"Rick? Say something. You're scaring me." But he didn't. He didn't ease her fear. He couldn't speak. His throat tightened with terror at the thought of Mandy dying in childbirth like his wife did. He didn't want to leave Amanda but he had to get out of that cell. He couldn't breathe. He had to get some fresh air. He couldn't think. The walls closed in on him. He shouldn't have let go of her hand; he should have held it tight and took her with him. He didn't give a shit that the baby she might be carrying was another man's. He should have told her that. It was hers and that was all that mattered to him but losing her…oh God, how could he deal with that? Losing Lori almost killed him. Losing Amanda would.

Rick Grimes walked along the fence line for the second day in a row, alone. It was his fault. He messed up big time and he didn't know if he could fix this. Amanda had just come to terms with the Atlanta incident involving her father and now she had to deal with him leaving her when she most needed it. Shit. What the hell was wrong with him?

He barely noticed the fence for he was so caught up in his on head he barely noticed what was going on around him. When he closed his eyes, Lori came to him in his dreams, begging for help, begging him to save her, but she was just out of reach. His hand would almost touch hers and then her face changed into Amanda's. Her eyes were so sad, pleading for help, and then accusing him of not being there when she needed him. He rubbed his eyes wearily. If he went to her now, would she forgive him?

Rick glanced over to where Amanda worked in the garden. By the way she was furiously yanking the weeds, he'd say no. She didn't appear to be in a forgiving mood. Yesterday she looked hurt and sad. Today, she just looked pissed. He couldn't blame her.

He watched as Merle's man, Martinez, brought her water and she beamed at him. They talked and laughed for a moment and then he knelt down and wiped her face. She smiled and they talked a little more. The man waved and jogged off.

Rick turned away and continued the walk. Now he had another feeling to contend with, jealousy. That wasn't an emotion he ever really dealt with before. He didn't have any right to be jealous, did he? He couldn't blame her for turning to someone else but he wished it had been Daryl or Rowan.

Daryl felt like the scene was playing out before him in slow motion. One by one everyone left the dining room and he was alone with the father of the virgin. The pressure in his head threatened to pop his ear drums and he wasn't too sure that he'd be able to keep his dinner down either.

Then, Beth came in and smiled at him. He started to speak but Herschel was faster. "Is there something you want to talk to me about, young man?" His authoritative voice jerked Daryl out of his state of shock.

"Yessir," he said nervously, while running his fingers through his hair. He reached for his crossbow to put it down and realized he had already propped it against the wall before dinner. He kinda wished he'd cleaned up but he guessed it wouldn't matter. Besides it was too late now. He'd just sit downwind.

Daryl pulled out a chair and started to sit down when Beth cleared her throat. Shit. What did she want? Why's she jerking her head to side? What the hell…Oh shit, I shoulda pulled the chair out for her. Fuck. He ran around to the other side of the table and pulled the chair closest to her father out. She sat down and rewarded him with a reassuring smile.

Beth patted the chair beside hers and said, "Sit here, honey." Daryl stopped and his eye brows disappeared into his hairline. Did she just call me honey in front of her daddy? Oh, shit! A sharp pain in his shin from her little foot set him back into motion and he dropped into the seat beside her. He had hoped to be a little, oh just face it, a hell of a lot, further down the table from the old man than this.

Daryl sat on the edge of his seat in case he had to make a run for it. He couldn't see any guns on Greene but he wasn't taking chances. The man was smart. Daryl folded his hands in his lap and Beth place hers on top. Shit. Her hand didn't need to be down there. He quickly moved his hands to the tabletop and hers followed.

The silence was deafening. His own blood was pounding so loud he was sure both father and daughter could hear it. Beth squeezed his hands hard and smiled at him like she was trying to tell him something telepathically. What the fuck? Am I supposed to start this conversation? Both sets of blue eyes were on him. Beth's were almost a pretty turquoise like the sea. Herschel's were light, icy, hard, cold an unforgiving like…like hell if it was made of ice instead of fire.

Beth squeezed his hand again. "Honey, did you have something to ask Daddy?"

"Umm, yes, darl-, er I mean Beth." He exhaled loudly and swallowed hard. "Sir, Mr. Greene," he started, not really knowing where he was going next. Shoulda fucking thought about it, rehearsed it, but it made him so nervous he just ignored it. Bad fuckin' idea. Now he was going to just look like some dumb hick without a lick o' sense. Fuck! Calm down and try it again ya stupid redneck. "Mr. Greene, your daughter and me, have, er, um, well, sir, I like your daughter and would like your permission to see her."

The old man's frigid stare bored into his skull. "See her how?"

"Daddy," Beth interjected.

"See her how, Daryl?" he repeated.

Naked? Merle's voice crept into his head. Shut the fuck up! "Um, well, just see her without having to sneak around." Damn, that didn't come out right.

Herschel leaned slightly forward in his chair causing Daryl to lean back in his own. "You been sneaking around with my daughter?"

"Not like that sir."

Herschel's gaze was unwavering. "Have you had sexual relations with my daughter?"

"Daddy! I can't believe you asked that!" Beth protested. She was bright red from her chest to hairline.

So was Daryl. He was sure he would spontaneously combust any second. The old man was playing hard ball and he didn't have a mitt.

"Bethie, go get your young man some water. I think he could do with a drink," he asked but it was more like an order by the tone of his voice.

That's what I was thinking, I could use a drink but it sure as hell ain't water, he though as he watched her leave the room as her father bid. Now he was alone with the man who thought he was…

"Have you had sexual relations with my daughter?" Herschel's even tone interrupted his thoughts.

Sexual relations? "No sir?"

"You're not sure?" The man propped his chin on his hands and continued to stare at Daryl. If the redneck didn't already know Greene was a veterinarian he woulda bet that he had been a lawyer.

Daryl shifted uncomfortably in his seat, staring at his hands before forcing his eyes to look at Beth's father. "I mean we kiss and stuff but we ain't never…"

The girl's father raised an eyebrow. "And stuff?"

Shit. Daryl hesitated. He didn't know what to say. This wasn't going well at all. He practically told her dad that he felt her up and then some. He felt his face turn red. Both men turned as Beth came back before expected and for that Daryl was forever thankful that she came in when she did. He let out a sigh of relief. She carried three bottles of water. "I brought us all some." She sat a bottle in front of each of the two men and one in her place. As she sat down, she turned to her father and said, "Daddy," she said, "Don't worry. I'm still a virgin," only slight blushing as the words left her mouth.

"Fuck!" Daryl said and dropped his forehead to the table with a thud. He quickly apologized without rising. "Shit, I mean sorry. Sorry, sir." He just wanted this to be over.

Beth rubbed his back. "It's okay, baby. Sit up."

He did only to see Herschel with his teeth clenched and neck veins taut. Daryl wondered if it was from his cussing or Beth speaking so openly. Not that it mattered anymore. There was no way this conversation could be salvaged.

He stood up and placed both palms on the table. "Beth, darlin', I'm sorry I screwed this up. I tried I really did. I told ya, I ain't no good at this." He was rewarded with a soft understanding smile on the girl's face.

He swallowed and faced her father. "I like your daughter. I can't say that I love her or that it will happen but I would like very much if it did. Me, Merle, and probably Possum will be moving over to Cell Block B as soon as we get it cleaned up. I would like Beth to move in there with me." He let out his breath. "With your permission, of course."

Merle Dixon looked out over the land in front of the prison. It looked like more biters showed up. He, Daryl, and Martinez could go out tomorrow and take care of them. Didn't want too many of those fuckers collectin' around the fence.

He wondered how Ol' Man Greene was treating his baby brother. He almost felt sorry for Darylina. He laughed to himself. It was 'bout time the boy grew some balls.

Merle looked over at Rowan sleeping in the lawn chair. He couldn't help but smile at the young woman. She was carrying his baby. He would be here this time. He didn't even know that other bitch was pregnant with Amanda. He didn't know anything about his daughter till her momma showed up with her one day and told him she was his. This time would be different. At least he liked Rowan.

As if she knew he was thinking about her, she made little sounds in her sleep and shifted in the chair. Her eyes opened slowly and she looked around, disoriented for a moment. Her gaze settled on the older man she had taken for a lover for the simple purpose of staying alive. They never would have come together if it weren't for this freaking apocalypse. She didn't regret her decision. She loved him. She carried his baby.

"You 'bout ready to go back to the cell block?" he asked, leaning over to kiss her upturned face. She wrapped her arms around his neck and traced the outline of his mouth with her tongue. "Don't start nothing here, darlin'," he groaned. "My watch ain't over for a couple of hours."

"Consider it foreplay, then," Rowan teased.

"Foreplay?" He snorted. "Don't need no foreplay, baby doll. I'm ready whenever you are." He took her hand and put it on the impressive bulge in his pants.

"Shit, Merle. That was fast," she commented, one brow raised.

"Not really darling," he said, sucking her bottom lip into his mouth. "Mmmm. I been thinking 'bout ya all day." She jumped slightly when she heard the side door to the prison slam shut.

"Fuck," Merle muttered, standing up straight to adjust his pants. He could see his brother making his way over. "It's just Daryl."

"That is my cue to leave." She stood and gave him a quick kiss. "Come get me from Amanda's cell." Rowan paused a moment and gave him a wicked smile. "That is, if you're still in the mood."

"Pfft." He smacked her ass. "Get on out of here, crazy woman." In the mood? He couldn't remember not being in the mood.

Rowan turned, laughing, ready with a smartass comeback but slipped on the top step and went tumbling down with a scream.

"Rowan!" Merle shouted, running after her.

Herschel sat at the table with his youngest daughter pondering the words of the redneck who wanted to court her. Court wasn't the exactly the right word. He wanted to go straight to living with her. How was he supposed to be okay with that?

"Daddy?" Beth put her hand over his, drawing him out of his private thoughts.

He sighed wearily and looked at her. Beth had changed over the past year in ways a young girl shouldn't have to. She had to grow up too fast and missed the carefree life of a teenager to become a survivor in this hellish world. "What do you want, Doodlebug?" His voice was low and tired.

"I want to be with Daryl, Daddy. I want to move to Cell Block B with him. He said we had to ask you first."

"I hope you realize the seriousness of the decision. This group is like a family and if something were to go wrong it wouldn't be just between you and Daryl. It would affect the whole group." He met her gaze and held her small, smooth hands in his larger wrinkled ones. "If this is what you choose, you must see it through. Do you understand that, Bethie?"

"Yes, Daddy. I do."

Daryl headed to the tower. He didn't have guard duty tonight but his brother did. He needed someone to talk to and fuck if Merle wasn't the only one he could talk to about this shit. Possum had her own problems and he wasn't going to dump his on her.

"Hey, Merle!" He called up. He took the stairs two at a time until he heard a woman's scream. He looked up just in time to see a falling mass of arms, legs and dark hair tumbling toward him.

"Shit!" he yelled as she crashed into him knocking them both against the wall. He braced his foot on the lower step to stop their descent. "Get off me." He struggled but Rowan clung to his neck, crying and gasping for breath.

"Oh God, thank you!" she sobbed against him.

"Rowan!" Merle yelled as he ran down the steps, stopping to kneel on the step above his brother and girlfriend. He pushed Rowan's black hair out of her face and ran his hand down her side, stopping at her stomach. "Baby, you hurt?"

Daryl saw something in his brother's cold blue eyes that he'd never seen before. Fear. What the hell? It was obvious the woman wasn't hurt bad. Clumsy bitch.

She wiped her face on Merle's shirt. "I think I sprained my ankle and my wrist." She let Merle look at the bruised limbs.

"Are ya sure that's all, darlin'?" His brother didn't sound convinced.

Rowan nodded. "Daryl caught me. He saved me." She turned around to face the man she was sitting on and kissed his cheek. "Thank you," she said quietly with tears in her eyes.

He sat there stunned while Merle pulled her to her feet. "I want Herschel to have a look at ya."

"I'm fine, baby," she insisted. "It's just a sprain."

"Better make sure," he replied, scooping her up in his arms.

She squealed. "Merle! This isn't necessary."

He ignored her and spoke to Daryl. "Brother, take my watch a while so I can make sure she sees the doc?"

"Yeah, sure, Merle," he answered, somewhat befuddled by both Merle and his woman's odd behavior. He shrugged it off and went to the top of the tower to await his brother's return. He had his own problems to think about.

Merle hovered over Rowan while the old man tried to examine her until Herschel finally told him to back off. "Doc, she's pregnant." Greene nodded in understanding, like he already knew. Dixon didn't step back much but Herschel was able wrap her wrist and ankle and cleaned up her skinned knees without too much "supervision."

After he made sure Rowan was resting soundly, Merle hunted down Herschel to thank him for taking care of her and to put in a good word for his brother.

"Thanks," he said simply. "She gave me a scare." What the fuck did he say that for? Dixons don't admit fear to anyone. But when he saw her fall… his heart stopped beating. In those few seconds Merle thought he'd lost everything that made this world bearable.

"There's somethin' else I wanna talk to you about." Merle shook off the unwanted feelings and turned to the older man. "I can understand you being concerned about my brother's interest in your daughter."

Herschel eyed him warily.

"Daryl's rough 'round the edges but he's got a good heart. He was always the sensitive one. Our ma died young and our daddy, well ain't no way to say it nicely, he was a drunk and spent more time with whores than he did us. I did the best I could raising the boy but I weren't much more than a kid myself."

Herschel didn't say anything but nodded to the other man to continue.

"My brother ain't never gonna let your girl go without food or a safe place to live. When she becomes "family" he'll lay his life down for 'er, hell, he'd do that now. He's a good kid," the older Dixon paused in thought for a moment. "Hmpf. I guess he ain't a kid no more. He's grown into a fine man since I last seen him, before this happened." He held up the arm with a missing hand.

"I appreciate your words," Herschel responded, noncommittally.

Merle nodded once. "That's all I gotta say." He left the man there to ponder his words while he went to relieve his baby brother from watch.

Daryl took another swig from the bottle of whiskey his brother brought to the guard tower. He figured Daryl would need something strong after talking to Ol' Man Greene. Merle was an asshole but he'd come through for Daryl when he needed it most. The younger Dixon savored the warmth of the liquid comfort that spread throughout his body to his fingertips and all the way down to his toes.

"What's the verdict, baby brother?" the older man asked without turning around. He couldn't see much in the dark but he could still hear pretty well. Both Dixons kept their voices low to prevent them from carrying past the confines of the tower.

"Ain't got one yet." Daryl scratched his head and sighed, taking another drink. "He said he'd think about my words." Daryl handed the bottle to his brother.

"Hmpf." Merle tipped it up and took a gulp. "Guess ya can't ask for more than that."

"Guess not." He eyed his brother's stony profile and asked, "What's up with you?"

Merle handed the bottle back and instead of brushing the question off like he'd planned to do, he answered plainly, his expression not changing, "Rowan's pregnant."

"Shit."

"Yeah."

Daryl took a sip and handed it back. "You need this more than me."

"I guess," he said, taking another swig.

"I'm gonna be an uncle again." and again…to Amanda's baby. Holy shit, Merle's gonna be a granddaddy and a daddy. Daryl waved off the bottle when his brother held it out. "You really gonna need it more than me," he mumbled, half to himself, not really intending to say it out loud.

He turned to stare at his brother. "I'm alright with it. Maybe I'll do better this time."

"Ain't what I meant." Fuck. Jack done loosened his lips.

Merle set the bottle down carefully on the wall. "What do ya mean?"

Daryl shook his head. He fucked this up. Ain't no way his brother was going to let him get away without telling him. What did he fear more…his niece's wrath or his older brother's? Fuck it! "Possum may be pregnant too."

Thanks to Siarh for being a wonderful sounding board.

Please drop me a line to let me know what you think.

Happy reading!