A/N so this chapter is a little slower and a bit less funny than I hope the rest will be, but I wanted to explain how it started.

This is set directly after season two when they're on the road, I'll be moving forward with each chapter in order. You can basically read this as behind the scenes cannon-ish if that makes sense.

Anyways enjoy :D

Daryl scowled at the noise coming from inside, the Greene girls had been at it for two days now. They were getting beyond a joke, poor Beth, fair enough that she went schiz with a sister like Maggie, Daryl didn't really have a problem with Beth, they'd had a few pleasant conversations, and she wasn't complexly unbearable, maybe he even thought she was one of the least annoying of the group, she was also the least useful, but apart from her spontaneously bursting into tears she seemed to be fairly quiet and efficient at what she was doing, Maggie on the other hand was annoying as hell. Almost as annoying as this arguing was.

It had started with a hushed arguments and continued with glares, the car ride yesterday had been ridiculous, Glen was driving, Maggie in the seat next to him and then Hershel Beth and him in the back, the silence was at least tolerable but then Maggie looked back and said something like stop acting like such a child if you want us to take you seriously, and then all hell had broken loose, Beth had leant forward and started slapping Maggie, who retaliated with slaps and squeals of her own, it was ridiculous, Glen just kept driving like it was normal, Hershel was trying to calm them but they flat out ignored him, then there was the hair pulling and then Beth kicked his crossbow which was resting on the floor by his feet and that was that, Daryl grabbed her hips and pushed her back to the seat. That was apparently enough because she sat there arms crossed now sharing her glare between Maggie and him.

It hadn't stopped there though, when Beth served dinner she brought everyone's plate to them except for Maggies, who threw her chair back and stormed over and returned thumping it on the table in such a manner that it silenced the entire group.

And now they were yelling again...Here they came, he could hear the footsteps thudding down the stairs, he wriggled his back firmly against the pole he was leaning on, trying to make himself invisible in the dark. Beth came out first, letting the screen slam behind her narrowly missing Maggies face, Maggie flung it back open and pulled Beth's arm.

'Don't you walk off on me!' she shouted .

'I ain't gonna stand there and listen to you talk to me like I'm a dog Maggie!' came Beth's reply as she yanked her arm back.

'I said no and that's final, you don't go asking dad behind my back'

'Your word is not scripture Maggie, and if I wanna go and ask dad that's got nothing to do with you!' Beth had turned to Maggie now and was right up in her face.

Kids got guts Daryl thought as he cocked his head, Maggie actually looked upset, not that it slowed her down any 'It does matter what I say Beth, I care about you'

'You're not mom Maggie!' Beth put her hand to her mouth the moment it came out, but her apparent remorse didn't seem to hinder Maggie from drawing her hand back and slapping her little sisters face.

Maggie looked shocked herself, she swallowed hard 'I know I'm not Beth, but I'm your big sister and I have to protect you'

Beth's hand was rubbing her cheek, tears freely flowing when she answered 'Funny way of showing it'

And then it was back on for young and old, the screaming and hair pulling and scratching and Daryl had just about enough of it. He swung his crossbow over his back and headed to the closer of the two girls witch happened to be Beth, grabbed both of her hands and pulled her back, it took Maggie a second to stop, but when she did her anger had been redirected to him in the form of an intense glare.

Daryl replied, his tone as harsh as Maggies glare 'Now what if I'd been a walker, n jus' bit her, how much would ya petty arguin' be worth then huh?

Maggie took in a deep sigh but Beth just stood there.

'You' he pointed to Maggie 'Ya should know betta' actin' like a kid, bitch fightin' like that.'

Beth stifled a small smile witch redirected Daryl's attention 'Ain't no laughin' matter, ya hollerin' probably called every walker from here to Atlanta on us, we get herded out coz of your bitchin' and I ain't gonna save your ass 'gen' Daryl scolded her.

Maggie looked between them for a moment before asking ' Again?'

Daryl didn't acknowledge her so Beth answered 'Nearly got bit earlier'

Maggies face turned red 'When? Where were you? I bet it was somewhere you weren't meant to be...'

'Quit ya motherin' she held her own' Daryl scolded her.

Beth smiled at that 'See' she said to Maggie

'I ain't gonna tell ya 'gen Beth Greene, keep your damn mouth shut' Daryl warned shaking his finger at her. 'Now I'm sayin' it once, I ain't sayin' it again, I hear you two hollerin' at each other 'gen I'm gonna put a bolt in both of ya, got it?'

Beth nodded, but Maggie simply glared.

'I ain't jokin, be two less mouths to feed and a whole heap more quiet'

Maggie actually looked concerned at that, Daryl eyed her and she huffed and turned back to the house, he shifted his glare to Beth hoping she'd run too but when she didn't he motioned her away, she still stayed 'Go on, scram' he grumbled.

'You'd never shoot me Daryl' she was actually smiling.

He looked back to her a little surprised at the use of his name, until now he'd always been mister Dixon to her. He grunted and returned to his spot on the post, but she was still looking at him 'Wouldn't be so sure' he grumbled accompanied by his best glare.

She jutted her chin forward and crossed to sit on the railing across from him and shrugged 'I am'

He ignored her for a moment looking out to the fields before looking back to her keen smiling face, it's not that he disliked the kid he just didn't really like conversing, it somehow didn't seem as hard with her though , did most of the talking anyway. 'N whys that?'

'Because you like me'

He grunted 'S'at right?'

Beth wiggled on her hands 'Yep, were gonna be good friends'

He looked the girl up and down, her tiny frame, so full of hope, so optimistic, so gentle and kind, and all the stuff you couldn't afford to be in this world, she was going to be dead within the month 'dumbass' he muttered, She didn't shy away she just sat there looking at him, waiting, expecting. He eyed her again 'What ya want?'

'Nothin'

'Then piss of'

'Free country' she stated settling herself against her post, clearly not intending to go anywhere.

Daryl waited for a few minutes, he stifled a yawn and looked back to her, oh well if she was going to stay he may as well ask 'What you n ya sister bitchn' about anyways'

Beth sighed slightly 'I wanna go on a run, but she wants me to stay and cook and do laundry and be safe, I wanna contribute you know, I wanna do somethin'

The idea of her on a run was ridiculous to say the least 'She's probably right ya know'

'Ain't the point'

Daryl sent her a questioning look so she continued 'Daddy hasn't said no, Rick hasn't, you haven't, it's not Maggies place to tell me, she just thinks I'm a kid, but I'm not'

'Ya are'

'I ain't, that's why I gotta do it, I'm pulling my weight, I'm cooking and doing ya'll laundry and packing up and helping Lori, but no ones gonna take me seriously if I don't do the stuff you guys do, it doesn't mean I'm a kid... I just gotta show you all'

Daryl shrugged 'Makes sense, ya gotta learn ta fight tho...n quit that cryin' ya do all the time'

Beth pushed her fringe out of her eyes 'Ok' and then she realized that just agreeing didn't make it stop 'How?'

Daryl frowned at her.

'How do I stop crying when I'm mad or upset or hurt?'

Daryl shrugged, just push it down'

'Is that what you do?' her wide eyes blinked at him.

'I don't get time ta get sad'

Beth's lips squeezed into a line while she thought '...but you get angry' he shrugged 'What do you do then?' Daryl pulled out a cigarette and lit it. 'You can tell me Daryl, friends can tell each other stuff' she encouraged.

'Told ya, we ain't friends' he snapped, her face fell slightly but her gaze didn't drop and for the first time ever she wasn't crying he shrugged again 'I flip people the bird when the ain't lookin'

'The bird?' she asked.

Daryl's brow crinkled at the question, 'Yeah you know' he hung his smoke between his lips and he held his finger up to her.

She actually blushed at that, before she let out a small laugh 'You can't be serious, that makes you stop feeling angry?

Daryl shrugged 'Makes me feel somethin' else'

'Ya do it heaps?' she asked curiously.

Daryl didn't answer her.

'Done it to Rick?'

His lips curled a little

She giggled at that 'What about my dad?'

He looked back at her with an amused look.

'Maggie?'

'Five times taday' he answered and his voice was a little croaky with humour, which made Beth laugh again, before the screen door shot open revealing Maggie.

'It's bed time Beth, we're leaving early, what are you doing' she snapped.

Beth looked over to her 'I'm just hanging out with Daryl'

'Bed now Beth' Maggie scolded her.

Beth rolled her eyes 'Ok I'll be up in a minute'

'Ok hurry up' Maggie advised before turning and letting the door thud close.

Daryl waited until he heard Maggies footsteps climbing the stairs until he butted out his smoke and lifted his finger up to the door. 'Sixth time' Beth looked at him with a wide smile 'C'mon He knocked her foot with his boot and gave her an encouraging wink, she grinned and raised her finger to the door as well with a slight giggle 'Better?' She nodded. He lowered his hand and looked back to his lap, there was a little guilt at the thought that he'd just been a bad influence, but what the hell, girl needed to live a little 'Better skedaddle up to bed girl'

Beth grinned widely, the first time she didn't feel like crying even though Maggie had just bossed her around, she crossed to the door before pausing 'Thanks Daryl, you're a good friend'

He looked back to her, stupid kid, thinks were friends coz we flipped someone off together 'We ain't friends'

Beth's smile grew wider 'But we will be', and then she stepped through the door and she was gone.

A/N hope you got a little giggle out of this, also this will fit in with my other stories and may make minor references to the events in them, but it won't be necessary to read them to follow this.

Please Review :D