AN: alright last chapter. This is a big ball if fluff I'm warning you now. Let me know what you think :)

I do not own or profit from The Walking Dead.

Chapter 10

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"He was driving like a maniac, laughing while I screamed at him to slow down. But he wouldn't. This car came out of nowhere...and went off the road." He heard her gasp "it was your car Carol...yours and your boyfriend."

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Carol stared up at Daryl in confusion. Not quite hearing him right.

"The accident, all those years ago, the one that killed Ed...that was your Dad driving?" She asked confusion creeping into her voice. It seemed impossible, what were the chances of that happening? Of them meeting so many years later?

He squeezed her waist tightly as he clung to her body. "I'm so sorry I didn't go to the police. He always said I would get in trouble...I just needed to get away from him." His voice was muffled his face was in her neck, his hands tight on her body. She was lost in thought, all these years, she'd blamed herself, but it had been Daryl's father...a monster who killed Ed.

Ed wasn't blameless either, she knew that now. She'd taken the guilt on herself, lost so much time trying to make amends with her own heart. But all roads had lead her to this moment, with Daryl.

"Daryl.." She started only to stop when he spoke.

"Please don't hate me. I can't loose you." He murmured.

Shock courses through her, and the. Her heart tightened in her chest. They were so much alike, he took the guilt on just like she did.

"Daryl" she whispered stroking her hands down his back "I'm not upset, you're not going to loose me. I don't blame you."

He pulled back to look at her she was still perched sideways on his lap.

"You're not? You don't?" He asked his voice was shaking.

"Of course not... You're dad was a monster, and Ed I see now wasn't a good person either. They both made choices...that lead to that night. The blame lies squarely on their shoulders...only theirs." She said

His lips were on hers suddenly. A frantic ferocious kiss that he'd been holding in. He was touching her, everywhere all at once, a moan echoing from his lips.

They pulled apart panting, a smile on her face and her as lazily looped around his shoulders. He brushed the hair away from her temples slowly.

"That was a surprise," she whispered "But I think it just means this...us? Was meant to happen." She said sweetly.

"No more surprises...I promise" he said his voice gravelly.

"Well" she said with a grin biting her lip "I wouldn't say that." Carol grabbed his hand bringing it to her stomach, letting it rest on her abdomen. "There just might be one more surprise" she smiled as he stared at her in confusion "but you might have to wait nine months for that one."

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14 months later

"You're sure she's going to be there? You double checked with Andrea? Fuck why did I let you talk me into this Merle?" Daryl muttered in his seat restless as the car sped down the highway.

"Aww women love this type of shit...you should thank me. You're gonna get laid for this." Merle said with a laugh as they headed toward Andrea's house were Carol was visiting with their four and a half month daughter Sophia.

The last fourteen months had been hectic. They'd married, a small ceremony after he'd found out the news that Carol was pregnant. He'd been scared, scared shitless out of his mind, him a father?

Carol had been right there, assuring him it would be okay. He had a ring on her finger within two weeks. He'd gotten an extended leave once they were married due to medical reasons of his wife and the recent loss of his dad. The two months had flown by and they were the happiest of his life.

Carol healed, and they spent all their time together. She had a small apartment that they decided to keep for now, and he'd moved most of his stuff in. They'd also gotten an early start in getting ready for the baby. He knew he wouldn't be there for most of pregnancy, he wanted to be a part of all the pieces that he could even if that meant holding her hair while she puked.

But all good things, come to am end and he'd been sent back to Afghanistan, and offered to extend his current tour and spend the last eight months of his enlistment on base, while he decided what was next. He'd reluctantly agreed.

He'd missed Sophia's birth. He hadn't yet held his baby girl. Carol thought that he was getting home in one weeks time but when he'd found out that he was getting in one week early he hadn't been able to reach Carol and told Merle instead.

"Ah fuck let's surprise her...just like on the Ellen Degeneres show." Merle had said excitedly

"You watch Ellen DeGeneres? " Daryl asked incredulous

"Hell yeah Baby Brother, she's funny as fuck. "Merle said "I'm gonna video this too."

So here they were, on the way to Andrea's house outside the city. Andrea had decided to open a practice and had hired Carol to work in her office. She'd been a major support to Carol and had been in the delivery room, when Sophia was born, sending a video to him via skype, as he'd sat in his room and cried at the sight of his little girl.

His stomach was in a mess, a a bucket of nerves, as he approached Andrea's house. Andrea met them at the door, shushing them in the porch.

"She's on the deck" Andrea whispered.

"Alright let's get this show on the road." Merle said rubbing his hands together.

Andrea shook her head no "You stay in here...give them their moment."

"But this could go viral." He heard Merle pout as Andrea lead Merle inside. He walked to the back deck door that connected with the deck taking deep the door he saw her, standing on the deck looking out at the view, talking softly to the baby on her hip.

His heart clutched in his chest, they were so beautiful. The baby was perfection a vision of her mom. Red, gold wispy curls graced her head as she stared up at her mom intensely as her mom spoke to her. Carol had so much love in her face and her eyes. It struck him, this was his family.

She turned when she heard him "Andrea ..." But stopped when she saw him. Her free hand coming to her mouth. Her tears started to flow as she darted over to him.

"You're home" she whispered. He had her and the baby wrapped in his arms, thanking whatever chance of fate that had lead him to this moment. His future stretched out ahead of him, together with her and their baby. Alive with new possibilities, like the first dawn after a war.

The end

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Seee...fluffy, I regret nothing. My secret stress reliever when I'm sad is to watch military family reunions on you tube..it's beautiful and makes me happy. I may have incorporated that in :)