Mac, Merle, and Daryl were walking towards the the front of the town. Three weeks had passed and things were calm. A lot more calm than they'd been since Grimes and his group joined. Everyone was settling in and Rick wasn't trying to swing his dick around anymore. Though he was pretty sure his son was still being a little jackass.

Sophia and Brian were still attached at the hip. While he wanted to put in a no touching at all, under no circumstance rule, he couldn't lie that he was happy that they stayed close together. If something were to ever happen here and they got stranded alone those two would do fine. They were young but far from unprepared. Brian started hunting almost as soon as he'd started walking and the same went for guns and bows.

"Seen Hannah earlier." Merle looked over. Mac didn't break stride or even make a face. "She was waiting on Brian."

Daryl raised a brow and did look at his brother, "Where at?"

"That fucking tree Sophia has turned into a damn lounge." Merle chuckled, "He told her he didn't have shit to say to her. Heard her ask him to have dinner with him and that man."

Mac did pause then and his eyes turned dangerous. "She asked my son to go to her place or his?"

Merle swung around in front of them and smiled. Walking backwards he raised his brow, "His. From what I heard he really wants a chance to get to know your son."

Daryl cringed and Mac sneered spitting at the ground. "Fuck that goddamn bitch. He wants to be around my son I'll goddamn be there."

Mac turned around and stormed back towards where Sophia and Brian were. Daryl watched him go and then turned to Merle shaking his head. Merle was grinning from ear to ear. He was notorious for starting shit but he couldn't understand why Merle would get Mac that riled up. Phillip just healed from Mac's hit. Hell the man still looked like shit and he could only imagine Mac looming close by if Phillip was around his son.

"Hell he can't get mad at her for being with him now really." Merle shrugged and started walking again, "Think everyone has noticed that Andrea and him are closer than just acquaintances."

Daryl nodded his head, "Carol told me that she came down stairs last night and seen Andrea walking into his room."

Merle snorted, "He's a Dixon..." He thrust his hips and gestured his hand around his cock, "She likes the way his dick taste."

"Goddamn." Daryl muttered and walked away.

Stepping into the room he seen Michonne stand. Rick was next to her and he smiled slightly at Daryl. Daryl made no move to speak to the man. He didn't want to tear his throat as bad now but he still didn't like him. In fact it was easier when the man didn't try to speak to him and Rick got it now.

"Dixons." Michonne nodded.

Merle dropped into a chair while Daryl lingered further back. Leaning into the wall he nodded at her. They were both solitary and quiet. He didn't claim to know Michonne but he could understand her on a some levels at least.

"Get back this morning?"

Michonne took a seat, "Yes."

Merle looked back at him and then her, "Honestly didn't think we'd see you again."

Michonne smiled slightly at him and Rick tensed. Daryl hid his smile at Rick's unease. Merle wasn't attracted to Michonne but Rick didn't need to know that. Merle was fine being the town whore.

"I made it a few towns over." Michonne's voice lowered and she leaned further into the table. "Found a shipping center that's untouched. It's more than I'd ever need and you have a lot of people here that could use the stuff."

Daryl stepped forward handing Merle the map before he could ask. Michonne and Merle went to work mapping things out. Daryl looked outside wanting out there. He could feel the waves of anger coming off Mac from here. Maybe Carol, Andrea, Sophia, and Brian could keep him from assaulting someone today. He really didn't feel like cleaning up busted knuckles or burying someone.

The door slammed open and Sophia walked in. He smirked seeing the kitten following her. It'd been a big hit with everyone here. He figured it would honestly but while they were happy to see the tiny kitten; it wasn't happy to see them. It preferred being with him or Sophia. It tolerated everyone else. By that he meant Merle, Mac, Carol, Martinez, Brian, and Carter. No one else yet could even get close enough to touch it.

"Brian is being a dick head." Sophia snapped.

Daryl looked down watching as Xena climbed his jeans forcing him to pick her up. "Nothing new."

Brian stepped inside and shot Daryl a withering look. "Well Sophia punched me in the dick."

Daryl's eyes shot over to them. The room quieted suddenly as Brian shifted wincing. Merle stepped next to him as Rick exited followed by Michonne quietly.

"What the hell was your dick doing around her?" Daryl barked.

Brian flinched with his eyes wide and he backed up, "Whoa whoa I wasn't doing anything like that. Shit."

Daryl felt claws dig into his chest but didn't take his eyes off Brian. Merle plucked the cat out of his arms and Daryl walked towards them. Brian grabbed Sophia and jerked her in front of him. He was using her as a shield.

"Not your smartest move there boy." Merle snorted, "You got his ass ready to rip you in half and you grab her..."

Brian winced again but met his eyes, "Daryl I wasn't doing shit! I was laying on the couch and she wanted me to go with her to find you. I told her no and she fucking punched me so technically she was the one getting around my dick. Be mad at her!"

"What the fuck is wrong with the two of you!" Daryl snarled, "Stop talking about it! Stop touching it! Stop being fucking weird!"

Merle threw his arm up on Daryl's shoulder, "Yeah stop being complete Dixon's. You horny little bastards you're going to make Daryl have a stroke..." He turned his head suddenly, "While they have a stroke...get it Daryl."

Daryl jerked away from his brother his fist shooting out and catching him in the kidney. "You shut your filthy whore mouth!"

Merle groaned and Xena jumped away from him. Daryl looked over and Sophia's face was blood red and Brian looked ready to puke. He glared at the pair of them and shook his head.

"The two of you stop fucking touching each other." At their looks he pointed his finger, "Save your smartass shit for someone who isn't about to beat your ass Brian."

Sophia smiled slightly but he glared at her and the look dropped. He was seriously going to stroke out at the thought of her starting to like boys. It was sickening. Jesus he wanted to run every kid off here now just to keep boys and men away from her. He was going to hurt someone. If Carl Grimes came sniffing around he'd castrate him.

Carol stepped in laughing with Mac. Mac's face sobered and he walked over. Carol was right behind them and he heard Brian mutter something about shooting himself. Sophia was trying to escape but he caught her shirt stopping her.

"What's wrong?"

"Daryl's upset cause Sophia touched Brian's dick." Merle's words were meant to cause chaos.

He succeeded.

The room exploded and Merle made a grand exit. Daryl met Brian's eyes and suddenly felt bad for him. He was wide eyed, pale, and looked ready to run. Sophia was no better with the way Carol was cornering her.

"What the hell is Merle talking about Sophia?" Carol questioned. "Is this true?"

Sophia winced but met her mother's eyes, "I punched him not touched him...not like that."

Mac was staring at his son. Brian knew better than to open his mouth with Mac ready to beat his ass. When it came to Sophia Mac was as protective as he was. Merle was too but his pissy ass was mad about the kidney shot.

"Why would Merle say that then, Sophia?" Carol pushed. "You two aren't to be alone anymore. Doors always open."

Sophia blushed and scowled, "I might spend time around Merle and Mac but i'm not a whore."

Mac's eyes shot to her, "What the fuck. I'm not a whore."

Sophia cocked a hip out, "Well not now because the worlds all shitty but if there was a brothel here you'd live in it." Sophia looked at Daryl then at Mac again, "Even Daryl said so."

Mac turned on him, "You fucker."

"Regardless if you were punching him or not...the rule stands." Carol admonished. She looked at Brian and then Sophia, "You're both getting older and things change. Now Sophia Andrea is waiting on you at the house."

She picked Xena up her face red and her eyes watery. It wasn't that Carol jumped on to her but the sound of her mother's voice. Sure he'd been angry at first but really he was easy to set off. It wasn't the first time Sophia cheap shotted Brian. Knowing her it wouldn't be the last either.

When Sophia walked out Carol looked over at Mac pointedly. "Hey don't look at me your daughter assaulted his family jewels. He's innocent." Mac shrugged and caught Brian's bicep, "Besides he can't help he's a Dixon. Women love us."

He shoved Brian out the door away from Carol and followed him. Mac was steering him away from everyone and Daryl snorted. Mac told him earlier he was going to talk to Brian about Sophia. They'd both noticed the way the two looked at each other. He wasn't worried but at the same time he was. they were close, real close. They just didn't need them running around doing stupid shit and then make things worse.

"How do you deal with that?"

"What?"

"I come in here to find out that she's punching people in the genitals." Carol made a face, "Even if he deserved that it's not right. And they need boundaries they aren't kids anymore. They're growing up."

Daryl nodded and Carol leaned into him her face pressing into his chest. His arms came around her and his eyes went to the map. He didn't want to think about what was brewing between his nephew and Sophia. They weren't blood. They were basically family. Hell he considered Sophia his daughter! Rubbing his face he sighed. It was making his head hurt thinking about it but he had too.

"She's not a kid." Carol whined, "I want her to stay a little girl." Daryl smiled and Carol looked up at him wide eyed. "He's your nephew!"

"I'm aware."

Carol scowled at him but pushed on. "I asked her about it the other day. She got all flustered and crawled out her window! She climbed up on the roof and came in through our window and ran down the steps!"

Daryl laughed in her face and Carol slapped his chest. He batted her hands away and kept laughing. "You have to admit it's funny."

There was no point in freaking out. He knew how he was as a kid. Telling him he couldn't do something only made him do it more. And you couldn't tell people who to like or love. Hell, if they started throwing what ifs they'd be here all day. Sure it'd be weird...but it'd be better than Dick Grimes son sniffing around her. Either way he didn't like any boy around her now the more he thought about it. Still kids would be kids and those two were already sneaky enough.

"Do you think we should keep them apart?"

Daryl looked at her, "Do you think you really could?"

"No." Carol shook her head, "They're each other's best friends. Only friends. They need each other. I'm glad she has someone she's close to that's her own age." Carol sighed and rubbed her face, "People need that, she needs that, even more now days."

Stepping outside he could see Mac and Brian up on the wall. Looked like Brian was accompanying Mac on watch. The tension in both of them was palpable. He could only guess what his brother was saying to Brian about Sophia. Probably mentally scarring him with his version of a sex talk. Daryl came to a stop and grabbed Carol's arm. She stopped looking at him and he jerked his head at his brother and Brian.

"Do like Mac." Daryl grinned, "Traumatize her like he's doing Brian."

Carol looked over, "And how do you know he's doing that?"

"I know my brother. He won't tell Brian to stop liking her because he won't see nothing wrong with it. If his son likes someone he'd back him all the way. He'll always stand by his kid. But my brother is the type of asshole that will leave him mentally cringing anytime sex is mentioned or thought about for quite awhile."

"You suggesting I have Mac talk to Sophia about the birds and bees?" Carol laughed, "Daryl while the idea is funny- just no."

"No not Mac...that'd be too much for a little girl."

Carol raised a brow, "Then what?"

Daryl shrugged, "Hell if I know you're her mom."

He walked away but Carol caught up to him, "And she calls you her dad. You are her dad. If you think I should talk to her about sex that's fine but you will be there. You want to embarrass her away from thinking about boys you being there will do it."

Daryl paused and glared at her, "Don't you put that evil on me."

"Oh no, you'll be there. This is a lovely idea!"

Daryl grimaced, "I'd rather swallow glass."

Carol trotted next to him, "You have anything you need to do right now?"

"No, Merle will find me after he talks with Martinez about the map and the run."

Carol nodded and directed him to the house, "Well then no time like the present Dixon."