Lori stood by Carol's side as maid of honor. She looked over at Merle who was standing up for his brother as best man. His face she thought was a perfect mirror of how everybody was feeling at this moment. Carol had walked down the aisle on her daddy's arm, walking on a blanket of petals that had been thrown down by the flower girls Ella and Sophia. The little girls and ring-bearer Carl were encouraged by the couple to sit and relax on some comfy floor pillows during the ceremony. They were, but were just as enraptured by what was now occuring as all the adults in the room were. The vows were about to begin.

"I have a good feeling in my heart about the union of Daryl and Carol" Hershel began. "While nothing of their love story is traditional or common, it is true and strong. In that fashion, I am proud to say that the bride and groom have chosen to speak from their hearts, and share their own vows, written independent of each other."

"Keep it clean little brother" Merle said just loudly enough for the guests to hear. The resultant loving chuckles were not unwelcome.

Hershel just shook his head at Merle, smiled, and said "Daryl, you have elected to pronounce your love to Carol in vows first. Please share with her your eternal promise in words from your heart."

Daryl nodded, took a deep breath, and looked at his bride to be. When coming up with his vows, he wanted to make sure to get across everything in his heart and mind regarding his love for her and Sophia. "Carol. In the short time we have known each other, our lives have been on the fast track. Meeting, falling in love, meeting family. It may have been our daughter's who pushed the idea of combining our families so quickly, but even that soon into our relationship, I was holding back doing the same thing. The second I met you, everything just fit for me. You are smart, beautiful, sexy as hell. You are sassy to my snarky, and the cool head to my hot one. You are a mother to both of the beautiful daughters we bring to this marriage. You are a partner to me in every way a man could possibly desire. You aren't the ball and chain, you are my tether to the world. You make me the happiest I have ever been in my life. If you will have me, I would love nothing more than to give you just as much in life and in love that you give me. I love you. Now, I will let Hershel talk for a minute to get to the formal stuff."

Hershel looked at Daryl with something akin to awe and respect. He nodded slowly and then began the formal vow that Daryl would speak. "Daryl, please hold Carol's' hand in yours, place the ring on her finger and repeat after me. 'I Daryl take you Carol to be my lawfully wedded wife.'"

"I Daryl take you Carol to be my lawfully wedded wife."

Hershel continued "To have and to hold from this day forward. In sickness and in health, and until death parts us."

"To have and to hold from this day forward. In sickness and in health, and until death parts us." Daryl then slipped the wedding band onto Carol's finger.

"If this is your sacred vow Daryl, please say 'I do'".

"I do."

Carol was shiny eyed, with tears threatening to fall. She was smiling a full on smile that reached every part of her face.

Hershel turned to Carol. "Carol, you have elected to pronounce your love to Daryl. Please share with him your eternal promise in words from your heart."

Carol moved closer to Daryl and grasped his hands in hers. Daryl, until I met you I never knew true love. Everything before was a poor rendition of what real love is. That real love that we have is the most precious thing to me. You made that possible. You are everything that I never dared hope that I would have. That I would even deserve. You showed me that I have the ability to love. The love I found with you is the stuff that fairy tales are made of. By loving each other so fiercely we have made that fairy tale come true. You, me, Ella, Sophia – all of us together is our future. It is a future that both of us will make wonderful by our love. You are a partner to me, and I am a partner to you. Equal in every way. I never believed in soul mates until I met you. We complete each other. We will be there when the other falters, and when the other succeeds. I will love you through all of it. I love you so much Daryl. I can't wait to be your wife."

Hershel spoke up then and said "lets get the formal stuff out of the way then Carol. Place the ring on Daryl's finger and repeat after me. 'I Carol take you Daryl to be my lawfully wedded husband'."

"I Carol take you Daryl to be my lawfully wedded husband."

Hershel continued "'To have and to hold from this day forward. In sickness and in health, and until death parts us.'"

"To have and to hold from this day forward. In sickness and in health, and until death parts us." Carol then slipped the wedding band onto Daryl's finger.

"If this is your sacred vow Carol, please say 'I do'".

"I do."

It gives me great pleasure to introduce to all those present Mr. & Mrs. Daryl Dixon."

The gathered friends and family started to clap, whoop, and generally begin to quietly celebrate from their seats.

"You may now kiss your bride Daryl."

Daryl swooped in to meet Carol, his arms wrapping her as close as possible to him. He kissed her. Good lord, he kissed her with everything in him. When they pulled apart, he gathered her fully into his arms and held her tight.

"Carol . . . . "

"Yeah?"

"I'm all yours now baby."

"I'm all yours too love."

They were then surrounded by their two girls, who knew this was the time that their new parents were presenting them with their rings.

Carol kneeled down and took Ella's hand in hers. "Ella, I am now your step mommy. With this little ring here, I want to change that. I want to change it so I am now just your mommy. Would that be ok?"

Ella's head bobbed up and down excitedly, and Carol slipped the little ring on her right ring finger.

Daryl then kneeled down and took Sophia's hand in his. "Sophia, I know I'm not the daddy that made you. I am technically your step daddy, but just like your mama just did with Ella, I want to change things to I am now just your daddy. Would you want that?"

Sophia bit her lip and started to cry. "More than anything daddy."

Daryl slipped the ring on her right ring finger and then all four of them joined in a family hug.

They knew that they had the party to get to, but right now none of them moved. Right now, this was perfect.