Short filler chapter sorry guys.

Our feet were both dragging themselves as we walked the gravel path beside the fences. It felt good to be outside especially with him. Despite the now diffusing tension I still wanted to be around him. Him by my side with the bright sun showering down at me everything felt so good. "You think he is still alive?

I nodded. "I figured out he was alive a long time ago."

"What made you discover that?" he shuffled his crossbow on his back; the thing must be heavy.

I squinted sideways at him. "He knew I depended on him too much, and he wanted me to be able to care for myself. Keegan left me so I could get strong; he needed to cut my life lines on him so I could learn independence." I looked down kicking some of the grey colored rocks. "He is a good fighter, he survived. My new found anger at Merle and you was just built on the fact you had found your brother and Keegan is nowhere to be found."

Daryl reached down and grabbed my hand. "Do you want to go looking for him?"

"No," I shook my head. Of course I wanted to find him, but now was not the time. I was needed here. Maybe when the baby is delivered or once we knew Philip was no longer a threat I could walk outside the fence without a second glance. Now was not the best time to go looking for trouble, and searching for Keegan was trouble. I knew if I found him I would become angry with his sudden flight in my life. My brother would most likely pound Daryl in once he found out about the age gap and the baby. All he cared about was my wellbeing and Daryl was not doing me well even though he meant the world to me Keegan would disapprove. "Not yet."

Silence filled the gap between us as we enjoyed each other's company. His hand in mine, the rocks crunching beneath our feet, and even the sound of walkers growling from beyond the fence gave me comfort. New colors were welcomed as my sickness towards the greyness began to arise. The dried out green of the grass, the bluest of blue sky, and the white hot yellow sun that blistered my skin felt marvelous. "Are you okay now?" he asked making me open my eyes to look at him. Daryl's reference to my mental state did not annoy me this time. I was not depressed, I was not angry, and I most certainly was not on the path of a psychopath. I had no idea why I was such in distress, I mean of course I knew why I was reluctant to listen to Daryl, but I was not in any state to be on watch for my actions.

"I think so," I smiled at him something that felt foreign to me. Our heads both turned towards the entrance as a green car was pulling up. "They're back."

"Took em' long enough." He smirked rustling my hair and pulling me into his side as we turned around to walk back. "We'll find your brother. Once all this Woodbury shit blows over Merle, you, and I are settin' out. Two best hunters in Georgia can sniff him out."

I looked up at him the smile could not form. "We will come back right?"

He did not answer me for a couple of minutes almost until when we were at the gates. He nodded. "Yeah sure we can come back."

"Why do you not want to stay?" I asked him as Carl pulled the gate open for Michonne to drive through and Daryl and I to slip in right behind them.

He shrugged his arm still wrapped tightly around me. "I don't really belong in close corridors."

"You belong with me. You belong in this group." I tried to rest my head against his arm but we had reached the incline and it was hard to steady our movements. We both laughed at the incoordination. "They depend on you ya know? With Rick losing his sanity everyone kind of looks to you for leadership."

"Piss off," he gave me a slight push away from him causing me to laugh.

"Oh come on," I rolled my eyes grabbing his hand taking the lead forcing him upwards while I walked backwards to speak with him. "We can't leave Beth."

"Beth can handle her own. She's got Maggie and Hershel why does she need us?" he tried to fight off the smile but he could not.

I returned back to his side entwining our arms together. "Okay fine, Beth can't leave me. I need her."

"What are you two doing?" Rick asked closing the car door for Carl as they both stepped out.

"Just went for a walk," I responded for both of us. Things were returning to normal.

That was, until, Rick had stepped forward to us crouching his head to make sure we were the only ones to hear. "I need you're twos help."

"Absolutely not! She is not going." Daryl shouted pointing fingers at Rick.

I raised my hand. "I actually have to agree with Daryl on this."

Rick frowned striding towards me. "You'll be fine Rose. I'll be there and so will Daryl we won't let him touch you." Rick sighed seeing the refusal in my eyes. "He wants you Rose or something along those lines and I can bet he'll use Andrea against us." His hands were on my shoulders forcing me to listen to him. "Well then we can use you against him."

Daryl stepped forward pushing Rick away. "Don't touch her…and don't refer to her as something you can 'use.' I get what you're trying to work at Rick but don't you think he might try something on us to get her back to Woodbury."

"Maybe not if Andrea's there." He pinched his fingers together. "Just maybe we can threaten to hurt her if he doesn't leave us alone."

"Why can't you just sort this out peacefully and leave the lies out of it." I exclaimed pacing back and forth. It was such a brilliant idea of Rick's; using me to weaken the Governor's demeanor. He would give up anything just have me back in that apartment where I could only be his, and the fact Rick would threaten to hurt the baby was even better. Philip, honestly, was more interested in the child than me. It could always backfire though and he could really not care for me anymore. He did shoot up the prison knowing I was in here and out on the battlefield. Not to mention Daryl was absolutely against the idea of Philip being anywhere near me.

Rick's eyes pleaded with me. "Please Rose; I know you know it will work. No one has to get hurt if we can finish this."

I nodded in agreement. Daryl was storming around. "You can't seriously be agreeing to this! You used to cry and scream at night because of him and now you actually letting Rick use you against him. He could kill all of us, he could even kill you!"

"What else have we got?" I slapped my hands on my thighs in frustration, "Because Rick is right, they have Andrea. What to you guys have?" I stared at him waiting for a response, but he just looked at the ground. "Exactly." I walked forward resting my hand on the nape of his neck. "I'll be right by you at all times."

Daryl looked up at me. "Never out of my sight?" I smiled trailing my fingers to cross over my heart twice.