Chapter 10

"Congratulations, Miss. Jefferson. It is a healthy baby girl."

Harper forced herself to sit up, the effort was exhausting, but she had to see her little baby. The nurses carefully handed her a bundle of pink blankets and she smiled down at the baby. Her face was pink and wrinkly, like she had always been told newborns looked, and where the child had been screaming just a moment before, she had calmed in her mothers arms.

"Have you named her yet?" a nurse asked gently.

Harper looked at the nurse then quickly back to her baby, "I haven't really thought it through," she laughed, "I had nine months but with school," she shrugged,"I was never able to focus on one name."

"Well there is no rush," the nurse offered, "You just love on that baby and in the meantime, we want you to try and nurse, okay?"

Harper looked at the woman, "What if I mess it up?"

The nurse laughed, "Oh darling, you do not know how many times I hear first time mothers say that."

Harper didn't seem convinced but she kept her words to herself as the nurses assisted her in uncovering her breast and she carefully brought the baby up to her. At first the little baby didn't react and Harper was about to comment on the fact, but then she felt gums biting down on her and the baby began to suck the milk from her mother.

"Oh my God," Harper breathed, "That's incredible!"

"See, the baby knows how to do all of the rest, you just have to give her the tools," the nurse smiled.

"I've always liked the name Lilah," Harper said suddenly, "Do you think that is a good name?"

"Lilah is a darling name for a little girl."

Harper looked down at her daughter, "Hi Lilah," she whispered, "Momma is always going to protect you. I'll always be here for you and I promise I'll never hurt you."

–

Harper stirred, her head was spinning and she felt like she was sick. Her eyes opened and she looked around the room, taking in the surroundings. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out, she couldn't remember the last time her mouth had been that dry. Her hand reached for the metal table beside her and she hit her hand on the leg to get Hershel's attention.

He turned around from where he had been cleaning the needle he had used to give the young woman stitches and his eyes lit up, "Welcome back, Harper."

"Water?" she barely managed to get out.

Hershel grabbed up his crutches and was by the girls side in an instant, carefully pouring out water and she began to guzzle it.

"Better?"

Harper nodded, "Much," she looked around the room, "Where is everyone?"

"Well, Rick passed out around three with Judith. Carol and Beth are asleep while Glenn and Maggie take watch. Michonne went for a walk about an hour ago so I assume she is here somewhere," Hershel smiled, "And last I heard Daryl was asleep with Lilah upstairs."

Harper released a breath she didn't realize she had been holding, "What happened?"

"Well Daryl was a little wild with the story, he was pretty torn up about you," Hershel sat down beside her, "Rick explained it that you two got caught off guard by your father, he tied Daryl up, and you two had a fight and you killed him. Somehow Daryl got loose and he found you on the verge of passing out. You had a pretty nasty gash on your head."

Harper nodded slowly as the words sunk in, "I hit my head on the nightstand," she agreed, "And my gun was under the bed."

Hershel frowned, noticing she was getting upset, "It's okay just take a deep breath and try to get some rest."

Harper sighed, "Can you get Daryl? I just need to see him, I was afraid I'd never see him again."

Hershel nodded, "Just give me a moment."

She watched him wobble away and heard low whispers just in the doorway. A bed creaked and she heard someone climbing the stairs. Hershel appeared a moment later, "Carol went to get him and I will leave you in his capable hands."

"Thank you Hershel," she bit her lip and added, "For everything."

"Don't worry about it," he gave her a kind smile and then disappeared.

Carol was quiet as she entered the cell and she couldn't help but stop at the sight before her. Daryl was tangled up in the sheets and Lilah was curled into his arms, fast asleep with her head resting on one of Daryl's muscular arms. Daryl murmured a curse in his sleep and Carol couldn't help but smile at him. She hoped in that moment that Daryl had finally found the family he had always wanted and deserved and knew that Lilah would be lucky if she was ever able to call Daryl her father.

Ever so gently she reached over to him, "Daryl?" Carol whispered, gently shaking his arm, "Daryl."

There was a grunt that came from Daryl and no further response, he simply turned over, a protective arm wrapping around the child beside him.

"Daryl," Carol said again.

He groaned, "Go'way, Carol."

"Daryl, Harper is awake and asking for you."

There was a moment of silence and then Daryl turned back and looked at her through heavy eyes, "Wha?"

"Harper is awake and asking for you," Carol repeated.

Daryl looked at Lilah and ever so carefully, he pulled his arm out from under the child. He sat up and pulled a blanket over her small body and he quickly followed Carol downstairs. He practically ran into the room where Harper was laying and he felt his heart jump at the sight of her looking at him.

"Oh God," he whispered and he was by her side in an instant, and to Harper's surprise, he had tears in his eyes.

"Hi darling," she said through her hoarse voice.

Daryl dropped to his knees at her bedside and grabbed her hand, "You scared tha shit outta me."

"You scared me too," she told him, "I was so afraid that he had finally taken the one thing I can't live without."

"I'm sorry, I never shoulda left you," he pressed his lips to her hand, "That motherfucker came up from behind like the fuckin' coward he is. When I woke up, I was tied up, he was gone, and somehow I got free."

"I heard his boots on the porch," Harper sighed, "And I thought he was you." She looked away, "And he hit me and said so many horrible things to me."

"Whatever it was, it ain't true," he said quickly.

"He said my momma was a whore and that I'm just like her and he was convinced my whole life that I wasn't his," Harper looked at him, "And apparently that was his reasoning for the life he has given me."

Daryl was quiet for a long time, "I'd rather hope you weren't his."

She nodded, "If it means I'm not connected to him through blood, I agree."

"Are ya okay?" he asked after a long time.

Harper looked at him and shook her head, "Not really."

"Well," Daryl kissed her on the forehead, "I'll be here to help ya."

"Is Lilah okay?" she asked next.

He nodded, "They kicked both of us outta here when Hershel was fixin' ya up. She's asleep in our bed."

"I'm sure she was angry," Harper had the ghost of a smile on her face as she thought about it.

"Yeah, she was," Daryl smiled back, "Definitely yours."

"You know," she began slowly, "I was thinking about the day she was born. I was so scared and so alone," Harper sighed, "And I always wanted that child to have the kind of daddy she deserves and one that deserves her. I want her to have a man in her life who will love her the way I wanted to be loved growing up," she quickly blinked away tears, "Daryl, I hate myself that she isn't yours. I wish she was, oh God, how I wish Lilah had your blood and strength running through her."

Daryl was quiet for a long time and finally, instead of replying, he simply kissed her on the nose, "Harper, ya can't hate yourself for somethin' beyond your control."

She sighed, "I know, it's just hard."

"Baby, ya need to rest."

Harper held his hand, "Please, don't leave me."

"I ain't goin' nowhere," he promised.

She nodded, as if affirming in her head what he had said, and slowly Harper's eyes fell shut. Daryl stayed by her side, watching her chest gently rise and fall, hoping to guard her from the terrors that attacked her at night, and he swore he would always be there to protect her from the terrors of the day. Eventually, his head came to rest by her hand, his grip never failing through the night hours.

–

xx

A/N- this was a very short chapter, I know. School started this week and I have been busy with that and hanging out with friends and stuff...so please be kind and review. Love ya!