I thought about putting off updating for about a week, just to be evil… but I couldn't do it. I'm a big softie, what can I say? ^_~ Enjoy!

If you recognize it, I don't own it.

Recommended Song: "Let's Go On (Cherie)" from Rhapsody

Carol bolted upright in bed, her eyes wide with terror. "Daryl?!"

Beside her, a tangle of limbs and quilts came to life. Swears punctuated the grunts as a head emerged. "Huh?" a voice mumbled. "S'matter? S'baby? Walkers?"

Carol threw her arms around her husband as tears rolled down her face. "You were dead!" she whimpered.

Daryl held her close, one hand behind her head and another wrapped protectively around her growing stomach. He rocked her in his arms as she cried against his neck. He didn't need to ask which nightmare it was. It was always the same gruesome dream of his death at the hands of a herd of walkers.

"Hey," he murmured, kissing her forehead lightly. "S'a'ight. I'm safe. You're safe. Ain't been no walkers come up this way in months."

Carol nodded as she pulled away. "I know," she sniffled. "It jus' seems so real every time..."

Daryl rubbed his hand against her stomach. "How's Peanut?"

A smile formed at the edges of Carol's lips. "She's okay. She was kickin' me really hard. S'why I woke up."

It was Daryl's turn to smirk. "Keep callin' it a girl... What are you gonna do when it turns out Peanut's a boy?"

"Because in my dreams, you tell me it's a girl."

An amused grunt accompanied his smirk. "Lil' girl… The hell we gonna do with a lil' girl?"

"Same thing we'd do with a lil' boy... teach her to survive."

Daryl stretched back against the pillows, pulling his wife with him. He drummed his fingers across her stomach, smiling when there was a kick in salutation. "Hey, Peanut… keep your mama in line. No more'a them dreams, a'ight?"

There was another kick before the baby stilled once more.

Carol giggled. "You can't call her Peanut forever."

Daryl kissed her head again. "Name 'im whatcha want, but he already answers to this one... doncha, Peanut?"

Another kick made Carol roll her eyes. "I'm not calling her that when she's born."

"What are you gonna call it?"

Carol smiled, placing her hand on top of his. "I always wanted a little girl named Madeline. When I was pregnant with Sophia, I was already dreamin' of how someday she'd have a little sister… Sophia and Madeline."

"You ain't callin' my boy Madeline. Ain't gonna have none'a that."

Carol grinned. "Well, since you're so insistent… I suppose we could call him Jacob."

Daryl didn't reply, settling for rubbing her stomach until her breathing became deep and even. When he was sure she was asleep, he leaned up far enough to put his face close to her stomach. "Hey... stop blabbin' to your mama," he whispered. "S'more fun to give her shit 'bout you being a boy."

*hides* I know, I know! I totally pulled a "Dallas," and for that I apologize. Like I said, my original idea ended in the last chapter, but I had to do something to make it up to my poor distraught beta. What really happened that day with the herd will be explained soon, but for now, I hope you enjoy the fluff. ^_^ The next chapter will be longer, I promise!