Hey guys! So yes, Merle has three girls! I felt that Merle wouldn't be the kind of guy to actually want girls (or kids for that matter) but I thought it would be humorous. Thanks for the reviews, views, follows, and favorites! Please leave a review because they are like tea to me. It keeps me going, haha! Thanks and as always, happy reading!

Chapter 26: Bump

Two years later:

Later one night in March, Daryl and Brooke were at home after both having long days at work. Brooke and Herschel had been working hard to keep a stomach virus from spreading so the people who were sick had to stay in their houses until they were cleared to go. They didn't want to risk the entire town getting sick. The town had expanded a lot, more houses had been built, a bigger school was built, more shops were created, and everything was near perfect. New people were brought into the world, people were welcomed from the outside coming in, and they seemed to finally be rebuilding what they once had. Daryl had gone out on more hunting trips but he made sure Brooke and Dean stayed with him and whenever she did go outside the gates she carried a dagger with her. Dean would be four years old September and he was growing up so fast. Each day, he seemed to look a little more like Daryl but he had some features that came from Brooke. He was already sleeping in a bed that Daryl and Rick had made for him and he loved it. Dean loved it when Brooke would read him to sleep and Daryl loved it when she fell asleep too. He would walk in and find them both passed out, with Dean holding on to Brooke's shirt with his small hands and Brooke resting her head lightly on Dean's. Most of the time, Dean would have his Pooh Bear under his arm and sucking his thumb. Daryl would walk over, kiss their foreheads, and cover them up with a blanket.

Daryl was lying with Brooke in their bathtub since they both needed to relax. Dean was spending the night with his Uncle Rick because he refused to leave. He loved Rick and he adored Carl too. Things still hadn't been the same with Lori since his first birthday and Sophia was a little quiet even though she was already five years old. Her back was against his chest and she had her eyes closed. She had her head rested against his chest and his arms were wrapped around her waist.

"You sure you're okay?" Daryl asked her.

"Yeah, I'm just drained." She told him. He kissed her shoulder lightly and she sighed. "I've never felt so tired before, not even when I worked 24 hour shifts at the hospital."

"I guess tryin' to contain a virus will do that to you." He commented and she chuckled lightly. He knew just what would cheer her up. He kissed up her shoulder blade and kissed the top of her jaw, tickling her a little so she squirmed and giggled. He smirked against her head as he showered the side of her face with loving kisses. She finally turned her head to catch his lips and he upset the water as he moved a little more on top of her. He was finally on top of her with his hands planted on the floor of the tub on either side of her head. When they kissed again, she squeaked as she slipped from under him and went under water. She came back up to the surface coughing up water. He helped her sit up. "Oh my God! Are you alright, darlin'?" he asked laughing.

"Yes, thank you very much!" she replied in a mock angry tone. She cupped her hands and threw water at him back. "Not so funny is it?" she snapped playfully with a smile. She made her way to him and kissed him again as she straddled him in the tub.

… (let your imagination run wild)

Two weeks later

It was early April, Brooke was preparing dinner before Daryl got home. She had a huge surprise for him when he got home and she had it all planned out. She was excited about telling him and couldn't wait to see his reaction. Dean was sitting in his high chair babbling on about his day. Brooke had begun to understand what he had been saying and the others joked that she and Daryl had learned to speak baby. He could speak full sentences but he would talk so much that he rambled to the point that a person couldn't understand him.

"And this time, Princess Sophia saved Prince Carl from Queen Lori!" Dean explained and Brooke laughed. She loved how Daryl told him stories about Sophia and honored her memory. She knew one day they would explain what happened to Sophia in real life but for now, this was a perfect way to remember Sophia. Carol loved the fact that Daryl came up with so many stories and Dean would try to retell them to her.

"The evil Queen Lori?" Brooke asked and Dean hit his high chair.

"Ya the evil Queen Lori!" he corrected. "She's so mean but Sophia is so much better!" Brooke smiled at her son and pulled him from his high chair while the meal was cooking.

"You're getting heavy Dean." She told him.

"I'm not heavy!" he replied with a smile. "Daddy says I have muscles like him!"

"Yeah, you have muscles." She chuckled. The front door opened and Daryl walked through the door.

"Daddy!" Dean exclaimed and Brooke set him on the floor. He took off running and Daryl bent down to catch him. Daryl pretended that Dean had knocked him over, like he did every time, and Dean laughed hysterically. Daryl stood up with Dean and went over to Brooke.

"Hey!" she greeted and he kissed her.

"Hey darlin', what're you makin'?" he asked.

"Your favorite." She replied and walked away to check on the food. "How was work?"

"It was good, nothin' much happened. What about you?" he replied as he put Dean back in his high chair and he sat down.

"The last stomach virus patient was finally cleared." She sighed in relief. "He had infected his whole family so the entire house was under quarantine." She joked. If it was just a common cold, they could handle it and people could be free but if it was something very contagious then the person had to stay in his house so the entire town wouldn't get sick. They weren't necessarily under quarantine but they were not allowed to leave their house until they had been cleared. "Dean's been telling me those stories that he loves so much." She added as she got out the plates. Daryl put Dean in his high chair and helped Brooke get the dishes. They ate their scrumptious dinner and Daryl tried to help her clean up but she refused to let him help. He gave her a suspicious look and grabbed Dean. Sometimes she did wash the dishes by herself but Daryl loved to help her because they could just talk with each other. Brooke sat in her chair as Daryl sat with Dean and told him another on-the-spot story. Dean kept on telling Brooke his favorite parts and she would tell him hers. After a little lullaby, Dean went to sleep in his bed and Brooke placed his Pooh Bear with him.

"With a butterfly kiss, and a lady bug hug, sleep tight little one, like a bug in a rug." She told him and kissed his cheek. She turned and jumped a little when she saw Daryl in the doorway. "How many times are you going to do that?" she breathed and he chuckled as he closed the door.

"Not my fault your jumpy." He replied and kissed her cheek. They went back downstairs and cuddled on the couch together as they watched a movie. He kissed her temple and nuzzled into her hair, making her sigh. "I want another one." She knew what he was talking about and flashed a huge smile but didn't say anything. Daryl was concerned for a minute until she started speaking again.

"Good thing I'm pregnant, huh?" she replied and he sat up straight. He looked at her with wide eyes and she nodded. "I'm pregnant, Herschel confirmed it today."

"Really?" he asked and she nodded again.

"Yes, I'm really pregnant!" she giggled and he hugged her so she fell back on their couch. He kissed her cheeks and lips and hugged her tightly. Daryl was too excited to say anything. He wanted to go through the entire process with Brooke this time, not just the last six months. He wanted to be there for her from start to finish. "I was going to tell you after the movie."

"Guess I kinda ruined it." He replied and she kissed him.

"It actually went better than I planned." She commented and he chuckled. "Okay, so how about this?"

"I'm listening. " Daryl told her as they sat back up. His palms were flat against her flat stomach and he couldn't wait for when her belly started to grow.

"If it's a girl we have Samantha Regina Dixon and for a boy we'll have Lucas Dixon." She said.

"If we have a boy, do you want the middle name to be after your dad?" he asked. "I think Lucas Joseph Dixon sounds really good."

"I love it." She said. "That wasn't so hard." She commented and he laughed. "I hope the morning sickness isn't as bad as last time." She groaned.

"Was it really that bad last time?" he asked and she looked up at him as she shook her head.

"Honey, you have no idea." She added and he chuckled. He kissed her cheek as they relaxed into each other. "I love you."

"I love you too." He sighed and rubbed her stomach. She smiled against him. "I love you too Bump."