A/N As always, thank you so, so much. We're going to be very busy again this chapter. There are many changes coming to Heavenly, and our couple will have a little romance, but best of all we get a Bethyl baby, eep! I hope you enjoy!
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He dried her off, picked her up in his arms and carried her to their room. Her arms were around his neck and her head on his chest, and to each of them this was everything. It was what made their lives so good. Knowing they belonged here like this, and they belonged to each other.
He reached one hand over and pulled the cover down before gently laying her on the bed. He didn't even get a chance to crawl in next to her when Happy jumped up and curled himself at her feet. Beth's eyes grew wide as her husband scolded the animal, "Go on now dog, ya know better. Get in your own bed."
The dog quickly jumped down but before leaving the room he turned to his master and let out a "woof."
Daryl muttered, "Everyone thinks they gotta have the last word." Then it occurred to him and he turned to his wife, "Beth?"
She knew what he was asking and she smiled so sweetly when she answered, "But Daryl, it was so lonely without you."
He slipped in next to her, took her in his arms and promised, "Ain't gonna be lonely tonight."
It was two or three hours later that he woke feeling a little guilty. He slipped from the bed and pulled on his long underwear bottoms. The dog stirred and with ears perked he lifted his head and looked at his master, decided all was well and laid his head back down.
Daryl grumbled as he opened the front door only to be blasted by freezing air. He lifted the lid of the box and grabbed a handful of the meat left from their dinner that evening, then carried it to the dog who quickly inhaled it. Daryl scratched behind Happy's ears and told him, "Listen boy, ya get ta sleep with her when I ain't home. When I'm here I sleep with her. That's fair and I don't wanna hear no more complainin'."
The dog woofed and the man shook his head and went back to his wife. He crawled in thinking she was sound asleep, but she rolled over, a smile on her lips as her hand caressed his cheek and she whispered, "You spoil him and me."
He did his best not to smile himself as he pulled her warm body close to his chest and mumbled, "Shh, quiet now, ya need your sleep." He kissed the top of her head and as they drifted off he wondered which of them would spoil their child more.
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It was just two weeks later when he came home with big news. They held hands while he said the blessing, and as they sat close together he dished up their food and told her, "There's gonna be some changes in town Beth, some big changes."
He put a huge bite of the stew in his mouth and she was squeezing his hand, "You can't just stop there Daryl. What kind of changes?"
He was smiling and trying to swallow at the same time, and when the food had gone down he told her, "Caesar came ta see me this mornin' about some work. He got ta talkin' and it seems there's gonna be a lotta changes comin' at the saloon." He took another big bite, barely chewed, swallowed and continued, "They ain't gonna have workin' girls no more."
"He says him and Andrea been talking and they're pretty sure it won't be long before statehood comes ta Montana. Once that happens, workin' girls ain't gonna be allowed anyway. Him and her are afraid if they got the girls workin' the U.S. government might just shut em down right on the spot, and maybe for good. Not even give em a chance ta change things. So they're changin' a few things now."
She wasn't saddened by the news but her soft heart had her worrying about the women. "What will become of the ladies in their employ?"
"Two a the gals are takin' the next coach out, headin' down ta Rock Springs, Wyoming. They don't care much about laws down there, it's wide open and the ladies are countin' on turnin' a good dollar, maybe even meetin' a husband. Lots a coal miners down that way and women are scarce."
"What about Rosita?"
"Eugene must have extra good hearin' cuz I guess he was right over there and offerin' Rosita a home with him." He tried not to laugh when he added, "And whatever else she wants from him I s'pose." He shrugged and added, "But that ain't what she done."
He was about to put another bite in his mouth when she insisted, "What? What did she do?"
"Well I guess she and Spencer been spendin' a quite a lotta time together and she's movin' in his cabin out at Monroe's ranch."
The fork in her hand dropped to her plate, "What!"
"He's different now, I think she is too. Maybe they'll work it all out."
She was at a loss for words except to say, "I think I should just pray for the best for them."
He nodded as he hurriedly chewed another big bite of stew, and she told him, "Daryl, you shouldn't eat so fast, you're going to give yourself a stomachache."
"Yeah, I'll slow down, but I got more ta tell ya."
She couldn't imagine and now she hoped he would hurry faster, but she waited. He quickly wiped the napkin across his face and said, "Caesar and Andrea are even talkin' about how they might get married. Maybe. He asked her but she ain't sure yet."
He expected the response she gave, "I hope she says yes, after all, they're living together, it seems right."
He simply nodded his head and shoveled in another bite of stew, then he told her the rest, "I guess he wants to and he wants them ta move outta the saloon. Get a regular house like most folks. He wants ta turn them upstairs rooms at the saloon, the ones the ladies been usin', into hotel rooms." He took a big swallow of water and added, "Sumthin' else too. Another reason."
"What?"
"They got caught."
"Got caught at what?"
"Got caught at what they been doin' between the sheets. She's in the family way."
"Oh my." She said as she dabbed the napkin to her lips, and almost whispered the words, "I'm going to be praying for so many people and very, very hard."
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She was not at all comfortable with the idea of a man, any man other than her husband, ever seeing those certain parts of her. She explained that to Daryl, and although if she had wanted to see Dr. Carson he would have agreed to it, he also preferred she see the mid-wife, Denise Cloyd.
Dr. Carson was not in the least offended or surprised, he was familiar with the sensitivities of some women. He simply told the couple, "Should any difficulties or questions arise, don't hesitate to call on me."
Once she'd gotten passed the morning sickness she had not suffered with any further unpleasant physical reactions to her condition. It was simply the usual effects women have when carrying a child. She felt more tired and found she needed a rest at mid-day, and she was often terribly hungry between meals. But mostly she felt very blessed. She was going to have a child with the man she loved and Daryl was as happy about that as she.
She also felt blessed to have such good friends who all seemed to be doing well. Amy's baby girl Delia was growing plump and she was such a sweet child. Judith Grimes was thriving as well, despite her Mother's health problems. She was sweet and full of energy, and she never seemed to stop moving. It was the same with little Jim, who by now was beginning to pull himself up to a standing position and his parents were excited he would soon take his first step.
The ladies had chatted about it many times, how delighted they were that their children would all be growing up together, and the fun both the mothers and the children would all have. Her friends were sweet and reassuring, telling her she would have an easy birth and that her baby would be healthy and happy. Amy smiled as she held her baby daughter cradled in the crook of one arm, while she held Beth's hand in hers and promised, "Your husband is a big strong man Beth and you're young and healthy. I just know you'll be blessed with a prefect and happy baby."
It was only a week later that her sister told her, "I'm pretty sure me and Abraham are in the family way too. My visitor is late this month. She's only three or four days late, but she's never been late." Then Maggie gave a sly smile and winked, "And Abraham has not been doing his part to prevent this from happening." Beth hoped her sister would give no further details about Abraham and his ways, and she was very grateful when Maggie did not.
The sisters laughed and cried and spoke of what it would be like for each of them to have a child, and to be raising their children together in this time and place. They were excited for all the love, and even the hardships that motherhood would bring.
Merle couldn't resist commenting on so many women suddenly in a delicate condition. He and Daryl were digging irrigation ditches when he laughed and said, "Seems like the men of Heavenly have lost all control a themselves. They got the damn population about ta double."
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It was a Tuesday morning in late November when Denise Cloyd paid a visit to the blacksmith's shop. The weather had taken a cold turn and the people of Heavenly knew the snow already on the ground would likely be there until April.
"What can I do for ya today Denise?"
"I've come to talk to you about something important Smithy, things you'll need to know if I can't get to your house when the baby comes."
He nodded his head; he'd thought of this possibility many times himself. "Yeah, alright."
She told him in the most simple of terms what to do and how to do it if labor was to start, and the weather was such that it prevented her from getting to their home. She inquired, "You were there at home when your brother's children were delivered, weren't you?"
"Yeah I was, but I's told ta stay in the loft and I did."
"Still I'm sure you heard Karen cry out and you knew she was in pain. You know it's normal. Beth will be in pain too and you have to be strong for her, you can't break down."
Although just the thought of Beth in pain hurt him deeply, he did know it was natural and he spoke with certainty when he said, "I can be. I would be. I can take care a my wife."
"I know you can Daryl. You know what to do better than most men. I know you've watched and even helped an awful lot of animals come into this world. It can be plenty messy and it's bloody. All of that is just normal."
He was biting his lip but he almost smiled at her words, "Yeah, I know. I seen plenty a that messy part." He didn't let on about how badly seeing any kind of blood come from Beth would bother him.
Denise seemed to know though and she added, "It will be different when you see those things happen to a woman you love, but I have faith in you Daryl. I know if the need should arise you'll be ready and confident to do what needs to be done. You also know I'll be there unless it's absolutely impossible for me to be."
He and Merle hired Tyrese to work for two weeks straight, and Merle took his one week of vacation time from the mine. Come the end of the month the three of them had put the finishing touches on the irrigation system, and they had the footings in for both homes. The brothers were gnawing at the bit to get started, but the ground was freezing and the weather would not permit much more work to take place before spring.
In the meantime the three men celebrated their accomplishment with a couple shots of whiskey and a cigarette. That's when Tyrese took a long inhale from his cigarette and told them his own news. More change was coming, "There's been a lotta talk bout statehood. I'm just lettin' ya fellas know, I told Mister Reg too, if we get close and it looks like Montana is gonna be a state, my woman and I are gonna have ta take the children and leave."
"You're sure? Why?" Merle asked.
"Lozen's afraid the U.S. government will round up every Indian livin' like an Indian and make em live on the reservation. Hell, on accounta I ain't an Indian, we don't even know if the government would let me live there with em. Anyhow, she don't want no part of it and me either. We'll be headin' up ta the Yukon Territory, maybe Alaska, somewhere they still let Indians be Indians. We're here for a while yet though."
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Christmas came to Heavenly, and just as they had the year before, the Dixon families gathered at Merle's on Christmas Eve. This year was a little different though. This Christmas Abraham and Maggie joined them. Along with the geese that Daryl had bagged, they all enjoyed a fresh ham from Ford's Pig Farm, and to everyone's delight, four special desserts.
The small house was packed with children, adults and one furry dog, all of whom, as the blessing was said, felt they indeed were the most blessed of all. They had everything they could ever want, love and health and happiness, and for the youngest of them the excitement of knowing there would be a visit from Santa. It was the only night all year Mary Ellen Dixon brushed her teeth and hurried to bed without a word of complaint.
Beth and Daryl were full of the spirit and the love and happiness when they arrived home from the celebration. He stoked the fires and asked her if she would and she smiled and agreed. They sat together on the piano bench and she played and sang him Christmas hymns, and then they sat together on the sofa. Daryl sipped on whiskey while Beth enjoyed a glass of warm milk with sugar.
Just like the Christmas before they could not wait.
They'd agreed not to give each other gifts, but when it came to certain things neither of them was much good at following their own rules. Once again she'd knit her husband warm wool socks, but this year there was something different. She'd knit him a wool cap as well. He smiled proudly as he put it on, "I like it a lot Beth. I'ma be wearin' it all the time. It'll stay on my head no matter how hard the wind is blowin'."
He made such a fuss over the little things she did for him, it caused her both embarrassment and gladness. She enjoyed doing whatever she could for this man who was so grateful for every small thing.
She was thrilled when she unwrapped her new journal, her name and the year burned into the cover, "The Memories of Beth Dixon, 1883 to 1884." She held it to her chest and told him, "Oh Daryl, I was so hoping you'd make me another. I've enjoyed writing in the other every day."
It was all kind of mysterious to him, why she would enjoy such a thing. But she did and he only asked, "Ya think somewhere down the line anyone will ever read all the things ya write Beth?"
"Oh no, I don't suppose anyone will. I do think years from now, when our new home has been well-lived in and our children are raised, you and I will enjoy reading about these early years."
That made sense to him and he smiled, "I didn't think a that, but you're right. I know I'll enjoy listenin' ta your sweet voice when ya read it all to me."
She was shocked when she opened the other package. He'd bought them in Billings and had hidden the package in the shop all these months. Tears filled her eyes as she admired the beautiful new riding skirt and calico blouse. There was even a new pair of stockings. The tears were rolling down her cheeks when she held it up, "Daryl, this is perfect. No more boy pants."
The praise made him suddenly shy and a little awkward, "Well it ain't like it's a ball gown or nuthin', but I know you're gonna look real pretty ridin' in it. Ya look real pretty in everythin'," then his cheeks flushed even more when he added, "Ya look prettiest in nuthin'."
Her own cheeks turned a fiery red when she boldly replied, "You look quite handsome in your all-together as well."
He kissed her forehead and then pretended to scold, "What in the world happened ta the sweet shy girl I married?"
She took his chin between her thumb and forefinger answering, "You have no one to blame but yourself. You taught me every naughty thing I know Daryl Dixon."
He laughed and he kissed her, then he stood and scooped her up in his arms. At first she protested, "Daryl, what are you doing?! I'm too heavy!"
"You're a little heavier than ya look, but you're never gonna be too heavy for me." He was still smiling as he carried her to their bedroom, gently stood her by their bed and smiled when he asked her, "Ain't it some kind a Christmas tradition ta have, ya know, um, lovin' on Christmas Eve?"
She was giggling when she answered, "I suppose there would be no harm in making it a Daryl and Beth Christmas tradition."
He smiled as he looked at her pretty face while he slowly loosened the buttons of her dress. Then his brow creased and he drew away just a little, his hand lightly rubbing circles on her ever-growing tummy. "Ya feel okay? I ain't gonna hurt ya am I?"
The smile was on her lips as her hand cupped his cheek, "Daryl, you ask that every time. You haven't hurt me yet, but I'll let you know if you do. Now kiss me."
"Yes ma'am." At first his kiss was soft, almost tentative. Then he let his tongue lightly trace along her bottom lip, and his hesitancy quickly turned to passion when he slipped it in her mouth. His tongue touched and tasted her tongue, and he almost smiled. She tasted of milk and sugar and he decided that went just right with the whiskey he'd had.
He drew away again, just long enough to run his hand through her hair while he told her, "Merry Christmas Sweetheart, I love ya." Then his lips were back on hers and his tongue back in her mouth, and he was back to quickly loosening the buttons of her dress.
He was in no mood to take it slow and it seemed her mood matched his. Shortly they were both stripped bare and under the covers, holding each other close and not just for the love, but also to warm themselves.
He couldn't seem to kiss her lips quite enough. It was as if he was starving and her kiss was the only thing that could quell his appetite, and her reaction told him she was feeling the same way about him.
It wasn't long before he could hold out no longer. At first his hand softly clutched her neck, and then slipped slowly down to glide across her shoulder, eventually finding its way to her small breast. He was cautious as he gently caressed it. Certain parts of her body had become more tender and sensitive with her condition, and although his desire for her was strong, he had no wish to hurt her.
He was glad to see she did not seem to withdraw from his touch, instead her body moved closer to his. She made a noise like a hum and he responded with a low moan, and then his mouth covered her breast and his hand skimmed slowly over her swollen belly and then to her mound.
She was kissing and sucking his neck while her hand rubbed his back and his bottom, and when she whispered, "You make me feel so warm, so good," he smiled at her words and his finger slipped inside her. The warmth and the wetness of her made him moan more loudly as he pulled her closer to him. His fingers moved inside her and he teased the little bump that brought her such pleasure, while his mouth was on her breast where his tongue and his teeth teased her hard little nipple.
Her body being more sensitive and tender was only one of the changes that had come with the baby, it seemed being with child had also served to increase her desire for his touch. He had no complaints, his desire for her was ever-present.
Her fingers dug into his back as she writhed and in a hushed and raspy voice she breathed his name, "Daryl, oh Daryl you make me…oh Daryl." Her words and the way her body squirmed as it seemed to seek more and more of him filled him with ever increasing passion, and as that passion grew his touching and tasting became ever more intense.
He felt it happening, her body shuddered and trembled almost like she was cold, but he knew she wasn't cold at all. Quite the opposite. Her body stiffened as she clutched at him more tightly, and there was one more strong shudder as with her pleasure she called out his name. He pulled her to him, feeling the little shocks of movement that followed, and then he kissed his way down her body until his mouth could taste the sweetness of that pleasure.
He licked at her and his tongue played with the little bump, and he could feel her passion grow again. Her fingers grabbed at his hair as she sought to pull him deeper, and then she pleaded, "Please, please Daryl, please."
He let his body slowly glide along hers, licking and kissing as he made his way until they were face to face. He kissed her as he wrapped his arms around her waist, rolling himself over on his back and taking her with him. She straddled him now and she smiled down as her hands rubbed along his shoulders and he played with her nipples. They were so desperately craving each other but they didn't want to hurry it too much, still in a throaty and passion-filled whisper he begged, "I need ya Beth, raise up for me. I gotta feel myself inside ya."
She smiled as she lifted her hips for him, and while he held one hand against her low back he kept the other around his manhood, guiding himself into her. They knew what they liked, and they each knew what the other liked. His knees came up and his thighs pressed against her hips, while her legs stretched straight out between his and it gave a sensation that she was tightening her grip on his manhood. She leaned down kissing him, moving her low body slowly up and down along his manhood while he kept the movement of his hips in rhythm with her.
All the while the little bump rubbed along him, making her ache for more of him, and with each moan and every movement the intensity of his need and the heat between them grew.
His hands clasped her bottom as his hips rose, and she had a hold of his hair as her movements quickened and her moans became louder. He raised his head up and off the pillow, clutched her back with his hand, and his mouth was on her breast as he sucked hard at the nipple, thrusting his hips so he went deeper, harder and faster inside her.
He could feel it again, her small body shivering and then stiffening, and she called out to him, "Daryl!" And as her pleasure came so did his.
She lay her exhausted body down on his. He was still inside her, feeling the proof of the pleasure they'd given each other. He held her to him as his hand lightly rubbed her head and he let his fingers twine in her soft blonde curls. "I love ya so much Beth, best Christmas I ever had."
She smiled, "You say that every Christmas, and I love you too. Merry Christmas."
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It was Sunday morning, the last Sunday in January, and he knew the storm was coming. He could feel it and smell it in the air, and he could see it in the way the animals behaved. It was like they knew they might soon go without and as such they couldn't seem to eat enough. He saw the wisdom in nature and he increased their feed, including Happy's.
For his wife and himself he packed up several loads of food from the cellar, setting them by the door. When he felt he had enough he put the meats in the box and the rest of the stores in the house.
He told a disappointed Beth, "We won't be goin' ta church today. I don't wanna take a chance with ya. It's gettin' colder by the minute. The air's got a bite and I feel the storm comin'. I'ma just saddle Blackie up real quick, take a ride over ta Merle's and see that they're alright and let em know. I'll be back in an hour. Ya stay inside Beth."
"I will, I won't disobey you. I promise."
"Good then. Happy, ya keep a good eye on things now boy."
He kissed her goodbye, scratched the dog behind his ears and headed for his brother's house. He knew Merle would know the same as him, a storm was coming. It was mostly Virgil that he worried over. When he got there he took him aside as if to talk business, and he warned him, "Don't ya even think about tryin' ta sneak into town ta see your girl Virgil Dixon. If I find out ya did I'ma fire your ass, I mean it."
"I know Uncle, I ain't stupid. I lived in Heavenly my whole life." Then his nephew surprised him when he smiled and added, "As bad as I wanna kiss Sophia, I'm pretty sure a kiss from her ain't worth dyin' for."
His Uncle laughed, "I'm sure you're right, as sweet as they must be." They playfully punched each other in the arm and Daryl added, "Now don't go ta work in the mornin' either. Unless I come for ya you just figure we're takin' the day off, alright?"
"Yes Boss."
"That's right and don't forget it."
As he left them Merle and Virgil were bringing supplies up from the root cellar, while Cyrus carried armloads of firewood to the porch.
It seemed the sky itself had disappeared and snow was falling hard, all while the wind howled and the air felt ever colder. As Daryl hurried back home to do a few last chores of his own, he could feel the frost building on his eyebrows, eyelashes, and the hair on his lip and chin.
Once in the barn he removed the saddle from the big stallion and dried the moisture from him, then made sure all the other animals were comfortable. He checked on the colt who had grown to be quite the fella, "Won't be long now Junior, I'll be saddle breakin' ya. You're gonna be a fine horse just like your Daddy."
He checked on Sally one last time, but there wasn't much he could do for her. He'd milked her that morning and he'd made sure her udder and her teets were dry, now he promised her, "If I can get ta ya I will. Ya just gotta be patient girl."
He checked on the chickens, and he checked that the door to the cellar was secure, and lastly he brought one more load of firewood up on the porch. He figured he'd brought in enough food, and had enough wood stacked close to last them at least three days. He had the snow shovel by the door and if worse came to worse, he'd shovel his way back to the root cellar in a blinding snow to keep her from going hungry.
He walked in and she was still in her nightclothes which surprised and concerned him. "Ya feelin' okay Sweetheart?"
"I don't know what's wrong Daryl. I can't seem to stay out of the bathroom and when I try to go, well I can't seem to pee. There's just so much pressure it keeps me feeling like I need to. I'm also…well I don't even know how to explain it. I just don't feel quite right and I'm a little restless, and it's like right below my tummy everything seems to get tighter, then it loosens. I don't know quite what to do with myself."
He was pretty certain he knew what was causing her problems. He'd seen the same thing happen with Karen. He didn't want to tell her though, he could just as likely to be wrong as right. She wasn't even due until February and it was only the end of January.
Just in case he was right, he went about making ready and trying not to let her know what he was about. He didn't want to take a chance on either her or their baby getting chilled, so he said, "I think we're in for some real bad stormin' Beth. I's thinkin' it might be kinda nice if I moved the bed in here, in front a the hearth. It'll feel nice and cozy."
She smiled at the idea, "That does sound lovely, but can you move that bed by yourself?"
"Sure I can, I moved it in there. Here, lemme set your chair just over here. Ya just relax and I'll be done before ya know it."
He moved the mattress, the covers and the pillows first, then came the harder part, the big wood frame. She watched as her husband turned the bed on its side, then got it just right so that he could get the legs through the door, then he turned it just right the other way so the second set of legs would go through. The moving didn't go fast, but within three quarters of an hour he had the bed set up and it was made ready with covers and pillows, right in front of the fire.
She happily commented, "Daryl you never cease to amaze me, and my how sweet it looks there with the cradle you made right next to it."
"It does. Won't be long now Beth, we'll be a family a three." On his words he went to the kitchen, saying he was making a fresh pot of coffee. He did just that, but he also got water heating to wash his hands real good before he touched her or their baby.
While he did what he did she made yet another trip to the bathroom, sure that this time she would be able to relieve herself. No, she got no relief from the pressure she felt on her bladder. She stood at the sink to wash her hands but had not yet turned the spigot when it happened. It was the warmest water she'd ever felt and it was rushing out of her. It didn't hurt, but in her shock she'd screamed and her husband came running.
He was there with her in no time and assuring her, "It's alright Sweetheart, here lemme help." Although he didn't feel calm at all, he wanted her to think he was. He hurried to the living room and got a blanket, and when he returned he smiled as he said, "Let's get ya outta them wet clothes."
She told him she could do it herself but he wouldn't hear of it. He removed her clothes and dried her off, then wrapped the blanket around her shoulders. She looked at him asking, "Shouldn't I get dressed?"
"I think it'll be easier on us both if ya don't. Once the water comes there's no tellin' how soon the baby'll come, it could be fast."
"You're sure?"
"I ain't sayin' I know for sure, but I seen it happen fast like that with Karen when she had Cyrus."
She looked scared when she asked, "What about Denise?"
"I can't leave ya here alone while I take a chance on gettin' her and us gettin' back in time. The snow's already been comin' hard and I don't think it'll be lettin' up."
"Oh…oh."
She started to cry and he hugged her close, stroking his hand along her back when he said, "It's alright girl, I'm here. We're gonna get through everythin' just fine. Gonna have us a nice healthy baby. I know just what ta do." He hoped he sounded far more sure of himself than he felt.
As scared as she was she trusted him completely. Knowing him the way she did she felt confident he could do anything he had to do. "Alright."
"Ya sit here a minute while I strip the covers from the bed and lay some towels down. Then we're just gonna walk around the room a little, nice and slow. Walkin' can kinda help things move along." Ever since she'd let out the scream in the bathroom Happy had been sticking very close to them. Daryl didn't shoo him off. The dog was doing his job, keeping an eye on her.
They'd only been walking a few minutes when a pain hit her hard, she yelped and he held her tighter and Happy let out a mournful little whine. "Gonna be alright now, c'mon, ya best lay down."
She lay on the bed and he laid next to her, Happy stood on the other side of the bed with his chin resting on the mattress, and his eyes held steady on his mistress. Daryl did what he could to sooth her as her pains came with steadily increasing frequency and strength. He rubbed her back and he rubbed her tummy as repeatedly he told her, "You're doing good Beth. Everythin's just right. I love ya so much."
He knew it was getting close when the pains started coming one right after the other and she started to cry, and then the hardest one yet came and she nearly flew off the bed when she screamed, "Dammit!" and as terrible as he felt it was all he could do to hold in the laugh.
The room was not overly warm but perspiration covered her body. Her face was red and the tears rolled and she begged God to make it go away, and her husband silently begged God too. She was scooted down toward the end of the bed, her knees were up and he was right there, standing at the foot of their bed and ready. When he saw the top of the little head he encouraged, "Next pain Beth ya push real hard, try an push the baby out." All the while he silently prayed, "Please, God, please help me to help her."
It was just after one that Sunday afternoon when their son was born. He was red and as wrinkled as a little old man, and he was covered in slippery and messy fluids, including blood. His Mama and Daddy cried silent, happy tears as they stared at the little fella, and they knew, he was the most beautiful sight either of them would ever see.
His Daddy cut the cord, disposed of the afterbirth and cleaned her, and their bed and their little boy. He swaddled the baby and helped his wife in her gown, then he placed their son in his Mama's waiting arms. He covered them and stoked the fire, and her and the little one both fell sound asleep.
He and Happy looked at each other and he thought maybe it was the first time in hours that he finally took a breath. He went to the kitchen, poured and drank a shot of whiskey, heaved a sigh and poured another, then went back to his little family.
He stoked the fire. He smiled and kissed her forehead and he kissed his new son's forehead. He lay down on the floor next to the bed and Happy laid next to him, resting his head on his master's chest. Daryl absentmindedly scratched behind the dog's ear and told him, "I ain't ever been happier boy. We cared for Beth and helped bring little Ned into the world." He felt a tear come to his eye again when he added, "It's a damn fine day in Heavenly, the best day ever for our family. We earned a little rest." Then he raised his head up off the floor and took one more look at his wife and child before he slept.
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A/N Phew! I'm sure none of us doubted Daryl could deliver a baby :) So much happened and I hope you enjoyed reading about all of it, and that you'll leave a comment / review. The chapter photo is on my tumblr blogs gneebee, bethylmethbrick and A Place Called Heavenly. Our next chapter will be the final one and I hope you'll join me for that next Friday. Until then remember, I love ya large and I really do appreciate you all so, so much! Thank you, xo gneebee