Daryl quickly returned to his "normal" self, which had Jo a bit suspicious, but she was happy to have him back. She stood in their shared cell folding newly washed clothes when he walked in after barely speaking to anyone for three days. He hugged her from behind. Her heart skipped a beat as she felt him behind her.
Daryl rested his chin on her shoulder. "I'm sorry," he said.
Jo turned around and Daryl wrapped his arms around her waist. She looked into his blue eyes and kissed his lips lightly. "It's ok," she said when they parted. "I understand."
"I know you do. I should have let you in to help," he said, almost shamefully.
"Stop it. Everyone deals with grief differently."
Daryl looked down at her. He was thinking about what Carol said – about Jo wanting to have babies with him. His eyes drifted inadvertently to Jo's stomach and he brushed a hand over it.
Jo looked down at his hand and back up at Daryl. "What?"
Daryl smirked and looked at her. "Nothin'. Just somethin' I heard." He pulled her into a hug, but Jo pushed away.
"What did you hear?"
"Carol just said somethin' about you wanting to have my babies... Do you?"
Jo was surprised. She'd said that almost in passing. She wasn't serious about it – she couldn't be in the world they now lived in. And she never expected Carol to tell Daryl. Jo let out an embarrassed laugh. "I don't know. We can't…" she trailed off. She could feel her cheeks burning red.
"Why can't we?"
Jo's eyes grew wide. Was he actually considering this?
"Because Daryl, do you see where we live? How hard it's been taking care of Judith? We can't."
"But you want to?"
"Where is this going?" Jo asked.
"Nowhere," he said. "I just like the thought of you having my babies. My little badass redneck babies." He smiled.
Jo laughed. "That make you feel good? Feelin' pretty cocky about yourself?"
"Nah, I just don't know anyone else who would want to have 'em. And I'd want it to be you."
Jo blushed. "Well, in the event that the world isn't overrun by flesh-eating monsters, I'll consider having babies with you."
"Deal," he said. He kissed her again, leaning into her. Jo dropped the shirt she'd been folding and grabbed his face. He picked her up and pushed her against the wall. His lips traced down her neck as her fingers threaded through his hair. Jo let out a moan as Daryl walked to the bed with her in his arms. Jo ripped off her shirt as he set her down. She unbuckled his pants while he took off his shirt. Daryl kissed her and slowly moved on top of her. Jo yanked down Daryl's boxers as he ripped her panties.
Daryl entered her gently. "You're beautiful," he whispered.
Sweat trickled down Daryl's cheek as they finished. He kissed her cheek as she sighed.
"Do you think we're ever going to have a normal life?" she asked as Daryl rolled off her.
"What do ya mean 'normal?'" He brushed a stray strand of hair out of her eyes.
"Where we won't be worried about being eaten. Where we can have dinner, go to a movie… where we could have a family."
He looked in her eyes and smiled. "I dunno, babe. I hope so, though."
Jo snuggled into his chest. "Me too."