Daryl turned his head about the time Merle let out a low whistle. Their eyes followed a steaming Hannah that was strutting straight for his house. He didn't know what Mac said that morning but if words could kill he was sure this bitch was deader than the walkers out there right now. She looked rough. Merle and him both agreed to stay out of it unless they needed to step in but it was hard when he seen the look on his brother's face. When Brian asked him why his mother was never there. Shit like that got to him, it always did. It was why he backed his brother one hundred percent every time he took her to court over his nephew. Brian was miserable there and Hannah was a piece of shit but always won. He knew what it felt like to never come first.

Hannah threw her hand up waving and he grit his teeth. Merle turned his head spitting and glared at her and she huffed before storming away.

"You ever think about all the trouble you had with that Karen bitch and how Hannah was her best friend?"

"Yeah, those two were cuddling clit lickers dude." Carter chuckled, "Before we got here me and Briar swore that they were yummying down on that shit."

Daryl pulled a face and shook his head, "That's fucked up."

"Martinez heard her telling Karen that she thinks you and Carol won't last. Told her to not give up hope."

"You shittin' me?"

Merle shook his head and motioned to Carter to finish up what they were working on. Daryl hefted up a bag of quikrete. Why Merle didn't have the truck parked closer to the fence he didn't know. The dick probably left it here just so he could watch them bitch. He didn't complain though because getting the fences reinforced was a good damn idea. There were too many dumbasses walking around who couldn't fight their way out of a wet paper bag to be leaving things to chance.

The work was going fast as he listened to Carter riling Merle up. At times he swore it was like Carter was Merle's own damn kid. He got away with shit no one did. He idolized the man. What a warped fucking idol it was too.

"GUYS!"

Three heads whipped around seeing Martinez jogging up. He looked from them to where he'd been. Shaking his head as he came to a stop he glared at them. "Did none of you see the man laying on his ass?"

"What man?"

"What ass?"

Merle and Daryl glared at Carter before looking back at Martinez. Following Martinez around the corner Daryl paused seeing the man splayed out. He was bloodied and wasn't moving. Shaking his head he watched Carter checked for a pulse and when his head lolled over Daryl cringed. It was Phillip Blake.

"I guess I wasn't the only one who wanted to hit the creepy fuck." Merle snorted.

Carter looked up shaking his head, "Nah man, this is the guy I seen Hannah with." Carter nodded and lifted his hand away, "He's alive but we need to get him to the medic."

All of them paused and Daryl looked towards his house. Merle grabbed Daryl's arm and pointed towards the house. There were no words. Mac done this. He wasn't sure how he found out and honestly didn't even want to ask. If Mac thought it necessary he'd beat it out of whoever he needed too. He didn't fault him for hitting the man. If he'd been intent on really hurting him he'd done more. This was Mac giving a warning. Hopefully Hannah and her jackass were smart enough to step away.

Martinez and Merle lifted Phillip and Carter took off with them. He sent Daryl a wide grin winking and he scowled. Of course he'd be the one to go get Mac. Even better he knew Hannah was in the house. Walking quickly hoping he could get there before anything got out of hand he damn near sprinted. He was up the steps and into the house quickly. He was relieved he heard no screaming but maybe that'd been better. Silence seemed worse. Were there already bodies?

"Brian?"

He followed the voice into the living room where Hannah was. She was glaring up the steps. There was no sign of Sophia or Brian. Andrea was in the armchair with Mac on the arm. He was staring right at the woman with nothing more than barely contained fury. Andrea was more put together but he could see want to do something building.

"Where is he Mac? You said he'd be here." Hannah snarled.

Mac quirked an eyebrow and his shot to Daryl. He smiled and Daryl knew he already knew why he was here. The motherfucker looked smug as he flexed his hand the bruised knuckles shining.

"He is." Mac shrugged, "If he don't want to speak then that's not my fault."

"Well go get him. Whatever you lied about has clearly upset him."

Mac sneered at her and stood up. He started to step forward but Andrea shot him a look and he watched as some of that anger bit back into a box. It was enough to make him lean into the wall. He could see up the steps. Sophia was inching close to top. He knew her sneaking steps and he turned his head watching for her. It'd do no good for Brian to refuse to come down and he wasn't about to watch Mac kill Hannah. Sophia appeared and he jerked his head his eyes locking with hers. Shaking her head she crossed her arms and Daryl turned fully towards the steps. She stiffened he motioned for them both and crooked his finger. He wasn't dealing with this. He'd be goddamned if he or Sophia got pulled into it though.

"I don't lie to my goddamn son."

Hannah laughed and cocked her hip out, "You think you're so much better than me."

Mac just shook his head and set hard on the arm of the chair. Hannah's eyes went to Andrea who wasn't even bothering to look at her but was instead flipping through a book. It was something of Carol's and he watched as Hannah's face reddened. Mac wasn't bothering to look at her either instead he was watching to where the steps were. Sophia and Brian were walking down them now. Brian looked like three shades of shit and he looked ready to snap someone's head off. Sophia had ahold of his wrist and was dragging him behind her. Well that explained that. Father like son. Both wanted to avoid the cock gobbler standing in the center of the room.

Hannah whirled around when Brian showed up and smiled. He didn't budge. He stopped where Sophia was and didn't offer the woman a word. Daryl slipped into the room and took a seat on the couch. Mac looked at him his eyes slightly relieved. He didn't trust himself to not hurt the woman where his son was concerned. Truthfully neither did Merle or him because if they'd known she was going to show up he'd stayed right here with Mac.

"Brian sweetheart you feeling any better."

Daryl looked at Sophia and she scowled. "Over here."

She let go of Brian and walked towards him her eyes glacial as Hannah smiled at her. If she was hoping to get the girl on her side she was at a loss. Sophia flounced down next to him leaning into his side immediately. She lifted his arm and threw it around her shoulder.

"Why is she here?" SHe whispered. "She couldn't be bothered lastnight or even this morning so why now?"

Daryl shushed her but smiled when he seen Hannah's back stiffen. Brian wasn't far behind Sophia and set heavily on the couch. He glared at his mom before he looked at Mac and Andrea. He coughed rubbed his chest while Sophia grabbed the throw blanket behind them and tossed it over him. He bit back a smile as she mother henned him and shook his head shooting a grin at Mac. Brian was as bad as them for letting someone do things like that but when it came to Carol, Andrea, or Sophia it seemed he was a pushover.

"Brian answer me when I speak to you." Hannah ordered.

"Why the hell should I?" He snarled his voice rough and thick.

"I'm your mother!"

"Really?" He seethed his eye flashing, "You can't forget that every fucking day and then claim it when it is fucking convenient for you."

Hannah flinched and walked closer to him but he recoiled further into the couch. Daryl watched as his hand tightened into a white knuckled grip. Sophia caught his hand and his fist loosened. Mac and his eyes met. They were in for a world of shit if these two ever decided they weren't happy as just friends anymore. He'd let Carol handle that, Carol and Mac. The thought brought a smile to his face and Mac scowled at him.

"Brian come home and we'll talk there." Hannah ordered.

Brian shook his head and didn't budge, "I am home."

"No you're not."

"Yes I am."

"NO!" Hannah barked. "You will do as I say Brian. I'm your mother and you won't act like this or talk to me like this."

Brian coughed again and Andrea stood up walking out of the room. Mac slid off the arm of the couch into her seat. His legs stayed over the arm and he watched as Brian scared off with his mother. He didn't seem like he was willing to intervene. Andrea appeared again and walked over to Brian handing him a thing of cough syrup and a bottle of water. He smiled up at her and Hannah's face flooded with red and anger. He knocked the medicine back and took the water. She handed one to Sophia before throwing one to him and then to Mac.

"Really Mac?" She snorted. "Get up."

He waggled his eyebrows and shook his head. She glared and he let one of his legs fall to the ground. She had space on the arm now with his other leg. She took it and he handed her the book she'd had. Hannah stood there like she was thunderstruck. Daryl sipped his water and Brian leaned heavily into the couch. Sophia tugged on his shoulder until his head fell almost into Daryl's lap he was so far over. His legs done like his father's and he sprawled out. Sophia's fingers combed through his hair and his eyes started getting heavy.

"I'm not leaving my dad." Brian yawned. "Go back to Phillip's."

Hannah sputtered and Mac barked out a laugh. She whirled around on him and pointed a finger, "WE said we weren't going to dump this on him."

Mac's laugh died and he was standing almost taking Andrea to the ground. Daryl tensed and shifted forward. Sophia had a pleasant smile on her face that most of them ignored. He on the other hand paused. It wasn't so much pleasant now that he really looked at her. It looked mean. There was a glint to her eyes he'd seen in Carol's a few times already.

"Hannah you shouldn't blame Mac." Sophia interrupted Mac's tirade at the other woman. "Me and Brian have known that you've been sneaking around with Phillip for weeks."

Hannah turned and her angered settled on Sophia. Daryl stared at the woman. He'd put up with the bitch running her mouth to his brother because his brother would give it back. Hell Sophia would as well but he'd still be goddamned if this bitch opened her fucking mouth to her. He'd knock her on her fucking ass.

"Excuse me little girl?"

Sophia's fingers never stopped combing through Brian's hair and she looked up at the woman. "We seen you all." She shrugged, "It's why he never wanted to stay at your house anymore."

Hannah huffed a laugh, "I'm sure it was more than that." She ran her eyes between them, "Something to do with a gir-"

Daryl stood up and Hannah's eyes widened, "I'm going to stop you right the fuck there before you say some shit that's gonna get your jaw broke."

Hannah paled and motioned to Sophia and Brian. "Brian get up and get to the damn house."

Mac walked around standing in front of his son, "He made it clear he wasn't going with you."

"HE'S MY SON!"

Brian cleared his throat, "I was a child support check to you." Rubbing his throat he rolled his head looking over at his mom, "I was a way to attach him to you when he got here. Stop using me as an excuse and go home."

Hannah's face fell and her eyes watered. "Brian you know that's not what it was."

"If this was the first time I'd fall for that." He stared at her blankly before looking back at the ceiling, "You should go home."

Sophia smiled again and Daryl raised a brow. She didn't look a bit friendly as her eyes followed the woman out of there. She looked like her damn mom right now when she was mad. He could only imagine how Carol would react over Brian or Sophia. She was like a mama bear but he could tell that Sophia didn't feel motherly towards Brian. It was more how Carol handled him. He paused and rubbed his chest. He was pretty fucking sure he was going to give himself a heart attack if he didn't stop that train of thought right there. Jesus. Still he felt bad for anyone who really messed with Brian.

Mac walked to the door following Hannah and he could hear her words to his brother. They were low but still loud of to be heard. She was furious and embarrassed. Everything she could think of to hurt Mac she was slinging at him and he looked at Andrea out of the corner of his eye. She was tense and her grip was white knuckle on the book. He smiled.

Soft snores had him looking down at his nephew and Sophia tugged on his shirt. "I think he should go back to bed."

Daryl nodded and Sophia slipped out from under him. Daryl bent quickly and caught his nephew in his arms. The motherfucker was heavier than he use to be. Alot. Sophia was right and he'd rest better on a bed. She was trotting in front of him and threw the covers back for him when he got Brian in bed. He stood there for a second and then caught her eyes. She paused and smiled at him and walked over. Before he knew what she was doing she was hugging him. His arms came around her and she pressed her face into his chest. He felt her little body shake and he grimaced. If she started crying he was going to send for Carol.

"You alright?"

"How can she do her son like that?"

Daryl sighed and tugged her hair and looked down at her. Sophia's wide eyes were bloodshot looking at him, "Some people are just like that."

"Like Ed." She nodded and her face fell again, "At Least he had all of you."

"So do you."

She grinned up at him, "Would you really have hit her over me?"

Daryl nodded at her. "I ain't gonna stand there when some bitch runs her mouth to you. Man or woman."

The door slammed and Mac snarled loudly downstairs. Daryl looked over his shoulders at the sound of footsteps. Mac was coming up them fast. He was at Brian's side in a second. He was feeling his forehead and grimaced at the temperature. Andrea showed up a few seconds later packing Brian's water and some more medicine.

"For his fever."

Brian groaned as Mac shook him awake, "Wake the hell up."

"Lick my balls." Brian grumbled.

"Ew." Sophia and Andrea echoed.

Daryl snorted and pulled Sophia from the room while Andrea and Mac stripped Brian down trying to get him cooler. He heard the shower cut on and sighed. Sophia took a seat on the steps by him.

"You think he'll be okay?"

Daryl looked at her and nodded, "Gotta be."

Sophia nodded her head, "Yeah, yeah he does."