AN: alrighty...last chapter. Thank you so much for all the reviews/faves and follows. I appreciate every single one of them. All of you who read my stories and review...they give me a smile and motivate me to keep going. Last few months have been rough in real life...I've needed those smiles :) anyway let me know what you think?

I do not own or profit from The Walking Dead

Chapter 37

NINE MONTHS LATER

He loved touching her stomach...especially while she slept.

Daryl lay on his side, Carol snuggled into his front, his hands splayed out on her bulging stomach. She was so tiny it was hard to believe nine months ago that her stomach could get that big, but her pregnant belly had grown very big. He knew she was feeling pretty miserable, even though she never complained. He saw how winded she got lately just walking from room to room, or how she winced and rubbed her lower back, when she thought no one was looking but he saw it all.

He knew he'd been overprotective of her during this pregnancy, especially after what had happened with Ed, all those months ago.

Rick had been right, Ed had gone to jail, he'd been charged with multiple crimes and had received 15 years in jail with a chance of parole after eight years. Not that he would every see the light of day. Three months into his sentence he'd gotten caught in the middle of a gang fight in jail, which had started a small riot. When the smoke had cleared Ed had been dead, the only causality of he riot. Karma wasn't such a bitch after all Daryl had thought with a smirk when Rick had told him the news.

Rick and Lori had settled their differences. Apparently there had been a misunderstanding, Lori was pregnant too and Rick's friend Shane had hinted that maybe Rick wasn't the father. Lori had agreed to a DNA test that had proven Rick was the dad. Daryl had thought maybe this Shane was a bit of a troublemaking asshole. They spent more and more time with Rick and Lori and while Lori wasn't his favourite person, he liked Rick.

Rick and Lori were coming to spend the weekend with them, Carol was due in two weeks and Maggie, Lori, Andrea and Amy were planning a massive baby shower. Exactly what you needed when you were having twins.

Twins...he couldn't fucking believe it, hell he'd been shocked speechless when they'd found out at the ultrasound. Not just twins ...but twin girls.

Miller had found the whole thing hilarious after he'd insisted again that he and Carol must be related. "Have fun dude" he'd snickered. Perez who'd been there at the time had simply said "Please.., no name tags"

Andrea had moved in with Merle, and was now working from home. Daryl had been shocked at the fact that Merle was in a serious committed relationship for the first time ever as far as he could remember. Merle thought the fact they were having twins was hilarious and had laughed and laughed when they'd told him.

While Daryl had panicked about twins Carol hadn't been flustered in the least. She'd been calm like having two babies inside her was the most natural thing in the world. She loved being pregnant, and loved the fact that Dale's old Victorian house had six bedrooms. They'll need to be filled up she'd quipped more than once with a grin. Fuck he just hoped he could get through the first year without dropping one of them. But it seemed like she could read his mind, cause every time those doubts seeped into his mind, she would reassure him that he would be a great dad. In the way only she could.

Her never ending faith in him was humbling. At first he'd wanted to be the man she thought he was but now he knew...he'd always been that man, he'd just built so many walls around himself he couldn't recognize who he was anymore. He knew who he was now...who he'd always been.

The last nine months hadn't been without issues. Although Carol loved being pregnant...it hadn't been easy. Two months ago they'd had a little scare when Carol started having contractions. Thinking they were Braxton Hick's she'd waited to go to the doctor for a day only to be told they were real contractions. She'd been put on partial bed rest and put off sex, that was until a week ago. They'd been given the all clear and had made good use of it he thought with a grin as he skimmed his hand over her rounded stomach down in between her naked legs. She was still wet from a few hours ago he thought with a grin as he slowly slid his fingers along her slit, and circled her clit. He pressed a kiss to her neck and smiled when she moaned and sighed then said his name in her sleep. His other hand came up and palmed her breast.

"Don't stop..." She murmured half asleep.

"Don't intend to" he said sinking his fingers into her. He felt her rocking her hips, grinding herself back into his erection.

"What are you waiting for...an invitation? " she said grumpily.

He chuckled into her neck before positioning himself at her entrance and pushing in to her heat.

"A little grumpy this morning?" He whispered coarsest as he thrust into her slowly. His hand on her breast kneading softly his fingers continued to circle her clit.

"I'm never grumpy" she sighed at his slow pace.

"No...never" he said.

"Good answer" she replied "...Harder" she gasped out.

"Yes ma'am" he said with a grin starting to pick up his pace. She came before him, arching her back her head falling on his shoulder calling out his name, and he quickly followed her.

She lay in his arms after but he noticed her hand come down several times..rubbing the small of her back with a wince.

"Ya alright baby?" He asked moving her hands and kneading her back with his fingers. She groaned leaning forward to give him more space.

"Yeah it's just my back's been more uncomfortable then normal tonight...wanna get in the shower with me?" She asked

"Hell yeah" he said getting up. He loved showering with her especially since she had gotten light headed once when she'd been in there by herself.

Going in to the bathroom after he helped her up, he started the shower to warm it up but came back I to the bedroom when she called.

"I think we are going to have to forget about that shower.."

"Why?"

"My water just broke"

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"You know..you could have waited and named a boy after me..Merle ain't really a girls name"

Daryl snorted watching as Merle met the first of his new nieces...his namesake Charlotte Merielle Dixon. "What after the way you carried on with Jamie?...Pfft"

"I like it Merle..it's pretty" Andrea said from her spot holding baby Sophia Grace. They'd waffled on her name a little. Daryl hadn't been sure he'd wanted her named after such a best selling children's book. But Carol had been insistent. Sophia the baby bird had brought them together and was now a series of books.

The twins had been born after 3 hours of labour. Both were pretty hefty for being twins and born two weeks earlier he'd been assured by the nurses and doctors, but they seemed so tiny at seven pounds and a bit each. It was fierce and intense love at first sight. Even if he wasn't sure that he would always get everything right he would sure as hell try. Especially when he looked up at Carol's smiling face. He was exactly who she believed he was...he knew that in his gut. He was her man of honour.

AN: I'm going to try and focus a bit on Mending Broken Wings next...that one is almost done too :) ... Giggle I named the twins after me ;p ...