Sweet Caroline

Chapter 54 – "O Holy Night"

Caroline was in a daze, her mind was racing. Raylan waves his hand in front of her face, leaning down to look at her. "Hey there little sister, you alright?"

"I'm immune and pregnant and Daryl is off trying to save Maggie. What if…what if I lose him...what if I can't have this baby…what if…" She starts to freak out, her fingers twisting into her ginger locks.

"Hush now. That is just hormones talkin'. You know better than to think like that. Daryl is coming back and you're going to tell him about this, being immune and pregnant. Still not sure which one will be more of a shock for him." Raylan rubs his cheek as he chuckles.

"Raylan, I'm serious." Caroline looks at him with a heated glare.

"I'm going to help Carol and Axel in the tower, you need to just relax and wait for Daryl…he'll be here." Raylan doesn't give her a chance to protest as he hugs her and leaves.

Hershel puts a firm arm around her, hugging her to him. "I thought you might be with child but I'm afraid what this means for you Caroline. I'll do my best to help you; I won't let you down like I did Lori."

"No Uncle Hershel…that couldn't be helped. You would have helped Lori if you could have…don't ever think any different." Caroline hugs him back.

Clearing his throat, Hershel tries to find his next words. "When was your last cycle, so I can figure out when the baby might come?"

"I'm not sure…maybe three months ago. It's so out of sync right now. Before that I went a month without one. Come to think of it, it was almost three months ago." Her face wrinkles with concern.

Hershel walks her back to his and Beth's cell, seating her on the bunk. "You get some rest and I promise to wake you when everyone is back."

Caroline closes her eyes, trying to find sleep. Beth looks in on her, smiling sweetly. "It's still early Caroline; do you want something to eat?"

"Nah…I'm good." Closing her eyes again she thinks of Daryl and his sideways smile.

Beth sits on the bed beside her, taking her cousin's hand. "You know what my Mom would always have me do when I was really upset? She'd tell me to think of a happy memory, one that makes me smile from the inside out."

Nodding her head, Caroline gives Beth a smile back as she thinks of a happy memory. "I think I know what you're talking about."

With a curious grin, Beth looks at her. "I'm sure this has something to do with Daryl. You close your eyes and try to relax."

Snuggling up in the blanket, Caroline takes a sniff of the musky scent that is so Daryl. Her memories swirl in her mind, taking her back to a snowy winter's day.

The group had been traveling for days, sleep and food both very scarce. She and Daryl had tried hunting but the woods appeared to be empty. Rick had decided to head for the lake, hoping they could maybe find some game there.

Snow was falling, a few inches already on the ground, when they find a cabin by lake. The quaint cabin had fishing gear hanging everywhere, a canoe leaning against the side. Daryl and Rick go in first, Glenn and Raylan going to the back. Maggie and Caroline scout the lakeside with T-Dog, the area looking clear for the moment.

After Rick calls an all clear, the group piles into the cabin. Carol finds a bedroom for Lori to rest in, her pregnant belly was starting to become round. Carl goes through all the kitchen cabinets, finding some canned beef stew and a few cans of sardines.

Caroline grabs her bow and quiver, looking over at Daryl. "I think we might have better luck hunting here. You up for it Dixon?"

Running his thumb over is bottom lip, Daryl nods at her. "I am if you are Greene."

Maggie and Glenn start a small fire in the fireplace as the two hunters head out the door.

They walk into the forest behind the cabin quietly, Daryl holding his crossbow upright. Caroline spots a towering oak tree directly ahead and begins to climb it. Daryl calls up to her, trying to stop her before she climbs too high.

"Caroline, get back down here. I swear gurl, you're gonna break your neck." Daryl leans against the tree, waiting for her to climb back down.

"I got this. I can see a doe just past those bushes." Before Caroline can get back down, Daryl had taken off without her.

She shakes her head, watching him crouch behind the bushes. He takes aim, his biceps rippling. Looking at him there, being the hunter, made her forget about how hungry she was, for food. His sun-kissed skin against his black leather vest and dark denim shirt sent shivers up her spine. A cold winter breeze blows the snow around her, letting the doe catch their scent. Daryl rises from the bushes, letting his arrow go.

The contrast of red against the white ground was strangely soothing to Caroline. Having fresh meat was going to be good for everyone, especially Lori. Daryl grins up to her as she hands him her buck knife. "You think that's gonna be enough meat for everyone?"

"It should be. You want to help me so we can get back to the cabin?" Caroline kneels down in the snow, Daryl leaning in for a kiss.

Caroline doesn't want his lips to leave hers as she leans in for more. Daryl kisses her again, chuckling. Caroline gives him a blushing smile, her want for him coursing through her.

They finish field dressing the doe, Daryl wrapping the meat up in a burlap sack. The fresh meat would lift their spirits and give them all some much needed energy. "Do you want to make a fire outside or try to cook it over the fireplace?"

Daryl looks over at her, his mind somewhere else. "Uh…oh yeah. The fireplace, it will be safer."

Brushing her hand over his arm, Caroline gazes into his cool blue eyes. "Where did you go Daryl?"

"That oak tree you were in…it had some sort of foliage on it. Do you know what it is?" Daryl stops by the tree, studying the greenery.

"I'm not sure…wait." Caroline shimmies back up the tree, coming back down with some of the plant in question.

Caroline dangles the plant above Daryl's head, beaming a smile back at him. Daryl looks up to see a cluster of mistletoe in her hand. He gazes into her sea blue eyes, giving her his sideways grin. "Come here gurl."

He holds her around her waist, his body tight against hers. His chapped lips find hers, his tongue breaching her mouth. They kiss as the winter sky opens up, snow falling faster.

"Hey Daryl, is that you?" Glenn calls out to them, Maggie walking beside him.

Daryl curses under his breath, his arms still around Caroline. Whispering in her ear, his lips graze her neck. "Later gurl."

"Damn it Glenn, what is it?" Caroline snarls at Glenn as they walk towards him.

Glenn shrugs his shoulders, looking down at the snowy ground. "Sorry guys. Rick sent me to find you."

Once they get back to the cabin Carl almost knocks them down wanting to know if they got anything. "Hang on little man." Daryl takes out the burlap sack, handing it to him.

Carl bounds to the fireplace, helping Beth put a cast-iron frying pan over the grates. With the meat sizzling away, everyone starts to settle in for the night.

Raylan had made a pallet on the floor next to the living room window. He was leaning against the wall, his cowboy hat covering his face. Caroline sits down beside him, taking his hat. "Hey bro, you sleepin'?"

Reaching for his hat, Raylan gives his sister a quick smile. "Yes. You should be too. Where did Daryl go?"

"He's outside with Rick, they both look as nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs. You have that look Raylan, that one you always get when you're thinking too hard on something." Caroline closes her eyes, leaning on her brother's shoulder.

"You know I've been trying to keep track of the weeks, the months since all this happen. I like the idea of having some sort of normalcy in all of this. I figure that it's either a few days till Christmas or a few days past it." Raylan reaches into his jean pocket, pulling out a necklace.

It wasn't the simple silver necklace that brings tears to Caroline's eyes but the ring dangling from it. "Is that…mom's first wedding band, the one dad made for her?"

"Yeah, thought it was about time you had it. Mom gave it to me a few days before she died and told me to keep it for you. I was only to give it to you when you married. I don't think she'd mind me giving it to you now." Raylan hugs his sister tight, her wet red face buried in his neck.

"Thank you Raylan, this means the world to me. I'll never take it off." Caroline feels a hand on her shoulder as she gazes up. Daryl looks down at her, his endless blue eyes looking so sweetly at her.

"Caroline, you got a minute?" Daryl helps her to her feet, walking out to the porch.

The winter moon was only half full and the snow was still falling gently. A small breeze blows her hair over her shoulders as Daryl wraps an arm around her neck. "I heard what Raylan was saying. I never thought much about Christmas before all of this shit went down but I think it was important to you. You probably had the tree and everything…so I hope this helps."

Daryl walks her out to the lake, one single snow covered pine tree down by the water. The moonbeams gleaming off the snow made the tree look like it was twinkling with lights. Caroline's hand slides over his stubble cheek, her eyes locking onto his. "That's the most beautiful thing I've seen in forever. Thank you."

Carol walks up behind them, wrapping her sweater around her. "Isn't that something?"

"Yes, it is." Caroline's eyes never leave Daryl's face.

"That deer meat is done if you want something to eat." Carol looks back at them before she walks away.

"We best be gettin' back." Daryl turns to go back when Caroline takes his hand.

"That was a beautiful thing you did for me Daryl. I don't think any Christmas present I ever got was a beautiful as that moment with you." Caroline's lips brush his softly, her hands traveling up his arms.

"It's cold and the meat is almost gone…you two coming?" Carol calls out to them.

Caroline takes a deep breath, letting Daryl walk out ahead of her. As she steps on the porch she taps Carol on the shoulder. Carol turns, giving her a sugary sweet smile. "Carol, thanks for interrupting what could have been a great moment between Daryl and I. Is there something you need to say to me…something bothering you?"

"No, nothing. Sorry about that out there but you two are the reason we are eating tonight, you deserve some of the meat." With a satisfied smile Carol goes back in the house, leaving Caroline fuming.

After she has a bite to eat, Caroline corners Carol in the kitchen. "I'm watching you…don't ever think I'm not. I'm not the jealous type because whatever this is between you and Daryl has nothing on what I have with him." Carol gazes back at Caroline, her mouth hanging open.

Later that night, Caroline curls up beside Daryl, her head resting on his chest. His fingers lazily make circles on her back as she does the same to his stomach. She begins to drift off to sleep humming her favorite Christmas carol, O Holy Night.

"Caroline…Caroline wake up." The words slowly filter into her brain, the jerking sensation completely waking her.

Beth's panicked face looms over her causing Caroline to rise too quickly, a dizzying sensation rattles her, making her stomach lurch again. Beth watches Caroline lean over, nausea hitting her again. "I'm so sorry Caroline but Raylan said I had to come get you. We have to go outside to the fence, you have to see this."