Summary:

Carol and Daryl come to some decisions with what Denise has to offer. Carol and Daryl hit their loved ones with some news. I wanted this chapter to be kinda showing "emotional whiplash" when team family hears the news.

Daryl got up from where Sophia, Glenn and Maggie were playing a very animated game of Monopoly. He wandered across the street to Carol's new pantry building. He knew that is where he would find her.

Instead of putting the finishing touches on the room, he found her sitting in a corner deep in thought. Guessing she was thinking about whatever had been discussed with Denise, he sat beside her

"You don't gotta tell me anything you don't want to Carol" he said. But I am a good listener if you be needin' to do any talking."

"When Ed and I got married, I wanted two or more children. After seeing how he was, I stopped at Sophia. And the baby I lost . . . I didn't know about it. With Ed gone, I would have been happy to raise it. After Ed beat me and I lost the baby, I asked Denise to sterilize me."

Daryl's head shot up at this. He understood the logic behind it, but knew it went against what Carol really and truly wanted. He remembered her telling him of her desire to be a mother, and Ed not wanting kids. He remembered her saying Sophia had been a surprise. He could still picture her, snuggled up with Sophia on that tiny bed - the pain in her eyes as she discussed her lost dreams.

"Today I had my re-check with her, and she brought it up. I found myself wanting another child – one free of Ed. How selfish is that?!"

"I don't think it's selfish at all. You just have to look at the circumstances of this world, and decide if a child is worth fighting everything for. I only wish that I had gotten the chance to know you earlier. Regardless of how shitty my past was, I have found myself wanting to be part of a family with kids. Guess Judith and Carl have had that effect on me."

"I've seen you with them. You are a natural."

He snorted at that. When she looked at him inquisitively, he couldn't meet her eyes. Finally, he explained.

"Did anybody tell you about how Asskicker was born?"

When she shook her head, he took in a deep breath and thought back.

"Well, when Rick's wife Lori died in childbirth, he lost his mind. He couldn't hold or even look at the baby. Without Lori to nurse, we needed formula. Maggie and I went and found some. She made a bottle and I grabbed it and started feeding Judith. Now I had never even held a baby before, and didn't have a desire to ever do so. But with her . . . in this shit world . . . I didn't even think about it. When I realized I was holding this tiny life, I finally understood why people would lie, cheat, steal and kill for their children." At that point, Daryl started squirming uncomfortably.

She nodded for him to continue.

"I remember thinking how cheated I felt. Cuz as soon as I realized that I wouldn't ever have that life -"

"Why wouldn't you? Surely you had opportunities to find somebody who wanted the same things?"

He was already shaking his head.

"I didn't ever meet somebody I wanted to have that life with. I never thought I would meet a woman to love to make that possible. That is until now."

"What are you saying Daryl?"

"I am saying that I love you Carol. Protection detail aside, I knew when I stepped in to be part of your family, that I would rather die than abandon you and Soph. I know that me stepping in as a father figure for her has gone well. I never expected to love either of you the way I do now. I don't want to ever be without you woman. If you want to build this family up with a baby, I am all for being daddy to this child too. . . . . if you will have me that is."

"Daryl Dixon, you surprise me. Don't you know by now that I fell for you too? Not just as a protector and head of our family. I want that for real. I want to go to bed each night with you and show that I love you every way I can."

He was blushing, which she found adorable. She reached out and placed her hand on his warm cheek.

"I want to be Carol Dixon – mother of Sophia Dixon. Wife of Daryl Dixon. And I would be lying if I didn't say that I would love to have a baby Dixon make an appearance sooner rather than later."

"I got my mama's ring from when she died. I kept Merle from pawning it. Do you think you would want to get married? I know I'm a filthy redneck, but I love you and Sophia. I want to make you mine. Maybe ask Deanna tomorrow if she can do it? Then we can get with Denise and see when we can start the baby making."

"That sounds perfect. Hey – Sophia is tied up with Maggie and Glenn. How bout we tell her the news and then start practicing?"

At his blushing nod, he stood up and went to pull her to standing. It was then he realized her face had fallen a bit. He knelt in front of her tilting her chin so he could meet her eyes. He quirked his eyebrow in silent askance.

"Are you sure Daryl? I mean 100% positive it's me you want?"

At his confused look, she continued.

"You and I have done . . . stuff . . . . but I am scared to have sex. What if Ed has ruined it all for me? I love you, and I don't think I could forgive myself if that asshole still found a way to stop our happiness."

"He ain't stoppin nothin'. We will work through what we need to and be just fine. As for now, wanna go tell Sophia that we're getting hitched tomorrow?"

"Let's go together to tell her. We are going to start this family right. We are going to tell her and talk to her about it together."

"Sounds perfect."

He kissed her, helped her to her feet, and hand in hand they walked back to their house.

"You want to what?!" Sophia looked like a typical deer in the headlights for a moment. Carol and Daryl had pulled her out of the Monopoly game and into the living room for a private chat.

"Daryl and I want to get married and have a real family with you – all of us – together."

Daryl could see the thought rolling around in Sophia's noggin for a moment. He thought her face went through about ten emotions in a split second. She finally settled on wary happiness.

"I like the idea. But will things change? I mean I know that it won't be like with Ed . . . . "

"It would never be like with Ed" said Daryl. "I would throw myself to the walkers before any of that shit made it into our family."

"But why now? I mean I am happy about it but just curious."

Carol thought a moment before answering.

"Sophia, you have only known one type of family for 13 years. I have only known one type of marriage. We don't know what this world will bring, but I want us to have more happy years than bad years. Daryl makes me happy, and I love him. I want us to have a future together; and do it right."

"What would change from how things are right now?"

"Soph, I love you and your mama. I want to do right by you both and have us be the kind of family that can be happy. I want to give you both my name too, if that's ok with you – to make it all official like."

Sophia thought of the name carved on her new knife. She already had noticed that she had not objected to the name of Sophia Ann Dixon carved on the hilt. She hadn't really thought of it really in any way other than acceptance and happiness. No other emotion had crossed her mind. This is who she was now. She wasn't Ed's. Maybe she never really was. He was never a dad to her.

"I like the name Sophia Dixon" she said smiling. "Can Deanna make it official – like for real, like the old days and adoption? I don't want to ever be known as Peletier to anybody here again."

"They call you that, you tell me and I will kick their ass" Daryl said smiling.

"Well, let's do this then. When are we doing this?" Sophia asked.

"Tomorrow" said Carol.

"You want to what?!" Glenn looked like he had just been told the moon is made of green cheese.

"Carol and I are getting' hitched tomorrow, and I want you to stand up for me as best man". Daryl and Carol and Sophia had returned to Glenn and Maggie in the dining room where the Monopoly game had been put on a temporary hiatus.

"And I would love it if you would be my maid of honor" Carol said to Maggie.

The young couple looked at each other and back to Daryl and Carol and Sophia. It took a moment. Maggie started laughing. "Looks like you owe Tara a guard duty shift there Rhee."

Daryl looked at her for a moment in confusion.

"Glenn and Tara had a bet going on when you would lose your heart to Carol. They both knew you were made for each other as soon as they saw you two together."

Turning to Carol, the younger woman continued.

"But Glenn thought it would take a bit longer since Daryl here has a history of being . . . . . how shall I say this . . . . . emotionally constipated."

Carol started laughing. Daryl looked annoyed. Sophia didn't know what to think.

"Just for that Maggie, you get babysitting duty on the first kid" Daryl said to them with a smirk.

"KID!?" Maggie, Glenn and Sophia said at the same time.

"You want to what?!" Deanna looked like a typical politician faced with a ditzy constituent.

"Can you marry us tomorrow or not boss lady?" Daryl asked.

"Me? Marry you two?"

Daryl nodded. Deanna smiled, nodding her head.

"There is nothing I would rather do."

"We also want to do everything we can as far as paperwork or record keeping or whatever to make my adoption of Sophia official. There is no room in our family for the name Peletier."

"Carol, what is your maiden name?" Deanna asked.

"Mason. Why?

"There will be no room for the name Peletier in your vows. I will put in an official record tonight as to a name change for both you and Sophia to Mason. That way even on the adoption forms for Sophia, there will be no mention of Ed's last name."

"Thank you Deanna. Would you mind if Father Gabriel were to co-officiate?"

"Sounds like the best thing to happen in Alexandria since the turn" Deanna said.