Thirteen months is a long time by any stretch of the imagination. In a different life, that was the amount of time it took her to figure out the sort of man her ex-husband really was. It was enough time for her to get pregnant and give birth to her child only to realize that the father wanted nothing to do with her. But the past, as they say, should stay there and she's learned not to bring up things that don't matter in the least anymore.
In this new life, the one that she built from the ashes in that tiny house with it's white picket fence and tire swing, thirteen months is still a long time. Enough time to settle and decide and love. Enough time to realize that she isn't alone in the world anymore. She's got a family now and yeah maybe they're all defined by their pasts, but that doesn't have to be the case for their future. The asshole, the drifter, the would-be orphan, the ex-wife. They all have their place. Their family is small and just a little bit out-of-whack, but they are none of them broken beyond repair. And it's from the torn down remains of their old lives that they build a new one. It's from that old life that they make a new family and bring another soul into the world.
"Baby bro, I got somethin' to say to ya," Merle says one afternoon. They're lounging in the late afternoon son watching Sophia chase butterflies, cold beers in their hands and conversation flowing as it's apt to do nowadays. It's a welcome change from the men they used to be, the kind of brothers they used to be.
"Go on and say it then," Daryl shoots back with a good-natured grin.
"You ain't gonna like it, but I think Carol's still got another lil one itchin' to come out. She been a real hell-cat ever since you brought her home."
"It's probably just you, Merle. She's been nothin' but nice to me," Daryl replies, shooting him a look over his beer. Merle rolls his eyes and shifts in his chair so he can lay his head back and close his eyes.
"Yeah I bet she's been real sweet on you. She was in the hospital for what? A week and a half? Hell of a long time to be away from each other, if ya ask me."
"Christ, Merle, watch what you say in front of my daughter," Daryl says, ears turning pink at the insinuation in his brother's voice. Even if it is true, there's no need to go around bragging about it. When Merle doesn't immediately say anything else, the silence fills the space between their chairs and it only takes him a moment to swivel his head. Alarm clear in his eyes to anyone. They just stare at each other and it's a rare moment because Merle's eyes have never been this clear, have never said so much before. They contain all the things that he won't ever say, could never say because of the way they were brought up. Things like I'm proud of you and I'm so happy that you have a family now. But Daryl can see it, clear as day, and he just claps his brother's shoulder in understanding and happiness.
Just then, there's a beep from the front gate that has all three of them jumping to their feet and rushing over to the waiting Cherokee Jeep. Daryl can just make out Carol's face over the steering wheel. Can't see at all the little bundle wrapped up in his car seat in the back. Not that it's the first time he'll see his son, but it's the first time he'll see him at home and there's something special about that fact.
There'd been some complications with the birth. The cord had gotten wrapped around his neck on the way out. Not to mention Carol was on the tail end of the recommended time frame for child breaing. So their son was already two weeks old and hadn't yet seen the inside of their house.
Merle swung the gate open, letting Carol drive up into the yard. She parked and Daryl was already on the door handle, Sophia waiting at his elbow with wide eyes and an excited grin that matched his own. Carol laughed at the two of them from the front seat, swinging around to watch them. Merle hung back a bit, watching the family that had come to mean more to him than his own hide, something he never thought possible after the life that they'd all had.
Daryl opened up the car door and took in the sight of his child, his little fist scrunched up beside his face and his blue eyes swiveling between the three familiar faces looking at him. Daryl reached inside, gently undoing the car seat straps and finally, finally pulled him out. He stepped back from the car and Sophia was right there, her fingers reaching out to her brother's hand. He latched onto her pinky, his eyebrows furrowed in consternation. It was only when Carol sidled up beside Daryl and put her arms around her family that he smiled. His entire face broke out into a grin that had them all smiling with true joy, all of their hearts swelling with love. Even the hardened man with the heart of gold that was kept so closely guarded behind a steel wall built up through a lifetime of disappointment.
A/N: So, again, this has been a long time coming. I really hope that I didn't disappoint you guys. And hey to everyone who thought that Carol being overly emotional in the last chapter meant she was pregnant, great job! I wasn't sure if I was headed in that direction when I wrote the last one, but I left it open so that I could go there if I wanted. It turned out pretty well I think. And surprise, surprise, I'm actually thinking about doing a sequel! I don't know if I'll post it here because it won't be Caryl-centric, but they'll still feature pretty heavily I think. If you want to learn more about the project, please visit my Tumblr (darylldixonn) to do so.
Thank you all so, so much, for reading this story and being so encouraging. It never would have become this if not for all of you, especially to my fantastic reviewers. I've appreciated your words more than you can ever know. Thank you for enjoying this story. I really hope you follow me in this journey with the sequel!