Beth paced back and forth in the living room, staring at her phone as she counted, and recounted the days and weeks. Something wasn't right. No matter how many times she recounted, she still came out too many. Her stomach churned as a sinking feeling weighed her down. She felt sick, and scared. She heard the sound of a key sliding into the lock and froze, phone in hand.

Daryl knew something was up the minute he walked through the door. In the time that they'd lived together she'd never once met him frozen in the living room, pasty white and a look of real concern on her face (not even that time he came home three hours late without calling because he'd dropped his phone from the top of the second story he was studding.) With quick steps he shut the door, dropped his keys on the counter, and was at her side. "What's wrong?" He watched as she bit her lip, her eyes dropping down to her phone before she looked back up at him.

"I…" she moved her phone a bit as if it would explain something. "I think we need to have the talk." Her voice was soft, almost a whisper, and she paled even more (he didn't think that was possible.)

"Ok. So talk…" when she just looked up at him, eyes startled, everything clicked and he felt his stomach sink. "You think…"

"I don't know. I just keep counting and it's coming up late…I'm over a week late. The last time was just before Christmas."

"But we've been careful." He supplied, and instantly felt like an ass. He knew, just as well as she did, that careful wasn't 100%. Everything had a chance to fail…and all it took was once. "What do we do?" She bit her lip and shifted helplessly. "Do y'have anythin' to tell for sure?"

"No…" She said softly. She needed a hug. She needed to feel him there with her, reassuring and solid, to tell her she wasn't alone in this. As if reading her mind, his arms slipped around her and pressed her against his chest. She heard his heart, thumping quickly in his chest, matching hers. Even as her stomach churned and knotted, and her heart thumped rapidly in her own chest, she felt the tension leave her shoulders. She felt more at peace. As long as Daryl was there…she'd never be alone in this.

"Well, let's go get somethin' so we can figure it out for sure." His voice rumbled into her hair. Daryl didn't know how he was doing it, but the calm that sounded in his voice was nothing compared to the wild frantic fear that filled him more and more with each passing second. What the hell did he know about being a dad?

Beth nodded into his chest before pulling away gently to grab her keys and wallet. Without thinking about it too much, he reached out and snagged her hand, giving it a light squeeze. Still grimy and dirty from work Daryl marched back to his truck, letting Beth into the passenger side and climbing back in himself. As the engine roared to life he heard Beth whisper something that he didn't quite catch. His questioning gaze fell on her as her cheeks reddened.

"Can we not go to the supermarket around the corner? Everyone shops there…and you know how talk travels in a small town." He realized, with a thick swallow, that Beth was just as unsettled and bursting with nerves as he was. Trying valiantly to shove down the panic clawing its way up his throat he reached over and squeezed her shoulder, tugging her a little closer to wrap her in an awkward hug.

"We'll go where ever y'want t'go." He knew that if this turned out to be positive, Beth would want to tell her family first before the town gossip mill did it for her. She gave him a quick jerky nod.

"The pharmacy across town is a little further away, but not many people go there." She said quickly. He knew exactly what she was talking about and set the truck in that direction.

When they got inside the pharmacy, it was like Daryl's mind went blank. He had no idea where to find anything, and he was not about to ask. He watched, helplessly, as Beth moved around the aisles. When she paused and delicately reached out, before retracting her hand again. Daryl walked up behind her, his eyes landing on the different boxes. He watched as she seemed to freeze, and he could almost see the wheels in her mind turning. His large rough hand came up and clasped hers. "We'll do this t'gether." His deep voice rumbled. Her big blue eyes peered up at him before a soft, timid smile crept to her lips.

"Together." She said softly before grabbing a box of tests off the shelves. She looked at it and felt a heaviness in the pit of her stomach. She couldn't understand, (well really she could, but they'd been so careful) and her mind was racing a mile a minute. She always wanted a family, a baby of her own, but she'd always pictured it happening somewhat differently. She took a deep breath, curling her fingers around his hand and tugging him quietly towards the cashier.

They paid for their purchase quickly, neither one making much small talk when the friendly cashier asked them how they were doing, and then made their way back into the truck. The drive back to the apartment was one of the longest drives either one of them had ever experienced. The heaviness in Beth's stomach started to churn, the closer they got to the apartment and she felt like she was going to be sick. In all the time they'd been together, they'd never really discussed kids. It wasn't on their radar and now (she wanted kids, but has always assumed that was a conversation they would work in to…in the future). Right now, it felt like they were spiraling down the rabbit hole with absolutely nothing to anchor them.

Daryl shut off the truck, parking in front of the apartment building and looked over at Beth. He could tell she was rattled. She was pale, and lost in her own thought, her eyes glassy and glazed as she tried to work through things in her mind. It gave Daryl a chance to try to sort his spinning thoughts. Beth could be pregnant…what did that mean? He knew what it meant on the surface. She was going to have a baby (IF she was pregnant, that is) but he didn't know anything more than that. Did she want kids? Did she want kids with him? Was she ashamed? What if she didn't want it? Would she carry it and give it up? Would she…get rid of it? His head started to spin. No, even if Beth didn't want kids (which he thought was unlikely) she wouldn't just get rid of it. He knew her at least that much, to know that would be a non-option for her. Her eyes focused and she looked around the parking lot before snapping her gaze to him. "Ready?" She almost whispered in the small space of the cab of the truck. The uneasy feeling in Daryl's stomach intensified. He nodded once and watched as she got out, following closely behind her as they trudged up the stairs.

He slid his key into the lock on the front door and was startled by how loud it sounded in the muted hallway. He shuffled in quietly behind her, watching as she shifted her weight from one foot to the other before blushing and motioning with her hand. "I'm gonna…" She trailed off, her cheeks tinting pink. "I'll be right back." He nodded and watched as she disappeared back into the bedroom.

Daryl flopped onto the couch, wishing with all his might that he had a cold beer to take the edge off. He watched as Beth emerged from the back and his back went ram-rod straight. "Well?" She gave him a soft, small smile.

"It takes a few minutes to process." She sat down next to him, sitting daintily on the edge of the cushion.

"So what do we do now?"

"Talk?" Her voice came out weakly. She looked over at him and he nodded. She felt the cold seep into her stomach. "So…if I am…" She paused, unable to say the word just yet. It made it too real, and real was really, really scary. "What does that mean? I mean, for us?" He looked at her.

"Beth, I'm here for you. Whether you are or ain't…that's not gonna change." He rumbled out. "Do…" He stopped and looked away before dragging his eyes back up to her. "Do y'even want kids?" She nodded.

"Yeah. I've always wanted kids, but…it's not something we've ever talked about."

"Well, I think maybe we should talk 'bout it." He felt his tension ease a little when a small smile ghosted her lips and she nodded. "So, you want kids…" He started.

"Do you?" He thought for a moment.

"I don't know." He looked at her, and hated that she seemed so pained by that answer. "I mean, it ain't like've been given a good example. I wouldn't know the first thing about takin' care of a kid. I think I'd be a shit dad." His voice was gruff, but he was being honest. He'd be lying if he said the thought of having a little girl who looked just like Beth didn't scare the crap out of him.

"No you wouldn't." She took his hand and he squeezed gently. Beth looked at him, the fear swirling around inside her seeming to calm a little. It helped knowing that he didn't hate the idea of kids (just the idea of being a dad scared him.) "You may not have had a great example when you were little, but my daddy was amazing and he'd be right there to help you every step of the way." She paused and realized it seemed like she was confirming his fear. That he'd be shit without someone's help. "But that's beside the point. You are so caring. You remember when I was sick…and you came over and took care of me, just because a friend asked you to check on me?" He nodded once. "That's what being a dad is like. You take care of someone because they can't and you care. You'd love your kids more than you could even imagine. You know how I know that? Because you're a good man." He just stared at her.

"Y'Really think that?" She beamed at him.

"I know it." He took her hands in his.

"I love you, babygirl." He rumbled and she smiled at him.

"I love you too." She stroked his hand with her thumb idly.

"When did y'picture havin' kids?" Her eyes got wide as she thought.

"Not right now. Later in life. After school, I guess." She shrugged.

"D'ya ever picture havin' kids with me?" He didn't know why he asked that. He didn't know why her answer mattered so much to him (yes…he did. He knew exactly why.) He watched as her eyes widened even more, and she paled before flushing pink. She started to open her mouth to answer, but the shrill ring of the phone alarm sounded. She jumped up, staring at her phone and then up at him.

"Time to check…did…" She looked down again. "Did you wanna come look too? Or do you want me to just tell you?" He stood slowly, following behind her as they made their way to the bathroom. The little stick was sitting on the bathroom counter…and it felt like a heavy weight was pressing down on him. He took her hand and looked at her.

"What ever it says, I'm here…y'ain't gotta do this alone." She smiled softly at him and grabbed the stick. She didn't look at it but walked up to him and with a deep breath moved her hand to see the little read out. One line meant no, and two lines meant yes. She took a little breath and studied the little screen that firmly showed one little blue line. "Well?"

"I'm not." She said softly, and was torn with the conflicted emotions that bombarded her all at once. "Here…look." She held the stick up for him to examine. She bit on her lip. Part of her wanted to sigh and giggle in relief, and part of her was surprised at the amount of sadness that coursed through her. She didn't realize a part of her had wanted this; had wanted this (nonexistent) baby.

Daryl studied the perfect single line and then watched Beth's face change as different thoughts assaulted her. He wrapped her in a hug. "Y'know…" he rumbled softly, the nerves swirling around in him serving to clog his throat for a second. "Later, kids with you, might not be so bad…" He hugged her, nestling his face in her hair. The grin that split Beth's face was blinding.

"Really?" She looked up at him and watched as the tips of his ears burned red. He nodded shyly and she hugged him tightly. "I think kids with you might just be a really good idea…" She kissed his shoulder as she cuddled close to him. "Y'know…when we're ready." He let out a soft hum of agreement.