Chapter 8

A long shower soothed Carol's weary muscles. Her hands ghosted over her soapy skin, and she leaned her head back into the stream, shivering a little as she played back the events of the night before in her mind. She'd kept Daryl up until an ungodly hour, apologizing when she realized the reason she didn't feel so tired was because she wasn't used to the time difference. It was just a couple of hours, but it made a difference.

Still, Daryl hadn't minded. In fact, he'd found his second wind about two in the morning, and Carol's knees still felt weak. The night was almost a blur. She'd shown up not knowing what to expect or how he'd react to the news, and just like their first meeting, everything just sort of fell into place and started making sense.

She'd shown up pregnant and uncertain of everything, and less than twenty-four hours later, she was in a relationship with him and getting ready to take him to meet her parents. It was dizzying. They hadn't even had a proper date yet. But what even was dating? Meeting someone, going on several outings with them, getting to know them and find out their strengths and weaknesses before deciding on whether or not to keep them around for a lifetime? She was having a baby with him. It hadn't been planned, and she certainly hadn't expected her life to turn out this way, but when she was with him, it felt right. She knew she was still a bit naïve, but she'd grown up a lot in the past year. Daryl Dixon was no Ed Peletier, and that in itself was a blessing.

By the time Carol showered, dried her hair and dressed, she could smell something cooking in the kitchen. Her stomach growled, and she felt a little nauseated, but she hoped that eating something would help. The last thing she wanted to do was spend the day hugging the toilet bowl.

When she ventured down the hall and toward the kitchen, she could hear water running in the sink. She noticed Daryl had set two spots at the table, and two steaming plates containing omelets and bacon were already served. Carol raised an eyebrow and picked up a piece of bacon off the plate. It was crisp and delicious, and she was suddenly starving.

The water cut off in the kitchen, and Daryl came out with a glass of orange juice. He stopped in the doorway, and Carol smiled at him.

"Mornin'," he said with a little nod. "You sleep ok?"

"No," she laughed. "But I'm not complaining." Daryl blushed then, and Carol looked down at the spread on the kitchen table. "You made breakfast?"

"Uh," he huffed, unable to suppress the nervous laugh as he rubbed the back of his neck. "I tried. I ruined it. So I had breakfast delivered while you were in the shower." He motioned toward his cell phone. "Didn't know what you liked, but I figure everybody likes bacon, and ya can really screw up with an omelet. It's got ham and some veggies. Also got some orange juice. Orange juice is good for the baby, right?" Carol's face lit up.

"Yeah," she smiled. "Thank you."

"This ok?" he asked, nodding to the food.

"It looks amazing. Thank you." She bridged the gap between them and kissed him softly.

"You need anything? I can get somethin' else if you want."

"This is perfect," Carol promised. "I'm starving." She hurried over to the table and took a seat while Daryl poured some juice for her. As Carol took savored the first bite, Daryl tapped his fingers anxiously on the wooden table top.

"I done some thinkin' after you went to sleep," he admitted. Carol looked up.

"Oh?"

"Yeah." He cleared his throat. "Next semester is over in May, plenty of time before the baby's due. I'm gonna finish up my classes here, and in the meantime, I'm gonna work on transferring out to Woodbury State with you." Carol's eyes went wide.

"Daryl, I can't ask you to give everything up here." She swallowed hard and blinked back tears. The last thing she wanted was to ruin all of his plans, but the way he was looking at her in that moment told a whole different story.

"Hear me out," he insisted. "You already packed up your whole life and moved across the country once. I can't ask ya to do that again. 'Sides, there's a hell of a lot more opportunities out there than there is here. If we're gonna do this, if we're gonna raise this baby, we can't do it long distance. It don't work that way."

"I know," she said quietly. "But, Daryl, your brother's here. Your garage."

"I been thinkin' about that, too. What I said before? I'm gonna do it. Gonna let Merle buy me out of my half of the garage."

"What?! Daryl…"

"I figure the money I can get from that and from sellin' this place and my half of the garage will be plenty enough to help find a place out there and get it ready for the baby. Might not be able to afford much at first, but I can get a job, finish school, and by that time we'll both be workin', and we can afford somethin' better. A nice place to raise a family." Carol's heart fluttered as she listened to him talk about the future. He wanted her there. He wanted a family with her. It was so much so fast, but the idea of it actually sounded like a comfort compared to the uncertainty she'd been carrying around with her since those tests turned positive.

Still, she was at a loss for words. She didn't know where she'd be in ten years. Hell, she didn't know where she'd be in a year. One romantic night on a beach had changed their lives forever, and Daryl had surprised the hell out of her by offering to give up so much just to be closer to her and the baby. She was so overwhelmed, and when she tried to find the words, only a choked cry came out. Daryl's face fell, and he watched her shoulders shake.

Suddenly, she was breathing funny, and he realized she was having an anxiety attack. Fuck.

"Hey. Hey, breathe." He clamored up from his seat and hurried around to kneel in front of her. "I knew I said too much. M'sorry."

"No," she gasped, rubbing at her throat as ten dozen scenarios of the future played out in her head. "No, I'm ok." Daryl squeezed her hand, and she put her hands on his shoulders and took slow, deep breaths.

"You just gotta breathe. Hey. Look at me." She swallowed hard and looked right into his eyes, letting out another breath through her mouth.

"I'm sorry," she sniffled, batting at her eyes with the backs of her hands. She let out a frustrated little laugh and shook her head. "I'm a mess."

"That's ok. You get to be. You're havin' a baby. You're scared. And the guy that knocked you up is pretty much a stranger, and he's promisin' to pull up stakes and move across the country to help you. Am I gettin' warm?" Carol let out a little laugh.

"I'm really not bothered by the…you know, you part," she admitted. "Is that weird? I barely know you, but I feel like this is something…special." She blushed. "Maybe that sounds stupid."

"It don't."

"What if this doesn't work?"

"If it don't work, we'll figure it out as we go along," he said quietly. "But we gotta try. We owe the kid that much, right?"

"We can't do the 'stay together for the sake of the kid' thing. We'd be miserable." She sniffled, and Daryl chewed his lip for a moment before nodding.

"Alright. So why don't we try the stay together for us thing? If we ain't happy, the kid won't be happy. So we try it. If you decide you want out, you say it."

"What?"

"Ten years from now, you decide you made a mistake, you tell me."

"Daryl…you talk like we're getting married," she snorted. She met his gaze and was surprised to find something solemn there. He cleared his throat and shrugged a shoulder.

"Maybe we will." Carol let out a heavy breath, and Daryl grinned. "I ain't sayin' now. Just someday. If you want." He paused then, as if waiting for her anxiety to flare up again. Surprisingly, she sat very still, tears shimmering in her eyes. "You good?"

"Yeah. Just processing," she sniffled. "I came here single and pregnant and not sure how you were going to react. Now, we're dating, and we're talking about marriage." Daryl winced.

"Yeah. Too much. I know. Shit, that's my problem. Too much too fast."

"No," Carol sniffled. "You're honest. You're up front. That's something I've never gotten before. You want those things. A marriage. A family." Daryl nodded then and swallowed hard.

"Yeah, I do. Only question is, is that what you want?" She stopped for a moment, thinking back to all those times her mother had encouraged her to talk to the boys at church, telling her that maybe one day one of them would marry her. She'd always felt knots twist in her belly at the idea of it. Maybe it was because her parents had always told her that marriage was for life. Sometimes it wouldn't be easy, but you worked at it, because that made it worth having. It sounded like a job. Like a contract. But when Daryl held her hand and looked into her eyes, the knots were twisting for different reasons. Maybe it was his enthusiasm rubbing off on her, but the idea of being together and raising a baby together didn't sound like some binding contract. It sounded like Sunday morning breakfasts, coffee and pajamas, date night with a picnic in the back yard, romantic nights in after the kids go to bed. It sounded…nice. Again, maybe it was the hormones talking, but she wanted those things, and she could so easily picture those things with him.

"I think so," she whispered softly. "I think I'm just afraid of what comes next."

"Today? Tomorrow? Ten years from now?"

"All of it, I guess," she admitted with a little half-shrug. "We're so young." She chewed her lower lip when Daryl took her hand in his. "God, I sound like my father, who, by the way, was eighteen when he married my mother." She huffed out a sigh. "But he knew what he wanted with his life. She did, too. He wanted to be a preacher. She wanted to be a preacher's wife and a mom."

"You wanna be a writer."

"More than that, I want to travel. I want to experience life and write about it. It'll be hard to do with a baby." She swallowed hard.

"So we'll raise our baby on the road."

"What?" she laughed.

"I heard about this family that sails around the world with their two small kids. Kids never been to real school a day in their life. They learn by doin'. We could do that. Buy an old RV, fix up a crib. I could drive, and you could write, and we could just go wherever you want."

"That takes money," she laughed. "It's a nice dream. Maybe someday." She sighed, her heart fluttering when she looked at him. He was trying so hard to make her happy and to show her he'd do whatever it took to make their family work.

"Someday," he agreed. Carol met his gaze, and she saw such sweetness there. He was looking at her like he could see the future in her eyes. Hell, she was carrying his child. She was still reeling from the great fortune she had in that the stranger who knocked her up turned out to be a pretty upstanding guy willing to give up everything just to take care of their baby. "What do you wanna do today?"

"What?" she asked, a little smile quirking at the corner of her mouth.

"Anything you wanna do today, name it. Early flight tomorrow, so I don't wanna wear you out." Carol blushed. She couldn't help it.

"What if I want you to wear me out?" she teased. Daryl's face went red, and the air left his lungs for a second. "I'll sleep like a baby. Rest up for the trip, you know?" She grinned, and Daryl ran his hand over the back of his neck.

"Then we'll make it a short day and a long night," he agreed. "So, whatever you want. Name it." Carol thought for a moment. When she looked back at him with no words, he chuckled. "C'mon. There's gotta be somethin'."

"I don't know," she laughed. "What would you do on a typical weekend?"

"Sit here and drink a couple beers. Take a nap, maybe."

"Well, a nap sounds good, but I don't want to spend the whole day inside." She sighed softly. "Take me for a drive."

"Where you wanna go?"

"Show me…show me around town. I wanna see where you grew up. I wanna know everything before we go to Michigan tomorrow."

"You sure?" he asked. Carol smiled and nodded her head.

"Yeah. Like you said…they're going to meet you sometime. I'd rather it be now than in the delivery room." Daryl winced, Carol squeezed his hand.

"Right. Well, first things first. I better buy myself a ticket."

...

"Well, damn, boy. I'd have at least put on a clean shirt if I knew you was bringin' a girl over," Merle smirked, wiping his oily hands on the sides of his dirty jeans. He snorted and spat to the side, and Daryl tensed beside Carol.

"Merle, this is Carol."

"Yeah, we met." He leveled a smoldering look and a grin at her that made her feel dirty somehow. She glanced at Daryl and wondered how the hell he was even related to Merle at all. "You two finally come up for air?"

"Merle," Daryl sighed. "I know you got your own plans for Christmas. I just wanted to let ya know I wasn't gonna be around to keep an eye on the shop. Carol and me, well, we're goin' to Michigan for a few days."

"Michigan?" Merle asked, furrowing his brows at his brother. "What the hell's in Michigan?"

"My parents," Carol said quietly. Daryl reached for her hand and gave it a little squeeze. Merle let out an amused guffaw.

"Pussy must be real good if she got you followin' her all the way to Michigan to meet 'ole Mom and Dad."

"Man, watch your mouth," Daryl warned as Carol shifted uncomfortable next to him.

"Hell, sweetheart. I'm sorry. Ain't used to my brother bringin' pretty things like you around. It's always him and me and one of my girls. Sometimes forget how to treat a guest." He wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. "You two wanna come in for a beer?"

"No, we got plans," Daryl explained.

"So, you known each other since California, huh? That was, what? 'Couple months ago?" Merle asked. He looked back and forth between them. "So, my baby brother comes back with a big, dopey grin on his face and then sulks around like a kicked mule, like he's missin' something real good. All the sudden, you show up outta the blue, and now you're goin' to Michigan together to meet the parents?" Merle ran his hand over his face. "God damn it, Daryl. You knocked her up, didn't you?" Daryl felt the color drain from his face, and Carol groaned softly beside him.

"Merle…"

"The hell were you thinkin'? You put a rubber on, didn't ya? Christ, ya put it on right didn't ya? It ain't rocket science, Daryl."

"We should go," Carol said quickly. "Merle, it was, uh, nice seeing you again." She squeezed Daryl's hand. Daryl was glaring at Merle, but nothing could hide the flush in his face. Merle's face broke out in an amused grin, and he clapped his brother on the shoulder.

"Well, that's good news for 'ole Merle. That pretty neighbor gal that's got her sights set on you is gonna be broken-hearted. Enter Merle to give her some good lovin' to make her forget why she ever wanted to get her claws in you." Daryl glanced at Carol apologetically before looking back to Merle.

"You're a fuckin' pig, Merle. I'll see ya after Christmas." He turned and started back to the truck, his fingers laced with Carol's.

"Well, slow down now. I didn't mean no offense. But I don't hear you denyin' it. You two are havin' a baby, ain't ya?" Daryl sighed heavily and gave his brother a brief nod.

"Have a good Christmas, bro. We'll talk when I get home." He and Carol started back toward the truck, and when they were inside, Daryl leaned his forehead against the steering wheel for a brief second before straightening and looking to Carol. "M'really sorry about him."

"You don't have to apologize," Carol said quietly. "Honestly, I appreciate Merle's lack of a filter. Trust me. There's going to be a lot of tongue-biting and passive-aggressive questions and comments around my family's dinner table. I hope you're ready for it."

"You kidding?" Daryl snorted. "He's been my brother for goin' on twenty years. Gotta say, it can't be no worse than my family Christmases."

"Oh," Carol laughed. "Trust me. The snow isn't always whiter on the other side."

"Bet nobody is gonna write their name in yellow in your front yard."

"Gross," Carol laughed.

"Yeah, well, that's the kinda shit my family would do. Give Merle a few shots of Jack, and he'll demonstrate."

"Remind me to never leave our child alone with him," Carol choked out. Daryl grinned when he pulled out of the lot and out onto the street. He found her hand between them on the bench seat and gave it a squeeze.