"What the hell?" Merle groaned. "You gotta be kiddin' me, Darylene."

"I'm gonna be the man our asshole father wasn't." Daryl got out of the car. "You gotta step up, bro."

"Hell, no. No pussy is worth forever." Merle followed Daryl into the store. "Sweet Jesus, it's like hell in here."

"It ain't 'bout that, Merle," Daryl kept the conversation on their unborn children. "She's havin' your baby. Yours."

"Hell, man, I ain't got time for no baby."

"You had time to knock her up. I'm surprised you ain't got hundreds of kids by now."

"I don't go in unprotected. It ain't mine," he decided.

"Merle, Amy ain't like that. It's yours."

"Hell, man! Damn it all to hell."

He looked over the rings, the clerks stared him and gave him looks as if he had a gun and was going to rob them. He did have a gun, but he wasn't going to rob them. Damn Karen.

"The hell y'all crowdin' round for?" Jacqui saw Daryl Dixon. "Daryl!" She smiled at him and went to help him. "So big. Haven't seen you in a long time."

He blushed, removing his jacket and setting it on the counter. "Good to see you."

She saw Merle hiding in plain sight. She shook her head. "How can I help you?"

"Lookin' for a ring." He met her eyes. "For Carol."

"Peletier?"

"Yeah."

"Wait here, honey." She went to the back and found the ring that Carol had originally wanted, but Ed wanted the biggest ring he could find. He replaced it on their tenth anniversary with a small one. This one wasn't too big or too small with one yellow diamond on either side of the diamond in the center on a silver band. It reminded her of a Cherokee rose. Jacqui was the only one who knew why that flower meant so much to her. She smiled to herself. Second person. Daryl knew, if he was planning on proposing.

Daryl glared at Merle. "You're an asshole."

"'Cause I ain't gonna marry the bitch?"

"She ain't a bitch!" Daryl hissed. "She's a good person, but all you see is someone to screw. Man, she had any sense and didn't care 'bout you, she'd leave your ass."

"I hope she does," Merle murmured.

"You ain't fit to be nobody's dad," Daryl informed him. "Drunk and useless. You're a simpleminded piece of shit, Merle."

"You don't know—" Merle grabbed Daryl by the back of his shirt.

"Get off me." Daryl pushed him back, but his shirt tore, and he tensed.

Merle stared in horror at his younger brother's back. "I—I didn't know he—"

"Yeah, he did." He grabbed his jacket off the counter and put it on. "That's why you left first."

"I had to leave. I—I woulda killed him."

"You know what? Go." Daryl held back his emotions. "Just go. It won't the first time you left. Not the second neither."

He scoffed. "Fine." He left the store and just walked in any direction. Daryl wasn't wrong. He thought of Amy and his...unborn child. Damn it to fucking hell!

Daryl found Jacqui behind him. "Sorry 'bout that."

"I'm used to it. You and Merle were always at each other's throats." She slid the gray box over the counter. "This is her ring."

He opened it. Yes, that was her ring.

– – –

"You even look beautiful wakin' up," Rick murmured sleepily.

"And you manage to be even more cheesy drowsy." She slid her fingers through his. "You stayed."

"I did."

They finally had that dinner. After they didn't break their case, Rick scheduled to have dinner with Michonne, but they wound up having it in his office over paperwork. She made him redo it the following night, and they've been together ever since. Rick usually left after she'd fallen asleep, because of her little girl. He didn't want her to ask why the smiling white guy was over so often for breakfast. Michonne nearly died laughing when she asked the first time, and Rick got embarrassed, because one of them had to answer. It fell on him, and he told her the biggest lie that she didn't buy at all. Michonne told her Rick was helping her to remodel the guest bedroom. It was true, but leaving out what they did in the guest bedroom while remodeling it was better for everyone.

He saw the time on his watch. "It's late. I have to get to work."

"It's only seven-thirty." She removed his watch and dropped it to the floor, leaning over and kissing him, shifting to straddle his lap.

As much as he wanted to stay, he knew they'd find him and drag him into the office today. He had to speak with Phillip Blake again. He pulled back. "Do you got plans on Christmas Eve?"

"No."

"Come to Hershel's with me. Unique can hang out with Carl and Sophia."

She pursed her lips. "I don't think I should go. Won't your ex-wife be there?"

"Yeah, but so will my son. I want you to meet him."

"Only if you have dinner with us tonight."

"I promised Carl I'd eat with him tonight."

"Are you coming over after? I have to meet someone at eight."

"I'll stop by after, if you'd like."

"Not tonight." She kissed him. "I'll make some coffee." She stood up and pulled her robe on, tying it as she went downstairs.

He sat up and got dressed, finding his boots on opposite ends of the room, one of them holding up her bra. He set it on the dresser and grabbed his phone and wallet from the dresser, sliding them into his pockets as he looked for his watch. He found it under the bed, and he fastened it as he went downstairs.

"Rick."

"What?" He stepped into the kitchen as Michonne turned up the volume to the TV. There had been another murder, and the body was so mutilated, they couldn't tell sex or race. "Damn it." He grabbed his coat and kissed her goodbye, leaving for the station.

He found everyone was working overtime, Daryl was about to go see the coroner, and Rick went with him. David told them the cause of death—a shot to the head—and they'd called in the chief medical examiner. The body was of Axel Temple. He was the man that had killed Penny Blake. Daryl knew now it was Phillip, but they needed the proof, and Daryl felt sure Phillip had an airtight alibi. They were being lead on, and that wasn't good. This wouldn't end well.

Daryl interrogated Phillip this time, Rick dealt with the tips, and Shane and Martinez looked into who might have it out for Axel, bringing in his brother and parents. They all came up with zero. Phillip was calm as he told them where he was—at home with his wife and child. Axel's parents didn't know anything, and there was no real suspect except for the one walking out of the police station, hiding the arrogant smirk on his face as he left.

"You let him walk?" Shane growled.

"I didn't let him do nothing. Asshole's got an alibi. You wanna follow him day and night, be my guest." He sat down at his desk. "The tox screen come back yet?"

"Not yet." Martinez set a cup of coffee down in front of Daryl. "Got any new leads? I just talked to Carol Peletier, but she hadn't seen him for months."

He sat back. "You brought in Carol? The hell you didn't tell me?" He stood up and went to find her.

"She's in the lounge."

He found her crying in the lounge. "Carol." He sat beside her. "I'm so sorry."

"Why did this happen? He was a good man. Troubled, but he didn't deserve this." She buried her face into his shoulder, he held her hand tightly, sliding his arm around her waist. "Please, find who did this."

"I will." He kissed her forehead. "I promise."

"You shouldn't make promises you can't keep."

Carol looked up and found Ed in the doorway, Daryl stood up and moved in front of her, but Ed wouldn't make a move. Daryl would rather be safe than sorry. Carol stood up and wiped her eyes. "What are you doing here?"

"Was anyone talking to you?" Ed glared. "You assholes called me down here to what? Watch you idiots attempt a relationship? It ain't gonna last. He'll leave you. They always do."

"Ed." Shane slammed his hand down on Ed's shoulder, making him jolt. "Room's this way." He shoved him in the right direction and gave a nod to Carol before following.

"Lemme take you home." Daryl took her hand.

"You're busy. I can walk."

"No way in hell you're walkin' home." He led her out of the room and toward the parking lot. "I gotta go anyway."

"Caleb?"

He nodded. "You ate today?"

"Amy made me lunch."

"Which was?"

"A salad and some fruit."

"That's all?" He opened the door, and they stepped outside.

"Do you know what Amy puts in her salad? She adds sliced tomatoes, chucks of chicken, almonds, shredded cheese, carrots, onions, and broccoli. She overstuffed it as well. I'll be digesting it for a week." She set a hand on her stomach. "Our baby's just as full as I am, so don't worry."

"I do anyway." He unlocked the car and opened her door for her.

"Thank you." She kissed him then sat down.

He got in and drove her to the apartment, she hadn't been feeling well, so the library gave her a few days off, and that left Sophia to tend to her. Daryl hadn't spoken to Merle since their fight, but he knew Sophia was with Merle. It was his day off, and it made Daryl calm to know Merle was close by. Blood was blood, and Carol was carrying his child. Merle would die to protect her and Sophia, whether or not Carol was pregnant.

"Be careful." She kissed him. "I'll see you for dinner?"

"I'll try." He waited until she was inside before he headed out to see Daddy.

––

Rick met Phillip at Phillip's house, Andrea was at work, and Phillip was doing a poor job of watching their son. Rick knew Andrea, so he felt comfortable enough to go upstairs and check on the crying baby. He picked him up, and the child instantly calmed down.

"Just need a little lovin', huh?" Rick smiled. "You look just like your mama." He hoped he got her mind too.

"Stealin' babies now?" Phillip glared in on Rick. "Why're you in here? In my son's nursery?"

"I know Andrea, and the boy was cryin'. If you paid him any mind, he wouldn't be."

"Put him down."

Rick set Brian down in his crib, the boy began to wail, and Rick felt horrible. "You're gonna let him cry like that? He needs affection."

"Babies need to cry," he corrected. "Come downstairs to my office."

Rick frowned at Phillip's behavior and offered a smile to the small child then followed after Phillip. He found him in his office, Phillip offered him a seat, but Rick stood. "Why'd you call me down here?"

"You don't wear your weddin' ring," Phillip noticed.

"Kicked the habit." He had the ring in his pocket. It was a reminder of Carl. The engravement was meant for him now. "What can I help you with, Mr. Blake?"

"Would people be interested to know you allow your men to pay informants? Sheriff, really?" He set a file down. "Go ahead."

He opened the file and found pictures of Shane paying off an informant. It was from a long time ago, and it was for a case Shane had closed. It was all thanks to a witness, Randall something. He didn't remember the name. It'd been about ten years. He knew Shane had closed that case too easy, but he never would've suspected this. He had to talk to him about this. Shane was his friend, even if he was sleeping with his ex-wife and got her pregnant while Rick was still married to her. He had to protect him. "What do you want?"

"Your silence." He stood up. "I know you blackmailed Ed Peletier."

"Excuse me?"

"Don't play innocent with me, Rick Grimes. You threatened to expose his other daughter, his other woman. You know who I'm talking about."

"Lilly and Meghan Chalmers."

"You keep that to yourself, and these won't see the light of day."

"You're blackmailin' me now?"

"No, this is a business deal, and I'm a businessman." He held his hand out, and Rick reluctantly shook it. "Tell Michonne I said hello."

He tensed. "You know Michonne?"

"We met a long time ago. Does she still own that little karate place?"

"She has nothing to do with this. You leave her out of this."

He smiled. "Of course. Have a nice day, Rick."

He left his office and called Michonne as he exited the Blake estate.

"Hey, I'm glad you called. I—"

"Get out of there."

"What?"

"Get out of there right now. Run."

"I have a class coming in ten minutes. I can't just leave."

"Damn it, Michonne, just trust me."

"Okay. I'm leaving now." She walked out and hurried away from the building. "Why am I—?"

A loud explosion sounded from the other end of the phone, she groaned, and he drove to her studio. He found fire trucks and ambulances blocking the road, he got out and hurried through the crowd, his heart racing as he didn't see her anywhere. He stopped breathing when he saw the building.

It was a burning pile of rubble, there was hardly anything left. Black smoke filled the sky, the firefighters were having a horrible time putting out the fire, and he overheard how they couldn't find the cause of it. He heard someone call his name, and he saw Beth and Unique in the crowd, the little girl ran toward the building, but Rick grabbed her and picked her up, holding her tightly.

"Where's Mom?" she demanded. "Where's my mom?"

He ducked under the police line, there were a lot of injured people, but one voice stood out. His worry ebbed away as Michonne told the paramedic to get out of her face. He walked over to her as the paramedic gave her some space, Unique climbed into her lap, and Michonne smiled at her, only having a cut on her forehead.

"How'd you know?" Michonne asked.

"A gut feelin'." He climbed in the ambulance and grabbed the wet cotton balls, gently dabbing it on her wound. "Stop squrimin'."

"I am." She met his eyes. "Had I known someone was going to blow it up, I would've grabbed my things."

"What did you leave?"

"My katana, a few pictures of Unique, and a few other pictures of my clients. The kids I taught."

"I'm sorry." He grasped her hand. "I'm really sorry. Had I known some asshole would—"

"Hey, I'm alive, aren't I?" She squeezed his hand. "You worry too much. You're going have gray hair before your time."

He smiled and kissed her hand. "I should go do my job, see what caused this."

"Be safe." It was Unique who said this as he climbed out of the ambulance.

"Yes, ma'am." He smiled at her then went to find the first responder. That asshole. Rick knew Phillip was a man with many faces, but to try and kill his girlfriend when Rick had given him his word. He wouldn't rest until they found proof this son of a bitch was behind it. Threaten him and Shane, that's fine. Try to kill Michonne, Rick would bury him. He would find a way to get at Phillip, and when he did, there would be no questioning of his authority.

––

Daryl sat in the dull, gray cafeteria as he waited for them to bring his father out, and Daryl turned when he heard that familiar clatter of handcuffs.

Caleb Dixon, gray-haired with matching stubble and the same eyes as Daryl, but Caleb and Merle shared almost the same face. Caleb had a stronger jaw than his sons, more square, and Caleb was built the same as Merle. They also shared a similar personality—with woman and drinking anyway—though Merle would never admit it. Daryl luckily looked more like his mother than his father, and Daryl would never become like him. He'd rather die than be like his father.

Caleb glowered at the mistake before him. "The hell you want, boy?"

Daryl didn't even know what he wanted. If he asked Carol, she would probably say he was looking for closure. He didn't know what for though. "Thought you should know you'll be a grandfather."

"Well, I'll be damned! Hey, Travis, I owe you fifty grand, my son got balls enough to make a child!" He chuckled and turned to his son. "Do the world a favor and drown the bastard."

"You got two grandkids on the way."

"Damn, I'm gone for ten years and you assholes have got two women knocked up. Hell, useless pieces of shit."

"I'm gonna marry her," Daryl told him.

"You don't marry sluts, son."

"She ain't. Her name's Carol Peletier."

"As in Ed Peletier's wife?"

"How do you know Ed?"

"I can read unlike you and your brother. He made good deal for his company and got a lot of money for it too. Where the hell's your money, Darylene?" He chuckled.

He clenched his jaw. "It's his ex-wife."

"Oh, hell, son! You're out of your mind! Assholes like you don't marry rich bitches like her. I didn't teach you shit, did I?" He shook his head. "You have more balls than brains. God, I hope she tells you no."

Daryl smirked. "She ain't gonna say no."

"Why? 'Cause she loves you?" He scoffed. "If she says yes, it's only so she ain't gotta raise the baby alone. You remember that."

Daryl gestured to the guard to take him away as he rose. "Dad, she'll say yes, because she loves me, and my child ain't a bastard. My child ain't you, and I ain't your mistake, so do the world a favor and die in your sleep."

Caleb stared and grinned. "Damn woman must be good, made you a right Dixon."

"Get out of my face." Daryl backed up and started to leave when Caleb called to him.

"If you're a right Dixon, she's gonna leave you. Good women always leave. You'd best remember that!"

He left and shook his head. "Bastard."

––

Daryl found Carol on the floor when he came home, and he ran over to her, dropping to his knees and looking her over. "Carol?"

"Hmm?" She opened her eyes. "What? Damn it, I feel asleep again." She sat up. "Sophia?"

"Yeah?" Sophia came out of the kitchen. "You're horrible at this game. I've been hiding for an hour."

"I'm sorry, baby." She stood up and checked her watch. "I'm going to bed. Order pizza, if you want."

"She ate?" Daryl asked Sophia.

"No."

"Get back here." Daryl grasped her wrist. "You needa eat. It ain't just you."

"Daryl!" She tilted her head to Sophia. "Shhh."

"What? There's a secret her. Oh, tell me!" She smiled. "Please?"

"You don't say anything." She sent him a glare before turning to her daughter. "It's—"

"She's pregnant," Daryl told her.

"Oh. My. God! I knew it!" She jumped up and down then hugged Carol and put her hand on her stomach. "When can I feel it?"

"Not for a while." She glared at him.

"Is it a boy or a girl? I have a lot of names and ideas too! I can move my stuff to the left of my room, and the baby can stay with me!"

"No, we won't know the sex for a while too. We'll worry about living arrangements when the time comes." She stroked Sophia's head. "Thank you for that though."

"I can be helpful! I'll do the dishes more and—and I'll clean!" She squealed suddenly. "Does this mean you are getting married?"

"Okay, Sophia, stop squealing. It hurts. No, we're not getting married." She laughed nervously. "That's ridiculous."

"But—but you married Ed, because you were pregnant! Why don't you marry Daryl for the same reason? We actually love him!"

Daryl did the math, and Sophia wasn't the one she was pregnant with, and judging by Carol's glare, Sophia definitely wasn't the one. "You was pregnant?"

"No. I thought it would smooth my explanation of why I married a man who I hate." She turned to him. "In our room later, please."

"Fine. Where's Patch? I'm gonna take him for a walk."

"I'll get him and my jacket." Sophia hurried upstairs and grabbed her jacket and called to Patch. Daryl leashed him as Sophia put her jacket on, and Carol started to order pizza as they left, chewing her lower lip.

"How do you feel?" Sophia asked as they walked Patch. "About being a daddy?"

"I don't know. I'm happy, real excited too, but I'm nervous. I ain't ever been a daddy, not really."

"You'll be a great dad," Sophia told him. "I wish you were my daddy."

He set his hand on her head. "I might not be your biologically dad, but one day, I will be your dad."

She grinned. "You're gonna marry her?"

"I intend to." He wasn't sure how she'd react now. She said it was ridiculous to get married just because she's pregnant. He didn't want her go through this alone, even if she had ten friends in line to help her. He was going to be there for everything he could be there for. She wasn't getting away from him. He would be a better father then his, and he would be a great uncle too. Two Dixons at the same time. God help Merle. It's a good thing twins don't run in the family.

"I want a little brother," Sophia confessed. "What do you want?"

"A healthy, happy baby." He didn't care about the rest, though he had a sinking feeling when he considered the baby being a girl. Like he was doomed. It was unsettling as hell. "You got names?"

"Yeah, but I'm not gonna tell you. Merle yelled at me."

"What? Merle yelled at you? What the hell for?"

"'Cause I wanted to name the baby Caleb. It's a cute name. I had a rabbit named Caleb, but he died."

"It wasn't you, Lil' Dixon. Merle has... We got issues with a man named Caleb. Don't you worry 'bout it."

"How about DJ? Daryl Junior?"

He snorted. "No."

"Fine. James?"

"No."

"Michael?"

"No."

"Morgan?"

"No."

"Blane?"

"No."

"Heath? Matthew? Stephan?"

"No, no and hell no. Lil' Dixon, I can name my child."

"Fine. Asshole."

He laughed. "Keep that thought to yourself, sweetheart."

"Merle says it, you say it, and even Mom says it. Why can't I?"

"Ask your mama 'bout that one."

"No one gives me an answer! I'm eight, not three!"

"You ain't grown, Lil' Dixon. Grownups use those words, and you're a kid still. Just enjoy bein' a kid."

She stopped walking. All of her life she'd tried to be older so she could help her mother out. Now everyone wants her to enjoy being a kid. She wasn't sure how to feel about it, but as long as no one looked down on her, she didn't mind. But she wasn't sure how to be a kid. She had her childish moments, so does that mean act like that all the time? Her head hurt. Just keep being Sophia, she decided and ran to catch up to Daryl. To her dad.

––

After dinner, Daryl put Sophia in bed and tuned the lights off, making sure Patch was with her before he left the room. He met Carol in their bedroom, she got ready for bed in the bathroom, he changed into his nightclothes and got into bed.

Carol stepped out of the bathroom and leaned against the door. "I was pregnant when Ed proposed to me. He didn't know, neither did my father. I—I said yes, because I didn't want to raise the baby alone. I thought he was would a good father."

He shifted to face her, she climbed into bed and into his arms, her back to his chest, his arms around her waist. He rested his chin on her shoulder, waiting.

"When he found out I was pregnant...he was happy, I guess." She set her hands over his. "But there were complications and...I was forced to terminate the pregnancy." That was the hardest thing Carol ever had to do. She didn't want to go through it, but it was at the point where it was either the baby or both of them. She prayed every single day for Sophia, especially since Ed kept coming home more and more often drunk and when he was drunk, he was violent. "Sophia wasn't supposed to know, but she kept asking me why did I marry Ed. She wanted to know why I would marry such a horrible man, and I couldn't lie anymore. I didn't love him when I married him, and I didn't love him while we were married, so I told her the truth. She still doesn't understand why her old sibling isn't here, but-"

He kissed her neck and held her tighter. "Nothing's gonna happen to Baby Dixon."

"I know." She turned and rested her head on his shoulder. "Dixons are tough, and Dixon blood runs deep."

He swallowed. That made him worry more. Dixon blood runs deep...He hoped not.