I really, really, really liked this chapter ! The reviews are AHHHH-MAZING ! I am oh, so greatful to have such great people review on my story, and take the time to read it ! Thank you so much ! You don't even know how much I appreciate it, and how much it inspires new ideas to keep the story going. Enjoy !
~Kaila G.
Raina was sitting on the roof with Maggie and Glenn. Daryl was out hunting, and due back any minute now. Raina had been walking down the hall, when Maggie snatched her up for watch shift. Raina didn't mind, she loved the company. Just because she was pregnant, didn't mean she couldn't still help out the group.
"Are you excited to see the baby?" Maggie asked, a smile on her face. Raina could tell that Maggie was ready to have a baby around here. it would definitely lighten the mood of the group.
"Yea, I am. But I'm really nervous. Dunno how I'm supposed to keep my baby safe." Raina admitted. The thought weighed heavy on her mind.
"We never really got that far with Lori..." Maggie trailed off.
"The only thing really to be worried about, is the baby crying. You and Daryl can teach it the importance of silence as it gets older, but not as a newborn." Glenn said quietly, his face worried.
"I know. That's what I'm worried about." Raina sighed. "I think we'll be aight. Jus' gonna take everything we've got."
"Seems like that's just parenthood in general. But don't stress yourself out, Raina. That's the last thing the baby needs." Maggie said sternly, giving her best serious face.
"I know." Raina smiled slightly. "It ain't easy bein' calm and all, but I'm tryin', ya know? So is Daryl, but he's freakin' out."
"Oh yea. I've noticed that." Maggie laughed lightly, a small grin upon her face.
"What are you two talking about? Daryl doesn't freak out. He is like Terminator and Rambo, mix a little Chuck Norris in there, and you got Daryl." Glenn grinned at the girls, trying to lighten the mood. They both laughed at his words.
"You know, you're right!" Raina giggled.
"Just imagine him changing a diaper!" Glenn exclaimed, and the three began having a giggle fit. The giggling turned to an uproar of laughter.
"What is so funny?" Andrea smiled, as her and Rick walked up.
"Imagine..." Glenn was trying to speak through his laughter, which made Raina and Maggie laugh even harder. "Imagine... Daryl in...in a bon-bonnet, changing..." Glenn could barely breathe, "changing a diaper!" Rick and Andrea were hopeless. Seeing Raina, Maggie, and Glenn in their laughter fit had already given Andrea and Rick a slight case of the giggles. Upon Glenn's explanation, Rick and Andrea had joined in the laughter.
"Hell's wrong with y'all?" Daryl asked, appearing on the rooftop. The five of them were in a hysterical uproar at this point. Red-faced, teary eyed, deep and true laughter was pouring from them as they laughed. Daryl just stood there, staring at them as if they were crazy. Raina had tears in her eyes, and she couldn't breathe. She only laughed harder at his expression.
"Daryl," Rick finally regained his composure, and the other four tried to do the same, "the diaper daddy." Rick and the rest burst into laughter. Raina and Maggie were snorting and squeaking in laughter. Andrea was bent over, laughing so hard, no noise could be heard from her. Glenn just hung his head, his body shaking as he laughed.
"Oh y'all think y'all real funny, huh?" Daryl had to grin. "Diaper daddy my ass! Rick's gonna hafta teach me!"
"Ha! Okay, man. Will do." Rick shook Daryl's hand and pulled him close. "Congrats. You're going to have a beautiful family." He whispered, ignoring the others still slightly laughing in the background.
"Thanks, Rick. You got one yourself." Daryl smiled and slapped his friend on the back.
Raina was laying in their bed, watching the rain drizzle down the window. Before she knew it, Daryl was off watch shift, and on the bed beside her. She smiled over at him, and the smile turned into a grin when lifted himself up and closer to her. He put a hand to her face and kissed her. Raina returned the kiss, feeling the warmth of his body engulf her.
"I miss you bein' able to do watch shifts with me at night." Daryl said, pulling her closer, so that her head rested on his chest.
"Me too. I wish it wasn't so damn cold outside. Then I'd be able to!" Raina pouted slightly.
"Safer inside." Daryl mumbled.
"Bored inside." She pouted still.
"Better safe 'an sorry." Daryl said quietly.
"I'm pregnant. Not dyin'." Raina teased.
"Yea." Daryl whispered, and she knew that she had said the wrong thing. This world was very different now. As much as she didn't want to think about it, she knew there was a possibility that she wouldn't survive the pregnancy. Hershel was good, but he wasn't a hospital.
"I'm worried too. So many things could go wrong..." Raina said.
"They won't. You 'an our baby gonna be jus' fine." Daryl tried.
"Well, it is your baby. Strong willed. Hard headed." Raina glared playfully.
"You'll be fine, too. You're one strong woman." Daryl murmured, kissing the top of her head.
"Only 'cause of you. You pushed me this far, you know that?" She snuggled closer to him. "I wouldn't want my life any other way."
"Neither would I." He whispered, and she felt his hand slide under her shirt. She relaxed as his hand slid tenderly over her belly. He drew lazy circles all over her stomach. Raina closed her eyes, and began to feel drowsy at the touch of his fingertips on her stomach.
He ran his hand up and down her belly softly, pausing at each point to draw a lazy circle along her skin. His hands ran along her stomach, and she felt relaxed at the feeling. She smiled slightly as his fingers slid across her skin. Then the direction of his hand changed, and she could tell he was drawing something, but what?
"What you drawin'?" Raina murmured drowsily. Daryl smiled at her voice.
"I love you." He said quietly.
"We love you, too." She whispered with a drowsy grin.
The days passed slowly. Walkers here and there. The air got colder and colder as the weeks passed. The group was stronger than ever, enjoying their lives. The walkers were looking worse and worse, it seemed that they were running out of things to feed on.
Raina was roughly about four and a half months pregnant. She was sitting in the lobby with the group, waiting on Daryl to return from hunting. It was Christmas Eve, and Carl insisted on celebrating Christmas. The others thought it was a wonderful idea. Raina smiled at them as they all sat around talking.
"Tomorrow we open presents!" Carl smiled up at Rick and Andrea.
"We sure do." Rick grinned down at his son, and Raina could see the happiness in his eyes. Raina was beginning to feel more hopeful about the future, and what it held. Everything would be hard, but it would be worth it. Seeing the people she loved happy, made her feel good inside.
"I know what Dad got you." Carl said, grinning at Andrea. Raina giggled quietly, because she could see Rick in his son's features. And because Rick had informed her of what he had found for Andrea.
"Oh really?" Andrea blushed slightly, turning her head toward Rick and raising an eyebrow.
"You're gonna love it!" Raina piped into the conversation. Rick chuckled, and Andrea nudged Raina's arm.
"You must tell!" Andrea teased.
"Sorry, ma'am. My lips are sealed." Raina looked at Rick with a smirk.
"Well, we," Maggie waggled her finger between herself and Andrea, "know what you're getting!"
"Hey! Y'all ganged up on me!" Raina teased. She looked at Glenn. "And you?"
"Gulity... I know what Daryl's getting you, too." Glenn said with a smile.
"I see how it is." Raina smiled at the three. "God, this is...nice, isn't it?"
"It is. We never had anyone like y'all." Melissia smiled at everyone.
"It's nice to have a family again." Maggie agreed, squeezing Glenn's hand. He smiled at his girlfriend. Suddenly the conversation was interrupted by Daryl walking through the door.
"Gotta deer, big'n, too." Daryl grinned, obviously proud of his kill. Then it happened. Raina felt a thump in her belly. Her eyes got wide, and she grinned.
"What?" Andrea asked, staring at Raina.
"The baby...it kicked." Raina replied in a near whisper. She looked at Daryl. "Come here." Daryl walked over to her and got down on a knee in front of her. Looking into her eyes, he slowly put a hand to her belly. He didn't feel anything. He shook his head 'no'.
"Say something else." Raina urged.
"Uh, hey baby. You gone kick for-" He stopped short, his eyes getting wide. "Wow..." He said quietly. He rubbed her belly. "What you doin' in there?" He asked, his voice cracking and he smiled when it kicked again. Raina saw tears in his eyes, and it made her tear up too.
"Knows who you are. Likes your voice." Rick smiled. Andrea and Maggie put their hands to Raina's belly, and both girls smiled when they felt the baby kick. Then, Raina noticed Carl watching.
"You wanna feel it kick?" Raina asked. Carl shook his head. He walked over slowly, and put his hand to her belly.
"Say hey to ya Uncle Carl." Daryl said softly. Carl grinned when he felt the baby move.
"It's movin' Dad!" Carl exclaimed, turning to look at Rick, who had a slight smile on his face. Rick got up and walked over to Raina, kneeling down.
"Can I?" He asked politely.
"Of course." Raina smiled gently, remembering that he had lost his own baby. Rick put his hand gently on her stomach.
"Hey in there." He said quietly. "We can't wait to meet you."
"Sure can't." Daryl smiled. Rick's face lit up when the baby moved.
"That is a wow, for sure." Rick smiled at Daryl, raising back up.
"Rick, Andrea, I need to ask y'all somethin'." Daryl said quietly, and Raina knew what he was going to ask.
"Anything." Andrea said, smiling.
"Raina and I, we uh, talked 'bout it, and we, uh, want y'all to be the baby's god parents." Daryl said, looking at the two. Rick and Andrea looked shocked.
"Really?" Rick stared at him, a smile spreading across his face.
"Yes." Raina spoke up.
"We'd love to." Andrea smiled warmly.
"Yes, we would." Rick looked at Daryl greatfully. Andrea pulled Raina up into a hug, and Raina squeezed her back.
"That means a lot to Rick, and myself as well." Andrea whispered.
"I know. You two mean a lot to us." Raina whispered back.