The pack prepared themselves to meet the new group, Daryl had taken his pills which was a very strange occurrence, it had been so long since he had last taken them that he couldn't remember what it was like. His scent was no longer as thick which was also an entirely different experience. Rick growled slightly no longer being able to scent Daryl's pretty omega smell, he scented Daryl rubbing himself against his scent glands and remarking his mate mark just for reassurance.

Michonne, Rick, Daryl, Maggie, Abraham, and Glenn decided to take the trip. Carol stayed back to watch the pups, Beth wanted to go along and Daryl decided it was fine enough. Maggie and Glenn would be there to keep an eye on her, as well as himself. Daryl watched out the window as Jesus drove towards the place he called home, a place he hoped Rick would be willing to accept trade with, willing to even protect.

Maggie slept against Glenn, their unborn newly seeded not very long ago, the pack was overjoyed and felt learning about the other community could help Maggie as well. They had plenty of puppy supplies, but knowing there were others who had their back during this time was a serious plus. Daryl looked over to her with a smile, he was excited for more pups to be born within their walls.

Jesus watched them through the review, Abraham watched them as well. He knew their place was safe but the idea of having pups in this hell felt extremely idiotic to him. However he wasn't one to judge, he liked a good knot and understood the concept well enough. He and Sasha had been bedding when they got the chance. Rosita was a fun plus but the two alphas weren't very good at working together in that kind of way, she liked being on top and Abraham did not bottom without a fight.

However he also adored Judith with his whole soul, and Carl and all the other pups.

Beth was mapping out landmarks as they drove, she liked trying to be useful even if she wasn't exactly as useful as she wanted to believe. Her time being kidnaped left her feeling pretty worthless.

After losing Noah she felt even worse.

Daryl fumbled with his knife, everyone was unsettled by the beta scent coming off of Daryl. It was unnatural, felt off. Even with Rick's bond mark he still smelt extremely off, the omega male was also thrown off by his own smell. He had lived so long as a beta he didn't think it would bother him as much as it did, but he wasn't enjoying the memories that were coming with the return of his scent.

However safety came first, and he needed to stay safe. He couldn't become Negan's. He just hoped Dwight or Sherry wouldn't be at Hill-Top or he was screwed. He needed to get back to Judith, Carl and the other puppies.

They soon arrived at the gates of Hill-Top. They entered and looked around, Beth was interested in the animals and made her way over to them, a big smile on her face. Maggie, Glenn, Rick, Abraham, and Daryl were guided inside the big house.

"I will get him for you," Jesus smiled, heading into Gregory's office.

Gregory made his way out; he looked over the pack, a few alphas and betas. "Shame," he said, his eyes flicking to Daryl who had a mate mark clearly from the prime.

"What's a shame?" Maggie enthused.

"No omegas." He replied, watching them. "Real shame."

"Why is that a shame?" Rick asked curiously.

"Could fix all our problems." Gregory replied. "Negan would leave us alone, you would understand that some things are better to trade for survival."

"A human life is worth that to you?" Daryl asked, glaring at him. Jesus sucked in a deep breath.

"If you had an omega and Negan wanted your lives and your things you would do the same." Gregory replied his eyes not leaving Daryl's mark. Daryl snarled low in his belly, he wanted to leave now, he didn't want jack to do with Gregory.

"A human life is not worth that." Rick hissed.

"Well theoretically, one life vs ten or more is worth it." Gregory replied. "What trade offers do you have for us?"

"For your people we got, but not for you." Rick replied.

"Why's that?" Gregory asked watching them with narrowed eyes, Daryl sidestepped uncomfortably as Abraham stepped in front of him.

"Anyone who threatens an omega is no friend of ours," Maggie snarled.

"Look this is all survival," Gregory said watching them carefully, "we have an omega specialist here. He hasn't seen any in a long time."

Daryl looked to Jesus and Jesus nodded. Daryl touched the small or Rick's back letting him know he was going to step out, Jesus walked with him step by step towards the doctor. They pushed themselves in his room.

"I need your help," Daryl said, praying he could do it.

"Who are you?" Carson asked, eyeing him.

"I.. I'm on blockers.. I'm an omega.. I've got one of those stupid boxes in my womb. I need your help."

Caron's eyes grew wide and Jesus froze. "You have an omega ring box in your womb?" Carson repeated watching Daryl with sad soft eyes.

"Yes, and I want the damn thing out." He growled. "No one's been able to do it, and it's hell. I need it out, I don't.. I don't think I am going to make it out of this war with the saviors without becoming Negan's if I'm being honest, too many hands in this thing for that not to happen. I don't want to be begging for his knot because my heats so intense I can't handle it without help."

"Jesus I need an hour, keep them distracted, no one comes in."

"Alright, I can do that." Jesus smiled, locking the door and heading out.

Daryl sighed in relief as he was helped up on the table. "This isn't going to be easy," Carson said softly, "it's going to hurt like hell."

"Get the damn thing out and I'll do anything you want." Daryl snarled he hated the damn box. "Been in there since I was a pup."

"Alright. Take this." He handed him a pill.

"What is it?"

"It will knock you out." Carson said. "This won't be fun."

Daryl nodded, taking it, Carson started counting down and after he got to six from fifteen he was out cold. Carson smiled, he was ready to get back to work, help someone special.

Gregory watched as Jesus reappeared for a moment nodding to Rick. "I'll be right back." Rick said looking right at Gregory, he didn't trust him as far as he could throw him. Abraham, Glenn, and Maggie were busy berating him about being a terrible person and a huge dick.

"What is it?"

"Daryl went to our specialist, he's taking the box out." Jesus smiled big.

"Wait, really?" Rick asked, thanking God for finding the doctor here of all places. "No more heat hell?"

"Yes, he's going to be okay. Carson's a natural, he worked with hundreds of omegas before the fall. Said he needs an hour, so lets distract the fuck head for an hour, and then this will all be over. I don't care what you do with him. He's worthless to most of us, none of us here feel the same way. We wouldn't want to see an omega or anyone fall into Negan's hands."

Rick sighed in relief. "Thank you, alright lets work this idiot."

Jesus smirked, they headed back into the big house. Beth was informed the one door needed guarding so she stuck close but not so close it looked suspicious. About half an hour had passed and Gregory was still considering the idea of if they ever found an omega to give it to Negan as a gift to be left alone.

"Do you really think a man like that would leave you alone just because you gave him an omega?" Abraham finally asked.

"Well I would think so, an omega is worth more than all of this place."

"An omega is a person, not goods," Maggie said. "I can't exactly keep my people alive with an omega? I could even bring more mouths to feed into this world with one, so why on earth would someone stop taking supplies because they added a mouth to feed and the potential for more?"

Gregory thought for a moment. "I mean I suppose, but I mean giving him an omega would put me in his graces wouldn't it?"

"You're insufferable. Has anyone ever just punched you really hard in the face before?" Abraham finally asked.

Gregory looked up. "These people are extremely hostile Paul. Why would you bring them here?"

"We need trade partners and we are sitting ducks being all beta." He replied, watching him with angry eyes. "I don't think anyones punched him before actually."

Rick and Abraham looked to one another for a moment. "You want it or me?"

"You're prime." Abraham said with a smirk.

As Rick lifted his fist there was screaming coming from outside.

"Where the hell is Gregory!" An angry yell came. They headed outside to see a few people coming back from a drop off with the saviors. "Where is he?!"

As Gregory stepped out the man barreled towards him. "He's about to get his ass beat now." Abraham said with a chuckle. "A good ass beat down."

Gregory yelled as he was punched in the face, the beta male came close with a threatening growl. "My brother was taken by the saviors because of you! You lied! You knew what supplies they were looking for and you didn't give us all of the right items!"

"I would never." Gregory groaned before he was stabbed. Jesus looked up in surprise as the scent of blood filled Hill-Top. Jesus barked out orders to have someone come check him over while Rick and Abraham worked on separating the men.

"He won't be given back unless I bring his head!" The male yelled as he tried to fight.

Carson could hear the commotion outside but he wasn't finished with Daryl yet, if he did this wrong he could fuck up Daryl's reproductive organs forever. It was clear from inspecting he had successfully carried one pup and miscarried another. Daryl had said he wanted more with Rick before he started the operation offering to tie his tubes if he so requested.

"Stop, we are here to help. We are willing to come with you and fake them out. We can find a walker head one that looks just like him and bring it to the saviors. We will get your brother back, where will the meet up be?" Rick asked as he tried to keep them separated.

"At one of their outposts." The man heaved, but with Rick's command he stopped. Rick was an alpha, a prime alpha and he had to stop if he so requested it. "Has a lot of their people, more people than I ever expected to see in this world. All designations, except omega."

Rick nodded to Abraham. "That's our chance, we can go in and try and kill as many of the saviors as we can. Their leader is after something we can't bear to give up. We will do this together, this will combine our packs as one."

Jesus smiled at the strength of Rick, Abraham was beside him calling the shots as someone patched up Gregory.

"We will get in and get out, if we go at night we can do it while most of them are asleep. Take their supplies as well, guns, ammo, food. All the stuff they've taken from you, it will replenish your pack."

The members of sighed a thanks, this was the first good news they were getting in a while. They were thankful for their help, and even more thankful Jesus had found them.

Daryl woke up after Carson had finished the procedure. The small box, sitting on the table, covered in blood. "How far along were you when you lost the other one?"

"What?!" Daryl asked, sitting upright quickly, he yelped in pain and laid back down. "What are you talking about?"

"I could tell, by the way your womb is that you've carried one pup to term and miscarried another. I just couldn't tell how far along you were."

Daryl froze. "You.. you mean I lost one?"

"You didn't know?" Carson asked, feeling bad for bringing it up. "I only assumed you would have known."

"No.. well we thought we might have.. I was in a fight.. I got a piece of glass embedded right about here." He said as he moved his hand to where the wound had been. "We didn't even know if I was pregnant though.. So I lost one.. I.. I was fucking stupid.. I shouldn't have gotten in the fight.. But I did.."

"That isn't your fault, I'm sure you were protecting someone. You seem like that kind of person."

"Don't tell Rick.. please."

"I won't, I promise. You'll be fine to fight and to have sex as soon as you want. Just need to rest up for a little to get over the pain of the stitches. So don't worry."

"Thank you.. Why do I smell blood that isn't mine?"

"Gregory got himself stabbed by someone. It's okay.." Carson said with a soft smile. "Knocked him down a few pegs. It will be okay. You're okay. I'm sorry about bringing up the pup.. I didn't know.."

"Well, you're my doctor so I suppose it would make sense for you to need to know."

"I promise to do my best, and if you get pregnant again I'll be here to help you. I'm going to check in on Maggie as well since she's going to need it."

Yes she will," Daryl smiled. "Thank you Carson, it means a lot.. I've been dealing with that thing for a long time now.. I'm just so glad I don't have to deal with it. I.. I don't know.. I don't know how this fight with the saviors will go, but if I am forced to be with Negan I want to at least fight his advances.. I won't just let him have me."

"We will do our best to protect you as well. We swear it." Daryl gave him a half smile as he stood up and headed out the door. Beth smiled seeing him walk out of the office space. Rick raced up to Daryl picking him up with a soft kiss.

"Are you okay love?"

"More than okay, it's gone now. Thank god."

"I'm glad it is. Really honestly so glad, I know how much it hurt you, and now if you do get a heat and I can't be there I know you'll at least be okay."

Daryl smiled, hugging Rick back. "So I heard the idiot got stabbed but I assume there is at least more to it than that."

"Yes there is." Rick replied. "We are going to take a savior outpost out. Take more of those bastards out so no one can hurt you honey."

Daryl smiled, thankful Rick wanted him safe the way he did. That he wasn't willing to just give him up like Gregory wanted to do to any omega they found. He was also glad that Jesus warned them about the man and told him to hide his true scent.

They had plans now, and they were going to do what was best for their pack and their new friends. Even if that meant defending Gregory for the time being as well.