Sorry I took a while to update! As always, thank you so much for reading! Enjoy!

Carol's eyes fluttered open. She felt the warmth around her. She turned and faced Daryl. Her heart had never felt this full in a long time... Since Sophia. She had her gotten her heart back and now she was giving it away again and that terrified her.
She brushed her hand across his face. She would leave nothing unsaid. Lori would want that.
Carol kissed his cheek.
"I love you..." she whispered. "So much."
She kissed his cheek again and snuggled even closer to him. She had promised herself that she would tell him how she felt and she wouldn't hold back. There was no time left for holding things back. She learned the hard way.
Carol put her head against his chest and listened to the sweet sound of his beautiful heartbeat. She closed her eyes and for the first time since Lori died she smiled. She truly smiled.
Daryl opened his eyes and looked down at the beautiful woman in his arms.
"Mornin."
"Good morning." She kissed his lips for a long time. She didn't want to ever stop kissing those lips.
He smiled, confused. "What's this all about?"
She shook her head. "Nothing."
He moved a short stray piece of hair out of her face.
She held his hand and kissed it.
"Daryl... I love you."
He stared at her. He wasn't expecting that... Shit she knew she shouldn't have said it. She just had to go and screw everything up. Damn it.
"I'm sorry... I... I didn't mean to make you... I mean I just... Shit... I'm sorry." She covered her face with her hands.
He smiled. "Carol... I love you too."
She looked at him and he stared into her glossy blue eyes.
For the first time he didn't even feel the urge to freak out. He was perfectly content with loving her and she loving him.
"You do?"
"Ya."
"You love me?"
He chuckled. "I love ya."
She laughed. "Oh my god.."
"Come here." He pulled her close to him.
He kissed her passionately.
"We got a little bit of time before Maddie comes up to sleep..."
"Well I think we should use that time very wisely..." She pulled him close and kissed him. She had never felt this need before, this need to be with someone. She loved this man so much.

Maddie watched the sun go down. It was so pretty. She knew that it was a gift from Lori.
She really hoped that Lori was in heaven with Carol's daughter and her mommy and daddy. That was all she could do... Hope. She didn't even know if she believed in heaven anymore. If god was so good why would he do something like this? She hated to think like that, she knew her parents would be disappointed, but she couldn't help it.
"That's a beautiful sunset huh?"
Maddie heard Rick's voice.
She turned and stared at him. She had no clue what to say.
"Yes..."
He grinned.
"I'm sorry about your wife."
He nodded. "Thank you."
"Your daughter is really cute. You should see her."
"I can't."
"It might make you feel better."
Rick appreciated Maddie's pure kindness. Something about talking to her made him feel somewhat better. She had a spark about her, she could make anyone happy just by looking at them.
"Maybe."
"Trust me. I was really sad but then I looked at Judith and she made me feel like things are okay."
"Judith?"
"Yeah that's what Carl named her."
"That's a good name."
Maddie nodded.
"Carl's one hell of a strong kid huh?"
Maddie nodded again.
"And so are you. Maddie... You've been through so much and you just... Your still here, smiling. How do you do it?"
"You just cover up your tears with bunches of smiles."
Rick smiled. That was the best damn advice a six year old could ever give. He would always remember that.
"Thank you Maddie..." He looked at the sky, the sun had set and the night sky was starting to form.
"You're welcome." Maddie smiled.
Rick felt small arms wrap around him. It took him a while before he realized that Maddie was hugging him.
He hugged her back and he let a few tears fall. This was one of those beautiful moments that people talk about.

Carol walked downstairs and found Maddie in the kitchen, sitting at the table drinking a glass of water. She was staring out the window.
"Sweetie it's time for bed."
"Okay." She continued to stare out the window.
"What's wrong baby girl?"
Maddie pointed at the patch of dirt where the barn used to be.
Carol stared at her confused.
"Look." Maddie simply said.
Carol went to the window and couldn't believe what she was seeing. Tears immediately filled her eyes.
"Oh my god..."
She looked at Maddie who had a giant smile across her face.
Carol grabbed Maddie's hand and they both ran outside to the patch of dirt.
They stopped right where the grass ended. They just stared.
Carol put her arms around Maddie and pulled her close.
The patch of dirt was filled with beautiful green plants, the start of flowers.
Daryl watched from the window, his two girls holding each other close. He thought about going out there to be with them but he didn't want to ruin this moment between the two of them. He just continued to watch from the window.
Carol knew what Daryl had done for her and that made her love him even more than she already did. She turned around and saw his silhouette in the window. She felt the power of his eyes focused on her.
Carol and Maddie walked back to the house hand in hand.
When they got to the porch Carol told Maddie to head up to bed.
Maddie did as she was told and Carol went into the kitchen.
"You're amazing."
Daryl looked up from his place at the table. "Huh?"
"I love you so much. I know what you did... With those flowers."
He shifted uncomfortably. "Did ya like 'em?"
"Daryl... I love them."
She moved closer to him and she sat in his lap.
He cleared his throat. "Carol... You... Your the best damn thing that's ever happened to me."
Her breathing started to slow and her heart started to race. Those simple words... They meant the world to her.
"I love you so much Daryl... So much."
He blushed. "I love you too."
She kissed him.

Maddie climbed into bed and snuggled under the covers. Things felt peaceful and she didn't know why... Things should've felt far from peaceful.
Maddie stared at the wall. She couldn't stop thinking about Lori and that place called heaven.
Maddie recalled those Sunday morning when her mother would wake her up for church.
'Wake up sweet girl.' Images of her mother shot through her head. Her mothers beautiful brunette hair and her stunning green eyes. 'Always remember, mommy loves you.'
Those were the words she missed the most. Her mothers famously overused saying. She missed hearing that.
'Madeline, you are daddy's little girl.' Her daddy's voice was suddenly in her head. 'I love you sweet pea.' Maddie squeezed her eyes shut.
"Go away go away go away."
She wanted those memories to disappear. It hurt too much to relive them.
She wondered why she had to remember this. What good would it do now? Her parents were gone and she had finally moved on... She'd found new parents... Amazing parents. But no one to compare to her mommy and daddy.
She watched the door crack open as Carol walked in. She pretended to sleep. Carol got into bed and snuggled up with Maddie.
Maddie was starting to love Carol and Daryl, truly love them. She was terrified of that love. She was scared of loosing the people she loved, just like her parents.
She started to cry silently so Carol wouldn't hear.

The next morning Carol woke up with Maddie snuggled next to her. Carol kissed her forehead and got dressed. Carol put her knife in her pocket and hooked her gun on her belt.
Carol heard Judith crying, she went into Rick and Carl's room and picked up the baby.
"Good morning sweet heart. I know you're hungry."
She rocked Judith in her arms.
She went downstairs and made a bottle for Judith and started making breakfast. She wanted to get back into normal routine as soon as possible. That was the best thing for everyone.
The sunlight was beaming through the window on Judith's face. It was beautiful. For the first time Carol truly looked at the baby. She stared at her.
Judith was the most beautiful baby that Carol had ever seen.
In that moment she felt so much love for the baby, an overwhelming amount. She kissed Judith on her head.
"I'm not going to let anything harm you, ever. I promise."
Judith stared up at Carol with those big brown eyes.
"You look just like your mommy. Your mommy was an amazing woman and I will tell you about her someday when you're old enough to understand."
The baby kept staring. Carol laughed.
She knew this baby would be just fine. All of Lori's fears suddenly seemed to disappear.
"Just fine." Carol whispered.