This is so fluffy that it ought to float right off this page. Enjoy!

Seasonal Changes

Carol and Daryl were taking the children for a walk while Morgan and Michonne finished supper. September in the mountains had been quietly beautiful with misty mornings and mellow afternoons. Carol was spending as much time as possible outdoors with the children. She knew that the child growing inside her was starting to demand more room. She would be too big and clumsy to go on hikes soon, but she loved the slow rambles with Alia and Matthias. They were endlessly interested in their surroundings and they delighted her with their absorption in the natural world. She and Daryl had learned to slow down and let the children decide their pace. There was something in September that reminded you that you needed to grab all of it you could. September was for making happy memories to savor when you needed to remember them.

Any walk with Alia was fairly slow because she was interested in every weed, flower, or bug that she passed. Eugene had helped her identify many of them and she drilled poor Matthias as they went along. Matthias was usually right and Carol had learned along with Matthias. Daryl rolled his eyes at Carol when Alia got bogged down looking at a specimen that she couldn't identify. Carol wasn't in any hurry; she had the children close at hand and Daryl holding her hand as they walked.

"Leaves are starting to change. Almost a year now." Daryl said.

Carol smiled. She was a good translator of Daryl's words to his meaning. He was reminding her that they been together for almost a year. "It's been a wonderful year, the happiest of my life".

Daryl looked off at the distant mountains and then looked at the children, "Never been so happy. Still scares me sometimes." He watched Alia and Matthias examine a praying mantis on her hand. "Fraid I don't deserve it." Alia put the praying mantis on a yellow flower gently. Daryl looked at Carol and she shook her head at him.

"You deserve every good thing that the world can give you, don't ever doubt that." Carol came closer to him and he kissed her. Daryl had become more openly demonstrative with her and the rest of the family the last few months and she kissed him back. "I love you, my good husband."

They finally made it to Emily's house and John and Greg took the children to visit the horses while the grownups visited. Emily deputized Arya and Bree to finish making supper while she sat on the porch with Carol. Brian and Daryl went out back to check on some piece of machinery.

Carol wasn't surprised to see Jesse coming along the road. There was this special connection among the cousins that led to lots of visits. He settled himself on the porch, "Who wants to go on a road trip?" Jesse went on to explain that he wanted to visit the retreat that the women and children had stayed in while the rest of the mountain prepared for a battle. He wanted to check on the nuns there and bring them some supplies.

Carol smiled, "You and Michonne are on the same page. She told me this afternoon that she wanted to go and show off her babies to the women there. She and Morgan had already talked about it.

"Let's go tomorrow if the weather is good. Temperance and I can take James and Cara. Are you in, Emily?" Jesse asked.

She shook her head. "Melody has a cold and Candace still has her arm in the cast from falling out of a tree. I'll stay here with them. John and Greg can go and maybe you could take Arya and Bree. They could use some fun."

Carol and Daryl talked about the trip on the way home. "I think they should give up their place and move on the mountain. They are too stubborn to do it, but maybe you'll sweet talk them into leaving. You can talk me into anything." Daryl teased her.

Carol gave him her wicked grin, "I have ways to persuade you that I don't think will work on a bunch of nuns." She sobered quickly, "They have no reason to trust anything I have to say. You went looking for me there when I was in Savannah."

Daryl looked away for a moment and Carol knew that wound had never completely healed. Finally, he said, "You persuaded two doctors to leave Savannah and come here. Surely you can convince those women to move to a safer place. We better take Aaron and Eugene too. Never know what we might run into out there."

The conversation at dinner that night was all about the trip. Aaron was excited about going. He hadn't been anywhere but the mountain and Adair and going on a road trip sounded like fun. Eugene was less enthusiastic and finally decided to go when Michonne mentioned that the sisters had a vineyard. The deer had wiped out the vineyard on their farm and he was hoping that the sisters might share some vines with them.

After dinner they went to the community fire pit. The cooler temperatures at night had sparked an interest in socializing around a communal fire. They would bring their lawn chairs to the fire pit before sunset and then spend a couple of hours socializing by the fire. They had all been too busy or too exhausted to visit much in the summer but about once or twice a week now they would get together and hang out. It was a place to catch up on the gossip, enjoy a drink or two, and just hang out.

Carol always enjoyed the singing. Elijah played the guitar and he and Beth sang. Then Sasha and Tyreese sang and then Gabriel and Christie. Alia was almost asleep on Daryl's lap and Matthias was asleep on Carol's. Daryl nudged her with his shoulder, "Are you ready to go home? Gotta get up early tomorrow. "

Carol nodded, "You had better carry Alia."

Daryl got up and said, "Wait there". He caught Aaron's eye and beckoned to Aaron who was standing with Carl talking. Aaron and Carl walked over and Carol noticed how tall and gangly that Carl was getting. He really wasn't a boy anymore. "Would you mind carrying Matthias in for your mother?"

Aaron picked the boy up from Carol and extended his hand to help her up. "Stop feeding these kids so much. He weighs a ton."

Carol kissed Aaron's cheek. "You are a good son. Matthias is in a growth spurt; he's taller than Alia right now. You are getting a little meat on your bones too." Aaron had grown an inch and was much stronger since he had moved to the mountains.

Aaron snorted, "Gotta get some muscles so we can pack these heavy kids around." Carol patted his shoulder and thought that he was so much like Daryl. Aaron was pleased that she had complimented him but he deflected it so that it appeared like he didn't care. He gave her a shy smile and she patted his shoulder again.

Aaron carried Matthias into the house and put him down in his bed. Carol followed Daryl into the children's room and reminded Alia to brush her teeth. She took off Matthias's shoes and socks and helped the sleepy boy into his pajamas and made sure that he had went to the bathroom. She tucked them in and turned the light out knowing that they were already asleep. Daryl had gone on to bed and Carol decided to check on the twins.

Michonne was sitting in the living room when she finished with the children. Morgan had found this huge leather rocker recliner and Michonne was it that with both babies. Carol scooted in beside her and took Amy from her so that Josh could eat in peace.

"Amy has finished eating," Michonne said, "But she could use a good burp". It was an inside joke between her and Carol that Amy burped better for Carol than anyone else.

Carol put the baby on her shoulder and patted her. "Are you ready for this trip tomorrow? Babies this age take a lot of stuff." Amy gave a loud burp and they exchanged grins.

Michonne laughed, "If I could just talk you into breastfeeding them I'll have it made. Morgan has packed enough for a two week trip."

"Let's find a woman with a third breast and we'll both have it made." Carol kissed Amy's ear. "She's going to sleep and she looks more like you every day. She'll be swinging her pacifier like a katana anytime now."

Michonne leaned her head against Carol's shoulder. "What's going to happen? Witch Woman, I haven't heard a dire prediction from you in months."

Carol kissed the top of Michonne's head, "I haven't had anything good or bad since I got back from Savannah. Maybe it is over." Carol could feel her baby give a swift kick into her bladder. "This one is so different from Sophia. She is stronger and more determined."

"I have this vision that your baby will root at your breast the first time and look up and say "Hello, Sugar Tits". Michonne crowed and rocked the chair with her laughter.

"A female Merle. Now I have that image in my mind. Thank you very much. Her first words will probably be, "fuck" and "shit"." Carol laughed too but not as heartedly as Michonne.

"Burp Josh for me and I'll take Amelia." They exchanged babies. Carol hugging him close and then starting the gentle pats.

"I need for you to find a way to talk the sisters into coming here. You'll love them. They don't take shit off of anybody." Michonne put Amy on her lap and played with her fingers just looking up at Carol to show how serious she was.

Joshua gave a manly burp and Carol kissed him. "Love you, Little Man, but your mama is expecting me to change people's mind who believe they are on a mission from God. Kinda out of my skill set."

Michonne said, "Let's put these two to bed so that I can get some sleep before they decide that they need to strap on the old feed bag one more time".

Carol helped her carry the babies into the master bedroom. She turned to leave and Michonne said again, "They need to be here. We need them and they belong here."

Carol nodded, "I'll talk to them, but I don't know what I could say that would make them change their mind."

Carol went to check on the children and then feeling suddenly restless prowled around the kitchen. Everyone seemed to expect her to convince these nuns to give up their cloistered lives and join the secular world of McAllister Mountain. She was getting a weird vibe though that told her that there must be some reason why so many people were suddenly wanting the sisters to leave their convent.

She settled herself in the big rocker. Aaron was still out at the fire. John and Greg had brought Arya and Bree with them and she thought that Aaron was crushing on Bree. Aaron wouldn't turn eighteen until December and Bree was sixteen. That was practically ancient in this world. Who knew what a year might bring?

Carol rocked the big chair gently and thought about the next year. Her daughter was due in December. She was talking about the new baby with Alia and Matthias fairly often. They had been through so much that she didn't want to spring a new baby on them too suddenly.

Daryl didn't talk about the baby much. He was concerned that she had plenty of rest and everything she needed. He was gathering everything he thought their baby would need but Carol thought the baby wasn't quite real to him and wouldn't be until she was born.

They had a basement full of food stored for the long winter. There were all sorts of things stored in secret places on the farm and they kept a vehicle packed and fueled at all times. They had better back up plans now than they had before, but they had been run out of the farm and the prison. Carol knew that she could depend on Daryl, Michonne, Morgan, Aaron, and Eugene to help protect her children no matter what happened. She shook off that gloomy thought and she decided to call it a night.

The bedroom was cool because Daryl liked fresh air and left the windows open. Carol brushed her teeth and got ready for bed. She was feeling a little down and wished that Daryl was still awake. He was asleep in the middle of the bed. She had to smile at the sight. He used to sleep on his side of the bed but he kept inching closer. Soon she would have to slide in on the other side of the bed to have enough room to stretch out. She scooted in conscious of how much more there was of her now. Daryl woke up enough to pull her closer and she settled into his embrace to go to sleep.

She was still restless though and after a while she went to the bathroom to pee again. She scooted back in beside Daryl, "Are you sick?" Daryl was awake now and worried.

"No, I'm just restless tonight. Go back to sleep. I'm fine." Carol realized that she didn't want Daryl to go back to sleep. She felt a little guilty because he was sleeping so peacefully before, but he had never complained of a little lost sleep before. "Daryl".

He grunted back, "What?"

"Are you asleep?" It was of course a stupid question because if he was asleep he wouldn't answer.

"No, I was asleep, but there is a mosquito buzzing in my ear. It keeps buzzing and keeping me awake." He buzzed a bit in her ear which only made her more … aware that she wanted to have sex. "Now what does that little old pesky mosquito want from me?"

"Maybe that mosquito wants you to let it close to you. Maybe it just wants to kiss you and maybe just give you a bite or two." She kissed him slowly and deeply and then bit him on his ear. She kissed him again and he kissed back a little more urgently.

He buzzed in her mouth and it was strangely erotic. Daryl put his hands on her breasts and squeezed with just enough pressure to bring pleasure and after a while his mouth followed his hands down her body to between her legs. He continued the buzzing at her center and she was torn between pleasure and wanting to laugh. He pulled back from her finish and she buzzed him in all the right places for a bit. They teased and pleased until they both were ready to finish what she had started. Then, he was inside her and they both reveled in sensations of thrusting and withdrawing and the impending pressure of an intense orgasm. Carol cuddled close after, "I love you."

Daryl kissed her sweaty neck. "Is the mosquito ready to go to sleep or does she need a little more persuasion?"

Carol laughed, "I have to go pee yet again, but I think this mosquito is all buzzed out for the night."

Daryl was asleep by the time she got back to bed and this time she curled close and drifted off to a dreamless sleep.

AN

Sorry this took so long to get out. The muse has been sulking lately. She needs some encouragement so maybe a review would do it.