A/N: this story uses the characters from my "Redemption" fic, but in an AU setting, so if you haven't read that fic, you can still read this one without missing anything. However, if you'd like to read it, it is complete! I only own Anna, the rest belongs to AMC and Robert Kirkman. No infringement intended.

Simple Twists of Fate

By Leah Pensotti

The week after the wedding everything had been a blur. Anna filed their marriage license and began writing thank you notes to their guests. Rick had decided to talk to Lori about giving Carl "the talk" after fully seeing what Anna meant when Enid had come to the wedding.

She met up with Gwen at Greene's after work. It was the day before she and Rick had their twenty week appointment and she had to admit that it was pretty funny walking in there while visibly pregnant and ordering either a ginger ale or a club soda with lime.

Gwen and Daryl danced a little and talked at the wedding, eeking out a tentative plan that they might get together the next time he came to Atlanta. Anna could tell that Gwen was chomping at the bit, and she did her best to reassure her friend.

"I think when it comes to Daryl Dixon, slow and steady wins the race. He's pretty shy, so everything leading up to this has been a big step. He likes you. Roll with it."

Gwen took a pull of her beer and shook her head, "I don't know, Anna. Anybody else and I would've jumped him by now."

Anna waved a finger at her friend, "Ah-ha, but 'anybody else' hasn't really worked has it? You wanted different. You wanted real. Well here he is. I don't think you'll meet anyone more authentic than him."

"Yeah. You have a point, I guess."

She laughed, noting Gwen's lack of enthusiasm that maybe Anna was right. She felt the baby move a little and found herself holding her hands on her stomach over the spot. Gwen perked up a little, "Movement?"

Anna nodded, "Yeah, come here."

She took Gwen's hand and placed it where she'd last felt the baby. They both sort of sat there for a moment, looking at each other with wide, expectant eyes. She saw the look on Gwen's face drop and then the baby moved again.

"Even though I know, scientifically how this happens...it's still the most amazing thing."

Anna had to agree. She never thought she'd feel a baby move inside of her body, but she was so happy to be wrong. She smiled at Gwen and raised an eyebrow, "Any guesses before we find out tomorrow?"

Gwen shrugged and leaned back in her seat, "I personally want to see Rick with a daughter."

Anna nodded...she'd be happy with a healthy baby of any gender...but she felt the same way. Carl wanted a brother, he was worried about being outnumbered. He liked to point out that even his cat was a girl.

It made Anna overjoyed that Carl referred to Truvy as "his cat." Not only did he love her, but Truvy was rarely far from his side. She slept in his bed and sat with him when he did homework or watched TV on the couch.

So, the feelings between the cat and her boy were very much mutual.

Gwen took another sip of her drink and smiled, "So, Mama...what do you think? Boy or girl?"

Anna rested her hands on her stomach and just shrugged, "I'm just happy to be here, along for the ride. As long as he or she is healthy, I'll be over the moon."

While Anna had "drinks" with Gwen, Rick ordered pizza and prepared to give his thirteen year old son "the talk." When he had called Lori about it after the wedding, she seemed a little sad that the time had already come...Carl wasn't their little boy anymore; but she had agreed that it would be best for Rick to tell him, and that way if he asked her...Lori could fill in for the female side of things.

The American League playoff games were that night; with the A's and the Royals heading off. He and Carl had liked to watch baseball together...ever since Carl started little league years ago.

Carl finished off his homework upstairs while Rick paced in the kitchen, waiting for the pizza. Anna had given him a pep talk the night before about all the positive things about sex...love, commitment...how much more special it was when you were in love with the person.

He was also surprised that his incredibly sexy wife had divulged that she had only ever been with two men. Phillip and himself; both of whom she had married and loved. Anna did however admit to being quite the kissing bandit in college, though.

Rick shied away from revealing his number...she didn't push, and she really didn't seem to care. Anna knew that different roads lead them to each other...and she was happy where they were now.

Anna also helped him with the subject of condoms, though she didn't think giving Carl one would be the way to go. She sat up in their bed, her blond hair tousled and her hands resting on the baby bump, "We want to promote honesty and waiting for the right time, not telling him it's all okay if he uses protection. Girls have varied emotions and we want him to think about that, too."

Rick was wondering if he was even cut out for this.

The doorbell rang and Rick went to pay for the pizza, as he shut the door and turned around, Carl was carrying Truvy downstairs with him. If it were anyone else, her little orange and white face would be twisted up in disgust. It made Anna laugh how well they had taken to each other; she liked to joke that Truvy only came into her life because she was really supposed to belong to Carl.

He sat the cat down on the back of the couch and she settled in, and finally looked up at Rick, "I'll get the drinks and napkins."

Rick walked the pizza into the living room and put the box on the coffee table. Since it was "guys night" he didn't think Anna would mind too much if they didn't use plates. When Carl returned with napkins and a Sprite for him and A beer for Rick, they settled in to eat and make small talk.

Carl really liked his school. Which made both him and Lori very happy. Before the baseball game started, Rick decided to take the plunge, "So, uh, how's Enid doing?"

His son shrugged and took a bite of pizza, "She's okay. Misses her friends in Richmond. She really had fun at the wedding reception."

Rick smiled a little and he felt himself playing with his wedding ring nervously, "Your mom and I have been talking and she and I both think it's time we talked to you about the whole girl thing..."

Carl's eyes went wide and he hung his head, "Oh God. This is happening right now?"

He was almost comforted by Carl's reaction, knowing his son was almost as uncomfortable as he was, "We just know that you and Enid have really gotten close and you all will be in high school next year..."

Carl sighed, "I know where babies come from, Dad. They told us in fifth grade biology."

Rick laughed, "I know that...but this goes deeper. This is about feelings and urges and everything that goes along with being a teenage boy. It's only going to get more interesting, an you are only going to get more curious. If you want to talk to me or have questions...I'm here; so is your mom. We know you are going to try stuff out, we just want you to be ready; and to be respectful to yourself and whoever you choose to be with. But both of us...and Anna, would like it if you would wait until you're much older to experiment. We really aren't ready to be grandparents yet."

All Carl could do was scrunch his nose and sigh, "Gross."

Rick smiled, "Just promise me...make good, responsible decisions. Okay?"

Carl picked up another piece of pizza and sighed, "I promise. Can we watch the game now and get out of the awkwardness?"

Rick nodded, feeling a little relieved he didn't have to go into all the details. At least Carl knew the door was open for questions.

Anna barely slept that night, she was so excited for the appointment and being able to see her baby again. Rick was coming with her, but going straight to work afterwards, so they drove separately. She loved how he looked in that dark blue uniform. She hoped their child had his eyes; that bright, burning blue.

He opened her car door and helped her out, squeezing her hand as they walked into her doctor's office inside of Grady. Gwen had already asked her to stop by when she found out.

When Dr. Carson welcomed them back, he checked Anna out and took all of her vitals. He wanted her to gain a little more weight, which is something no one had ever said to her before. She was twenty and a half weeks, and their baby was somewhere between the size of a mango and a banana.

Rick stood by her side and held her hand as the prepared for the ultrasound. As the doctor put ultrasound gel on her stomach, he looked at both of them, "And you do want to know, right? Flat out? I don't have to write it on a card and seal it in an envelope so you can take it to a bakery to have a cake tell you if its pink or blue?"

Anna laughed and shook her head, "No. We just want to know what to prepare for."

Dr. Carson nodded and moved the wand over her belly, stopping briefly for a profile shot of the baby. She heard Rick's sharp intake of breath and felt herself tear up. When he cried, she was a lost cause. Baby Grimes looked far more like a baby than a gummy bear these days...and Anna couldn't be any happier.

He shifted the want to a different angle and took a few more pictures, little arrows pointing between the baby's legs. Dr. Carson smiled and pointed to the screen, "Mr. and Mrs. Grimes, may I introduce your baby girl."

Anna cried full out; she was having a daughter. She couldn't wait to call her parents...to send them pictures of the ultrasound. Rick kissed her forehead and whispered to her, "I'm in a shit ton of trouble if she looks like you."

She couldn't help but laugh, Rick was so masculine that it might actually make her heart explode to see just how much their little girl will have him wrapped around her finger. Anna could not wait to see it, couldn't wait to see and hold her.

Once she was cleaned up, the pictures were printed and she scheduled the appointment for her glucose test, she and Rick walked out hand in hand. He had a smile on his face, "I never thought I'd have a daughter. This should be an adventure."

Anna laughed, "Oh yeah. I can promise you that. Gwen is going to be thrilled. She wanted to see you have a girl. Carl on the other hand...is officially outnumbered."

Rick laughed and pulled her close, "Well, he had a fifty-fifty chance, right?"

"Yeah. So I guess on to names and nursery?"

Rick nodded and cupped her cheek with his hands, "Yes indeed. I can't wait, Anna. I love you."

She leaned in and kissed him gently, "I love you, too. We'll tell Carl together. I'll call Daddy and my mom...and now I'm off to show Gwen."

With one last kiss, Rick left for work and Anna went up to the ICU to page Gwen. As she stood in the elevator, she pressed the little photos happily against her chest.

a/n: hello loves! Up next: Rick talks to Daryl, Anna helps Gwen prepare for a date. More marital bliss and some distressing news!

You guys are amazing. Thank you for the continued follows and favorites and reviews. Thank you for loving Anna and Rick. If you like this story, please drop me a line. I'd love to hear from you! I chose the baby gender out of the best of three coin flips, lol.

If you like this story, I'm currently writing two others; "Wallflower" where an OC has a relationship with both Rick and Daryl...and then my latest "The Redhead and The Redneck", which is a Daryl/OC story set in an AU...it's only up to chapter five so it will be easy to catch up ;)

Super special shout outs go to: Angelicedg (aw thanks! I hope you enjoyed this chappie too! Thanks for all the love!), CLTex (a girl it is! Thanks to the coin toss. Now for a name! So glad you love Gerald and Daryl :), Angie b (Oh, both Sonja and Lori would totally shit if they knew about the money. But ol' Gerry is crafty that way. I hope you enjoy this chapter! I updated Mellie and Daryl today, too! Much love ;), Guest (I left the gender up to chance. I couldn't decide myself lol ;), and Ruth Ashley55 (thank you so much for checking out my other stories! I updated Mellie and Daryl today too! ;)

Thanks and Love,

Leah P!

xoxo