Author's note: Well, to all the people who wanted me to continue this story, here's a new chapter...a year later. I'm sorry, I'm horrible at doing things sometimes. Anyway, I hope you guys still like this story and this chapter is a good continuation. I have a couple ideas for what Daryl's "surprise" is going to be, but I'm not 100% yet, so if you have any suggestions give them to me! Also, as always, please review!

It seemed like Kendall and Daryl's rut was finally over with. Both were so relieved to have things back to normal again that they hardly left one another's sides. It was like before; Kendall was making Daryl delicious and fresh dinners for him when he got home from the auto shop. They'd try to watch a movie before bed, but would end up making out like two high schoolers and eventually would turn in early and would sometimes make love up to three times a night.

Daryl was happy. He had his Ken back. That light he had fallen in love with when he saw her that first night in the bar on her birthday was back. Even though Daryl was happy, he couldn't help but worry that this couldn't last. How long would it be before one of them would start bringing up the baby they'd lost again. Daryl knew that if she were to mention it, he'd say something he'd regret. He always did. Even though Kendall had miscarried five months ago, he still had that picture perfect image in his head.

Daryl had been able to envision it all. He saw her hugely rounded with his baby and happy as hell about it. That baby was his; it was a Dixon and it was Daryl's chance to right the wrongs his parents had made in raising him. He wanted children of his own that didn't have to know abuse, torment or suffering. He wanted to raise kids that had the same warmth, tenderness and love to give that Kendall had. Maybe that was why he loved her so much, she possessed all of the qualities he hoped to obtain but was too scared to pursue.

It was Daryl's day off from work and he was the only one in the house. Kendall had had to work, and Merle had detached himself from the TV to go out and shoot some pool with some of his old buddies.

Daryl sat alone in the blue recliner and strummed his fingers on his leg, as he thought deeply to come up with a solution. He sat alone in that recliner for a long time, when finally the solution hit him full on like a train. It was so obvious. How dumb was he to take so long to figure out something so simple? Daryl chuckled to himself and rose to his feet. Only stopping to grab his wallet, Daryl headed out the door and to his truck before speeding away. He glanced at the clock in the truck; it was a little before four. Kendall would be home in a little more than an hour. He had to hurry.

"You sure you don't need me?" Kendall asked her manager. Her manager was a stocky redheaded woman named Marie. She and Kendall had always gotten along great, and because of that Marie always cut Kendall a break, like letting her head home early.

"Yeah. You and Daryl are doing good again. I can tell by the look in your eyes you're dying to go home and tap that," Marie said and laughed at herself. "Go home and have fun. I'll see you tomorrow,"

Kendall laughed and shook her head. "Marie, you're ridiculous."

"Hell, I know that," Marie said as began to laugh herself. She shoved her thick black glasses up on her nose about and then motioned for Kendall to leave before continuing to scan copies of a document.

"Bye," Kendall said as she grabbed her black pocket book and headed out.

When Kendall came home, the house was empty. Daryl's truck was gone, which struck her as odd but she didn't think too much of it.

Kendall plopped down on the couch and sighed. Kendall sat for awhile thinking about her day when the imagine of the man with the mutilated jaw crossed her mind. She shivered. Things had been going so well recently that she hadn't even thought of him. What had been wrong with him? Why had he tried to bite her? He hadn't even paid any attention to the cops whatsoever.

Daryl had shrugged it off and simply said the guy must have been on drugs. Merle had laughed, agreed with his brother and said "yeah, I've been on some pretty crazy drugs that make me wanna bite some cops hands off too,"

How could they just laugh off something like that? They had seen an innocent man have his fingers bitten clean off. That was way past a joking matter in Kendall's opinion, although she had laughed with Daryl and Merle just to end the conversation.

She pushed the cop and the injured man from her mind and instead started to think about Merle, which wasn't that much better. Merle had been staying with them for awhile now and she hated it. Merle was alright and funny in small doses, but to live with? It had been a nightmare.

Daryl fought with his brother from time to time, though it was rare because Daryl seemed to be a little scared of Merle, a lot of the things Merle did he did behind Daryl's back. There was a time right after Daryl and Kendall had announced to their friends and families that they were expecting that Merle had been alone with Kendall in the house. She was starting a spaghetti dinner for Daryl when Merle walked into the kitchen.

He leaned against the door frame and hooked his thumbs through the belt loops and watched Kendall for a few seconds. She was hovering over the stovetop, stirring some spaghetti into the boiling water. She was wearing shorts and a gray long sleeved shirt that had a cut open neck hole, exposing her ivory shoulders and protruding collar bones. The girl had one hell of a figure, Merle thought. How was it his baby brother got that, and not him? Sure, Merle wouldn't have 'made love' to her or any of that sissy shit, but he had been under the impression that every girl wanted a real man…

"Whatcha makin', sweetheart?" Merle called out, almost making Kendall jump.

"Spaghetti," Kendall replied as she grabbed the cookie sheet off of the counter. She placed two half loaves of frozen garlic bread on it and bent over to slide it into the oven. Her intention had been to break conversation with him. Instead, her got a good view of her ass and wanted to "chat" with her all the more.

"What're you doing with a pansy like my little brother?" Merle mused as he sauntered over to the table and sat down. Kendall looked over at him with a confused look on her face. She didn't respond. "You're a hot piece of ass. You could have anyone you want, anytime you want. I ain't seen much better than you, sweets," Merle paused for a second. Kendall still didn't say a word. "Now, it looks like you're trapped with him, huh? He got you knocked up. Ain't nobody gonna want you when there's another man's baby in the oven. I bet that drives a fox like you crazy. If you want, we can go down to the basement, I'll give you tha ride of your life, and we don't have to tell Daryl-"

"Shut up, Merle," Kendall said finally. Her cheeks were scarlet from embarrassment and anger. "You're disgusting. Please go back to the basement and watch some TV or something. I'll call you when Daryl and I are ready to eat." She spoke firmly but Merle could hear the little tremble in her voice. Was she scared of him? She may be. That gave him all the more pleasure and made his pants just a little bit tighter.

"Alright, Ken, alright. No need to get huffy. If you want a real man, you know where I'll be," Merle said in a laugh as he got up, gave her a wink, and left.

It was just another one of the hundred incidents Kendall had never told Daryl about. The fight wouldn't be worth it, neither would the drama, and so she kept it all to herself. She felt disgusting for it and wondered at night if she should tell Daryl. Would it change anything? Would it have gotten Merle out of their house quicker? She figured no.

Daryl pulled into the drive way. His heart was pounding. He had taken way longer than he had anticipated. Kendall's car was already in the driveway. What would he do if she said no? He felt so nervous he could vomit. But, it was now or never, sink or swim…