Waiting Games
Disclaimer: Unfortunately none of this belongs to me, despite how much I wish it was.
A/N ~ I also want to say a big thanks to everyone who reviewed, favourited and alerted this story. I genuinely appreciate it and hope to continue pleasing you wonderful people!
Something To Look Forward To
Days passed by until eventually they all seemed to clash together, merging into one. When the sun rose people would wake and when the stars lit up the sky, it was time to rest heads on pillows...that was the mutual understanding around camp. But this wasn't the case for Andrea, the little life growing inside was restless and chose to keep the blonde up at all hours.
She glared up at the roof staring at nothing in particular, just peering into the dim room with loathing. The campfire had gone out hours ago and Andrea hadn't so much as gained a wink of sleep. The rest of the group would have been in deep slumber by now, apart from T-Dog whose turn it was to take watch.
"Ok! You win, mommy isn't going to get any sleep tonight." She whispered, her tone a clear indication of the defeat she felt. Pushing herself up off the bed was only a minor challenge, it was getting past a snoring Dale and out of the RV which was the main difficulty. As she crept along the mobile home, Andrea couldn't help but pause and stare at the snoozing man...Dale had been so good to her so many times, she didn't understand why he continued to look out for her when she was so terrible to him. Whatever the reason Dale Horvath put up with her shit, she was glad...because without him she would have been a wreck.
oOo
The moment her bare feet met the grassy ground below, Andrea instantly felt as though the chains holding her back had been loosened from her body. Dragging in a deep breath of the cool still air, her eyes began to wander around the hilltop which had become their new home.
They hadn't moved in at least six months, it was the final stop before Daryl had gone. The area was great for looking out at the vast valleys beneath which ran on for a few miles. And further still were large mountains which touched the sky. Forests surrounded the clearing offering shade from the hot hours of the day. An abandoned local town was situated only seven miles west once reaching the highway.
All in all it was the perfect setting. But Andrea wasn't a stupid woman, she knew that despite the location and comfort...that wasn't the reason the group were still there. No one had the balls to outright admit it, happy enough to let her believe that they chose to stay because they were tired of travelling and worried about her nearing due date.
It was all bullshit and Andrea saw right through all their pretences, they were staying because they hoped Daryl would return to find them right in the exact place he had left them.
With a sigh Andrea peered up at the sky to see the crescent moon which released a tranquil glow, giving the trees and tall grass a silvery tint.
"Nice ain't it?" Came a deep voice from above, quickly shifting her gaze up to see T-Dog standing on top of the RV with his rifle. His eyes weren't on her, but it was clear he was addressing her.
"What you doin' out of bed? Woman in your condition needs as much rest as possible." T-Dog said when he finally pulled his gaze towards Andrea. Rolling her blue-green eyes, Andrea offered a simple shrug in reply.
"I would if only this one would quit with all the kicking, kicks all day and all night...won't even have the courtesy to give me a moments break." Andrea huffed, crossing her arms over her chest in half-annoyance. A smile quirked on T-Dog's lips as his low chuckle filled the night air.
"Naw, that's jus' the wee man's way of telling you he's there." T-Dog grinned brightening Andrea's dampened mood.
"And what makes you think it's a boy?" Andrea replied teasingly, though she was curious to hear his answer. She hadn't given much thought to her baby's gender, it was always just the baby. A frown etched into her brow as she realized not once had she thought that she was going to have a son who would smile a big toothy smile and get his knees grazed while playing...or a daughter who would have the cutest blonde ringlets and ask her mommy to play with dolls.
"Jus' a feelin'...plus kid's got one badass momma." T-Dog joked, though the humour shared between the two instantly died down when Andrea doubled over gasping. Her eyes were squeezed shut and T-Dog hurried down to her side, helping her put some weight onto him.
"I'm fine, I'll be alright." Andrea said, while breathing in and out in an attempt to lessen the pain in her lower abdomen. Though the idea was squished when she felt warm liquid run down the inside of her trousers.
"Seriously? Now." She whispered, a hand firmly attached to her baby-bump as if her child needed the comforting.
"Come on! I'll help you into bed and then I'll go wake the others." T-Dog instructed, already pulling Andrea towards the RV. Once inside, the commotion and hurried shifting woke Dale from the couch. The older man took in the scene and immediately began to take action, grasping Andrea's hand and guiding her to the bed in the back as T-Dog ran out to get the others.
oOo
Everything after the initial shock happened in a blur, though time didn't seem to go by fast enough for Andrea who spent the good part of dawn huffing, puffing and pushing. The group moved together with the men bringing supplies back and forth to the RV. Carol, Maggie and Lori stayed with Andrea throughout the labour and when the time came they were there to help bring her baby into the world.
"What are you going to name him?" Dale asked a tired looking Andrea. Her eyes were drooping, though she fought fiercely against sleep. Her gaze lifted to find Dale standing by the door and gestured for him to come inside. Dale happily took the invitation and shuffled into the room, taking a seat next to the bed and peaking a glance at the bundle in Andrea's arms.
"Don't know...I'd be lying if I said I'd thought about it before." Was her mumbled reply, staring with complete love at her baby boy. She looked back at Dale giving him one of her rare smiles and pushed out her arms with what little strength she had left.
"Here, take him...maybe you'll have better luck with a name." Her hoarse voice stated. Dale looked cautiously at the new mother before gently accepting the precious bundle. The smile that appeared of his face caused Andrea to laugh weakly, it surprised her how everyone's spirits seemed to lift.
In the world they lived in before hundreds of babies were born every day, it wasn't anything special unless you were somehow personally connected. Now new life was in abundance and there wasn't much to look forward to. But now Andrea had something to look forward to, someone who was completely her's, someone she wouldn't let slip away.
