AN: hello! Well my story that was gonna be 3-5 chapters ended up 14 :) I loved writing this little universe as much as you guys seemed to like it. I may return to this AU arc in the future but for now I'm gonna call this complete. Happy 2016 to all of you. I had a rough year but my resolution this year is to be more positive. I hope you all have great years. Your reviews and words of encouragement mean more to me than you guys can ever know. Enjoy the fluff, and let me know what you think :)

I do not own or profit from The Walking Dead

Chapter 14

ONE YEAR LATER

"Sure you want to go baby? We can just stay home if you want."

Daryl eyed Carol as she waddled into the room, one hand massaging her lower back, which was constantly sore due to her enormous pregnant belly.

"We can't miss Megan's concert again. It's Christmas Eve. " she said as she struggled to put on her coat.

He came over behind her helping her get her coat on, then slipping his hands to her lower back, messaging the area he knew was killing her. She groaned letting her head fall back on his shoulder.

They were still living in Carol's house. Their new house would be ready soon. Andrea had decided to stay in town now that Merle was able to care for himself. She was going to move into Carol's house, although she wouldn't be there long if the way Andrea and Merle struck sparks off one another was any indication. Carol had decided in the long term she would donate the house to the Woman's Shelter as a sorta half way house for those women who were ready to move on from the Shelter but had no place to go. Carol was working full time at the Shelter organizing the clinic, and going back to school to become a nurse practitioner. She worked to damn hard in his opinion but she radiated happiness. He was so damn proud of her, and proud to call her Mrs. Dixon. To call her his.

They married on Valentine's Day. A small evening candlelit wedding in Carol's church. The snow had been gently falling and he'd been struck breathless when the doors to the church had opened and she'd been standing there. The lights illuminating her from the church. The softly falling snowflakes had sparkled in her hair which had white wild roses twisted into it's lengths.

She'd bit her lip in that way he lived and given him a curious look when he started walking towards her. She'd been planning on walking down the aisle alone. He'd brought her fingertips to his lips and kissed them lightly and then interwoven his fingers with hers. They'd headed down the aisle to start their new life together.

It hadn't all been roses. He was overprotective and still had so many insecurities. She was headstrong and sacrificed of herself more than he liked.

They'd had a fight that had rattled his nerves. The week before she had told him she was pregnant. He'd been overjoyed, he'd been emotional. He'd held her on his knees and cried while his hand stroked her belly. Then he got scared. Scared of this feeling of new found happiness, of wonder, the feeling that his life was absolutely perfect would be taken away from him. He'd become even more over protective. Smothering her. She'd laughed it off, kissing him telling him it was cute but he better calm down.

Then an assehole husband of one of the women at the shelter had made it past the security at the shelter. The cops had been called and the situation settled peacefully. No one had been hurt. His heart had been in his throat.

Daryl had insisted she quit, stop working at the shelter. She had been adamant in her refusal which had made him stupid. Asking her what was more important, him or the shelter. He'd seen the hurt on her face, and he'd been terrified. He'd hurt her. He'd bolted.

He'd gone to Merle, who had been back at their own house by then. Practically hyperventilating by the time he got there.

When Merle had finally pulled out from him what was wrong he'd laughed his ass off.

"Boy, you're in the dog house...Man up and deal with it, stop running like a pussy." Merle had hackled.

So he'd gone back, his head hung in shame. Walking into the house, he'd been expecting the worst. Only to find her in the kitchen making lasagna.

When he walked in, she'd smiled. "You done being mad?" She asked.

"I weren't mad I was.." He stopped as she came over and wrapped her arms around his shoulders.

"You were scared." She smiled putting her head over his pounding heart. "I get that. I do, but Daryl I can't sit in a glass bubble. I mean if I can survive "Doctors Without Borders." I think I can survive a women's shelter. At least there I won't be kidnapped." She said with grin.

"You were kidnapped?" He squeaked.

"Ahh it was a misunderstanding. Some locals needing medical help, they didn't think we would help them ...it was over in a couple hours. No biggie." She said nipping at his neck. "Pookie...you okay?" She leaned back as his hands grew tighter around her waist. He was having trouble breathing, he supposed this was as close to a panic attack as he could get.

He picked her up suddenly bridal style carrying her out of the kitchen , and up the stairs to their room.

"My lasagna" she said between giggles.

"We'll get take out ...later." He growled as he dumped her on the bed with a bounce.

He'd never had make up sex before. It started out urgent, he needed to feel her come alive under his fingers, to know she was okay, alive. The thought that he could easily have lost her before he'd ever met her had scared the living daylights out of him. He needed her badly at that moment. But as he'd been pounding into her, it suddenly became tender. Every moment had been precious. He stared down at this woman, who was carrying their child inside her. He was awestruck, she was his world, he couldn't loose her.

"I can't loose you" he'd whispered, tears welling in his eyes.

"You won't." She whispered and he felt the walls of her core trembling as he continued to thrust into her. The eye contact is what done him in. The connection that sizzled between them was electric. He was lost in her eyes. Drowning, and it was amazing. He never wanted to let go. They had held on for a long time. Tempering their strokes and thrusts. Every moment had been so precise, deliberate, exquisite.

They'd talked after, compromised. He could afford to have the best security system installed at the shelter. She knew it could only benefit those who used the shelter.

Things had settled down. His business had been a success and he'd been able to hire quite a few employees. He was proud of himself and what he'd done for the town, but he knew none would be possible without her.

The pregnancy had progressed normally. Carol had positively glowed throughout the time, despite her weird cravings.

She'd been horrified by her cravings for meat. Steak in particular. Her doctor has said she was probably cravings mineral her body might need...iron. She'd finally given in, having no choice the craving making her nuts. When Merle had heard of her cravings he'd cackled gleefully.

"Well how about some snap peas instead sis'" he hackled killing himself laughing. Daryl had never laughed so hard as when Carol flipped Merle off.

"Your daughter is determined to kick me in the spine I think." She murmured suddenly from where her head was still resting on his shoulder.

She was a week overdue, and although he knew she was miserable she rarely complained.

"Funny how she's my daughter when she's misbehaving." He chuckled nuzzling her neck. Swaying her side to side slightly as he continued to message her lower back.

She giggled. "I just don't understand why she don't want to come out."

"I imagine it's pretty great in there, I mean I always like it." He chuckled smiling whe she snorted out a laugh. She turned her head up to look at him laughter in her eyes. "You're horrible" she laughed.

They'd been to the doctor two days ago. The plan had been if she didn't go into labour by Boxing Day, they would go in to the hospital. The doctor had grinned at Carol.

"Carol I know your not fond of the idea of medically inducing labor, so you may want to take matters into your own hands and try the natural way." The doctor had said with a grin Carol had laughed and thanked the doctor who had left.

In the car on the way home, he'd asked "What he mean.. Natural way?" He said confused.

She'd laughed and turned towards him her eyes sparkling. "Sex Daryl...the best way to induce labor in sex Daryl. Lots and lots of sex." She said with a grin.

"Oh...well alright then, we better get to work." He said pulling in the drive.

They had more sex in the last two days than he could ever imagine. Every possible position that they could manage when she was heavily pregnant, in every room of their house. They'd headed down to the kitchen to get a snack and he'd ended up taking her lying on the dinning room table. She was staring up at him, her swollen nipples looked like a buffet spread out for him alone. It had been soft and sweet. They'd maintained eye contact the whole time, and his hands had softly touched her everywhere. Stroking along her calve, of the leg that was propped up and over his shoulder, or making, tender strokes of her belly. She'd looked up at him and shook him to his core again. How much love and affection he saw in her eyes. How much he loved this women, lying there staring up at him like he was her world. He knew without a doubt she was his.

"We better go, we will miss Megan's Christmas Eve pageant." She whispered.

He nodded nuzzling her neck again. "I'll go warm the car and get the heated seats nice and toasty for you." He said.

She grinned as he let her go and slipped on his boots. "You're so good to me."

He turned staring back at her, before going out the door. "It could never be enough."

He started the car and cranked the heated seats, chuckling when he came back in and heard her in the bathroom. It always amazed him how much she needed to pee.

"Daryl.." She called

"Yeah"

"Looks like we're gonna have to miss that pageant after all." She called.

"What? Why?" He panicked walking towards the door.

She opened the door, just in her dress, she'd taken off the tights she'd been wearing.

"My water just broke"

Xxxxxxxx

He sat in a rocking chair later that night, well it was almost morning. Rocking his newborn daughter. Little Sophia Dixon. Named after Carol's mama. She was beautiful, the best Christmas present he'd ever received. He looked over at Carol smiling watching her sleep. They both were the best gifts. His Christmas Angels.