January came and so did the snow, it was heavy and cold. Hershel's illness grew, along with Maggie and Beth's concerns for him, Daryl sat with Beth next to Hershel's bed while he slept, he hoped above everything that Hershel would live, but in this world nothing was certain, in this world a common cold could turn into a killer over night.

Daryl sighed to himself trying to bloke those thoughts out, he didn't want this proud strong man to die, he wanted him to stay with him, he wanted the man who had turned into his father figure to keep giving him the advice he had missed out on as a child. The door to the bedroom opened both sets of eyes wandered to it.

"Ummm Daryl, sorry to disturb you but Rick asked if you would come downstairs." Daryl nodded then stood, he touched Hershel's hand then went to the other side of the bed kissing Beth on the top of her head.

"Won't be long" he said and she just looked up then back down at her father, Daryl got to the door and looked back at her, shaking his head he left the room closing the door quietly behind him, then lent against it, he knew what Rick wanted and he didn't want this conversation he didn't want to be the head of the household he didn't want responsibility, fuck he was Daryl Dixon, not Hershel Greene, he was and under dog he was a red neck, he was nothing, how he wished he could hit things. Daryl started down the stairs walking into the kitchen, he could hear Maggie, Rick and Glenn all talking in there, Maggies voice loud and frantic.

"...Rick!" Daryl pushed the door open.

"Rick leave her alone, Maggie go upstairs and be with Beth and your father." Daryl just stared at her, Maggie went to open her mouth to say something else but Daryl held up his hand "They need you and I have to speak with these two and sort this shit out, I will not ask you again Maggie" he growled, he didn't look at her but she put her hand on his shoulder as she went passed and he knew he had done right, those two girls had always had a strong man to guide them and now he had to play that part, Fuck!

As the door swung shut Daryl turned his eyes to Rick, "Daryl..."

"Shut up and listen to me Rick." he said never dropping his eyes from his best friend "I am going to say this once to the pair of you and then I do not expect to have this conversation again" he took a deep breath "When and if and only if the time comes I will do what has to be done to Hershel" he breathed "I am now the head of this house until either he leaves us or he comes back"

Glenn looked up at Daryl in awe, but Daryl kept his glare at Rick "You send anyone in here, you make a guard outside this house and I swear I will take you Rick, that man helped you at the prison, that man supported you when you saw Lori, he kept me afloat when you were drowning, those girls need their men strong and no one will interfere" He finished his speech, continuing his glare at Rick.

"Needed to be sure man" Rick said "You have too..."

"No Rick you have to, stop being Officer Friendly and come back to your family, remember where you came from" Daryl looked at Glenn then and nodded then left the kitchen making his way back to Hershel's room, to his wife and his family. He didn't want to kill another member of his family, he didn't want any of this but he would do what they needed him to do even though he knew another piece of him would go missing.

He stood at the top of the stairs "Merle if your around man and he comes looking for ya, help him and let him help ya, we are family, I wish I was like you" he opened the door and walked in placing a hand on Maggie's arm "Glenn is seeing Rick out, you and Beth stay here I am going to get the twins, see ya in a bit" she covered his hand with hers for a moment, he made his way to Beth, placing his hand on her hair stroking it slowly, she raised her red rimmed eyes to him and all three listened to Hershel's tainted breathing for a moment.

"I love you" he said she smiled at him but he noticed it never reached her eyes. He left the room flinging his crossbow over his shoulders, he held the strap across his chest like it depended on it, then took off towards the nursery.

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"He went to tell Rick he would kill Daddy if he died didn't he?" Beth asked Maggie

"Yes" Maggie answered

"He will do it too to save us won't he?" she asked for confirmation from Maggie

"Yes, Daryl has taken on the role as head of this household, head of our family, Daddy would be proud." Maggie answered

"It will kill Daryl" Beth whispered

"Yes he knows that" she said and sighed "Beth your husband has become someone whom Daddy would have been proud to father himself, he is someone whom we should all be proud to know, he is protecting us all me, you, the twins, Glenn..." Maggie dropped her head in her hands "Beth?" Maggie asked Beth's head swung up to look at her sister.

"Daryl spoke to me last night, while you slept, Daryl wants to know if he can take Daddy back to the farm, he wants to bury him with Mom, if it comes to it, he believes Daddy should be there" Maggie finished.

"Why didn't he ask me?" Beth asked in frustration

"Because I am the oldest he wanted me to give him permission, he's an honourable man" Maggie shrugged. Beth smiled at her sister then looked down at her father, his breathing was hitching worse than before.

"Maggie call Glenn, tell him to run, get Daryl now, I know, Maggie hurry" Maggie stood and ran from the room tears running down her face.

"Daddy, no matter what happens I want you to know we are happy, Maggie and I managed to find something that no one ever thought we would, we found happiness, we have families, bet she hasn't told you yet but she's pregnant God help that baby with the twins watching over him or her, Daryl will run your house like you always have, he has even started calling family meetings" she smiled and stood up to kiss her father on the forehead "Daddy..." she stopped as she heard the door open and her family enter, she noted that Rick and Sasha came in to "Daddy we all love and we are all here you have guided us so well we know never to give up, you told us to hope and hope we do, we hope that life will one day not involve us living, I hope the twins will grow and discover happiness as Maggie and I have, hope Daddy is a wonderful thing and that is what you taught us, and for that I will be forever grateful. I love you Daddy." Hershel's breathing became more laboured and she stood watching everyone kiss her father and say good bye to him then they all stood quiet lost in their own memories.

"Everyone leave now" Daryl suddenly stated no one argued, Daryl walked to the bed listening to people exiting the room "I am sad you have chosen to leave us Hershel, but I promise our family will continue for years to come I will teach them everything I know and I will teach them the love you have taught me, good bye old man." Daryl bent and pushed a knife slowly into the back of his brain as tears ran down his face "I love you old man"

I am sorry this is how it ended if anyone requests I may do a sequel, I am also sorry I have been away for such a long time but I have had some serious issues with family going on and I just couldn't write anything, I have missed you all, much love always xx