I wish we could stay wrapped up in each other forever. Daryl looks like he could use a long nap, but noise keeps building downstairs and whatever it is, we should be there. Daryl has just gotten to his feet and started pulling his boxers and pants back on when the door to the cell block slams shut and Rick's voice rings out.

"Take watch," he says. "Eyes open, head down. Field's filled with walkers. Didn't see any snipers out there, but we'll keep Maggie on watch."

Daryl grabs one of the sleeveless shirts in his pile and I'm suddenly extra glad I gathered them up. He throws it on and, as I stand up, he steals another kiss from my cheek before he pushes the cell door open and heads out.

"Daryl?" Rick calls.

"Heard you," Daryl says. "I can get up in the guard tower, take out half them walkers, give these guys a chance to fix the fence."

"Or use some of the cars to put the bus in place," Michonne adds.

I finish up and move out onto the landing, looking over the railing at where Daryl now stands with Rick, Michonne, Glenn, and Hershel.

"We can't access the field without burning through our bullets," Hershel says, grave.

"So we're trapped in here," Glenn says. "There's barely any food or ammo."

Daryl exhales, running his hand down his mouth and chin before he nods. "Been here before. We'll be alright."

"That's when it was just us," Glenn retorts. His anger hasn't calmed at all, not that I expect it to. I lean on the railing, arms folded. "Before there was a snake in the nest."

"Man, we gonna go through this again?" Daryl asks. "Look, Merle's staying here. He's with us now. Get used to it."

"Hey—" Rick starts, moving forward.

"All y'all," Daryl retorts.

He glances up at me, purses his lips, then goes back to the stairs. I touch his arm lightly when he reaches me and he shakes his head, glaring down at the others for another moment before going back inside my cell.

I purse my lips and look back over the railing.

"Seriously, Rick, I don't think Merle living here is really gonna fly," Glenn says, voice low and harsh.

"I can't kick him out," Rick insists.

"I wouldn't ask you to live with Shane after he tried to kill you," he snaps back.

"Merle has military experience," Hershel says as both men glare at each other. They look at him. "He may be erratic, but don't underestimate his loyalty to his brother."

Glenn's jaw clenches, then he lowers his voice enough that I can only hear a few words here and there. I back up to my cell and Daryl's on the bed, fiddling with an arrow, jaw clenched.

"Dampens the mood a bit, huh?" I ask. He shrugs. I move to him, leaning down to press a kiss to his forehead. "If you need to talk, I'm here."

"You don't want him here, do you?" he asks.

"I'd rather have both of you than neither of you."

His lips purse. Maybe it's not what he wanted to hear, but I won't lie to him.

"I'll get you some food, okay?" I offer. "You must be hungry."

He shrugs, but he nods a little too, and I head towards the common area.

----------

Daryl looks up when someone appears at the cell door, expecting Hope, but Carol's there instead. She smiles as she leans against the door.

"Haven't had a chance to say I'm glad you came back," she says.

He bows his head a little. "To what? All this?"

"If anything, at least Hope's smiling again." She comes closer, sitting down on a stool just inside the door. "Never seen her so down."

He looks down at the arrow, pursing his lips. "Asked her to marry me," he admits. "Sorta. Couldn't really get the words out, but...she said yes." He glances at her and her eyes are wide, but joy brews on her lips. "Guess that's one good thing."

"You've come home," she says. "That's two."

Nowadays, he's starting to think home is in people, not a place. He looks around the concrete cell, the metal bunk he sits on, and purses his lips. He never imagined the home he'd build with his wife but, now that he's got one, he knows that this isn't what he wants for her.

"This place is a tomb," he says.

Her tiny smile fades and she sighs, looking up at the wall. "That's what T-Dog called it," she says. "Thought he was right...until you found me."

The corner of his mouth twitches a little and she returns it, a little more realized. He fiddles with the arrow some more.

Carol shifts on the seat, pinching her hands between her knees. "He's your brother, but he's not good for you. Don't let him bring you down, especially when you have something to celebrate. Just look how far you've come."

He gave up on ever having more than just Merle in his life by the time he was thirty, and now...now he can see pieces a future, even if he isn't sure how bright it is.

"Heard about Axel," he says. It's a strange way to say he saw his body, shot to hell on the pavement. Carol purses her lips. "Sorry."

She sighs, lifting her shoulders. "I think...I'm more sad that I'll never get to know him better," she admits. "To know what could've been." Another sad smile. "But I'm glad we didn't lose anyone else."

"We'll bury him, once we clear that field."

"Thank you."

He nods. He'll ask Hope to make a cross for him, and Oscar too. He's sure she'll want to do it.

Carol gets up, patting her legs. "Congrats again," she says. After a second, she adds, "You need anything?"

"Hope said she was gonna get food. Should be fine."

"I'll help her."

She disappears. Daryl sinks further back on his pillows, letting out a long sigh.

----------

Carol comes to help me with food prep and we agree that, if we're making food, we should go ahead and make enough for everyone. Enough is never truly enough, but it's better than nothing.

Merle sits on top of one of our tables, watching Michonne as she works out in the open space nearby. Her movements are smooth, catlike, and I'd almost believe he was staring because she's mesmerizing, if it was anyone other than Merle doing it.

I guess he's my brother-in-law now. Now that's a weird thought.

"Smart to stay fit," Merle says as Michonne puts her hands behind her head, doing sit ups with her legs lifted in the air. "Don't leave out the cardio."

She doesn't answer him, expression stone, and I give them a side-eyed look as Carol sets a pot down on the stove.

"You know, if we're gonna live under the same roof, we should clear the air," Merle continues, shrugging a bit. "This whole hunting you down thing, that was just business. Carrying out orders."

"Hm," Michonne hums. "Like the Gestapo."

"Yeah. Exactly."

I roll my eyes and hand Carol a can of beans. She shakes her head as she takes it and Michonne keeps doing her lifted sit-ups.

"I've done a lot of things I ain't proud of. Before and after," Merle says. He isn't looking at her anymore and, just for a second, his gaze is distant, almost thoughtful. He blinks and shrugs. "Anyway, hope we can get past it." He stands and fiddles with the blade he's duct-taped to his armoured stump. "Let bygones be bygones."

He wanders away and Michonne slowly brings her knees to her chest, glaring after him.

"Not much of an apology," I mumble to Carol. She nods as she lets out a small sigh.

I wonder if Daryl will tell him about our new status and, if so, I hope I'm not around for it when he does. I don't need to be ogled and taunted.

The door bursts open and Carl rushes in, eyes wide, rifle in hand.

"Andrea's here!" he shouts.

Michonne's on her feet in an instant and Carl rushes into the cell block. I hear him calling to the others. Carol shuts off the stove and Glenn runs out of the block with Daryl and Beth on his heels. Glenn hands an assault rifle to Carol and the two of them head up the stairs to the catwalk and the others hurry outside.

After a moment, I follow Carol and Glenn. When I emerge onto the catwalk, Rick and the others are already at the gate and Andrea's on the other side, leading a walker on a pole.

"Are you alone?!" Rick shouts.

"Rick!" Andrea retorts, exasperated, desperate.

Rick tosses Daryl the keys and he unlocks the fence. Andrea shoves her walker away from her and ducks inside, but Rick forces her against the fence the second she's inside.

"Hands up! Turn around!" he snaps.

She obeys. As he's searching her, a walker stumbles up to the fence, so he turns her around and pushes her to her knees. She keeps her hands up as he yanks her bag off of her and throws it away. Merle, Maggie, and Daryl keep their guns up, waiting and watching. Michonne lowers hers as she stares at Andrea.

"Let's go," Glenn says to Carol and I.

We go back into the cell block and I look back right before I go in, just as Rick hauls Andrea up by the arm. I purse my lips and keep going.

Andrea walks into the cell block right after Rick, staring at everything in mild shock as Carol and I move down the stairs. I grip the railing as I reach the bottom but Carol moves closer. Andrea extends her arms out to her and the two of them embrace. The others scatter around the room, Daryl sitting on top of one of the tables, and I move to his side.

"After you saved Hope and I, we thought you were dead," Carol admits, still hugging Andrea close.

Andrea looks up at everyone from over Carol's shoulder. It's still strange, seeing her after all this time. She's clean—her skin, her clothes. The only difference I can see is that her hair is longer, although she's still wearing it in a high ponytail.

Her gaze lingers on Hershel, lips parting. "Hershel, my god," she whispers, pulling away from Carol. Again, she looks at everything around her. "I can't believe this." She frowns a bit, looking to Rick. "Where's Shane?"

Such simple words, a tiny question, and it feels like a slap in the face. She's missed so much through no fault of her own, but it feels like she's opened the chasm between her and us even further. Shane...god, that feels like a lifetime ago. I grip the hem of Daryl's shirt and his gaze flickers to me briefly.

Rick shakes his head.

Andrea's face falls, disbelieving. "And Lori?"

My grip tightens on Daryl's shirt as I suck in a breath. His free hand reaches back, hooking our pinkies together. Rick just looks at his feet.

"She had a girl," Hershel says. "Lori didn't survive."

"Neither did T-Dog," Maggie adds.

"I'm so sorry," Andrea breathes. Her head never stops moving, eyes darting between all of us, circled around her in judgement. "Carl..." Carl stares at her, stoic. She looks from the boy to his father and moves a little closer to him. "Rick, I—"

He takes a step back, hand on his hip, not meeting her eye.

Andrea takes a deep breath. "So...you all live here?" she asks.

"Here and the cell block," Glenn answers.

She points. "There?" He nods. "Well, can I go in?"

Rick blocks her path before she can take more than a few steps. "I won't allow that."

"I'm not an enemy, Rick," she says, shock leaking into her tone again.

"We had that field and courtyard until your boyfriend tore down the fence with a truck and shot us up."

She gapes. "He said you fired first."

"Well, he's lying."

"He killed an inmate who survived in here," Hershel adds.

"We liked him," Daryl says. "He was one of us."

Andrea presses her hand to her chest, shaking her head a bit. "I didn't know anything about that," she says. "As soon as I found out, I came." Again, she's looking around at all of us. "I didn't even know you were in Woodbury until after the shoot-out."

"That was days ago," Glenn retorts, lips pursing again.

"I told you, I came as soon as I could." Glenn and Maggie just stare at her. She stares at them, then turns to face Michonne, leaning casually against the wall. "What have you told them?"

"Nothing," Michonne says coolly.

"I don't get it," Andrea says, voice hitching. "I left Atlanta with you people and now I'm the odd man out?"

"He almost killed Michonne and he would have killed us," Glenn says.

"With his finger on the trigger!" She points at Merle who, to his credit, has stayed by the door and kept his mouth shut. He smirks. "Isn't he the one who kidnapped you? Who beat you?" Glenn's jaw clenches and she sighs, pinching her nose. "Look, I cannot excuse or explain what Philip has done, but I am here trying to bring us together. We have to work this out!"

"There's nothing to work out," Rick says. "We're gonna kill him. I don't know how or when, but we will."

Andrea's expression is pained, then hardens a little with determination. "We can settle this. There is room at Woodbury for all of you!"

Merle chuckles. "You know better than that," he says.

"What makes you think this man wants to negotiate?" Hershel asks. "Did he say that?"

"No," Andrea says.

"Then why did you come here?" Rick asks.

"Because he's gearing up for war," she says. "The people are terrified. They see you as killers. They're training to attack."

"I'll tell you what," Daryl says. "Next time you see Philip, tell him I'm gonna take his other eye."

"We've taken too much shit for too long," Glenn agrees as Andrea gives Daryl a mutely horrified look. "He wants a war? He's got one."

"Rick." Andrea focuses on him, pointing a bit. "If you don't sit down and try to work this out, I don't know what's gonna happen. He has a whole town." Rick just stares at her and she exhales, turning back around. "Look at you. You've lost so much already. You can't stand alone anymore."

"We're not alone," I say, finally. Her head snaps to me and I straighten up, squaring my shoulders. "It sounds to me like you just want us to surrender, to...assimilate into this town of yours. Why can't he just leave us alone?"

"Woodbury is safe," she insists. "I'm just trying to help you."

"You want to make this right?" Rick cuts in. "Get us inside."

She doesn't hesitate. "No."

"Then we got nothing to talk about." Rick brushes past her, heading for the cell block.

"There are innocent people!" she shouts after him, but he's already gone.

The metal clang of a door closing echoes in the space. Andrea looks around at everyone again and I've never seen her look so desperate.

"Hope," she says, and I'm almost startled that she's singled me out. She comes closer. "Please, you...you agreed with Dale, on preserving human life. You can't tell me you're okay with war."

It stings for her to mention Dale, but I purse my lips and keep it down. "I'm not," I say. Her face seems to brighten with hope for a brief second, then I speak again. "But he...he hurt Glenn and Maggie. He hurt Daryl." I shake my head. "I don't want to live with him, not under his rule, not as his neighbour."

"But—"

"Both sides have lost people and it doesn't have to escalate any further."

"Then convince Rick to talk things over."

"Convince Philip to leave us alone."

Her face scrunches a little, lips pursing, and I wonder if she truly believes anything she's said so far, if she really believes there's a chance of reconciliation. I want to believe that there's good in people, but I'd also like to think that I'm not stupid enough to trust a rabid dog when it's already bitten me once. The Governor has shown who he is and I don't want any part of it.

I stand up. "Sorry, Andrea."

I hear her exhale a bit as I head to the cell block. I hear someone following me and, then, a hand on my wrist.

"Where're you off to?" Daryl asks.

I shrug. "My cell, I guess. Thought I'd read or something."

He turns me towards him. "You okay?"

I shrug, half-hearted. It still feels like the world, or God, is toying with me, giving me one good thing only to throw two bad ones at the back of my head. The loss never stops and now Andrea's here, back from the dead, trying to get us to move in with a psychopath who keeps human heads in fish tanks, and I'm just...tired. I'm tired of having to fight for any mote of happiness that comes our way.

I didn't even get to fully enjoy the afterglow with Daryl, although I know I could take many days enjoying him if the world would let me.

"Got an idea," Daryl says. He swings his crossbow off his shoulder and holds it out to me. "Gonna teach you how to shoot."

My heart lifts, eyes widening. "Really?"

"What, you don't wanna?"

I shake my head. "I do! I just...didn't expect that."

He smirks a tiny bit. "Alright, let's go then."