Momma stroked my hair as I leaned into her shoulder. My hair is the same color as Daddy's and the same texture as Momma's; thick and curly on the ends.

I sigh into Momma's chest. I'm nearly 13, but there is something about the way my Momma is petting me that makes me feel 4 all over again. I can't imagine living with the memories the adults of our family live with. Just the few bad ones I have make me tired and sad when I look back on them. To have years and years of them, that would be….unbearable.

"He... I remember Uncle Merle. He saved me Momma." I whispered into Momma's neck.

"He did baby." She soothed. "He also helped name you." She smiled slightly.

"Name me?" I asked, sitting up from the warmth of Momma's shoulder. "Why would Uncle Merle have anything to do with naming me?" I wrinkled up my forehead in confusion.

"Well" Momma sighed. "You have to know the story of how you were born." She smiled at me.

"Tell me." I said softly and laid my head in her lap. She leans back on the headboard and begins to lightly scratch my scalp, in a way that makes me purr like a kitten.

"The day you were born, it was the coldest day I had ever seen in Georgia. It was a snow storm….."

Daryl Dixon sighed shooting at a thin, small squirrel. The tiny rodent dropped to the ground, but the creature was nearly as small as the head of the arrow. This wouldn't feed a mouse, much less a full grown woman carrying a baby.

He felt his chest tightened at the thought of Carol. She was as skinny as a rail before he got her pregnant. Now, it was hard to look at her, all angles except for her huge belly. Hershel was worried. This winter had been really hard, unusually snowy. It had slowed the walkers down, mercifully, but food was getting harder to come by.

Carol had fainted the previous day. She was standing at the sink, rinsing out a Sippy cup for Judith Grimes. Daryl watched her as she turned and looked at him strangely. Then, she just dropped, like someone had reached up and grabbed her by the ankle.

Daryl scoped her up into his arms and ran her into Hershel's cell, Judith on his heels.

Hershel said it was just a lack of nutrients. Her blood sugar had probably dropped. They sat her up and gave her water and crackers. Carol said she was fine and almost immediately wanted to get back to chasing after Judith. Daryl hit the roof and with that, got his way for once. She'd been in the bed ever since.

Daryl sighed and strung up the squirrel to join the other 8 on the line. All were tiny, just a few bites of meat, if that. It would have to do for now. Snow was bearing down on him. Damn snow, damn weather, and damn him for putting Carol in the situation.

He walked into their cell block, welcoming the warmth. He met Maggie in the kitchen; she was tending to something edible while her sister played with Judith.

"Here" he sighed. "It ain't much. All I could get out there. It's snowing like I ain't ever seen in Georgia before." He shook his head.

"I got some vegetables cooking right now." Maggie smiled "I'll add the meat to it. It'll be just fine."

Before he could ask Beth smiled up at him. "Carol is upstairs in y'all's cell like she supposed to be."

Daryl tussled Judith's hair "How's the lil' Asskicker been today?"

"Good, Good." Beth smiled and Judy babbled a greeting back at Daryl.

Daryl smiled at her and turned to go towards the stairs. He took them 2 by 2, anxious to check in on Carol.

As he rounded the corner to their cell, he heard her sigh in pain.

"Baby?" Daryl ran to her side. She was rolled onto her side, knees pulled into her swollen belly.

"Carol! Baby, what's wrong?" He fell to his knees near his bed.

"I'm… ugh, I think I might be in labor. It's hurts." Carol gasped as another contraction hit her.

"Damn Carol! Tell someone!" He kissed her head and stuck his head out of their cell.

"HERSHEL!" he screamed He smiled back at Carol, trying to not show the panic on his face. She looked so pale and tiny. Inside he was terrified.

"HERSHEL!" he screamed louder this time. "I'll be right back." He looked to Carol smiling tightly.

He took the stairs two by two as fast as his feet could carry him. He ran into the kitchen.

"Beth! MAGGIE! Where's your Daddy?" he shouted, his voice full of panic.

"What's wrong?" Maggie asked, dropping the spoon in the pot of food.

"Carol's she's…" he was having trouble catching his breath. "It's time for the baby." Daryl finally spit out.

Hershel hobbled into the room with Rick a moment later.

"Hershel, Thank God, It's time." Daryl started leading him toward the cell where Carol was.

Hershel said nothing, just followed the younger man towards his wife. As they arrived, Carol was moaning.

"Hey sweetheart, I think it's time to meet your baby." Hershel smiled at her.

"Oh God, I hope so." Carol gasped

"Let's take a peek" Hershel smiled. Daryl helped her out of her underthings, but when he lifted the blanket he gasped.

"Hershel! She's…. God, Hershel! She's bleeding a lot!" Daryl backed out of the way

Hershel moved at her feet and frowned.

"Carol honey, I am going to see how far we are dilated, but you are bleeding pretty badly." He smiled bravely at her.

Daryl immediately started crying. He wasn't even aware he was doing it; the tears just were rolling down his face.

Hershel removed her undergarment and carefully checked her cervix.

"Thank God, Carol you are at a 10, you can push." Hershel turned to Daryl "Son, come hold her legs, we need to get this baby our as quickly as we can." He looked back at Carol "Sweetheart, I want you to push as hard as you can, as long as you can with each contraction. Can you do that?"

Carol nodded bravely, breathing out through her mouth and closing her eyes. Daryl supported her legs and with a deep breath she pushed.

20 minutes later, Daryl Dixon's daughter slid out into the world. As soon as she was in Hershel's arms, she began to scream.

Carol smiled, laughed and then her blue eyes rolled back into her head.

"Daryl, take the baby." Hershel yelled as he quickly cut the cord.

Daryl didn't respond. He just stood there, staring at his wife, looking completely lifeless.

"DARYL! Take the baby! I have to help her. TAKE YOUR DAUGHTER! Go find Maggie!" Hershel thrust the squalling baby in his arms.

Daryl stood there with tears in his eyes for a moment and then ran as quickly as he could until he reached Maggie in the hallway.

"Maggie, Hershel. Carol…she's bad. Need…" Daryl sobbed at her.

Maggie touched his arm as she ran for the stairs. Just then a voice behind him spoke.

"I got a niece or nephew?" Merle Dixon asked softly.

"Niece." Daryl sniffled.

"Her momma gonna make it?" Merle asked not unkindly.

Daryl slid down the wall, arms around his daughter and he began to wail.

Merle Dixon did the strangest thing. He didn't call Daryl a pussy, he didn't smirk. He simply sat down on the cold cement and put his arm around his brother.

"Call her Dixie." He smiled at the tiny girl in his brother's arms. "Think you should call her Dixie."