It was Christmas at last and the group's spirits were sky high. The trees were set up, nearly one in every room and families gathered together around them, Maggie was ecstatic to say she could only name a small part of the group they had grown so much. She smiled, tucking a lock of black hair behind her ear, a hand resting on her growing belly. She was about eight and a half months along and Merle was the perfect, doting house wife.

Her husband took care of her and her father said she was dilated, and could possibly go into labour at any time. She was hoping for twins, Christmas Eve twins, though Merle wanted them whenever they came, as long as they were healthy.

" Mhp." She muttered, standing on her toes to hang an ornament. Maggie gave an annoyed sound and jumped, attempting to get up high enough to get to the tree. " Damnit!" She sighed trying again.

" Now c'mon darling, can't have you hurting our baby can I?" Merle scooped her up, settling her on his shoulders and handing her the ornaments one by one with a little laugh. This was their tree, for their night and it was going to be special.

" Thanks." She smiled sheepishly, standing on her toes to kiss him deeply. Tongues tangled and hands got frisky but Merle was the one to end it, his face slightly flushed.

" Ya know it's too late 'long ta be havin' sex darlin. I don't wanna hurt the youngin." He sighed, burying his face in her hair. He wanted to fuck her into oblivion, but he knew he couldn't, not when she was seven and a half months pregnant. He wouldn't risk it. " C'mon pretty lady, let's get some shut eye, tomorrow's the big day."

The couple retreated to a night of cuddling and gentle kisses.

" What if I said I want a baby?" Carol was laying on Daryl's chest, raking her fingers through the corse curls there. Her eyes were half lidded and her legs were tangled with his, body's molded together.

" Carol, I want one too but we gotta worry both So'phia." The name was pronounced, as always So-pee-uh, the Dixon's accent too strong to pronounce So-fee-uh. " We gotta take care a her, and wha' 'appen if you don' make it? I couldn' live with muhself." He held her closer and bit his lip, hands rubbing up and down her back as he tried to come to grips with what was going on. His woman wanted a baby.

" I.. I'm sorry I brought it up." She bit her lip and looked down. Maggie was having a baby, Judith was a toddler and she just, she missed being needed by her child. Sophia was so grown up it hurt.

" Carol.." Daryl sighed. She wanted a baby and he'd give her one. Just, not yet. She was already asleep so he just dragged a hand through her hair and kissed her temple, holding her close.

xxx

Morning came to the sounds of children, Judith, Beth, Carl and Sophia, all gathering around the Dixon/Greene/Grimes tree. Hershel and T-Dog were there by the time Maggie and Merle joined. He kept her in his lap, large paw rubbing her distended belly. Carol and Daryl came next, Caeol holding her new puppy with wide, happy eyes. Judith was pull her pup's tail and it yelped, but played along. Randall had given Beth her's and they were talking in low voices, curled up together. Rick and Michonne came last, the former having carried the latter down the stairs, kissing and hugging.

" So," Rick said, glancing around and smiling happily at his group, his family. " We all made it here, and I'm glad we did. Now, I'm not going to give any big speeches so, let's get to celebrating."