AN: Here we are, another chapter here.

I hope you enjoy! Let me know what you think!

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"I think it's tradition to offer you a hand getting ready," Andrea said as soon as Carol opened the door to allow her to enter the bedroom. Andrea closed the door behind her, guarding their privacy. "Unless—I'm being presumptuous in assuming I'm something like the matron of honor. Michonne's not here yet, though."

Carol smiled at Andrea's teasing and welcomed her into the room with a hug.

"Of course you're the matron of honor," Carol assured her. "At least—as much as anyone has a role here. It's not a full wedding, really. We're just exchanging vows."

"That's what Merle and I did," Andrea said. "It was—ten minutes?" She laughed to herself. "If it was even that long. Merle was so nervous that he said his vows as quickly as he could and then it was over, and he just spent most of the rest of the day asking if that was really all there was to it." She held Carol's shoulders and looked at her. "I wanted to help you get dressed, but it looks like you've got things covered…this is beautiful."

Carol smiled to herself. She smoothed the dress, letting her hand drift a moment on her belly. Andrea immediately placed her palm near the spot where Carol rested her own hand.

"Can you feel her?" Carol asked.

Andrea hummed in the affirmative and smiled to herself.

"Sometimes I think—I can feel the baby moving around. Alice said I should be able to, but I keep telling myself that I'm just making it up. It doesn't feel strong like this."

Carol rested her own palm on the small swell of Andrea's stomach—only the beginning evidence of what was to come.

"It won't be this strong for a while," Carol said. "Not to anyone else. But I'm absolutely sure that you can feel it."

Andrea smiled to herself.

"That's what Alice says. And she says—if I'm wrong, it doesn't really hurt anyone, so it's better to just know that I can and be happy about it."

"Good advice," Carol ceded. "Honestly—maybe 'be happy' is the best advice we could give anyone right now."

"Are you happy?" Andrea asked through her spreading smile. Carol couldn't help but smile in response.

"Happier than—I think I ever imagined I could be," Carol said. It was true. Every single word of it was true.

She hadn't even imagined it was possible to be this happy when she'd been young and naïve and had married Ed—believing him to be the start of her fairy tale. When she'd been married to him, she'd certainly thought that she'd never be happy like this. After he'd died, she'd felt a sharp uptick in her happiness—and she'd had some hope for the future amid everything that was going wrong around them, especially after their escape from the CDC and the renewed appreciation for a life she'd almost lost—but that had ended abruptly with Sophia's disappearance. Carol had wondered if she'd ever know true happiness again following the loss of her daughter.

Losing Sophia hurt no less today than it had hurt the first night that Carol had lie in bed and wondered if her arms would ever again wrap around her baby girl. Carol had learned, though, how to make a space for that hurt and, more than that, she'd promised herself that finding happiness, when and where she could, wasn't some sort of betrayal of Sophia or her memory.

Sophia, after all, had always liked for Carol to be happy. She would have been very upset if she'd thought that Carol had given up even a moment's happiness in her memory. In fact, perhaps the best thing that Carol could do in remembrance of her daughter was to try to live the life that she wished she had been able to share with her—one free from Ed and full of love and happiness.

"I'm so glad you're happy. You and Daryl, both. You deserve it. Merle's so excited for Daryl. He's been talking about it all morning. What baby brother deserves and all that. You really do look beautiful," Andrea offered, stopping a moment and clearly changing gears with her thoughts. "I feel bad that—I didn't help you dress. I wasn't here to help with anything. Is there anything I can—help with?"

Carol laughed to herself. She squeezed Andrea's arm affectionately. She was clearly distracted and unsure of what to say or do.

"You can keep me company. That's what I'd like from you the most right now. The dress is simple enough to get in and out of," Carol said. "That's why I was ready so quickly. It's coming to you, next. Since it's just a simple maternity dress, it's easy on and easy off. The truth is, I'm as ready as I can be. There's nothing much to do. Have you seen Merle and Daryl?"

Andrea sat down on the edge of the bed and Carol followed her.

"Daryl's with Merle," Andrea said. "I know that much. Merle had to run do something. It had something to do with new people, from what I heard. He just needed to welcome them, let them know that he'd be otherwise occupied for a bit, and send them to get settled in. Knowing Merle, he also had to go and get a guard that could keep some watch over them until we know a little more about them."

"Did you keep a guard on us when we got here?" Carol asked.

"You slept in our house," Andrea said. "That was guard enough for one night. We already knew you, though, so it was different. Anyway—Merle suggested that Daryl go with him to show him the ropes, you know? I think some of it was to get Daryl a little fresh air, though. He's really nervous about saying his vows wrong. I don't think I've honestly ever seen him this nervous."

Carol sighed and laughed to herself.

"I told him that I don't care if he says vows at all," Carol said. "Anything he says—even if it's just that he's ready for us to be married—will be good enough for me."

"That's how I felt with Merle," Andrea said, laughing to herself. "It didn't matter. Don't tell him this, but I don't even remember what he said. He was so nervous that the only thing I could think about the whole time was just—getting him through it." She shook her head. "I don't even know if what I said made sense. I just—covered what I could remember from what I'd planned to say. The only part that I really remember is the part where he kissed me. To be honest, the kiss said everything." Andrea smiled to herself. "I can't believe you're getting married. And you're marrying Daryl. I mean—I knew you two were interested in each other since…it seems like forever, but…" She broke off and shrugged. Carol laughed to herself, catching Andrea's mood.

"I can't believe it either," Carol admitted. "But—Andrea? You married Merle."

Andrea laughed in response to Carol's words and teasingly hid her face behind her hands.

"And I let him knock me up," she said. "I mean—honestly it wasn't like I had much of a choice as far as whether or not I wanted to get pregnant. There's really no birth control—or very little. I never even had any. But…and I never thought I'd say this about Merle…he's a good man."

"So is Daryl," Carol said.

"We already knew that," Andrea said. "I think—we knew that a long time ago, at least. Rough around the edges, but…"

"Look at what Merle's done here," Carol said. "What he keeps doing every day. You did a lot of that for him. You gave him someone who believed in him, maybe. Believed he could be more than—Merle Dixon had ever been before."

"Merle said you've given Daryl something that's—all his. Something he can love," Andrea said. "Apparently, that's what Merle thinks Daryl has always needed."

Carol's stomach flipped. She was marrying Daryl in a few minutes, more than likely. Whenever the brothers returned, they would get on with the simple and short ceremony. She loved him. She believed that he loved her. Still, it seemed almost too good to be true. All of it seemed almost too good to be true.

Carol reached a hand over and took Andrea's hand, seeking the grounding and comfort she could find there. She wanted something tangible to remind her that this was real. It was all real. Andrea must have understood, because she took Carol's hand and squeezed it, offering her a sincere smile that carried all the way to her slightly damp eyes.

"Maybe that's what all Dixons need," Carol offered. "It certainly seems to be the case with Merle, too."

Andrea nodded. She raised her eyebrows at Carol.

"I guess we'll find out for sure soon," Andrea said. "It looks like, soon, Dixons will be one thing that absolutely isn't in short supply around here."

Carol laughed to herself and nodded her agreement. She continued to hold Andrea's hand, though, for the reminder that everything was real. It wasn't some kind of dream. Andrea kept her hold on Carol even after the brothers announced their return, and even after they'd let Carol know that they were ready to start when she was.

Andrea had only let go of Carol's hand to pass it to Daryl.

And, with both her hands clasped tightly in Daryl's hands, Carol felt truly anchored in reality. She felt a wave of calm wash over her. Daryl worked her hands in his, almost painfully, seeking grounding himself. She tried to send him as much comfort as she could with her eyes and her smile.

"The words don't matter," she whispered to him when she noticed his breathing picking up pace a little. He looked at her almost like he would cry, but her words seemed to soothe some of his discomfort. "You and me…we'll know the truth," she assured him, winking quickly at him. It made him smile, despite his discomfort, and that made Carol's heart pound wildly and happily in response. It also made her daughter respond with a few sharp blows to her rib cage that almost took Carol's breath away.

"You OK?" Daryl whispered.

Carol smiled reassuringly.

"She's acting up," Carol offered. "Kicking me in the ribs. I'm fine."

Merle took it upon himself to address the few people that were there, but Carol hadn't heard a word he'd said, and she was sure that Daryl hadn't either. The words that nerves hadn't kept them from tuning out, their own whispered exchange had.

"You wanna go first?" Merle asked, staring at Daryl.

Daryl looked a little like he might be sick, and Carol squeezed his hands.

"Look at me," she said, her voice barely more than a whisper. He did look at her. She smiled at him, and he smiled back with tight lips. "Just talk to me."

"I tried to come up with something good," Daryl said. "But everything I came up with was about what you said when we were talkin' about it. I love you. I—promise to be the best husband I can be. I wanna be—the best father I can be. I won't never hurt you—at least, not on purpose. And I won't never hurt her, either."

Carol smiled to herself. Daryl almost looked pained, and his breathing was growing fast again. She squeezed his hands.

"Is that what you want to say?" She asked.

"Is it enough?" Daryl asked.

"It's perfect," Carol assured him. "I love you. And I know I'm not perfect, but…I promise to be the best wife that I can be. I promise to help you in every way that I can."

She broke off, suddenly as unsure of what else to say as Daryl had appeared to be earlier. Maybe he realized that, too, because he smiled at her, this time, with reassurance.

"Hell," he said, "that's good enough for me."

"What's good enough for the bride and groom is good enough for me," Merle offered. "Anyone object? And if you do—you can file your complaint with me outside."

Everyone laughed at Merle's teasing. Even Carol welcomed the laughter. She welcomed the reminder that the marriage was important—the promise to be with each other, support one another, and love another—but the words didn't matter.

Just as she'd told Daryl, they would know what they meant.

"Hell—kiss your bride, brother," Merle said. "That way we can all get to chores, and you can get to the best damn part of it all…the honeymoon."

Merle's facial expression, and the somewhat lude gesture he made with his tongue before laughing at himself made Carol make a face in spite of herself, but Daryl quickly erased any disgust she might feel at his brother by tugging her to him and kissing her with the most conviction that she'd felt in a long time. She enjoyed the kiss. She was somewhat aware that they were being watched, but she didn't care. She lingered there as long as Daryl wanted. She tried to commit every single sensation to memory—her first kiss as Daryl's wife.

They were applauded when the kiss broke, and there were hugs and congratulations all around. Soon, Merle had ushered their tiny audience out the door, though, to allow them privacy—and to allow them to get on with what they would call their honeymoon. T-Dog had even taken a bag with him, declaring he was staying in some other cabin, even though everyone already suspected they knew where he'd be spending the night.

"So that's what there is to it, huh?" Daryl mused as soon as the door was closed and they were alone.

Carol smiled at him.

"That's what there is to it," she said. "Are you disappointed?"

Daryl shook his head.

"Tell you a secret," he offered.

Carol smiled at him.

"What is it?" She asked.

He caught her again, pulling her as tight against him as her belly would allow.

"I can't hardly believe you're my wife," Daryl offered. "I love you—more'n anything. More'n I thought I could love someone."

Carol's heart drummed in response.

"I don't think that's much of a secret," she offered. "I think—people might have gotten some idea of that today."

"Good," Daryl said with a laugh. "Let 'em spread it around."

"You know what else I think they might have realized?" Carol asked.

Daryl hummed at her.

"That I love you that much, too." Daryl smiled at her. He nodded his head gently. "I know it's early, Daryl, but…do you want to go to bed?"

"Can't wait," Daryl said. "You know I gotta carry you over the threshold. I guess—the one to our room oughta do it."

"Please—I don't want you to hurt yourself," Carol protested. "Let's just skip that part."

"Don't you worry," Daryl promised. "I can carry my wife any time she needs it." He laughed to himself. "And I know enough to lift with my damn knees."

As if to illustrate his point, Daryl lifted Carol, bridal style. She wrapped her arms around him and leaned into him, trying to make her weight as bearable as possible. Still, if he struggled at all with the load he was carrying, he didn't let it be known. Instead, when they reached the door, he tipped her slightly and asked her to get the door. She opened it and he carried her inside the room, without stopping, and carried her directly to the bed.

Carol laughed to herself when he rested her on the mattress.

"What?" He asked.

"At least you aren't keeping your intentions a secret," Carol offered.

"No secrets here," Daryl assured her. "If I remember correctly—we have work to do. I don't know how long it'll take for us to make a baby, but I know we got twelve hours, easy, before T gets back."

Carol reached her arms up, inviting him to her for another kiss.

"That ought to be just enough time," she promised him.