Daryl whimpered awake feeling the pain of his heat woke him, Judith whined hearing Daryl's whimpers. He stood up slowly scooting Judtih into Carl's arms as he slept. He made his way outside early that morning while the others slept, he was determined to deal with this as best he could. Rick and the pack shouldn't have to stop everything just because he was in heat, it wasn't fair and he knew it.

Daryl was pacing, waiting for any sound, anything alive or dead. His head popped up at the smell of fresh berries, he made his way over towards where the scent was coming from. He smirked and began to pull them off the bush. They smelt fine and he knew better to know if something was poisonous or not.

"They'll like this." Daryl smiled as he picked up all the berries, a twig snap caught his attention. He turned quickly bow raised.

"Whoa whoa it's okay. Don't worry, it's okay. Don't worry Daryl, I just want to invite you and your pack to ours."

Daryl watched curiously, as the man handed him a pile of photos. Daryl looked through them, houses, walls, more houses, a clear image of a lake. He smirked a bit. "Safe?"

"Extremely safe, for you and your pups."

Daryl thought for a moment. "I'll only go if my alpha says we can, but I want my pups safe."

The man nodded in understanding, he showed him his pack and Daryl went through it. Some more food, water, some real diapers for his puppy. He smiled and led him towards the barn. "My name is Aaron." The man smiled while Daryl gave him a soft nod.

Daryl opened the door, the alpha male following him carefully. "Alpha, this is Aaron." Rick was quick to jump on his feet, the others rushing over as well. Daryl moved to show Rick the photos. "He said the place is safe, safe for the pups. Has walls alpha. A lake, houses. A place for Judith to grow up in, for Bethy and Carl. Noah. We could even try for more pups."

Rick looked up. "You're ready for that?"

"If we have walls, DC was a long shot, we knew that when we thought about it. I need a place for us now."

Aaron watched the two interact. "How long have you been following us to know we have an omega?"

"A while, listening as well. I am being transparent here. We want you to..well audition i know it sounds odd like we are a dance troop. That's only on Fridays." He chuckled, the others gave him an odd look. "Those are the best photos we have, bad quality I apologize but..you know.."

"How much do you know?"

"I know you are strong, brave. Yes you're dangerous, but our pack needs safety in numbers. Safety in the best ways we can get them, we know you're willing to do whatever it takes to protect your pack. To protect your pups and your omega. We know Daryl has a need for medical attention, and we are happy to provide that, we wish we could have helped you more but our people aren't the best fighters and we know that. We want your pack because we know you are strong. However, you have to audition."

"Alright," Rick grunted in agreement. "I need to know one thing."

"What's that?"

"How many of your people are there?"

"I would say roughly about 120 on the safe end."

"How many people are with you?"

"Only one," he smiled. "My mate."

Aaron was doing his best to be honest and truthful. "We have two vehicles we drove separately to do this, we only go out the two of us. We are good at what we do this way, just the two of us. Will you come then?"

"I..I.. Daryl do you feel like we can do this?"

"I want to trust it." Daryl said. "Aaron doesn't sound bad, and he gave us real stuff. Real food for Judith and pain pills for me. Water and stuff for the pack."

"Alright then, let's go." Rick smiled picked up Judith and the other pups followed their mother quickly. They followed Aaron. "Michonne, what is it that you noticed about Terminus and The Governors place first?"

"Silence." Michonne replied.

"I hope we hear something when we get there." Rick said softly. He held his daughter close, they made their way towards the vehicles and Eric. Daryl walked in the center of them as usual, his heat flaring up and Aaron feeling bad.

"We have an RV," Aaron said. "You can use it in the back."

Daryl smiled thankful for the suggestion, he just needed his heat to stop hurting even for a few moments. He snatched Judith from his alpha, her presence tended to make the omega feel better. He held her close to him, she cuddled into him as they walked. Daryl wanted to learn everything he could about this new place, the new people. If there were any pups he knew they would want him to protect them as well, he smiled kissing Judith's forehead.

They continued on their way following Aaron, as they made their way along they found an RV and a car. "This is my mate Eric."

"Hello, you're Daryl right?" He asked curiously, smelling his heat. "The pack will be excited, we hadn't told anyone but our leader about you being an omega."

Daryl smiled, thankful for it. "As long as they don't all come at me at once."

"They won't, when we bring in new people we always tell them to give them some space."

"Good," he smiled as they entered the RV. Rick was quick to take Daryl to the back to help him with his heat. Daryl whined and muttered as Rick fucked into him. "Shh now Omega."

Daryl tried to be silent so the others didn't hear them fucking. He knew they all knew what they were doing, but he didn't want them to have to hear their crude noises, Daryl yelped as Rick knotted him, a rush of seed filling him. He grunted taking the knot like a champ, he panted as he felt the pain of his heat subsiding.

"What would I do without you.." Daryl questioned as Rick kissed him carefully.

"You won't ever have to know that love." Rick promised. "Rest now, I will wake you when we get there."

Rick pulled away once his knot popped and left Daryl to sleep. Carl cuddled into Beth and Noah with Judith in his lap. "Mom?"

"Fine." Rick promised. "Heats a bitch."

Abraham snorted, Rick eyed him and he quickly grew silent. "Wasn't laughing."

"You laughed."

"I had a thought and didn't say shit did I?"

"What were you thinking by chance?" Rick mused.

"I had a bad thought, won't be saying it."

"Yes you fucking will." Rick snarled.

"I am just apologizing for this in advance because I know it was bad. I was thinking that the heat makes him a bitch. But in an endearing way."

Rosita tilted her head some. "You should be happy that was a thought he had and didn't say out loud until you made him honestly alpha."

"That is increadly true," Eugene remarked. Aaron chuckled, Eric was in the other vehicle with Michonne, Tara, and Gabriel. Maggie muttered under her breath about how she deserved some more beef jerky from Glenn when they could get it.

"Maggie I swear you make more bets on my sex life than I do."

Aaron nearly choked on the water he had just consumed. "You make bets on your alphas sex life?"

"More just about how often it happens.. Or how long it's gonna go, for when it's going to happen.."

"Why?"

"Makes it more fun, daddy once joined in." Maggie grinned. Beth looked up wide eyed.

"No way."

"Did so, told me himself and I had to find some berries to make him tea because he was right and I was wrong."

Rick's face grew deep red. He had no idea Hershel had joined in on it. "You're entire family..."

Daryl whimpered, waking from a nightmare. "Alpha!"

Rick raced to him. "Are you okay 'mega?"

"Just had a nightmare..."

"I'm glad you're okay." Rick whispered. "I love you."

"Love you too." Daryl smiled looking up to him. Rick kissed him carefully, the pack were happy to see that Daryl was okay. "I am okay." He promised as the pack looked him over.

"We have a lady, she was a therapist before all of this if you want it." Aaron offered.

"No thanks but thanks." Daryl muttered, he wasn't one for all of that kinda stuff. "I appreciate it though."

Aaron nodded, understanding the hesitance, he smiled looking over the omega. "We have a few pups in our group, they'll like you. Sure the moms will be happy to gi-"

"I don't take pups," Daryl snarled, "I am happy to be like a second mom, but I don't take pups."

"Oh? But those other ones aren't yours are they?"

"Not the two. Carl is my mate's son, and is mine. Bethy's father died, Noah's family too, but ask Carol I don't take pups"

Carol nodded. "My daughter, I offered her to Daryl when he presented. He denied it, told me that I was still her mother, that she was welcome to call him mom but didn't plan to do anything else unless I didn't want her like that anymore. I was so thankful for it, he really is amazing. Some mothers don't really want their pups if someone else will watch them for us. I did though. Daryl still let me have that."

"You really are something aren't you?" Aaron asked with a smile.

Daryl shrugged. "Just don't think it's right to steal puppies."

Daryl wasn't willing to do that no matter what it meant, he would take on pups as his own happily, but he would never steal one. Not unless their parents were abusive like his had been. Then he would consider it.

Daryl opened a cupboard and he took a can off the shelf. There were plenty of different cans, and he was excited about it. That meant his pups would stay well fed. He grinned and showed his alpha the cans, Rick smiled.

"This is good for us," Rick smiled. "Look I promise you, we will try our best to audition but we won't lie about anything we have done. If that gets us banished we understand because we have done some shit, a lot of bad things and we know it. I am sure if you've been watching us and you know."

"I do and I am sure you'll be fine. We need people who have lived outside these walls, strong people like you."

Rick smiled and hoped that was true.

He wanted a place for his pups to grow up in, a place where they weren't scared to sleep. They soon appeared in front of the walls, as Rick stepped out holding Judith in his arms he heard laughter, people talking inside the walls. That was the first sign to him that things were good here. That it was a good idea to do this.

The gates opened for them, Daryl kept in the middle of the pack, their scents masking his for the time being. Daryl took Judith from Rick holding her close to him, she made him feel safer. "We usually ask for the weapons to be taken away, however for your people we won't ask that for now. Your weapons will always be yours you just have to check them out when you use them."

"Your people don't keep them on hand?"

"Haven't needed to."

"No you need to. It's safer, the walkers aren't the only problem anymore, it's people too." Rick said. He was already taking care of the place, the moment he walked in everyone could tell who the real prime was going to be."

Daryl kept himself close to them, staying between Abraham, Rosita, and Sasha. The pups circled their mother, they wanted to keep him safe, as safe as they could for what they are. The young alpha stayed the closests. Carl was determined to protect his mom. Aaron smiled as he watched the new pack stay close to their omega. They knew what was the most important thing to do. "How do we audition?"

"You'll meet our leader and she will ask questions. Daryl should go first so he is in the big house and not around everyone before they notice he's omega." The pack followed quickly, they wouldn't allow Daryl to walk alone, and certainly wouldn't allow anyone to notice he was omega before they allowed it. Daryl walked on his own with Judith in his arms once they got to the front door. He raced inside and once the door closed no one could smell him anymore.

"Hello?" Daryl called, Judith barked at her mothers call.

"You must be Daryl, welcome, I am happy to meet you. Come answer some questions, who is this cutie?"

"This is my daughter, Judith." Daryl grunted in reply.

"Mind if I record this?"

"No, go ahead." He replied, Judith babbled and said momma a few times.

"What were you before all of this?"

"Like my job? Didn't have one." Daryl replied. "I wanted to be a mechanic of some sort, or hunt wild animals and sell them."

"You're a good hunter?"

"I am."

"I can smell your heat." The beta said softly. "You seem to be in pain."

"I have a box in my womb, my father planned on selling me to the ring." He replied. "I've come a long way, a really long way. I won't let none of my people be hurt no matter my placement. I don't do frilly shit and I sure as hell don't like staying inside walls if you're only going to do that to me. I assume you give people jobs or you wouldn't ask what we did before all of this."

"I assume you're wanting the packs pups?"

"Hell no, I want to protect them yes, I love pups. I don't just take pups. That isn't how I work. I want to offer pupsitting, and of course I will do whatever it takes to protect them need be. I don't just take pups though, not exactly cool ya know?"

"I appreciate that." She smiled. "I like knowing that even as an omega you aren't selfish. A lot of omegas are, or were when there still were omegas. You're a rarity."

"I know that but I hope it doesn't make you think otherwise of me, I want to fit in please. Or at least try, I don't want you to make me what I'm not. Shit.."

"What?"

She then noticed the blood soaking his jeans. "Can you hold her for a minute? You got a bathroom?"

"Wait, wait before that are you..are you Judith's birth mother?"

"I uhm..yeah I am." Daryl grunted.

Her eyes grew wide. "I didn't realize you were a one percent." She said as she took Judith form him and he raced off towards the bathroom. She held Judith bounding her for a moment. "Well aren't you just the cutest thing, that's really your mommy?"

"Momma." She replied softly. She smiled and coed at the girl, Daryl returned having washed his thighs up.

"So you're a one percenter? That makes you more valuable. Are you and Rick planning on having more pups then?"

"We are thinking about it, that important?"

"I want to make sure your pups have a place to grow up, wouldn't want to send you back out there. It's a death sentence, I also want to make sure I give you a good job that also will allow you to do what you can during your pregnancy. You shouldn't go out and hunt during your pregnancy, however I want to make sure you also get to do what you want."

"I'll be okay, I hunted a bit during my pregnancy with Judtih." She babbled once he took her back. "Honestly I will be fine, she and I did some hunting together recently didn't we sweetheart?"

She clapped happily.

"You hunted with your puppy with your wrist like that."

"I did."

"What happened to your wrist if you don't mind me asking?"

"I was attacked and gangraped by a pack of alphas. Rick did what he had to do to save me, I attempted to run, fight, and one of the alphas attacked me without the others. Their pack had rules, and they broke one which got my wrist broken again." He bounced Judith who snuggled into him. "Look, there is a lot of things about the outside world that's dangerous... I want my pups safe. I want my pack and the pack here safe. We can bring the packs together of course, my alpha.. Well the moment he walked in I know you all scented it. Know it, he is prime now."

"I did, and I am fine with it, we need something strong here. Something better, I know we aren't as safe as we think. I know we need more here."

"I'm glad you see it," Daryl smiled as Judith pulled at his hair. "Darling no."

She pouted. "Mommy."

"Judith what did I say honey?"

"No.."

"That's right, mommy said no."

Deanna smirked watching them talk. "You two are adorable."

"She's a stinker." He smiled. "My little ass kicker."

"Ass kicker?"

"When I was pregnant, she and her br-"

"Her brother?"

"I..I was pregnant with twins my first time...I uhm..I gave birth to them both fine, but then he..he didn't make it."

"Oh Daryl I am so sorry...I am sure whoever was there helping you felt horrible."

Daryl stopped dead. "Help me?" He laughed a bit. "I gave birth to them on my own in a place filled with walkers. I blocked myself in a room, pushed items in front of the door while my pups were trying to get out. I pushed and gave birth to them both on my own, Rick and the others were trying to save the place from being overrun. After I gave birth to them I had to kill walkers because they got in. I..I tried so hard to get them both out of there..and he just..my little boy just died. I nearly bled out too..honestly I don't know how I am here.. I like to think it's because of Judith and my surviving pups.

Deanna's eyes grew wide realizing this pack was stronger than every single one of the members in her pack. Daryl alone was stronger than her entire pack. "I am sorry to hear that, but you are strong and you're here for a reason." She waved to Judith who grabbed for her and waved.

"She's smart."

"Should start walking soon...don't know if I'm ready for that." He chuckled. "Deanna.. Tell me, why my pack?"

"Why bring you in? Because from what Aaron and Eric has said, they know you're strong and I am willing to bet you'd do whatever you can to help your pack. That includes us now right?"

"I hope so, if Rick says no I won't stay. I want to stay, I want to give my puppies a place to live. A real place." Judith snuggled into Daryl again. "I want to make her happy, give her a place to see the world isn't all bad."

Deanna smiled. "We will work on that together then, I hope your alpha says yes as well. I will be speaking to him and the others very soon, you're welcome to stay on the couch during their interviews so the others don't know you're omega until your alpha gives the okay. Judith too, I am sure your pack will appreciate your presence during them anyway. As well as your darling little alpha here."

Judith barked at her placement being called, Daryl grinned as she patted his chest. "Thanks." Daryl sat down on the couch and waited for the others to be called in. He sat for each one, one after another. Rick's was right after his. As soon as Rick gave the okay, Aaron had gone to find them houses to have for themselves. Rick took Daryl to another room during Carl's interview and helped him through his heat again to give him a bit of time to not feel pain anymore. Daryl wanted to explore, but knew better till they got a feel for the place. Till Rick said it was okay.

Aaron got their houses set up and showed them to them once everyone else had gone off to bed. The pack decided to stay in the largest house for the first night, and would work on who stayed where the next morning.

They got to keep their weapons for that night too on Rick telling Deanna it would be so. Rick planned to protect his pack, to protect his family, and he was just thankful they had walls for once.