Chapter One: Daryl's Reflections
Daryl slipped quietly into their bedroom. The latest run with Aaron had been particularly harrowing what with the new recruits instigating a fist fight with Daryl and Aaron. In the end though, they'd all made their peace as Aaron still insisted they bring the newcomers to Alexandria. Daryl walked over to the mirror to examine the damage. His right cheek and eye were gruesome shades of black and blue while his eye was almost completely swollen shut. "Pffft...oh well" Daryl muttered to himself. He made his way over to the bed where Beth was sleeping and crawled in. He put his arm around Beth and snuggled close to her.
His hand automatically went down to the huge bulge of her swollen stomach. As soon as his hand began gently rubbing over her pregnant belly, he felt the swift kick of their child, HIS child, against his hand. Beth twitched and whimpered in her sleep. He knew the baby was exceptionally strong. It was a Dixon after all Beth had joked. But several times its violent kicks had knocked the wind out of Beth and had her doubling over in pain. Daryl hated the physical toll the pregnancy was taking on her but he also couldn't help but smirk to himself with pride and joy as he watched his pregnant wife sleep. She was his entire life.
Beth seemed to sense his presence because she sleepily began to groan and her eyes fluttered open. Beth awkwardly rolled over as she placed her hand on top of Daryl's on her belly and smiled up at him. But then as her eyes truly began to focus she saw his battered face. "My God...look at you." Beth murmured as tears filled her eyes. "It's alright sweetheart." Daryl said. "I quit tonight. No more runs until after the baby is born. Know how much it causes ya worry and all that stress ain't good for ya. Plus I'm sure Maggie and Michonne could use a break from watching ya while I'm gone." Beth just nodded her head as Daryl wiped her tears away while kissing her forehead. "What happened?" she inquired. Daryl told her the story of the new recruits. He also told her that all he wanted to do now was help her through the rest of her pregnancy. His hand moved down again to her swollen belly where her shirt had rose up to reveal the tight skin which was now riddled with stretch marks. Daryl loved those stretch marks. When they had first started appearing around Beth's fourth month, he had been horrified that they were causing her pain. She'd been through enough of that already what with the morning sickness, backaches, and swollen feet and ankles. Some days her back and legs would hurt her so badly that she could barely walk. But once Beth assured him that the marks didn't hurt he calmed down.
Beth was self-conscious of the stretch marks just like she was of the scars on her face. But every day Daryl made it a priority to kiss the dark marks on her huge belly as well as the silvery marks on her face. He wanted Beth to know that he wouldn't change one thing about her. She was the most beautiful thing in his world and always would be. Daryl wasn't one for big emotional displays but if he was being honest with himself Beth was his entire world. She was his everything and if something ever happened to her, Daryl knew that would be the end for him too. He would always protect her with his dying breath but now he had his unborn child to think about. He knew he'd gladly sacrifice himself to protect either one of them.
Ever since Beth had gotten pregnant, Daryl had been plagued with nightmares that she would die like Lori while giving birth. Beth, Rick, and Michonne had all assured him that she would be fine. She was a survivor and Daryl knew that but that didn't stop him from worrying. He was grateful that Maggie also had these same worries as she had witnessed Lori's death firsthand. Beth made Daryl promise that if it came down to it, he'd save the baby instead of her. After a heated argument and much reluctance, Daryl finally relented. But he still didn't know if he'd be able to actually fulfill that promise. He could barely concentrate on anything nowadays except for Beth's wellbeing.
When Beth was six months along, she had a health scare that almost gave Daryl a heart attack. Beth insisted that she keep working at the school throughout her pregnancy much to Daryl's displeasure. But one particularly sweltering day, it got to be too much for her and she collapsed from the heat and exhaustion. Daryl had been immediately beckoned to her side and found her in the clinic hooked up to oxygen and on strict bed rest for the remainder of her pregnancy. The doctor told Daryl to keep her off her feet and not to let her overexert herself again or both she and the baby could die. As a result, Daryl was even more determined to protect her with everything he had. He couldn't bear anything happening to her. Beth was stubborn at first but the bigger her belly grew, the more difficult it became for her to move let alone have the energy to do much of anything.
Daryl was pulled from his thoughts by Beth who was nuzzling herself into his chest as she fell back asleep. Daryl tenderly pushed her hair from her face as he quietly murmured to her "I love ya Beth Greene Dixon." His hand once again travelled to her stomach as he leaned down to kiss it. "Love ya too Baby Girl Dixon." he whispered. Daryl laid back cradling his precious, eight months pregnant wife. He had never been much for religion but his faith in God was stronger than ever thanks to the girl in his arms. Even though the prospect of fatherhood terrified him, he vowed to himself that he would never be like his abusive father. He'd kill himself before he ever raised a hand to Beth or their baby. Daryl sent up a silent prayer thanking the man upstairs for this extraordinary life. It was bittersweet in that it took a zombie apocalypse to give Daryl Dixon everything he never would've known otherwise. Beth Greene changed his life. She gave him everything and soon she'd be giving him a child too. Beth and this group - Rick, Carl, Judith, Michonne, Glenn, Maggie, and his unborn daughter...they were his family. And as he drifted off to sleep, a small smile spread across his face. He finally had the love he always wanted.