I have good reasons for such slow updates. Between holidays, broken wrist (that isn't healing as fast as I wish), bad storms messing with my internet, and getting married this past week I've been super busy. I hope everyone had an amazing holiday. This took forever to write because I had to keep taking breaks while writing it because of my wrist. Anyways- I wanted to get something out since it'd been so long since I'd updated.

I got a review awhile or maybe it was a message (I can't remember at this point) but it got me thinking. They were adamant that they did NOT want this story to end. AS were a lot of you. I honestly never intended it to be this long but it'd just took on a life of it's own. That being said they mentioned a few things in passing that struck something in me and I suddenly seen snap shots in my head for this story. Things that I'll have to write a good bit to get to. Things that will indeed have this going for a bit longer. Anyways- I want to thank all of you for being so great and supportive.

The loud shriek that came from downstairs had Daryl's eyes snapping open and his entire body going rigid. Heart thundering and blood rushing he started moving not even bothering with sliding Carol off him from where they'd fell asleep. His chest was heaving flash backs of the other night with Phillip rushing through his head and his heart.

Carol was up and moving not questioning him as he hastily dressed in the early morning late. He felt flushed with fever as he jerked the door opening not bothering to even see if Carol was dressed or not. He was down the steps in record time and followed the sounds of commotion. Stepping into the room he paused at the scene.

Carol slammed into his back as she tripped down the last of the steps. He steadied her without much thought to it and pulled her around in front of him. Both of them were watching the scene in front of them. Merle was there laughing with Sophia using him as a pillow her tired face watching everything as she slowly blinked. On the other side of him Brian's head was tipped back as he snored loudly. His throat was bared and showing off his stitches that made Daryl's chest tighten.

It wasn't that though. It was Mac's wide smile and wild eyes that caught his attention before Andrea's shriek pierced the air again. When his eyes finally went to her he was startled to realize that the thunderous bark of laughter he heard was himself. All eyes turned to him and Brian even snapped awake startling himself looking around while swiping his face for drool. He couldn't help it though as his body shook with laughter and he doubled over slapping his own thigh. Fighting trying to get breath back into his body he tried to stifle his laughter but it just kept bubble up over and over. Giving up he righted himself and grinned like a fool at her.

Andrea raised her hand and flipped him off as she threw her hair over her shoulder. He really wished she hadn't done that. When her neck came fully exposed he started laughing again and Mac backed towards him his own laugh starting to echo musically with his own. Merle was laughing from the couch watching him and Mac. Carol was wide eyed and stunned. Her jaw hanging open like some kind of slack jawed yokel.

"You all are assholes. Everyone of you. Carol I expected better from you." Andrea bitched. "If you're just going to stare then get your fucking husband under control!"

Carol finally snapped her mouth closed and brought her hand up covering her mouth. Daryl swiped at his eyes and Mac's arm went around his shoulder and he started forcing Daryl to rock and sway with him.

"You walked into the party like you were walking onto a yacht. Your hat strategically dipped below one eye. Your scarf it was apricot. You had one eye in the mirror as you watched yourself gavotte. And all the girls dreamed that they'd be your partner." Mac's voice was growing louder and louder. No doubt houses for streets could hear him. "They'd be your partner, and...You're so vain, you probably think this song is about you. You're so vain, I'll bet you think this song is about you. Don't you? don't you?"

Daryl finally looked back at Andrea and was able to not laugh. Mac was still singing which only had Andrea flushing and scowling at them both. Which only made her situation even funnier. He'd warned Carol what would happen falling asleep around his brothers if they were bored. Sure enough Andrea was the perfect example of it. She was covered in horrific drawings of dicks. Dicks everywhere. Her throat, arms, face, and to make matters worse someone put a terrible mustache on her. Then there was the scowl, it was bad enough that there was dicks everywhere. Some aimed at her mouth clearly making a mess aimed at her mouth. But the scowl only made her eyebrows arch. Eyebrows that had been drawn over and exaggerated to look like villain eyebrows. She was a fucking mess.

"Oh my." Carol whispered. "Well...if anything you eyebrows look good."

"Don't think you could pull of a mustache though." Merle taunted.

Andrea hissed through her teeth at all of them. Brian stood slowly and walked closer to her and arched a brow. He was walking around her and Andrea was flushing even more under his inspection. When he got back in front of her he met her eyes and she arched a brow again. Daryl's body shook with laughter at the look. He couldn't take her a bit seriously.

"Even covered in dicks you aren't as big a dick as Rick Grimes." Brian deadpanned face completely serious before turning and walking away.

Andrea threw her hands up and stormed down the hall. Mac was still singing Carly Simon in his fucking ear. It wasn't enough though for Andrea to ignore him. Mac was jerked harshly back from him and Andrea pulled him down the hall like he was a rag doll. Even as he was being pulled away to his possible death or rape, it could either way, he was still singing you're so vain as loud as he could through his laughter. He was manhandled into his room and then a yelp was heard. Merle met his eyes and both started laughing even more. He pushed all thoughts of Philip and the shit he pulled out of his mind. It felt good to just relax. it felt good to see Mac get his ass handed to him.

Sophia padded by and shook her head, "You all are like a bunch of kids."

"Your a wet blanket." Merle retorted.

Sophia eyeballed him and plucked a water up. Sipping her drink she looked between, Merle, Carol and Daryl. When she put the lid back on she put her drink back down and shook her head.

"You need a life."

Merle scowled and flipped her off. "Brian's right."

Sophia hummed under her breath and waited.

"You're a bitch."

"MERLE!" Carol barked.

"What she is." He turned and walked out.

Daryl was on the counter ignoring Carol's huff and Sophia impatient look. He instead watched out the window as the sun climbed higher. He didn't feel like going out to deal with shit today. He had to though. Michonne left a little over a week or so ago but was back. When she'd left she told them that she would possibly stop back if ever she was in the area. Him and Mac neither thought she would and when he told Carol she agreed. Michonne was a lone wolf and was running from her problems. Much like a lot of them had been but she wasn't ready to face whatever was at her heels. Instead when she walked out those gates he figured that'd be it. Nothing else. They'd set her up with supplies and Merle helped her get a vehicle ready. He didn't know how far she made it or what she'd seen but the look in her eyes told him it wasn't good.

He'd only briefly seen her with all the commotion lately but still he'd seen the look in her dark eyes. She wasn't comfortable enough with anyone else but him and his brothers to talk about what she seen. It was the same when she'd been hurt and been healing. How she found his brothers comfortable to talk to he wasn't sure but to each their own.

"Do you have to be somewhere this morning?"

Daryl cut his eyes to Carol and nodded. Sophia sighed and he finally looked at her. "What?"

"When are you going to take me back out and teach me more about hunting?"

Daryl stretched and Sophia straightened as he stood. "Soon. Check all your gear over and make sure it's still set right. Let me know."

Sophia dusted her hands off and beamed at him. "If it is?"

"Then you're still waiting on Mac and Brian."

"Why? We can do it just the two of us."

Daryl looked back at her. "One of my brothers will be there. You know how to hunt on your own but you need to learn to work with someone. You and Brian were working together and need to work on that. If you want to go then get his ass in gear and one of my brothers."

Carol was watching them a smile on her face. Both of them stared at her and then flushed at her look. Sophia just huffed at her out of embarrassment and then walked away. Daryl grabbed a water and took a deep drink. Carol was watching out the window and elbowed him.

"You should get her back out there."

"You need to learn to"

"I do. But after everything that has happened I think it'd do her and Brian some good."

Daryl nodded. It would. He'd already been thinking about it. He never meant to take such a long break in teach her to read the woods and hunt but sometimes shit just happened. He wanted her to be as at ease in the woods as him. He wanted her to be able to work fine by herself. But he wanted her to be able to work with Brian like he could with his brothers.

"Do you have to wait on Mac?"

"No."

Both looked down the hall when they heard a loud thump and Brian walked into the room suddenly. He was glaring down the hall but looked at them after a second. His face was flushed and he looked like he wanted to hit something. He shifted and then glared.

"I want to change rooms."

Daryl stared at him. He took a drink again finishing off his bottle and Carol took it wordlessly. Brian's glare deepened to Merle's level. Daryl tilted his head and took another water. Why the fuck was he so goddamn thirsty this morning?

"Fuck you I'm changing rooms." Brian threw his hands up. "Do you have ANY idea how traumatizing it just was for me to hear my dad having sex!"

Daryl hid his smile by taking a drink of water. Brian's face flushed violently when there was a loud thud down the hall followed by a sudden yelp that was clearly Mac. Carol was flushed and wide eyed but Daryl was use to his brothers habits. Hell Merle Dixon was his older brother, Mac was his twin- if he wasn't use to hearing his brothers fucking some whore by now then he wasn't a Dixon at all.

"You're a real dick Daryl." Brian sneered, "Carrrrrrrrol I wanna change rooms." He pleaded eyes wide and walking to her. The second he got to her his arms wrapped around him. It was sobering to see because his frame already dwarfed hers. Her arms went around him like she'd known him her entire life and hugged him. He melted into her looking every bit his age.

Carol cut her eyes to him over Brian's shoulder. He nodded silently and she patted Brian's back, "I'll get Andrea to help me later with switching rooms around. Go with Daryl today though."

Brian pulled back and grinned widely. He kissed her on the forehead before going and grabbing his stuff. It was such a normal looking moment that he didn't think thing about it. There was nothing odd about it until it hit him when he turned to get his own things. He'd never seen Brian do anyone that way. He stood there a second processing that before walking away and getting his things. He'd meet Merle down there and see what was going on before him and Brain went about getting everything for hunting ready.