Chapter 38:

Words

The sun had set long ago, but even though Daryl and Beth couldn't see much beyond the 17-year-old lanterns, they didn't care to. Daryl's eyes never left the light blue of his daughter's.

Daryl laid in the bed of one of the cell's with his back against the wall. He had one arm draped over his propped up leg, his hand stroking the small blonde hairs of the baby's head. Beth curled up against him with their little girl in her pale arms, wrapped up in Judith's old blue blanket with the yellow duckies on it. It didn't matter that there was a chunk missing from it, she was so small.

Daryl hadn't slept properly in over two days, and Beth just gave birth. The two were almost delirious with lack of sleep and yet there eyes remained wide awake and locked on their little bundle of joy.

Beth smiled down sweetly at the child, her pink cheek pressed against Daryl's chest. She could hear his calm heartbeat. "She has your nose."

"Mmhm... Good thing the similarities stop there," he whispered huskily. He felt Beth grin against his chest and he glanced down at the top of her head. He traced a finger down the small braid in her messy hair held together with a piece of string.

Daryl found himself smiling. "She's beautiful, Beth." His smile didn't disappear when staring down at his child. Her wide eyes stared back at him. A little spit bubble formed in the corner of her mouth and he popped it with his finger, then cupped her little head gently.

"She doesn't have a name yet," Beth whispered, slowly moving her head to look up into Daryl's eyes. The same steel blue as her daughter's. Daryl stared back, seeing her hope and naively sweetness. Daryl's smile disappeared when he looked down at her, but his heart ached.

He didn't think he could ever be this happy. Not since his brother died. Or since Carol died. Or Michonne.

Daryl tried to ignore the guilt inside of him and when he stared down into his new born daughter's eyes, it wasn't hard. "Hm," Daryl grunted in reply. "Lil' Asskicker Junior?"

Beth gave a small laugh and stared back down at her sweet little face. She had Beth's plush lips and wide doe eyes. Beth's smile weakened, but the joy she felt didn't.

"Maggie."

A lump formed in Daryl's throat. She didn't know.

Beth's smile grew. "We should call her Maggie."

He had to tell her. Daryl had to tell Beth that his sister was alive; that she tortured Judith; that Michonne was dead, and it was Maggie's fault. Daryl had to tell her.

Beth felt his body stiffen and she raised her chin to look at him again. "What's wrong?"

Daryl blinked away whatever pain had hit him and the corners of his mouth raised into the weakest of smiles. Daryl shook his head gently, then wrapped his draped arm around her stomach and child, pulling her closer against him.

"Let's just go to sleep."

Daryl would tell her. He would; but for now, he just needed to enjoy this perfect moment. And he needed her to enjoy it with him. These moments were rare in the old world, and now they were almost impossible. But when they happened, it was stronger than any moment you could have ever experienced in the old world. They were rare.

Daryl couldn't bring himself to ruin this moment.

Beth looked back down at their baby and smiled as the child's steel blue eyes began to flutter closed. She raised the child to her lips and kissed her forehead gently before cradling her in her arms again.

"Don't let the bedbugs bite, Maggie," Beth whispered, before closing her eyes with her child resting in Beth's and Daryl's arms.

That night, Daryl didn't sleep.

...

Everyone needed their sleep that night but Rick wouldn't allow it for himself and took watch Daryl normally would have offered, but Rick refused to give him the chance. Abraham felt he could use a night's sleep to, according to him, get the scarring images out of his head. Carl... Well, Carl intended to, but the truth of the matter was that Rick didn't trust his mental state. Not after Michonne.

So Rick stayed up, and it wasn't hard. Because Rick knew the minute he closed his eyes, he would see Michonne's. Not just Michonne, but also Glenn and Maggie, and his daughter. No matter how hard he tried, the one image that kept resurfacing was Judith's. The fact that half of it was purple and bloodied, and the other half glared at him.

Needless to say, the sight of Daryl, Beth and their newborn baby entering the communal area was a welcomed distraction. The sun wasn't even up yet.

Rick slung his bow over his shoulder, rose from the metal tabletop and grinned. "Look who it is—"

Beth shushed him with a finger to her lips. "She's still sleeping."

Rick continued to grin, looking from her to the baby to Daryl, and the two exchanged a mutual look of respect only fathers could understand.

Beth gently rocked her child as she walked over to Rick with a proud smile on her face. Rick rubbed his clammy hands against his dirt stained jeans when Beth stopped directly in front of him. He stared down at the baby, now understanding how Daryl felt about Judith.

Protective. Loving. Proud.

Beth raised her chin and looked up at Rick who stared down at him. Her smile seemed more sweet and serene than before. "Do you wanna hold her?"

Rick's grin grew and he frowned momentarily. "Of course," he breathed happily and gently started to take the sweet little girl in his strong arms.

She smelled like babies should.

No matter how filthy the world got, that new baby smell never changed.

"Hey, baby girl," he whispered through his smile as he cradled her in his arms. She made a small 'mm' noise and her little lips parted as she slept. He could see the Beth in her, as well as Daryl's noise.

He continued to smile down at her innocent little face with the pale complexion and pink cheeks. "She's beautiful." Rick dragged his eyes away from the sweet little thing he cradled in his slightly sweaty arms to Beth who now stood by Daryl's side with her hand clasped in his.

"What's her name?"

He looked to Beth who looked on the verge of tears of happiness. She wiped the end of her nose with the showing skin of her arm. "Maggie."

Rick's smile didn't leave his face until Beth's eyes left his. Then his ice blue eyes locked with Daryl's who stared back at him sternly. The two fathers shared another look, but not one of pride.

...

Rick wasn't sure what Beth had been told, but told her the very least possible with Daryl eyeing him the entire time. All she knew was that Terminus was safe, and that that's where they were going. Neither Abraham nor Beth knew anything about Michonne or Maggie and Glenn, or Judith. They knew nothing, and it was up to Daryl for them to know.

There were no questions, no doubts; just relief in knowing there was a safe haven for the group.

It was by Beth's request that they left before the sun came up. The longer they stayed in that prison, the less safe they felt. The sky showed no sign of a sun, but was becoming a light blue by the time they came close to the tracks.

Beth held the baby tightly against her chest with Maggie wrapped up tightly in a blanket and Judith's spare baby clothes.

Daryl, Abraham, Carl and Rick carried everything else, including whatever baby supplies were around, including cans of mashed peas, baby formula and a stuffed blue bunny with one marble eye missing.

Abraham and Carl walked with her between them, acting as guards with Daryl and Rick ahead, leading them through the maze of trees. Rick made sure they were out of ear shot of Beth before speaking to Daryl.

"You didn't tell her."

Daryl didn't answer.

"What are you gonna do?"

Daryl still didn't answer.

Rick sighed heavily, keeping his eyes locked ahead for any walkers. The fear of the baby's screams made everyone more alert than they've needed to be for years.

"You gotta tell her."

For a moment, Rick thought Daryl was insistent on ignoring him, but then he spoke. "I ain't good with words."

Rick didn't say anything, just gave him a look of expectancy.

Daryl only glanced at Rick for a single second – if that. He chewed at his lip before shaking his head. "I jus' ain't good with words."