"Rick? Say something. You're scaring me." She pleaded with him but he didn't. Not really. Rick just sat there with his head in his hands for a few minutes which felt like an eternity of silence. He put his hand on top of hers and said, "I need to think, Mandy." Then he got up and left the cell and left her there, in his cell, sitting on his bed. Alone. She shared her deepest secret and fears and he left.

Finally, she had the wherewithal to get up, albeit in a daze. She was not entirely sure of what just transpired between the two of them. But it didn't feel good. She started shaking uncontrollably. She had to find Caesar. He was the only one who knew the whole story she wouldn't have to explain it again. She tried the kitchen first but only found her daddy and Rowan there and she slipped by undetected.

He was in the guard tower alone, thank goodness for small favors. She burst into tears and sobbed the whole story against his shoulder. Having four sisters paid off because he actually understood everything she said through her blubbering. He told her it would be alright. He stroked her hair and rubbed her back and kept repeating comforting words until she was able to stop crying.

Amanda tucked the stray curls back into the headband as she yanked another weed from the garden. He needed to think? That's what Rick said two days ago. He needed to think. Well shit. What exactly did he need to think about? If he could raise another man's baby? If he wanted to touch her now that she might be pregnant? He was okay until she told him there was a possibility that she could be pregnant.

Fuck. She should have waited until Caesar found a pregnancy test. Why didn't she listen to him? Then she could have made sure. But Rick kept pressing her to talk and she caved in. And now she was really pissed at his reaction. He said that he loved her. He asked for forgiveness. He said love doesn't go away…Then why the hell wasn't he here now?

She sat back on her heels and wiped the sweat from her brow leaving a trail of soil across her forehead. She waved when she saw Caesar coming across the field with a couple of bottles of water. Smiling, he waved and broke into a jog.

"Thought you might be needing this," he said with a smile, handing her the drink.

She drank half of the bottle down and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. "Thanks. I really did."

"You need to be careful, Amanda. It's too hot for you to be out here long." The concern on his face was touching but right now she was a little fed up with men telling her what to do.

"I want to finish this row. Then I'll go in." she said and pulled a few more weeds, tossing them into a pail.

"Promise?" he asked, looking down at her with his hands on his hips.

She shaded her eyes glaring up at him. "Fine."

Martinez rewarded her with a bright smile. Then he poured a little of his own water on a blue bandana that he pulled out of his pocket and knelt down before her. "You got a little dirt…" he said, gesturing to her face and he gently wiped it off.

"Thanks again for taking care of me." Amanda smiled back at him. She took the bandana and wiped the rest of her face off with the cool cloth and handed it back.

"You keep it, I got another one." He shuffled his feet a little bit and watched as she went back to weeding. "Amanda?"

"Yeah?" she answered absently.

"When you're done here, why don't you keep me company on my watch?" he asked, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "There's a nice breeze that blows through the guard tower. It's pretty cool there."

She looked up from her work. "I'd like that," she answered. "Thanks, Caesar."

Amanda watched as he sprinted off toward the tower to relieve Maggie and Glenn. Not including the incident in the oak tree, Caesar had never failed to treat her with kindness and respect. It was nice to have a friend like that.

Amanda scooped water out of the rain barrel with a bucket to wash the soil and sweat from her face and arms. She had weeded two rows of tomatoes and decided that Caesar was right; she didn't need to overdo it in this heat. The refreshing water felt good, so good in fact that she poured the remaining liquid over her head. Better she smiled, reveling in the cool rivulets that traveled down her body.

"Hey, Possum. You okay?" Daryl could tell that she wasn't. Hell, the past two days she barely said a word, very un-Amanda like. Grimes was pretty much the same. The man was so lost in his own head; it was reminiscent of how he reacted after Lori's death but not to that extreme.

"Yeah, why?" she replied, wiping her face with a blue bandana.

He glanced toward the direction in the distance where Rick was. "He's checking the fence by himself, again."

"So?" She pretended not to care but it hurt that he wouldn't talk to her so she disguised her feelings with indifference or anger in classic Dixon style.

Daryl squinted. "So, you usually go with him." He shrugged, but watched her carefully.

"Not anymore."

"Ya'll have a fight?" Merle would love that. The younger brother was still surprised the two men hadn't come to blows yet. The older Dixon had changed…a lot.

Amanda tucked the bandana in her back pocket. "No, not really. I just told him I might be carrying Crowley's baby, that's all."

"Fuck." He kicked the rain barrel. He really didn't see that coming. He should have done more than put a bolt in the bastard's head.

"Yeah." Her voice was low and her bottom lip trembled betraying her act of nonchalance.

"Awww, shit." He wished he could kill the motherfucker again…beat him to death this time. He pulled his niece into a hug and kisses the top of her head. "You tell your daddy, yet?"

Amanda sniffled and fought back the tears that threatened to fall. She was so damned tired of crying. "No. I think I'll wait until I take a pregnancy test, just to make sure," she answered in a shaky voice.

"Good idea." He pulled away to look at her face. He started to ask if she was going to be okay but thought better of it and just hugged her again.

She stepped back and finger-combed her hair and put her headband back on. Daryl brushed her cheek. "I gotta go," she said. "I told Caesar I sit with him on watch."

"You ain't goin' anywhere like that," he said, and gestured to her wet shirt, especially to see Martinez. He didn't trust the man. He was too friendly for his liking. Someone that friendly had to be hiding something. Merle trusted him, but the man had yet to make Daryl at ease.

She looked down at the light colored T that clung to every curve. "Fuck." She looked up at her uncle. "Well, at least I have a bra on." She shrugged and started to walk off.

"Whoa!" He grabbed her arm. "Get back here," he said, unbuttoning his shirt. "Cover yourself up." He tossed it to her then turned around to let her change.

She laughed at him. It wasn't like she was going to take off her wet shirt. In this heat, it would dry in no time, as long as she wasn't doing anything to make herself sweat. She just slipped his shirt over the top of hers and quickly buttoned it.

"Ready," she said and kissed his cheek. "Sir, you are a prude and gentleman."

"Cut that shit out, girl," he admonished but she caught the crooked smile that threatened to form at the corner of his mouth. "Let me walk ya to the tower."

"Gladly," she said and looped her arm in his.

As they passed the clothesline, her uncle stopped and said, "Possum, let me grab a shirt," and he snagged one faded brown plaid one.

Amanda noticed Beth through the hanging sheets. The hopeless teen was staring open-mouthed at Daryl's bare chest.

Oh my god. "Uncle Daryl?" She cleared her throat.

"Hmm?" He slipped his arms though the sleeve holes and buttoned it deftly. "Whatcha need?"

"I think I've got it the rest of the way." She glanced over at Beth who shut her mouth and pretended to be hanging up more clothes. "Go ahead on in and get a bite to eat. I'm sure Carol put something aside for you."

"Ya sure, Possum?"

"Positive," she said and winked conspiratorially at Beth who blushed brightly.

"Hey, beautiful." Martinez greeted as Amanda topped the stairs.

She smiled at him. "Hey yourself. I brought some lemonade. I ran into Carol, she was bringing it but I told her I'd save her the trip."

"Thanks." Caesar said, grinning and then took a sip of the tart drink. "Mmmm. Good. So I guess you didn't make it?"

She laughed. "If I did, you would know why I'm not allowed in the kitchen," she answered, propping her arms on the tower wall.

He laughed. "You can't be that bad." He couldn't remember her ever in the kitchen unless it was cleaning up, though.

"You have no idea and I like you too much to subject you to my cooking." That was the truth. She was thankful that the group had enough decent cooks that she didn't have to take a turn…not that they would ever let her again.

Amanda watched him scan the landscape before them. He had a nice profile. He kept his mustache and beard trimmed and his hair short and he always wore that stupid baseball cap backwards. Not that it mattered, but he could be bald on top for all she knew. "Caesar?"

His eyes still on the horizon he replied, "Yeah?"

"Take off your hat."

He turned to look at her and repeated her request. "Take off my hat?"

"Please?" He did. He had nice thick, closely cropped midnight-black hair. "Thank you. You can put it back on now."

"Amanda, what was that about?"

"I wanted to see if you had hair."

He laughed. "Okay. You could have just asked."

"I didn't want to be too forward," she replied. "Did you leave behind anyone in Woodbury? Like a wife or girlfriend." He was a nice man, good-looking too. It would be only natural if he had a special someone. Hell, her daddy seemed to have a bevy of interested women in that place, why wouldn't Caesar? He was younger and better looking, in her opinion.

She didn't want to be forward? He raised an eyebrow, wondering why she was asking. "If I had either one, I wouldn't have left them behind. Why?"

"Just curious. I don't really know that much about you other than you are a crack shot, a good cook and have four sisters. And, my daddy likes you. He doesn't like many people."

"That's pretty high praise. Nice to know. Your daddy and I went through a lot together. Dixon saved my life. He's a good man."

Amanda thought about his words for a moment. They were nice to hear and she could honestly say that she had never heard those words spoken in reference to her daddy before. Except from Rowan.

"Caesar, I believe I owe you an apology," Amanda started. How does one go about this?

"Really?" He couldn't think of anything the woman needed to apologize for.

"Remember when ya'll first found me? In the tree?"

Martinez nodded. Of course, he remembered. She was cute. Sassy. Telling Shupert that he'd never be able to knock her out of the tree with an arrow. She was right. Then she dropped her machete cutting off the end of Crowley's boot. He chuckled. He should have known she was a Dixon by her attitude and those blue eyes.

"Well, I just want to say I'm sorry for kicking you in the balls."

He choked on his last gulp of lemonade. That wasn't what he expected. "Lucky for me you just grazed them." He still shuddered at the memory. "Otherwise, I'd probably still be down." He squeezed her shoulder. "Besides, you were just protecting yourself. No hard feelings." Caesar hoped that she didn't have any for him. He wouldn't blame her if she did because if they hadn't captured her, she would never have been raped.

He let his hand linger on her shoulder a moment longer and he looked down at her outfit, noticing it for the first time. "Nice shirt, baby," he commented. "The Dixon in you is shining through."

Amanda chuckled and twirled around. "Redneck summer couture. I think it may even have some squirrel blood on it." She tugged at the frayed armholes of Caesar's shirt. "I see you must shop at the same place." She plopped down in one of the chairs and propped her feet up. She sniffed at the borrowed shirt and wrinkled her nose. "Eww. I should have pulled a clean one off the line too," she said absently. She bent forward and removed the foul smelling garment.

"Problem?" Martinez asked as she draped her uncle's shirt over the wall.

"It stinks. Daryl made me wear it. Just trying to protect my reputation," she joked. "I think he thought I was trying out for a wet t-shirt contest."

Caesar laughed.

"What? You think I couldn't win?" she teased, surprised that the man was actually flustered.

He held up his hands. "I wasn't laughing at you, babe, I was laughing at your uncle. He's pretty uptight."

"That is an understatement," she agreed. "But, he's alright."

"Does he know?"

She nodded. Of course she knew what Martinez was asking. It was the first thing she thought of when she woke up and the last thing before she went to bed. Until she found out for sure it would be foremost in her mind.

Caesar looked back over the road. The younger Dixon took it pretty well, apparently. He shuddered to think what the older one would do. He envisioned a one-man path of destruction from the prison to Woodbury and the once-safe, fortified community wouldn't have a building or a man left standing.

Daryl caught Beth watching him between the hanging clothes and his fight or flight instinct kicked in. "Fight" won so instead of slipping away, he went to her which really seemed to throw her off guard. He was usually on the defense while she was on the offense. "You about done?" he asked.

She nodded, blinking up at him. He grabbed her about the waist, pulled her between two rows loaded with laundry, and drew her into a passionate kiss. Her hands found their way underneath his clean shirt and against his sweaty skin. "You stink," she said.

"Want me to leave?" he asked, rubbing his cheek against hers.

"No." Beth wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her body into his. "I hear you and Merle are cleaning out Cell Block B."

"Yeah, getting kind of crowded in C," he mumbled into her skin as he dotted small kisses along her jaw line. "Me, him and Rowan, and Martinez are gonna move in it. Merle wants Amanda to come also."

Beth sucked on his earlobe and said, "I want to move in with you."

"Slow down, darlin' ya ain't movin' 'less your daddy says ya can." He moved his hands down her back and rested them on her hips.

"So ask him," she said as she traced the shell of his ear with her tongue.

Fuck. Daryl rubbed his face and kissed her forehead. Did he want to tell her he was too chicken shit to talk to Hershel or did he want to wake up with her warm soft body next to his every morning? Fuck. If it didn't work out, could he send her back to her daddy? Fuck. She'd probably get fed up with him and leave first. Fuck.

Sensing his hesitation, Beth pulled his head down and pressed her lips gently against his letting her tongue work its way past his not so reluctant lips. Her hands went around his waist and her fingertips slipped inside his waistband. He groaned as she traced a path from back, around his sides, stopping at the front button. Her tongue tangled with his and he put a hand on the back of her head pulling her up for deeper kiss. When they separated for air, Beth swept the sweaty hair from his forehead while brushing her other palm lightly across the growing bulge at the front of his pants. She stood on her toes, pressed her lips to his ear and whispered, "Talk to Daddy, tonight." Then she smiled, picked up a laundry basket and went inside.

"I will," he promised himself after Beth disappeared into the prison. Holy shit. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply, telling his body it wouldn't be much longer.

"Wake up, Ladybug." A raspy voice interrupted her sleep. Amanda opened one eye to see her daddy's concerned blue ones staring back at her.

She rubbed her face tiredly and sat up. "How long have I been asleep?" She yawned and stretched her arms over her head.

"A few hours," Martinez answered.

"You okay, baby girl?" he asked with concern, and placed his hand on her shoulder.

She nodded, pushing her unruly hair out of her face. "Just tired, Daddy."

"Well, it's time for dinner, Ladybug," he said. "Come and get a bite to eat."

"What about you, Caesar?" Amanda asked the man who had been on watch the entire time she slept.

He turned to face her and said, "Oscar will be here in a minute. I'll be in then."

She nodded and took her daddy's hand to pull herself up. She picked up her uncle's shirt from the wall and gave Caesar a kiss on the cheek. "Thanks."

"For what?" He asked, touching the place where her lips had just been.

"For being a friend."

Merle and his daughter descended the stairs together and walked arm in arm toward the prison. "What's that all about? You and Martinez?"

"Nothing." She shrugged off her father's questions.

Dixon slowed his pace. "Ain't look like nothin'."

His daughter rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Oh my God, Daddy! It was just a peck on the cheek."

"You and Grimes through?" He tried to keep the wishful thinking out of his tone. Please say, hell yes, baby girl, please.

"Daddy! I don't want to talk about it," she said instead and pulled her arm out of his.

"I do," he replied. "Seen that bastard walking alone these past few days, you two have a fight?" His prayers would have been answered if that was the case.

Amanda pleaded, "Daddy, please stop." She didn't know if they were through. She didn't know a damn thing because Rick wouldn't talk to her and she sure as hell didn't want to discuss any of it with her daddy.

"Okay, baby girl, okay. I'll give it a rest." Merle rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Ya, know, Martinez is a good man, If ya wanna start seeing him, I ain't got no complaints."

"Don't play matchmaker!" his daughter warned. That is the last thing she needed. Merle Dixon, a matchmaker? She knew the end of the world had come if her daddy was trying to set her up with a Hispanic man.

"I'm just saying…"

"Well don't!" Amanda cut him off as she jerked the door to the prison open. She turned sharply and pointed her finger at his face. "Don't you dare say anything about anything in here! Understand?"

His eyes widened and then he chuckled. It was good to see her spirit back, even if it was mean. He nodded once.

"Good," she said, taken aback by his easy compliance. He held the door and gestured for her to go through first. He followed humming a happy tune.

Daryl shoved the empty plate away. He barely tasted the meal. He was going to talk to Herschel tonight. But the others wouldn't hurry up and leave the table. They were just sitting around talking like they had nothing else to do. How the hell was he going to talk to the old man alone?

Rick was sitting at the end of the table with Judith in his lap. He was done eating and so was Lil Ass Kicker. Amanda excused herself as soon as she was finished and went to the kitchen to start on the dishes with Beth. Carol and Caesar were talking to Herschel about the garden and fall planting or something.

Carl had left to go on watch with Oscar. He didn't know or care where Glenn and Maggie were. Merle and Rowan had their heads together talking about something he couldn't make out when his brother caught him watching them. "What crawled up your ass, baby brother?"

"Don't you people have somethin' to do 'sides sit around and yap?" he grumbled a little louder than he intended for all heads turned to stare at him, even Baby Judith.

Merle smiled and patted Rowan on the leg. "I'll be back, sweetheart." He kissed her on the temple. "I think Darylina needs a little counselin'."

"Ain't in the mood."

"Don't care," said Merle, grabbing him by the scruff of the neck and dragging him outside with Daryl cursing the whole way. He took a swing at Merle who backed up just in time to avoid his brother's fist.

"What the hell is wrong with you!"

"I was just getting ready to ask you the same thing. You're a bit on the grouchy side. Those blue balls botherin' ya?"

"Damn it Merle. I was goin' to talk to Hershel after dinner but ya'll won't leave the table."

The older brother slapped the younger one on the back. "Well, shit boy, all ya had to do was ask. I woulda sent 'em all packin' if I knew that." Merle put his arm around Daryl's shoulders and guided him back to the dining area. "Want me to hold ya hand?"

"Fuck off," he growled, shoving the laughing man away.

Merle saw that Grimes had already left with the booger. "Hey baby," the older Dixon beckoned to Rowan. "C'mon, let's go for a walk." He turned to his friend. "Martinez, Ladybug needs help in the kitchen. She's liable to break all the dishes. Carol, darlin', would you send Beth out here?"

Merle clapped his brother on the shoulder on the way. "It's all yours, bro."

Daryl stood, feet frozen to the floor like the proverbial deer in the headlights. Hershel sat ramrod straight at the far end of the table with his arms folded in front of him. His expression was unreadable.

Beth came out of the kitchen drying her hand on a towel. "Carol said you needed me out here," her voice trailed off when she noticed that only Daryl and her father were in the room. She grinned but bit her lip to keep it from blossoming into a full blown smile.

Thanks to all my readers and reviewers! Please review and let me know what you think!