A/N: A small update, there's more action coming next chapter, I just wanted to get this out there. Thank you to everyone who reads and leaves me love. I truly appreciate every review, fav and follow. I save them all like a geek xoxoxox. Hope you eb=njoy this fluff fest coming your way. Let me know what you think.
The tattoo parlor wasn't seedy and Daryl knew the guy, they were actually on a first name basis. His name was Jim and he had full sleeves done on his arms and gauged ears. He was a big guy, with a soft touch Daryl had told her. Daryl had been acquainted with him for quite a few years.
Carol had gotten tattoos before and she knew what to expect, but hearing that he had a soft touch was wonderful. A soft touch was always better, especially for what they were getting.
This guy did all of Daryl's tattoo's except the one he got with her. He was Daryl's tattoo go to guy.
The person who did her memorial tattoo for Layla didn't have a soft touch and she had felt the needle digging into her skin. She wanted it though, that tattoo was a symbol, and having it dug into her skin that way felt right, cathartic. It released some of the pain as the ink went into her body.
She didn't cry when she and Daryl got their tattoos, but she cried when she got the tattoo for Layla. It might have been Cat's heavy hand or the grief, she didn't know which.
The tattoo she was here for today meant something totally different, she was getting Daryl's name tattooed on her left ring finger in a wedding ring format and he was doing the same with her name. Soon she would have two tattoos related to him.
That was the way it always should have been.
It was ironic and she remembered back to the day they went for their mirror image tattoos, when she was sixteen and he was seventeen.
They had to go into Atlanta because they were both underage and no place in town would do it. They still both got into trouble for it. First for going to Atlanta without telling anyone and then for getting tattoos.
And they skipped school that day too and got busted by Merle who came home early from work and caught them as they were leaving to go to Atlanta. He just told them to get the hell going and to make sure the needles were wrapped in sterile wrapping.
Merle had a few tattoos of his own.
Her parents had a fit but there was nothing they could do about it. They didn't love Daryl, but the man that became their son in law, they would have traded that bastard for Daryl any day of the week. They didn't know what a good thing he was for Carol until she married the wrong man.
They never got to see them now, like this, so in love and happy.
They were gone now and Layla was gone. It was time for a new start.
So many years had passed and she was so grateful to be here with him, doing this again. It was like they had come full circle in her mind.
Getting tattoos together again, life was funny sometimes and you never knew where it was going to bring you.
Carol sat in the chair as Jim was doing her tattoo and she was getting choked up a little. Daryl had gotten his first and was sitting next to her on the other side holding her hand.
Jim finished her tattoo and sat back.
"Well congratulations I now pronounce you man and wife." He said letting out a huge belly laugh. "And congrats on the baby too."
He motioned toward Carol's stomach, she was clearly pregnant and already in maternity clothes. Her OB had said a small tattoo was safe enough in the third trimester and they couldn't wait any longer to do it.
They were going to the doctor in a few days for an ultrasound. They might know the sex of the baby soon, and they were so excited to find out. Daryl was like a kid, touching her stomach all of the time and kissing it. He talked to the baby every night when they were in bed. He would lay his head on her belly and tell the baby that Daddy and Mommy loved it and couldn't wait till they met for real.
"Thanks man." Daryl said reaching into his pocket to pay him.
"You two get married already?"
Daryl looked at Carol and answered carefully, the way they had been telling everyone who asked. As soon as they told people about the baby, that was the next question. Even Merle asked when the wedding was.
There wasn't going to be one. He would ask her again, he planned to, but as of right now no wedding.
"Na, we aren't going to, just this." He said holding up his hand where the new tattoo now was on his ring finger.
"Hey, whatever, Daryl." Jim said and smiled over at Carol. "I've known this guy for years.'
"Did you do those two devils on his back?"
"Yeah, when he was what? Nineteen or twenty Daryl."
"I was twenty." Daryl nodded. "Thanks man."
They walked out of the shop and onto the street hand and hand. They were as good as married to him and had been since that night he sat down next to her in the bar seven months ago.
They always belonged to each other.
There was another baby coming and she was getting used to the idea and trying not to be too fearful. Andrea had recommended two doctors to her from town. Alisha who was and obgyn and her partner Tara who was a pediatrician. Together they were helping Carol through this pregnancy. She was five months now and showing.
Alisha said there was no reason to think anything would go wrong and they would put baby Dixon on an apnea monitor at home if they felt it necessary.
Carol was at the point that she was looking forward to this baby and life was good again, after so much darkness.
Alisha said that was normal with the second one, and showing early was not uncommon. At their next appointment they could know if it was a girl or a boy.
Her divorce was going to be final soon and they had to travel to New Jersey for court. Daryl wasn't letting her go alone and her ex didn't know she was with him, or expecting a baby.
Court was in a week and no one was looking forward to it.
