Daryl watched Mac shaking his head. His brother was worked up but there was nothing to be done about it. He had an idea of what was going on in his head but there wasn't anything to be done there. For Mac he would have tolerated someone coming along with them even if he was bad around women. But Andrea was predictable. Like them she wasn't going to leave her sister behind and she would never put her sister in unnecessary danger. Leaving with them and going into the city would be dangerous for both women being that they weren't very well versed in taking care of themselves.

"Daryl."

Looking over and blowing out a cloud of smoke he met Andrea's eyes and grunted. She smiled slightly at him no doubt comparing him and Mac like most everyone had done their entire lives.

"SO, you all are leaving?" At his look she paled slightly and went on, "Rick was talking about it with Shane."

Daryl chuckled his eyes going over to the two men and seen Shane glaring his way. He felt his anger flare just seeing the man after the shit he had pulled when he found about Merle being left behind. Of course he was going to react fuckin' badly they left his goddamn brother in a city over run with walkers chained up like a goddamn dog.

Daryl snubbed his cigarette out and looked out to Mac seeing his brother looking at him. Daryl looked away aware that Mac could pick up on the tiniest shift in his mood there was. All he needed now was for Mac to sense him getting pissed off and his brother would have an opening to his own anger and shit would get started.

"Yeah first light we're gone."

Andrea sighed and Daryl jerked his head at his brother dismissing her. He didn't wanna really talk to her right now he was more of wanting to set by himself and not have to deal with anyone. He could hear chatter around camp as Andrea took off for Mac and let his body relax more in the truck bracing himself against some shit of Macs. Mac's eyes flashed up to his and Daryl smirked seeing him getting annoyed with Andrea. He knew he was more annoyed that he had feeling towards her than he was by her actual presence. The thought had him laughing and Mac's eyes burned brighter and Daryl felt his brothers wayward anger pulling on him.

Mac disappeared into the woods and Andrea set watching him. Daryl whistled lowly and shot her a look his eyes going to where Mac disappeared. She took the hint and left after him. He could hear all the way over here crashing through the woods and shook his head. Only humans would be so careless in the way they move and make so much noise.

He leaned further back closing his eyes and relaxing more into the stuff he'd amassed in the bed of the truck. He had half a mind to just go ahead and break the tent down and sleep here. Wouldn't be the first time he slept under the stars and sure as fuck wouldn't be the last. He enjoyed the clear sky and seeing it above him as he drifted to sleep.

Jerking awake at the feeling of being watched his eyes landed on the small form pulling herself up in the bed of his truck. Daryl looked over at her as she set back and he shook his head raising up looking out towards the camp. Most of the group was setting around the fire their voices low and quiet as the night moved on.

"Your mom know your over here?" His voice was low.

Sophia looked over at him shrugging slightly, "Did we do something to make you mad?"

Daryl's eyes went to her and he raised an eyebrow at her broken tone. What the hell was she talking about? Him and Mac were never ones to hold back when they got mad, if they were you knew real quick.

"What the hell makes you say that Soph?" The gruffness edging out of his voice as her little shoulders slumped.

She turned pulling her little legs up to her chest wrapping her arms around them as she looked up at him. Her brown eyes were luminous and slightly damp. He seen a small shiver roll through her body and turned his hand finding the bag he'd been using as a pillow moments before. He pulled one of his flannel shirts out and tossed it to her. It dwarfed her tiny frame but she slid it on giggling as the sleeves fell long over her arms shielding her entire body.

"Mac calls me Kit."

Daryl snorted at the nick name and the reason Mac called her that. "And?"

"Why don't you?"

Daryl leaned back again pulling his leg up and letting it bend at the knee. Sophia shifted around dropping down laying back against Mac's stuff and mirroring his pose. He shook his head drawing his arm up behind his head, "You wantin' me to call you Kit?"

Her small laughter was light mixing with the sounds around them, "Yep."

Daryl nodded, "Alright Kit, ya mama know our over here?"

"I think. I told Amy where I was goin' my mama was in busy."

They fell into a mutual silence both looking up at the stars. She was quiet enough that he had almost forgot she was there next to him her little form blending into Mac's stuff. The sounds of the group was starting to die down more and he was happy for it. They hadn't been particularly loud but he just wanted the quiet. Letting his eyes search out the constellations was something he'd done for years when his mind wouldn't slow down.

"Why do you carry so many knives?"

Daryl looked over as he lit a cigarette, "Why do you ask so many questions?"

Sophia giggled, "My mama says it's about inquiring minds wanting to know"

"World wasn't safe before and it sure as fuck aint safe now. Aint lookin' to get caught with my ass hangin' out." Daryl blew out a cloud of smoke.

Sophia nodded at his words her eyes bright as she drank in everything he said. It was unsettling to have her attention solely on him. Shaking his head he spun his body around digging through his shit. Pulling out his find he smiled triumphantly and palmed the knife looking it over. It was smaller than anything him or Mac either one carried. To small for their hands and didn't have the right weight balance for either of them.

"C'mere." Daryl grunted as he turned back around. "Keep this with you." He handed her the knife and the small sheath to go with it.

Sophia beamed and pulled it free her little hand fitting around the handle. She looked up at him her face bright in the moon light and he looked away from her. Inhaling deeply as she looked it over he smirked watching her little face take it in.

"Now my ass wont be hangin' out." Sophia smiled wider at her curse word slipping free.

"Don't do something stupid and get hurt. Keep it with you." Daryl warned.

Eyes searching the trees around them he grinned not seeing Mac yet and knowing damn well what was likely happening. One of the things he hated and loved about being Mac's twin. He could always tell his emotions but sometimes he'd rather be burned alive than know some of the shit that had to do with his brother. To say he was a little warped in the head was being generous but he couldn't say much they were both fucked up. Just different ways.

"Why would you think I was mad Kit?" Daryl's voice was low.

Sophia rolled nestling down into the bags more, "You're leaving."

Daryl rolled his head to side searching her out in the dark. She blended in smoothly she was nestled so far and he couldn't help but shake his head at her. "Us leaving has nothin' to do with you. WE're goin' to get our brother."

She nodded chewing her lip and her eyes found his wet again, "I got lost once."

Daryl raised an eyebrow at her waiting for her to go. HE wasn't good at this talking shit and it seemed she'd made her mind up she wanted to get something off her chest. For some unknown reason she had picked him the most closed off person here that barely talked at all. The irony wasn't lost on him.

"My mama was in the hospital and Ed he came after me and I just took off. I ran so hard I didn't even remember where I was going just knew I was going away." Sophia's voice broke slightly and she shifted in her nest. Daryl closed his eyes as she went on. "He said he had something for me but he...he was acting like he did with my mama. So I ran. HE never looked for me. No one did."

Daryl opened his eyes and looked over at the small girl next to him his chest getting tight with memories of his own. He could recall running from his own father into the woods to escape the bite of the belt. He'd been lost for days out in those woods with nothing more than a pair of jeans on as he ran. No one had looked for him either at the time. His mother was dead, Merle was gone, and his father was bastard. Mac though...Mac always looked. He'd been gone when shit hit the fan but he came back and took off straight to the woods. Both of them working their way towards the other through the brush and undergrowth.

"Would you look for me?" Her soft little voice interrupted his reverie.

Daryl licked his lips, "Sure thing." He grunted.

"Promise?"

Daryl closed his eyes, "Promise."

She was mollified and he heard her breathing even out as he set staring up into the night sky. All sounds of camp drifted away from him as he set letting his memories and demons swirl in his head. He didn't remember closing his eyes but he drifted off to sleep not long after Sophia had. His sleep restless with images of Merle running through the streets like he'd run through the woods. Images of a younger Sophia running from her father in hopes of freedom.

Jerking awake suddenly he set up startling someone and causing them to yelp. Eyes readjusting to being awake found Carol standing close by her hand over her heart looking wide-eyed at him. She clearly hadn't expected him to be in the bed of the truck as she came over this way. Rubbing his face roughly he ran his hands through his hair feeling the sweat slick it up causing it to stick up at random intervals.

"I didn't mean to wake you." Carol moved closer keeping her voice low. "It's just Amy said Sophia came over this way..."

Daryl's eyes flicked down to the small nest Sophia had made and he chuckled to himself. He had forgotten about her being over here with him and shook his head. Lifting his eyes back he looked at her and Carol was watching him. He jerked his head to the side and Carol moved closer to where he was just at the bed of the truck. Her eyes searched but came up empty and she looked back at him.

Daryl raised an eyebrow at her and turned back shifting the flannel shirt some exposing Sophia's head pillowed on Daryl's duffel bag. She was out cold and snoring lightly her little face relaxed. Carol blew out a breath and smiled her face relaxing as well.

"I hope she wasn't bothering you."

At her soft voice Daryl raised his eyes back to her and shook his head, "It's fine."

Carol nodded and shook Sophia's leg, "Come on sweetie."

Sophia grunted and pulled her leg tighter into her body away from Carol. She grumbled in her sleep moving further down into the nest she had made around herself. Daryl shook his head at them and slid off the tailgate of the truck landing lightly and silently next to Carol.

"I've never seen her sleep this heavy. "Carol murmured. Carol made to grab her again and Sophia moved away from her reaching hand a sleepy no escaping her mouth.

Daryl shifted and grabbed ahold of the stuff she was resting on dragging it to him. Without waiting on Carol to grab her he lifted her easily into his arms disentangling her small form from the stuff she was resting on. Sophia's arms wrapped around his neck and her face landed against his shoulder holding to him tightly causing him to flinch slightly.

"Thank you." Carol smiled at him.

Daryl trailed after her watching the sway of her hips as he went. He hated Mac for getting him worked up thinking about this woman. He was perfectly fine ignoring people around camp but Mac kept pointing shit out. Him and Merle both talking about the women around camp is what start his curiosity about the woman in front of him to begin with. He hadn't paid anyone no attention when they got there, he'd stuck close to his brothers. Only going hunting and back to their camp not mixing with the other group.

It was Merle's loud mouth catcalling that had him looking up and locking onto a pair of startling beautiful blue eyes. There was curiosity in her eyes with something else he wasn't sure about. After that it went down hill and then Mac noticed his shift in moods and that's all it took. After Mac figured out who had piqued his interest he'd made every attempt possible to get Daryl around her. Daryl resisted that shit though the woman had been married and had a kid with the man, even if he could see she was unhappy.

Matters only got worse when her daughter had taken an interest in them. She started to wander closer and closer to them watching them as they cleaned the game they caught. It started out with small shit but eventually Mac had her over there and Daryl was showing her different ways to clean shit. He wasn't sure why they done it but something about the girl was familiar to them but knowing what he did now things were clearer.

Now he had Mac barking at his ass about her being single since her husband was introduced to Mac completely. Shaking his head he knew better than to start something right before he left. Chances were he'd never see this woman again even if the thought caused a slight pain to rush his heart. No if things were different and he didn't have to go out there hunting down his jackass brother then maybe he'd took Mac serious. Maybe took Mac's claim that she was interested in him serious but things weren't that way and he was leaving at first light. He only hoped that she managed to keep herself and her girl safe.

Carol pulled the RV door open for him and Daryl moved up the steps quickly and looked at her expectantly. He wasn't sure where to put her and he was anxious to get back to his shit and go to sleep before he had to get back up. He knew Mac was on his way back his brothers mood having shifted completely.

"Here will be fine." Carol whispered.

Daryl lowered her gently and stepped back quickly and nodded to Carol before turning and making for the door. Once outside he let a breath out and pulled his cigarettes free looking at the now dead fire pits. Lighting up he closed his eyes briefly as he walked back towards his truck. He heard light foot steps coming up behind him and sighed already knowing who it was. Making it to his truck his eyes searched for Mac again not seeing him he braced his arms against the truck finishing his smoke before he went back to sleep.

"Daryl..." Turning his to the side he met her eyes and tiled his head for her to go on. Carol's face scrunched up slightly as she looked around them and he felt his lip lift slightly in a smile. "Sophia..Did she say anything to you? She seemed upset but wouldn't say anything. I'm asking because she seemed to be more comfortable around you so...I didnt' know..." She broke off.

Daryl blew out a cloud of smoke, "She didn't say much." He felt his brow crease as he thought over thing she had said to him. He knew some of it was her venting even if she was young things had built up on her and he knew how that felt. She had said that shit to cause she felt comfortable with doing it. "She thought we were leaving cause we were mad."

Carol gave him a sad smile, "She asked me why you were leaving earlier in the day. I tried to explain it to her I guess she just wanted to hear it from you."

Shrugging and not saying anything he chewed his lip unsure what to say to the woman. She made him nervous, more nervous that he usually was around women and it was unsettling. Her piercing eyes and knowing smile had his gut churning and he wanted away from the feelings she was stirring in him.

"Be careful out there Daryl. Watch each others backs." Her soft voice washed over him settling his nerves instantly.

He wasn't sure how the hell she done that. She was the cause of his anxiety at the moment but the sound of her voice laid it all to rest in a second. Looking at her locking eyes with her, "Watch after your girl. Don't let her out of your sight for nothing. Keep yourselves safe."

Mac broke through the trees Andrea at his side and his eyes immediately landing on Daryl. Andrea stopped him for a minute talking low but his eyes never left Daryls for a second. He was smirking and it was already pissing him off and he knew he was gonna catch shit. Andrea walked away her hand sliding against Mac's stomach as she went. His brother started for him his smirk turning into a full-blown smile as he got closer.

"Hey Silver Fox." Mac grinned. His voice was taunting and Daryl felt his jaw tense waiting for the shit to start.

She looked up at him at the sound of the nickname she hadn't heard yet. She blushed brightly and looked between them her eyes widening slightly, "Is that why you started calling her Kit?"

Mac nodded, "Something like that my brother here came up with it."

Daryl growled at Mac's blatant lie but there was nothing to be done about it. Mac was looking at him his eyes sparking in amusement and a challenge daring him to say he was lying. He knew how it would look and more than likely she'd take it as an insult. Carol's eyes went to him and Mac winked at him moving away from the pair of them.

"Don't keep him up to late woman we got an early start in the morning." His hand slapped harshly on Daryl's back knocking his chest into the truck.

"Bastard." Daryl grunted.

Carol's face was blood red and her eyes were wide on Mac at his words. He grinned at her waggling his eyebrows before slipping into the tent. She shook her head a smile breaking across her face.

"Is he always like that?"

"Worse."

She grinned at him and patted his arm. He fought back the flinch but he tensed regardless and he knew she noticed. She didn't say anything and for that he was thankful.

"Take care of yourself Daryl. Maybe I'll see you again."

With that she disappeared from his side and he swallowed flicking his cigarette butt away. Her words running through his head as he moved towards the bed of the truck. Pulling himself back up he laid back again in the same spot sprawling out. He wanted to avoid Mac right now knowing he was going to be rambling about pussy or about Carol. Closing his eyes he settled in getting comfortable when he was hit in the face with his leather jacket. Mac pulled himself up next to him kicking out and mirroring him. Both of them were side by side looking up at the moon.

"If I'd known our asses were gonna we star gazing we'd broke the tent down. Saved time." Mac huffed.

"Shut the fuck up." Daryl snapped. Mac's chuckle chased his words and he grinned closing his eyes. They'd find Merle and get this shit straightened out one way or another.