Six months later

"Glenn!" Beth called out while Daryl and Glenn were working on one of the trucks and Glenn nearly hit his head on the hood of the truck.

"What's wrong!?" Glenn asked.

Maggie was getting close to delivering their baby and Daryl thought Glenn helping him with the truck would help not only Glenn stop worrying about Maggie, but would help him stop worrying about Carol.

"It's time!"

"Shit!"

"Go," Daryl said. Nodding, Glenn ran off as Daryl looked at the engine, close the hood, placed the tools in the toolbox, closed the lid of the toolbox, picked up the toolbox then he headed for the ranch house to clean up.

The farmhouse

The front door opened as Daryl walked inside and Carol smiled, walking to him.

"What took you so long?" she asked and he slid his hands over the belly bump.

"Was fixin' one of the trucks. Had to clean up," Daryl explained, leaning in to kiss her cheek. "How's Maggie doin'?"

"Patricia came to tell us she's doing fine."

A loud scream filled the air as Daryl looked up at the ceiling and he blinked his eyes a few times.

"Hey," Carol said and he looked at her. "That's natural. Giving birth hurts."

"Just don't like the idea of…"

He was cut off after he felt something thumping against his hands and he knelt down in front of Carol. He placed the tip of his nose against the belly bump and Carol ruffled his hair.

"It's ok. That wasn't Mama screamin'," he said in the soft voice.

Carol loved how Daryl interacted with the baby.

"Ed never did that," Carol thought as a shiver from memories of Ed moved through her head and Daryl stood up.

"What's wrong?" he whispered, pulling her into a hug. She moved slightly so he could pull her against his chest and she leaned into him.

"Sorry. A ghost popped up in my head," she whispered.

"Ed?"

Carol nodded and he kissed the side of her head. She felt the ghost of Ed fading as she smiled at Daryl and he lightly rocked her.

"How long do you think this is going to take?" T-Dog asked.

"It depends. First babies take a long time to come out," Lori said, holding six months old Judith on her lap.

"How long did it take for me to come out?" Sophia asked, walking to Carol.

"You took about eight and a half hours," Carol said.

"Sorry."

Smiling, Carol let go of Daryl to hug Sophia and Daryl smiled. He then noticed Judith looking at him and she held out her hands toward him.

"Looks like someone wants Uncle Daryl," Carol teased.

"Yeah," Daryl said, walking to Lori and Lori held Judith up so he could pick Judith up. He held Judith in his arms as she started playing with his hair and he smiled. "Whatcha doin'?"

"She likes to pull on someone's hair," Rick explained, walking closer and he grinned at Judith. "Don't you, Sunshine?"

Judith giggled then Daryl lifted her into the air and she squealed with laughter. He held her up higher in the air then he lowered her down to his chest and she leaned her head against his right shoulder.

It was nearly sundown when they heard the sound of a baby crying and Glenn slowly walked down the stairs. He looked tired, but happy and he sat down on the next to the bottom step.

"I have a son," Glenn said, smiling.

"How's Maggie?" Dale asked.

"She's fine. So's the baby."

"I think we all deserve a drink," Otis said. He had gone into town to the liquor store and he found a drinkable bottle of whisky. He also found some plastic bottles of water and he poured the whisky and water into the glasses. He passed out the glasses when he looked at Glenn and smiled. "To Glenn and Maggie!"

"To Glenn and Maggie," everyone said as they drank and Glenn softly laughed.

"So, what's your son's name?" T-Dog asked, walking to Glenn.

"Maggie and I talked about it. We decided to name him after his grandfather and my best friend," Glenn said, looking at him. "His name is Hershel Theodore Rhee."

"Th… Theodore?!" T-Dog asked, wide eyed.

"Yeah."

T-Dog took a staggered breath as he blinked the tears out of his eyes then he nodded his head.

Beth walked down the stairs as Glenn got out of the way and she looked at them.

"Dad told me to tell you Maggie can have visitors, but only two at a time," she said.

Rick and Lori went upstairs first. After everyone else went upstairs then went back to the ranch house, Carol and Daryl went upstairs, down the hallway and Carol peeked in the room.

"Still want visitors?" Carol teased and Maggie nodded. They walked in the room as Daryl helped Carol sit on the chair beside the bed and he placed his hands on her shoulders. "How are you feeling?"

"Really tired, but fine," Maggie said. She looked down at the sleeping baby in her arms and Carol could see the baby had a full head of hair.

"Were you able to get him to nurse?"

"Yeah."

Daryl looked down as he felt the blush moving over his cheeks and Maggie looked at him.

"Want to hold him?" Maggie asked.

Nodding, Daryl walked to the bed when he gently lifted the baby into his arms and he looked down at the sleeping baby.

"He looks like Glenn," Daryl said, lightly rocking the baby.

"Yeah, he does."

Daryl moved the blanket down to see the baby better and the baby wrapped his tiny fingers around Daryl's right index finger.

"Can I have my finger back?" he asked, wiggling his index finger. The baby let go as he rocked the baby and he saw the amused looks on Carol and Maggie's faces. "What?"

"You look so comfortable holding a baby," Maggie said.

"Had a lota practice with Judith."

Carol knew he didn't want to tell her about what happened with Merle and she sat back in the chair.

"Carol?" Daryl asked, handing the baby to Maggie and he knelt down next to the chair.

"Yes, I'm fine. Stop worrying," Carol said, cupping his cheek in her right hand.

"Can't help it," he said, standing up.

"I think you should go to bed," Hershel said from the doorway and Daryl turned to look at him.

"I'm fine!" Carol said with a sigh and she rolled her eyes.

"Let's go," Daryl said. Carol was stunned when Daryl scooped her into his arms with a tiny grunt then he carried her out of the room. They headed downstairs while she placed her head against his right shoulder and he placed her back on her feet when they reached the bottom of the staircase.

"Why did you do that?" she asked.

"You looked tired," he said then he looked down at his feet.

"Hey, I'm not angry with you. Just don't want you to hurt yourself."

"I'm good," he said, looking at her. Carol loved how much attention he was giving her, but she didn't like how hurt he looked. She moved closer when she shifted positions so she could hug him and she kissed his cheek. He sensed her mood as she kissed his lips and he moved back. He remembered reading something in the baby book when he smiled, took her right hand and they headed for the hallway.

"Where are we going?" Carol asked.

"We're goin' to bed."

"I'm not tired."

"No, but you do wanna go to bed."

"Whoa. Stop."

They stopped at the door to their bedroom when she took his hands and they locked eyes.

"Ok," he said with a nod. "I read in the baby book that expectin' mom sometimes need a little attention. I thought maybe…"

Softly laughing, she opened the door as they went inside the room and Daryl closed the door behind them.

Two days later

"Daryl," woke him as he rolled onto his back and he opened his eyes. The light was on and he saw the pained look on Carol's face. Two seconds later, he realized what was wrong and he sat up.

"Hold on," he said, getting out of bed. She watched him run out of the room then he ran back in, quickly put his jeans on, ran out of the room and she softly laughed.

Daryl ran down the hallway then up the stairs and he nearly crashed into Glenn after he ran down the hallway.

"Daryl?" Glenn asked.

"Carol. Baby. Now," Daryl said, looking down the stairs as he tried to catch his breath.

"I'll go get Hershel."

Nodding, Daryl flipped the switch to turn the light on in the hallway, ran down the stairs then ran down the hallway and he held onto the doorframe when he arrived at their bedroom.

"Are you ok?" Carol asked.

"Yeah. Nearly ran into Glenn. He said he'll get Hershel," Daryl said.

"Why was Glenn awake?"

"Heard the baby cryin'."

"He must have been going to get a bottle for Little Hershel."

"Yeah."

"We're going to have to get a new mattress and new bedding again," she teased when a contraction hit and she gasped.

"Carol!" he said as he got onto the bed and he slid her against him. She rode out the contraction while he rocked her and she held onto him.

"Daryl, what's wrong?!" Patricia asked as she ran into the room and he looked at her.

"Just…having a contraction," Carol said. She sighed after the contraction stopped and Daryl kissed her left hand. Daryl looked at the doorway when he saw Hershel, Glenn, Maggie, Beth, Otis and Sophia and he moved Carol back so Hershel could examine Carol.

"How is she?" Maggie asked.

"She's ready," Hershel said.

Patricia helped Carol undress then she covered Carol's chest and waist with a sheet and Daryl looked at Hershel.

"What do you want me to do?" Daryl asked.

"I need you to help Carol to push when I tell her to."

Nodding, Daryl moved Carol so she was leaning back against him and she smiled sweetly at him.

"Ready?" Carol asked.

"Yeah," Daryl said even though his stomach was tightening and his heart slammed in his chest. His mind replayed his talk with Hershel and Daryl sighed.

"If you want to make it through the delivery, just remember two things. Keep calm. If Carol senses you're nervous then she will tense up. And remember to breathe."

"Why would I ferget to'do that?"

"Because she will hold her breath when she's baring down to push the baby out. You'll want to do that. But don't."

"Or I'll pass out."

"Yes."

Daryl lightly rubbed Carol's upper arms while Beth and Maggie went to help Patricia gather a few things for the delivery and Carol moaned.

"This really hurts," Carol hissed as the contraction hit.

"You're doing fine," Hershel assured her.

"I want to push."

"Not yet."

Maggie, Beth and Patricia returned as Daryl watched Hershel hook Carol up to the intravenous drip and Carol moaned. Daryl held her when the contraction hit again and Carol grabbed onto Daryl's right hand.

"Ok, Carol, I need you to push," Hershel said and she nodded while he looked at Daryl. "Remember…"

"Breathe," Daryl said with a nod.

Carol started pushing while Daryl helped her move forward and she lightly scream. Her face was turning red when Hershel held up his right hand and she stopped pushing. Daryl moved her back while they rested and Beth handed him a wash cloth to pat the sweat off Carol's face.

"Is there something wrong?" Carol asked.

"No. Everything fine," Hershel said with a grin. "Think you're ready to push?"

"Give me a minute."

Daryl rubbed her upper arms as she leaned her head against his and Daryl barely rocked her.

"I'm ready," Carol said a few seconds later. She started to bare down while Daryl gently pushed her forward and she growled.

"Ok, you can stop," Hershel said.

Daryl leaned her back into him as she panted and Daryl pulled the sheet up. Carol was starting to feel tired. She looked at Daryl as he gave her sweet look and she reached up to brush some hair out of his eyes.

"Ok, I need another push," Hershel said a few minutes later and Carol nodded. Carol bared down when she started pushing and Hershel grinned. "I see the head."

Carol pushed harder as she growled and she reached back to grab onto Daryl's head. Daryl moved her hands down to his shoulders as she pushed and Hershel held up his hand.

"Hold on."

"Is there a problem?" Daryl asked.

"Not really. Just have to move the baby a bit."

Carol nodded when Hershel got the baby to move and Hershel nodded.

"Right. I need one really big push, Carol."

"I'm getting tired," Carol complained.

"I know."

"Hey," Daryl said and she looked at him. "I know you have one more push in you. Know how I know?"

"How?" Carol asked.

"I know because my wife is one of the toughest women I know."

Carol took a few deep breathes when she felt something she hadn't felt in a long time. A sudden surge of power. She closed her eyes while Daryl lightly moved her forward and Carol screamed while baring down.

Daryl watched Hershel as the baby came out and Hershel cleaned the baby off. A sharp cry filled the air as Carol panted and Hershel held the baby in his arms.

"Well. Hello there, little fella," Hershel said.

"It's a boy?!" Carol asked, wide eyed.

"Yes," Hershel said. After cutting the umbilical cord, he handed the baby to Patricia and she went to examine the baby.

Daryl looked at Carol as she turned her head and Daryl kissed her.

"We made a boy," Daryl whispered against her lips.

"Yes, we did," she whispered back.

"Want to come over here and hold your son?" Patricia said.

Nodding, Daryl gently leaned Carol back against the pillows, got off the bed and walked to Patricia. She had wrapped the baby in a blue baby blanket and she placed the baby in Daryl's arms. He held the baby against his chest as the baby made little whimpering sounds and he hushed the baby.

"It's ok," he said over and over as he looked over at Hershel examining Carol and a sense of fear moved through him. "Is she alright?"

"She's fine," Hershel said.

Daryl walked to the bed when he placed the baby against Carol's chest and she held the baby. The baby sniffed and slightly wiggled on her and she lightly kissed the top of the baby's head.

"So, what is this little fella's name?" Hershel asked.

"I was thinking of naming him after his grandfathers," Carol said then she saw the look in Daryl's eyes. He had told her his father's name was "William", but she also knew he didn't want to name the baby after him. "But we decided on Henry Richard Dixon. Henry was my father's name."

"You used Rick's name for his middle name?" Maggie asked.

"Yep," Daryl said.

"Oh, Rick is gonna be mad that he missed this," Glenn said, smiling.

"I'll tell him in the mornin'."

"Alright. Let's leave them be," Patricia said, waving her hands to shoo them out of the room.

Daryl and Carol noticed the look on Sophia's face when Carol nodded at Daryl and he followed Sophia out of the room.

"Sophia?" he called out and Sophia stopped on the third step. "We need to talk."

Nodding, Sophia walked down the stairs as he led her to the living room and he turned on the light. They sat on the couch as he looked at her and he motioned with his fingers for her to come closer. She snuggled against him as he wrapped his right arm around her and she looked at him.

"Do you believe me when I say I really appreciate havin' you as my daughter?" he asked.

"Yeah, I do," Sophia said with a nod.

"Do you believe me when I say that ain't ever gonna change?"

"Yeah."

"Do you believe me when I say you, Henry and Mom are my life?"

"Yeah."

Sophia looked at the gold ring on her right ring finger as he lightly squeezed her shoulder and she looked at him.

"What's wrong?" he asked with a sad look in his eyes.

"I guess… I guess I thought you didn't need me anymore," she said, softly. She didn't expect the hurt and stunned look on his face. Daryl got up when he knelt down in front of her and he gently held onto her knees.

"Didn't you hear yer mom when she said she would lose it if anything happened to you or me? She would. She would break into so many pieces an' no one would be able to put her back together again. Me? I would just give up if I lost all of you. Hell, I'd turn into Merle."

"I wouldn't like that."

"Me neither."

"Am I being stupid?"

Daryl stood up when she followed him and he pulled her into a hug.

"Nope. You're just a little jealous. Which is fine. But I want you to promise me that you will tell me or Mom if you feel ignored."

"I promise."

He leaned down to kiss the top of her head as she looked up at him and he smiled.

"Wanna go hold yer little brother?" he asked and she nodded her head against his chest. They headed for the hallway while he held her to his side and they stood in the doorway.

"Is everything ok?" Carol asked, looking at them.

"Not really," Daryl said, letting go of Sophia and Sophia walked to the bed. He watched her to go around to the other side of the bed, crawl onto the mattress and she sat next to Carol. Daryl walked to the bed when he carefully lifted the baby off Carol's chest and he held the baby in his arms. Sophia moved so Carol could hold her and Sophia explained what was wrong. Daryl watched the range of emotions moving over Carol's face as she wrapped her arms around Sophia and Sophia placed her head against Carol's right shoulder.

"Your dad's right," Carol said as she looked at Daryl. "Nothing is going to change. You are, and always be, our little girl. Yes, I know you're growing up, but you are. He's also right about me falling apart if I lost any of you. My family means everything to me. And I also want you to promise to talk to us if you feeling ignored."

"I will. Sorry if I'm being a pain in the butt," Sophia said with a sigh.

"You ain't a pain in the butt," Daryl said, walking to the other side of the bed and Sophia sat up. He carefully placed the baby in her arms as Sophia looked at Henry and she suddenly felt a feeling of protectiveness move through her.

Henry looked up at her as he blinked his eyes a few times then he barely smiled at her.

"He smiled at me!" Sophia said with wide eyes.

"That means he loves you," Carol said, kissing the left side of Sophia's head.

"I love you, too, Henry," Sophia said, looking at her little brother when Daryl carefully slid onto the bed and he sat next to her. "What are you doing?"

"Just snuggling with my family," Daryl said.

"It's a good thing we have a big bed," Carol teased and Sophia giggled. Daryl snorted a laugh while the baby looked at them with a slightly confused look then Henry barely smiled.

The next morning, Daryl sighed as he opened his eyes, rolled onto his left side and he looked at Carol. She was nursing the baby when she saw Daryl watching her and he barely rubbed the side of the baby's head.

"Mornin'," Daryl grumbled.

"Good morning," Carol said.

"Is he ok?"

"He's fine."

"He's really hungry."

"Well, he did have a busy day yesterday," she said with a smile.

"So did his mama," he said, leaning up on his elbow to kiss her cheek. He settled onto his back as she played with his hair and he sighed.

After Henry was finished nursing, Carol burped him then she placed him on Daryl's chest.

"Why did you do that?" Daryl asked, cupping the baby's feet in his left hand and he gently rubbed Henry's back with his right hand.

"I looked through one of those baby books you found. It said a baby knows his or her mother because of the bond built while growing in the womb. But to really know his or her father, it's a good idea to do skin-to-skin contact. In other words, you holding him like that lets him hear you."

"Hear me?"

"He can hear your voice a little better and he hears your heart beating."

"Oh."

Daryl looked at his son while he lightly rubbed Henry's back and Daryl made a deep sigh. Henry made a little sigh in return as Daryl smiled and he looked at the ceiling.

"Don't get too comfortable. It ain't gonna last," Merle's voice said in his head and Henry started fussing from the sudden increase in Daryl's heartbeat.

"What's wrong?" Daryl asked, looking at Henry.

"I don't know. Give him to me."

She reached for Henry when Daryl realized what was wrong and he hushed Henry.

"No. I think I know what's wrong."

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"Merle."

"Merle?"

"See, sometimes I hear his voice in my head. Always givin' me… Always tellin' me stuff to bring me down. Guess Henry noticed I was getting' upset."

"No ghosts in the bedroom," she reminded him and Daryl nodded.

"Don't stop him from gettin' in my head."

Carol moved onto her right side, taking care of the intravenous tube, and she moved her head toward Daryl's head.

"Hey, Merle. Fuck off," she whispered in his ear and Daryl snorted a laugh.

They became quiet as Henry made a little yawn while he listened to the soft sound of Daryl's breathing and the gently thrumming of his daddy's heartbeat.

"Um…," Daryl said while looking at her and she noticed the slightly embarrassed look on his face. "I gotta go to the bathroom."

"Hold on," Carol said, carefully sitting up and she lifted Henry off of Daryl's chest. The baby didn't like being separated from his daddy as he started fussing and Daryl got out of bed.

"Hey now," Daryl said, leaning on the mattress. "Don't worry. I'll be right back."

Kissing Carol's cheek, Daryl straightened, walked to the door, opened the door and he left the room while Carol smiled down at Henry. She rocked the baby as Henry sniffed and she noticed his lower lip stuck out like Daryl's did when he was upset.

"You are most definitely your father's son," she whispered, kissing the top of Henry's head.