When sunrise came, Daryl was up before Rick. The omega worked quickly, got himself into his clothes and shakily made his way back down to the bottom level everyone else was at. Abraham was keeping watch when the shaking omega made his way down the steps.

"You look like you got sucked on by a vampire." Abraham laughed pretty hard, waking a few of the others. Daryl blushed knowing what he meant, his skin was covered in bites and marks from Rick.

"You should see the rest of him." Rick commented as he appeared. Daryl hid his face in his hands trying not to show how embarrassed by the comment. "Not that I would let you with the pups around."

Abraham raised an eyebrow. "You into that public claiming of your mate shit? Eugene would love that. Tickles his balls."

Daryl's face was a deep red, he knew that everyone was going to see those marks, and he kinda loved it. He loved knowing he was being watched and taken care of now, his life had been living hell before he met Rick. It made him laugh if he was being honest that he had gone from a scared omega that hid away as a beta because he was scared to be claimed by alphas. Now he was happier than ever to be an omega and be seen with the marks of an alpha, one very specific alpha.

"Well as a matter of fact I enjoy people knowing that Daryl is mine," Rick smirked, feeling Daryl hide his face in his shoulder. "He is mine, and everyone should know it."

"How many rounds did you go, the farm girl owes me bullets."

"Of course she does." Rick laughed. "Guess."

"Five tops no way the both of you lasted more than that."

Daryl laughed hard. "Eight bitch."

Abrham nearly fell off his chair, Rosita and Maggie were giggling now. "You went eight rounds? Holy shit I need me a partner like that."

"I owe you more than bullets." Maggie laughed as she dropped a few in his hand. "Lot more."

"Stop using my sex life as your betting." Daryl grunted but did smile. A few of the others had woken up now, they all could see the mark on Daryl. Carl woke up and his eyes got real big.

"Did you hurt him?" Carl asked, looking over his mother.

"No puppy, he helped me." Daryl smiled softly kissing Carl's forehead as he picked up Judith. The little pup smiled and poked at his bite marks which only caused him to flinch. "Don't do that you little stinker."

She giggled cupping his face with her hands. She kissed his face carefully before they all started packing up. Daryl's wrist throbbed but he was happy it had been wrapped right this time around. "Momma!" She screamed pointing to her mouth.

"You hungry?" He asked as he handed her to Michonne to find some puppy food. She took a look at the food and shook her head angrily. "I ain't doing that no more Judy." He grunted. Rick smirked knowing what Judith wanted. "We don't have the time for that. Not any more pup."

She whined but took the food she was offered.

"What does she want?" Rosita asked.

"Breast milk." Eugene replied. "Pretty clear from where I'm situated."

"Well Mr. Smarty pants not everyone knows male omegas can produce breast milk thank you very much." The alpha female snarled. The beta lowered his head. Tara was getting close to Michonne, she was extremely interested in her. The alpha female was aware of the beta, she thought it was curious but didn't mind the attention.

Once the pup ate they all packed up to keep walking, they strapped Judith to Rick's chest. Daryl walked close to his mate, his bow strapped to his back, even though he couldn't use it very well with his broken wrist he would do what he could to protect his pack.

Abraham and Rosita were at the lead, Rick planned to be but they told their alpha to stay with his mate and pups. The others made sure to circle so Daryl and the pups were in the middle. Daryl was thinking hard about what their plan was, Judith started fussing and the group got worried.

"Little ass kicker shh." Daryl whispered. The girl looked him over and pointed towards what she wanted. "Judith no."

Her sobbing got harder.

"Fuck me, alright." He hissed as he unbuttoned part of his top and pulled it to the side, exposing more marks and bruises. Judith giggled happily as he cradled her with his good arm and pulled her into his shirt. She stopped whining, and drank what she could get. There was some laughter from the group hearing Daryl's protests and Judith happy. Daryl's scent started changing again, it was his pine and Rick's musk and there was a slight scent of milk.

"Well isn't that something." Abraham commented.

"Shut it." Daryl grumbled. "She's needy."

"That's clear." Rosita snickered. "She sure is cute though." Everyone had to agree with that, the little girl was the pack's pride and joy. Judith finally finished and Daryl handed her off to Rick who placed her back in her carrier and she promptly fell asleep.

"That'll keep her quiet for a little bit." Rick smiled as he patted her head softly. She happily slept her head resting on his chest.

Daryl smiled, happy to see she was at least sleeping. Carl was close to his mother when they heard screaming. "Help me! Help me!" They raced as a pack towards the screaming. They raced through the woods, following the screams. Abraham stuck close to Eugene to ensure their salvation stayed alive.

They saw a few walkers and a man standing on top of a rock. He was a beta, and was shaking and he looked terrified. Daryl grunted, they killed off the dead and helped the man down. "You never killed one of those before?" Rick asked, looking him over.

"No..no I don't often leave my church."

"You have a building?"

"I do yes."

"So you haven't killed a single walker?" Daryl asked.

"God saves me."

"Yeah, God's done a whole lot for you." Daryl rolled his eyes.

"I asked for help and help came, God provides." That was when he noted Daryl's scent and his eyes grew wide. "Are you an omega?" Daryl only nodded knowing very well that it wasn't hard for anyone to see from all the marks from Rick he was owned and it was very clear that he was still breastfeeding. He knew a lot of pups breast fed until they were two or three so it wasn't hard to believe but the world they lived in wasn't exactly built for that. "Come, come I will show you all the church."

They followed the man, they could tell by his scent he wasn't a liar. They followed him towards the church, Daryl kept track of every turn they took. They entered a well forested area, there was nothing around them, it was just trees and a building. This could work for now, they hoped it would work long term but they also had to get Eugene to DC. He wasn't exactly sure what the plan for that was.

They all entered the church, Daryl did a slight spin with a smile. "We can use this for sure."

"Yes we can," Rick looked the man over. "Are you alright with my pack staying here?"

"The lord sent you, it has to mean something." The beta smiled. "I am father Gabriel."

"I ain't calling you daddy," Daryl muttered under his breath which got a laugh from Abraham. Carol tried to hide her smile, Tyreese and Sasha snickered at the omega's comment. Gabriel tried not to make a noise when he heard the omega, the lord had sent them for a reason. Had to.

Daryl grabbed his pack and started pulling out the few blankets they had. He placed them together in a pile with a smile. He carefully got Judith from Rick and laid her in the small nest he had put together. Everyone watched Daryl's movements, Daryl was methodical and every movement he made meant something.

Rick smiled as he watched his mate curl up beside Judith, protecting her in his own way. Gabriel watched as well, curious about all the marks he could see. As Daryl laid beside her his shirt rode up, there were hand prints and bite marks that covered his skin.

Rick smiled seeing Daryl allow sleep to take over.

"He's been through so much I'm just glad he's sleeping." Carol commented as she sat beside Rick on a pew. Gabriel smiled watching over his new friends.

"He has, he's been through more than he should have ever had to endure." Rick hung his head. "I wasn't there when I should have been."

"Hey, we were all separated." Glenn reminded Rick. "Don't blame yourself."

Daryl began to twitch in his sleep, he started whining and crying. Rick raced to his side, waking him up before he could wake their puppy. "Daryl, hey honey wake up..come on sweetheart come on."

Daryl woke and took a hard swing, Rick yelped as his nose started bleeding. Daryl scrambled back until he realized it was Rick. "Sorry alpha sorry shit sorry sorry."

"Damn you got a swing on you." Abraham laughed as Maggie helped patch up his nose.

"I'm sorry alpha." Daryl whined as he got close. "Sorry..I..I'm just sorry."

"Hey calm down, you were having a nightmare." Rick caressed his cheek softly. "Really calm down."

"I made your nose bleed." Daryl whined.

"You kind of deserved it." Bob commented as Sasha squeezed his hand. "You don't wake someone up from having a nightmare."

"So you wanted him to have a nightmare?" Rick grunted.

"Well no Alpha of course not, but you shouldn't wake someone up so close to their face. Especially after what Daryl just went through. Trauma response." Bob had some medical background. He knew enough.

Daryl grunted as he laid back around his pup. "Fuck trauma response, I've had enough shit happen in my life that I shouldn't be worried about a trauma response."

"Daryl..." Rick started which only upset the omega more, the pup kicked in her sleep and he continued to hold her tight.

"I'm fine alpha, sorry about your face." Daryl grunted as he held onto his daughter. "I'll go back to sleep, maybe this time I'll dream about cupcakes and rainbows and all that shit and not a bunch of alphas touching me when they shouldn't." Daryl was pissed off and angry. He just hated being this thing they needed to protect.

He had enough scars on him to prove he'd had a rough life, and he was young. He still had an entire life to live. The world was shit but it was pretty clear that this was the best life Daryl had ever lived.

Rick felt horrible, he hated knowing Daryl was going through such horrors. Daryl finally got back to sleep. Gabriel wanted to ask questions but could tell it was a sore subject, he wasn't a pack mate of theirs he shouldn't ask questions like that. Daryl did actually have a few good dreams, he dreamt of Carl and Judith and a life outside of the darkness. He dreamt about what would have happened if Rick had met him before. He hoped they would have had a life together.

Rick and Gabriel talked about what they could do to make the place safer until they left for DC. Eugene was pacing. "I have something to tell you."

"What is it Eugene?"

"I..I'm not really a scientist, I just believed DC was the best option. I am smart and I know I am, I knew I could lie to get to where I wanted to go."

"So DC isn't the the end game?" Glenn managed.

Rick, Glenn, Tyreese, and Bob had to hold Abraham back, Michonne held Rosita back. Eugene stood behind the sleeping omega and pup knowing Abraham wouldn't attack from where he was standing. "Coward! Using an omega and pup to hide yourself!"

Eugene shook in his boots, he was happy they all knew the truth, but he hated that Abraham was so angry at him. Rick growled at Eugene to step away from his mate and daughter. Eugene moved quickly as Rick let Abraham go.

Eugene cowered as Abraham barreled towards him.