Disclaimer:
Carol Peletier, Sophia Peletier, King Ezekiel, Henry, Jerry, Shiva, and any other recognizable character or plot of The Walking Dead belong to AMC Network and Skybound Entertainment, Image Comics and Robert Kirkman.
In no way is the author claiming ownage of any of the characters nor is there any economical/monetary gain at any time. The author is extremely respectful of the original creators and is willing to take down this work of fiction if requested.
No copyright infringement intended.
Genevieve is property of the author.
Chapter 7: 6th Month
From the moment Ezekiel felt their baby girl kicking, he has been enthralled with her belly. If he had been proud to call himself a father before, he is triple that by now.
He refrains from constantly touching her when they are in public but once they are in the sanctuary of their home, or when they are only surrounded by Jerry and Henry, his arm always wraps around her, his hand gently pressing on the side of her belly.
Carol has never experienced this. When she had been pregnant with Sophia, Ed liked to say that her figure made him nauseous, that she was hideous. She hid her body not only from him but from others. There was never any further acknowledgement that she was pregnant.
Ezekiel, on the other hand, likes to boast to everyone who will hear, that his daughter is thriving within her; whether it is some random fact that the book he is reading tells him, or something the Hilltop doctor has shared with them. It always brings a smile to Carol's face to hear him talk about their baby, then a blush when he comments how gorgeous she is.
"There she is!" He exclaims as he feel their daughter kick in the side of her belly, his hand sliding to cover the spot. "Did you miss your Papa?" He whispers against her belly before tenderly placing a kiss on her skin which in turn makes her shiver.
In reply their daughter delivers a swift kick against his head. Ezekiel laughs out loud, tickled with the fact that he can interact with her already.
"She's gonna be such a daddy's girl." Carol comments before pressing two of her fingers to her belly, poking their daughter.
Moving from her side, Ezekiel crossed the short distance from their bed to the chair where they kept their traveling packs. He quickly pulls out a small flashlight he keeps for emergencies, the kind that you had to manually power up in order to light, then moves back to join her.
"I read in the book that there was a game we could play with her." He explains. "You turn on the flashlight and press it against your belly. She'll follow the light. Wanna try?"
Carol smirks, her eyes shinning brightly with unshed tears that came out of nowhere.
"What's wrong? Did I do something wrong? Do you feel sick?" He quickly asks. He's so endearing when he's worried for them.
"No, you did nothing wrong, nothings wrong." She promises as she raises a hand to brush away her tears. "You are just… too good to me."
She knows he probably won't understand, what it means to be so cherished, to see her daughter so loved already. "Ignore me, it's the hormones."
He doesn't ignore her. Instead he leans forward and gives her a kiss, one of the deep ones they share where Carol loses herself in his love.
When he pulls back he gives her a wink before powering up the flashlight then shinning it at her belly.
She doesn't know if it's because she had been so skinny, but to her she looks huge. Her belly button has already popped out and her skin is showing a couple of signs of stretching. Ezekiel insists she's gorgeous. Sometimes the way he says it is so powerful and with such conviction that she almost believes it.
"Ready?" He asks as he presses the flashlight against her skin. Her skin instantly glows a slight orange around the flashlight. "Does it burn?"
"Not at all." She promises him as she folds her hands under her belly. "Can she see it?"
They both hold their breath for what feels like forever until finally they see a distinct bump reaching outwards right besides where the light is shinning.
"That's amazing." She admits.
"Yeah, yeah it is." He changes the position to a couple of inches lower. Again they wait for the roll of her belly and chuckle when the baby provides what they are looking for. "Does it hurt?"
"No," she assures him. "She's calm right now. She's just pressing, I think."
Ezekiel becomes enraptured by the game, their daughter reacting and pushing on every spot where he places the light. Carol can't help but observe him; watch as he encourages their daughter to follow the light, as he gives her small pep talks when she takes a little longer to move, as he presses kisses to the bumps that appear on her skin.
God how she loves this man.
Eventually the baby slows down to a stop. Ezekiel pouts which only makes Carol laugh softly. "She must have fallen asleep. You tired her out."
"She's so perfect." He declares as he pulls back the flashlight then kisses her belly, right over the darker line that formed. "You both are."
When he moves to sit besides her, Carol instantly turns as best as she can, her belly pressing against his side. "I love you." She whispers to him.
"And I love you." Ezekiel echoes.