Waiting Games

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters or show, as if my feeble mind could create something so exciting!

Too Tired To Be Angry

A small sigh parted from Andrea's lips as her gaze travelled to the setting sun which was gradually sinking behind the mountains and trees. The blistering Georgia heat caused sweat to trickle down her neck and create a path along her collarbone that disappeared into her cleavage. Andrea's hand rested against the swell of her stomach, caressing the life growing inside.

"Andrea, sweetheart...are you alright?" Dale asked, stepping out of his RV and making his way towards the woman he considered his daughter. The troubled look didn't go unnoticed to Andrea, she merely chose to ignore it.

Everyone seemed to be worrying about her these days, it was impossible to get a moment to herself without the constant presence of eyes watching her every move. Even Queen Lori would step off her high throne each day to check on Andrea, giving her what she considered to be a comforting speech.

Andrea didn't want the sympathy talks, the pitiful looks...not even the words of encouragement. She just wanted to be left alone, just for one goddamned minute. The camp was suffocating her and the worst part was, she couldn't storm off into the woods or go for a walk in the fields to vent and breathe.

If she so much as shuffled a few paces out of camp someone would instantly come jogging after her. So many times she had argued, fought back and lost...it would always come back to the same conclusion.

"Sweetie, it's for the best...we can't have you wandering about alone with walkers everywhere, how's a pregnant woman going to defend herself...please Andrea, think about your baby."

And so here she was, trapped by duty. She craned her neck round to give Dale a withering look and the older man immediately raised his hands in surrender. Andrea wasn't angry with Dale, she wasn't even really angry at the group...the truth was she was angry at him.

"Ok, I get it, but sometimes I have to hear it, you know? Gives my mind some peace." Dale said as he sat next to Andrea, his wrinkled eyes watching her carefully before looking out into the distance to catch the last of the day and welcome the night.

"I know and I'm fine, I really am...it just gets tiring having everyone breathing down my neck." Andrea answered, still stroking her bulging tummy subconsciously. Turning to look at Dale, she offered him a tiny smile and he returned it with one filled with warmth.

After a long moment of comfortable silence Dale looked up at the darkening sky with a look of thoughtfulness. He knew his one on one time with Andrea would soon come to an end when the rest of the group gathered to start a fire for the night.

"Daryl might come back you know..." Dale stated, watching as a dark shadow crossed Andrea face at the mention of the crossbow wielding hunter. It was a dangerous topic to bring up, but Dale believed the subject needed to be breached...though it was obvious Andrea didn't agree.

"It wouldn't matter if he did." Was her clipped reply, her blue-green eyes narrowed though continued to stare ahead into the growing darkness.

"Andrea, you can't stay mad at the man...he went to go find his brother, despite what we all feel for Merle Dixon, he is Daryl's brother and it was going to happen sooner or later." Dale tried to reason with her. He knew Daryl was a good man, did a lot to help the group and even though he may not have had the closest relationship with his older brother, Daryl wouldn't just let him die.

"And what about us? Are we not good enough for him anymore...we were more family to him than Merle ever was! Now more than ever." Andrea's voice broke as a sob escaped her. She wanted to be stronger, she had to be stronger...but after all this time she still couldn't believe he had actually up and left.

All the times she and Daryl were together Andrea would ask if he'd ever go and search for his brother. And Daryl would always answer with the same nonchalant shrug of his shoulders and a "probably". But after all that time, she never truly believed he would...until he disappeared in the middle of the night with only a simple note in his wake.

It had broken her heart that he didn't even have the guts to say goodbye, instead he had sneaked off while she was sleeping.

Dale stood from his seat and pulled Andrea up from her own, wrapping his arms around her as she cried into his shoulder. There wasn't anything he could do to make her feel better, all he could offer her was comfort and maybe one day she would even accept the hope.

"Oh, I'm sorry...but Rick's been asking around for you Dale." Carol said timidly, feeling as though she was trespassing on a shared moment not meant for her eyes.

The older man nodded and pressed a kiss to Andrea's temple, running his hands up and down her arms reassuringly.

"Everything is gonna work out, just you wait and see." Dale smiled before turning and walking in the direction of the Grimes' tent, patting Carol on the shoulder as he walked past. Carol just stood awkwardly for a second, then edged her way over to where Andrea was once again sat. She took the now vacant seat across from the blonde and her eyes darted towards the large bump on Andrea's torso.

"You're going to make a good mother Andrea, your baby is lucky to have you...and Daryl." She smiled nervously, wringing her hands together as she pushed herself forward and inhaled the night air.

"That's the thing though isn't it, Daryl isn't here." Andrea whispered, she was too worn out to continue her soiling of Daryl Dixon's saint-like reputation for the day. She was finally tired of being angry.

"Well in that case your baby is extremely lucky to have you, you're so much stronger than the rest of us...you can protect your baby in a way I never could mine, in a way Lori can't protect Carl." Carol said, as Andrea looked at her with a mixture of shock and appreciation. She was touched by Carol's words and for the first time in months, Andrea smiled...not a shadow of a smile, but a genuine one.

"Thank you, that means a lot to me...and you're right, my baby is lucky, cause look at all the people surrounding him or her, I'm not the best candidate for motherhood...but I'm not worried because I know if I screw up you'll be there to help me." Andrea said, unclasping Carol's hands and taking one into her own. The two sat there for awhile enjoying the peace and calm, a flesh to flesh touch reminding them that they weren't alone.

"Ladies dinner is on the spit if you'd like to join us." The voice of Rick Grimes disrupted the silence, causing the two women to release their hold on one another.

"You go on ahead, I'll come over in a minute...promise." Andrea said, offering the police officer and Carol a smile of assurance. They both parted and left Andrea to sit and watch the dotted around stars which painted pictures in the nights' sky.

"Come back Daryl Dixon...we need you here." Andrea whispered.