"I'll just warn you now daddies not in the best of moods." Maggie spoke to Daryl and Mac her eyes shooting to Merle sadly.

Mac and Daryl exchanged looks and Merle huffed out a breath, "Quit your weird twin shit and say what the fuck you're thinking."

"What the fuck is going on?" Mac turned facing them both.

Maggie shook her head and sighed, "We'll talk about all that when we get there."

Merle nodded, "Should leave them behind since that is what they're so fond of doing to other." His voice held barely contained anger.

Mac grinned at him and there was the sound of a solid hit followed by a grunt from Merle. Daryl leaned back against the truck and his eyes went to Maggie as she walked closer to him. Mac and Merle moving around each other like boxers both use to fighting the other and knowing each others tactics.

"They'll never grow up." Maggie grinned. "Help me up."

Daryl looked over seeing her bracing her hands on the side of the truck and huffed, "Damn woman." With a quick movement from him Maggie was setting on the side of the bed of the truck. "You and Merle?" His voice was low just to her.

She hummed in her throat, "What happened that he got left behind?"

Daryl shook his head, "Wasn't there to tell you but we went there as soon as we found out. When we didn't find him on the roof we left the group and tore that city apart looking for him."

Maggie tugged on his shirt, "He went to that quarry looking for you all but it was empty." Daryl raised an eyebrow at her and she smiled, "I was with him."

Daryl looked back at Mac and Daryl and seen Merle fist connect solidly with Mac's chest knocking the breath from him. He noticed some of the group stopping getting ready to go and were watching the group. Sophia was one of the main ones. She was glaring at Merle and he felt a smile tug at his lips. Sophia's came to his and she stood up breezing past everyone and walked straight for Merle.

Mac seeing her backed away from his brother and left Merle standing there.

"Do you always make a point to pick on your brothers?" Sophia growled.

Merle looked down at her and barked out a laugh, "Aint doing shit to him."

"You hit him." She snapped.

Merle eyed her again his eyes going to Daryl and Mac seeing both of their matching smiles. He flipped them off.

"Not only did you hit him now you're just being an asshole and..."she gestured to his hand that had flipped them off.

Merle barked out laugh, "I'm an asshole? Well you're a little shit."

"Merle Dixon!" Maggie's voice called, "Did you just talk to a kid like that?"

"Hope she hits you." Sophia growled walking for Mac.

Carol sighed walking by calling for her but Merle stopped her seeing the flush on her face. "I'm so sorry she spoke like that to you."

Merle shrugged, "She's got fire." He was quiet and Carol and Merle both watched as Sophia forced Mac to lift his shirt and show her where Merle hit him. Once she was sure he was fine she turned glowering at Merle. "I think I've already caused that girl to hate me." His laugh was loud.

"Doubt that. She's not use to anyone else being around them. Think she's just jealous."

Merle nodded, "Y'all ready to go?"

Carol smiled slightly, "We didn't get unpacked. She took off into the woods with those two almost immediately and then you know the rest."

Merle sucked his teeth looking at her, "You had a husband last I remember."

Carol flinched at his words and nodded, "Dead."

"Which one killed him?"

The sure tone of his voice had Carol looking up at him, "Excuse me?"

Merle turned towards his eyes leaving his brothers and the girl who was occupying their attention. Maggie was laughing watching the three of them and seeing her smile after the couple of days they'd had been a damn good sight.

"My brothers, which one killed the bastard?"Merle smiled at her knowingly, "I might not have been around when it happened but I know it did. There was more than a few times I kept those two from doing something and stirring shit up cause of that man."

Carol raised an eyebrow, "Mac."

Merle nodded his head, "Could have guessed that though Daryl wouldn't have surprised me either. Boy don't take to kindly to a man putting his hands on a woman."

Carol looked to where Daryl was seeing Sophia standing flush against his side mirroring his stance. Sophia's smile was a mile wide and her laughter escaped her the second Maggie's hand connected with Mac's face. He didn't react the way she thought he would and instead lifted Maggie over his shoulder and turned towards them. Her eyes flicked to Andrea seeing her eyes tracking Mac with interest.

"Get your bitch under control brother." Mac growled dumping Maggie against Merle's chest. "And you better go get your girl before she talks Daryl into more shit."

Carol smiled and took off for Sophia and sucked in a breath when Sophia jumped suddenly forcing Daryl to catch her or let her fall to the ground. Carol felt panic shoot through her blood and moved quicker towards the pair of them. She let out a breath the second Daryl not only caught her but put her over in the bed of the truck shaking his head.

"Sophia sweetie we need to get ready."

"I am ready." Sophia sassed cocking her hip out looking down at her mother.

Daryl snorted and Carol shot him a look, "I blame you for this."

Turning his head and looking at her, "What the fuck did I do?"

"That, that right there!" Carol sighed.

She watched Sophia smiling and set down in the bed of the truck making herself eye level with them. "Gonna need to be a bit clearer woman."

"She means your shitty mouth Daryl." Sophia smiled and dodged a shit from her mom. "She blames you for how I act." Sophia scooted further away, "According to Mac and Andrea apparently your mouth is causing my mother all kinds of issues."

Daryl barked out a laugh before he could stop himself and then felt his face burn red and he shifted on his feet. Shaking his head he pulled the truck door open and set down gesturing to Mac and Merle. He could hear Carol speaking low to Sophia and the girl arguing with her. Looking up at the sound of booted feet he was met with his brothers smiles and wanted to hit them both.

"Got her in trouble again didn't you?" Mac laughed.

Daryl leaned forward, "Actually I think it was you and your gossiping hen."

Mac growled and Merle slapped him on the back, "Goddamn I missed you two drama queens. Nothing makes me laugh harder than watching you two fight."

Maggie pushed Merle slightly, "That's only cause you're an instigator."

"Sophia you know better!" Carol snapped

"Then next time say the same thing to Daryl! It's not fair." Sophia whined stomping her foot.

Carol shook her head, "I'm not Daryl's mother."

"I'd hope not it'd be weird if you kissed your son like that." Sophia grinned her eyes shooting to Mac.

Daryl tuned the rest out as Carol started speaking to her lower. He felt eyes on him and ignored everyone at the moment as his eyes followed Shane, Rick, Dale, and T-dogg who were walking towards them. Daryl slid from the truck and despite her arguing with her mom Sophia still managed to move closer to him. She had got emotional on him when he first got back and he hadn't been sure how to handle that and she hadn't given him a break. She kept telling him she was scared for him and then even hit him for sending her away with Mac.

"What's the deal with this farm?" Shane's words were rushed and uninterested.

Maggie eyed him but Merle talked over her, "Exactly what the fuck it sounds like a goddamn farm."

"Is it safe?" Shane snapped.

"No. It's completely unsafe it's why I'm bringing my two brothers there." Merle's words were taking on a heated warning.

Shane stepped closer and Daryl tensed as Mac moved closer to Merle. Merle turned looking at Mac reading his face and smiled widely, "You know I don't give a fuck if you go or not. Hell I don't give a shit if half y'all do, if you don't want to go then fuckin' don't."

Maggie looked at Merle, "He's going to be getting worried and we've spent to long out here the days gone."

Merle nodded as Rick moved over to speak to Daryl. He felt both his brothers eyes on him and sighed knowing they were going to hold a grudge against the man for a long time. Shane was a lost cause as far as Mac was concerned. He knew the first chance he got he'd end up killing the man and Daryl was surprised it hadn't happened already truthfully.

"Can I speak with you a moment?"

Daryl nodded and walked away with him, "What'ya need?"

"Listen before we go are you sure that they will be okay with the group being on the property?" Rick's voice was hoarse from lack of use since Lori had passed away.

Daryl nodded, "Maggie wouldn't have offered if it had been an issue."

Rick looked off and then over Daryl's shoulder to where Mac stood with Andrea, "You're brother..." He stopped and closed his mouth pinching the bridge of his nose. He kept his eyes closed and forced his words out over the emotion Daryl could see in him, "I know he tried to save Lori and I don't blame him...I blame this world."

"You should say that to him."

Rick smiled, "I might not know the man as good as others but even I know that isn't an option."

Daryl shrugged, "All the same in the end."

"I'll try to keep Shane in check."

Daryl felt his muscles tense at the mention of Shane and knew the man had issues with him for some reason. Shane had been out to start fights with him since day one at camp. Not Merle, not Mac just him.

The drive to the farm was short and Mac's leg a was jumping in the seat next to his. Both of them knew Merle needed to speak with them away from the group and had pushed trying to get him to speak already. Even Maggie for all her joking around with them had remained stoic and quiet. The first glimpse of the large white farm-house came into view and Mac settled against the seat.

"Last time I seen Hershel was when Norman was helping him with that tractor." Mac laughed, "I know for a fact both wasted more time bullshitting and setting out there avoiding going in cause Annette was mad that day."

"Fuck yeah she was. Worked us like horses cause of their asses." Daryl laughed.

Mac turned and laughed, "Sophia is pissed as fuck for not getting to ride with you. Your ass has a shadow now."

Daryl shook his head, "I guess if Sophia's a shadow Andrea must be a attachment on you then now."

Mac growled and started laughing, "Though the look on Carol's face at the kissin' her son comment was worth all the bullshit today."

"Kid has no filter."

"What the fuck you mean I was to blame anyways from earlier?"

Daryl geared down and looked over at Mac as they followed Merle and Maggie in front of them the sound of the bike mixing with the purr of the engine of the truck. "You two always saying some shit in front of her and then she repeats it back to Carol."

Mac grinned as they came to a stop and the old screen door swung open, "God help that child then if she's listening to the shit I say to that woman."