Time jump here a couple months to be sure. The baby is expected at any time here. It's now Spring the timeline of this story.

Spring fever was in the air and it had Carol up and on the move cleaning everything she could get her hands at the moment. She knew she was driving Daryl crazy making him move and shift so much stuff everytime he turned around. She held back her laugh every time she came to something she didn't know what to do with or even any clue what it was. He wasn't the type to gather useless stuff so she was unsure what do with so much stuff that she kept coming across.

Daryl stepped through the door sweat soaking his hair and shirt, even the top of his pants were starting to saturate. Carol watched him from the darkened hall for a moment while he was unaware of her. She still couldn't believe they were getting married. Every time she thought about it her heart started racing thinking of his proposal and the resulting night.

As if sensing her eyes on him his head swiveled around towards her and his eyes peered through the dark towards her. She was cloaked in shadows but knew him good enough to know that he was already aware she was there. She had given herself away somehow.

"What are you doing?" His gruff voice low met her ears.

Carol grinned stepping forward, "Cleaning."

"What the fuck is left to clean?" He looked baffled.

Carol snorted and shook her head walking into the kitchen grabbing a glass down from the cabinets she poured a cup of sweet tea thrusting it towards him. Daryl accepted it drinking it down instantly licking his lips eyes on her. Carol knew that look and felt a bolt of desire race up her spine. Daryl smirked at her reading her like a book.

"What time are you leaving?" Carol questioned.

Daryl's eyes went to the clock, "Gotta get in the shower he should be on his way."

Carol frowned but nodded along, "Is Stacey coming here?"

Daryl's eyes swept her body before coming back to her eyes, "More than likely. They told her at the doctors she shouldn't stay by herself."

Carol clapped her hands together following him down the hall watching as he peeled his wet shirt over his head rucking his hair up as it went. Carol marveled at the muscles on his back that despite his scars made her mouth water. The sound of his belt loosing had her thigh clinching together watching his deft motions in front of her even as he walked.

"Did ya'll get done?" Carol watched him from her perch on the bed.

Daryl let his pants drop walking into the bathroom not glancing at her. She knew why he wasn't looking at her and she grinned. Her eyes went to his hip bones and she smiled brighter seeing the nails tracks she had left on him this morning. She shifted around till she was laying down waiting on him to get out of the shower.

She heard his groan as soon as the water splashed over him and she whistled lightly and heard the thundering feet of Keira and Murphy coming her way. Patting the bed while Daryl was still in the bathroom and hurrying the dogs she got them at the foot of the bed playing with them.

Daryl stepped out a towel over his shoulders his hands holding each side. He scowled at the dogs and looked at her shaking his head but biting his tongue. She knew it annoyed the shit out of him but they were her babies how could she not cuddle them? Daryl huffed at her and snapped his fingers causing both dogs to abandon her for him and he grinned at her.

"You get mad Dixon but like I said their my babies."

Daryl lifted his head while he was crouched scratching the dogs, "They aint fuckin' kids Carol."

Carol grinned at him she knew she would fall into her trap. "Their as close as we have to kids right now."

Daryl stiffened not looking at her but standing and jerking a shirt on over his head. Carol hopped up trailing after him as he made his way down the hall again and away from her. Just as they got to living room she grabbed his arm stopping him and pulling him towards her. She wanted him to at least think about it before he outright rejected the idea of kids with her. Carol smiled at his scowl just as the door swung open and Merle stepped in with Stacey.

Merle's smiled at them, "Tweet tweet motherfuckers, first day of goddamned Spring!"

Carol laughed at his excitement knowing he was antsy to get out with his brother and have a break from a hormonal Stacey. Daryl chuckled at his brother's word. "Faggoty sounding tweety bird." He muttered to Carol.

"Heard that shit boy." Merle growled.

Stacey lit up looking at Carol and waddled straight for Daryl at a slower pace than she was use to. Carol watched as Stacey walked up to him wrapping her arms around his torso causing him to tense up. Stacey laughed her eyes watering at his reaction and her hormones getting the better of her. When she released him Daryl stepped back and behind Carol subtly using her as a buffer.

"What the hell was that for?" Daryl questioned.

Stacey swiped at her eyes laughing, "I'm sorry I'm crying." She smiled at him, "You saved me a couple hundred dollars."

Daryl looked at her then Merle with confusion on his face before going back to her, "What the hell are you talking about?"

"You put my nursery stuff together. I had more but Merle in a rage and refusing to read the goddamn instructions busted the entire set against the wall."

Merle cursed under his breath as Daryl barked out a laugh looking at his brother, "That why you got my goddamn as over there?"

"Fuck you Darylina!" Merle snapped at him crossing his arms over his chest.

Carol grinned watching them and looking at Stacey who was just as amused by them. Carol moved to help her settle in the recliner and get comfortable. "You want some tea?"

Stacey grinned up at her, "What sweets do you have?"

"Yeah, what sweets do you have? My fatass of a brother don't need them anyways." Merle cooed.

"Suck my dick big daddy." Daryl growled jerking his boots on.

Carol came back into the room just in time to see Merle slap Daryl in the back of his head and Daryl growl going to stand up. She seen it coming knowing them good enough to know that things could escalate quickly between the two of them.

"Simmer down boys." Carol scolded.

Merle looked at her his face setting in stone as Daryl grinned at her. Stacey growled making Merle's eyes go to her and she shook her head, "Don't you dare Merle Dixon."

Stacey looked at Carol sipping her tea and then looked back at Daryl, "Thank you though Daryl for getting it all put together and helping him with the move."

Daryl's face burned red and he waved her comment away. He stood up grabbing his stuff off the table patting his pocket's down looking around. He looked at Carol raising his eyebrow.

"Kitchen table."

Daryl walked by in search of his wallet leaving Carol standing with Merle and a relaxed Stacey.

Merle was still scowling not liking getting scolded, "You broke my fuckin' brother."

Carol looked over at him, "What are you talking about now?"

"You took his goddamn balls away." Merle huffed.

Carol laughed shaking her head at him, "No, I assure they are very much there."

"Coulda goddamned fooled me."

Stacey chuckled, "Ya know Carol you're lucky."

Carol looked down at her seeing the mirth in her eyes and knowing she was about to burn Merle to the ground. She grinned at her, her own eyes dancing now, "Why is that?"

Stacey hummed rubbing her finger around the rim of the glass, "Daryl is such a sweet heart to you. Aint a damn thing he wouldn't do for you or fix without losing his shit and breaking everything in the room." Her eyes shot to Merle's before going back to Carol, "Sometimes I think I missed out on baby dixon."

Carol sucked in a breath knowing Stacey was joking with her and trying to get a rise out of Merle. She stayed quiet waiting to see if Merle was going to say something. A deep growl rolled through the room about the time Daryl stepped into the room a unlit cigarette dangling form his lip. He refused to smoke anywhere around Stacey. His hand slid up her back tangling in her hair pulling her to him as he kissed her forehead.

Stacey sighed egging Merle on, "See! Then I think about what you tell me in private...lord."

"OH Fuck this!" Merle barked.

Stacey's coy expression broke out into a full blown smile at Merle and she started laughing, "That took longer than I thought."

Carol started laughing leaning into Daryl's side, "What are ya'll on about?"

"Stacey in here going on about wanting to fuck you cause the shit Carol tells her about you. And a goddamn fuckin' apparently you putting shit together for her warrants you being a better fuckin' man!" Merle growled his anger seeping through.

Daryl grinned at him brother even though he was blushing, "If anything I got more fuckin' patience than your goddamn evidence if that fuckin' mess of a nursery is any indication."

"Goddamn don't egg them on asshole. That shit was fucked up is why it wouldn't go together." Merle clarified throwing his arms up in the air.

Daryl laughed pulling Carol up against him kissing her neck, "I'll be back later."

Carol inhaled deeply breathing in the scent that was all him as she nodded watching him walk towards his brother. Merle punched him in the ribs as soon as he was close enough.

"Not in the house!" Carol huffed.

Merle grinned at her throwing his arm over his brother's shoulders, "Let's go see if we can't find some whores."

Daryl shook his head at his brother pulling his zippo out stepping down the steps. Carol looked at Stacey, "Those two aint right."