Everyone's heads shot towards Daryl, and Harley's face was so red he looked about ready to explode. "I thought you didn't do that shit. Then, just because there's some bitch, you're going to rob us all?"

"I told you before. You won't touch her again." Daryl spat, his hand tightly wrapped around the handle of his knife. "If you do, I'll cut off your damn hands." Joe laughed at the threat, but the other three took it seriously.

"Well, looks like that's resolved." He commented, proud of himself for keeping the peace. Len studied Parker wondering why he seemed to recognize her.

"She looks familiar," Then he gasped in realization, remembering why she looked so familiar. "She's the girl in the photo." Joe raised his eyebrows in question.

"Is that true?" Daryl didn't respond, so Joe sighed, once again taking his silence as a yes. "Well, we'll leave you two alone from now on. No one is to touch the girl or her belongings. She belongs to Daryl now, and it looks like she's belonged to him for a while now." Suddenly, the Claimers returned to their camp, and Daryl waited until they were gone before moving, watching as they eyed her supplies as if they were considering taking some of it. He could hear her trying to catch her breath, and before checking on her, he gathered all of her stuff and put it all back in her backpack. Grabbing everything in a hurry, he didn't even notice the pregnancy test, too angry to even consider what he was picking up as he stuffed everything into her backpack. Getting her gun, and the spare T-shirt she had. He knelt down in front of her, setting down the stuff he was holding. When he reached out to touch her arm she flinched, her face shielded by her hair as she shuffled backward, her chest rising and falling way faster than normal. Her shirt had opened back up when she'd moved away. Daryl quickly dropped his hand to his side.

"Don't touch me!" She cried out as she pushed herself back.

"Parker.." She looked up at him, her face hidden behind her hair, but her eyes said it all, whatever they had done had broken her and the idea of it broke Daryl's heart. Everything had flashed through his head, from hearing the familiar scream that reminded him of the night on the farm when Dale died. That scream led him to the sight of her fighting off three men who were trying to pull her pants down. If he'd arrived any later, who knows what would've happened. Daryl hated thinking about it. 

Meanwhile, Parker could feel her heart racing against her chest, the horror of what had happened momentarily replaced by the complete shock of seeing him alive. No matter how much she told herself that he was out there, she never thought she would actually see him again, and as she looked at him, she was still struggling to determine if he was real.

"Daryl?" She whispered, her voice hoarse from screaming.

"I'm here." He spoke softly, her breathing slowly starting to slow back to a normal pace. "You're safe." Parker's eyes filled with tears at his words and she hurried towards him, wrapping her arms around Daryl's neck and sobbing into his shoulder. He held her tightly to his chest, her body shaking in his arms as she cried. Daryl never thought he would see her again and although their reunion was not what he had imagined, seeing her alive was more than he could have asked for. She raised her head to look at him, and for a split second, there was a smile on her face. Daryl didn't have time to admire her because she pulled him towards her and kissed him like she would never have the chance to do it again. When she pulled away from the kiss, she lightly touched his face,  still trying to process the fact that he was real.

"I can't believe it... you're alive." Daryl nodded at her words.

"I'm here. I told you I'd find you." Parker let out a choked sob looking at her torn clothes, frayed threads now hanging where the buttons used to be.

"I'm glad you did."

"I'm so sorry," Daryl whispered, "I never should have let you go."

"You did what you had to do," Parker said, they didn't have much of a choice when the fight broke out. The Governor's men had gotten through the fences and they'd come back way more prepared than his first attempt. "And I'm okay. We're together now, but Daryl... why are you with these people? And what the hell is this 'claimed' shit they were talking about?"

"I didn't know what they were like," Daryl admitted. "I was only with them because it was safer and I was looking for you. And they have this shitty rule about claiming things." He explained to her briefly filling her in.

"Wait, so you claimed me?" Parker slowly asked, starting to process everything that had happened in the last few minutes. "But you.. told them you didn't do that?"

"I only did that so none of those pricks would touch you again." Daryl justified his reasons. "I had to do it to keep you safe." Parker nodded in understanding, not trying to blame him for anything.

"I understand. But just so we're on the same page... I'm your property now?" The fact that these people could blatantly ignore the fact that the women left in the world were human and not objects was repulsive. Parker's skin crawled at the thought of what they were going to do to her before Daryl found them, and she shuddered slightly at his response.

"No." He instantly shut the idea down. "You're my wife. Not my damn property." Parker picked up the t-shirt that Daryl had grabbed off the ground.

"Just so we're clear, I kissed you first." She attempted to crack a joke before letting out a small sigh. "Could you.. make sure no one is looking?" Daryl nodded and Parker quickly started removing the torn clothes, shrugging them to the forest floor and pulling the new t-shirt over her head. She grabbed the long-sleeved shirt that didn't have buttons anymore, putting it over the other shirt, trying to use it as some kind of cover. Daryl was about to approach her, but at the last second, he decided against it and her face fell. "Don't do that."

"Do what?"

"Give me space," Parker stated as if it wasn't obvious that he had backed away. "I've been alone for over a week. I need you. Please... please don't walk away." She walked over to him and hugged him, feeling safe in his arms as they wrapped around her and held her against his chest.

"What happened to you after you got out of the prison?" Daryl asked after a moment. Parker grabbed her backpack, took her gun out of it, and placed it back in its holster.

"Uhm.. it's a long story," Parker sighed, thinking of what to tell him. "I.. walkers followed me for a while." She sighed, scratching above her eyebrow. "I was going to stay and wait for you but there were too many of them. I found a few houses, a pharmacy, raided those for supplies. I spent a while in the woods, sleeping in trees. I sprained my ankle when I fell out of one of them this morning."

"How did you run into these people?" Daryl nodded his head in the direction they left.

"A bunch of dumb decisions... I heard walkers so I got out of there. I was trying to get around a few without them noticing and stumbled upon them sleeping. Led a walker right to 'em and then hid behind the trees. Then that Harley guy... saw me and.. well, you know what happened next." She trailed off not wanting to relive the events by talking about it.

"I'll kill them," Daryl said through clenched teeth. "If one of them even looks at you again, I'll kill them."

"Are we staying with them?" Parker managed to ask the question she was scared to know the answer to.

"They're tracking someone," Daryl told her, meeting her gaze. "A man killed one of theirs. I thought it could be one of ours."

"Are we staying with them?" She repeated, her voice wavering as she spoke. The last thing she wanted to do was be stuck with this group. She would much rather go back to being stuck on her own if this was the cost of finding people.

"I'll protect you," Daryl promised her. "I swear, they won't lay a hand on you." Parker knew she could trust Daryl, but those men were terrible people, and they were ones she didn't want to be around. Still, if it led to another member of their group, it was worth the risk. Parker tried to ignore the bruises that had formed on her wrist from where Harley grabbed her as she looked at Daryl.

"What happened to you? After the prison?" She finally asked, figuring he hadn't been with the Claimers the entire time. Also wanting to change the subject. "Where did you go?"

"I got out with Beth," Daryl started, thinking back to his time spent with her. "I shut down for a while. Thought I'd never see you again and she brought me back and we were good for a while. Then I lost her."

"Is she dead?" Parker whispered the question, not knowing if she would be able to handle the news if she was.

"She's just gone" Daryl answered, guilt filling his eyes. "They took her in a car, some white cross painted on the back. I don't know where."

"We'll find her," Parker told him, confidence in her tone.

"She kept telling me the same thing about you," Daryl said with a quiet laugh.

"She was right, wasn't she?" Parker offered a smile. "You found me, just like you promised. She told you I was out there and here I am."

"I have somethin' for you." Daryl took off his crossbow, untying something and holding it up to show her. Her green hat. Her eyes widened once she realized what it was.

"You found it! I thought I lost this."

"Yeah," Daryl laughed at her reaction, placing it on her head. "Wouldn't want you to lose that."

"I dropped this while trying to fight off walkers on the tracks. I can't believe you found this."

"Damn ugly hat," Daryl muttered causing her to smile.

"It's a fashion statement." She tipped the brim at him, a small smile on her face.

"A statement, sure." Daryl eyed the hat on her head. "I wouldn't call it fashion."

"Hey, I never comment on your ugly horse blanket." Parker joked, hitting his arm since he didn't have the blanket with him at the moment.

"At least my poncho is practical." Parker thought about telling him about the pregnancy thing but then decided against it. They had just found each other again and she didn't want him to react badly to the news of having a baby in the middle of all of this. Parker noticed the picture that had fallen out of Daryl's pocket and she bent down to pick it up. She eyed him over the picture once she unfolded it.

"God, I thought I said to get rid of this." She scrunched her nose up as she looked at it.

"And I've told you to get rid of that damn hat." He flicked the brim of it and she jokingly glared at him.

"Touche," Parker looked back at the picture. "But, like, do you really need it? I think you should still get rid of it."

"I'm keepin' it," Daryl confirmed, snatching it from Parker's hands and putting it back in his pocket. "You alright?" She sighed, a chill running down her spine, the question brought up feelings she was trying to ignore.

"No. I feel disgusting. I can still feel his hands on me and I..  I don't know. I feel gross."

"I won't let them hurt you again," Daryl promised her. "I told you, they look at you, they're dead." Parker nodded, believing every word he said.

"I missed you." She admitted, trying to get the images from before out of her head.

"I missed you too," Daryl replied, trying to think of the right words to say. "I love you." Parker's lower lip trembled when she tried to smile.

"I love you too." Every difficulty they had faced since the prison fell, every injury and argument and fear of being alone... none of it mattered now. They had found each other. Just as promised. Daryl didn't let go of Parker for the rest of the day. When they met up with the Claimers and found them packing up their camp and getting ready to move on, Parker stayed back while Daryl got his bag. As they set off again, following the train tracks, Daryl kept an arm around her shoulders, keeping her as close as possible. He didn't think he'd ever let her out of his sight, not after losing her once. Parker didn't mind, she found comfort in his touch, feeling the warmth of his arm on her shoulders and the familiar sensation of his body next to hers. She was almost able to forget how her skin crawled every time her mind diverted towards what happened in the forest. Parker felt safe in his arms and she had missed that feeling. Joe slowed to match their pace, walking next to Daryl as he looked at Parker who kept her head down. 

"I would like to apologize for what happened earlier. Those men have no tact."

"Damn rapists, all of them," Daryl said lowly, not even bothering to look at the man.

"You have to understand, they follow different rules," Joe tried to tell them. Tried to explain how what they did was right because his rules allowed it. "And women are fair game unless they're claimed."

"That's disgusting," Parker mumbled, her gaze still locked on the ground, her voice still a bit raspy.

"I'm so sorry," Joe apologized to her, trying to sound as sincere as possible. "If they had known that you were already claimed, they wouldn't have done it."

"So that's what you do?" Parker asked angrily, looking at the gray-haired man across from her. "You claim what catches your attention and forget that women in this world are still human beings? Now I'm just 'Daryl's property'?" She air quoted the last bit, letting her hands fall back to her sides.

"That's how it works now," Joe replied calmly. "It means none of those men can touch you, so be thankful your guy dropped his 'no claiming' bullshit for you." Parker gritted her teeth, chuckling angrily to herself.

"Yes, I'm very grateful, you misogynistic piece of shit."

"I don't think we've introduced ourselves," Joe changed the subject, holding out his hand for her to shake. "My name is Joe." Parker ignored him, done talking. Joe sighed, dropping his hand to his side. "So, what's the plan, Daryl?"

"How so?"

"You're with us now, but you ain't soon?" Joe asked him.

"Yep." Daryl nodded, earning a small glance from Parker.

"So what's the plan?" Joe repeated his question, his tone more insistent for an answer.

"Just, uh.. lookin' for the right place is all," Daryl finally gave him an answer, not daring to say anything about their own group.

"Oh? We ain't good enough for you, huh?" Joe pressed, bringing the cigarette to his lips.

"Some of you ain't exactly friendly," Daryl glanced at the four who were walking ahead of them.

"You ain't so friendly yourself," Joe pointed out, trying to crack a joke. "You know you need a group out here."

"Maybe I don't," Daryl shrugged, his hand tightening on Parker's shoulder for a second.

"No, you do." Joe finalized, trying his best to convince them to stay. "You should be with us."

"As tempting as it may sound.. I think we're gonna have to pass." Parker replied dryly, not trying to hide how she felt about this group. "I don't think I'll be able to sleep if we stay with you." When a walker staggered towards them from the woods, Joe kept walking.

"People don't gotta be friendly. We don't have to be nice. We don't have to be brothers in arms." He paused as he watched his men kill the walker as if it were a game. "We just gotta follow the rules. You claim. If you steal, you keel. I know that sounds a little funny but nobody laughs when something goes missing. And you don't lie. Cause that is a slippery slope... indeed."

"What happens if you break 'em?" Daryl asked with genuine curiosity.

"Oh.. you catch a beatin'," Joe answered as if were normal. "The severity of which depends upon the offense and the general attitude of the day. But that don't happen much... cause when men like us follow the rules and cooperate a little bit, well, the world becomes ours."

"Sounds horrible," Parker murmured, a feeling of dizziness hitting her. Joe whistled to the others walking ahead, pointing to an abandoned warehouse on his left.

"Right there. It's our abode for the evening."

"Hey," Daryl stopped Joe, shaking his head. "There ain't no 'us'. Your men hurt my wife. You're lucky they ain't dead. There's no us."

"You leaving right now?" Joe raised his eyebrows and Daryl kept quiet. "No?" Joe took the cigarette from his fingers. "Then it sure seems like there's an us." Daryl eyed him carefully, Parker a step behind him. "You a cat person, Daryl?" Joe finally asked, Parker and Daryl shared a confused look with each other not seeing how this had anything to do with what they were just talking about. "I am. Loved them since I was three years old. Vicious creatures. Anyways, I'll tell you, and this is true. Ain't nothing sadder than an outdoor cat that thinks he's an indoor cat." They headed inside the building, Daryl and Parker stayed behind while the Claimers entered and made sure it was clear. Once inside, Daryl closed the door while Parker removed one of the plastic sheets from one of the cars.

"They ain't here," Tony informed them as he regrouped with the rest. "Nobody's been here for a while. Whoever was, they got all the gas."

"That don't matter." Joe brushed him off. "We're gettin' closer. I can feel it." The man in a blue beanie, Billy, walked towards the car Parker was checking out, a smile on his face as he slammed the door shut when she tried to open it.

"Claimed." He kicked the trash bag that Daryl had been using to hold his stuff and Parker sucked in a harsh breath her eyes locked onto the bag as it slid across the cement floor. Billy smiled at her. "You're welcome to share, darlin'." She ignored him, picking up Daryl's bag. As she did so, Daryl ventured to another car which Len instantly claimed. Parker headed to a corner, deciding not to play their games and Daryl noticed her going to the back wall and trailed after her. She sat against the wall, opened her backpack and blindly searched for the last granola bar she had left. Curling her hand around what she thought was a granola bar, she pulled out the pregnancy test and her eyes widened in horror when Daryl saw it.

"What's that?" Daryl asked as she quickly stuffed it back in the bag, sitting down beside her, she tried not to meet his gaze. Parker held her breath as he grabbed her bag and took the test out of it. He stared at it for a moment too long, which made her think he wasn't happy, but then he lowered the test and looked at Parker, leaning against the wall. "It's yours?" He asked quietly. "Are you..?" Parker let out the breath she was holding in.

"I think so. I've been sick, I'm constantly hungry and I've thrown up a few times.." She trailed off, figuring that was enough information.

"You're pregnant...?" He managed to ask, his voice barely heard. Parker couldn't read his expression, whether he was happy or upset about the sudden news.

"You don't have to be involved if you don't want to be." She blurted out suddenly.

"Why wouldn't I?" He whispered, looking down at the test he was still holding. "Course I want to."

"Really?" She sounded slightly surprised. "This is your only chance. Once this thing's born you're stuck with me." She clarified, pointing to her still-flat stomach.

"Why didn't you say anythin' before?"

"Because I didn't know how," Parker replied, biting her lip as she picked at her nails. "I was happy to see you and I didn't want to drop a bomb like that after... you know... everything that happened." She rested her head against the wall, a relieved laugh escaping her lips. "I'm just glad you're not mad."

"Why would I be angry? I'm gonna be a dad." A faint smile spread across his face as he said it. Even though he was terrified at the prospect of becoming a father, he had been given plenty of time to think about it since the topic was first brought up months ago. He knew his own dad wasn't a good example, but Daryl promised to be the best father he could be. He knew this was something Parker had always wanted and even though the odds were against him, he swore he wouldn't let anything happen to Parker or their unborn baby. Not while he was still breathing.

"Yeah," Parker smiled once she saw the one on his face. "We're going to be parents." Daryl pulled her toward him, wrapping her up in his arms.

"I can't believe it."

"So.. do you have a name in mind?" Her voice muffled slightly as she asked the question during their hug.

"A couple. You?" He looked over at her as she put the test back in her bag, zipping it up.

"I'm still fixated on Alexander," She remembered her conversation with Glenn about this and then realized there was a chance he wasn't alive. "Maybe... I don't know, Juniper for a girl? Or... I don't know, Estella?"

"I was thinking of something like Little Skull Crusher." Parker laughed, catching the claimers' attention. Uncomfortably, she looked away and Daryl grabbed her hand, offering her a small amount of comfort as she shifted in her place nervously, seeming to shrink into herself as she tried to hide from the watchful eyes on the other side of the room. She looked at Daryl after a moment, a smile tugging at her lips as everyone else went back to their own things.

"I think we should keep thinking." Daryl laughed, nodding in agreement.

"You might be right. Listen, I gotta take a piss." His eyes flashed over to the five men on the other side of the room.

"There's no chance in hell I'm staying in here alone." She grunted as she pushed herself off the ground, following Daryl outside. "Don't worry, I'll look away and plug my ears." She teased as she walked away from him a bit.

"Shut up." While they were there, Parker stood a good distance from Daryl as he faced the wall and unzipped his pants. She stared at the trees, wondering if her brother was alive. She missed him more than anything, Carl and Judith too. She just wanted everyone back together again, happy and alive. She missed Glenn and Maggie and Michonne, and she thought that after losing so many people, it would be easier, but it wasn't. And most likely never would be. The more people they lost the more painful it became, there weren't many of the original Atlanta group left. It was just her, Daryl, Rick, Carl, Glenn and Carol. Only six of a group of about twenty. 

While she was thinking about Atlanta, she started to wonder about what happened to Morales and his family, if they made it to Birmingham as planned. It had been so long since she had thought about them, or Jacqui, Jim, Dale, Lori, Shane, or Amy, and she felt guilty for accepting their deaths and not taking a moment to think about them. She tried to fight the overwhelming wave of emotions that hit when she thought about those they'd lost. She couldn't let herself be overwhelmed by sadness, she had to continue, continue fighting for a better life for herself and her family. Accepting the fact that they were gone was no reason to feel guilty, it just meant that she was healing. "What're you thinking about?" Daryl stood beside her, giving her a mini heart attack in the process.

"Rick," Parker answered with a sad sigh. "Judith and Carl. I think they're still around, you know? Somewhere. And I was thinking about Morales, Jacqui, Jim, Amy, Dale.." She trailed off, the list seeming to become longer and longer as the days passed by.

"If they're out there, we'll find 'em," Daryl told her, the same words Beth had said about Parker and the same words Parker had said about Beth. "No doubt about it. They ain't dead."

"I don't doubt it." Parker agreed, looking over at him. "I just miss them, you know? I spent days alone and it gave me time to think. I think I was losing it at some point, I started talking to the pictures on the walls of the houses I raided."

"There are worse things you could have done," Daryl shrugged, hitting her shoulder lightly. "C'mon, let's head back in." Once they were back in their corner, Parker sat with her back against the wall and her legs stretched out in front of her. Daryl laid down so that his head was in her lap and for a few moments the world around her faded away and it was just the two of them. Losing themselves in each other's eyes as they thought about the possibility of a future where they could be happy and raise the child together. Not long after the two had managed to drift into a half-sleeping state. The sound of Len's voice brought her back into reality, breaking her from her thoughts.

"You've got to be kidding me." He scoffed, rummaging through his stuff. "Christ," Len fumed as he stormed over to Parker and Daryl. "Give it here!" He held out a hand, expecting something from them.

"What the fuck are you on about?" Parker narrowed her eyes at him as she rose to her feet.

"You step back," Daryl demanded, sitting up as Len towered above them.

"My half was in the bag!" Len snapped, spit flying. "Now it's gone. Now ain't nobody around here interested in no half a damn cottontail, except you. Ain't that right?" Daryl was standing now, the two sizing each other up.

"You're the only one still thinking about that crap."

"Empty your bag." Len spat, pointing at the trash bag in their corner. Parker handed Daryl his bag, keeping her eyes on the closing in group.

"I said step back!" Daryl yanked the bag from her hands. Joe walked over to them, waking up from the commotion, and took the bag out of Daryl's hand. Parker put a hand on his shoulder, giving it a light squeeze. He relaxed a little under her touch, but there was no way he was letting his guard down. These men, Len specifically, were angry, and he would go down fighting rather than let Parker get hurt.

"Did you take his rabbit, Daryl?" Joe held up his bag. "Just tell me the truth."

"I didn't take nothin'," He responded loudly, tired of being messed with.

"What do we got here." Joe dragged out as he dumped Daryl's stuff onto the ground. "Come on." The only things of value were a spare t-shirt and the half-dead rabbit Daryl had gotten that morning, a few cigarettes scattered on the floor as they fell from the bag. Joe adjusted his grip, shaking it some more, and out came the other half of the rabbit. "Well, look at that," Joe announced, Parker noticed the triumphant smirk on Len's face as he looked back at the two.

"You put that there, didn't you?" Daryl stalked forward angrily. "When we went outside, right?"

"Daryl.. Daryl stop." Parker pleaded, grabbing his arm.

"You lied." Len ignored the question.

"Didn't you?!" Daryl shoved Len back as Parker quietly pleaded with him to stop. 

"You lied! You stole." Len shoved him back.

"How could he have done it, huh?" Parker snapped, trying to take a step forward but finding her path blocked by Daryl. "He was with me the whole night."

"We gonna teach this fool or what, Joe?" Len looked to Joe for back up but he was looking at Parker and Daryl.

"He didn't do anything!" Parker yelled at Len. "How about I teach you a lesson, you worthless piece of-" Daryl quickly caught her wrist when she pulled out the knife from her belt, mere seconds from throwing it at Len's head.

"Parker, don't." 

"Whoa, whoa!" Joe stepped between them all, his arms opened wide. "Now, Daryl says he didn't take your half of the rabbit," Joe spoke after a minute of deciding what to do. He stepped between Len and Daryl while Parker grabbed the back of Daryl's vest, trying to keep him from killing Len- it was only fair since she wasn't allowed to. "So we have a little conundrum here. Either he's lying, which is an actionable offense, or..." Joe snickered as he stared at Len. "You didn't plant it on him like some pussy, punk-ass, cheatin', coward cop, did you? Cause while that wouldn't be specifically breaking the rules, it'd be disappointing."

"It would." Len agreed, clenching his jaw. 

"Mm-hmm" Joe got in his face, and from what Parker could see he wasn't buying it.

"I didn't." He said through clenched teeth.

"Good," Joe glanced over at Daryl seeming to look about ready to kill him. "Well...." He spun around, swinging his arm back and smashing his fist into Len's face, knocking him to the ground. "Teach him a lesson, gents. He's a lying sack of shit. I'm sick of it. Teach him all the way." Parker flinched as they all started beating on him, kicking and punching Len. Circling him like vultures as they all took their turns. She pressed her face into the back of Daryl's vest to block out the sounds. "I saw him do it," Joe admitted as he watched with a proud gleam in his eyes.

"Why didn't you try to stop him?" Daryl asked, reaching behind him to steady Parker.

"He wanted to play that out." Joe shrugged as he explained his reasons for not doing anything sooner. "I let him. You told the truth. He lied. You understand the rules. He doesn't." Joe picked up the other half of the rabbit and tossed it at him. "Looks like you get the head too." Daryl bent down to pick up his trash bag but Parker stopped him.

"I'm not going to let you carry that around. There's enough room in my backpack."

"I can't do that." Daryl stopped to look at her. Her face seemed to pale more and more each time one of the Claimers made a nose while beating Len to death. Daryl stood up with his stuff in his hands.

"Yes, you can," Parker insisted, a loud crack echoed throughout the warehouse. "I don't think I can listen to this.."

"You wanna walk?" Daryl asked, leading her outside. Parker nodded quickly, another sickening crunch being heard.

"Definitely. Put your stuff in my bag first. There's no need to separate anything. Except for my pictures. Keep your rabbit halves away from those." She warned, shrugging her bag off and unzipping it for him to put his items inside.