CHAPTER 7

Over the next few weeks, Noel confirmed her suspicion. She wasn't one hundred percent sure until, like Lori, she had a bump. It was too tiny to see through her fall layers but she could feel it and it was growing. She, like Lori had been, was now responsible for another life growing in her womb. Noel just hoped that she and her unborn child, unlike Lori and hers, would be able to survive.

She was thankful for a few things that worked in her favor. Like how they'd raided a small deserted town that had fallen early, loaded with canned foods so they currently had enough food to feed her growing hunger. Or like how her and Daryl rarely slept at the same time or in the same place, so she was able to hide the bump from him.

Her bump was growing and fast. Noel retreated from the group, spending her time with only Rick or Carl, and avoiding Daryl all together. She didn't know why she was so scared to tell him. Maybe it was his track record with reactions or his short temper. But it was killing her to just be without him, let alone hold such a big secret from him, and she could tell he was just as hurt.

His confusion was the most obvious, though. Like how when she stopped letting him hold her as they slept he apologized even though he did nothing wrong. Or like when she'd stopped joining him on watch or to hunt, he would just stare at her confused and hurt, obviously wondering what he did wrong.

She knew it was just a matter of time as she sat waiting for Ricks instructions after they pulled over for the umpteenth time. When his instructions were to scout the area, with Daryl, she knew their leader was throwing his second a bone; giving him time with his woman, knowing something was wrong.

So she followed him into the woods, further and further out waiting for him to stop and yell, scream at her until she broke down and spilled her secret. And he did just what she expected him to do as they entered a small clearing. He all but threw his crossbow down on the floor as he pulled at his hair in frustration.

"Ya gon' tell me what the fuck is goin' on?" Daryl wasn't yelling yet but she knew it was coming, "Huh?" He raised his voice slightly. "Ya gon' tell me what I did wrong?" Noel opened her mouth to speak but he cut her off, "One goddamn minute yer fuckin' me n' tellin' me ya love me and the next yer fuckin' miles away. Ya don't fuckin' talk ta me or look at me. I can't even fuckin' touch ya!" She could see how hurt he was, tears threatening to spill as he was screaming at her.

Noel stared at him for a moment and could hold it in anymore, any of it. She started to cry, so hard she could barely understand the words that came out of her own mouth, "I just…wasn't sure…I was sick…and then Lori…and I was scared… you wouldn't want it…but I love you… and I didn't know what to… I don't know… I'm scared… I'm gonna die."

She was breathing hard trying to control her sobs as Daryl stared confused and lost at the woman he loved. He was debating whether to be stubborn and let her cry like he wanted to. But it killed him to see her like that so he walked over to her wiping away her tears.

He made sure to keep his distance incase she pushed him away. "Girl…" he was feeling for her, she could tell, but she knew he had no idea what she was talking about, "Jus' tell me what's wrong." His voice was softer now, broken, "What did I do?"

Noel knew she loved him and that it was now or never so she took his hands in her and slid them under her shirt. She placed them on her secret before finding the courage to look into his eyes. Confusion followed by shock. Daryl's fingers flexed on her belly and she waited for him to speak as her sobs quieted and her tears slowed. It felt good to have his hands on her again.

God I missed those hands.

"You…yer…" She nodded, "And its… its my…" Noel nodded again with a smile that she couldn't hold in. Daryl stepped back shaking his head, but his hands remained where they were. Noel's brows furrowed.

"You're mad?" She asked as the tears started back up, "You don't want it." He shook his head again, quickly wrapping his arms around her and pressing his lips to her temple. He held her there for a short while in silence, rubbing her back and kissing her head.

"Say something… please… anything," she pleaded with him, looking up into his eyes. "Tell me what you're thinking." He pressed his forehead against hers closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. She waited for the rejection but got something entirely different.

"A girl," he muttered against her lips, now she was confused, "I want it to be a girl," he continued, taking her face in his hands, "she'd be so pretty, ya know…like her mama."

A large smile engulfed Noel's sobs as she hugged him, allowing him to pull her tight against him. Daryl's hands found their way back under her shirt rubbing the bump with his large rough hands that she'd missed terribly.

Daryl held her for a while letting it sink it that he was going to be a father. But the longer he touched her the more he wanted her. The fact the she was carrying his child did nothing to lessen his desire. In fact, the more he thought about it the more he hardened against her hip. The moment Noel felt his arousal she pulled Daryl into a deep, passionate kiss, leaving them both breathless.

Without thinking Daryl lowered her to the forest floor, ready to take her right there. As his hands went to pull her shirt up, he froze, remembering why he was so hard in the first place. Noel just took this opportunity to unbutton her pants and push them and her underwear down to her ankles.

She missed him these past few weeks and she needed him to make love to her. She started on his belt, "It won't hurt it. I promise." She pulled him down for a kiss and was able to free his member. "I need this." Once her hand started on his length, Noel knew Daryl's control was fleeting fast. He moaned and pulled her hands away, trying to regain his composure.

Then as she lifted her hips, his grip on her writs tightened in his hands above her head and his brows furrowed trying to think about anything other then the pleasure her movements were causing. But all control was lost when he heard Noel moan in his ear as her back arched from the much-needed friction.

Daryl entered her quickly making her moan louder. His fingers entwined with hers above her head before she pulled one hand away to grip his nape, pulling him in for another kiss. Their bodies moved together slow and hard, doing whatever elicited the loudest moans from the other.

"Daryl," she moaned as she came trembling around him, pushing him over the edge with her. Daryl collapsed next to her, not wanting to crush his lover and child, but he remained close, one hand resting on her belly.

They stood and dressed slowly on shaky legs. Daryl pulled her in for another kiss before they made their way back to the group, hand in hand. Daryl watch Noel as they approached their campsite and tugged on her hand a few feet away from the survivors. She looked scared.

"Ya alright?" He asked as worry masked his features, "Did I hurt ya?" Noel shook her head wrapping her arms around his waist. He welcomed the embrace, pulling her closer. She looked up at him, taking in his face before speaking,

"What if… what if I die?" Daryl frowned at her with furrowed brows as she felt the tears threatening, "Like Lori? And the baby, how do we know it'll even survive?" He shook his head quickly and took her face in his hands like he always did when he wanted her to listen.

"Ya ain't dyin'." He said seriously, "Nobody's dying." His hand moved to her belly, "I won't let ya," he concluded.

Noel's brows pushed together in thought, "How can I deliver a baby if I'm the one giving birth? There are so many things that could go wrong!" She was crying now, "There's no way we can both survive!"

"Stop." Daryl scolded her, "Nuff o' that shit. Ya ain't dyin'. N' the baby ain't neither, so ya better stop fuckin' talking like that. Ya hear me?" He waited until Noel nodded, "No more of this dyin' shit. You n' Hershell 'll figure it out, alright? Yer gonna be fine and our baby's gonna be fuckin' perfect."

Noel relaxed into his chest letting his words sink in, forcing herself to believe them. He kissed her forehead and pulled her back to camp to share this new secret. While Daryl spoke Noel repeated his words in her head like a mantra. It wasn't until after the 50th time she started to believe them.