Chapter 1

Daryls POV

"What cha shouting about" Daryl groused from the couch as he turned off the gameshow he wasn't really watching.

"I said, I'm making a special delivery to Little Asskickers house, ya wanna go with?" Came Merles gruff reply

Standing up, Daryl nodded once and went to his room to put on some clean clothes. He hadn't seen Asskicker, as Merle calls her, in a couple of weeks. Not since she was released from the hospital.

In his beat up truck, Daryl looked over to the passenger side and noticed that Merle was in one of his rare states if soberness. He smirked and started chewing on his thumb.

"What are ya deliver'n today?"

"Same as usual, just some weed, she has been needing more and more lately." Hitting Daryl on the shoulder he said "Hey! Maybe Kaitlyn will have a real supper waiting on us again. That woman sure can cook. I think it keeps her mind off things. Busy hands and all."

"Yep" was Daryls simple reply. He knew the woman was going through a tough time and wished he knew how to help her.

He pulled into the parking lot of the small towns' general store. "Be right back" he said as he jumped out of the truck.

Kats POV

Just as she was pulling a batch of sugar cookies out of the oven her doorbell rang. Throwing the oven mitts on her counter she rushed to the door cutting the radio off as she went. Pulling the door open she was relieved to see the Dixon brothers on the other side.

She smiled "come on in guys, Cora will be happy to see y'all."

"Something smells delicious, Kaitlyn" She didn't know why Merle called her Kaitlyn. It wasn't her name and she always went by Kat.

"Well I hope you boys are hungry, I've been cooking all day." She said as she swatted a cookie out of Merles hand. "Those are hot and you need an empty belly for dinner."

Merle chuckled and pulled out a small bag and handed it to her. Sighing in relief she thanked him and went to grab her purse. "How much do I owe ya?" she asked looking at Merle.

"How about a dozen cookies and a dinner and we call it even steven"

"I was going to feed ya boys anyway, that's not a payment and I know you go out of your way to get this stuff so…what do I owe ya?" she was giving one of her famous glares and Merle finally cracked

"Damnit woman, I try to do something nice and ya won't let me? Do you see this little brother?" He asked turning to Daryl.

Daryl looked at her and quietly remarked with "We want to help, dinner smells great what are we havin?"

Sighing she put her purse down and smiled. Patted them on their shoulders and started rambling off the list of food she has made. "Let's see I have Chicken and Dumplings, Country fried steak, Fried Okra, Mac n' Cheese" and looking at Daryl she said the last with a smile "Mashed potatoes and a pineapple upside down cake, your favorite, so I'm glad you came and I know Cora will be thrilled when she wakes up."

Getting the bag that Merle just delivered she pulled out a tiny capsule and gave a quiet laugh. She never thought she would have the Dixon's in her house for dinner as payment for bringing her drugs. She was thankful that her cousin was a no good druggie and was able to get her connected with Merle. Granted at first Merle was very rough around the edges he was willing to do anything for money. Even find some prescription cannabis oil, which was legal in some states but not in Georgia.

Placing the pill in her hand she knocked on Cora's door and walked in. "Hey sweetheart I have some medicine for you."

Cora sat up and smiled putting her hand out to grab the pill. Her daughter was so strong for the young age of five. "Some people are here to see you and they are joining us for dinner." Cora perked up and went to put on her favorite tutu and her trusty hat.

"I'll meet you outside, sweetheart." She said as she gave her daughter a kiss

"Okay, mom. Love you." Was the reply

Walking down the hallway she ran into Daryl as he was coming out of the bathroom

"How's the kid" he asked nodding toward Cora's room

"She is doing better, probably won't eat a lot but the Chemo is taking a lot out of her. She loves you guys ya know? Says you guys are tough guys and apparently that is cool"

"Hell, she is tougher than Merle and me combined. I brought her something can I give it to her?"

"Of course, go on in. I need to get dinner plated up anyway."

Daryl POV

He made sure his hands were clean before he knocked on the door that had a poster of a puppy wearing headphones plastered on the front. He heard a faint "come in" before he opened the door.

He smiled at the little girl who was putting a bright purple and pink tutu on over her orange jeans.

She looked up and gave the biggest smile "Daryl!" she ran to him and gave him a hug.

"How ya doin kiddo?"

"Good, just tired. What did ya bring me?" she beamed up at him

"Who says I brought ya anything brat?" was his reply as he gave her a pink bag that had glittery stars all over it. He was never going to get all that glitter off his hands.

Yanking it out of his hands she quickly opened the bag and threw the tissue paper on the floor.

He gave a small laugh, he knew better than to make it a super fancy presentation, but the lady at the store said she would gift wrap it for him for $2 more. He figured, why not?

"WOAH! This is so cool I can't wait to show mom. Can I wear it now?"

"I don't see why not, it's yours after all" he said giving a small smile. He was relieved that she liked it. It was a custom order and a local lady in town was kind enough to do it.

"I'm just like you! We match." She said while giving him another hug and that precious smile.

He laughed. The vest was a little big for her, but she didn't seem to care. She was admiring herself in her mirror. The black leather vest had been embroidered with angel wings just like his. The only difference was that her thread was a bright pink. "Come on kid, let's get some of your mommas cooking."

Walking into the kitchen he saw Cora run past him and tackle Merle. Caught off guard Merle laughed and picked her up to put her on the counter. "How goes it ankle biter? Well that is one spiffy vest you are wearing" he said while glancing at Daryl.

Daryl knew Merle wouldn't make a big deal and call him a pussy. Not about this. They both loved that little girl. She was strong and a rare bright spot in their lives. Even with everything she was going through the young girl made everyone around her happy.

Sitting down to a massive dinner, the conversation was light and mostly between Merle and Cora. Daryl noticed that Cora barely ate and was telling Merle all about some movie called Frozen.

"How are you doing?" he asked Kat barely above a whisper

She turned to him and gave a smile. One that didn't quite reach her eyes. "I'm doing what I can, can't complain just the way it is."

Daryl was about to respond when Cora shouted a terrified "MOM". Kat jumped up and ran to her daughters side "What is it baby?" then she was grabbing napkins and putting them to Cora's face.

Daryl and Merle watched as the girls left to go to the bathroom. Daryl was still confused then Merle just grumbled "Nosebleed". Daryl nodded and went back to eating his Pineapple upside down cake.

Kats POV

Wiping the blood off her daughters face was nothing new but it still scared Cora when it happened. This time she was especially panicked worried that the blood would get on her new vest. "Baby, I promise the blood just wipes right off" reassuring her daughter. "Hey I bet Merle and Daryl would like to watch Frozen. You should ask them." She silently laughed in her head at the thought of the two willingly watching Frozen.

"Do you think so?" Her daughter smiled

"Absolutely, you're all done in her and all cleaned up. See your vest is perfect. Let's go see the boys and ask if they can stay for a movie." Picking her daughter up from the bathroom counter she shooed her outside the room while she cleaned up.

She came back to the living room seeing Merle and her daughter sitting side by side on the couch with Daryl putting a movie in the DVD player. "Anyone want a cookie or popcorn?" she asked the unlikely group.

"No!" the Dixons yelled "Couldn't eat another thing, Might have to loosen my belt as it is." Merle stated.

Daryl grabbed her shoulder "Hey just relax and let's watch this cinematic masterpiece, that's what Cora called it."

Patting the hand on her shoulder she sat down on the loveseat with Daryl on the other side of her.

She awoke when she heard Merle Shouting at the TV "What the Hell Hans! I thought you were a good guy."

Laughing she didn't notice that she fell asleep on Daryl's shoulder. "I'm sorry, I dozed off. That was rude of me." She rushed the words out as she quickly sat her head up.

"It's no big deal, I was too engrossed in this film" he smirked and nodded his head over to Merle and Cora.

Looking over she saw that they were both asleep and Cora was snug under Merles arm.

She couldn't help but think what her late husband would say, probably something along the lines of "What the hell are you thinking letting these redneck assholes in here! Around our daughter? They are drug dealers you know, of course you do. You're giving our daughter drugs." Shaking her head to get her husband's voice out of it she defended herself to herself.

Since the 2 years Cora has been diagnosed with her terminal cancer she has done everything she can to help her daughter. Including research on marijuana, she had reservations but she researched what doctors give children in states that it is legal and then went on from there. The oil helped with her pain and appetite, she didn't have to defend herself to her dead husband. It was his own fault he was gone. Merle and Daryl have become a family to her and Cora and she knew they could be trouble but she also knew they loved Cora.

Getting up she patted Daryl's knee and went to get a blanket for the rag tag team of a 5 year old and drug dealer. Placing it over them she turned to Daryl who was watching her. She sat down beside him and put the blanket over their laps.

"You can spend the night here if you want, I can make y'all breakfast in the morning"

"I don't want to risk waking up Asskicker, moving her. So I'll sleep on the couch. You don't need to worry about Breakfast though. I'll take care of it. You should go get some sleep, you look exhausted." Daryl said with a nod.

She smiled and squeezed his hand. "Thank you, she loves the vest by the way. It was sweet of you to think of her. If you need anything you know where to find me" She bent to give Cora a kiss.

"Was nothing" was all she heard as she walked toward her room.

The next morning she woke up to Daryl shaking her and telling her pack a bag for her and Cora. Confused and still tired she asked what was going on. His reply of "The Dead are walking around and eating people." Caught her off guard.

"What the hell are you talking about?" she asked while getting out of bed. She had never seen the usually quiet Dixon so amped up.

"Look, I went to McDonalds to pick up some breakfast for everyone and a guy walked up to the car in front of me at the drive thru and just bit this guy's arm." He was running his hands through his hair. "I turned on the radio and apparently there is some kind of outbreak. We need to get out of here. I already stopped by Merle and mines place and got a bunch of stuff. You just get yourself and your girl ready." He said while walking out of her room and yelling at Merle.

"What the hell" she mumbled to herself as she started packing a bag.