"It's too early" breathed Carol clutching her stomach, her face was scrunched up in pain.
Maggie jumped down from the table and raced over to Carol's side and clutched her hand tightly, she looked up at Carol sadly.
"You'll be fine Carol...I promise you" she whispered
Carol looked up slowly, "Not without Daryl" she breathed.
Maggie nodded slowly and let go of her hand, "I'll be back" she said quietly.
She walked up to the bathroom in the back of the room and shone her torch to find walkers but there were none. She walked inside the room slowly and looked at herself in mirror. Her face was dirty and her hair was messed up. This was the first time Maggie had looked at herself in months. She turned her head around the door to look at Carol. She had a painful look on her face and she was clutching her stomach. Maggie moved her head back around the door and she looked at herself in the mirror again.
All the memories of that day flooded back, she remembered Lori looking the same as Carol. She remembered being alone and scared and she remembered what Lori made her do to keep Judith alive. She began sobbing quietly to herself, she didn't want to do it again. She never wanted to experience anything like that again. She was tired of losing friends or having to resort to the final measure to keep people alive.
She slowly lifted her head again and watched her red face in the mirror, she sniffed softly and wiped away the tears streaming down her face. She walked out of the bathroom and sat by Carol's side again clutching her shaking hand.
...
Rick and Daryl slowly walked down the ward, Carol and Maggie still hadn't returned and they were getting worried. Daryl shone his torch down the corridor with his cross-bow aimed at the darkness.
"Carol! Maggie!" he called out loudly.
There was no response, Daryl's heart began racing had they lost more people? He shook the thought away quickly and continued down the corridor with Rick. He opened his mouth to yell again.
"Maggie! Carol!" he yelled frustrated.
Still no response, Daryl paused his head down. Rick turned his head to look at Daryl.
"Daryl?" he said confused.
Daryl looked up slowly, "You think they dead?" he asked sadly.
Rick moved closer to him and put his hand on his shoulder, "I think they're still alive they might be a lot further down we have to keep looking" Rick said calmly.
Daryl nodded slowly and stood up straight, he shone the light ahead of the corridor and the two continued walking.
"You thought of any names for the kid yet?" asked Rick keeping his eyes focused on the darkness ahead of him.
"Can we not talk about the damn..."
Suddenly he was interrupted by a group of walkers slowly moving around the corridor, he turned his head to look at Rick, Rick put his finger on his lips.
"Stay quiet and walk slowly we need to save ammo" he said quietly.
Daryl nodded and the two walked past the group of walkers slowly. The walker's heads turned around slowly and they began to follow Rick and Daryl.
"Keep walking slowly" Rick said calmly.
Suddenly a walker hissed and began trying to bite him, Rick let out a gun shot.
"Run!" he yelled.
Daryl didn't hesitate him and Rick began sprinting up the corridor as the walkers behind them began chasing them.
"Dammit!" Daryl cursed out loud as he ran.
...
"Oh God this is killing me" Carol breathed heavily.
She squeezed Maggie's hand tightly; her hand began to turn red from all the squeezing.
"Maybe you should try to think of something else to keep your mind off it" Maggie whispered quietly.
Carol let out a small laugh, "Like what?" she breathed.
Maggie shrugged, Carol smiled warmly, "You know it's funny last time I went through this Ed wasn't with me either" she breathed.
"Where was he?" she asked quietly.
"At a fucking strip club" she laughed breathing heavily.
Maggie frowned, "How do you know?" she asked.
"After I had Sophia he walked into the room hours later he smelt like perfume, beer and I could see several lipstick marks on him he'd been going for the last few months after I told him I was pregnant" she said sadly.
Maggie stared at Carol, "And you know when he walked in he didn't care about Sophia all he cared about was when I was gonna get home and cook him some dinner"
Carol let out a small laugh and suddenly clutched her stomach again, she began breathing heavily.
"When I did get home...He ordered me to do all the work and all the cooking while he sat on his lazy ass he completely neglected Sophia and laid his hands on her a few times when she was older" she said sadly.
Maggie felt a tear roll down her cheek, "I'm sorry Carol" she said holding onto Carol's hand.
Carol sniffed softly, "What if Daryl's like him? What if he doesn't care about the baby? He's already acting cold when I mention it" she said sadly tears rolling down her cheeks.
"Carol it's Daryl. It might take time for him to warm up to the idea trust me" Maggie said reassuringly.
Carol nodded slowly and suddenly began to breathe deeply and quickly, she squeezed Maggie's hand tightly and loud out a loud cry of pain. Maggie stared at Carol in pain, she didn't like watching this.
"Maggie..." Carol breathed.
"Yes Carol?"
"If something goes wrong...What you did to Lori you have to do that to me...I'm not letting my baby die" she breathed heavily.
A small tear rolled down Maggie's cheek she nodded slowly,
"Okay" she croaked her voice breaking.
She put another hand on Carol's and held on softly.
...
Rick and Daryl sprinted down another corridor, Rick let out another gun-shot.
"Where the hell are they coming from?!" yelled Rick.
Daryl turned his head quickly and spotted a door open in the corridor.
"Get in there!" he yelled gruffly shooting a walker with his cross-bow.
Daryl and Rick quickly ran inside the room, there were two walkers standing in there they turned around slowly and hissed. Rick let out two gun-shots and quickly ran to block the door with a table. The room was in complete darkness and silence they could hear walkers gathering outside the door.
"Let's see if there's any light in here" Daryl said huskily.
He hit his palm on the wall and suddenly the whole room lit up both of their mouths opened in shock. An actual working light.
They looked around the room and realised where they were, the Children's ward.
Daryl swallowed and slowly sat down on the ground, he kicked the dead walkers away and breathed heavily. Rick stared at him and slowly joined him on the cold ground.
"I don't want anything to do with that damn kid" Daryl said huskily keeping his face away from Rick's.
Rick looked up at Daryl slowly.
"If that kid kills her I aint ever gonna love it" he said gruffly.
"She'll be fine Daryl" swallowed Rick thinking of Lori.
Daryl nodded slowly, "Never remembered love in my fuckin' family. Parents always smacking each other about, Merle was always on drugs or drinking. An' I was always being left alone or being smacked up by Merle or my dad" Daryl said huskily.
"Fuckin' hated my family only had Merle biggest asshole I ever met. Merle got the clap and I was alone with my dad. Got home one day from school and found my dad on the ground...Heart attack didn't call the ambulance for hours just sat there and made a sandwich. When it was his funeral didn't even go I spent the whole day by the lake fishin' when I did go to his grave I spat on it old bastard deserved it. Spent the next few weeks alone until Merle got back" he said gruffly.
Rick stared at him sadly, "I'm sorry" he said calmly.
"Don't bother" he said staring up at the children's drawings on the walls.
...
Carol let out another heartbreaking cry of pain, Maggie was still holding onto her delicate hands tightly. Maggie couldn't take it anymore.
"I should check you" Maggie said calmly.
Carol nodded slowly and released Maggie's hand, Maggie went down in front of Carol and shone her torch. Maggie began tearing up.
"Should I be pushing?" Carol asked wearily.
Maggie began sobbing uncontrollably, "I don't know!" she yelled, "I don't know...I don't want to cause anybody else's death I don't...please Carol I'm sorry" she cried.
Carol breathed deeply, she put her hand out to Maggie
"Maggie" she breathed.
Maggie looked up slowly at Carol, she noticed Carol's hand out to her and she slowly took it.
"Maggie calm down please...I'll be...I'll be fine" she breathed.
Maggie nodded slowly, Where the hell are Rick and Daryl anyway? She thought to herself angrily.
Carol suddenly cried out in pain again, Maggie immediately clutched her hand worriedly.
...
"We need to find them now" Rick said calmly.
Daryl nodded slowly and the two got up quickly, their weapons ready in their hands. Rick swung the door open the door began shooting at the walkers. Every single one of them was dead within 20 seconds.
"C'mon!" yelled Rick.
The two turned a corner and ran down another corridor where they spotted a group of walkers blocking the door, each of them were scratching and throwing themselves at the door.
"You think they in there?" Daryl asked huskily.
Rick nodded slowly and the two ran forward shooting at the walkers outside.
...
Gunshots filled the atmosphere Maggie held Carol close, "Oh God Carol" she whispered. She knew this was it she could hear it now. There were bandits outside shooting the walkers maybe they killed Rick and Daryl and now they were after them. Maggie remembered the attack on them a few months ago when Bandits flooded the area and began trying to kill them. Rick, Andrea and Morgan had killed them instantly.
Suddenly the door flew open and Maggie closed her eyes, Rick slammed the door shut and ran over to Maggie's side.
"Maggie?" he said calmly.
Maggie looked up to see a concerned Rick she hugged him tightly, "I thought you two were bandits" she cried.
"What the hell happened? Is she bit?" asked Daryl angrily and worriedly.
"No she's in labour" Maggie said calmly.
Daryl's heart skipped a beat he looked down at Carol lying on the bed, she looked like she was in agony. Holy Shit he thought to himself.
"How dilated is she?" asked Rick calmly.
"I..I don't know" said Maggie.
"Give me the torch" he demanded.
Maggie threw him the torch and Rick raced over to the front of Carol, he shone the torch.
"Almost fully dilated" he said calmly.
Carol groaned in pain loudly and grabbed Daryl's strong arm, she pulled him down next to her and grabbed his hand tightly. She squeezed to the point of almost breakage. Carol slowly let go and began breathing heavily. Daryl got up and began walking away towards the bathroom.
"You're not leaving me now Dixon!" she yelled angrily.
Daryl ignored her and continued to the bathroom, he stared at himself in the mirror and slowly put his hands to his sweaty face.
Fuck I can't do this...That little thing is killing her I can't watch her die. Dammit why the fuck couldn't have I had been more safe. It's my fault! He thought to himself angrily. He didn't want to be in there he was terrified but at the same time he loathed what was trying to fight its way out of Carol. He looked up at the mirror and raised his shaking clenched fist he moved it quickly towards his reflection ready to smash it when suddenly Maggie walked in.
"She needs you Daryl" Maggie said softly.
"That thing is killing her" he said gruffly
Maggie slowly put her soft hand on Daryl's shoulder, "She'll be fine all she needs is you"
Daryl swallowed and nodded slowly, he walked back into the room slowly keeping his eyes away from Carol. Suddenly he felt her grip onto his shirt, she pulled him down quickly and grabbed onto his hand tightly.
"She seems ready to push" Rick said calmly.
Daryl's hand began to shake, he wiped away sweat on his brow and looked down at Carol, she nodded quickly and her face tightened. She began screaming out loud in agony. Daryl's eyes widened as her grip on his hand began to tighten with each contraction.
Suddenly she gasped and began breathing deeply, her face was pale and sweat was dripping down her face. Daryl began to get worried.
"Are you okay?" he asked worriedly.
Carol turned her head over to him sharply, "Do I look fucking okay!?" she snapped squeezing his hand.
Daryl didn't respond he just held onto her hand tighter.
"Push again" Rick instructed.
Carol nodded and her face tightened again, Daryl felt like he could feel his bones breaking as Carol squeezed his hand.
...
10 minutes went by and Carol was still pushing, Daryl was getting terrified and furious at the same time, he knew what was coming next Rick would say he was sorry and he would grab his knife to cut Carol open which would force Daryl to shoot the woman he had grown to love in the head.
"I can see the head Carol push harder" Rick urged.
Carol didn't respond she just tightened her face and held her breath as she pushed, Daryl stared at Carol in pain and felt anger fill his body he hated what she was going through and he hated the kid. He didn't want anything to do with it he...
Suddenly he heard a baby's cry fill the room, his heart suddenly stopped as he watched Rick hold a small bloodied baby in his arms, His baby.
Suddenly Carol fell backwards weakly, she lost her grip of Daryl's hand and closed her eyes.
"Carol!?" he yelled
She didn't respond, Daryl got up and stared down at Carol worriedly.
"Daryl cut the cord" Rick said calmly.
"What about Carol!? You need to fuckin' save her!" yelled Daryl keeping his back turned away from Rick.
"Daryl!" yelled Maggie sharply, "Cut the cord!"
Daryl angrily reached into his pocket and grabbed his knife he cut the baby's cord quickly and turned his back on it to look at Carol.
"We need something to put it in" Maggie said softly.
Daryl sighed angrily and grabbed his bag, he snatched his poncho out of the bag and threw it over to Maggie, she passed it to Rick and he carefully wrapped the bloody newborn in it. Rick slowly made his way over to Daryl to give him the child. Daryl sharply moved his head to Rick.
"Get that thing away from me!" he yelled huskily.
Rick stepped backwards slowly with the baby, Daryl leaned over Carol and tried to listen to her breathe. It was silent.
"She's aint breathing!" he yelled gruffly.
Maggie slowly put her hand on his shoulder, "I'm sorry Daryl" she said crying.
Daryl wouldn't except it, he wasn't letting her die that easily. He quickly moved his hands and began pressing on her chest repeatedly. He put his mouth to hers and kept breathing deeply. He repeated this process over and over.
"C'mon Carol you aint dying" he said gruffly pressing his hands on her chest.
"Daryl she's gone!" yelled Maggie sadly.
"Bull shit!" he yelled.
He leaned in again and breathed into her mouth, suddenly she opened her eyes and began gasping. Daryl held her tightly in his arms. She slowly put her arms around him.
"Did the baby make it?" she whispered
Daryl nodded slowly and continued holding her closer, he didn't ever want to let her go again.
...
Hours had passed and Carol was told by Maggie and Rick to sleep for a few hours to recover, since they had to leave again soon. Daryl stayed by her side and refused to hold the baby he didn't want anything to do with it after it nearly killed Carol. To him it was a monster.
Suddenly Carol's eyes began to open slowly, she smiled up at Daryl looking down at her.
"Hello" she smiled.
"Hi" he said gruffly.
Maggie began walking slowly towards Carol, Carol sat up carefully and Maggie passed her the tiny baby. Carol smiled down at the baby.
"It's a girl" Maggie said quietly.
Carol smiled but Daryl froze. A girl? How the hell am I supposed to raise a girl? Aint no girls in our family only boys dammit He thought to himself worriedly.
Carol held the baby close, Daryl wouldn't glance at the baby he didn't want to be part of it. He slowly put his hand out to touch Carol's leg when suddenly he felt a tiny hand grip his pinkie finger. He sharply moved his head down to see his newborn daughter holding onto his finger.
In that split second all the anger and resent he felt went away, he stared down at the baby, he took in all her tiny features. Her eyes looked up at him slowly, Blue.
Daryl could suddenly feel his eyes welling up with tears he shut his eyes tightly to avoid letting them escape from his eyes he re-opened them and looked down to still see his daughter staring up at him. Carol smiled as she stared at the two taking in each other's features. She slowly handed the small baby over to Daryl and he carefully brought the delicate baby close into his chest.
"Hey sweetheart" Daryl said softly cradling the baby.
The tiny baby squirmed in his arms slowly, Daryl let out a small laugh and smiled down at it. Carol smiled softly and reached down slowly to grab her bag, she pulled out the small brown bear Daryl had given her months ago, she passed it to Daryl and he slowly took it and placed it in-between the baby and the poncho.
"She got a name yet?" he asked slowly.
Carol smiled weakly, "I haven't really had time to think of any" she said softly. "You?" she asked.
"I used to know someone called Esme" he said gruffly.
Carol smiled at the beautiful name, "Esme Dixon" she said proudly.
"No, Esme Ass Kicker Dixon" he smiled.
Carol let out a weak laugh, Daryl smiled shyly and held Esme closer.
Rick stepped forward slowly, "We need to leave soon It's getting dark"
Daryl nodded and handed Esme slowly to Carol, he walked over to the door and opened it slowly, there were hundreds of walkers now walking through the corridors.
"Holy Shit"
The end for now! :)
Thanks for reading and please review!