Prison. Before the Apocalypse that word had been something bad, something that was shameful and unwanted. Now, over a year into the 'new' world filled with walkers, dwindling supplies and danger at every turn, a prison was a safe haven.
Rick and his people were blessed with the safety of their prison and the people they brought into it.
The next few months went by in a flash for Tamara. She made sure she was busy with helping Carol and some of the other women that had come from Woodbury to rehouse the refugees in Cell Block C. She told herself it was because they needed help but deep down she knew she was trying to fight back the panic as she came closer and closer to her fifth month of pregnancy.
Daryl picked up on her stress and made sure to keep an eye on her knowing she was worried about losing their baby the same way as their other two. He talked to Carol and the older woman made sure to keep an eye on Tamara when he was out hunting for the group or teaching a small group of the refugees how to track and hunt.
When the date of her fifth month of pregnancy came and went and Hershel and the new doctor who had been brought back to the prison by a party that had been out on a run, Dr. S, said that she and the baby were both healthy, Tamara couldn't let herself believe it was true.
She was in the shower a few days later thinking over Dr. S's comment about how she looked healthier than the few expectant mothers he had seen since the world had changed when she jumped as two strong arms encircled her while she stood under the slow running shower head washing shampoo out of her hair.
She relaxed almost instantly when she recognised the feel of Daryl pressed against her. "I thought you wouldn't be back for at least another day."
"Found deer tracks close by, caught a big buck," was his short answer as to why his hunting trip had been cut short.
"And your group of 'loud, stupid' trackers had nothing to with yah coming back early?" she asked using his description of the group of half a dozen men and women who had volunteered to be taught to hunt three weeks before.
Daryl grunted and Tamara smiled, leaning back against him until he started to kiss and nuzzle her neck.
"Daryl, what are yah doing?" she gasped.
"Missed my wife. What's it feel like I'm doin'?" he growled in her ear.
Pulling away she turned to him trying not to get distracted by the sight of him naked and wet in front of her. "Anyone could come in. Kids could come in, Daryl. It's a communal shower."
The showers had been up and running for about a month thanks to some engineering-minded people who had connected them to the stream outside the prison and set up a pump and filter system to provide water clean enough to wash in.
Daryl's blue eyes darkened at the growing worry in her voice, "So?" She tried to step back but his hands shot out and gripped her hips. "Nah, woman, too early for anyone ta be up." He assured her.
She sighed knowing he was probably right. The sun was just starting to lighten the sky when she had come in to wash her hair.
"'Sides, I gotta say mornin' ta my two girls, now don't I?" he then dropped to his knees in front of her and pressed a kiss to the centre of her protruding belly. "Mornin' Lil Bit," he rumbled, "Yah been good for yah Momma since I bin gone?"
Tamara closed her eyes, her hands moving to rest on Daryl's head and tunnel through his hair as he spoke to his little girl or boy inside her. The stress of the last month dropping away with every word he spoke to the baby inside her and she decided that she didn't want to worry any more about things going wrong. She just wanted to enjoy the time she had with Daryl and the little one growing inside her.