One last bit of fluff!

If you haven't figured out by now I don't own TWD, I'll just play along and pretend I do.

Recommended Song: "Love Without End, Amen" by George Strait

The sun crept through the curtains, casting warm rays across the bed. Carol smiled as she stretched across the pillows. She couldn't remember the last time she had slept so soundly. Not since Madeline-

Carol sat up. Madeline hadn't made a sound all morning. She reached for the bassinet, hoping to find her sleeping peacefully. Instead, she found nothing but her pink blanket. "Maddy?!" she gasped, then turned back to the bed. "Daryl! Maddy's gone!"

There was no response from the mound of blankets. Carol reached to shake her husband, only to find his place empty. She began to panic. Had something happened? Why wouldn't they have woken her if something was wrong? Where was Maddy?

Carol jumped to her feet and hurried to the door, ignoring that she was dressed only in one of Daryl's shirts. She threw open the door and rushed into the living room, only to find exactly what she was looking for.

Daryl was stretched across the couch with his feet propped up on one end. One arm rested beneath his head while the other rested on a mysterious lump under his shirt that rose and fell with each breath. Carol took a few quiet steps closer just as a familiar grunt squeaked from inside his shirt. A little head peeked out just below his chin, its mouth rooting against the skin for something that wasn't there.

"Shhhhhhh," Daryl whispered without opening his eyes. His fingers began drumming against her back in a gentle wave, quietening the infant. "You'll get your breakfast in a bit. Y'Mama's sleepin'."

Carol wrapped her arms around herself as a smile began to spread across her face. "Mama's awake," she said quietly, causing Daryl's eyes to open. "Everything okay?"

He smirked. "She was fussin'... didn' wanna wake you. Brought her out here."

Sitting on the floor beside him, Carol rested her head against his shoulder. "So you put her in your shirt?"

An amused grunt bounced the baby on his chest. "Didn' want her t'fall if I fell asleep."

She rested her disfigured hand on top of his. "Whatever works," she said with a smile. "She looks comfortable."

Daryl took her hand into his before bringing it to his lips, kissing the gold band on her middle finger. "Ring fits again," he observed.

"Yeah, didn't think the swelling would ever go away."

He chuckled. "Gutted seventeen a'those bastards t'find it... S'gonna fit if I had to resize it myself."

Carol laughed as she squeezed his hand with her two fingers. "Is my girl ready for breakfast?"

Daryl put one hand on Maddy's back as he sat up. "Thought I might take Peanut out on her first hunt this mornin'," he said with a mischievous glint in his eye. "Girl's got a grip on her... figure I'll start her off with a knife, teach her t'skin the kills."

His wife rolled her eyes. "Sure, and we'll just turn Samuel loose with your crossbow while we're at it," she said, reaching for her daughter. "Now c'mon, it's breakfast time for fussy girls."

"You're no fun," he said, unbuttoning his shirt. "Mama's no fun, is she, Peanut?"

As if on cue, Madeline began fussing, this time louder and more insistent. Carol reached for her and scooped her into her arms. "I'm sure I'll win her over again," she said, kissing Daryl's cheek as she stood up. "If Maggie comes down before we're through, tell her I'll come help her in a bit."

Daryl stood and followed her into the bedroom. She paid him no mind as she sat on the edge of the bed and prepared to feed their baby. They had been parents only a few short weeks, and he sometimes watched her breastfeed with the fascination of a child. Everything about Maddy captivated him, from the way she was fed to the way she curled her toes.

He sat beside her on the bed, his chin resting lightly on her shoulder as he watched Maddy. Carol tilted her head against his as they watched their daughter in silence.

Daryl tilted his head to kiss his wife on the cheek. "Makes three of us," he said softly.

Carol smiled. "Three of us," she echoed. "Three of us Dixons."

xoxoxo

The End

*dies* I walked around forever with this scene in my head. I thought it made for a good ending. I'm thinking of writing a series of short stories compiled into one about the life of the Dixon trio. "The Dixons: The Maddy Years" or something, lol. We shall see. In the meantime, I should probably get back to trying to shake the kinks out of "Between Two Brothers" and get back on track with it.

I hope you enjoyed this fic! 3