A/N: I have been on a roll finishing up some of my older stories that ran their course. I am about to slow down greatly with writing because school is going to be taking over my life again. I constantly have new ideas running through my head and lately get a lot of satisfaction from one shots. Thank you to everyone who reads and leaves nice reviews. I love you

Daryl leaned over to Sophia and looked directly into her eyes, his own eyes. He never got tired of looking at her. She was the best of both of them and the most important person in his life now.

This child had changed his life in a short time and showed him how much you could love something you didn't even know you had. There was a saying about children not being accidents, but surprises you didn't know you wanted.

This was what Sophia was, the biggest best surprise of his life.

He knew this was a question that he and Carol needed to address together but she was a little girl. Her innocence in asking him the question pulled at his heartstrings and reminded him just how precious she was and life was.

There was a time when he had no regard for life, his or anyone else's.

He loved her so very much and he didn't want to fuck this up.

"Do you think I should ask her?" He said to her and she grinned and nodded.

He leaned over closer to Sophia as if this was their little secret. It was in a way, but he would be bringing someone else into it very soon.

"Now?" He whispered to her.

"No, silly, you have to get a ring." Sophia said. "The boy gives the girl a ring and gets on his knee."

"Oh." He said playing the game and letting her tell him how to propose to Carol. "Can you help me, after I get a ring?"

She nodded her head vigorously. Her pigtails bobbing and ribbons flying around her sweet face.

He looked up and Carol was coming back to the table so he made the shhhhh sign to Sophia.

"What are you two up to?" Carol asked as she sat down.

"Nothin Mamma, just eating my pancakes." Sophia said grinning at Daryl.

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"You still have Mamma's ring?" Daryl said to Merle as they sat on their front porch later that night after their NA meeting. It was a quiet night and truth be told, Merle was waiting for this question since they found out about Sophia.

He had spent the day with Carol and Sophia and then hooked up with Merle for the meeting at six. Merle knew he had something on his mind, he had been jumpy all night and it wasn't from the coffee. Merle just waited for Daryl to spill his guts like he always did.

They sat on the porch and drank coffee almost every night after their meetings. It was a welcome change from the way it used to be.

That had been no fun for anyone.

Merle trying to get high and not being able to get as high as he wanted because he had to look out for Daryl, who did crazy shit when he was high. Merle had to always stay just a little bit straight, if there was such a thing to make sure Daryl stayed out of trouble.

Daryl picked fights with big dudes and hit on every girl in sight, Merle had a lot to deal with back in the day.

"Still in the safety box at the bank. I never took it out cause you know, we woulda sold it for dope." Merle replied. That was the sad truth and he knew it. If they had taken that ring on their journey it would be gone now.

"Can I give it to Carol? Were you thinking of it for you someday?" Daryl asked. Merle was seeing someone now and Daryl didn't want to step on his toes.

"It's serious then? You're going to ask her?" Merle said lighting his cigarette and passing the pack to his brother. Daryl lit it and inhaled deeply.

"Yeah." He said taking a drag from his own cigarette. "Don't know how, or when, but I wanna marry her, be a real family."

"I don't think she's going anywhere. If that has you worried." Merle said. "She would have by now, kicked you out on your ass."

"No, I know that I just, she's what I've been looking for all my life." Daryl said. "Had to travel all over the country just to come right back to where I started."

"Funny how that works hmm, brother." Merle said. "You think she wants to marry you?"

"Probably not, but I'm asking anyway." Daryl said and that was when Merle knew he was serious.

For all his words and bravado Daryl was never one to take chances in life and Merle knew that. It was what kept him from getting close to anyone, ever.

It kept him from getting close to her when they were younger.

He pretended to not need anyone but underneath all that he was just like everyone else, who longed for acceptance and somewhere he belonged. He wanted love and someone to share a life with.

"You ask her brother, whenever you're ready, she aint going nowhere."

Daryl nodded because he knew it too neither he or Carol was ever going anywhere without the other again.

The End