38

                                    

                                          
Daryl was a mess after I told him I was pregnant and what the Governor did to me. He shook with rage. The first thing he asked me was if I thought I was gonna miscarry. I told him yes. He told me not the think like that. He told me not to apologize for it, that this was a good thing, being pregnant, no matter the situation. It's such a rare occasion to get such passion out of Daryl. So I didn't worry. I decided to be happy about it. I was going to have a baby with Daryl Dixon, the love of my life. "Come on. Rick wants to talk to everyone."
                          
I nodded and we left. We stopped at the balcony and I leaned into Daryl, who had his arm wrapped around my shoulders.
                          
Our attention was brought to the floor below us, where Rick had dropped a duffle bag of guns and pulled out an automatic rifle, loading it. "We're not leaving"
                          
"We can't stay here." Hershel said from his spot on the stairs.
                          
"What if there's another sniper? Maggie asked. "A wood pallet won't stop one of those rounds."
                          
"We can't even go outside."
"Not in the daylight."
                          
I sighed. "Guys, we aren't running. We can hold our own this time. This isn't the farm. These are people, not walkers."
                          
"Lottie's right," Glenn agreed. "Rick says we're not running, we're not running."
                          
"No," Merle said from behind the bars of the other room. "Better to live like rats."
                          
"You got a better idea?" Rick asked.
                          
"Yeah, we should have slipped out of here last night and lived to fight another day. But we lost that window, didn't we? I'm sure he's got scouts on every road out of this place right now."
                          
"We ain't scared of that prick." Daryl said to his brother.
                          
"Y'all should be. That truck through the fence thing, that's just him ringing the doorbell. We might have some thick walls to hide behind, but he's got the guns and the numbers. And if he takes the high ground around this place, shoot, he could just starve us out if he wanted to."
                          
"Let's put him in the other cell block." Maggie said.
                          
"No," Daryl shook his head. "He's got a point."
                          
"This is all you! You started this!" Maggie yelled.
                          
"What's the difference whose fault it is? What do we do?" Beth asked.
                          
"I said we should leave." Hershel stood his ground. "Now Axel's dead. We can't just sit here." Rick started walking away. Hershel got up on his crutches. "Get back here!" My eyes widened in shock. That was the first time I ever heard Hershel yell. Rick stopped in his tracks. 
                          
Hershel went over to him. "You're slipping, Rick. We've all seen it. We understand why. But now is not the time. You once said this isn't a democracy. Now you have to own up to that. I put my family's life in your hands. So get your head clear and do something."
                          
~*~
                          
I followed Daryl as some of the others were headed to prepare us against another attack. "Where do you think you're going?" Daryl asked as I followed him out of the cell. I furrowed my brow. "You're staying here. I don't want you gettin shot." 
                          
I scoffed. "What are the odds of them attacking again so soon?" 
                          
He shook his head. "I don't care. You're pregnant." I sighed, then groaned as I felt another shooting pain between my legs. "What is it? Is it the baby?" He asked. 
                          
I shook my head. "No it...it's what the Governor did to me." 
                          
His face hardened. "Ask Hershel to check you out."
                          
I glared at him. "If I do that he'll ask about Maggie."
                          
He nodded. "Then ask Maggie to. He showed her some stuff." I nodded. "Maybe tell Luke about the baby if you want." I nodded again. He kissed my forehead for a long time and gave me a smile before heading down the stairs. I sighed. Guess I should find Luke.
                          
I found him in his cell with Carl. "Luke, can I talk to you for a minute." I gave Carl a glance, silently signaling that I wanted a minute with Luke.
                          
Luke turned to me, concern in his eyes. He's way too grown up for a ten year old. "Something wrong?"
                          
I smiled, pulling him into an empty cell. I sat us down on the mattress, holding his hands in mine. "Don't get too excited, okay?" He nodded. "I'm pregnant." I felt him tense as he fought the urge to jump to his feet. "There is a risk that I might lose this one like I did the last time, okay?" He nodded. "Don't rush in there telling Carl. Especially because of Lori." He nodded. I smiled. "Now you can be a little excited."
                          
His face lit up like a star and he hugged me tighter than he ever has. "I'm gonna have a new brother or sister!" 
                          
I shushed his excited voice. "Honey, keep your voice down, not everyone knows yet."
                          
Luke nodded, running his fingers across his lips like he was zipping them closed. "My lips are sealed. I promise."
                          
I smiled. "Good. Now run along, go back to Carl."
                          
I watched Luke run off, making my way up the stairs. I noticed Carol leaving mine and Daryl's cell. I smiled at Carol as I passed. "What was that about?" I asked as I entered, sitting opposite Daryl on the bed.
                          
He shrugged. "Just saying thanks for getting her out of the tombs. How'd it go with Luke? You talk to Maggie yet?" 
                          
I smiled. "A lot better than I expected. He's so excited to have a new sibling. You wanna tell Merle? No, I haven't talked to Maggie yet."
                          
Daryl sighed. "He's gonna find out eventually. Might as well. Don't forget to talk to her." When he didn't move, I stood up and grabbed his hand, pulling him to his feet.
                          
I kept his hand in mine and we walked downstairs and into the room Merle was being kept. Merle looked up as we entered, chuckling. "There's the lover boy. Wondering when you two were gonna pay ol' Merle a visit."
                          
I smiled at Merle, noticing the blade duct taped to his stub. "There's actually something we had to tell you."
                          
Merle raised his brow. "Oh, yeah? Go ahead, then. Spit it out."
                          
I looked to Daryl, waiting to see if he would tell him. Daryl shook his head lightly. I rubbed his arm in understanding and turned to Merle. "I'm pregnant."
                          
Merle chuckled lightly. "Well then, my baby brother's having a baby. Congrats, man. Merle's gonna be an uncle." He chuckled with a big grin on his face. Better reaction than I expected. He put a hand on Daryl's shoulder, his smile replaced with a stern expression. "Don't you dare end up like our bastard father, ya hear?"
                          
Daryl nodded. "Not in a million years, bro."
                          
Our conversation was interrupted by Maggie running in. "Andrea's here."
                          
Rick, Daryl, Merle and I grabbed guns, rushing out the door. Daryl gave me a look. "No chance in hell I'm staying inside."
                          
Before Daryl could argue, we rushed out the door. Sure enough, Andrea was making her way up the path with a walker on the end of a pole, masking her scent. Merle went ahead, making sure the coast was clear before we rushed to the gate. "Are you alone?" Rick asked.
                          
"Open the gate!" Walkers were beginning to notice Andrea.
                          
"Are you alone?!" Rick repeated.
                          
"Rick!" Andrea yelled, desperate to escape the walkers.
                          
Rick tossed the keys to Daryl, who unlocked the gate. Andrea discarded her walker and came inside. Daryl closed the gate quickly. Rick shoved her against the fence, searching her. When a walker tried to get her through the fence he pulled her off, forcing her on her knees and pulling the satchel from around her shoulders.
                          
"I asked if you were alone."
                          
"I am." She seemed shocked at our hostility.
                          
"Welcome back."