Beth stared at Judy from the floor in between the beds in the back of the RV, Judy was playing with the dolls Daryl and Bobby had found—and thoroughly cleaned—in the trailers with Jeremiah, and Bobby was cooking venison outside while Carol and Daryl talked about their not real baby.
"Ah, ah, ah, Judy, no pulling." He loosened her fingers from his necklace, and it caught Beth's attention. It held a cross and two wedding bands and a heart locket. She knew the rings were his parents', he'd told her he'd taken the rings from his mother before she died, but she'd never seen the locket before. "Good girl." He tucked it back underneath his shirt and scooped her up. "You need warmed up." He carried her back to Beth. "Hand me her blanket."
Beth reached behind her and handed him the small down-comforter—Carol had cut it and sewed the ends all for Judy, because she had nothing else to do. She watched as he sat down by the bathroom door, wrapped her up the blanket and gently rocked her.
He noticed Beth watching him, and he smiled, a little embarrassed. "I hope this isn't as creepy as your face is telling me it is."
"Huh?" She blinked. "Oh. Oh, it ain't. Creepy, you ain't creepy. I—I was just noticin' your necklace. I never took you as the religious type."
"Gotta believe in something, right?" He shrugged.
"So...you really like Judy?"
"Yeah. I feel like I'm getting a second chance." He tilted his head and smiled at Judy. "I never got to protect my little sister, so I can protect her now. I will always protect her and you." She blushed. "And the others."
She moved onto her knees and kissed him, Judy caught her heart necklace in her grabby little hands, and Jeremiah snaked his hand around to the back of Beth's neck and brought her in for another kiss.
The door to the RV opened, Beth leaned back, the necklace falling out of Judy's mouth, and Carol removed her snow-covered boots and walked by them. Beth stared as she lied on the floor with her legs on the bed and a pillow underneath her head. Jeremiah leaned forward, curious himself, and Beth decided to bite.
"What're you doin'?" Beth asked.
"Is that for better posture or is it comfortable?" Jeremiah tried to guess.
"I'm blaming Beth, and that's all I'm going to say on the matter." She closed her eyes and intertwined her fingers over her stomach.
Bobby poked his head in. "Dinner's ready y'all."
"I'll get the plates." Beth hopped up and pulled down five plates and a bowl for Judy. She went outside, Bobby separated the meat, Daryl filled water bottles with water, and Beth carried water and plates to everyone, Judith got a bowl of rabbit, not venison since she was picky, and Jeremiah got her to eat that and the helping of peas. Daryl eyed Carol, and Bobby decided not to question her reasons.
Beth, Carol and Jeremiah ate at the table, Daryl put Judith down for the night, and Bobby got ready for his watch. Daryl and he passed out the thick blankets, Beth and Jeremiah snuggled up on one of the beds to Daryl's distaste, Judy was wrapped up in the makeshift crib Carol and Bobby had made for her, Bobby was curled up in the driver's seat with his rifle, and Carol and Daryl nestled themselves on the second bed. Daryl suffocated under the blankets, but Carol shivered herself to death without them.
Daryl felt her shift so that her head rested against his neck, and he slid his arm underneath her body and around to her small shoulder, pulling her closer. He ran his eyes over her peaceful features, and he smiled to himself. He had a surprise for her, one he knew she would like.
Pressing a kiss to her, Daryl closed his eyes and slept.
––
"Get down!" Rick hissed at the others, walkers stumbled along the road, and Rick thought fast. They needed to get inside. Maggie couldn't be running around in her condition. It was just like with Lori, only they won't find a prison and they hoped and prayed she wouldn't die in childbirth. Maggie was strong and young, so he knew she would be fine, but they needed somewhere to go. They'd moved too far out to go back to Rick's hometown, and they'd lost in the map in a rainstorm, so they were going from place to place, barely scraping by.
"Let's try those cars." Michonne pointed to them. "Lilly and Maggie hang back. Sasha and I will look out for walkers while you and Bob see if they're useable."
Rick nodded, and they snuck down to the cars as the walkers disappeared in the trees. Bob and Rick went to work, Sasha and Michonne looked for movement of either walkers or people, and Lilly and Maggie sat hidden by the trees, resting.
"Here, you shouldn't get dehydrated." Lilly held out her bottle of water. "It's warm, but it's still good."
"No, I can't. It's yours."
"No, it's yours. I have stale hard candies if my throat gets dry." She smiled. "It's okay. I want you to have it."
Maggie reluctantly took it. "Thank you." She opened it and drank as little as she could, feeling it slip down her throat and spine. She didn't know she was so thirsty. The stale-tasting hot water was delicious.
"Five months." Lilly shook her head. "It seems like a lifetime."
"I never can get used to it." She closed the lid and gazed at her rings. "I keep wakin' up, expectin' to see Glenn and then havin' to listen to Beth listin' off chores to the kids." She smiled sadly and sniffed, wiping her nose on her sleeve.
Lilly set her hand on Maggie's knee. "I may not have been around them long, but I know your group is strong. I'm sure they're just fine."
"Me too." She nodded, not able to keep the tears back.
One of the cars came to life, Michonne and Sasha had taken out a few walkers, and Rick and Bob were making room for all of them. Lilly helped Maggie up and they got into the car. Sasha took the driver's seat, Maggie and Lilly settled in the back after Rick took their bags, and Bob took the remaining seat in the back. Someone had to have the lap seat, and Bob didn't want Rick on his lap and vice versa, so Michonne was the lucky lap seat sitter—mostly because she was collecting items from the cars.
"Not a lot of gas." Rick fitted the cans into the trunk.
"It's better than none." She placed a duffel bag in with the only other free space. "That's all I could find. A few outdated medications and not as worn clothes for us and the baby. I hope its a girl. Otherwise he'll be sporting some nice pink plaid and rainbow tops."
He smiled and set his hand on the can of gasoline. "Are we ever gonna talk about it?"
She squinted.
"We can't act like nothin' happened." He glanced over at her. "Or would you rather forget?"
"Do you want walkers to kill us or are you working on your tan?" Sasha called out to the them.
"Let's get going." She stepped back and walked over to the passenger seat. She sighed when she saw there was no room for both of them to have their own seat.
Rick closed the truck and found Michonne leaning against the passenger door. "We're sharin'?"
"I think you're a bit too big to sit on my lap." She smiled and opened the door.
He relaxed at her smile. That was a good sign. She wasn't ignoring him completely. He sat down, Michonne removed her katana and positioned herself on Rick's lap, moving the katana to her lap and closing the door. Rick wasn't sure what to do with his hands now.
"Are you comfortable?" Lilly teased.
"It's like sitting on goose feathers," Michonne replied, shifting on Rick's lap. "Do we have a destination?"
"Well, there's a trailer park a few miles from here," Bob read off the map. "There should be supplies there."
"Hopefully a clean bed." Maggie rolled her window down. "I could use an actual bed."
"Me too." Lilly rested her head against Maggie's shoulder. "I'm so tired."
"We all are." Rick set a hand on the door handle, and the other against the console. "Rest while you can."
"Except for you, Bob," Sasha called back. "You're the navigator."
He smirked. "It's about time you let me do something."
Michonne rolled her eyes and turned on Rick's legs, he groaned softly, and she ducked her head. "Sorry. You okay?"
"Yeah." He smiled a little. "I'm just fine."
"Get a room." Maggie kicked the seat lightly.
"I would love to, but your pregnant ass needs a whole seat to itself."
She laughed. "Enjoy it while it lasts."
They talked lightly, making jokes, teasing Michonne and Rick for getting the crappy seat, and eventually Lilly and Maggie fell asleep and when Bob's head kept dropping, Michonne took over looking at the map. They were making good time, and Michonne and Rick took turns driving when Sasha got too tired, though it was awkward when it was Rick and Sasha sharing a seat and then Sasha and Michonne. It was just very uncomfortable.
When morning came, Rick was back to being under Michonne, and Lilly was driving. Bob and Sasha were curled up together, Maggie had taken the blanket from them because of that, and Rick had Michonne sleeping on his lap. Her head was resting on his neck, her hands on his lap, her katana on the floor, and she was so peaceful. He kept talking low so he didn't want her. She was a light sleeper.
Lilly pulled into the trailer park, and Rick brushed a dread from Michonne's face, smiling at how kind she looked as opposed to her normal stone face. She was so beautiful.
"Oh, my God!" Lilly gasped.
"What?" Rick looked up. "Oh, my God."
Maggie, Bob and Sasha woke instantly, Michonne, who hadn't slept all night, was out cold. They all laid eyes on Daryl, a redheaded boy, Carol and Beth. Maggie jumped out of the car and ran to Beth, Daryl smirked at the sight of them, Carol smiled at Rick and Michonne, and Lilly got out and tackled Carol in a tight hug.
"Maggie!" Beth dropped the firewood and ran to her. "Maggie!" She threw her arms around her sister and sobbed, but at the protrusion against her stomach, she pulled back. "Oh, my gosh."
Maggie smiled and set a hand on her stomach. "Five months."
She squealed. "Congratulations! Glenn's gonna be so thrilled."
"He ain't with you?" Maggie frowned.
"No."
Carol grinned at Rick. "So, I take it you're getting along?"
"We had too many people, not enough seats. It ain't like we're together," he explained, picking Michonne up and getting out of the car, holding her close. "She's just exhausted is all."
"I was just asking if you were closer friends, Rick. I wasn't implying you were in a relationship."
He blushed. "Uh—I—I knew that."
"Lucky sons of bitches," Daryl murmured. "Y'all all right?"
"Yes." Sasha crossed her arms. "Stiff and hungry, but we're alive."
"Get set up in a trailer," Bobby pointed behind him. "Got beds, clothes, and we're 'bout to eat, so y'all unpack and get comfy. I'm Bobby by the way."
"Lemme help you." Beth couldn't stop smiling.
Maggie and Beth took the trailer right behind the RV, Bob and Sasha took the one in front of it, Carol helped Lilly unpack in the RV, and Rick woke up Michonne. Daryl put their belongings together in the trailer beside the RV, and Michonne didn't complain.
Beth went to the RV to get Judy for Rick, but Jeremiah held her as she woke up, and Beth smiled and called to Rick.
He looked over and his heart stopped as his eyes fell on his little girl. "Ju—Judith." He ran over to them, and Jeremiah gently handed her over. Rick cradled her to his chest, sobbing. "Judy." He kissed her forehead.
Beth smiled even more and laced her fingers through Jeremiah's.
It was a good day. They served up some canned carrots, shredded rabbit and water. They all ate in the RV, talking about their adventures out there alone, and seeing them all there made a spark ignite in Rick, Maggie, Beth, and Sasha. If they had found each other by chance, they could find the others. They would be alive and healthy and just fine. They would be.
Beth helped Carol with the dishes, and Beth noticed how ill Carol looked. "Are you okay?" She set the plates down and turned to her. "You're so pale."
"I—I'm okay. I just feel really dizzy." She closed her eyes.
"I'll get Lilly, okay?"
"No, it's okay." She handed her a clean plate. "Really, I'm fine. It's probably just blood pressure."
"Are you sure? You've been like this for a while now."
"I'll be fine." She held back a cough and washed another plate. "Go be with Maggie. I can do this myself."
"But—"
"It's been five months, and she doesn't know about Jeremiah."
"I can stay. Maggie's just restin'."
"Don't make me repeat myself." She gave her a stern look, and Beth laughed.
"Okay." She rose and walked went to Maggie. She curled up in the bed with her and smiled at the baby bump. She lied down and grasped Maggie's hand tightly, thanking God for answering her prayers. A little at a time, but still answering.