Brain groaned as his back hit the ground all the air he thought he owned rushing out of his lungs. Mac growled and Daryl smiled seeing Sophia crouched low to the ground waiting just like he'd shown her. Her eyes went to him and he smiled at her and her eyes lit up before she looked back to didn't take Daryl long to realize even the smallest hint of approval or anything close was something Sophia craved from him.

Brian was slowly pushing himself back up swearing at her getting a snort from the few around. "Fuck this shit." Brian snarled sound just like his father.

Mac raised a brow cocking his head to the side but it was Sophia who spoke. "You giving up?"

"I aint giving up you asshole." He snapped turning to look at her, "You aren't fighting fair."

"Its a fight who the hell fights fair?" Sophia questioned.

Merle barked out a laugh and startled the pair of arguing kids. Both looked at him and he shot Brian a look, "You really going to let a girl kick your ass? Damn you are your fathers son."

"Hey fuck you." Mac barked.

Sophia and Brian scattered away from the pair both moving over to Daryl. Martinez appeared by him smirking and Daryl nodded to him.

"He tell you Phillip wants to start sending more scouts out?" Martinez was speaking quietly.

Mac and Merle were squaring off. Daryl got Sophia and Brian's attention, "Pay attention to them."

Both kids turned their eyes on to the two men as they started fighting. Neither was holding back and it wasn't long till blood was starting to show. It was useless to break them apart. Neither had it in them to back down.

"He mentioned that."

Martinez made a face, "I don't trust him."

"You'd be stupid to." Daryl sighed, "Who is Merle going to send out with him?"

"Carter, Briar, and Me are going to go with him and whoever it was he was taking. See what he's up to out there." Martinez cringed when Merle's fist caught Mac in the jaw jerking his head to the side. "That shit hurts me to watch. How the fuck do they get enjoyment out of this shit?"

"They were dropped repeatedly on the head." Daryl chuckled.

Martinez looked over at him and he gave Daryl a searching look. "You know I told him I'd feel more comfortable with you going out with us."

Daryl felt Sophia's fingers catching on his shirt. He didn't look at her but he knew what he had told her not long ago at all. He'd made a promise. He meant to keep it and was going to. No more overnight shit. Shaking his head at the man Martinez's eyes went to her and understanding washed through them. Sophia had stepped into his side like she thought he was going to leave right then.

"Already told Merle it wasn't happening."

Nothing more was said on and Martinez just nodded at him. He gave Daryl an indulgent smile and shrugged.

"I can't hit Brian like that Daryl." Sophia looked up at him getting his attention. "He'll cry."

Daryl snorted but Brian's face flamed blood red and he glared at her. Hannah was on her way over so he watched as he bit his tongue no doubt building his insults in for later.

"Bitch." He hissed.

Sophia grinned but didn't even look at him. Her eyes were instead on Mac and Merle. "Merle fights good for an old man."

Merle's eyes shot over to her and Mac caught the moment of his guard being down to repay Merle with a sharp uppercut. His head snapped back causing him to take a step back away from his advancing brother but he recovered quickly.

"What is with you all and beating each other bloody?" Hannah huffed at them.

Her eyes went to Brian and she snatched his arm dragging him closer to her. He recoiled from her when she started trying to clean his face up. He swatted her hands away and then her eyes went to Sophia. She moved quickly to the other side of Daryl effectively blocking Hannah from her.

"Sophia do you want to come with me and help Karen and-"

Sophia interrupted her immediately, "No I'm helping Daryl right after this with more stuff I can't."

Hannah's eyes went to him and he nodded. It was a lie. But honestly he didn't blame the girl. Karen wasn't so bad but she got on his fucking nerves. He wasn't sure why Sophia hated her but she made it clear any time the woman was mentioned. Even Brian had got in on the Karen hate. It amused him mostly to watch them and their snarky commentary on the people around the town. It seemed they had everyone figured out. It didn't surprise him that Brian bitched to him about people he'd done that for years actually. Having both of them realize that Daryl was just as socially inclined to reject being around people they flocked to him.

Hannah sighed and shot him a look he ignored instead shooting her one of his own. She studied him for a minute before Mac was there glaring at her. Hannah made a face and Brian quickly escaped his mother instead he trotted over to Merle. Daryl started to go but Mac's hand flashed out snatching his wrist jerking him over to him and Hannah. Fuck. He didn't need to be involved in some goddamn marital dispute.

"Hannah fuckin' drop it. All of it." Mac snapped.

Hannah's eyes darkened looking at his brother before she shook her head, "No. No I wont. It isn't healthy Mac. I think she needs more of a woman's influence around her."

Daryl's eyes shot to the pair of them understanding flashing through him. Mac's eyes went to him and he seen anger there. Mac motioned to Daryl and crossed his arms over his chest. Hannah gave Mac a look before looking to him.

"Sophia needs socialize more Daryl. I think being around some of the other women would be good for her." Hannah smiled. "Me and Karen are going to be doing some stuff together and I think it'd be good for her to do more than learn to fight and kill things."

Daryl raised a brow at her crossing his arms over his chest. He didn't acknowledge that him and Mac were doing the same thing since they were both getting pissed off. He refused to admit he could be just as much of an asshole as his brothers. Goddamn it. He wasn't as bad as Merle at least. He hadn't referred someone as Sugar Tits in one breath and then threatened to slap there fucking lips off their face in the next yet.

"No." Daryl shook his head.

Hannah's eyes went wide. "No?"

"No."

"Daryl-"

Daryl's facial expression must have clued her into where she was stepping cause her mouth snapped shut. "She hates that woman and if you drag her down there its no telling what she's going to say to her."

"Then tell her to behave!" Hannah insisted. "Daryl I'm not trying to undo the training or any of the skills you're teaching her. I just think she needs more then men around her. Little girls need a woman's touch Daryl, they need a woman around."

"Hell Daryl's the sweet one that should count for something." Merle chuckled next to him having walked up, "Damn near a woman with all his pussy ass shit. Hell look at his hair needs a haircut even starting to look like a woman."

"Fuck you." Daryl snapped.

"See this is what I mean!" Hannah huffed, "She don't need to hear you all talking like this. She's starting to talk like that."

"What the fuck is wrong with how we talk?" Mac growled.

Hannah made a face, "Really?" She shook her head laughing, "Mac you told Merle to eat a bowl of dick this morning and neither of you batted an eye at the statement."

"No one batted an eye cause we settle shit different than pouring goddamn emotions all over breakfast like some goddamn over sentimental pussies." Merle sneered, "Leave the girl the fuck alone woman. She ain't yours and you have no fuckin' say."

Hannah's mouth snapped shut and as all three Dixon men looked at her. Daryl wasn't about to cave on this. It wasn't the first time Hannah had told Sophia needed to be around more women and he'd listened to her the first time. That was until Sophia came back telling him she wanted to kick Karen in the throat. He never figured out what the woman done but he was pretty sure that Sophia was serious about it next time she was forced to go with them. She kept telling him that she was going to stay down there and learn to paint her nails when she needed to learn to live.

Hannah's eyes came to him and it was a sad moment really. He was the most understanding of his brother's and honestly he wasn't a very understanding man at all. Once his mind was made up it was made up. He wasn't one to be swayed from his way of thinking just to suit someone else. He met her eyes and he seen the hope there but he gave a shake of his head before turning and looking over his shoulder. Sophia was calling his name a snarl on her face. He didn't know what had her looking ready to fight but he turned walking away from the group.

"What is that all about?" Sophia huffed out when he got to to her.

Daryl shook his head, "Nothing."

"You aren't going out are you?"

Daryl looked to her and sighed, "Made you a promise and I meant it."

"Just making sure."

Daryl chuckled and turned at the sound of Merle's taunting voice. He was ribbing Mac about something still standing where Daryl had left them. Karen was there now and Sophia's snarl made sense to him now, kind of. Daryl's eyes went down to the girl as she stood glaring daggers at the woman.

Daryl spun her and they took off to the other side of the road. "Sophia what's going on?"

"We're walking."

Little shit. "Answer me." He hated how he sounded at the moment the second the words left his mouth. He sounded like he was jumping on to her. He didn't raise his voice or even lower it but it came out different anytime before.

Sophia grinned and it morphed into a smile, "Did you just use your dad voice on me?"

Daryl felt his face heat up at her words but looked right at her when they got to the porch of the house.

Sophia relented and set on the swing waiting on him. The second he set down she kicked at the back of his leg where hers dangled almost long enough to swing them. Pushing off slightly he kept the swing rocking just slightly waiting her out.

"They didn't seem interested in teaching me shit." Sophia spoke pointedly. "They were more interested in you."

Daryl made a face but didn't look at her. Hannah had made it clear this was to get Sophia around more women. What the fuck.

"Constant Daryl this, Daryl that, Daryl Daryl Daryl." Sophia mimicked the women, "Then there was the Well he is single…"

Daryl felt his blood start to boil.

"Karen wasn't interested in helping me one bit and Brian agrees with me. We've both caught her watching you constantly. Anytime you're around for her to get her ugly eyes on you bet she's watching." Sophia sounded sick to her stomach, "I wasn't going to go down there and listen to her."

Sophia looked up at him but he felt his blood pressure rising quickly. He was pissed more than pissed. He wanted to storm back over there and rip those two bitches apart. He knew that if he did though Mac not knowing why he was angry would step in and not let him say shit to his nosey fucking bitch. He didn't need a goddamn person one sticking their nose in his business and definitely not where his dating was concerned. For them to drag Sophia down there and into just made him that much more pissed. What the fuck were they thinking? Fuck that.

"Fuck them." He shook his head forcing his voice to stay level. "You ain't gotta do shit either of them say and you sure as fuck don't need to go down there to learn to fuckin' knit."

"Nope." Sophia quipped, "My mom taught me a long time ago that I was to listen to my parents not other busybodies." Swinging her legs around she deposited them in his lap. His hand wrapped around her legs keeping them from falling as he kept them rocking. Sophia was kicking out which was quickly becoming her routine anytime she set with him. She always ended up like this her legs draped over his lap while getting comfortable. "Besides I reckon you've accepted that I'm not going anywhere without you and you ain't going without me. That makes you my fath- like my dad?" Her voice suddenly turned timid and questioning losing all its previous confidence.

She sounded like that scared little girl he found in the woods again the thought making him look down to her. Looking down at her questioning tone and seen hope in her eyes. Raising a brow at her, "You asking permission for something?"

Sophia cocked her own brow at him, "Do I need to?"

"Nope."

"Then that makes you my dad." Her words were final like nothing else needed to be discussed.

Daryl wasn't sure how long they had been out there when he realized the sun was setting. The air was getting cold reminding him that it was heading into winter. Looking down to where Sophia was when Merle started up the porch steps leaning into the post. Merle looked down at her and they both chuckled seeing her knocked out. She was dead to the world at the moment and he wasn't really surprised. Her and Brian both were pushing themselves with the things they were coming up for them to do. It seemed that when Carter and the boys went running in the morning that Sophia and Brian were now taking to joining them. It was good for them though and he liked that she was starting to enjoy it. It was wearing her out but she was stronger now than before.

"Kids doin' good brother." Merle's voice was low, "Need to get her inside before she gets sick."

Daryl was already ahead of him shifting out from under her feet enough to scoop her up. Merle moved swinging the door to the house Daryl had took for himself. Sophia mumbled in her sleep and her arms wrapped around his neck her face pressing into his chest never waking up. Merle grinned at him no doubt something snarky to say and Daryl grimaced. He couldn't escape his brother's shit ever. Both of them were always giving him hell.

Daryl was up the steps in no time having went through this same thing a few times already. Sophia didn't wake easy when he was around. If he called for her she would snap awake otherwise she slept like the dead. The thought made him snort cause the dead didn't sleep, fuck they didn't even stay dead anymore.

When she was in bed he stepped out of the room and shut it behind him. Merle was there a ready grin on his face and his eyes bright. He followed after Daryl chuckling and shaking his head no doubt thinking up something he thought was brilliant.

"You know baby brother….motherhood looks good on you."

Daryl paused at the foot of the stairs. Merle stepped around him walking for the door still laughing. "Merle." Daryl's voice came out lower and soft. Merle paused looking at him. He raised a brow, "When can we expect the nuptials between you and Martinez?"

Merle scowled darkly at him, "I'll know your teeth down your throat."

Daryl smiled at him and leaned against the wall, "Run on home I'm sure he's got dinner on the table."

Merle scowled at him and Daryl knew immediately that Martinez would have food ready. It was something he'd known from years of being around him. Martinez didn't trust Merle's cooking anyways, no one did.

"You smart mouthed bastard." Merle growled, "I'd beat your ass but it'd wake Sophia."

Daryl nodded at him, "I'm sure."

Merle turned to him and Daryl braced himself for it. Merle slammed into him knocking them both back on the hardwood. Daryl pivoted on his feet though letting their bodies spin and Merle dropped on his back his knee coming up catching Daryl in the gut. Groaning Merle flipped them but his fist shot out catching him in face.

They fought until they both ended up on their backs panting. Daryl was staring at the ceiling when he heard a soft huff. Eyes turning to the stairs he seen Sophia standing there looking at them on the floor a smile on her face. That was until he turned his head to look at her and her eyes met his. She flew down the steps stepping on Merle as she went to get to him. Daryl grinned watching her practically stomp his stomach as she got to him. Merle scowled and set up looking at her.

"Damn there short shit."

Sophia growled and her hand flashed out her little thumb swiping against his cheek. He hissed not realizing he was cut but her thumb came back with blood on it.

"Did you do this? Did you come in here and hit him?" Sophia's voice was soft.

Merle looked at him and back to her, "We were just discussing things…"

Daryl pulled himself up and Sophia turned to Merle. Merle was looking at him but he just shrugged and walked into the bathroom to clean the cut or at least get the blood off. Both of them seemed to think he needed to be monitored and he huffed at them.

Merle winced really looking at him but otherwise made no comment. He knew Merle didn't mean anything by it. It was how they were. It was always how they were. They were rough men and had been the same when they were younger.

"I don't think when Ed hit my mom he was discussing anything." She started speaking suddenly startling both men.

Daryl paused for a second his eyes straying to his hands that were catching cold water in the sink. It was times like these he was happy Woodbury was still functioning on some capacity. Running water felt like heaven. Splashing his face forcing his mind to not think about the shit the girl had likely seen and heard.

"I think he was just a mean man that like to hurt people." She hopped up on the sink next to him, "Merle I don't think you're a mean man but you shouldn't hurt your brother."

Merle scowled at the girl, "I think he got his fair share of hits in darlin'."

"Ain't the point Merle." Sophia smiled at him sweetly batting her eyelashes. Daryl held in his laugh knowing she just won her argument with his brother. Merle's eyes softened looking at her, "If you love someone you don't hurt them."