I apologize once again for such slow updates but I have been out of town like I said I'd be but while I was gone I got really sick. I thought I was going to be admitted to the hospital there for a bit. I'm still sick but pushing through it to get my stuff updated, slowly but I'm trying.

I want to let you know things are coming to quit close on this one. Don't expect very many more chapters for this.

Daryl walked up the steps dusting his hands off laughing at Merle's soaked form. Merle scowled up at him causing Daryl to bust out laughing all over again holding his side as he stepped through the door.

"Boots off boys!"

Daryl kicked his boots off at the door still chuckling shaking the rain from his hair and started towards the overwhelming scents in the air. His stomach growled loudly causing a light laugh to meet his ears as he stepped into the kitchen. Daryl set at the table waiting on Merle to get in there while watching Lucy move around the kitchen.

"Foods almost done boys." She turned shooting them both smiles. "Who am I kidding."

Merle grinned at her, "Fuck if I know but it smells like heaven in here."

Daryl nodded his agreement while drinking greedily the sweet tea she had placed in front of him. She smiled at him and smoothed her hand over his shoulder as she went back to cooking. Daryl looked over at Merle and smirked again causing him to growl.

Lucy turned just then looking at them, "No fighting in the house." Both men cut their eyes to her and she smiled at them serenely. "Don't look at me like that. You make a mess of my house and you'll be doing more than I already have you doing."

Merle grinned at her, "You just don't want to see me hand him his ass."

Daryl scoffed at him but took a drink of his tea glaring at his brother. Lucy smiled at him but looked back at Merle, "Rough housing with your brother might not be a bad idea after all though...keep ya young and fit for when that baby gets here."

Merle glared and Daryl choked on his tea looking at Lucy. "Not you to." He sighed. "I get enough shit from the rest of these assholes."

Lucy looked over at Daryl and he shrugged grinning at her and she shook her head. "Well your brother is getting married don't you have some quip...never known you to be quiet."

Daryl set forward and kicked Merle's leg under the table, "Go ahead and tell her what Ace said to you."

Merle flipped him off and growled as he set back crossing his arms over his chest watching Lucy get food together. His stomach growled again and he licked his lips almost able to taste the food.

Lucy went about setting things on the table not talking but glancing at the both of them. She looked lighter and happier today than he had seen in awhile and it made him feel like she was up to something.

"What did she say?" Lucy prodded.

Merle stopped with the fork halfway to his mouth and huffed out a heavy breath, "She told me to leave him the fuck alone. She's always giving me shit, worse than before."

Lucy set down and cut a slice of pie for each of them and herself, "Hormones and a baby on the way will do that sweetheart." Daryl chuckled and regretted it when her eyes landed on him. "Don't worry though I'm sure Daryl here isn't to far behind with kids of his own. Until then though he can always be the doting uncle."

Merle howled with laughter and Daryl shook his head not looking at either one of them. He had managed to avoid this shit with Carol so far but she had tried again this morning before Merle walked in and interrupted her. Thank god for small mercies. He knew though when he got home that she would want to talk about it and he couldn't keep dodging her questions. He already knew how things were going to go.

The rest of the day went quickly and they got everything done that Lucy had asked and fixed a lot of what needed to be done. Daryl huffed at her when she kept trying to pay him and pushing her hand away that was holding the money. She grinned at him and shrugged a twinkle in her eyes that made Daryl look at her for a minute, she was up to something.

"Merle doll come here." Lucy called.

Merle walked over to her engulfing her in a hug before stepping back and slapping Daryl on the back hard enough to wind him. Daryl elbowed him in the ribs and Lucy t'sked at them.

"I've been working on something every since that first day you stopped at the diner and told me she was gonna have your baby." Lucy walked from the room returning carrying something in her arms. "I didn't know the name or I would have sewed it into the corner like I did for your mama and both her boys."

Handing over her gift Merle opened it and seen a large hand sewn quilt in a abundance of hues ranging from light summery yellows to deep greens. Merle scowled at a lot of the pink but in the grand scheme it had turned out beautiful.

Lucy was watching him closely and Merle had a strange look on his face when he met her eyes. Daryl watched him and seen him swallow thickly before clearing his throat, "You didn't need to go through the trouble of that."

Lucy smiled at him, "I don't have to, you're right. But I want to Merle." She put her hand on his chest and patted him, "You think I should keep it here till she tells the name of the baby and then work it on or let her see it now?"

Merle looked over and Daryl and raised and eyebrow. Daryl felt his face split into a smile at his brother and he nodded at him. Stacey wasn't aware that Merle had told him the name that was picked out for their child, she had wanted to keep it a secret. Merle had told him though after harassing Daryl into explaining the oil on the couch. His face burned through the entire conversation but Merle had told him what his nieces name was going to be in the end.

Merle caught Lucy's wrist and tugged her towards the couch pushing her to set down. Daryl trailed behind them still packing the quilt that was heavier than it looked, she had put a lot of work into this.

"She aint wantin' anyone to know and she'd have my balls in a vice if she knew Daryl knew about the name." Merle's voice was serious has he locked eyes with her and set down next to her. Daryl set across from them and watched his eyes dancing.

Lucy nodded and clasped her hands in her lap, "I'll sew it on after she's here."

Merle shook his head, "Robyn Lucille Dixon."

Lucy's eyes snapped up to his and she sucked in a breath, "Lucille?"

Merle nodded at her and Daryl grinned when she looked at him. Tears sprang up in her eyes and she didn't move to wipe them but looked at Merle while he shifted uncomfortably from the show of emotion. He was no better than Daryl with emotions at times.

"Yeah, she's named after ya."

"Daryl bring me the quilt." Lucy snapped her fingers at him and he lurched to his feet moving to her. He handed her the quilt and she laid it out dragging a certain portion up to herself. "I put your full names on your quilts do you want the same for her?"

Merle shook his head, "This is from you, you make the decisions with that."

"I'll start working on it first thing. It'll be done sure as your got a little one on the way."

Merle stood up nodding at her words and Daryl started pulling his boots on. Lucy walked towards them both and stepped out on the porch with them, "Ya'll let me know when you make it back home in this storm and let my girls know I love 'em." She grabbed both of them pulling them into hugs and kissing their cheeks before shuffling back inside.

The ride back was silent mostly the only real sound the one of the storm around them. Daryl drummed his fingers along the steering wheel as they neared his house feeling a slight dread settle into his gut. Carol was like a dog with a bone when she got something on her mind. And after she had figured out what she wanted for the engagement and wedding she then turned towards more personal matters that he had tried to avoid.

He was doing good and didn't think none of it would really come up till later on in the relationship. Yet with her and Stacey being friends and being around her all the time with Stacey pregnant had thrust those issues right into the light for them. He didn't know what to say to her or even really what she wanted because just thinking about it made him sick to his stomach at time. He couldn't really say it was David's influence as much as own anxiety.

Oddly enough he felt excited for his niece to get here so he could meet her. He attributed that to the fact that when she started crying or was being a little shit he could take her home. The thought made him smile at getting Robyn riled up and hyper and then dumping her on Merle's ass. Good times for sure.

"You ever gonna let mouse say her piece about kids or avoid it still?" Merle's voice was condescending.

Daryl shifted his eyes over as he pulled on to the lane that would lead towards his house. "What the fuck you on about Merle?"

"Don't fuckin' bullshit me boy. Goddamn Stacey is a emotional wreck most of the time and I have to hear about your relationship. Her asking me why your such a dick about shit that to be fuckin' honest I'm not even sure a man wants to hear about. Her and Carol always talking and then as soon as Carol is out the door i'm dragged into some kind of debate on you." Merle huffed and growled through every word. Daryl could feel his anger swirling in the cab of the truck thickly.

"Not my goddamn fault that woman says shit to you."

"Oh fuck that! If you'd get your head out of your ass and be a goddamned man and talk to her about the goddamn issue then i wouldn't have to hear about it." Merle barked just as they came to a stop.

Daryl didn't waste any time kicking his door open and exiting. He wanted to the fuck away from Merle and his shit. He knew he needed to talk to Carol but he didn't need Merle barking at him like he was his fucking dad. Merle grabbed his arm and jerked him to a stop just as the door opened and Carol stepped out.

"What the fuck are you doing?" Daryl barked jerking his arm free.

Merle stepped into him, "Get your goddamn head on straight. If you wanna marry her you need to realize that she's gonna want that shit and if you aint willing to give her what the fuck she wants then step the fuck back and don't give her another unhappy marriage she's been through enough."

Daryl shoved Merle away from him, "FUCK YOU!"

"No fuck you asshole. You get mad but it's the fuckin' truth and you know it." Merle through his arms up in the air storming past him.

Daryl stood there chest heaving as the rain soaked him through. He felt a small hand on his back and Merle's barking voice through the house but didn't listen to his voice. Carol stepped closer to him and he looked down at her, her face was painted in worry and he felt guilt knowing she might have heard some of what was said.

"Get in out of the rain Carol." He sighed rubbing his face.

Carol grabbed his hand and pulled him after her not saying anything. Merle walked out the door a pissed off Stacey right behind him as she looked at the two of them. Her eyes brightened at the sight of them and she moved past Merle even as he growled. She hugged Carol and attempted the same with Daryl but he wouldn't relinquish his hold on Carol to give her enough room.

Stepping into the house and ignoring Merle altogether Daryl started jerking his soaked clothes off walking towards the laundry room. He heard Carol behind him and seen her wet shirt land next to his.

"Wanna tell me what started it?" Carol's voice was soft.

Daryl shook his head and sighed, "Not really."

"I haven't seen you all at each other's throats in a long time."

Daryl lifted his eyes to hers, "It'll blow over."

"I don't doubt that Daryl. But why did he say something about a unhappy marriage and having been through enough?" Her eyes were intense and pleading.

Daryl motioned for her to move aside as he stepped out into the hall and started walking for the bedroom. She trailed quietly behind him and he started jerking on dry sleep pants. He watched with amusement when Carol plucked his boxers out of the drawers and one of his shirts and slipped them on instead of her own night clothes.

Daryl flopped back on the bed and Carol cuddled into his side as he brought his arm around her. "We need to talk." His voice was strained and terse and he felt her tense next to him.