They fled through the woods, their feet cracking the branches beneath them, the leaves rustling, their heavy breathing echoing through the trees.
Maggie grits down, the blood in her mouth from biting her tongue, tasting metallic, swallowing her pain. She trailed the back of the group, Glenn's grip on her arm only slightly distracting her from the contractions that seem to tear through her lower half.
"Glenn," she tries to whisper, and she can see Glenn's face at her panicked plea. It paints into one of too afraid to stop, but the urgency of the situation too critical not to.
"Guys," Glenn tries to grab the attention of the others. "We have to stop," he says, his eyes swimming with fear.
Daryl's the first to approach, his bow down, but ready to shoot if need be,she struts back, looking out, as Glenn lowers Maggie down to the ground, her eyes closed tightly, her teeth digging into her bottom lip, refusing to be the reason someone is alerted to their location.
"We can't stop here, it's too dangerous," Tara whispers, casting her eyes worriedly to the couple as Rick comes over, his boots crunching the leaves as he approaches.
"Well we can't go on any further, not in her condition," he points to Maggie and Glenn hunched over against a big rock.
Maggie squeezes Glenn's hand, his forehead coming to rest on her own, and she feels a sense of calm come over here for the briefest of seconds, before she lurches forward in pain, the contractions getting stronger and close together.
"We're gonna have to deliver the baby here," Carol says, pushing her way towards the front, a no nonsense manner about her statement, but her eyes betraying her, as Maggie looks up at the declaration.
She nods at the woman, bending down to help her, as Glenn watches on with rapt attention, refusing to let go of her hand.
"We'll secure a perimeter," Rick says, leaning down to them. "But I don't know how long we'll be able to hold it."
The warning casting a timeframe on an event that was surely going to come at is own speed, ready or not.
Enid hangs back, but Glenn assures her, they're okay, and Carl leads her with him.
The others quietly scatter, leaving the three of them in the middle of a circle, a bubble of sorts, contingent on them being quick and quiet, neither of which Maggie was too sure was going to happen.
"This wasn't exactly how I pictured this happening," Maggie says with a tinge of fear coating her voice, as Carol makes work of examining her.
"Really? This is exactly how I pictured this moment," Glenn says, trying to lighten the mood, a small smile playing on his lips. The situation not ideal, the danger looming over them, one that had plagued her mind the entire pregnancy.
"You ready?" Carol asks, her friend's hands resting on her knees, and she's tempted to shake her head side to side, convinced that if she just took a deep breath, she could keep moving, keep her baby safe inside her.
She looks over at Glenn, worried, always concerned for her, but he nods. And that seems to be all the confidence she needs.
Tears start to prick her eyes, not from the pain, but the overwhelming fear that's ripping through her, threatening to take everything from her.
"You gotta push, Maggie," Carol says, and a sob wracks her body, the sound piercing the woods.
"Shh, baby, shh," Glenn whispers against her, and she nods, this time gritting down and pushing as hard as she can.
The sweat gleaming from her forehead catches in the sun, her silent cries caught in the stagnant humidity of Virginia. Glenn whispers encouragement against her skin, her hand never released from his grip.
The leaves rustle beneath her body, a branch planted in the middle of her back, and the distinct sound of its crack on a particularly grueling push, it's the one that signals its break just as her baby is born.
Her soft cries break the silence, as the panic races through them all, along with a love that surgest to the forefront.
Glenn offering up his plaid shirt, wraps his daughter in the material, before holding her close, shushing her cries with his soft whispers, just as he'd done to his wife mere moments ago.
Maggie collapses against the wooded floor. Her hair tangling with the brush, a content smile spreading across her face.
And it's not long before the sound of footsteps approach them, Carol pulling out her weapon, until she sees Carl making a run towards them.
"We gotta go," he says, his eyes flickering between them, until it lands on the small baby resting in Glenn's arms. A smile comes to his face, before running off to where he'd been.
Maggie's weak, but the first to rise of the three, more determined than ever to protect her family. Her legs shake, and she nearly falls, but refuses to take a moment.
Glenn brings the baby closer, enamored with her dark hair, and pouty lips, her tiny fingers curled into fists.
"She's beautiful," Carol offers with a nod, before helping Maggie get dressed.
They're soon met with the group, their family eager to see the newest member, but knowing that it's time to flee, no longer wanting to be sitting ducks.
Daryl saunters up to Glenn, peeking at the small baby girl.
"You ready to run, kiddo?" He asks in a gruff voice, shaking his hair out of his face.
She's soon passed off to Maggie's arms, tucking her closely to her chest, and she swears her heart bursts at being able to hold her baby for the first time, surrounded by her family, willing to risk their own lives for the life her and Glenn's child.
"Let's go, baby girl," Maggie whispers, as Glenn's hand comes to support her, as they quietly move on their way.