Turns out Daryl had to learn how to share Alma quite a lot. Nathaniel Alexander and Noah Davide Dixon were born healthy and soon had a few younger siblings, mostly due to the fact that Merle had pushed the thought of 'ain't no real man using condoms with his own wife' into Daryls head. Alma had used birth control until the twins got a bit older, since they were quite a handful as newborns, and to be honest Daryl probably would rubber up if she asked but she had always wanted a big family and as long as he seemed at ease she didn't see an issue.
When Nate and Noah had turned 3, and Alma had been a Dixon for two years, the third child was born. Rosalie Mable Dixon. 2 years later Atticus Lukas Dixon and lastly one year after that Benjamin Kai Dixon.
Nathaniel was an outgoing person who loved almost everyone, his brown hair messy and blue eyes that rarely stopped sparkling with anticipation at the prospect of an adventure. Noah was less outgoing but just as curious and even though Nate made 99% of the plans to their mischiefs and pranks, the younger twin had never been far behind and always eager to participate.
Rose was a gentle soul when it came to animals and a brute when it came to people. At only three years of age she could sit for ages and pet the family dog. But the second someone took her toys, or spoke over her or even looked at her too long she would shut down and become ever so grumpy. Rosalie also insisted that her brown hair should be tied back at all times, whether it be with braids, piggy tails or a ponytail she didn't care but she didn't want it in her face. Her brown eyes where in a way dull and in another way almost intimidating.
Atticus was a sensitive boy, and picky with almost everything. He didn't do well with angry people and yelling became almost prohibited around him, no matter if the nature of the shouts were good or bad. When Attie became old enough to talk and express himself Daryl got to learn how to semi-gracefully be okay with random 'I love you's and physical affection that didn't come from his wife, and Alma was sure that her more than little awkward husband had come to expect the cheek kisses and many hugs that Atticus delivered. He also, contrary to his siblings, had dirt-blond hair. Alma guessed it was due to the fact that her mother and her maternal grandparents were blond, as well as Daryls mother and maternal grandfather. However, the shiny and glittery brown eyes were much easier to track in their family trees.
Ben was born deaf, and no matter how upsetting it was at the time, everyone was quite happy he was. Deafness was a part of the young boy but I wasn't who he was. Benjamin seldom made any noise, but when he did it was usually to laugh or possibly let out a noise of frustration. At the ripe young age of three he was already way smarter than his siblings had been at that age and also way more observing. Alma used to always tell Daryl that Ben would grow up to work at NASA or even the first deaf president. Benny was also remarkably similar to Rosalie in appearances, easily passing as her younger, male, body double.
(Nate and Noah 9 years old, Rose 6 years old, Attie 4 years old, Ben 3 years old, Alma and Daryl married for 8 years)
Getting a family with 5 children and an overgrown man-child with a phobia of social events ready for Christmas in the nice parts of Atlanta was a challenge. Benny didn't really object all that much, seeing as he liked going to see his grandparents. Rose and Noah were also effortlessly persuaded when Alma had mentioned that they could bring Nanok. But Daryl, Nate and Atticus was on a whole other level. Daryl complained every other minute and Nathaniel idolized his father, obviously doing his best to follow his footsteps. Attie on the other hand had his own motives for not wanting to go, namely the cousins. Julians and Fridas children were lovely at times but they had quite a lot of personality. Personalities that hardly took the feelings of others into consideration, and that made the 4-year-old very uneasy.
And in the midst of all the chaos Alma found herself happy and content with how her life turned out. She liked the bickering and the exhaustion. And she loved that she could look out over her family and see how much they all cared about each other.
And when she looked at her family dynamic no one could have predicted that only 3 years later they would live in a world shattered.
This was just supposed to be the filler that moved us from pre-ZA to the start of season 1. I just wanted people to have a basic understanding of their life pre-ZA and I also wanted everyone to have a mental image of their family life/children.
Thanks to everyone who reads this story, I didn't think anyone would seeing as my English isn't the best (I'm Swedish so English is my 2nd language)
Thank you again and I will try to update this story as often as I can (so at least once a month, but probably more like every other week)