"Two walkers!" Glenn hissed almost in relief. The walkers had become smaller threat than living people these days. They swiftly took them down with Maggie and Glenn turned back to Daryl and Carol with a grin. He froze when he saw Daryl aiming his crossbow at them.

"Get down!" Daryl shouted, firing the crossbow just when Maggie grabbed Glenn by his shirt and yanked them both down, smart enough never to question Daryl Dixon's reasons. The bolt went through another walker's head and Daryl sprung forward sinking his knife into the walker behind the first one, who was reaching to grab Glenn.

"There are more! Shut the door!" Glenn was already by his side and helped him to push the door against other walkers who were trying to get in. They blocked the door by an old cupboard and looked at each other.

"It's a trap. They saw us walkin' in," Daryl said looking around the room. There was no other way out; they had to fight their way through. He hoped that Rick and Michonne were all right and they'd found the rest of their group as they'd found Carol.

It seemed that Glenn was reading his mind. Daryl loaded his crossbow.

"Save the ammo, shoot only if there's no other choice. We gotta find Rick, Michonne and the rest."

"Give me the knife," weak voice behind their backs requested. They all turned to Carol. She was white as a sheet and shaking with exhaustion.

"You can barely walk, you ain't gonna be much of a help," Daryl grunted, regretting the harsh words as soon as they left his mouth.

Carol looked directly into his eyes.

"I might not be much of a help, but if you leave me unarmed, I'll be just a burden. With a knife I can at least try to protect myself."

There was no doubt she was right. Daryl took out his hunting knife and handed it to Carol, brushing his fingers against hers.

"Just stay behind me OK? Don't leave my sight, I'll get us outta here."

She nodded and gave his hand a quick squeeze.

"I know you will."

"Ready?" Daryl asked Glenn, who had his hand on a doorknob. Maggie was standing behind Glenn and Carol behind Daryl.

"Stay in the room, try to kill as many as ya can in the doorway before they break in."

Glenn nodded and opened the door. Soon Daryl with Glenn lost the count of walkers; they were swinging their knives with lethal accuracy, leaving the minimum of walkers for women behind them.

Suddenly the baby wail pierced through the walkers' growling. Daryl felt Carol bumping into his back in instinctive attempt to get to the baby. He straightened up to hold her back.

"We need to get to her!" he felt Carol's fingers digging into his back.

"We will!" he looked at Glenn, who had spotted bigger wooden cupboard's door. Daryl nodded, understanding immediately. They took the door and using is as a shield against the biters, they pushed them out of the door, Maggie with Carol following them closely.

As soon as they were in the corridor, they tried to get their bearings. The corridor was full of smoke, walkers and people. Daryl reached behind his back and was relieved to find Carol there.

Maggie was the first one to locate Judith and she gasped when she saw one of the Governor's men holding her with a gun pointed at the baby. The man was standing with her back to Maggie and she saw Rick a few feet away from him, putting his gun on the floor and talking to the man with a desperate look on his face. Maggie didn't hesitate a second and ran towards the man. Carol watched the scene and leapt out from her place behind Daryl's back to cover Maggie up. Carol took down one walker, who was staggering towards Maggie from the right, but her shaky legs were not ready and she stumbled down as soon as she sank Daryl's knife into the biter's eye.

Maggie reached the man and jabbed her knife into man's skull to the hilt with a furious shout. By now Daryl with Glenn realized what was going on and Glenn hurried to Maggie, taking baby from dead man's arms just before he collapsed to the ground.

Carol sighed in relief and tried to scramble up to her legs when she felt a strong arm wrapping around her waist, yanking her up.

"I said stay BEHIND me woman, can ya listen to me just for once?"

She didn't know whether his voice sounded more desperate or angry.

"But…," she tried to explain.

"The end of fuckin' discussion," Daryl hissed.

All right, it sounded angry.

When Rick saw Judith was OK, he snatched his gun from the floor and crushed the head of the nearest walker.

They'd found them all. They were exhausted, bashed up and hungry, but they were alive. Rick looked at his son proudly. He stayed close to him, making sure nothing would happen to him, but despite his weariness, the boy was killing walkers with relentless expression in his face. They both ran to Judith and Rick quickly cuddled her against his chest before handing her to Carl and pushed both kids behind him, protecting them with his own body.

He saw Michonne watching over Andrea, who was still in a bad shape but she managed to walk. Maggie with Glenn were forcing their way to Beth and he saw Daryl picking up Carol from the ground and judging from the frown on his face, he was giving her a piece of his mind.

Rick felt the hope flooding his body with adrenaline. His family was together again. They just needed to get out of this hell. He worriedly looked around. With number of walkers and the Governor's men it wouldn't be easy thing to do.

The Governor was waiting. He had to admit he was impressed. The group from prison was skillful fighters, quickly fighting their way through the walkers as well as his men. But this was only a prologue. He just needed to wait until they were drained to get what's his.

He was watching Michonne. The bitch was going to pay for killing his daughter and for taking his eye. He would use Andrea to show her how it felt to lose somebody dear and then he would torture her till she begged for a mercy kill. The leader from the prison and his boy were going to end up exactly the same but he might have actually kept the baby.

And he was going to use Merle's younger brother to test Merle's loyalty. Merle had betrayed him once and he needed to be sure he wouldn't do it again, for nothing and for no one. Killing his own brother should have been a sufficient proof.

His eyes rested on Carol. There was something about the woman, something in her attitude, which turned him on. He might have had a bit of fun with her before he would send her after her friends.

It was the time to step in. They killed almost all of his men, but there were still enough walkers and they were losing their strength quickly. He didn't want them dead. Not yet at least. He switched off the camera and turned to Merle, who had just entered the room.

"I'll need you soon, come in when I call for you."

The Governor didn't wait for Merle's agreement, opened the door on the furthest end and entered the corridor with two of his most loyal men. The place was immersed in smoke, he heard the sounds of close battle and his hair bristled in excitement.

He hoped he wouldn't run into Michonne first, he wanted to save her for the last, like a special present just for him. He was lucky because right in front of him, with her back to him and not expecting any attack from behind, was Carol Peletier. She stood behind Merle's younger brother who was just loading his crossbow.

The Governor motioned his men to stay put and walked quietly towards the woman. When he grabbed her around her waist, she managed to cry out a warning, before he put his hand over her mouth.

The redneck jerked his head in her direction and what happened next was faster than a blink of an eye. Daryl dropped his crossbow, leapt at them, snatched her out of the Governor's grip, threw the tiny woman in the opposite direction and punched him hard in the face.

The Governor stumbled back, surprised by the ferocity of attack. His men were by his side immediately, pointing their guns at Daryl. The Governor ordered them to lower the guns and looked at the redneck carefully. Of course he should have expected this, the man was Merle's brother and Merle was one of the toughest and most unscrupulous men he'd ever met.

But still, the man in front of him seemed to be somehow different from Merle. The Governor clearly saw he was protecting the woman behind him, trapping her between the wall and his back, haunted expression in his eyes. He'd never seen Merle care about anybody but himself and the knowledge that his brother was different, rushed more adrenaline into his blood stream. It would be even greater fun than he'd expected.

"Well, I apologize for frightening you, it wasn't my intention," the Governor smiled apologetically and Carol stiffened behind Daryl's back. The tone of his voice, his exaggerated courtesy, gave her the creeps and she started shaking uncontrollably despite the heat radiating from Daryl's body.

"What if we settle this dispute ourselves old fashioned way, leaving the lady out of it?" the Governor smiled at Daryl.

"Will be my pleasure, you son of a bitch," Daryl hissed and took a step towards him, "as soon as your henchmen stop aimin' their fuckin' gun at us."

The Governor smiled again and motioned his men to put their guns away.

Daryl didn't want to attack first. He'd lost his moment of surprise and he needed to estimate his enemy first before starting the fight. He avoided the first blow from the Governor but he did the same with his. They were circling around each other for several long minutes, not able to do more than just slightly brush his rival.

Suddenly the Governor jumped at Daryl and when Daryl avoided the blow and raised his fist to strike, the Governor stepped aside and punched Daryl into his injured side with all his strength.

Daryl yelled in pain and dropped to his knees. His shirt was soaked in blood in a second as the Governor's punch tore the stitches. He heard Carol's shriek of fear behind him and he felt her hands on his shoulders. He knew he had to get up but he felt dizzy and the walls were spinning around him.

He saw the Governor talking to his men, not paying his attention to them for a while.

"Get outta here, go to Rick, warn them," he whispered to Carol, wincing in pain, "they ain't looking."

She pressed her hand against his wound and shook her head.

"I'm not leaving you behind, forget it."

"Damn woman, I came here to save yer ass, so do me a favor and do as ya are told," he said, angry now as he again tried to scramble up to his legs.

She took off her light sweater and pressed it against his wound, making him curse. She tied it around his waist and helped him to his feet.

"Go," he tried again, knowing what her answer would be.

She leaned to him with a sad smile and whispered to his ear: "I ain't ever gonna let ya out of my sight Dixon. You belong with me and ya gotta put up with it."

He winced at his own words being thrown into his face.

That was how Merle saw them. His younger brother leaning on the woman he'd intended to kill, the blood from his injury dripping on the floor.

He was alive; the relief washed over Merle's body, all grievances forgotten for a moment, when he saw his baby brother standing there. Daryl stared back at him, the shock evident in his face.

"Kill them. Kill her first. Then him." The Governor's command caught him unprepared. Merle slowly turned to him.

"You heard me Merle. Kill them, I need you to prove your loyalty, I need to know I can fully trust you again."

"You took my two fuckin' fingers and I still stayed. What other proof do ya need?" Merle replied.

"You know what you have to do Merle."

The Governor's voice was calm.

Merle looked at the blade attached to the stump of his hand and nodded. He didn't owe them anything. His brother had chosen a woman and the group from prison over him and kicked him out, sending him to a certain death. Family bonds had been broken and he had to look after himself first of all.

He walked to them and stopped. Daryl pushed Carol behind him again, his voice desperate.

"Don't do it, bro."

Merle reached for Carol and Daryl shoved him out of the way.

"Don't hurt her, not her Merle…leave her fuckin' out of it. If ya need to kill somebody, kill me, I'm the one who threw ya out."

"No!" Carol wanted to step out in front of Merle, but Daryl's hand held her in place.

"Don't ya dare woman," Daryl looked at her, his eyes pleading her, "it's between me and Merle."

Carol's eyes filled with tears, which started streaming down her cheeks as she shook her head.

"I can't…"

Merle watched their exchange in awe. His brother had made it. He'd managed to find something their father had said they would have never found. Not them, not two worthless pieces of shit they had been. Merle had believed him until now.

The woman was looking at his lil' brother with such love and affection he would have never believed was possible. His brother was never good with words, but the way he was shielding that tiny woman with his own body and offering his life in exchange for hers, said it all.

Despite the shitty life they had to put up with so far, his brother somehow managed to raise himself above it all. Merle felt the sting of pride and jealousy at the same time.

Suddenly Merle knew who owed who. He owed Daryl for leaving him behind as a child, for all that extra beating the kid had to suffer because his older brother had left him and their father had needed somebody for blowing off his steam. He owed Daryl for all those bar fights, which Merle had initiated and his brother had always stood by his side. He owed him for almost destroying the group and place he'd truly called his home, for the first time in his life. And more than anything he owed him for trying to kill the only woman in his life, who loved him just as he was. The only woman that could make him happy.

Merle smiled when he turned back to the Governor and then three things happened at the same time. Merle suddenly lunged himself at the Governor and stabbed him with his blade, both of them falling to the ground. One of the Governor's men shot at Merle, while Daryl with Carol threw themselves at them, killing them with their knives when they were focused on Merle and the Governor.

Merle and the Governor were fighting in chaotic tangle, grunting and shouting. Finally Merle pushed Governor's motionless body off him and looked up at Daryl and Carol with a wide grin.

"Fuck, it feels so good to finally kill that son of a bitch!" Merle choked and spat out some blood.

"Time for ya to go lil' brother, fight ain't over yet and yer people need help."

Daryl shook his head and knelt down beside his brother.

"You're goin' with us."

Merle smirked:

"I don't think so, baby brother. Son of a bitch had a good shot, ain't gonna take long now."

With that Merle lifted his hand and Daryl saw an angry bullet hole in the right side of Merle's chest. Daryl gasped and the room started spinning around him again. Merle's face looked almost peaceful.

"I'm so sorry Merle, I'm so sorry for everything…." Daryl tried to hold his sobs building in his chest and wiped his eyes angrily. He grabbed his brother's hand.

Merle chuckled again and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

"It's me who is sorry lil' brother. I was shitty brother to ya but ya have got everything ya need now," Merle's voice weaker now, "look at ya...you've got the woman who loves ya and she doesn't give a fuck that you are a jerk."

Merle chuckled, amused by his own joke.

"You've got people who like ya, you've got a home. I'm really proud of ya lil' brother, don't screw it up, OK?"

"I won't," Daryl's voice croaked.

"Stop whimpering like a baby, take yer woman and get outta here quick. I guess she's forgiven ol' Merle by now too?" Merle winced at Carol, who was now kneeling by Daryl's side, tears streaming down her face. She nodded and squeezed Merle's hand.

"Good," Merle smiled, "now give me that fuckin' gun and get out of here, ain't gonna repeat it."

The fight was almost over. There were five more walkers that Rick, Michonne and Glenn were finishing off and two Governor's men gave up.

When a single gunshot echoed in the corridor, they all jumped. Everybody apart from Daryl and Carol. Rick looked at them with concern, taking into notice Daryl's bleeding side and his absent, painful expression, but Carol just shook her head. There was no time or space for questions.

They all walked out and froze when they faced another small army, pointing the guns directly at them. They didn't seem to be as organized as men who attacked them in the warehouse, but they were still armed and dangerous.

Rick recognized in their leader Martinez, the Governor's henchmen, he'd taken to negotiation.

"Shoot!"

His command was followed by silence, accompanied by embarrassed coughing and whispering. Rick's surmise was confirmed. These were chosen people from Woodbury, able to fight walkers, but luckily for them still reluctant to shoot into living people.

Martinez turned to his soldiers, shaking with anger.

"Shoot you idiots! They just killed our people!"

When he was faced with the wall of silence again, he pulled his own gun and fired. Two gunshots vibrated through the night air and two bodies hit the ground.

"No!" Michonne cried out, lunging towards the group with her katana ready to kill. She was stopped by Rick, who grabbed her and slammed her arms to her sides. They all watched in horror the blood stain, which was quickly spreading all over Andrea's shirt.

Carol sobbed and knelt to her friend, checking for a pulse and started crying harder, when she found none. Michonne broke free from Rick' grip and suddenly stood face to face with a large black man.

"Stop this madness otherwise we are going to kill each other!"

Michonne could not believe he was standing there unarmed. Carol looked up and recognized the man, who had found his way into the prison with his group but they had been driven out by Rick a few days later.

"You lost people, we lost people," man continued, glancing at Martinez's body, "we let horrible things to happen and we need to call it even if we want to live next to each other. Take your people and leave."

He was looking directly at Rick now. Rick turned to his family and friends. Michonne was kneeling at Andrea's side, silent tears streaming down her cheeks. Beth was holding Judith, her and Carl supporting each other. Glenn and Maggie supported Carol. Daryl was shakily standing on his own legs, pressing his hand to his bleeding wound.

Rick turned to Tyreese, new leader of Woodbury, and nodded. It was time to go home.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I hope you enjoyed it and I didn't disappoint your expectations! I wanted this to be the last chapter but decided to add one more..I think they deserve a bit of peace and fluff, don't you think?:-)