HUGE thanks got out to HaloHunter89 for her help with the last chapter and this one! LOVED the ideas and ran with them!

Also, sorry for the long wait on the posting of this chapter. I've been recovering from a blood clot and just got back to work and practically having a normal life again. THANK YOU to all you WONDERFUL, AMAZING, and SUPER SWEET readers/reviewers! You guys are why I keep writing!

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT own any of The Walking Dead characters and I'm NOT making any money off of them! I only claim the OC characters I created for this story.

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CARYL ON!

"Daryl."

Carol's voice called out to him with a fearful tone causing him to look to her. Her eyes began to water as she stood there and he had no clue what was wrong with her now. When she looked down, his eyes went with her and saw her pants legs were now wet. If it's not one thing, it's another, he thought to himself and sighed, "Why didn't ya say ya had to piss?"

Shaking her head, tears began to run down her cheeks, "Daryl...I didn't pee myself. My water just broke. It...it means I'm in labor."

Daryl felt as if the air had been sucked out the room when the words fell from her lips. His eyes went back up to hers, seeing both fear and pain in her blue orbs. He had no clue what to do, or even how to deliver a baby. His blood began to pump through his veins, the adrenaline kicking in and giving him a push. With water bottles still in hand, he opened his mouth but his voice came out slightly higher pitched then normal, "What do we do? We gotta find someone..."

"There is no one, Daryl," Carol panted as another contraction started. Using the counter for support, she breathed out, "You're gonna...have to help me."

Daryl's head began to shake back and forth and he took a step back from her. Nearly dropping the water bottles, he fumbled with keeping them in his arms and then looked back over at her, "I ain't no doctor and I don't know shit about birthin' babies."

"Daryl please..." she groaned, bending over some because of the pain. Trying to do the breathing she and Lori had been practicing for a while, she felt as it began to ease off. When she was able, she started for the bedroom, not even waiting on Daryl, "I need to lay down..."

With his arms full of water bottles and watching her as she headed for the bedroom, Daryl finally got his head together and started to follow her. His mind was racing in a million directions and wishing they went in search of the others. Walking into the bedroom, he stopped dead in his tracks as his eyes landed on her bent over and taking her pants off. His face instantly reddened and he whirred around, putting his back to her and trying to block out the image of her long lean legs and her blue panty covered ass that he had just seen.

Taking off the wet pants she had on, Carol then turned, seeing Daryl at the door with his back to her. Shaking her head, she then took off her panties, setting them with the pants and looked around. Seeing the towels weren't in there, she grabbed the gown she had been wearing and wrapped it around her lower body. "Daryl, you can put that water over here next to the bed...and can you please get some towels. I need to put a couple under me."

Daryl did as she asked and went to get the towels. Once he had them in hand, he went out to the living room and got the book she had been reading figuring she might need it at some point. Taking everything back, he found her leaning against the dresser and breathing through another contraction. Placing two towels down on the bed for her, he placed the others to the side and sat her book onto the small bedside table.

Chewing on his lip as she moved back over to the bed, he stood waiting for her to tell him what he'd need to do next. She got in bed and he helped her with the sheet, covering her and then realized the sun was starting to go down and the room was darkening. They only had two candles in the room, so he lit them, "I'll go get a few more candles. You need anything else?"

Carol nodded and sighed as she tried to get as comfortable as she could, "Yeah, you best get a trash can in here and you better finish eating your food too. Eat mine too."

"You need to eat."

"No...if I do I'll be sick later. That's one thing Lori told me about and stressed. No eating during labor otherwise I'll be puking a lot." Reaching over for the book he'd brought her, she then looked up at him, "I know this is a lot, Daryl. If I could stop it until we found the group I would. But Sophia's coming...and we just have to accept it. We got the book at least to help."

Daryl looked down at his feet and then nodded silently. It would be impossible to go looking for any help, but he was still very uncomfortable with the situation they were now facing. "I'll uh...I'll go get some more candles and the trash can for ya."

Carol reached out and gently grabbed his arm stopping him, "Daryl, I'll be fine. We'll get through this."

Moving his arm and then taking her hand into his, he gave it a small squeeze and then released her. Getting one of the bottles of water, he opened it for her and set it onto the side table incase she got thirsty. Making sure everything was within her reach, he then left the room and walked out to the living room. Taking a seat on the couch, Daryl rested his elbows on his knees and then ran his hands through his hair. He knew Carol was in some pain and it bothered him. He hated to think that she'd been in even more before Sophia would finally come into the fucked up worked they now lived in. He didn't want to see her like that at all, but he decided then and there he would stay with her regardless and give her whatever strength he could.

Sunlight was just starting to filter in and brighten up the room as Daryl moved about blowing out the candles. He had been up throughout the night sitting with Carol as her labor progressed. He had busied himself trying to make sure she was as comfortable as possible, along with reading some of the pages in the book. When the contractions had moved even closer he had taken to using a wet washcloth to wipe down her arms and face being she had begun to sweat some. Now though, her contractions were coming minutes apart barely giving her anytime to rest before another would start.

Coming back over to the bed, Daryl sat down on the edge beside her and took her hand in his. Even with as much pain as she was in, Carol had remained for the most part quiet throughout the contractions. He had always heard from others that women would yell and scream when they were having a baby, but Carol had surprised him completely. She had remained calm.

Her grip on his hand tightened as her breathing picked up and a small moan left her lips before she closed her eyes. Watching her closely, he then whispered, "You're doin' good, sweetheart."

Carol stomach seemed to churn with the contraction and suddenly she felt nauseous. Barely opening her eyes, she panted, "Trash can..." Reaching for the trash can, she rolled towards him on her side some, grabbing the small container and gagging some. Dry heaving a few more times, she then began to spit up bile. Once she felt she had control of her stomach again, she rolled back in her spot and breathed out, "I feel like I gotta push."

Daryl felt his own stomach drop at her words and he looked at her like she had spoke a foreign language. He had read in the book that when a woman thought she had to push, or felt pressure in her vaginal area, more then likely the baby was on it's way into the world. Swallowing hard, he he shook his head, "Ya sure? I mean...ya might not be ready."

A stronger contraction hit and Carol gripped the sheets and clenched her jaw. Trying to fight the pain, she groaned and bit out through gritted teeth, "I'm ready!"

Standing, Daryl shifted from one foot to the other, unsure of what he needed to do now for her. When her contraction passed, she pushed and kicked the sheet from her body, exposing her nude lower half to him. His eyes grew wide and he felt his cheeks flood with heat and went to take a few steps back away from the bed.

Seeing him starting to retreat, Carol shook her head and breathed out, "Daryl...I...I need you with me now. You have to check me."

He froze completely at her words. He had seen women naked before, but this was Carol, a woman he cared for, a woman he had feeling for. His hands shook at his sides and his heart raced in his chest as she pulled her legs up and then let them fall open at the knees. Adverting his eyes from her, blood rushed in his ears, almost drowning out all other sounds. It wasn't until she called his name that he came to his senses and his eyes snapped back over to her.

Chewing his lip, he nodded to himself, he could do this. He had to do this, for her. For Sophia. Licking his lips, he took in a few deep loud breaths and then sat on the bed down at her feet. Blowing out a tuff of air, he looked up at her as she breathed through a contraction, "What I need ta do?"

Not answering until the contraction passed, Carol panted, "I need to push on the next one. You have to tell me if you see any part of the head. You might have to spread me open some to see."

"Spread ya...Carol..."

Gritting her teeth, Carol fumed, "Dammit, Daryl! I can't look to see myself! Just...look will ya?"

Swallowing hard, Daryl then looked down at her as she began to push. Not knowing exactly what he was supposed to be looking for, he frowned, hesitant to touch her. Shaking his head, he let out a frustrated sigh, "I don't see nothin'...except you."

With the contraction ending, she took in several deep breaths and looked down at him between her legs, "You're gonna have to spread me open some. See if you can see her head in the birth canal. Please, Daryl...I need you for this."

The desperation in her voice caused Daryl's eyes to meet hers and he nodded, getting his own emotions under control. This wasn't about him or him and her, it was about Sophia. Getting up and then getting on the end of the bed and up to her better, he watched until she nodded and then began to push. Placing his hands onto her outer lips, he barely spread her open as Sophia's head began to slowly push outwards towards him.

A small smile formed on his lips and he looked up at Carol as she took in another breath and began to push again, "She's right there. Can just barely see the top of her head."

Tears fell from the corners of Carol's eyes as she heard his words and that seemed to give her the strength she needed. She was exhausted from being in labor so long and ready for her baby girl to be in her arms. Gasping for air as she finished pushing she could already feel another contraction coming on. Moving up onto her elbows to help give her some leverage, she bared down, pushing with all she had in her. A burning pain set in and Carol cried out but didn't let up.

Daryl watched in awe as the baby's head began to peek out of her mother and then come out more. Keeping one hand down at her opening as the baby began to emerge to help guide it, a small chuckle left his lips, "She's got some hair on her." Sophia's head slipped out and Daryl could see the cord wrapped around the infants neck. Frowning, he held her small head in his hand, "Carol, stop pushin'. Got ta get this cord."

The umbilical cord reminded Daryl of guts from a deer, something that didn't seem to phase him at all. Slipping it over the head he then looked back up at Carol, "Okay...got it. Her heads out...gotta get the rest of her, sweetheart."

Carol nodded, tears streaming from her eyes like small rivers. Taking in a deep breath, she pushed as hard as she could, crying out as Sophia's shoulders passed out of her. Time seemed to stand still as the pain went away and Carol looked down, seeing her daughter in Daryl's hands. She wasn't moving and had a purplish blue hue to her skin. Panic began to set in, unsure if her daughter would make it.

Checking the babies mouth, Daryl made sure it was clear and then turned her over so she was facing down. Rubbing her back with two fingers like he had seen his grandpa do when birthing animals, he whispered softly, "Come on, Sophia...ya momma needs ta hear ya." A faint grunt emerged from the infant and then a soft cry like a kitten came. Smiling, Daryl continued to rub her back until she took in a good breath and her cries started to grow.

Carol dropped down onto her pillow, tears falling freely as her daughters cries filled the room. Relief filled her and she looked back down as Daryl then moved closer to her and set the crying baby onto her chest. Her hands instantly went around her, holding her so she wouldn't roll off her chest. The baby was still wet, streaked in blood and had a thin layer of vernix caseosa on her skin. Hershel had talked to her about it, saying the substance was a natural antibacterial barrier for infants.

Her eyes met Daryl and she couldn't help but give him a warm smile, "Thank you."

Daryl nodded and then moved the cord some and reached for the scissors. Getting the thread she had found, he looked at her for help, "Where do we need ta cut this cord at?"

Carol adjusted Sophia on her and pointed out the area, holding onto the cord as he tied it off in two spots. When he picked the scissors back up, he looked hesitant and she raised her brow, "It won't hurt her, Daryl. She won't feel it at all."

Nodding, he cut the cord between the two sections and then got another towel for Carol. Helping her wrap Sophia in it, she got her settled and then began to walk him through on how to deliver the after birth.

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