I do not own any of the TWD characters.
Baby Girl Dixon
Daryl and Beth dumped the concessions into the trash barrel on the way out of the theatre, then scrambled to the parking lot. Daryl, with his hand to Beth's back, escorted her to the passenger side of the mustang. After getting in on his side, Daryl made sure that Beth had gotten buckled up. Then he peeled out of the parking lot as if his ass were on fire.
"Ya think we could run by the house to pick up my bag and maybe I could put some dry clothes on" Beth asked. She seemed a bit embarrassed. "It looks like I've peed myself."
Daryl tried not to laugh at Beth, but wasn't very successful in doing so. "Darling, that's gonna be the least of your worries."
Oh shit! The look of sheer panic on her face alerted Daryl immediately that he should not have made that comment. "Oh my God Daryl" Beth cried out. "What if I can't do this?"
Trying to make a save, "Of course you can do this" Daryl put his game face on. "You're the strongest woman I know Baby." Daryl pulled Beth over to him to place a sweet kiss on the top of her head.
It got quiet in the car and normally, quiet didn't bother Daryl but he was all kinds of scared shitless right now. He, himself, was wondering if he was going to be able to make it through this delivery business. The guys at the office had been sharing battle stories with him all week. In his nervous state, Daryl decided to make another ill-advised comment. "Member that time ya said you's gonna give me a blowjob in this car? I never did get that blowjob." He grinned at Beth, but she did not return the smile in any way, form, or fashion.
"Are ya fuckin serious right now?" Beth asked Daryl.
Now Daryl, God love him just didn't quite know what to say. "Uhm, no" he finally muttered. "I's just tryin to make ya laugh."
Beth just stared at her husband. "Just get me home so I can change please."
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It took some convincing on Beth's part, but she managed to talk Negan, Lucille, Annette, and Morgan to stay put at the house for a while.
"Guys, there's no tellin how long this could take" Beth told them. "Let us get up there, get checked in and settled. I'll have Daryl call ya'll when it gets closer to time."
It was probably one of the hardest things Negan had ever done, but this is what Beth wanted.
"I promise" Beth told him "if we get there and things start to progress quickly, we'll let ya'll know. Promise." She batted her eyelashes at Negan for good measure.
"Okay" Negan finally consented, "but only if you call us just as soon as you need us. We'll be right there."
So that's how it happened that four grown adults walked Daryl and Beth back out to the car and sent them on their way. As soon as they left the block, Negan started barking out orders. "Alright, everybody's got fifteen minutes to get dressed and back in this driveway."
"John" Lucille looked at her husband. "You told Beth that we wouldn't go to the hospital until she was ready for us."
"Not going to the hospital Lucy" Negan grinned broadly. "We're going to Daryl and Beth's apartment. We can relax, catch a few more hours of sleep maybe. When Daryl calls, we're minutes from the hospital!" He held his hand out to the side as if to say, I am a fuckin genius!
Annette giggled and pulled her robe in a little closer around her body. "Last one ready's a rotten egg!" she teased Morgan. She took off for the house with Morgan quickly following her. Lucille took off for the house next and Negan just stood in the driveway, cool as a cucumber.
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"Ohhhhhhhhhhhh" Beth nearly doubled over while walking into the ER at the woman's hospital. Beth grabbed Daryl's hand and they momentarily stopped their walking until she caught her breath. "Oh, well" she smiled. "That wasn't so bad."
"Really?" Daryl asked timidly.
"Really" Beth chirped, "not bad at all. I got this."
"Yeh, we got this" Daryl agreed.
Daryl and Beth checked in at the counter in the ER and since they'd already handled all of the paperwork beforehand, they were quickly escorted upstairs to the maternity floor. So far, so good thought Daryl. Maybe this won't be so bad after all.
All of the nursing staff were so kind and helpful while helping Beth into a gown and getting her settled. Even the orderly that assisted the nurse in prepping Beth was kind and gentle. The head nurse informed them that Beth's doctor had phoned in and would be arriving shortly to check on his patient. Until then, they should make themselves comfortable because first babies usually took their time.
Beth had already made the decision that she was going to do this without any drugs if she could help it. Daryl told her that it was okay if she changed her mind – he didn't want her to suffer. After hearing the water cooler horror stories all week long, he was beginning to doubt more and more that either of them could get through this without some sort of medicinal intervention.
Four hours later, the contractions were starting to increase in severity and decrease in the intervals between each one. Beth would be sweating profusely and then she'd be freezing. Daryl kept feeding her ice chips and telling her that "really, Beth, if ya need something for the pain, don't be ashamed, please Baby, I don't want ya to hurt". And with that, Beth was rocked with the worst contraction yet – she damn near crushed every finger on Daryl's left hand.
"No" she said weakly. "I think I'm good."
Daryl on the other hand was not good – not good at all. How Beth was surviving this he just didn't know.
Beth was resting or trying to before the next wave of pain hit her when the doctor came in to check her. Daryl really hated this. He hated it with his very being. He could tell by the way Beth gritted her teeth and she would turn extra pale. Before the doctor would finish checking to see how far along she was, Beth would nearly come up off the bed.
"How much longer Doc?" Daryl asked. "We 'bout done? We almost there?"
The doctor, trying to be kind, replied, "Oh, son, we got a while. You might as well go ahead, sit back, and relax."
Well, shit thought Daryl. That's easier said than done.
Daryl had dozed off with his head on the bed. Beth was running her fingers through his hair and gently scratching his scalp. It felt so fucking good and for the first time in hours he was starting to relax. He felt a small snore escape his body and then "Ohhhhhhhh fuuuuuuuuccckkkkk" Beth blew out as she grabbed hold of the bedrails. Daryl jumped to attention as if he'd be poked with a cattle prod.
"Breathe Baby, Breathe" Daryl murmured in her ear. "You got this, blow out." Beth did as Daryl instructed her and when that contraction was passed them, she looked up into Daryl's eyes for a bit of encouragement.
"You're doing so good Beth" Daryl whispered in her ear. "I'm so proud of you."
On the inside though, Daryl didn't know how much more of this he could take. He had absolutely no idea how Beth was doing this or how she was going to continue doing it. The sun was rising – Daryl caught a glimpse of it when he went to replenish Beth's water and ice.
"Damn" he said to no one in particular. "He'd not called to check in with Negan or anyone. They weren't anywhere near delivering a baby but he should have at least called them by now. "Fuck" he whispered as he waited for Negan to answer.
"Yeh" Negan answered on the third ring. "We got a baby yet?"
Daryl sighed and took a deep pause before answering Negan. "Naw, it's gonna be a while."
"Everything okay?" Negan asked warily. Negan had been on pins and needles to tell the truth.
"Yeh, yeh" Daryl said as he ran his hand through his hair. "Man, Negan, I didn't realize how hard this was gonna be on her. I mean she's holdin up real well considerin, but, fuck, I'm completely out of my element here. I can't stand to see her in pain. I want to be able to fix it and I can't. I just want her to take some drugs and for that baby to get out. I don't think I can watch her suffer anymore."
"Now you listen to me" Negan stated. "That girl is a lot tougher than anybody gives her credit for. You get your ass back in there – she needs you."
It was quiet on the line and Negan was certain that Daryl was crying. "Daryl" Negan said. No response, but he could hear him on the other end. "Daryl" Negan tried again.
"Yeh" Daryl finally answered.
"Now listen to me son, we're all on our way to the hospital" Negan informed him. "Beth needs you, so you get back in there to her. And, you need us, so we'll all be there within the hour."
"Yeh, alright" Daryl snorted and wiped at his nose.
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They'd made it to the hospital in thirty minutes and just seeing a new set of people seemed to give Beth a little boost of energy. Daryl really appreciated the extra support. Lucille and Annette doted on Beth a bit – even talking the nurse into letting her have a popsicle. Negan and Morgan insisted that Daryl go with them down to the cafeteria for some breakfast. Daryl did not want to leave Beth's side for one second, but she begged him to go telling him he hadn't eaten since supper the night before.
"I'll be fine Daryl" she said. "Momma and Lucille can stay with me." Beth smiled at Daryl with watery eyes.
"Just don't be gone long" Beth added. Daryl told her that he'd hurry and kissed her.
While the men folk were away drinking some hospital brew and eating a breakfast sandwich, the doctor stopped by. He was happy to meet Beth's mother and to see Lucille again.
"I hate to do this Beth, but I think maybe we're getting closer" Dr. Elliott said.
Beth thought that he didn't seem to hate to do it. He was snapping on a pair of examination gloves as he talked.
"I'm gonna check you and see just how close we are" he added.
Beth tensed just as soon as the doctor began to examine her. Dr. Elliott smiled at Beth and the two women in the room.
"Who do you want with you when you deliver?" the doctor asked Beth.
"My husband" Beth quickly answered "Daryl, I want Daryl with me."
"Well, somebody better go find Daryl because it's show time" Dr. Elliott laughed at his own joke. "I'm going to step out and get everybody in here. Can one of you ladies get the dad in here?"
Lucille jumped to, "Yes, of course" she said, "I'll go after him." Annette stayed behind with Beth to get in a few one on one moments with her daughter.
"Beth Anne" Annette said, "You're gonna do just fine. You're strong and just stubborn enough to get the job done."
They both laughed at that and Beth sure hoped that her momma was right. Lucille and Daryl came barreling back into the room just as all of the medical staff did.
"Ladies, you can stay if Momma wants you hear, but you'll have to make a decision quick" Dr. Elliott announced. Just at that time, Beth had a contraction hit. "Baby Girl Dixon is ready to make an appearance."
"No, we're going to wait outside" Annette answered for both her and Lucille. They quickly made an exit and the real work began.
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"Beth" the doctor said. "I believe one more will do it."
Daryl had been rubbing Beth's neck and shoulders for her while she'd rested in between contractions. "Put your chin to your chest Baby" Daryl reminded her. "And push like hell" he laughed and even Beth laughed.
The doctor was right. It had only taken one more and their beautiful baby girl had been delivered. She immediately made her presence known with an ear piercing cry that got everyone's attention.
"My goodness" one of the older nurses exclaimed "she means business."
As they cleaned the baby up and weighed her, counted toes and fingers and what not, Daryl watched in amazement. Turning to Beth, he could no longer hold the tears back. "She's beautiful Beth. So beautiful."
A nurse brought the wiggling, squirming blotchy bundle to Beth and laid her on Beth's naked chest. Beth began to cry as she rubbed the fluffy brown hair. Daryl rubbed the baby's head as well and placed a chaste kiss on Beth's lips.
"Thank you Beth for our baby girl" he whispered to her. "I love you so much."
Beth hiccupped, "I love you too". She looked down at the still squawking baby on her chest. "She is beautiful, isn't she?"
"Just like her Momma" Daryl agreed. "Just like her Momma."
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Out in the maternity waiting room, the four grandparents were trying their very best to be patient. Lucille flipped through a magazine, Annette had struck up a conversation with someone, Morgan had found a puzzle at a table in the corner of the room, and Negan stared out the window. Negan watched the city below him. It had to be around lunchtime as he noticed people coming and going from the deli across the street. Everyone was so caught up in what they'd found to keep themselves occupied that they didn't see Daryl standing there watching them. Finally, he had to clear his throat to get their attention.
They all looked up at the same time and ran for him all at once. Just as quickly, they stopped short because they didn't want to crowd Daryl and that little pink burrito he was chomping at the bit to show off. The grin on Daryl Dixon's face lit up that entire waiting area. "I'd like ya'll to meet your granddaughter" he began.
"Oh my heavens" Annette gasped. "She looks just like Beth did when she was born." Annette had tears in her eyes and looked up at Daryl. "Her hair's darker, much darker".
Morgan peered over Annette's shoulder. "I can tell right now, she is going to be a handful." They all laughed.
Lucille seemed to be speechless, but had pulled back the pink blanket a bit to look at the fingers and toes for herself. Negan joined Lucille in the counting.
"My God" Negan smiled. "She's amazing – breathtaking." The little girl was starting to become a little agitated if her face starting to contort and get splotchy were any indication.
"I think I'm gonna get her back to Beth" Daryl laughed nervously, "fore she starts squawlin."
"Do you have a name yet?" Annette asked.
Daryl smiled and looked at everyone, his gaze lingered on Negan and Lucille a bit. "Yep, we sure do. Emily Bree Dixon."