Author's Note: I do not own any part of The Walking Dead franchise, nor am I profiting in any way shape or form. I do claim all my dear original characters.

I had forgotten about this story. I think I put it aside because I didn't like the structure of it and thought it a little too similar to the other PTW story, although I meant it as a complement to that one. I wanted to fiddle with it some more. But the odds of that happening aren't that great these days so I figured I might as well throw it out there. I do really enjoy this universe and the cameos from my other stories.

It definitely helps to read the original story to understand what in the world is going on here. The other stories in the series help with context too, especially the post-script, but they aren't necessary to get the gist of things. There were some problems with my spell checker, and I tried to clean it up as best I could, so I apologize for the stray typos and such. I hope you get as much of a kick out of these guys as I do.

Chapter One

Daryl dropped the box in the corner and looked around at the people slowly flowing in dressed in button-down shirts, slacks, blazers, and fancy shoes. If he hadn't known better, he'd have thought he was in some kind of weird, stuffy meeting full of douchebags who thought they knew it all. But he'd recognized a few of the people in the front of the room from Michonnne's job stuff so he knew they were mostly cool. As if on cue, Nina from her office waved and turned back to looking at whatever papers she'd picked up at the front of the room.

From how Michonne had explained it, this was some kind of refresher course for lawyers where they sat around and listened to lectures all day. To him, it sounded like just about the most boring way to spend a day. She seemed excited, though, and it had turned into a good excuse for a family trip. She'd even gotten their hotel paid for by agreeing to be an instructor for a few sessions.

So that's how he found himself hauling a box of stuff for her training into a cold hotel conference room on an early Friday morning.

Picking up on some familiar chatter, he walked towards the entrance in time to see Michonne stroll in with Sydney nestled in a sling across her body and Etta's toddling at her side, her tiny hand holding on to her mother's while turning to take everything in. She was so curious and he noticed she'd calmed down since the tantrum she had pulled an hour ago over Michonne leaving for her training. Michonne held the carrier in her other hand and he was glad she'd remembered to bring it down with all the chaos going on in their morning.

When he caught up with them, he ruffled Etta's hair and lightly pinched her cheek when she turned up to him. Her grin confirmed that she was indeed in a better mood. Whatever Michonne had promised her while they were getting ready and on the way down must have done the trick.

"I put your crap up there," he said to Michonne, pointing to the slightly raised stage. He saw another one of her co-workers wave at them and they both waved back.

"My crap?" Her raised eyebrow didn't give away whether she was annoyed at his comment or amused by it.

He held his hands up to stave off any flack for his comment. "Important educational paperwork."

"Right," she said, shaking her head. Adjusting Sydney against her, she finally flashed him a grin. "Thanks, Love." He rolled his eyes at the sappy endearment, but his cheeks warmed at the affection behind her words. "I think the little one should be nice and full and compliant for a while given how much she just nursed." She let go of Etta's hand and moved to unwrap her sling so she could pass the baby to him. "And the toddler-formerly-known-as-Miss-Grumpy has promised to be a good girl today."

Etta nodded earnestly as she curled up into him. He stroked the side of her head and gave her a mini-hug.

"I know you'll miss your Mama today, but me, you, and Syd, are gonne get into some fun, okay?"

"We can go to the playroom, Papa?"

"Yep, we gonna hit the playroom and then have your favorite lunch while you watch cartoons and then we'll take a nap."

Etta laughed "Even you too?"

"Especially me, Littl'un." Etta continued to giggle at his silly tone.

Michonne passed the baby over and tied him into the sling securely as she walked them out into the hallway to see them off. As Daryl adjusted the sling with her help, trying not to wake the baby, he caught her grinning too. "You're probably gonna nap harder than either of these two."

Daryl snorted. "Aint gon' lie, it's likely."

She smiled. "I think you have enough milk for the day but I'll come up at lunchtime to check."

"I still think I'm gettin' the better deal," he said. "You know I'm not trying to be cooped up in a room all day listing to people talk.

"What if they were talking about squirrel roasting? Or how to refurbish a motorcycle, or, I don't know, Gruff Customer Service 101."

"Or maybe dealing with smartass wives 101.

"Even if it's me doing the teaching?" she asked with a smirk.

He ran a hand down her back. "Depends on what you plan on sayin'." Kissing her on the cheek, he took his eldest daughter's hand, now the mirror image of when she'd first appeared a few minutes ago. "And who else was there with us. If I got me a private tutor and the right circumstances, I bet I wouldn't mind at all."

"Yeah, I bet," she said, trying to hide her laughter as people navigated around them to take their seats inside. She waved at Etta and stroked Sydney's cheek. "You guys have fun. I'll see you in a little while."

"Seeya, Mama." Etta squealed in delight over her wordplay. Daryl shook his head and mouthed a goodbye to her before heading down the hallway. Even as he took a few steps away from his wife, someone had come up to her with some question or point of conversation.

He strolled back down the hallway with his daughters for only a few feet before Etta started to lag behind. He feared she was maybe going to fall back into a mood with Michonne now gone but he saw that she was fidgeting with her foot.

"Papa, my shoe," she said finally, pointing at the loose Velcro. She shuffled a little more and stopped to try to maneuver the strap.

"Hold on, little lady." He spotted a bench a short ways away and led her to it. Carefully transferring the baby into the carrier before he sat, he motioned for her to do the same and had her prop her foot in his lap so he could fix the offending strap.

"What you wanna do first at the playroom, Etta?"

"Weeelll…" and then Etta began her running list of activities she had planned for the occasion. Daryl responded at all the appropriate moments during her explanation while he simultaneously wondered how she managed to get her show strap so twisted up. In the distance, he could still see Michonne at the door chatting up her colleagues. Her work environment may be worlds different from his, full of suits and rules and book learning; that didn't mean he wasn't impressed by how damn good she was at being a legal badass. He guessed a lot of the folks hadn't seen her since she'd had Sydney and they were excited to have her there. It made him feel proud of her.

Michonne wasn't exactly sporiting a suit this morning although she looked put together for sure. She was still self conscious about her baby weight, but he thought she always looked good—she was hot when she'd been at peak fitness, hitting her weights and doing yoga and whatever else she got into for exercise. She looked good 8 ½ months pregnant with his kid and about to burst; and she looked good now with a little bit of extra pounds on her that was melting off as she continued to nurse and the weeks since Syd's birth turned to months.

It was so different this time around from when they'd had Marietta, and he'd be disappointed when things changed from their happy little bubble. Not working, Michonne spent a lot of time with him at the shop so they were both able to see to the kids. Etta got to spend more time outdoors too. And damned if their presence hadn't calmed Merle down some, although he'd probably always be a wildcard. His brother had really taken to his "Cookie" and Syd too. And he liked playing the know-it-all when Andre was able to join them. Merle and Michonne got along on occasion as well instead of just no-so-quietly tolerating each other.

Even their sex was different now that they'd gotten the domestic thing down. It was still good for sure—what had changed from their early intensity was a safety and calm, something he hadn't thought would be so satisfying. She often liked for him to take the lead, surrendered to him more readily than he'd gotten used to. And judging by her reactions, he'd accommodated nicely.

For her training today, she'd chosen to wear jeans since it was an informal setting and they were pretty form-fitting as suited her figure. She wore a stylish blazer over her blouse—easy access for Syd but still hiding her "lumpiness" she'd said. He liked her curves just fine, but there was no telling a woman something like that when her mind got to set on being unsatisfied with her body. He kept his opinions about it to himself but he didn't mind the extra roundness to her breasts either. She looked pretty damn good for having had a baby a few months ago.

Speaking of enjoying his wife's body, Daryl paused in his fixing of Etta's shoe to stare at the attention her chest was getting from some dude that had just wandered up to her. He guesed she didn't know him because it looked like someone was introducing them. Daryl watched as the man made conversation and then immediately went back to checking out Michonne's rack when her focus moved elsewhere.

Daryl frowned. Before he could react any kind of way, someone came out of the room to usher them in and begin the session.

"Papa," Etta called out. He'd momentarily stopped responding to her in order to scrutinize the man ogling Michonne.

"Sorry, Etta." He re-latched her shoe and patted her leg. "All set, Little'un."

"Thank you," she said obediently and he rubbed her back as she hopped from the bench. She followed where his gaze had been fixed. "You want Mama to come play today too?" She had a sad lilt to her voice as if trying to muster her inner "big girl" for him.

"Sure do, but she gotta go work so she can play later like she told ya this morning." He figured explaining the pros and cons of being a jealous lover wasn't something he'd ever want to discuss with his kids at any age.

Etta sighed. As if repeating her personal mantra for the day she told him, "Mama's gonna play later and I get a "s'prise."

"Right." He glanced back at the closed door and stood, taking Etta's hand again. "First you gotta have some fun with me and your sister. That sound cool?"

"Yeah!" Etta said, pulling her dad along. "'Cept you gotta help Syd have fun 'cause she's too little to play."

"Will do, Boss." Daryl tucked away the scene he'd just witnessed and wondered if there'd be a good way to ask Michonne about it later. Probably not if he wanted to stay on her good side.

There didn't seem to be a point to worrying about it, so he focused instead on leading his daughters to the playroom and wearing at least one of them out before lunchtime.

TBC...