Time went on, and relationships were moving forward for the better, Rick and Michonne were now living together, and the guest bedroom was now Carl's room for when he stayed over from time to time. Phillip and Andrea were closer, and he was closer to Brian now too. Daryl had proposed to Carol after Christmas, and she did say yes. He told his father, and he got the response he knew he would. He still didn't know why he was visiting the man.

On the worse side of this coin, Ed began to hound Carol day and night on her cell phone, and she wasn't telling Daryl. Daryl was getting worried as Carol got more and more distant, and Sophia was caught in the middle of it. When they fought, they were practically demanding her to pick a side. Tension was burning high, and all Daryl wanted to do was drink, but he couldn't. He wouldn't. Merle had sobered up recently, and he threatened to beat Daryl's ass if he even took a drink of alcohol. Everything was blurring, and the days were getting darker faster. It was a good time for murderers and kidnappers.

––

"Talk to me! That's all I'm askin' you to do!" Daryl shouted.

"I don't want to talk and keep your damn voice down. Sophia's studying." She turned her back to him as she prepared dinner.

"Carol, please." He was torn up inside. He'd been trying to deal with everything, but he couldn't. He needed her, needed to hold her and talk to her, but she kept pushing him way. He didn't understand. He wrote it off as hormones, but it wasn't. She was acting too secretive.

She couldn't cave. She couldn't. It hurt her so much to hear him break, though. She wanted to cry and scream and kill Ed, but she couldn't. She had to be strong. She had to be. "Don't you have a murder to work on? People are dying while this psycho is on the loose. Go help Rick." She covered her mouth to keep any whimpers from escaping.

"Damn it, Carol, talk to me! Stop cookin'." He grabbed the bowl from her and set it on the table, grasping her wrists. "Why're you cryin'?" He searched her cloudy blue eyes. "You needa talk to me. You got me scared as shit. What the hell's going on?"

"It's Ed," she whispered, caving. "He's been harassing me."

"What? How?"

"He keeps calling my phone, and I've changed the number four times, but he keeps calling. I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I was trying to deal with it myself."

"Carol, your shit is my shit, okay? Tell me what's goin' on. What does he say?"

"Nothing. He just calls and when I answer, it's silence. But...the last time...I think he killed Boomer."

"The dog?" He frowned. "Why?"

She pulled her phone open and found the message. She played it, and distantly, there was a dog's whimper.

"No, it ain't dead. Probably wounded, but not dead. I'll have Martinez go and check on the dog, if it makes you feel better." He lifted her chin up. "Tell me what's going on with you, woman."

She nodded. "I know you've been stressed out, and I didn't want to add to it."

"You don't need to be stressed out, okay? I'll handle the stress for the next few months, all right?"

"I love you." She smiled.

"That's not an answer."

She laughed. "Okay. You can handle
the stress."

"Thank you." He kissed her. "Go lie down. I'll make dinner."

"No. I'm working tomorrow, and I have to make sure Beth and Sophia have something to eat." She stepped back. "You can help Lilly though."

"I ain't plannin' no wedding. You already got four women workin' on it. I'd probably screw it up, and you'd kill you."

She laughed. "Only a little."

"I'll help you cook."

"Should we invite Merle to dinner?" she asked softly.

Merle had cleaned himself up after nearly killing himself with drinking when Amy lost their baby, but he avoided everyone. They hadn't seen him since Christmas. Sophia's called and went to his door so many times, but he never answers or returns her calls. They know he's going to work, and he had his place redone, because they saw the men moving out Amy's couch and bed, but they didn't see him. He's always gone. Daryl was worried. Hell, they all were.

The front door flew open. "That bitch!"

"Merle?" Daryl and Carol turned and found Merle in a white wife beater and loose work pants. The same old Merle, only without a bottle of booze.

"She done hooked up with a rich boy." He sat down and tossed a magazine down on the coffee table.

"She? Amy?" Carol picked up the magazine and found an article of Phillip's New Year's Eve party. Andrea was holding Brian with Phillip's arm around her in one of the pictures, and another was of Amy and one of Phillip's partners, David Crowley. "Did you read this by any chance?"

"No. Why?" He stood up. "What's it say, Mousy?"

"Nothing." She held it to her chest. "I have chicken baking."

"Mousy, tell me what it says."

She bit her lip. "She's engaged to him."

He laughed. "Engaged? Hell, she pregnant too?" Carol averted her eyes, and Merle felt sick. "Moves on quick, don't she?"

"It wasn't a relationship, you said that yourself at...some point." She shrugged a shoulder. "Now you have closure."

"Closure on what? Ain't like I loved the bitch." He checked the time. "You said chicken?"

She smiled. "Set the table, and you can eat with us."

"Makin' me work hard for my dinner. Baby's makin' you evil."

She giggled. "Sophia! Uncle Merle's here!"

"Really!" She opened her bedroom door. "Uncle Merle!" She bolted down the stairs and tackled him. "I missed you so much!"

"Missed you too, Lil' Dixon. Go set the table for ol' Merle."

"Okay."

"No, no, no." Carol grabbed Sophia by the back of her shirt. "Merle. You're making an eight year old do your chores. Do you know how sad that is?"

"Used to make Daryl clean the gutters in rain when he was five, this ain't nothin'."

"What?" She looked at Daryl.

"I was five, thought it was cool to do what my big brother did." He shrugged.

"That's insane and also cute. Did you do a good job?"

"Why does it matter?"

She smiled suggestively at him, and he blushed.

"Hell, I ain't hungry now." Merle groaned.

They laughed, Sophia didn't get it, and Merle set the table. Daryl made sure Carol got enough to eat, Merle ate all of chicken and rice and green beans, and Sophia had made brownies earlier that night, so they had them with coffee. As Carol was pregnant and Sophia hated coffee, they had milk.

They still needed to talk, but Carol could see that she and Daryl had worked through most of their tension. And they were laughing. Daryl never let of her hand through dessert as Merle told a story of how he got arrested for assault. Carol begged him to stop, but Sophia and Daryl were laughing so hard. She loved to see them like this.

Looking down at her hand that Daryl held, she recalled his proposal.

––

Carol was having a horrible day. Karen cussed Daryl out when he came to get her from lunch, called Carol a whore and then nearly throw a dictionary at Carol's stomach. She kind of froze after that and stormed out of the library. Daryl wanted Carol to quit right then and there, but she couldn't. With the baby and money being a bit tight right now, they needed both incomes.

After dropping her off at the library, he left the car and walked to the park to get some air, so she was driving home alone. She'd rather he drive. She got so tired after dealing with noisy kids and teenagers that made out in the stacks. A lot of them were near third base, and it was disgusting. She'd eventually just got a spray bottle and squirted them out of the library.

Once Lilly got there at eight, Carol went home. Sophia was over at the Samuels' since it was the last few days before school started, and Lizzie was overly zealous about Sophia coming over. Carol suspected it had to do with Carl, but Sophia didn't want to tell her. She promised to keep it a secret, so Carol respected that, glad to see Sophia was respecting Lizzie's privacy. It made her proud.

When she got home, Patch grabbed her by the purse and tugged her toward the stairs. She removed her jacket and purse and found a trail of flower petals that lead to the roof. She followed it and found Daryl on the roof with the same setup as the night they first made love. He was all dressed up in a tux, half-smiling at her expression.

"Is there a holiday or anniversary I forgot about?" She walked over to him. "I'm nervous. What's going on here?"

"Been thinkin' 'bout this a long time." He met her eyes. "I ain't good with words or my feelings, but I love you. I ain't never loved a woman like I love you. You're nervous? Hell, every morning I wake up to you, I'm nervous. I'm scared you might leave or I might do somethin' stupid and scare you off. It hit me when Amy lost her baby, that that coulda been you. Not just miscarryin', but losin' your life. I can't always protect you, but I can always love you and be there for you. I don't want nobody but you, and I'd be real honored if you would be my wife."

"What?" She was trying really hard not to cry.

"I'm askin' you to marry me, Carol." He shifted onto his knee and took her left hand in his gently. "Will you be my wife?"

She lowered herself down on her knees and met his eyes. "You really want to marry me?"

"No, this is a joke."

"You are not funny!" She hit him with her fists, he fell back from the weight shift, and he held her shoulders so she didn't crash into him. She moved his hands and was now straddling him, her eyes searching his."I meant that. I have to know that you mean it. Do you want to marry me because you love me or because of the baby?"

"It was 'bout the baby, at first, but...now it's 'bout me not wantin' to live without you or Lil' Dixon. Y'all are my family now too, and I need you." He reached up and caressed her cheek. "Marry me."

"Those were the most words you've ever said in entire your life, isn't it?" she teased.

"You're killin' me, woman."

"Daryl, I was yours when you told me to have a nice evening." She kissed him deeply, sliding her fingers into his hair. "I'd be honored to be your wife, Mr. Daryl Dixon."

He rolled her onto her back and pulled the ring from his jacket. "I love you, Mrs. Daryl Dixon."

She gasped and he sat back. "Where did you get this?" She met his eyes. "This is the ring I wanted to get when Ed and I went ring shopping. I'm glad I didn't. God, Daryl." She started to cry. "You are so perfect."

He half-smiled at her and took her hand, slipping the ring onto her left ring finger. "I know I ain't been completely honest 'bout my past and I ain't good with my emotions, but I'm gonna need you to bear with me."

"In sickness and in health," she mused.

"You gonna tell Rick first?"

"Maybe." She smiled at him. "But I was hoping to break in my ring. It might slow me down. I just need to adjust to the weight."

"I was thinkin' the same thing." He rolled her onto her back and kissed her—

––

"Mom? Mom?"

"Hmm?" She blinked and found them all watching her. "W—what?"

"I was asking about your ring. You never told us." She met her eyes. "I'd like to hear it."

She smiled, and Daryl shifted his hand to her knee. She began to retell the story, Merle was trapped by Carol's chair and the wall, so he had to the mushy shit, and Sophia loved the way her mother smiled, blushing at the way Daryl watched her. There would be a baby at this table, she thought happily. Yay!

– – –

"I'm not the Queen of England." Amy got chased by Andrea through the ridiculously large house of David Crowley. "I'm only pregnant and engaged. I'm only engaged, because I'm pregnant. I'm only pregnant, because—"

"Amy, honey, calm down." Andrea ran ahead and cut her off. "It's a dinner party, and you can't wear sweats and a tank top. We know you have breasts, but showing them off at every event is getting old. Once you have one kid, you'll have another, and they'll suck the meat right outta of them, so ignore my last sentence."

She giggled. "I'm wearing my satin green evening gown, and my cleavage will be showing."

"Let me help you get ready. Phillip took Brian for the day, and I have nothing to do."

"Okay. I have to take my preggers vitamins, but then I am all yours." She opened the door to her room and winced.

Mama Crowley was in there, and Andrea pushed her inside. "Where have you been? I told you to get a schedule for these vitamins." She handed them to Amy with a glass of water.

"I'm sorry. Vomit controlled my morning. Someone brought tuna up here. I hate tuna when I'm not preggers." She took the vitamins and nearly gagged. She groaned and finished the water.

"You have a busy day ahead of you, young lady." Mama Crowley took the empty glass, Amy swallowed, and Andrea crossed her arms. "You have to exercise with Mitchell after you. You have to have lunch with wedding planner—you aren't dieting, so eat more than side salad—and you need to rest before the dinner."

"Wow, my day is jam packed full of fun!" She turned to Andrea. "Hey, sister, kill me before I die of excitement! I mean, Mitchell! Oh, my gosh!"

Andrea snorted and covered her mouth, and Mama Crowley glared.

"I—I'm sorry. I am excited. I can plan my own wedding, and I certainly can design my nursery when the time comes. It's my baby, not yours. I appreciate the suggestions, but I think—"

"That's where your problem is: don't think. You got the baby and a pretty face, that's all you need." She left the room. "Ten minutes!"

"That bitch! Hey—Andrea!" Amy complained when Andrea's hand came down over her mouth.

"Shh." She shook her head. "You're the one who got drunk and had sex with the first man that came at you. You can't go off on his parents, because you weren't safe. I know how much you want a baby, especially since what happened on Christmas—"

"You swore not to talk about that anymore," Amy whispered, her hand leaving her stomach.

"I'm sorry. I—You should eat. I hear there's fresh fruit."

"Mangos?"

"Yes." She smiled. "A whole ton of fresh mangos."

"Eggs and peanut butter."

Andrea gagged. "Your cravings are weird as hell."

She blushed. She liked that before the pregnancy. "Yeah, cravings." She cleared her throat. "Let me change. My jammies aren't breakfast appropriate." She rolled her eyes and disappeared into her closet. She pulled on white pants and a black shirt. She pulled her hair back, and she noticed Merle's baggy black button-down shirt hanging out of her duffel bag. She kicked it out of sight and joined Andrea.

"So, do you want a girl?" Andrea opened the back door, David and Phillip and Brian were eating their breakfasts on the veranda, and they stepped out.

"Nope. A boy, like his daddy." She smiled at him as she sat down.

They enjoyed their breakfast, Phillip left to answer his phone, and Andrea watched him as he laughed and smiled, and Amy picked up on it. David talked about work beside her, she nodded along, but didn't take her eyes off her sister, who had slowly stopped eating.

"Oh, I gotta go." He wiped his mouth and kissed Amy's cheek. "Andrea."

She waved.

"What's wrong?" Amy ate some fresh pineapple.

"I think Phillip's having an affair." She met her eyes. "He's been out at all hours, and our sex life is all but gone, and he keeps pushing me away."

"He was all over you at the benefit."

"Cameras were there." She frowned. "I feel like... He's changed. After Penny... I don't think he recovered. I think he just forced it all away."

"Have you ever talked about it?" She munched on a piece of watermelon, wiping her mouth as the juice ran down her chin.

"No. He changes the subject when I try. I've given up on him recovering. I just want my husband back." She stood up and picked up Brian. "Tell Phillip... Hell, I don't even care." She went inside.

She wiped her hands and swallowed as Phillip returned. "Hi."

"Where'd everybody go?"

"David went to work, and Brian needed to be...burped. He gets gassy otherwise."

"I should check on Andrea."

"Don't leave me here. I'll eat all of this, and my ass can't get any bigger. I won't be able to wear pants."

He chuckled. "Okay, I'll stay then." He sat down. "How've you been?"

"I'm fine." She sipped her water. "You aren't asking about my feelings, are you?"

"Losing a child's horrible, even if you didn't know your child. It must be harder on you. You were forming life, and that life was taken. You never got to hold your baby in your arms. You didn't get to feel it kick or move, just...leave." His eye hallowed. "You didn't even get to know if your little girl or boy was like you or its father. You'll never know who your baby was gonna marry and if you were gonna like the person they were gonna marry. You'll never know any of it."

"O...kay!" She stood up. "My bladder is like the size of a peanut. So—bye." She went inside and shuddered. Creepy! She rubbed her arms and jumped when Mama Crowley stepped into her path. "I know! Mitchell! I have to pee!"

"Five minutes."

"You're really going to rush me?" Amy growled. "I can't control—"

"Five minutes is fine." Andrea grabbed her wrist and led her upstairs. "Amy."

"God, Mom, I'm so sorry."

"Keep it up. I'll spank you like Mom used to."

"I want my fiancé. You're mean, and you honestly make me want to cry."

"Oh, honey, I invited fake crying to sucker Dad in. It doesn't work."

"Damn it! I hate that you're older." She opened the bathroom door. "Don't stand there. Go tend to your baby."

"I am."

"Ha ha." She closed the door.

Andrea looked around then pulled out her phone and called Glenn. "Hey, could you do me a favor?"

"What?"

"Could you hack into a locked computer?"

"Sure. Forget your password?"

"Yes." She laughed. "I have to send flowers to my uncle, and I have all of my information for the floral shop is in there." She looked down the hall as she told him what he needed to know. If Phillip caught her doing this... He might kill her.

– – –

"What're you doin'?" Maggie stumbled into the kitchen and found Glenn on his laptop.

"Andrea locked herself out of her computer. I'm unlocking it for her." He looked up. "Good morning."

She smiled and kissed him. "I'm gonna make a big breakfast. I hope you're hungry."

"I am actually."

Last night was the first night of them living together, his apartment scared her, because it was shoddy and it looked like a place where men got shot and women got raped. He already had a key to place, so last night they made it official. T-dog was going to help him move his stuff in while Maggie went to work, Beth was getting her stuff out of Maggie's guest bedroom, happy they were moving in, but mad she had to give up her second bedroom. Hershel wasn't understanding about it, but he was happy Maggie was happy. Glenn got the feeling Hershel would harm him if he ever hurt Maggie. And by harm, Hershel would fill his body with holes from his revolver. He'd shown Glenn that gun ten times when they were over for a not-but-kind-of-is Christmas dinner.

Glenn's mother loved Maggie, his sisters as well, and he knew that his mom was sizing Maggie up for a wedding dress and wanting to test to see if her womb was fertile. She actually used the term when he overheard her talking to his sisters when Maggie was checking out his old bedroom. It was scarring, but sweet. He loved his mom, but she was expecting too much. They only just moved in together, and his mom had them picking out China patterns. Yeesh.

"I'm so tired." She yawned as cracked open the eggs for pancakes. "Almost makes me miss Beth."

He smiled. "You're the one who told her just let her emotions go."

"I didn't know she'd break my coffee maker." She turned on the stove. "Scrambled, right?"

"Sure." He closed his laptop and stretched. "What time do you have to be at school?"

"Before the late bell." She smirked.

"I'll drop you off on my way."

"Field work starts today, huh?"

"Yeah." He leaned against the counter. "You okay with that?"

"No, but it's what you wanna do. I'll support you." She leaned over and kissed him. "I'm always goin' support you."

He smiled and kissed her forehead. "Ditto."

She smiled. "I've invited Dad over for dinner tomorrow."

"Maggie, he hates me."

"He does not."

"I've seen his revolver more than I ever cared to."

"That sounded so wrong. I thought I told you to keep those words in." She laughed.

"It's not my fault you're a pervert."

She giggled and covered her mouth, he took over making the pancakes, and she got biscuits from the fridge that Patricia had made, and she decided to make egg and sausage sandwiches with the biscuits.

"What?" He recognized the look on her face.

"Huh?" She lifted her eyes. "Nothin'. I—I just realized Beth lied to me."

"About what?"

"She said she wasn't going to school today, because she had to study at the library for a six weeks test, and she asked me if I could pick her up on my way home." She met his confused eyes. "This six weeks just started. Her tests are over."

"Then where is she?"

"I don't know, but I've got a few ideas." She got that guilty face as she met his eyes.

"It's okay. I can make my own breakfast."

"I'll make dinner tonight." She kissed his cheek and went to their bedroom. "Text me a list of what you want, and I'll make it."

"It's really okay. This is easy."

"God, don't jinx it and burn the apartment down." She tugged a graphic tee on and slid on skinny jeans, grabbing her phone and purse. "I'm gonna call in sick, so if you see Jeanette, tell her I'm pukin' my guts out. No, it's comin' out both ends."

He groaned. "So not hungry anymore."

She smiled and kissed him. "Don't get shot." She left the house and got in her car. She knew she would find Beth at Zach's.

And she did. It wasn't a pretty day for the lovebirds, and Maggie dragged Beth out of there. They were going to have a long talk with Dad.

– – –

Merle was sitting on the couch while Sophia used him for practice for the talent show. She'd learned how to tie a knot that couldn't be untied. She was now using it on Merle's wrists. He had nothing better to do, and he knew he could get out of it. He was going to prove her wrong. Little con artist.

Carol flipped through the mail and found a letter from her father. She set the rest down and opened it. She didn't know he knew her address. How odd.

"Anybody seen my wallet?" Daryl stepped out of the kitchen.

"I have it." She reached into her back pocket and handed it to him.

There was a loud knock on the door, Carol frowned, and Sophia jumped up and went to answer it as Merle tried to get out of her knot, because he was losing feeling in his hands. When the door opened, Amy flew inside and slammed a pile of papers into Daryl's chest.

"The hell?" Merle stood up.

"Amy?" Carol looked her over, not sure it was her.

She wore a red dress with a white jacket and knee-high boots, her hair in perfect curls, her face made up without a flaw. She looked like a celebrity. "You son of a bitch!" She slapped Daryl.

"Hey!" Carol pushed her back from him. "What the hell are you doing?"

"You knew! You knew my sister was missing!" she roared.

"Andrea?" Carol frowned. "She's missing?" She hadn't seen her since...Christmas. She got their Christmas card, and Carol sent her theirs and some gifts, but Andrea didn't reply. It was strange. Andrea always replied either via e-mail or text or a phone call. "Is it related to the killings?" Carol turned to Daryl.

"Yes, for two weeks now. I hope it's not." She crossed her arms. "Why isn't anyone looking for her? She could be dead or being gang raped or sold in some weird foreign auction thing!"

"Stop watchin' so much damn TV," Daryl told her. "And she ain't missin'."

"Yes, she is! She hasn't contacted me in almost fourteen days, and we were going to my doctor on Thursday, and she didn't show. Phillip said they were planning a trip, and now she's gone. Brian's at my house right now. Don't you tell me she's not missing!"

"Breathe, woman!" Merle shouted over her. "Damn, you get twice the lungs when you pregnant?"

"Merle, shut up," she hissed, not taking her eyes off Daryl. "Well?"

"She ain't missin'," Daryl held his hand up, "'cause we found her."

"You did?" She covered her mouth. "Is—is she okay? Is she all right? The news didn't say anything, and Rick blew me off when I did this to him. She's alive? She's alive and okay, right? Right?"

He nodded. "Ain't lettin' this son of a bitch know, but yeah. She's just fine. Got her in the hospital with guards. She was drugged, dehydrated and beaten, but she's all right."

"I'm so sorry I hit you." She hugged him. "Thank you. Thank you so much!"

He stiffened. "You're welcome."

"Can I see her?" She released him. "She missed the ultrasound. I have my first sonogram, and I really want her to see it."

"I wanna see!" Sophia ran over to her. "Lemme see! Mom's was so blurry."

"It's supposed to look like that." Carol stepped closer. "Do you have it?"

"Yeah." She reached into her purse and pulled it out her wallet. Opening it, she pulled out the picture. "It's there." She pointed it out for them.

"I don't see it!" Sophia whined. "Oh, wait, that?"

"Yes." She smiled. "Where's yours?" She met Carol's eyes.

Daryl grabbed his wallet and pulled it out, holding it out.

"Aww, it's got your curly lines."

Carol laughed. "Yours too. I hope this baby doesn't your mouth."

"I've no doubt my baby will have its daddy's mouth."

"Good, now take it and your pregnant ass back to its daddy," Merle told her. "We don't want you 'round here. Get out."

"This isn't even your apartment," Amy replied, not looking at him. "I'm friends with over half of this room, so you can go."

"Don't talk to him like that," Daryl warned.

"I'll walk you out." Carol grasped her hand. "C'mon, Sophia."

They left the apartment, Carol got the whole story of David Crowley on the way downstairs and Merle wanted to rip out of his binds and strangle Amy's attitude. Daryl tried not to laugh as Merle's face got redder and redder as he tried to get out of Sophia's knot.

"Need a knife?" Daryl asked.

"Shut the hell up, man!"