Rick pulled Daryl aside when he got back in, and heard the soft cries of Jake. Rick wearily smiled.
"How is she?"
"Good." Daryl paused. "We got us a boy."
It took Rick a minute to process the news before breaking out into a genuine smile. "And Carol?"
"She's fine."
Rick felt a sense of relief. After what had happened to Lori he had thought the same would happen to Carol, but apparently not. That was a good thing. He couldn't begrudge Daryl, one of the few men he trusted to have his back, a few moments of happiness. Rick had been through enough to know that dark times were still around the corner, but if somehow love prevailed during this tough time, then who was he to stop it.
"I remember when I found out Lori'd just had a boy," Rick started. "I was in the waiting room. She'd had a tough time. But I was so excited, yet scared at the same time. It meant I had a lot of growing up to do."
Daryl said nothing, even though he understood what Rick was getting at.
"Being a father changes everything, you know," Rick continued.
Daryl didn't really want to discuss things further; instead he nodded and went off for some alone time. He needed that, after the intensity of the day. He had to process what had happened. Carol had been so sure- he'd been so sure, that it would be a girl, that the idea of him having a son hadn't crossed his mind. He'd trusted Carol to raise a daughter- she was nurturing that way. But to have a son? He'd seen how hardened Carl had become, and knew that, if he survived, Jake would be the same way. He would have to. Daryl had a lot to teach his son, but for right now, it was a day by day process and he would figure things out.
0000
Jake was a few weeks old when Carol decided to take him to visit Sophia's grave. Daryl had managed to scrounge up a few pacifiers- he could be really resourceful that way- so she took a chance and brought him outside for some fresh air. She really sat and talked to Sophia, as if she were still alive.
She made her introductions. She told Sophia how happy she'd be with Daryl, with Jake. And most importantly she vowed that she would be a better mother to Jake than she had been to her daughter. She only prayed that Sophia could forgive her for everything.
Just then a man started walking the long stretch of road that led to the farm. Carol hadn't been paying attention, but Daryl had. She didn't know that Daryl had been watching her, but this was his son for crying out loud. He wasn't about to let Carol do something stupid just because she was feeling guilt.
Daryl walked behind Carol and Jake and drew his bow. The closer the man became the more Daryl started to feel sure it was a human, not a walker. But there was something so familiar about the strut, the way the man walked and carried himself. It wasn't but a few minutes later Daryl found himself staring into the cold hardened eyes and soul of the man who'd meant so much to him- it was his brother, Merle.
Merle stared at Carol and Jake then turned his focus back on his baby brother. Merle was like Daryl. He didn't have a lot of common sense, like Daryl had, but he was smart enough to realize what was going on.
"Why if it ain't my own baby brother?" Merle grinned wickedly. "Dont' tell me you're raising someone else's kid."
The way Daryl's eyes shot to Jake told Merle everything he needed to know. "You're a daddy now? Aint that a kick in the pants!" he laughed.
"Shut up! Are you trying to get us all killed?" Daryl whispered sharply. He'd never spoken to Merle like that before, but this time there was too much at stake. "Take him in the house," he ordered Carol.
"No no no, baby boy. Let me see this fine little lad of yours. What do you know," he snickered. "You have a boy of your own. Do you know what a little wuss that kid's going to be? He's never going to survive you know."
Daryl raised his bow. He didn't know what to do, but he had to protect his family.
Merle studied Jake carefully. He did have a lot of Dixon features. "Do you really think you're man enough to take old Merle out? You ain't got it in you, boy. You ain't got shit in you. You think you can keep this kid and old lady of yours safe? You didn't even come back for your big brother."
"We did," Daryl stated angrily as he steadied his aim.
Merle continued to snicker. "You're nothing but a little punk. Daddy was right to teach you a lesson now and then. Hell if you were my kid I would have knocked a little sense into you. I don't think that would have done any good. You've never been any good. You're a rotten, stupid, failure of a boy. That's right, I called you boy. You ain't no man. If you were you'd never bring another Dixon into this world. You think you got what it takes to take care of a family? You ain't got nothin', Daryl. Daddy was right. He always said you'd amount to nothin', and that's what it looks like. So you got some fast little swimmers. That don't mean shit."
Instead of eying Jake, Merle's attention turned to Carol. "Well well, look at you little lady. So you're the one who's been enjoying the company of my baby brother. You know what you did? You made him weak. He's gonna die because of you letting yourself get knocked up. You'll have blood on your hands lady. Not just of Daryl's but of your kid. Do you want that? I don't," he started to laugh. "I tell you what. You let me take that kid off your hands. You know I can protect him better than Daryl ever could. Do the right thing and ain't nobody gotta get hurt."
Carol looked at Daryl, frightened.
"Stay away from my family," Daryl ordered.
"Your family? Your family? You really think you got the brains to raise a family? You didn't even finish school, dummy. What do you know about kids?" He started to walk towards Carol, who was frozen in fear.
The baby sensed his mother's tension and began to cry.
"You hear that? He's gonna get you all killed. Tell you what...if you ain't man enough to do the right thing by this son of yours, I'll help you out."
With that, Daryl's bow hit it's aim, and both Carol and Daryl stared at what he'd just done. Daryl walked up and kicked the body, just to be sure, but there was no question as to what Daryl had just done.
"Look what you made me do, you stupid woman." Daryl shook his head then walked back into the house angrily.
Carol couldn't believe what had just happened. There was no way Daryl would forgive her for putting their son in danger. It was just that she had had to see Sophia, to let her know about Jake.
She quickly ran to the house to find the safety of her and Daryl and Jake's room, and this time she did not shed a tear. Merle wasn't worth it. But Daryl was worth everything to her and Jake. If only there were some way she could make him realize it.