Well it's been a while since I updated and honestly I wasn't sure I was going to anymore. I was ready to walk away from FF altogether. I would have felt terrible but I was so ready to just delete everything off here and be done with it. The reason being that I was notified last week that I had work of mine stolen and posted else where. It's since been taken down but I was mad enough that when it all happened if not for Haitus80 talking to me I'd likely deleted everything that night in a rage. I've had my stuff stolen now three times. It took me some time cooling off and just stepping away completely to even considering writing again. Then as I started to want to write I got pretty sick and still am but I'm on the mend now. But to sum this shit up I realize I hadn't posted in a while. Believe me I felt like shit with each message and then each anon telling me how much time had passed and so on. I knew believe me - I did. I just didn't have the drive to write and life gets in the way sometimes. My job isn't writing. I have things I have to take care of outside of this and if it takes me a bit to post sometimes I'm sorry but that's just how things are. I don't always get to dictate what time I have free and for what. Here's to hoping nothing gets stolen again and everything works out.

One Week Later

Carol watched as Sophia argued with Brian. She didn't even ask what it was about this time because it was something likely that would just cause a migraine. She'd tried those first few days to try and figure out what exactly their arguments were about. She tried- granted Daryl and Mac both shook their heads at her and told her she was wasting time. Waste of time wasn't the right way to describe what happened. By the time they stopped arguing to realize an adult was asking what was wrong it'd turned violent with Sophia punching Brian in the throat. It all spiraled after that and Carol just threw her hands up and got the 'I told you so' looks from both Dixon brothers.

That's how she found herself perched on the counter watching as another battle broke out. This one with Hannah seeming to be after Mac. He was dead set on ignoring what she was saying and was instead harassing his brother. Daryl seemed like he was completely use this behavior and didn't even pay attention to him. It was a study in abnormal behavior for her on males. Ed was never like this and even the men of her group weren't. There was always a reserved calm that came with them. A sense of knowing that things were bad out there and there wasn't much time to talk or laugh much less anything else- you survived.

Being here though was opening her eyes seeing that despite everything these men hadn't lost that fire of life. She couldn't imagine them not like this. It would seem a catastrophe for the world to lose that Dixon fire- something she realized was burning just as brightly in her daughter. Sophia was a lot like Daryl she realized over this past week. It started with small things but it became so apparent really she honestly seen why people had assumed she was Daryl's.

Daryl was a quiet man by nature and didn't say much but there was that underlying furnace of emotion. It was clear in his eyes if you got a glimpse of them and the times she had seen him speak up he commanded attention. He was the polar opposite of his twin brother with how they acted. Where Mac was loud and obnoxious Daryl was a cool calm that watched and took everything in. He had a temper she seen that for herself but it was nothing like Ed's had been. Daryl wasn't a womanizer or anything Ed ever was. He wasn't a coward and wouldn't lay hands on a woman or stand by when it happened. That much was obvious when Brian had went to lash back out at Sophia for the hit she landed on him. One look at Daryl had him snarling and storming away in a huff.

If Sophia was like Daryl then Brian was a mini version of his father. She had no doubt that Brian would find a way to get Sophia back. Until then seeing them dance around each other with thinly veiled threatening looks that were so much like their older counterparts it was too amusing to not smile. With each of Daryl's long suffering sighs and Mac's sneered words she muffled her laughs.

"I don't see why you have to be a bitch about everything." Mac snapped.

Hannah shot him an incredulous look, "Why do you have to be so so...so you!"

Mac looked over at her where Hannah stood beside his brother and Daryl glared out the window. He looked like he was being forced to endure surgery with the face he was making each time the arguing started again. Mac's eyes swept from his brother and amusement so bright that it was damn near blinding jumped from his eyes until they turned to Hannah. That amused was there but there was a leering dirty quality that made Carol raise a brow. Of the brother's it was quickly established that Mac and Merle could say some disgusting things but it seemed that it was apart of their charm it seemed.

"You say that like it's a bad thing." Mac's voice was snakelike.

Daryl stood suddenly startling them all. Carol fought the urge that had started shortly after meeting this man and kept her eyes from sweeping over him. She had tried to lie to herself and say it was merely medical that she checked him over and in those first days it was but she had no excuse now. Besides she was pretty sure the concussion he'd had was nowhere near his groin or backside but yet her eyes strayed there every time.

He shot a look at his brother before looking right at Hannah. "He'll be with me."

Hannah sighed and rubbed at her face, "What if something happens, Daryl?"

Daryl nodded his thumb going to his mouth, "Mac will be there too."

"I know that!" Hannah snapped, "But you have to see my side Daryl. He's my son and as good as you are out there even you got hurt."

Carol ducked her eyes knowing that Hannah was talking about when Andrea hit Daryl. She looked up feeling eyes on her and seen Mac's smile. He waggled his eyebrows at her. She fought smiling and he just grinned bigger.

"In his defense, bitch, he was knocked on his ass by a moving vehicle." Mac shrugged, "I like to believe that a deer would have more issue taking him down."

Daryl flipped him off, "You don't want him to go that's fine but you already told him yes." Daryl's eyes never wavered, "I wont be the one to walk out there and tell him you changed your mind. That's on you."

With that he turned on his heel and walked out. Sophia materialized seconds later and smiled at Carol but her eyes were searching. Carol motioned out the door and she watched out the windows as Sophia raced after Daryl. Their bond was bigger and stronger than she had even realized those first few days. When Sophia had told her that she was stronger because of Daryl she meant it. He'd taught her a lot and in that time she'd also developed a vibrant need to speak out and bait him. Sophia might have been quiet with others but it seemed that wasn't afforded to Daryl. The girl was always starting something that was too much like father daughter bickering that Carol waves of happiness and sadness. Daryl was good for her and she was him too. How she had ever thought to take her away from here was beyond her. There was till things that needed to be worked out. She loved her group and missed them- she wanted them to all get along.

"You realize that Sophia's getting ready to raise hell?"

Carol looked up realizing it was just her and Mac left in the room. He was watching his brother as Sophia gestured at him and then the wall.

"I figured." Carol smiled, "She was mad this morning when she heard that Brian was going and she wasn't."

"It's more than that" Mac chuckled, "She's been trying to for months to get him to take her with him when he hunts. She wants to learn to track and hunt like him."

Carol nodded, "She told me."

"He'd show her." Mac prodded.

Carol looked over at him and raised a brow, "I know."

Carol chewed her lip watching as Sophia pushed her hair out of her face huffing and Daryl crossed his arms over his chest. He was staring the girl down not backing down. Not many people got Daryl's undivided attention she realized. Brian was making his way over a triumphant smile on his face and Carol knew that Daryl's words had stumped Hannah on dealing with Brian.

"So why hasn't he already?"

Mac looked over at her and cocked a brow, "He was going to when Spring hit, was too cold he said to take her out during winter. He didn't want to chance her getting sick." Mac shrugged, "You threw a wrench in the rest."

Carol jumped down from the counter and stumbled slightly. Mac's hand flashed out steadying her before he released her. He wasn't looking at her and she looked back outside just in time to see Sophia stomp her foot and Daryl point towards the house. The fire and wrath she seen on her daughters face and Mac's words dueled for attention.

"And here she comes to dislodge said wrench." Mac barked out a laugh. "You know he's good at that."

Carol ran a hand threw her hair, "What's that?"

Mac looked over at her as Sophia stormed towards the house her hand closing around Daryl's wrist and dragging him along. Brian trotted happily along beside them glad to have Sophia's wrath directed from him for the first time that morning.

"He's the sweet one my brother- Carol, you just remember that." Mac snorted as the door slammed open, "Kids have always loved him."

"MOM!"

Carol looked over just as Sophia came into the room and she still held on to Daryl like he'd try to escape. Perhaps he would. Carol knew from what little time she'd known him that he had an uncanny ability to blend in and disappear almost at will. He was awkward, he was shy, and he did not like attention on himself. Perhaps that was why his brothers almost had an overbearing personality when he was around? Sheltering their younger brother. The thought had Carol smiling.

"Yes?"

"Tell Daryl to stop being insufferable!"

Daryl made a noise in his throat and jerked himself free his arms crossing over his chest defensively.

"Oh I agree Sophia he can be quite the insufferable twat." Mac snorted.

Daryl sneered at his brother behind Sophia's back and made a lewd gesture her daughter missed. Carol's eyes widened slightly as she fought laughing. Just then Merle walked in eyeing them and taking in the scene immediately. His shouldered his nephew and Brian grinned just as amused as everyone else seemed to get at Daryl and Sophia. Now it seemed since she got here they liked watching Sophia trying to pit them against each other. It was hard for Carol to find a balance where she wasn't a complete bitch to him knowing it'd cause more problems. It was hard though always having been the one Sophia turned to and be the one concerned with discipline to suddenly another person was there that had just as much influence. There was time's she'd argued with Sophia this past week about things that she'd seen a look from Daryl silence her daughter and likewise for the latter.

"Blow me." Daryl growled.

Sophia huffed, "Mom seriously I want- NO I need to learn to do these things just as much as Brian's stupid self." Her arms crossed over her chest and she shot Daryl a look over her shoulder, "Daryl agreed mom! He agreed and now he's refusing!"

Carol raised a brow but was interrupted by Brian,"Don't drag me into your parental battle's because you can't get what you want by manipulating him."

"Blow me." Sophia snapped.

Merle barked out a laugh and walked backwards towards Carol and Mac and Brian stepped to the side away from striking distance. Merle kept laughing and shaking his head.

"Shit the two of you kill me." Merle rubbed his chin, "Fucking standing the same, sneering the same shit at people, and just as whiny as the other. Carol you sure you didn't fuck my brother all those years ago because I swear that little shit is dug right out of his ass."

Mac barked out a laugh so loud it startled everyone as Daryl blanched. Merle threw his arm over Carol's shoulder and pulled her into his side. Daryl dropped his arms from his chest the and without meaning to Sophia done the same both just staring at the others. Daryl's eyes flicked to the door and Carol watched as struggled to stay there.

"You're just mad Merle because no one thinks you could have kids cause you can't get a woman." Sophia snapped. "Stop being an asshat to Daryl."

Mac slapped Merle's chest and walked forward jerking Daryl into his side much like Merle had her. He grabbed Sophia and she stepped back into Daryl glaring at Merle. She was indignant on Daryl's behalf every time his brother's started in on him.

Mom tell him I can go." Sophia pleaded ignoring Mac and interrupting what he tried to say. "You know as well as I do that it something that I need to know now days. There is no one better to teach me and keep me safe out there."

Carol nodded her head at her daughter but her eyes were on Daryl. He was looking down at Sophia with a raised brow. His face was red but when his eyes lifted to her Carol raised her brow at him. She didn't need to ask to know that he'd put his life on the line for her- he'd done that from the moment he saved her.

"Fine."

Sophia whooped loudly and high fived Brian. They were grinned and Sophia took off to grab her stuff. Mac sighed and turned to leave and get his things. She heard a mumbled slur at his brother and him calling Daryl a twat again.

"You should go." Merle added as an after thought when it was just Daryl, him, and her there.

Carol raised a brow, "Go?"

Merle gave her a look, "I'm guessing those jackasses in your group couldn't hunt from the looks of things and she's damn right about it being a useful skill. I ain't ever seen a better tracker or hunter." Merle shrugged, "Extra set of eyes watching your girl out there couldn't hurt either."

Merle walked out just as Daryl was hit in the chest with a pack. "You left that upstairs." Sophia chirped.

His grunt was the only reply she got and Sophia bounded out the door launching herself on to Merle's back as he went down the steps. She couldn't hear what they were saying but both were laughing. Merle's words were true though but she didn't know what to say to Daryl right now. It wasn't that they didn't get along it was just that she found she was drawn to him and didn't know what to say to him most of the time. She had a tendency to embarrass hims he realized early on.

He swung his gear back on his shoulder and sighed again looking over at her, "If you're going then we'll be at the gate."

Carol swallowed and nodded watching him walk away. It bothered her more than she realized not being able to read him as well she could others. She couldn't pass up the chance though to be out there with her daughter and see her with Daryl. She'd heard a lot about him showing her a lot of things but had yet to see it. Hannah talked about the focus that both kids seemed to get when he would talk and show them things that they didn't grant anyone else. Mac was right- Daryl had a way with kids.