Daryl watched Sophia pace and wanted to laugh. She had a look on her face like she watched someone tried to skin her alive. While he'd been embarrassed he still found it amusing. He knew that nothing was going on between the two but it didn't change the facts. They were growing up and he knew damn well the shit boys got on their minds. That kid had Mac's blood running through him so he was going to turn into a little fucker here soon.

"Why did you let her do that to me!" Sophia whined. "You were supposed to be on my side."

Daryl cocked a brow at her, "You expect me to tell your mom not to talk to you about sex after you and Brian blurt out that you were touching his dick? I'm hearing you correctly?"

Sophia's face flushed and she glared at him. He leveled her with a severe look and her's went away. She flopped on his bed and her face turned down.

"Don't say it that way." Sophia whispered.

"What way? The truth?"

"You...I don't want to hear you saying dick." She hissed the word her face blazing red. "IT sounds SOOO much worse when you say it."

"It sounded worse fucking hearing it from the two of you." Daryl regarded.

"MAC STOP!"

Seconds later the door slammed open and Brian was shoved through, stumbling. Mac was right behind him forcing his son further into the room. Brian was shoved to the bed beside Sophia. He was wide eyed and panicked looking. He wouldn't even meet Daryl's eyes and was setting rigidly.

"Carol hush up I have the right to be in here with my son and future daughter in law." Mac looked right at Sophia. His face lit up and smile broad.

Daryl had to forcibly clench his jaws to keep from laughing out loud. The horror struck look on both of Brian and Sophia's faces was to much. He was going to hyperventilate. Mac spun back around and stared at him. He could see him trying to keep his face straight.

Carol walked in and glared at his brother. "Did you really tell me to hush up?"

"Yes, we both see it isn't working." Mac sighed, "Brian for your sake we can hope Sophia isn't as mouthy as her mom."

"You little fucker." Carol hissed.

Daryl shifted while laughing and shoved Mac behind him but caught Carol's hand across the face. His head jerked to the side and he felt his lip split, he was too stunned to do anything but stand there. Nostrils flaring as the room grew completely still. Carol sucked in a harsh breath and shifted closer to him her hand flying back towards him. He turned his head back as her palm went to the side of his head. Eyes wide she swiped away the blood from his lip. He could feel the tension radiating from his brother. He knew that Mac always reacted harsh seeing either of his brothers getting hurt in any way. Mac was fighting to not say something and he knew it.

"I'm so sorry! I meant to hit your asshole brother!"

Mac huffed behind him but he snorted. "It's fine."

"It's really not, I hit you. Daryl in what world is that okay?"

"The one where I just told you it was fine." Daryl waved her hand away.

Mac grinned at Carol and she fumed at him. He already knew those two would get into a fight later. Even if no words were said Carol would hit him and Mac would hit back. He wasn't worried about Mac hurting her because this shit happened the other day right on top of him. These two were as bad as when him and Merle fought. For all Mac's bark he never got to rough with Carol. If anything he worried for his brother. They were like two fucking kids rough housing. You had to worry what was going to get destroyed around them.

"And that right there is what you have to look forward to. Being beat on." Mac leaned against the wall, "The second she lets you hit it. That's when you lose your balls and become a victim of abuse. Look at Daryl."

Daryl glared at his brother. "Fuck you Mac."

"Not my type but the thanks." Mac smiled, "Besides Carol is already ready to get her claws into me and we both know she's territorial. Don't make her piss on your leg."

"Is there a reason everyone is in here?" Sophia interrupted.

"Yes." Daryl interrupted Mac. Looking at Brian and Sophia he leveled them with a look that had both shifting, "Keep your dick in your pants and you keep your legs closed. If you get caught sneaking around and fucking around then you'll regret it."

Merle walked in and Daryl sighed, "If you have sex you will get pregnant. You will get herpes."

Sophia's face was pale and she looked sick. Mac smiled looking right at his son, "If you fuck her you will die." He motioned to Carol trying to look at Daryl's split lip again, "You'll get to deal with these two abusive fuckers. Hell she's beating him for the fun of it what do you think they'll do to you?"

"Have sex and die." Merle said ominously.

Brian glared at them. Daryl raised a brow. He wanted to grimace because he could see every bit of Mac in the boy at the moment. He was mad. He was embarrassed and he was about to make it worse. He was so much like his dad sometimes when he got mad and Daryl knew this was one of those times. His eyes were slightly wild and he looked like a trap animal. He wasn't thinking about the consequences of whatever he was about to say and Daryl knew it.

"So have sex with Sophia and I get maimed, herpes, and killed? Right?"

"Yes." Merle and Mac deadpanned.

"Fine. That's easy. I'll just fuck someone else." He snarled. He stormed out of the room before anyone could say anything else too him.

Merle whistled low in his throat and Mac turned his head watching him go. Sophia was completely rigid. If he'd thought maybe it'd be a passing attraction between them his words right then and her reaction sealed it. Goddamn. As if people didn't think they were weird enough already. He didn't give a fuck for himself but he didn't want Sophia to get shit. You couldn't help who you liked or fell in love with. Hell he fell for a woman who ran him over and chained him to a bed for days. Hell she'd been downright distrustful for so long when she got here that he was sure they'd end up in a physical fight.

Mac sighed heavily and left the room. "BRIAN!" He barked thundering down the stairs, "YOUR ASS BETTER TUCK THAT FUCKING FINGER RIGHT BACK IN OR I'LL RIP IT THE FUCK OFF! Fuck you right back!"

Merle snorted and then looked to Sophia. His face sobered and he glared at Daryl and Carol. His eyes threatened him to fix it. What the fuck was he supposed to do? Brian was the one who made her mad.

Merle walked out and Carol shut the door. Sophia looked up and stared at the door, "Can I go to bed now?"

"No." Carol shook her head, "We need to talk for real Sophia."

"I don't want to. I know the rules and I'll listen."

"It's more than rules." Carol laughed, "I know you're upset but I want you to listen to me. Me and Daryl neither one are mad at you. We aren't going tell you that you're wrong for your feelings. But we want you to be responsible. You two are both still young and we want you to stay that way as long as possible. Don't grow up so fast."

Sophia swiped at her eyes stood and hugged Carol before she hugged him and walked out the door. Daryl stood still. He didn't claim to understand women and even less little girls. It was a sobering fact because Sophia wasn't really a little girl though was she? To him sure she was but really she wasn't. It was sickening. He was going to end up killing some boy or man over her. And then there would be more crying. Always more crying with women, they leaked to much and it was worrisome. He knew enough to know that Brian was going to go through hell with Sophia now. God forbid if some girl here flirt with him in front of her. She'd be just like her mom and ring his fucking bell. Hell Carol fucking hit him when Karen kept her shit up. He wasn't even sure what the hell for. It wasn't jealousy because she knew he wasn't the type to fuck around but there was this look in her eyes that was warning enough.

"I can't believe I hit you." Carol laughed.

Daryl looked over and smiled. "Not the first time you've slapped me."

"I'm sure with you it won't be the last."

Daryl shook his head and Carol wrapped her arms around him. "You think they'll be okay?"

"Yes." Daryl said seriously. "He said that shit to piss us off not her."

"Don't think he thought it through to well."

"He's Mac's son."

Carol hummed then laughed. He lifted her off the ground and Carol's legs wrapped around his waist. He set on the bed and she shifted closer to his body. As close as she could get.

"Nights are getting colder." Carol's voice was soft.

He could hear Mac and Brian arguing downstairs. He couldn't hear the words but knew it was them. Carol shifted and was on the bed next to him kicking her boots off. She was changing and he cut his eyes to the window. The sun was already setting and he grimaced. An entire day spent thinking about Sophia having sex was a nightmare.

"Here." Carol hit him in the face with a pair of sleep pants. He sighed heavily and she slung a shirt into his face. "Change."

He glared but listened. Carol grinned and then leaned against the wall blatantly watching him. He raised a brow and she only smiled wider. Her eyes widened hearing Sophia's door open. Daryl finished changing just as their was a knock at the door. Carol opened it and Sophia walked in. Her face was red and her eyes puffy.

"Can I sleep in here?" She hiccuped, "Please mom...dad."

Carol pulled her into the room and he took the chance to escape. He didn't handle crying well. He could remember many nights on the road and getting Sophia safe with her crying. How many times did she climb right on him or end up right in his side. He knew well enough that when she was upset she was like her mom. She wanted comfort and they took comfort in fucking cuddling. Women. He huffed at the thought but couldn't lie to himself. He didn't regret calming her down and doing what he could.

Before he could even get the door open two hands wrapped around his wrist. Carol's and Sophia's both as they looked up at him. The arguing downstairs wasn't as loud now. He could only hear his brother now and grimaced. Brian was likely getting his ass ripped. Mac loved Sophia, if he knew that Brian made her cry he'd be even worse.

"You'll come back?" Sophia whispered.

It was the same broken voice he'd heard when she told him that her group lost her. He nodded without a thought and Carol smiled at him brightly. Sophia's tension eased and nodded at him. They let him go and he walked out. He originally planned to sleep on the couch thinking that Sophia would want her mom. That was out so not he'd just get something to drink and crawl his ass back up the stairs.

He ignored both Brian and Mac's curious look and grabbed two bottles of water. Andrea was quiet but looked right at him. He figured from the fight that she knew enough of what happened. She gave him a soft smile and then went back to her game of solitaire. Daryl escaped before Mac could speak to him.

Walking into the room he shut the door quickly and looked over. He wasn't surprised to see Sophia already asleep. Carol was awake though and he flipped the lights out. Light from the fading sunset was all that he had to guide him to the bed. He chugged a bottle of water knowing that once he laid down he'd not be getting back up. He'd wake them both up if he tried and he knew he'd knock the fuck out. Carol wasn't kidding out about the nights getting colder. They needed to get firewood put up and worry about winter proofing. Better winter proofing that is.

Walking to the foot of the bed he climbed up on it. It was Carol's side. Tucked against the wall. Sophia was sprawled out on his side while wrapped around his pillow. Carol snorted at him quietly.

"She fell asleep quick." Carol whispered. "She's always hated sleeping alone."

Daryl rolled towards Carol and his arm wrapped around her. Sophia was partially against her mom but there was still a gap. Carol snuggled closer to him and he felt Sophia follow her even in her sleep. He smiled into the back of her neck. Carol would do the same thing if she felt him move in her sleep.

"Are they fighting bad?"

"Not anymore."

Carol hummed and looked over her shoulder, "I think we could have handled this better."

"I think what's done is done." Daryl shrugged, "Merle and Mac really will beat his ass over her though. It's not just me he has to worry about. They love her."

"She knows." Carol laughed lightly. "She was worried about him even though she said he was a fucking motherfucker." Daryl snorted at that and buried his face in Carol's hair. "Talks just like you. Didn't you call Rick that?"

"Yes." Daryl laughed loudly.

Sophia grumbled and rolled over her face ending up on Carol's chest and her body tucking in against her as well. Her arm tangled with Daryl's over Carol. He felt Carol's breathing hitch and knew she was thinking about all the time they'd been separated. Hell he still thought about it. She'd lost a year with her daughter. A year she thought she could be dead. Sophia got lucky it was him that found her and not some other weirdo.

"Thank you Daryl." Carol whispered. "You kept our girl safe."