(Normally, I'd write a chapter a day, but this week I'm feeling unmotivated and drained. It probably has something to do with working full time at my old job over Christmas break. Here's the next one. I hope it turns out okay. BTW, to anyone who is watching the current season and cares to share their thoughts on how the second half may go down, please do so. I've got a really hopeful theory and a really grim theory. I hope that my hopeful theory wins out…)

"Hey, sorry I'm late." Daryl said as he entered the OB/GYN office for the baby's five month check-up and took a seat beside Carol. "Traffic was backed up like a bitch."

"It's okay. They haven't even called me back yet." Carol replied.

"You think we're gonna find out what the baby is today?"

"Maybe, if it's turned right. This is your kid though, so I'm guessing it's going to be difficult." She joked.

()()()

Well, if it isn't my favorite parents to be." Tyrese said as he entered the exam room.

"Hey Tyrese." Carol said with a smile.

Daryl gave the doctor a nod.

"How are things?" "Are you still feeling okay?"

"They're good. I get tired more easily now and my feet stay sore from being on them all day. My clothes don't fit very well any more either." She said as she placed a hand over her protruding belly. It was quite easy to tell now that she was pregnant. It looked like she had a cantaloupe under her shirt at all times now.

"Other than that no abdominal pain or cramping?" "You don't get light headed or dizzy?"

Daryl eyed her carefully, as if he was afraid something had been going on she hadn't told him about.

"Everything is fine." She said as she met Daryl's eyes to reassure him.

Good, just what I want to hear. You're blood pressure is still in a normal range. No sign of gestational diabetes. Everything seems to be going along fine." "Are you okay, dad?" Tyrese always sensed Daryl's nervousness at these appointments.

"As long as she and the baby are good, I'm good ." He said as he took his fiancee's hand in his.

"They're doing just fine." "Are you two ready to see your baby?"

"Yeah." The two said in unison.

Tyrese placed the gel on her belly and began scanning the transducer back and forth. "Okay, do you guys see that?" You can see the baby's face right here. And there's the hinds moving around trying to cover the face." Tyrese said.

"Look at those precious little hands." Carol gasped.

"Looks like it's doing cartwheels." Daryl noted as he watched the screen

"You definitely have a very active little on there." "Have you been able to feel movement yet?

"I have and so has Sophia, but the baby hasn't moved when Daryl's around yet."

"Kid ain't even born yet and it's already hard headed. I hope it don't take after Merle."

Tyrese let out a laugh. "So, did you two wanna know the sex?"

"You can tell today?" Carol asked excitedly?"

"We can."

"Hell yeah, we wanna know.

()()()

They had found out what they were having that day at the doctor's office, but neither had told their friends yet. All of their closest friends had a bet riding on what the baby was, so they wanted to tell them all at once. They decided to have a little get together at their place on Saturday and reveal the news then in their own unique way. The only other person at the party who knew what the baby was going to be was Sophia.

"You know, I never took you for one of those guys who does a gender reveal party." Rick said with a laugh as he came and stood beside Daryl.

"It's not a gender reveal party, it's a just a get together where we let all of our friends know what we're having and watch half of them lose their money. And there is beer." Daryl pointed out as he took a swallow of his.

"Call it what you want, it's still a gender reveal party."

"Shut up."

"Hey, little brother." Merle said as he walked up and joined the two. "Why don't ya drop me a little hint over what this baby is so I can throw my guess in the jar and win some of the money everyone is throwing around on it."

"Ain't telling you shit."

"Come on, I'm the uncle. I gotta right to know before everyone else."

"No, Sophia's got a right to know before everyone else because she's the sister."

"Sophia knows what the baby is?" "Ha, thanks for the heads up. I'm gonna see if she'll go tell uncle Merle if he's having another niece of if he's getting a nephew."

()()()

"Drinking at a gender reveal party. Only in Georgia." Andrea snorted as she downed the other half of her beer.

"We had to make it where the guys wanted to come too." Carol pointed out. "Besides, with the bet all of you had going on, we wanted to see all of your faces when you found out."

"I can't believe you guys have been making us wait all week." Maggie said.

"We're providing you with beer and free food today to make up for it. Be thankful."

"I guess that's true. So, I'm not going to ask what it was, but was it what the two of you wanted it to be?"

"We just want the baby to be happy and healthy. We have no preference."

"Liar!" Lori exclaimed

"What?" Andrea asked

"Daryl wants a boy." Lori replied.

"Why, so he can do all those manly things like hunt and fish with him?" Maggie added.

"No, because he caught Carl and Sophia making out a few months ago and Rick laughed. Now he's hell bent on having a son to get back at Rick when Judith is old enough."

()()()

"Sophia!" "Hey Sophia!" Merle called out

She was talking to Carla and Beth out near the back porch, but headed over to the tree Merle was standing by when she heard him call for her. "What's up, Merle?"

"I heard you knew what your mom was having. I wanna know too, so I can guess right and win some of that money."

"No way, you're gonna find out soon. There's only two choices, just pick one."

"Come on now, I'll split some of the money with ya."

"Tempting, but I'm still gonna have to go with no." She said as she turned to walk away.

"Come on, help your ole Uncle Merle out. I'm family."

She stopped, turned around and sighed. "Fine you really wanna know?"

He nodded. She walked up and whispered in his ear. A grin spread across his face. "I knew it." He mumbled.

()()()

It was time to find out what the baby was. They had set up balloons on a circular pattern at the end of the yard around the wooden fence. There was one balloon in the middle that contained the secret of the baby's gender. Daryl was going to shoot the balloon in the middle with his crossbow to reveal the gender. Daryl took the first shot and missed the balloon in the middle, instead hitting one above it.

"You suck." Merle quipped.

Daryl shot again and missed. Instead hitting the balloon beside the one he had just popped.

"You're shooting like a girl." Shane commented.

"Daryl shot again and hit the next one in line and smirked at the onlookers. It was obvious he was taking his time and was going to hit the balloon in the middle last. He finally made his way around the circle and only had the middle one left. He pulled back and paused before releasing the arrow. He looked at Carol who was standing beside him and smiled. She smiled back and he let go. The arrow connected with the balloon and it burst, it released blue confetti everywhere.

"It's a boy." Carol shouted.

All of their friends began clapping and cheering for them and ran to congratulate them. Merle saw Sophia looking back at him smirking. He shook his head and walked over to her.

"You lied to me, little girl. You told me I was having another niece."

"You believed me too easy."

"You lied with a straight face."

She shrugged. "It was for your own good. The element of surprise is always better."

()()()

"So, my little brother's having a son." Merle said as he walked up to congratulate the couple.

Daryl nodded. "Yeah, it's a boy alright." He took the sonogram picture out and handed it to his brother to see.

Merle looked it over and started smiling. "Congratulations, darling." He said as he pulled Carol in for a hug and kissed her on the cheek.

()()()

Everyone left the party and it was just the two of them lying in bed together that night.

"You sure you're ready for this?" Daryl asked. "Raising a Dixon boy."

"If he's just like you, sure. If he's just like Merle, then hell no."

"Ha, yeah I'm not prepared for a mini Merle either."

"Can I tell you a secret?" She asked as she rolled over on her side where she was now facing him.

"What's that?"

"I wanted a boy."

"How come?"

"I wanted a little version of you. Your eyes, your smile, your hair."

"He might not even look like me." He pointed out.

"Maybe not, but maybe he will."

"Ya know, I'm kinda of glad it's a boy too."

"Why?"

"I think it woulda been hard on Sophia if it was a girl. Now she can be the only girl and we get to have one of each."

"I think it would have been hard on her too."

He leaned his head down on her chest and wrapped his arms around her. "I just wanted you to know, I think it's pretty amazing. You know, that you're carrying my son. I just can't even believe you have this little life in there that's part you and part me. I know I was scared shitless when I found out, I wouldn't have things any other way now though.

"Hey, I was scared at first too. I never would have imagined that night I met you that we'd be getting married and having a baby less than a year and a half later.

"Me either. I can't wait to marry you next month."

She ran her hands down his back and kissed his head. "I can't wait to marry you either."