They had been in Alexandria for over six months now and Daryl still couldn't believe it, that this was his life now. Together with Beth and Rose, safe. Sometimes he still had nightmares about terrifying things, which were happening to his girls, or the two of them were gone again, but Beth always woke him, before the nightmares became worse. She always took him in her arms and stroked his back and head, while he cried into her chest, cried the fear out of his body. Beth whispered soothing things to him between the kisses she placed on his forehead. After calming down Daryl always fell asleep in her arms, without any new nightmares.
But Beth also had nightmares sometimes and Daryl did the same like she was doing for him. Daryl remembered about that one night, when there was a storm outside their safe windows and Rose came to his bedside and woke him up with pulling on his blanket. Daryl quickly woke up and saw his little baby girl standing in front of him with big, glassy eyes and her teddy bear safe under her arm. She told him, that she was afraid and asked if she could sleep next to him. With a big momentum Daryl took her up and laid her carefully between Beth and him.
Beth wokealso up then and was as afraid as Rose. In that night Daryl held his two girls as close as he could and every time they heard a thunder and Beth and Rose winced he whispered to them under the blanket that everything was okay, that he was here, that he will protect them. Daryl would have never told it his girls, but he just loved it, when they needed him, only him. Daryl felt so useful then.
Rose had already her own room with all the furniture Daryl had made for her, with a little help from Aaron. Daryl and Aaron were really good friends, since they had entered Alexandria. Aaron knew, next to Beth, much about his past, but Daryl will probably never tell him everything, not like he had done to Beth. She was still the only one, who knew everything about him. And Beth probably will be the only one ever.
Daryl really liked it to spent time with Aaron. They also had the same job in Alexandria. The two men took watches, killed walkers around the walls and went for runs. The last thing Daryl never really liked much, so Aaron and he always made sure to come back home latest at sunset. Daryl never wanted to leave his girls for too long, even when he knew, that they were safe inside the walls.
Beth also already got her job. She spent much time at the doctor's house to help Denise there, the doctor from Alexandria. But she also helped to teach the children and she spent some time in the nursery school too, where Rose was also during the day. But Daryl's favourite part of the day was always, when he came home and Rose ran into his arms and Beth followed her little daughter and kissed softly, with a smile on her lips his lips. Daryl loved the evenings, when he was playing something with Rose, while Beth made dinner ready. Or Rose and he took a bath again, he read something out for her or the two of them were just sitting on the sofa and Rose told Daryl about what she had experienced the whole day and he always loved it to listen to her sweet voice.
Daryl felt so loved, when the three of them were sitting at their dining table, Beth and Rose were looking at him like he was the only man in their lives. And the fact, that he was really the only man in their lives made Daryl almost cry every time he thought about it.
Some weeks ago Rose was sick and Daryl was so damn worried about her. He took her into Beth and his king-sized bed and stayed with her there for almost five days, till she began to feel better. Beth had told him more than once, that he didn't have to be so worried, but he couldn't help himself, Daryl was always worried about his girls.
Now it was almost summer and Daryl had just finished his work for today. With fast steps he was on the way to pick up Rose from the nursery school, because Beth had to work a little longer today. Daryl loved it, when he could do that, because he always stood at the doorway for a few minutes and watched his little girl. So he also did today. Rose was playing with a boy, whom was probably Timmy, Rose had told Daryl already often about him. Next to her was a girl with dark brown hair, which Daryl knew was Sarah. Rose was looking so happily, while she was playing with the other kids, but she looked even more happy, when she had finally noticed her father standing in the doorway. Rose jumped into Daryl arms, he easily took her up and kissed her rosy cheeks.
Hand in hand the two of them went together home and finally they ended up with drawing something in the living room. Daryl was never good at drawing, but for his little baby he would do evrything to make her happy. After some silently minutes Rose asked "Daddy do you have brothers or sisters?" Daryl frozen abruptly. After clearing his throat, he answered with a small voice "Yeah. I had a brother, but he isn't around any more."
Rose finally looked up from her drawing and was watching him with a look, like she was sorry for asking this question. Daryl quickly stroked her tiny head and said "It's okay sweetheart, you can ask whatever you want." Rose nodded her head, still looking at him with her blue eyes. "His name was Merle and I'm sure he would have been very happy and proud to get to know you princess." Now Rose was smiling up at her father.
"Sometimes I wish I also have brothers or sisters." Daryl frozen again, but this time longer. So Rose went on "I love it to play with the other kids." After some more silently moments Daryl finally found his voice again and said "Maybe some day you will have a little brother or a little sister baby girl."
In that moment Beth came home and Rose stood up and ran towards her. Daryl stayed for a few more seconds, thinking about what his little daughter had just told him. Finally he stood up too and welcomed Beth with a lovingly kiss.
When Beth and he were finally laying in their bed together, Daryl whispered into the darkness "Today Rose said to me, that she wants a brother or a sister." Beth leaned up from where she had placed her head on his chest and was looking him in the eyes. "I know, she always loves it to play with the other kids and the first time, when everyone asked her, if she has brothers or sister she always shook her head with that sad look." Beth whispered back.
Nether Beth or Daryl said anything then, but he knew, that they were both thinking the same. Finally Beth broke the silence "What do you think about it?" "I.. I really don't know.. I know that Rose really wants a little brother or a little sister and I also would love it to have a second child. You don't know how much a want a second child with you Beth. But.. What if anything will happen? To the baby, or to you? I just can't live without you any more Beth. You know that. I just can't.. I wouldn't be able to handle it, even not for Rose and the baby. I need you."
Beth took his shaking hands in hers, because she knew how sad it always made him to talk about losing her. "I know what you mean baby, I know, that you are afraid, but we are in Alexandria now, not in the forest or on the roads. We are safe here, we have a doctor, medicine too. I made it already one time and everyone says that the second pregnancy is easier, than the first. And this time you would be by my side. We would make it together."
"I.. I don't know.." "We don't have to decide it now. Just think about it, we have time." Beth smiled up at him and quickly placed a soft kiss on his lips, before she turned around and pressed her back against Daryl's side. He moved too then, so his chest was behind her back and he took one arm around her waist. He laid his head above hers on the pillow, like he always did. Soon he heard Beth's regular breathing, but he just couldn't fall asleep. Daryl thought about it the whole night long.
The next day Daryl was very tired and he didn't talk much during his watch with Aaron, because he was still thinking about Beth's words. Of course, he was still thinking about it. Finally Aaron broke the silence "What's wrong Dixon?" Daryl looked up at his friend and shook tired his head. "Nothing."
Aaron tilted his head and smiled to him. Damn, he knew Daryl already too good. So he finally began "Beth and I talked about something yesterday." "Do you want to talk about?"
Aaron was the only person, next to Beth, who Daryl would tell something like that. "We talked about having a second child." Aaron looked surprised and he already had a bright smile in his face. "Don't you want a second child?" "Hell yeah, of course I want. But.. What if anything will happen to Beth? I just can't.."
He didn't have to go on, because Aaron exactly knew what he meant. "Daryl this is a chance for the two of you. You know, that everything will be good, we have everything here that Beth will need. Nothing takes your Beth away from you again. And imagine the smile Rose will make, when you tell her, that she will get a little brother or a little sister." This made Daryl smile to himself. "I just don't know."
After his watch he went home to his girls, still thinking. He entered the house and couldn't hear anything. He just wanted to call for Beth and Rose, when Daryl heard his daughter's laugh coming from the garden. Daryl wanted to follow their voices out in the garden, when he could see his two girls through the opened door. He leaned against the door frame and watched them happily.
The two of them were playing chase and Daryl just couldn't get enough of this view. How Beth smiled, while she was trying to catch Rose, and the little girl's laughs and happy screams too. Finally Beth caught her with a big momentum and kissed loudly Rose's cheeks.
Daryl didn't know what it finally was. Maybe the fact, that they had everything Beth will need during her pregnancy, Rose's face when he will tell her about the baby or holding their little son or daughter in his arms for the first time, but finally he whispered to himself 'yes'.
With fast steps Daryl went to his girls to join them. When Rose couldn't hear him, he hugged Beth lovingly, looked her in the eyes and said "Okay, let us have a second baby." Beth just responded with a big smile and tears in her eyes.