled so good and she felt so good and she wanted him. Him. A girl like that had never wanted him before. Hell, he wanted her too but did he want her forever? How did he make a decision like that? He wasn't good with women or relationships. Daryl propped his elbows on the table and buried his face in his hands. Shit, his head hurt and his neck hurt and this kind of thinkin' called for a strong drink or even a cigarette. Probably both and he had neither. Fuck. What he really wanted to do was crawl into bed and sleep for two days.

The light touch of a woman's hand settled on his shoulder. Beth. Shit. He wasn't ready to talk to her yet. Daryl didn't know what he was going to say to her. He hadn't been paying attention or she wouldn't have been able to come that close him without him realizing she was in the room. He didn't raise his head but instead reached back to hold her small hand. This hand was long, slender…not Beth! He whirled around wrenching his neck even more. "Fuck!" He said grabbing it. Rowan. Could this day get any worse? "What the fuck do you want, bitch?" he snapped.

She held her hands up, a bottle of oil in one. "I was going to help you get rid of that pain in your neck."

His scowl deepened. "Don't need your fuckin' charity."

"Charity?" she scoffed. "I'm not doing this for you, you stupid redneck. I'm doing it for Merle so just shut up and take off your shirt so we can get it over with."

"Ain't gonna happen, whore." He was expecting her swing this time and caught her fist right before it connected with his chin.

"I told you never to call me that again!" she said, trying to pull her hand loose from his painfully tight grip.

"I call 'em like I see 'em." he said. "Whore." He couldn't help it. Something about her rubbed him the wrong way and he had to get that last dig in.

"Baby brother," a hard cold voice cut the air. "Take your fuckin' hands off my woman. Now." Daryl roughly shoved Rowan away.

"Hey," she cried, stumbling backwards.

"What the fuck is wrong with you, boy?" Merle asked, steadying Rowan by the arm.

"What the fuck were ya thinkin', brother, not sayin' anythin' about this goddamn hickey?" He yelled pointing to his neck and then he threw himself at his brother. They went down in a heap on the concrete floor, fists flying. Rowan jumped back just in time to keep from being dragged into the fray.

Martinez ran in but stopped abruptly as soon as he saw it was the Dixons. He put his hand on Rowan's shoulder. "Should I stop them?"

"Think you can?" she asked, one brow raised.

"I doubt it." He pulled Rowan back when the brawling brothers rolled too close. "Maybe you ought to come in the kitchen, sweetheart. Don't want you to get hurt," he advised.

"Good idea, Caesar."

He gestured for her to go first and he followed her to the kitchen without a backwards glance.

A loud crash echoed through the prison when Dixon brothers slammed into the table, knocking it over and sending chairs flying, clattering across the floor and into the walls. Rick and Amanda came running in followed by Oscar and Glenn.

"Shit!" Rick cursed. "Merle! Daryl!" He tried to get their attention but had no luck.

Amanda touched his arm. "Just let them fight it out. I don't think they'll kill each other."

"Are you serious, Mandy?" he asked, moving out of the way of a chair that skidded across the floor toward him.

She nodded. "They used to fight all the time. Of course, back then Daddy was younger and Daryl was smaller. It might be an even match now."

Rick looked at Oscar and Glenn. The taller man shrugged and asked, "You really want to get in the middle of that?"

Rick closed his eyes, pinched the bridge of his nose, and shook his head.

Carl ran in, "Cool! Who's winning?"

"Son, go take care of your sister."

"But Dad, she's with Hershel! I wanna stay and watch." His eyes were wide with excitement.

"It's not safe in here," Oscar said, putting a hand on the boy's shoulder. "C'mon, kid, I'll teach you another card trick."

"Okay, but I'd rather stay here," Carl whined and dragged his feet but followed the big man out, continuing to look back over his shoulder.

Beth came rounded the corner with Maggie. "Oh no, Daryl!" she cried out and ran toward the fighting brothers.

"Beth! No!" Rick, Amanda, and Maggie yelled at the same time.

Glenn caught hold of the young girl's shirt just before she got tangled up in the rolling mass of Dixon testosterone. "Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

"He's going to get hurt," the young girl cried.

Rick's voice rose above the fracas. "Everybody out now!"

Beth was the only one who resisted but Maggie and Glenn together managed to get the hysterical girl out.

Rick took one last look at the Dixon brothers who seemed to be losing a little steam and locked the door to common area behind him.

It was a beautiful day outside, though extremely hot. It was mid-August according to Rowan's calendar. The manual labor was held to a minimum during the hottest hours of the day to prevent heat stroke so the divergence of the stream had come to a stand still for now.

Rick continued his daily walk along the fence line with Amanda. "Think they're still fighting?" he asked.

She chuckled. "I don't know. Do you wanna go find out?" she asked while pulling her hair off of her neck and into a curly ponytail.

Rick glanced at her before tugging on the patch in the fence. "I'll pass. What do you think they're fighting about?"

"Who knows?" she shrugged. "It could have something to do with that hickey on Daryl's neck. Daddy relieved him from watch. He had to see it."

"Sure as hell couldn't miss it." Rick shook his head and laughed with Amanda. "Did you see Hershel's face?"

She put an arm around his waist and leaned into him. "If I gave you a hickey, I'd make sure it's was where Daddy couldn't see it. He'd do more than just have a talk with you."

He didn't even want to think about Merle's reaction but the thought of her lips on him again was enticing. "You wanna give me a hickey?" he asked playfully, kissing the top of her head.

She smiled up at him. "How about a rain check? We've already had too much drama for one day." She was starting to talk to him a little more, just idle chatter, but he enjoyed it. He didn't realize how much he missed listening to her, learning how her mind worked. "What are you smiling about?" she asked.

"You."

"Yeah? Good or bad?"

"Definitely good," he answered with a smile and kiss on her forehead. Her arms went around his neck and she leaned into him. "Eww, you're sweaty," she said, pulling away but he held on to her.

"So are you." Rick bent his head down to place a soft, chaste kiss on her mouth. She closed her eyes, leaning into him. He cupped her cheeks with his hands and tentatively pressed his tongue between her parted lips. His hands slipped around to bury themselves in her hair, pulling her curls free from their restraint to cascade over his fingers. Amanda's hands tightened against his neck for a brief moment before she pulled back gently. "Jesus, Mandy, I missed you so much. Move in with me, like we planned." He lifted her chin, "Look at me baby. What's wrong?"

"I don't know if I'm ready, Rick." She had trouble looking into his eyes. She was afraid to get too close to him again. She didn't tell him anything about Crowley. Rick only knew what the man said himself, right before he put a bullet in his brain.

"Okay, Mandy, but the offer still stands. Whenever you're ready." He kissed her hand and let it go when his son called out to them.

"Hey, Dad!" He looked from one adult to another. "Hey Amanda. Dad, I just wanted to tell you the Dixons are done fighting and want to be let out."

"Daryl has keys, so do you," his dad replied.

"Daryl lost his fighting, thinks they fell off somewhere and I didn't know if I should let them out without asking you first."

"Good thinking, son," Rick said ruffling the boy's hair, "Let's go see the damage."

Daryl and Merle lay side-by-side on their backs on the cool concrete floor that was now damp with sweat and blood.

"Damn it, Darylina. You broke my fuckin' nose," Merle said, grimacing as he popped it back into place. "Nah, just outta joint." Fuck, that hurt. Baby brother got a lot stronger since our last fight.

"Well, shit, bro, ya knocked my teeth loose," He replied rubbing the bruised side of his jaw. Daryl sat up first, albeit very slowly and not without a loud groan. "Fuck! Mighta cracked a rib when we hit that damn table."

"Give an ol' man a hand and help me up," Merle said and let himself be pulled up by the younger man.

"We even?" Daryl asked.

Merle nodded. "Yep."

"Good." Daryl looked around the trashed room. "We better get the place cleaned up, 'fore Carol see it."

"No shit. She'll have our hides."

"Here help me with the table, Merle," the younger Dixon said while grabbing one end. "Did you tell Beth I was a virgin?"

"Oh fuck!" he said, laughing, almost dropping his end. "Don't make me laugh, Darylina...think I mighta cracked a rib, too." He slowly stood up straight and they righted the heavy table. "Did she really ask ya that?" Fuck, it hurt to laugh. He couldn't help himself when Daryl nodded. "So I guess you had to show 'er ya weren't."

Daryl shrugged, moving a chair in place. "More or less."

"Less, I'd say, since ya didn't …"

"Don't start that shit," Daryl warned, picking up another chair and putting it back at the table.

"Alright," Merle said, still chuckling. "I did tell her you were kind of shy with pretty girls and not to give up on ya."

"Fuck. You can stop helpin' me now." Daryl sat down at the table rubbing his sore jaw while his brother sat down across him. "What makes that bi-girl so special to ya?"

"Huh?" Merle answered, looking cross-eyed down at his battered nose.

"Ain't never seen ya give two shits about a woman before, Merle," Daryl admitted. "And now you tried to whip my ass over her?"

"Tried? The older Dixon slammed his prosthesis down on the table with a bang. "Hell boy, I…"

"It was draw, ol' man." Daryl tried to stare him down but his brother laughed him off.

"Fine. It was a draw if it makes ya feel better, Darylina."

His baby brother wouldn't let it go. "So answer the question."

"I will if ya tell me what the Ol' Man Greene said to ya."

Daryl sighed heavily and relayed the conversation to his brother. Merle rubbed his chin. "Man has a good point. Wants to make sure his daughter isn't sullied by a dirty redneck only lookin' to get laid. She's a good girl, Daryl. Ya thought about it?"

"What?"

Merle bit back the grin and laugh that almost popped out at his brother's inability to stay on track."Settling down. Ya ain't gettin' any younger. Beth's a sweet girl and for some reason thinks she's in love with your sorry ass. You could do worse and ya sure as hell ain't gonna do better."

"Shit, Merle." Daryl rubbed the back of his neck, looking uncomfortable. "Ain't thought about. Don't know if I can do it. Too used to bein' on my own."

"I understand, brother, but ya oughtta start thinkin' about it." Merle pulled off his prosthesis and rubbed his painful stump. Shouldn't have hit his brother so hard with it. "It's nice to have a woman to keep ya warm at night and to take care of the morning wood."

"So that's what ya see in her?" he asked. "A piece of ass every damn day?"

Don't I wish? Merle shook his head. He wished his brother wasn't so dense sometimes. "That's nice, but it's more than that. I got someone on my side, lookin' out for me, takin' care of me when I need it." He chuckled. "And she's kept me out of trouble here more times than I can count."

"That's a fuckin' full time job; maybe I've been too hard on her," Daryl said, thoughtfully. "So what you're telling me is ya love 'er."

"I said no such thing." Merle shoved him on the shoulder hard and they both moaned in pain. "Damn it, why'd ya make me do that?"

"I didn't make ya do shit, ya jackass," Daryl replied, holding his sore ribs. "Ya used to say ya couldn't see waking up to the same woman every day.

"The world's different. Things change and ya gotta change with 'em."

"Shit, Merle. Did ya crack ya head when hit the floor?"

Merle shook his head. "Just tryin' to survive, baby brother." All this talk about changing and settling down didn't sound like the brother Daryl knew. "If I were you, I'd think real hard on it but don't take too long, that little gal may come to her senses."

"Excuse," Rowan interrupted. "Is it safe to come in?"

Merle looked over his shoulder and held out his hand, "Sure, baby, c'mon."

"Oh my god! Look at you two idiots," she exclaimed, gingerly touching Merle's nose.

He pulled her down into his lap and kissed the back of her neck with a loud smacking sound. She turned her head around to capture his lips with hers. "Ow! Shit!" he said. "Forgot ya busted my damn lip, bro." Rowan tenderly kissed a small spot on his stubbled cheek that wasn't bruised.

"See what I mean, Darylina," he said, wrapping his arms around the dark-haired woman on his lap and resting his chin on her shoulder. "Think about what I said, brother."

Daryl shook his head. "I don't know, man."

Rowan looked from one battered Dixon to the other and shook her head. "Ya'll better get a mop and clean the blood off the floor before lunch."

"Shit," replied Merle, standing up. He checked the locked door. "Who else besides Grimes has key to this place?"

"Fuck." Daryl patted his jeans and started looking around. "I did."

Rick looked at the Dixons brothers through the bars of the dining area and shook his head in disbelief. They both looked like shit. He was surprised that either of them could still walk. Amanda had been right, though, they didn't kill each other. In fact, they were actually talking and joking together. The older Dixon didn't even give Rick the death glare he'd become accustomed to.

Rowan retrieved the first aid kit and cleaned up Merle.

Amanda took care of Daryl's cuts. "Want me to get Beth?" his niece asked. "She was awfully worried about you getting hurt."

"Shut up."

She dabbed a small cut above her uncle's eye with alcohol. He winced and pushed her hand away. "Quit being such a baby," she ordered and then asked, "you wanna tell me what this was all about?"

"Nope."

"Did it have something to do the hickey?"

"I said wasn't gonna talk about it. Ya know what 'no' means?" he asked, clearly frustrated with her endless questions.

"Be still," she ordered, undaunted, wiping the blood from his face. "What did Hershel say?"

"Goddamn it, Possum! Dontcha ever listen?"

"Hell, bro, no wonder ya can't keep a woman…if that's the way ya talk to 'em."

"Shut up, Merle," he grumbled, knowing full well that his brother wouldn't.

"I could give ya some more brotherly advice," he offered with a chuckle as Rowan finished doctoring his face. "Thanks for takin' care of me, darlin'," he said and pulled her down for an open-mouth kiss. "That's how ya do it."

Daryl rolled his eyes at his brother.

"So?" Amanda asked her uncle.

"So what?"

"What did Hershel say?"

"Ya'll are crazy!" Daryl leapt from the chair knocking it backwards. "I'm goin' to get some sleep and I don't wanna hear a goddamn word from any of ya!" He stormed out of the room, his curses fading in the distance.

The three people left in the room looked at each other and the two women burst into laughter. Merle hugged his daughter. "You're a true Dixon, girl," he said, kissing the side of her head.

"That was so wrong!" Rowan exclaimed. "No wonder he's such a grumpy asshole. I almost felt sorry for him."

Merle and Amanda looked at her like she had two heads. Then she grinned. "Not really, that last part wasn't true."

"Hey."

Beth looked up to see Maggie standing in the door of her cell. "Hey."

"I thought you might want to talk to someone," the older Greene sister said.

Beth looked at her, somewhat surprised and asked, "You?"

Maggie sat down on the bunk beside her sister. "I know I haven't been there for you and I'm sorry."

"Did Daddy send you?" The blonde looked back at her mending, picking out a misplaced stitch.

"Yeah. He said you were pretty upset after he spoke with you."

"With me? How about to me?" Beth's voice rose in anger. "Daddy didn't want to hear anything I had to say. He treats me like a child. I'm eighteen, Maggie, and after all we've been through…I'm not a child anymore."

Her big sister nodded. "He's worried about you and this thing you have with Daryl."

"This 'thing'?" Beth mocked. "Like the 'thing' you have with Glenn? Is that what you're talking about?"

"Glenn and I are different."

"Really, Maggie? How? Because I don't see it. And how would you know anyway? We don't talk anymore. You know nothing about me and Daryl."

"I'm sorry, Beth. You're right. We used to talk. I'm here now. Tell me."

"That's okay. I don't need you running back to Daddy with everything I say. I found other people I can talk to, like Amanda or Rowan. I've already talked to Merle more about it than I have you." Well actually Merle did all the talking.

"Ouch." Maggie winced. "Don't be mad, Beth. I'm just trying to help."

"I'm not mad," she replied tiredly. "You weren't interested before so don't act like you are now."

Maggie took a deep breath, allowing a short pause before trying a different approach. "Daryl is a lot older than you. I don't want to see you hurt."

Beth shrugged and looked way, going back to her mending. "I already heard this speech from Daddy. Besides, does age really matter anymore?"

Maggie sighed. "I suppose it doesn't, if you both want the same thing. Do you?"

"We haven't talked about that yet," the blonde girl admitted. She was so caught up in with the lustful feelings that Daryl brought to life in her that she hadn't tried to talk about it with him. Honestly, she didn't know what he wanted. Beth knew that he wanted her, his body made that abundantly clear. But did he want her for the long run? Maybe he didn't love her the way she loved him.

"Maybe you should."

"We don't talk much," Beth blushed.

"What do you do then? Oh yeah," she smiled sheepishly. "I guess I didn't need to ask. Beth, honey, are you two using condoms?"

"Lord, Maggie. We haven't done that yet. But I have some."

"You do? Where'd you get them…never mind. You got them from me." Maggie said, realizing the answer as soon as she asked the question. Her little sister nodded. "Well at least I know I'm not going crazy."

Later that night, Amanda couldn't sleep again so she made her way to the tower. She couldn't remember who was on watch tonight but whether it was Rick, Uncle, Daryl, or Daddy, it didn't matter. She'd be able to sleep better in the fresh air.

"Hello?" she called out as she reached the top.

Martinez answered. "Hey, Amanda. Can't sleep?"

She shook her head and hugged her pillow. "No. You mind if I hang out up here?"

"Not at all, babe. I'd enjoy the company for a change." He helped her spread out her blanket on the chair. It was too hot to get under it but it made the surface soft and smooth.

"Caesar?" She watched his profile as he looked out over the landscape before him. "You think the Governor's looking for us?"

"Probably, but I wouldn't worry, sweetheart. I don't think we'll be that easy to find and we'll see him before he sees us," he assured her.

Amanda settled into the lounger and fluffed her pillow behind her head. "Do you like it here, Caesar? Better than Woodbury?"

The man thought about it for a moment before nodding. "Yeah, I guess I do."

"Why? It was so pretty there. Almost normal."

"Almost normal is the operative phrase. The citizens of Woodbury didn't really know what it took to create the illusion of normalcy. Here there is freedom. I don't have to watch what I do or say, and," he smiled at her, teeth bright in the moonlight, "I like the people."

"Carol?" she asked smiling back.

He grinned, "Among others."

"Are you two…together?"

He shook his head. "No. we're not like that. I think she has her eyes Oscar but if she looks my way, well, then, who knows?"

"Oscar? Really?" Carol and Oscar? Amanda hadn't noticed.

"Yeah. I think they were getting close before I ever came along."

"Damn," she said to herself. "I didn't know that. I guess I was too wrapped up with Rick before and in myself now."

Caesar looked at her, a soft concerned smile on his face. "How are you two getting along?"

"I don't know," she sighed. "He wants me to move in with him. He asked me to before…before Woodbury. I'm not the same person anymore. I don't think he realizes that. He wants the person I was then."

"Did he say that?" he asked. That didn't sound like the leader of the group that Caesar had come to know.

"No," she admitted.

"You're never going to be that person again, Amanda. He's a smart man. He knows that."

She started crying. Caesar knelt beside her and put his arm around her. "Give it more time, if that's what you need."

"How do I tell him?" Her eyes clenched tight, fight tears that were already running down her cheeks.

"Tell him what, sweetie?" Martinez reached out and brushed a few loose curls back over her ear. "That you're not the same? About Crowley?"

She nodded. "All of it."

"I'm sure he knows more than you're giving him credit for," he said, hugging her shoulders.

"He doesn't know everything."

Caesar brushed her hair back and wiped her tears. "Do you wanna tell me, Amanda?"

She shook her head, "No."

He lifted her chin to meet her eyes. "I had four sisters. I'm a good listener. I don't just pretend to listen." He smiled.

Amanda didn't hesitate; she just blurted out the thing she didn't want anyone to know but needed to tell someone. "I think I'm pregnant." She cried harder.

Caesar didn't say anything but pulled her to him and held her while she cried. After a few moments, she pulled back and wiped her eyes and nose on her blanket. "Sorry. All I seem to do these days is cry."

"You take a test?"

"No." She shook her head. "But I'm really late. I haven't had a period since before Woodbury."

"You've been under a lot of stress, honey," he tried to assure her. "Sometimes that can happen."

"I don't know, Caesar. I don't feel right."

"Could it be Rick's?"

"No." Her voice hitched as she tried to calm herself. "We only had actual sex once and we used a condom. He's not going to want me when he finds out."

He rubbed her shoulder. "Don't say that, babe. It's not your fault. He isn't going to hold it against you."

She shook her head adamantly. "He's already raising a child who may not be his own. Why in the hell would he want another?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Judith may not be his. Lori, Rick's wife, was with another man, she thought Rick was dead. Judith could be either man's baby."

"Shit," Martinez said, sitting back on his heels, trying to take that bit of information in. "I didn't know that."

"I can't ask him to be the father of another man's child." How could they ever be together now? Rick had been through so much. It wasn't fair for her to put him through more.

"Amanda, you have to tell him. If you really are pregnant, you won't be able to hide it soon."

"I know but Rick was so adamant about me not getting pregnant because his wife died in childbirth. We were very careful." She couldn't imagine her life without him before Woodbury but now she couldn't see it with him in it. "What do I do if he doesn't want me?"

Martinez held both of her trembling hands in his. "Then you go on. You have people here who love you and will help you take care of your baby." She shuddered and nodded but didn't think she had the strength to deal with this. "How about I pick you up a pregnancy test? I'll go on the next supply run. I'll be discreet. That way you can know for sure before you say anything to him."

Amanda leaned forward, hugging the man."Thank you, Caesar. I'm glad you're here."

"Me too, honey." He patted her back and squeezed her tight.

Thanks to everyone for reading and reviewing! As always, I enjoying reading your reviews so please let me know what you think.

Thanks Siarh for all the help with this chapter.