I love writing this story - and this whole universe - so, so much.

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Chapter Seven. Shock.

For days after he told her, she didn't talk. Daryl being Daryl – and not knowing how else to do it – he sort of just blurted it out without having much plan behind it. Only when the words flew through his mouth did he cringe and regret it, but it was too late to take it back and have a redo. Beth heard what he said and she stared at him, her lips parted, her mouth hanging slightly open, but no sound left. She just stared at him and didn't move or say a word. And that made Daryl feel nervous for some reason and he shifted on his feet.

"We can go, if you wan'," he said, but only because he felt he had to say something else to her to try and get her to talk since he had just informed her that after all of these years, their family – their first family – had apparently been alive and somewhat well, up North. "I don't know how far it is, but we might have 'nough gas to get us up there."

Beth stared at him for another moment before shaking her head. "I should start on dinner," she said and began walking past him, ignoring the arm he extended towards her.

And that was the last thing she said and that had been two days ago.

They were always busy during the summer months. Every single day, there was something to do, and Beth was usually the one who told them all what to do – whether it be working on the fences, patrolling and adding yet another layer to their defenses to make the wood stronger, clearing the pits of the walkers who had stumbled in, gardening and weeding, taking care of their animals, doing laundry. There was plenty of work to do, but with Beth not talking and keeping herself mostly to the kitchen and garden, Daryl found himself being the one to dole out the jobs to everyone in the mornings, hoping that he was having them all do everything that needed to be done.

He wasn't going to rush her, but he wondered what Beth was going to decide to do. Did she want to go North? Did she want to see Maggie and rub in her face that she was still alive? Not only alive but she was pretty much keeping all of them alive, too. Maggie probably wouldn't believe it. She would probably think that she was alive because of Daryl and nothing had happened during these past few years that they had been separated. Maggie would take her sister into her arms and try to push her back into the baby role; the girl that was weak and had to be protected at all times.

Daryl knew that if it had been Merle, Daryl would have already been in the car, driving to go up and find him and see him again. But there was one difference between the Dixon brothers and the Greene sisters. Even when he found Merle's hand on the roof and no Merle, Daryl never doubted that his brother was alive somewhere out there. And Merle had thought the same about him. As soon as the prison fell and they had all run off in different directions, Maggie had written her sister off as fast as she could. No way could meek and weak Beth survive that. Best just forget her and never think about her again.

Daryl knew his wife was so quiet because she was thinking about that; thinking how Maggie had just assumed she was dead and hadn't even considered the slim possibility that Beth was still out there in the world somewhere; had never even bothered to try and look for her. Daryl didn't understand it. He'd turn this world upside down if he and Beth ever got separated and he was trying to find her again. And just thinking about Maggie Greene and Beth's hurt feelings, Daryl felt his own anger grow.

Only an idiot – someone truly stupid and selfish – would write Beth Greene-Dixon off.

Three things they had plenty of. Sometimes, their diet consisted of nothing but. They always had corn and tomatoes from their garden and peaches from the trees that were growing wild throughout the neighborhood. Beth had experimented over the years – different ways to cook and prepare – trying to break up the sometimes monotony of their meals. Once he and Beth had found the extreme couponer's stash a few months earlier, their own stash of supplies had nearly quadrupled. If they wanted, they could have pasta for dinner every week for the next two years.

But Beth being Beth, she didn't want to depend upon that. She learned how to make her own pasta: taking one of their chicken's egg and mixing it with flour on the counter and then flattening it out with her rolling pin. It never stopped amazing Daryl all of the things Beth could do. He almost wished they did go North so they could bring Maggie back down here with them and she'd then be able to see with her own two eyes just everything her sister had been able to do and teach herself.

That night, for dinner, they had deer that Daryl had killed that morning when the sun had just begun to rise. With people no longer around to hunt them down, and walkers too slow to catch them, the deer population had exploded and they seemed to be everywhere. They often saw them walking around their neighborhood, right past their house, and once, when Beth had been at the creek, collecting watercress, a few deer had appeared on the other side of the water as if she wasn't there, bending their heads down to lap at the water. Daryl only ever killed a deer though when they needed it. He didn't see a point to killing more than could be used; no matter how many of them there were around in the woods. The only time the deer became a threat was when they got it in their heads that they wanted to jump the fence and help themselves to the garden. But the moats dug around the house helped keep them away for the most part – and Daryl's crossbow seemed to scare them off well enough.

And along with the deer meat, they had peas that Anna had helped Beth shill as well ears of roasted corn and for dessert, Beth had made a peach pie. She had to improvise some of the parts, but it was something she had experimented with and played around with and now, they knew it was summer because Beth only ever baked peach pies in the summer. They went for months, craving it, and when Beth brought it out to the picnic table, they all devoured the whole thing. It was quite the feast for no particular reason.

As the others talked as they ate, and they all laughed as Aiden got peach pie all over his face and fingers from feeding himself, Daryl kept looking over to Beth. She still hadn't said a word. In two days, she hadn't said a word – not even to him. She was so lost in her thoughts and for once, he couldn't even begin what she was thinking and that was scary as shit to Daryl because having been together for all of this time, they had both gotten pretty damn good at reading one another. Most times, they knew what the other was going to do before they actually did it.

He had never had a problem with Maggie until after the prison fell and it was just him and Beth, searching what felt like the whole damn state for her. And then they had seen those signs Maggie had written by the train tracks for Glenn – and only Glenn – and his opinion of Maggie Greene changed pretty damn fast. And now, finding out that their second family had known their first family and learning that Maggie had only mentioned that she had had a sister one time to others – and not even saying Beth's name – Daryl's opinion of her sunk even lower – if that was possible.

After dinner, Beth helped clean up their plates and then, still without a word, she turned and went back into the house. Rosita picked up the bin of dishes, ready to take them down to the creek for washing, and she all but pushed Daryl after her.

"Go," Rosita said and then, without waiting to see if he would, she turned away. "Come on, Anna," she said to the girl and they both walked off towards the garage.

Daryl followed Beth's path into the house and within a second, he saw that she wasn't in the kitchen or the family room and he headed towards their bedroom. It was the largest bedroom – what used to be the master – and it was right off the kitchen. Sure enough, Beth was in there, sitting up on the bed, her knees pulled up and a book across her thighs.

"What you readin'?" Daryl asked, coming to the bed to sit down beside her, making sure he took off his boots before he did. No boots on the bed – one of the house rules.

Beth showed him the cover. Practical Botany for Gardeners – one of the books they had found in one of the houses and was part of the collection of books that Beth had read no less than a dozen times.

Daryl sat up next to her, stretching his legs out, and he looked at her. "Do you know wha' you wanna do?" He asked her in a low voice. "You know I'll do anythin' you wanna do."

Beth was quiet for another moment. "I'm pregnant," she then said – her words soft, but dropping as loud as cannonballs exploding.

And for a moment, Daryl wasn't sure if he actually heard what she had just said. He stared at her and he was pretty sure she had said what he thought she said, but how was that even possible? Okay. He wasn't an idiot. He knew how it was possible. But the Queen Anne's lace hadn't failed them in all of this time. Sometimes, he came inside of her. Sometimes, he didn't. But either way, Beth drank the doses down and they hadn't even had a scare in the time since they had been using it as a birth control method.

"You sure?" He finally asked, practically grunting out the question.

Beth gave a nod. "I've been pretty regular since we've settled here and have been able to eat steadily. I'm late," she then said, all the time her eyes on him, watching him. "And when you were roasting the deer earlier, I just about threw up at the smell of it."

"Sorry," he mumbled, his eyes drifting down to her still flat tummy.

Really? A baby? He honestly didn't know how he felt about it. He knew one thing for certain though. Who the hell was going to deliver this kid and help Beth with the labor since she was the only one who knew how to do it? She had delivered Aiden like some damn expert and she couldn't very well shout out instructions of what to do when she was pushing a kid out of her.

And then, of course, he thought of Lori just as he had when Rosita told them she was pregnant. It would be impossible to not think of Lori in a situation like this. Who the hell could forget her and what had happened to her? Of course, her pregnancy hadn't been an easy one – and not just because no one knew for certain who the baby's daddy was. They had been running for months – after the farm but before the prison. They had never had enough to eat; only finding a place safe enough to sleep for a couple days at a time. It had been hard on everyone and not everyone was carrying a baby inside of them.

He knew things were different now than with Lori. Here, they had a safe house, a strong fence and were able to protect it. They had food and herbs and medicines. They weren't constantly running and hungry. Honestly, this was the best Daryl's life had ever been – even with dead people walking around. And he knew that if anyone could do this – have a baby in this world – it was Beth. Good and strong and brave Beth.

Slowly, as if he didn't want to hurt her, his hand slid over her stomach, resting there. Beth instantly put her hand over his and gave him a small smile.

"How you feelin' otherwise?" He asked and for as observant as he usually is, he had absolutely no idea how he had missed something this massive going on with Beth.

"I'm fine," she answered him softly, her eyes set on his face. "When you told me about Maggie… and Rick and all of the others, alive and not in Georgia anymore, I knew they weren't. I've known that for so long, but I guess actually hearing it…" she trailed off for a moment and he lifted his other arm, slipping it around her shoulders. "I'm so happy and scared about this baby, but hearing that, it's just made me so sad because when I found out I was probably pregnant, you know what I thought of after you? I wish daddy and Maggie were here to see this."

Daryl didn't know what to say to that. He didn't even know if she wanted to say anything. So he just kept his hand on her stomach and his arm around her shoulders and he held her close.

"So, are we gonna tell the others?" He asked and Beth smiled faintly.

"We're going to have to, don't you think?" She asked and his lips twitched a little because she was teasing him and after two days of silence, that sounded so damn good. She lifted a hand to his face and rubbed a thumb along his cheek, looking at him.

This woman, his wife, he had seen her when she had still be a girl – terrified of this new world and not knowing how to handle herself in it. But she survived the winter just like they all had and then, when the prison fell… that's when Beth Greene really began kicking ass. Every single thing she did was amazing. The garden she grew and the food she made and what she was able to do with flowers and herbs and plants from the woods, it still made Daryl's head spin because he never even thought of doing any of these things. He had his crossbow and he was fierce with it and he could keep her safe, but Beth was really the one who kept them alive.

And now, she was pregnant with a baby. His baby.

How was she even real?

"Are you okay?" She asked him softly and he looked at her. "With the baby and with Rick and the others…"

Daryl decided he didn't want to talk about Rick and the others – not right now, at least. Rick and the others had obviously not talked about them.

"'m fine," he answered and maybe he said it a little too quickly because Beth kept looking at him as if he hadn't already answered the question. "I mean it. 'm fine. Prob'ly a lil' in shock," he then admitted truthfully and Beth smiled faintly at that. "But if you're fine, really fine…"

"I am," she said. "Scared, but excited. Our own little baby," she said with a smile.

And because she was smiling and seemed to be happy about it, Daryl decided to just forget about how he was scared out of his mind right now, and be a little happy, too. It was absolutely terrifying, but it could be something good, too. Maybe. Hopefully.

"We still need to find a goat," Beth said, changing the subject completely. "Lucky's starting to produce less and less milk and I know we've gotten along fine without milk before, but if we can have it, we should definitely take it."

"I know," Daryl nodded.

They didn't go out on nearly as many runs as they used to – gasoline expired eventually and even though Daryl knew it was probably still fine, the risk of it seemed less worth it and honestly, they didn't have to get as many things anymore – but every time Daryl did leave the neighborhood and the woods, heading out in search of something in any of the areas around them, he kept his eyes open for a male goat, as if one would just be walking around now, knowing how much Beth wanted one and how the family needed one.

"What else do you need, for the baby?" Daryl asked.

Beth smiled. "Things I already have. Peppermint Leaf will help me with the nausea and morning sickness."

That made Daryl frown. "You been havin' a lot of that?" The idea of Beth throwing up didn't rest well with him even if he knew she was supposed to be doing it.

Beth shrugged. "Normal amount." Her hand lifted back to his cheek. "Daryl, I've been thinking… I don't want to go North. Maybe after the baby is born, but right now, I just want to stay home." She paused for a moment and Daryl looked at her, knowing that she had something else to say so he just waited for her to continue. "I don't know if I want to see them," she said almost in a whisper, her eyes falling down from his, looking to their hands on her stomach.

He nodded without commenting. He got that. And he was in complete agreement with her. He didn't know if he would ever be able to see those people again – whether they went after their baby's birth or not. He didn't want to think about Rick or Carol just leaving him behind. If he thought about it, he knew he would just start thinking that of course they hadn't stayed and looked for him. Who would stay behind just for him?

Besides Beth, of course.

Beth laughed softly. "I honestly can't believe you're not freaking out a bit more right now about this," she said as she rubbed her hand over his.

"Trus' me," he smirked a little. "'s comin'. When you leas' expect it."

She laughed again and then leaning into him, she pressed her lips to his in a soft kiss.

The next morning, over corncakes for breakfast and bowls of slightly stale Frosted Flakes – another thing they had gotten from the extreme couponer – Beth told the rest of the family about the pregnancy.

"Oh my gosh!" Rosita exclaimed and was the first out of her chair, throwing her arms around Beth in a tight embrace. Beth laughed and wrapped her arms around her in return. Rosita pulled her head back to look at her. "And I'll read and you'll teach me and I'll do the delivery like you did for me."

"Thank you," Beth said and they could all see the tears glistening in her eyes despite the bright, happy smile on her face.

"We'll all help!" Anna exclaimed, also getting up to hug her first and then hug Daryl.

"Of course we will," Spencer said, taking his turn to hug her.

"You do everything," Aaron finished, standing up and wrapping Beth up in his arms for a tight hug. "It's time we do something for you."

Beth sniffled and gave them all a watery smile. "You guys are the best. Thank you." Rosita wrapped her arm around her shoulders and pulled her into her side for another hug. "Okay. Let's clean up breakfast and then we have laundry to do and Anna, you haven't taken a bath in two days, so you bring your soap down to the creek. We still have deer left over from yesterday so I'll make a deer pie for dinner."

Daryl smiled as he listened to her giving out the instructions of what they were going to do that day and he couldn't take his eyes off of her. She didn't look pregnant. She probably wouldn't look it for a couple more months and he tried to remember Rosita's pregnancy and how soon it was until she started showing.

He knew it hadn't really registered with him yet. Beth was pregnant and yet, he felt no panic. As he told her, that would come later. Right now, he knew that his mind was still taking its time, registering the news. He and Beth were going to have a baby in a few months. Soon, he'd think that thought and he'd be able to believe it. But whether or not his mind was caught up with the truth, he knew that he damn well better be sure that everything was ready for both Beth and the baby to be born in complete health and safety.

There was no other possible ending to this than that.

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