Big thank you to you all for taking the time to read and review so far, I really appreciate it. Also massive thanks to my beta Jaded79 for going over this chapter for me. Let me know what you guys think

Chapter 16

Family

Carol was starting to worry, what was taking them so long? Daryl had told her they may need to spend a night away but they were now on day two of being gone and it was getting dark. She couldn't help but worry. What if something had happened? What if they were hurt or worse dead? She didn't know how she would survive without him, and now with a little one on the way she worried even more not wanting this baby to come into this world with no father.

She had tried to distract herself by helping the other women with dinner but the smell of the meat cooking was really starting to turn her stomach and she was glad when it was time for her watch. Walking the wall with Andrea was always fun; Andrea would probe her about her and Daryl's relationship, explaining she was all alone and needed some excitement in her life, this always made Carol laugh.

"You seem different this afternoon, quieter," Andrea commented. "Everything alright?"

"I'm fine just worried about Daryl," Carol sighed wanting to tell her about the baby but holding back.

"I saw you in with Hershel yesterday." Andrea stopped walking, looking her in the eyes. "You can talk to me Carol," she smiled. Andrea was fast becoming one of her best friends, she always felt safe and comfortable with the woman.

"Promise not to say anything to anyone?" Carol asked moving closer to her.

"Cross my heart," she replied drawing a cross over her heart with her fingers.

"I'm pregnant," she confessed. Andrea couldn't stop the squeal that escaped her. "Ssshhh!," she giggled.

"Sorry," Andrea laughed before stepping forward and hugging her tight. "Congratulations, I'm so happy for you," she whispered into her hair then stepping back.

"Thanks, you can understand why I'm extra worried, Daryl doesn't know yet and it would just destroy me if….," Andrea quickly cut her off.

"Don't even think like that, you know Daryl, he's a Dixon and only a Dixon can kill a Dixon." Carol laughed softly nodding knowing she was right. "Oh I can't wait for you guys to tell everyone, maybe then Lori will get off her pedestal." Carol was a little surprised to hear such an annoyance in Andrea's voice.

"Did you and Lori have a fight?" she asked concerned.

"No, no it's just…" Andrea sighed before continuing. "She acts like she is the king of the castle just cause she is married to Rick, but she shows him no respect at all. She never keeps an eye on Carl who has almost gotten himself killed more times than I can count and now she is bring another child into this world." Carol couldn't help but be slightly hurt by her words.

"I had another child in this world that I lost," she whispered.

"No, Carol that was different, what happened to Sophia wasn't because you weren't watching her. It was just bad luck, wrong place wrong time… you're a wonderful mother and this baby is going to be lucky to have you," she explained as best she could. Carol smiled softly nodding. "Lori is different, she doesn't keep Carl close or watch him and then when something goes wrong and he almost gets killed, it's everyone else's fault but her own."

Carol hated to admit it but Andrea had a point. She had lost count of how many times Carl had run off, being gone for hours before Lori even noticed he was missing; so she couldn't stop it when she nodded in agreeance.

"You know there is a chance her baby isn't Rick's, right?" This got Carol's attention, her head shot up in surprise.

"What?" Carol gasped.

"Yeah, turns out that when Rick was in his coma, Shane told Lori he was dead cause he knew she wouldn't leave town otherwise and then they starting sleeping together, and when Rick showed up Lori put a stop to it but considering her due date – it has to be Shane's."

"Oh my god, poor Rick."

"I know, and then that night when Shane led him into the woods to kill him and Rick defended himself, well when Lori found out he stabbed Shane, she got all angry and self-righteous like it was Rick that led Shane out there to murder him and not the other way around."

"Wow, I knew she was mad about something but I didn't know what. How do you know all this?"

"I hear them arguing… lot."

"Poor Rick." Carol said shaking her head. The man must be gutted finding out his best friend didn't just sleep with his wife but also got her pregnant and then led him out into the night to murder him so he could take his role as husband and father. Carol couldn't even imagine how he must be feeling. Remembering the things she said to him that night after they fled the farm, she instantly felt bad.

"I know, he deserves so much better." Carol couldn't help but smile. She knew Andrea and Rick did a lot of shifts on the wall together and talked a lot, but was that affection and want that Carol saw flicker in Andrea's eyes.

"Do you have a thing for Rick?" She smiled asking boldly. Andrea's head jerked up, her cheeks instantly blushing.

"Don't be ridiculous, Rick is married," she laughed nervously.

"Yeah and apparently she isn't a very nice woman… so spill."

"I'm not in love with Rick."

"I never said anything about love," Carol replied. Andrea looked like a deer in headlights and thanked god when she saw actual headlights breaking through the now darkening sky.

"They're back," she smiled pointing out at the two cars and truck heading for the prison.

"Don't think for a second that this conversation is over, it's just postponed," Carol smiled moving down the stairs to open the gates. Once the cars were all inside, they shut the gate securing it.

Carol ran to Daryl when he slipped out of the truck wrapping their arms around each other. She couldn't help but smile when she saw Andrea standing by Rick who was rubbing his hand up and down her arm reassuringly.

"I was so worried about you," she whispered into his neck before they pulled apart.

"What did I tell you about worrying woman?"

"Not to," she replied smiling.

"Exactly, a Dixon always comes back," he smiled smugly causing her to laugh softly.

"Was there any problems?"

"We had a herd blow through the town we were in so we waited them out on the top floor of a hospital, but everyone is fine." She nodded happily with his answer.

"Good."

"We got heaps of supplies though, new truck, more fuel, food, clothes and all the medical things we needed plus a few extras… even came across a furniture store," he informed her. "I got us a new bed and mattress."

"A real bed and mattress all big, soft and comfy?" she asked hopefully.

"Extremely comfy." She couldn't help but squeal a little. "I was thinking we could get it set up and break it in tonight," he smirked raising an eyebrow at her. She couldn't wipe the smile from her face.

"Hhhhmmmm I like the sounds of that," she replied pressing herself firmly against him pushing his back into the truck before she kissed him passionately.

"Get a room," Andrea laughed as her and Rick moved to open the back of the truck. Carol pulled back giggling.

"We'll finish this later," she smiled.

"You bet your ass we will," he replied slapping her on the ass as he moved past her to help the others, causing her to gasp in surprise.

Later that night after dinner, Daryl had asked Carol to go for a walk with him. They moved through the prison, hands intertwined as he led her out to her garden. Sitting down on a wooden bench he had made her weeks ago, he looked at her nervously.

"Daryl, are you okay? You look pale," she asked concerned.

"I'm fine, just give me a second." He swallowed hard trying to think of the right words desperately not wanting to screw this up. Taking a much needed deep breath, he turned looking her in the eyes. "Carol, before you I didn't know how to love another person, you changed me, made me want to be a better man and I know I could never be without you." She smiled at him but inside she was worried; why did he look so nervous? But when he dropped to one knee she thought all the air had been sucked from her lungs.

"I love you more than I ever thought possible and I want you to be my wife, if you'll have me." She was speechless, too stunned to speak looking between his eyes and the stunning princess cut diamond engagement ring he held in front of her. "Oh god you're going to say no aren't you?" he spoke snapping her out of her daze.

"What? No!" she gasped realising she must be scaring the hell out of him. "You just surprised me, I had no idea you were thinking about marriage." He moved sitting back up beside her.

"Just seems right, I love you," he whispered looking down.

"I love you too," she smiled cupping his cheek and placing a chaste kiss on his lips before moving back. "But before I answer there's something you need to know." He looked at her concerned but too scared to speak, so he opted for just nodding. Taking a deep breath she figured getting straight to the point was the best approach, "Daryl, I'm pregnant."

"Pregnant?" his voice was stunned; she just nodded. "We're going to have a baby?" He smiled brightly, she nodded and he swept forward kissing her deeply before pulling back and running his hand over her belly.

"You're happy?" she asked hopeful.

"I've never been so happy before," he smiled at her. "So, are you going to marry me?" She laughed softly at his words.

"Yes Daryl I'll marry you." He hollered as he picked her up, spinning her around in excitement that overwhelmed him. Not only was Carol going to marry him but she was going to give him a family too.

Life was pretty perfect.