since the beginning when lydia was locked up you didn't want anything to do with her not really due to the fact she was a whisperer you just didn't want the responsibility and since she was a teenager you knew you'd be upset if anything happened to her it was just your natural parental instincts so you stayed away that was untill you saw some of the older teens/young adults cornering her probably about to kill her as they started to beat her up you couldn't let it slide you knew daryl was her caretaker but it was only really out of pity and understanding you knew if he had the choice he probably wouldn't of he tried his best but he had enough on his plate already even though he was still a father to her in some ways

"Hey cut it out all of you!" you yelled walking over and getting them off of her punching one of the older ones and throwing the others against a wall as you held lydia in your arms "it's alright I got ya" you spoke to her softly

she was definitely suprized but curled up in your arms since she got beaten up pretty bad and kinda in need of the protection and care... and maybe apart of her yearned for it the love and protection of a parent