A/N: this is a work of fan fiction and not meant to infringe upon the properties of Kirk man/Moore/Aldard/AMC/Image Comics.
Now that I have caught up with the show, I am taking the lead from the comics. I am hoping to skew it in just the right way that no one will be truly spoiled :). If you'd like to listen to the Redemption Playlist, you can find it by searching for Leah Pensotti on YouTube :) it features songs and artists mentioned in the story as well as chapter titles :) it was last updated on 7/23/15.
Redemption (The Road to Alexandria)
By Leah Pensotti
Chapter 53: Lullaby
A whole month of bed rest had dampened the holidays. The first holiday season that Rick and Anna celebrated together had been highlighted by family dinners in the small, cramped room...Rick and the kids bringing books to her on loan from Jesus's library...and a fragrant pile of pine cones. Rick would take Judith out and find one to present to her everyday.
"Anna...pie-cone!"
It made Anna smile everyday, and to Rick, that alone was well worth it.
Rick was coming in from a day with Eugene. He had indeed graduated to a cane and he had gotten stronger. Snow had finally fallen, breaking up the monotony of consistently gray days. Kids at Hilltop had taken to building snowmen and snow animals all about.
As he opened the door to their room, he saw Anna in her pajamas sitting at the end of the bed, looking like she was going to get up. She looked at him, a scared smile spreading across her face, "I think my water just broke."
Rick almost dropped his cane, "Stay right there, I'll go get Doctor Carson."
He hurried down the hall to Dr. Carson's office and alerted him, as he got his bag together, Rick went to find Carol. He found her in front of the fireplace with Judith and Daryl.
"Anna's water broke. Looks like the baby is going to be a bit early."
Carol gave Judith to Daryl and asked him to find Carl and Enid. She followed Rick back to the room, where Dr. Carson was examining Anna.
"Well, water did break, but no contractions yet. So technically no labor. So what we are gonna do, is wait. The contractions should start within twelve hours. Here's the plan. We are going to clean you up, Anna. We have to keep you clean and dry to reduce the risk of infection. So I am going to have Carol help you clean up and change the bedclothes. Rick, we need clean towels and blankets. I will check in every hour. Once contractions get to be about five minutes apart, I will be here the whole time."
Rick looked at his wife's bright green eyes and saw incredible amounts of joy, realizing that her dream of having a baby was about to be realized. Carol set to changing the bed linens, while Rick followed Dr. Carson out of the room. smiled, "You should be an old pro at this...this is your third, right?"
He nodded, "Lori...my first wife...had c-sections."
Dr. Carson chuckled, "Oh, then this should be an adventure. Anna is gonna be a firecracker during labor, I promise you. Don't take anything she may say to heart and let her break your hand if she needs to."
"Duly noted."
Rick went to find as many clean towels as he could and then made his way back up to their room. Anna was sitting up and chatting with Carol. She looked so happy, his heart wanted to burst.
Carol smiled, "I'm going to go check on the kids. Let you guys have some time before it gets really busy."
Rick slid into bed beside Anna and pulled her to him. Anna smiled as he put a hand on her tummy and she asked him seriously, "Are you scared? I am a little."
He kissed her temple and shook his head, "Nope. We've got this. Dr. Carson seems to think it will be a normal delivery. And we get to meet our baby."
"Our baby." Anna repeated happily.
It only took six hours for Anna to get to eight centimeters dialated. The contractions were thunderous and they were just getting quicker and more painful. She didn't even recognize the sounds she was making, she sounded like a wounded animal. She was sweating and hot and Dr. Carson said it would not be long, that she would be pushing.
Rick stayed by her, holding her hand and rubbing her back through the pain. He looked scared once or twice, knowing this is the first time one of his children was being born naturally and without a c-section.
For a fleeting moment she almost felt bad for him.
Almost.
She then remembered that she was the one doing this for the first time. Without a hospital, modern medicine or any sort of drugs.
"Alright Anna, it's time to push, baby is on it's way out."
She sat up and Carol propped pillows behind her back. Anna reached for Carol's hand and she took it in hers. Carol smiled, and looked a little weepy. Rick held her right hand and placed his other hand on her lower back.
"Ready baby?"
He asked her gently, and she wanted to laugh...as if she had a choice. Baby Grimes was going to come out whether she was ready or not.
"Stay here at my shoulder?"
He nodded, "Nowhere else I'd rather be, Sweet Thing."
Dr. Carson patted her leg, he had a clean towel draped on his chest to recieve the baby, "Alright, push Anna."
She squeezed Rick and Carol's hands and bore down, sensing urgency and relief all at once. It hurt like hell, and pushing made her head spin.
"Head's out. Lots of hair. Ok, I'm gonna count to ten and I need you to push again."
It only took three pushes, the last of which was brutal and she made a guttural cry, that coincided with the first cry of her child. She immediately turned to look at Rick, his eyes bright blue and teary.
Dr. Carson was drying off the screaming bundle and placed it, red and fragile on her chest, near her heart. He smiled warmly, "It's a boy. A very healthy baby boy."
Anna placed her hand on the head of her son and felt him cry against her. Rick helped the doctor cut the cord, and Carol, while wiping her eyes of happy tears, bundled up the baby in another clean towel. Anna sat up properly, and accepted the baby from Carol.
She was shaking, and she looked down at her son. He did have lots of dark hair...and Rick's nose. Soon she was joined by Rick, and he kissed her gently, "Good job, Sweet Thing."
Her heart was going to burst. It could not sustain the intense feelings of love.
After Carol helped clean the bed again, and also Anna, Doctor Carson told them he would be back down in the morning, to see if everyone was faring well and if the baby and Anna were able to nurse successfully.
Anna requested an hour of just the three of them, before their other children and visitors came to meet the boy. Their son.
Rick Grimes had another son.
He sat in the bed with Anna, one arm around her and the other arm cradling the baby. He was exhausted, and knew Anna had to be. He had never witnessed anything so intense as the birth of his third child.
The baby was so tiny, weighing in only at 5.1 pounds and a mere 17 inches long. He looked a bit like Carl did, thirteen years before. Anna smiled, "He's beautiful, isn't he?"
Rick nodded, "He is."
Honestly, beautiful didn't begin to cover it.
"So...names?"
Anna looked up at him and smiled, "I like Daniel. Daryl recommended it. And it stuck. Daniel Grimes...Danny Grimes..."
Rick smiled in return, he liked it too. It had a certain quiet strength to it. He looked down to the sleeping baby in the crook of his arm and whispered, "Happy Birthday, Daniel Grimes."
A/N: I hope everyone enjoyed this! coming up: Gregory makes a power play, while Anna navigates motherhood.
A Very Special Thank You: to Angie B. You are the best!
I love my readers and reviews! If you have followed or favorited this story, please drop me a line :)
And I also have a new TWD fic called "The Country Singer" which is in it's infancy. if you are so inclined, please follow and favorite it and leave me a review :)
Love and Robots,
Leah P! Xoxox
