The winter came in hard, Daryl had been out everyday hunting to bring in more for their even larger group now, since the loss of Morgan, Glenn had stepped up to take the lead on runs and bringing people in. The twins were now 8 months old, and a handful, every time Beth put one down the other one was crawling into something, getting into trouble, life had become one happily uneventful day after another.

"Beth you look exhausted." Maggie said.

"Tired yeah, but looking forward to singing tonight, its nice to get back to normal." she smiled at her older sister who had come round to sit with her for awhile.

"How's Daryl now?" Maggie asked.

"He's ok, think he just had some demons to work through is all." Beth was standing up to go and retrieve Makayla from the kitchen area, placing her on the mat next to her brother, she promptly took the toy from her brothers chubby hands, causing the boy to start crying. At that exact moment Daryl blew in through the door, his hair ruffled by the cold wind outside, he bent and swept his little boy into his arms.

"What's up little man?" he asked

"Makayla stole his toy." Maggie said with a smile "Don' know about them Dixon boys being hard as nails, she definitely rules this roost." she laughed "Well now the hunter, gather is back I am going to have make tracks got me some animals to feed, Dad has himself a man cold, so of course the world is ending for a second time." she rolled her eyes at Beth and chuckled as she left the room, they heard the door close lightly behind Maggie.

"Makayla, give Dadda the toy please." Daryl spoke to his daughter but she frowned at him looking at the toy then looking at him. "Makayla!" Daryl raised his voice just a bit.

"Da" she said frowning with attitude, Daryl froze looking at her.

"Did she just say?" he asked Beth, Beth looked at Daryl just as amazed, she knelt down on the mat next to her daughter.

"Makayla honey can Mommy have the toy?" she asked.

"Da" she said again, Daryl sat down next to his little girl, Harley quiet now in his fathers arms, Makayla obviously suspecting she had done something fantastic banged the toy on the floor over and over again, at the same time as saying "Da"

"Her first word, Daryl and it had to be Da, suppose I should be grateful it wasn't bow." she smiled, Daryl placed Harley down next to his sister, Harley made a grab for the toy but Makayla was unwilling to let her brother have it, there was a small tug of war when suddenly there was a loud pop and it split in two, Makayla sat staring at her half, Harley at his.

"Am" Harley said all of a sudden throwing the bit in his hand away, Makayla looked at her piece in disgust and threw it too "Am" she agreed, Daryl started to giggle, Beth trying to scold him with a look, but couldn't help joining in, the pair of them sat on the mat laughing until tears ran out of their eyes. Harley pulled himself up to his fathers face touching the tear running down his cheek, looking at it on his finger "Am" he said Beth and Daryl collapsed.

"Well they are definitely Dixon's" she said her chest heaving.

"Damn yeah." Daryl started laughing again as the twins sat looking at their parents then at each other again "Am" they said together crawling off.

8888888888

Carl and Lizzie had offered to babysit that night, so Daryl could go and watch Beth sing, Daryl had chuckled to himself when Carl had come to him to offer to babysit, he seemed so eager it was almost painful to say no "Course ya can" Daryl had told him.

He had waited for them both to arrive then while Lizzie went off to the twins room to find them happily throwing their toys at each, Daryl collared Carl by the collar.

"I was your age once, ya see them two little things in that bedroom?" he raised an eyebrow at Carl and the boy nodded "They come from what ya'll got planned" Carl opened his mouth to say something and Daryl shook his head, handing him a silver foil package. "You ignore my children because your pre-occupied and I will make you pay young Grimes." Daryl left the apartment chuckling to himself about the look on the young man's face.

He walked into Lori's a little later than he had first planned, as he came through the door, a loud shout erupted, Daryl instantly going for his crossbow taking aim at he wasn't sure what at, then he realised that Beth was stood in front of half the town all of them cheering him.

"What the fuck?" he asked her taking in the scene, Beth walked towards him, she was wearing his favourite dress, it showed just enough cleavage and more than enough leg to get his imagination going, she reached up kissing him lightly on the lips.

"Happy Birthday Daryl Dixon." she said, he stood looking at her then looked over her shoulder towards Rick.

"Bastard" he said and everyone cheered, Beth kissed him on the cheek and went up onto the stage, she sang a couple of Daryl's favourite songs then to everyone's surprise she left the stage, all the lights suddenly went out, a spot light came onto the stage and Daryl watched as Maggie, Beth and Sasha came out onto the stage all with Pink, figure hugging, sparkly floor length dresses, Rick and Glenn both came and stood next to Daryl, their mouths dropping to the floor. Piano music started from somewhere Daryl couldn't see and the girls all started singing to him.

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday Mr Dixon,

Happy Birthday to you.

Thanks, Mr. Dixon For all the things you've done The battles that you've won The way you deal with Rick's Ego run And our problems by the ton We thank you so much. They finished all three blowing Daryl a kiss, one after another, Daryl looked at Rick and Glenn who were now almost crying with laughter at Daryl's completely stunned face, he was fidgeting taking chunks out of his thumb, suddenly Carl walked up with baby Harley on his hip, Lizzie stood next to him with a big smile and Makayla on her's, Carl held his hand out to Daryl dropping the small silver square into his hand "Don' think it's me that's going to be needing this tonight." he said with a suggestive smile. "Am" the twins suddenly said together, everyone laughed even Daryl, tonight was a good night, he decided but revenge would be sweet.
Ok so disclaimer:- I do not own the Walking dead or any of its characters. I do not own the lyrics to Adeles songs and i certainly do not own anything to do with Marilyn Monroe.
Although i do wish all three statements to be untrue i am afraid they are.