Author's Note: Apparently I wrote these and completely forgot to post them. By the dates on the documents I finished this story about a year and a half ago. Whoops. First of the final chapters - Enjoy :)


"My God, Merle…he looks just like you." Daryl said when he was allowed to hold his nephew for the first time. It was nearly a week before Peaches felt well enough to leave the room. And Merle guarded her and the baby so fiercely that he made Carl's close attention seem like he didn't care at all. Rick almost compared him to an animal but he didn't know of any male animal that protected it's young like that. The females maybe but even the deadliest mama bear had nothing on Merle. Rick tried to seem happy for them but everyone could tell he was still lamenting the loss of Lori and his baby so they left him alone when he hung back from the other cooing adults. Glenn looked over Daryl's shoulder and smiled when Jameson opened his eyes a little.

"Wow, he really does." He agreed. The baby was the spitting image of his father. Right down to his lack of eyebrows. Although there were some slight differences. Only a few days old and he was already darker than Merle – his skin settled between the colors of his parents at a light brown. His eyes slanted up slightly like his mothers but other than that he had Merle's eye color and his scalp was already sprouting little, curly, blond locks. His high cheeks were plump and rosy. He even scowled like Merle when he was woken from his nap. Daryl rocked him back and forth when he started to fuss.

"Hey little badass." He said as he wiggled a finger under his tiny hand.

"Say hey uncle Daryl." Glenn said as Daryl handed him off to him. "Hi uncle Glenn. Aww, you're so tiny."

"I beg to differ." Peaches said as she ate her breakfast. "That boy has got a huge head. Just like his daddy. Andrea, you better brace yourself." Everyone laughed at her sarcasm.

"Oh I am." Andrea said as Glenn let her hold him. She brought him between her and T-dog and they smiled at him. "The agony is well worth it though right?"

"Undoubtedly." Peaches said. She noticed when Michone got her chance to hold him. She looked a little haunted by the baby and looked more than a little awkward holding him – like she had forgotten how when she learned everything about their new world. When Jameson tried to look at her she passed him along to Tyrese.

"He's quiet. Haven't heard him all week – didn't even know he was out until Glenn said something two days ago." Tyrese commented.

"He's really is." Peaches agreed.

"Daryl was the same way." Merle pointed out. "His mouth would let you know when it was dinner time and he ass would let you know when it was changing time but for the most part he was quieter than moth farts." He flicked Daryl's forehead and the other man elbowed him playfully.

"Mom used to say as long as you had a tit in your mouth you were happy." Daryl said.

"That's still true." Peaches quipped and everyone laughed. As if on cue Jameson started to cry. It wasn't very loud just a little snort and a whine. Peaches sighed and received him in her arms from Sasha. "It's like he knows exactly when I'm done eating. He says, 'mama I want some too'." She rocked him as she left to breast feed him in her room. Merle following behind her like a faithful guard dog.


"…don't you cry. Daddy's heating up your bottle, sweetie pie. And if you hate this bottled tit juice…then we're screwed cause mommy needs her sleep." Merle said as he rocked Jameson back and forth. He knew someone was watching him from the hallway. For a second he thought it was one of the newcomers – breaking the rules by coming on to their floor while everyone was sleeping. But when he heard a snort he looked and found it was Rick. "It doesn't rhyme but I figured what the hell." Rick slowly walked in and looked at what Merle was doing. There was a small bottle of milk in a saucepot of water on the stove. The heat wasn't that high but it needed a low light or it'd burn. Merle briefly entertained saying something hurtful about his kid already out living Rick's baby but he kept it to himself when he saw the hollow look in his eyes.

"I don't think I ever apologized to you…about what happened when we first met." Rick said quietly. Merle just stared at him for a second.

"You mean when you handcuffed me to a steel pipe and resulted in me cutting off my own hand with an incredibly dull hack saw." Merle said a little bitter.

"I did what I had to. You were coked out of your mind. But when we were leaving I should've unlocked you myself before it was time to go." Rick said.

"No shit." Merle said sarcastically.

"At the time I was focused on finding my family and you were in the way of that." Rick said.

"Karma is a bit of a bitch isn't it?" Merle said as he gestured towards Jameson. Rick seemed really hurt by his words and Merle felt an odd mix of satisfaction and guilt over it.

"Yeah… I just hope it's kinder to him than it was to Judith." Rick said. Merle nodded – that was the first time he had talked about his dead daughter since it happened. He looked at Rick warily when he got closer and looked down at Jameson. "He's a beautiful baby. One of my proudest moments was seeing Carl for the first time."

"He's a good kid. Looked after my Peaches like a hawk. Still comes to check on little Jay while he's watching over Andrea too." Merle said. He noticed the way Rick had to crane his neck to get a look at Jameson. "Wanna hold him?" Rick's head snapped up at the question. It was written all over his face that he never thought Merle would be the one to offer such a thing.

"Ah…sure." Rick said. Merle handed him over without a second thought and went about testing the warmth of the water. He watched Rick as he looked at the infant, astonished. "What's your plan for him?" he asked after a while. Merle looked up for a second.

"Keep him from getting eaten." Merle said and Rick actually glared at him for the thoughtless comment. "Shouldn't be too hard seeing how we're not out in the open like before. And even if we do lose this place to the geeks I'll keep him strapped to my back until he's twenty if that means keeping him alive."

"You really think this walker thing will go on for the next twenty years?" Rick asked – clearly exhausted by the thought.

"Well…we've got two years down and it doesn't seem like the herds are thinning out. We keep killing them eventually they'll be more of us than there are of them. I've killed over a hundred, and made one baby – I'd say that's a step in the right direction."

"I don't remember you being this optimistic." Rick said before he looked down at Jameson. He woke up and whined. He opened his eyes fully in the dim room and looked at Rick.

"Well it's either look at the bright side or kill myself so…." Merle shrugged before he tested the bottle again. "I'm not detoxing anymore, I've got most of my limbs, my health." He turned off the stove and took up the bottle. "A very... unique wife and a healthy baby."

"That's about as bright as it gets." Rick said as he gave Jameson back to Merle. He took one last look at the baby before he moved to leave the room.

"Apology accepted." Merle said. He stopped and turned to him.

"What?"

"I accept your apology. Besides if you hadn't done all that I never would've met Peaches. I wouldn't have my boy." Merle said as he looked down at Jameson. Rick gave him an odd look when he took a few sips from the bottle in his hand – presumably to test the temperature and clean the nipple. "Mm…your mommy makes it good." He chuckled before he gave it to the baby. Rick gave him a little smile before he walked out.


Peaches was woken by a loud thump. The sound made her jump up in bed. She focused on the room door and kept herself from screaming. Someone was in the room. She reached for Merle but he wasn't next to her. The dark shadow near the door separated into two and she nearly bolted for her machete.

"Peach, it's me." Merle said quietly. She heard another thunk and looked at the second figure. "Glenn." He clarified.

"What's happening?" She whispered. Jameson would probably be woken by the noise if it got any louder, but if they kept their voices down he wouldn't cry out when he woke. He was nearly two months old now – he'd have Andrea's baby as a companion soon. "Are walkers in the church?" she asked as she pulled on some clothes. She hurried to Jameson's crib and scooped him up. He stirred but didn't wake as she placed him in a sling around her.

"No, it's people…live people." Glenn said as he checked the gun in his hand. "I don't know how they got in – someone had to unlock the door for them. Why else would they even come straight to this building."

"Linda." Peaches assumed. "Any idea how many there are?" she asked. They all jumped when Daryl came in the room quickly.

"Shit." He hissed – clutching his arm and screwing his eyes shut tight.

"Let me see." Glenn said as he rushed to him. He peeled Daryl's hand away for a second before pressing it back on. "I saw white meat." He looked a little sick for a second.

"Bastard took a swing at me with a god damn sword – like fucking king Arthur." Daryl said as he eased down to the floor. Glenn rushed to get the medical kit that was still in the room from when Peaches gave birth. The needle already had thread in it. Merle shined a small light on them as he worked.

"Did you see how many?" He asked.

"At least five – big fuckers, like Kevin." Daryl said and winced when Glenn stitched up his arm. When he was done he wiped it clean and put a large bandage on it.

"Where are the others? Do you know?" Glenn asked.

"Holed up. I—" They all froze when they heard Andrea out in the hall.

"Please – don't hurt me. I'm pregnant. I'm pregnant!" She shrieked.

"Hands up!" A man yelled.

"Okay…okay." Andrea said calmly.

"We got two black fuckers and the white kid. Who else is left?" He asked.

"I—

"You better not lie bitch – Or I'll cut that little bastard out of you and the last thing you'll see is him dying before you bleed out." Another threatened her. They all cringed when Andrea whimpered helplessly. Two black guys could mean Tyrese, T-dog or Kevin.

"Let go of me!"

"Kathy." Peaches whispered when she heard her.

"Hey, hey – no don't shoot her. None of the women. Only the men if they give you trouble." A third man joined the group in the hall.

"Light skinned bitch is kind of cute – what's your name?"

"Go to hell, you greasy Ginny bastard." Katherine snapped. They all jumped when they heard a loud slap and a thud.

"Fine, tell me where that white hillbilly went or I kill this pregnant bitch."

"Katherine!" Andrea gasped.

"Away from here." Katherine lied – she knew none of their men, white or black would abandon them at this point.

"He just up and left all you sweet bitches. His loss." One said.

"Keep your cracker hands off me." Katherine snapped. Another slap and Merle reached for the door knob. He stopped himself. No use bursting out there and getting them all killed. Katherine was strong – he knew that. And Andrea was no push over either but she had her baby to worry about. She was probably pissing her pants out there – if they already had T-dog…

"If he comes back you gonna tell him about the fun we had? He your little fuck buddy?" The man asked. They could almost hear Katherine roll her eyes at the notion of being involved with Daryl.

"Back off."

"Where are the other people in your group? We know there's more of you."

They all froze when Jameson woke up and let out a little whine. Peaches tried to get her shirt undone – to get her nipple in his mouth before he could make anymore noise. He'd suckle and be quiet. But the men out in the hall already heard him.

"In here!"

"Open this fucking door!" Daryl was prepared to stay with his back against it until a bullet whizzed past his head and clipped Glenn in the leg. He couldn't help his reaction – something like that had never happened to him. He dove away from the door to keep from being shot and rushed to Glenn. Merle put his weight on it too late and it was kicked in. The solid wood knocked against his head and he went tumbling to the floor. The commotion made Jameson wail. When Peaches saw the guns drawn on them she turned her back and shielded him from the bullets she thought were coming.

"Found you assholes. Get up! Come on!" The men disarmed Daryl and haled him up by his injured arm. Glenn was next. Merle came to and was an inch away from getting his knife when another stepped on his hand. He sighed in defeat at the gun that was pressed to his head. "Let's go, move it."

"You! What are you hiding?" One asked Peaches as he pulled her around. "Damn this place is a god damn factory."

"What is it?" The man holding Merle asked.

"Another baby." He reached for Jameson and Peaches snatched away. He pointed his gun at her quick movements. "Okay move it, mommy." He taunted her and she marched out the room with Merle. They were all forced into the gift shop – which had a drop down cage. They pushed Merle in and he nearly bumped into Andrea. He caught her shoulder and looked at her apologetically until he glared up at the men. If that was all of them there were in fact five of them – including Caleb as he stood back with them.

"Bastard." Merle said.

"That…I am." Caleb said before he stopped Peaches. He snatched Jameson from her sling and kicked her inside.

"No!" She screamed and reached for him but they slammed the cage door down on her wrist. "Ahh!" She pulled back and cradled it for a second. Merle thrust himself against it – hoping to get through it and get to Jameson. His crying was intolerable as Caleb manhandled him into the crook of his elbow.

"Call it insurance. Any of you try anything and I kill him. I get a whiff of an escape and it's him, the pregnant bitch and all the kids. We clear?" He asked as he waved a knife dangerous close to the whimpering infant. Merle just glared at him – gripping the cage until his knuckles went white. The others were quiet and Caleb smirked. "Thought so." The other men closed the front doors and locked them with a chain. Peaches let out a sob as she eased to the floor. Merle roared – truly frustrated at his helplessness.

He watched the storefront for hours – hoping Caleb would come back or the guards would change but so far it was only an ex-metal head looking guy with a rifle standing not too far away at the benches. Peaches had stopped crying and now sat just holding her hurt wrist. Rick was patching up Glenn's leg for a while but when he was done he moved over to her. "Let me look." He said softly as he took her hand. She hissed as he checked the bones. "Nothing broken but it's definitely sprained." He used a broken hanger and some shredded shirts as makeshift splint. The kids were all huddled with Michelle and Linda – save for Carl who was seemingly pacing around the store. They were all injured and without their weapons – Daryl was fidgeting, drumming his hands uneasily against his legs. One second from having a fit over not having his crossbow. Glenn was quiet except the occasional groan from the pain his leg – it seemed to be the only thing that could occupy Daryl for a few seconds. He'd twiddle his hands, look at Glenn when he groaned until Glenn let him know he was okay and then he'd got back to twiddling. Ian was sitting plainly on the floor – a black eye forming on his pale skin. The others were either trying to sleep or comfort each other. Andrea was trying to breathe deeply and calm down. She complained that her back ached but assured everyone she wasn't due for another two months. T-dog still didn't leave her side.

"I can't believe he did this to me." Linda said. Merle rolled his eyes. "We've been in this since day one and now this."

"So you're saying that if he had come to you with this plan of his you would have gone along with it?" Peaches growled out.

"Don't spin it that way. You always do that." Linda said indignantly.

"But it's true." Rick interrupted. "You just wanna be out there instead of in here. You would've betrayed our trust just to get in good with him and take our home."

"I—

"Who are those men? Have they just been waiting in the woods for two months? Watching us?"

"They're bandits." Sam spoke up. "They've been doing this all year."

"Hush now." Linda said.

"No, let him talk." T-dog said. "What have you been doing all year?"

"They stake out peoples homes for a week before they send us in to get the pity vote." Michelle spoke this time. "We get in, they wait for everyone to get comfortable before they take everything. If they like the place they kill who ever is there. And use it up until it's no good to anyone."

"Have they done anything to you?" Rick asked sympathetically. He couldn't keep the cop inside him quiet some times. It was reflex.

"No, but they make us all watch what they do to the women before they kill them. Say if I don't keep doing what they say – keep my mouth shut about the truth it'll happen to me…and Suzie. And the boys too if they're bored." Michelle answered. She glanced at Glenn for a second and he paled. "I had to tell them about everyone, I'm sorry." Linda suddenly burst into tears.

"The hells your problem?" Merle asked as he glared at her. She gave him a big eyed stare before she sobbed.

"I'm scared this time – usually I'm not part of—" She went sprawling across the floor when Merle backhanded her.

"Merle!" Tyrese began to chastise him before Merle gave him a look.

"You really wanna defend this bitch when her damn boyfriend just jacked your shit and took my baby!?" He yelled. "She's telling us we're all going to get raped and killed and she's crying about being left out the plan."

"Please…" Linda begged.

"Shut the fuck up or…" Merle took a step back and chuckled darkly. "Swear to god – the all fucking mighty while we're here so close to this church – I swear if anything happens to my boy I will… Caleb and his band of merry men will seem like boy scouts compared to the wrath I will unleash on you."

"Testified." Peaches said with a nod. Carl came up to her and gestured with his hands. She signed something back but he looked a little confused – she could only do so with one hand. He asked her several things without saying a word and Katherine let out a chuckle. They looked at her and she signed something. Carl gave one last gesture before the three of them stood up. Rick just looked around confused. They couldn't say anything out loud – the man outside would hear them. And if he caught them whispering to each other he'd know something was up. Rick grabbed Carl and shrugged his shoulders. Carl just pointed to the floor indicated that he wanted Rick to stay put. He patted Rick on the shoulder – a reassuring gesture before he headed to the back of the store with Peaches and Katherine. Rick looked at Merle – he had yet to get the thorough sign tutorial from Peaches but somewhere along the line she had taught Katherine and Carl how to have full conversations. Peaches and Katherine soon came back without Carl and Rick stood up again. They put their fingers to their lips before pointing out the glass doors. The man on watch was looking out at the main entrance. He turned and looked at them for a moment and lifted an eyebrow when he saw they were watching him intently. He checked the locks before he flipped them the finger.

"Hope y'all like it in there." He said. Rick pretended not to see Carl as he rounded the corner and crept up behind the man. He continued to taunt them until Carl jammed a pipe in his back. Right in the lungs so he couldn't draw a breath and make a sound. He fell to the ground and Carl jammed it through his head next. He got the keys and opened the door. Rick wasn't particularly proud that his son just killed a man in cold blood but he was proud that he was able to orchestrate something like that without speaking.

"Let's go."