One more step

Those eyes

Daryl stared over Elli's shoulder into the darkest blue eyes peering at Elli. The baby wasn't crying just staring at her. He reached up and softly touched it's head in a tapping motion and it careened it's head it's eyes shifting to his. He froze, it was as if the baby knew exactly who he was. Caleb finished with Elli and covered her lower half. Carol stepped forward, "here let me get her cleaned up for you and let Hershel check her." Elli reluctantly gave up the baby and watched as her tearful father and a curious Merle followed watching Hershel and Carol work on the infant. Elli dropped her head back on Daryl, "We didn't talk about a name." Daryl hugged her his eyes never leaving the baby. "Well think of something. But it's a Dixon." She nodded tiredly.

It was the next day before they allowed Elli and the baby to move back to their cell. Daryl carried his baby girl and watched carefully as Merle and Rick tried to help Elli, but she was stubborn saying she was fine. She quickly grabbed Merle's arm though in fear when they made it to the eating area and saw Woodbury faces, Merle steadied her, "s'alright... we got some new people, he and his soldiers ain't here." She looked to Daryl, He nodded, "They are in the other block, ours is just our people." She reluctantly moved forward now with a death grip on Merle's arm.

Their cell had been rearranged. A postal box with bedding sat in the corner. The original group gathered as she looked in. Maggie cooing over the baby and Carl smiling, "What's her name?" Elli looked to Daryl and Daryl smiled, "Little ass kicker." Elli shook her head, "No Daryl. I told you we ain't calling her that." Daryl rocked the wide eyed baby, "You like that, huh? Little ass kicker?" The group laughed. Maggie held her hands out and Daryl let her hold the baby, "Well maybe not 'little ass kicker' but she needs a strong name for this world."

Elli sat in their cell feeding the small child and stroking her cheek. Daryl watched, it consumed him looking at his girls. It was joy and fear all mixed. She broke his trance, "What about Remi?" Daryl shifted, "Remi? What kinda a name is that?" She never took her eyes from the baby, "A nickname...short for Remington." Daryl smirked, "like the gun?" She nodded, "said she needed a tough name right?" Daryl nodded, "What about her middle name?" She laughed, "Merle said it should be Darlena." He grimaced, "Asshole....Whats your name mean?" She shook her head, "No I don't want her named after me, I want her to be her own." Daryl nodded, "Yeah, but I want her name ta mean something. Not like mine." Elli nodded. "Ellianna means 'my God has answered me'" The child let go of her, and Elli adjusted her clothes. Daryl took her, pulling her up on his shoulder and rubbing her back like Rick had showed him. "How's bout it ass kicker? Ya like Remington Ellianna Dixon?" Elli laughed, "She will be twenty before she can spell it." Daryl shrugged, "Ain't like there's much paperwork now a days."