A/N All characters belong to the writers and creators of The Walking Dead. Except those that arose from my own twisted imagination.
Chapter 31-Life Goes On
Standing in the kitchen with Alice, Dani was chewing her nails down to the quick as Alice broke the news.
"You're sure it's right? I mean, isn't there a possibility it's wrong?" Alice shook her head.
"If the one you did before was positive then this test confirms it. Combine that with your estimate that you're about three weeks late and I think it's pretty safe to say you're pregnant." Dani put her face in her hands. "Honey, it'll be ok. Are you worried about what Daryl will say?" Dani shook her head. "Then what is it?" Dani dropped her hands.
"The Governor's still out there. The prison isn't secure and...I'm terrified that something will go wrong like what happened to Rick's wife." Alice smiled reassuringly.
"Dani, that won't happen. You've had a baby before and everything went fine then. No complications, natural childbirth, no c-section, right?" Dani nodded. "Sweetie, remember that women have given birth at sea, in fields, in the middle of plagues, wars and before the invention of the epidural. The end of the world is nothing, alright?" Dani nodded and smiled, putting her hand on her stomach.
"You think it'll be healthy? With what little we eat, the stress and the work it takes to make this place produce? I mean, I still have to help out around here." Alice gave Dani a hug.
"You just need to eat more. Eat more eggs for the protein, drink a couple of glasses of milk a day, put some meat on that skinny ass of yours, and try not to worry so damn much! You don't have to do any heavy lifting. There's things you can do besides staying up all night standing watch in the tower. Hell, let that hot man you've got to pamper you for a while. You know he would if you'd let him." Dani laughed.
"How do you suggest I tell him?" Alice shrugged.
"Get him in a good mood." She waved the pregnancy test in the air. "Judging by this, I'd say you already know how to do that."
Both women started laughing and Alice hugged Dani. Neither one noticed Michonne in the kitchen doorway, backing away without saying a word, a smile on her face.
After meeting with Abraham and Taylor about going back to Woodbury, Rick and Daryl walked the fence to talk together.
"So," began Daryl. "What do you think?" Rick stabbed three walkers through the fence.
"I think they're right. It's bothered me that the Governor hasn't tried anything since Andrea escaped. According to what Andrea said, he was gonna attack us in a few weeks. That's what Martinez told her anyway, but we haven't seen any sign that anyone is heading this way, not even any more refugees. Bill and Alice just came here because they knew Dani was here. The rest of them trusted Bill." Daryl nodded.
"Do you want me to go with them?" Rick glanced at Daryl. Daryl would do whatever Rick felt he needed to do for the group but Rick could see that he really didn't want to go because of Dani. Unfortunately, Rick needed someone he could trust with Abraham and Taylor. And he trusted Daryl without question.
"Daryl, I need someone who can take care of themselves and keep an eye on what's going on." Rick leaned in close. "I'd ask Tyreese but he just lost his sister and I don't know where his head is at. If you think it's better I get Glenn or someone else, please, let me know and I will do that. I'll understand if that's your decision." Daryl frowned and looked out beyond the fence. He hated being in this position and he didn't know what he'd tell Dani. If going on a simple supply run was enough to stress her out then Daryl heading back to Woodbury would be twenty times worse.
"I'll go if you need me to go Rick. We have to do what we have to do." Rick nodded.
"Do you need me to talk to Dani about it?" Daryl shook his head.
"No, I can talk to her. She won't like it but she'll understand." The look in Daryl's eyes told Rick that this particular "talk" wouldn't go over real well. Rick felt bad putting Daryl in this position. Rick nodded.
"Alright then. We'll figure out what we're gonna do. The sooner y'all get out there, the sooner you can get back."
Dani was on pins and needles waiting for Daryl to come back inside. She couldn't wait to tell him but she was also terrified of his reaction. She knew he would never hurt her, had barely raised his voice to her since that one huge fight they had the day after their first time together, but that didn't mean she knew exactly how Daryl would react. He could easily go from being the sweetest man alive to a cornered animal without warning so she had to approach this the right way. She had laughed off Alice's suggestion of telling him after sex but, to be honest, she was certainly considering it. She heard the door open and looked up. Seeing him walk in the way he did, his shoulders slumped forward and his face sad scared her more than his anger ever could.
"Hey." He smiled at her when she spoke.
"Hey yourself." He set his crossbow on the table. "It's quiet in here. Where is everyone?" Dani shrugged.
"I've been waiting for you." She tried to smile, to act normal but it was so hard. She hid her hands in her lap to hide the shaking. Daryl walked behind her and started to massage her shoulders.
"Oh yeah? Why?" Dani drew in a shaky breath.
"We need to talk." Daryl's hands froze and he backed away.
"Alright. Out here?" Dani turned and shook her head no. Daryl studied her face for a moment, trying to pick up on what was wrong. Then he picked up his crossbow and headed back for their room. Once inside, Dani closed the door, leaned against it and covered her mouth with her hand as she tried hard to keep her composure. Daryl stood in front of her, his arms crossed.
"Dani, what is it?" She looked at his face and saw that he was once again the little boy expecting the worst.
"I found out something today and I don't know exactly how to tell you so I'll just come right out and say it." She took a deep breath. "I'm pregnant." Daryl blinked and his forehead furrowed as he processed that statement. He looked down , then back at her and backed up to sit down hard on the bed.
"You're what?" His voice had actually raised an octave or two, something Dani hadn't thought possible.
"I'm pregnant, Daryl." He continued to stare into space as the words slowly sank home but Dani couldn't make her feet move the few steps it would take to go to him. "Daryl? Please say something." He slowly turned his head back to her.
"You're sure?" Dani nodded.
"I took two pregnancy tests and I'm three weeks late. Alice is pretty sure that means we're gonna have another baby around here in about seven, maybe eight months." He nodded and Dani noticed unshed tears in his eyes.
"Another little ass kicker?" Dani smiled and finally relaxed.
"Yes. It's your son or daughter. How could it not be?" Suddenly Daryl laughed and covered his mouth with his hands. He remembered the dream he had a couple of months ago. He'd fallen asleep at the table after a night shift on guard duty and dreamed about a little blond haired boy running towards him who called him "Daddy". Rick had woken him up and the dream quickly faded but Daryl had clung to that image of the little boy because he had thought that would be the closest he would ever get to actually having a kid. He stood and quickly crossed the room, pulling Dani into his arms. He held her and she could hear and feel his heart racing. Relief finally washed over her as she pulled back and cupped his wet cheek in her hand.
"So, what do you think?" He tipped her chin up and leaned over her.
"I think," he spoke slowly. "that I need to tell you somethin' I should have said a long time ago." He kissed her and pressed his forehead to hers, his eyes closed. "I love you Danielle." Dani smiled.
"I love you too Daryl." He opened his eyes and ran his hand down her jawline as he looked her up and down.
"I don't look any different do I?" Daryl's eyes locked on hers and he shook his head.
"You're still beautiful." Dani laughed.
"Yeah well we'll see if you say that in a few months when I'm huge." He smirked and shook his head.
"You'll still be beautiful then." He looked away and the sadness came back into his eyes.
"Daryl, what's wrong?" He shook his head to clear it.
"Nothing. Was just thinkin' about some stuff. Things that'll have to change around here now." Dani raised her eyebrow at him.
"Don't you go overprotective on me, you hear? I'm not some upper class high society 'lady' that'll go into seclusion because of her 'delicate condition'. I'm pureblood Louisiana redneck, Dixon. I'll still pull my weight around here and you can't stop me from doing that." Daryl's eyes narrowed and a slight smile played on his lips.
"Sometimes I forget how damn stubborn you are. Alright, fine. If Alice and Hershel say you can do somethin', you can. If they say no.."
"Then I'll listen to them. Of course I will." Suddenly, she wanted him, needed him to touch her, needed to show him that certain things didn't have to change right away. She kissed him hard, pulling him closer. When she began unbuttoning his shirt, he grabbed her hand to stop her.
"Wait, Dani." He pulled back slightly. "Is it ok to still be doin' that?" Dani responded by kissing his neck, working her way down slowly to kiss along his collarbone, running her tongue on the sensitive skin until she felt him shiver when her lips got to that one spot on his shoulder.
"Yes." She kept her lips against his skin as she spoke and heard him moan low in his throat. "I need you Daryl. Right now." Not having to be told twice, Daryl's fingers quickly began fumbling with the button on her jeans.
"Michonne," Tyreese approached her cautiously. "I wanted to thank you for yesterday." Michonne shrugged.
"Don't worry about it." He stood next to her in the yard as they watched the sun go down and suddenly laughed.
"I was just thinkin' about those environmentalists that kept insisting we were destroying the planet by driving big cars and cutting the trees down but look around." He waved his hand and Michonne smiled in agreement. "The planet's still going same as always and we're the ones who've become the endangered species." Michonne nodded.
"I take it you are feelin' better if your waxing philosophical." Tyreese moved to stand in front of her, his face full of questions.
"Who were you before all of this? You don't strike me as a farm girl like Maggie or a housewife like Carol. What did you do?" Michonne pursed her lips.
"I was an attorney. I was married, had two kids, and then it all went to hell a few years ago. I got divorced, lost custody of my babies, was trying to get them back and then this happened." She motioned towards the walkers. Tyreese looked down.
"I'm sorry."
"It doesn't matter now." She looked hard at Tyreese. "Don't you go blabbin' my business to everyone. You're the only one I've told. I didn't even tell Andrea that. Alright?" Tyreese nodded.
"Like to keep an air of mystery about you huh?" Michonne tried to keep from smiling but couldn't. Her eyes lit up and Tyreese saw how beautiful she was.
"Yeah. Somethin' like that." Tyreese sighed.
"I don't know when we'll get any more good news from the outside. Seems like all we do is deal with the bad news as it comes." Michonne chuckled.
"Oh there's plenty of good news to come. You'll see." Tyreese turned to her.
"What do you mean by that?" Michonne smirked.
"For one, your record for sacks by a single player in a Super Bowl probably won't ever get broken." Michonne glanced at him out of the corner of her eye and shrugged. "You know, so there's that." Tyreese laughed.
"Yeah, there's that." He still missed Sasha, felt guilty enjoying life when she was dead, but knew that Michonne was right. Life had to go on because that was all they had left.
Daryl lay awake long after midnight. His mind had stopped racing and he was finally able to think clearly. Dani was asleep, her back to his stomach. He moved his hand down until it rested on her stomach. A baby, his baby. It scared him to death and made him happier than he had ever been in his whole life. Family meant everything to him, always had, even with the messed up bloodline he had. His mom had been a drunk most of the time before she died and his daddy hadn't let a day go by where he didn't whup on him. Merle at least looked out for him sometimes, when he wasn't trying to get Daryl to run pills for him to the school or be his lookout while Merle broke into some house. The only love he can remember getting from any of his kin was from his grandma. She dipped snuff and her tiny house reeked of tobacco but she always had candy and other treats for Daryl. Always for Daryl and never for Merle. He flashed back to when he was about four and, after a particularly bad beating from his father, he'd asked Grams if he could live with her. She'd patted his head and smiled that toothless grin she had.
"Honey sugar, your Grams is old. I know things is tough with your Momma and your Daddy ain't the kindest man but kids belong with their parents. Blood is important, you remember that." She'd hugged him tight and led him into the kitchen where cookies she had baked were cooling. "You just stay my sweet boy, Daryl. One day, you'll be the daddy and you can give your kids all the things your daddy won't." She'd died not long after that. Now, he was gonna be a daddy, just like Grams had said. He had a responsibility to Dani and the baby, to his family, his blood.
He had to make changes in his life, starting now. No more suicide runs, there were others here now who could go in his place. Dani had been trying to talk him out of risking his life since she got to the prison and even though he'd loved her and hated to leave her, he felt that the group was more important than his life. No more.
Sitting up slowly, he quickly and carefully climbed over Dani. He got dressed and tried to quietly open the door so he wouldn't wake her. Unfortunately, the door was not designed to be opened without making noise. He heard her stir on the bed.
"Daryl?" His eyes had adjusted to the darkness and he could just make out her silhouette as she sat up. "Is something wrong?"
"It's nothin'. I just need to talk to Rick."
"At this hour? Daryl, can't it wait until morning?" He walked back over to her and kissed her, caressing her cheek.
"I'll make this quick and be right back. Go back to sleep." Dani lay back down and Daryl hurried to find Rick. Rick wasn't in his cell so Daryl tried the guard tower. He found Rick up there with a penlight reading Hershel's Bible. He looked up when Daryl walked in. He smiled sheepishly and closed the book.
"Hershel got me readin' this. It's actually pretty good. All the stories of God's wrath..it kind of makes me long for another great flood so we can start over." Daryl nodded and ran his thumb along his bottom lip. "But I'm guessin' from the look on your face you didn't come up here to discuss the Good Book. What's goin' on?" Daryl frowned and put his hands on his hips.
"I'm not goin' to Woodbury with Abraham and Taylor. You're gonna have to find someone else to do it." Daryl saw the startled look on Rick's face and turned quickly to head back downstairs.
"Daryl, wait!" Rick caught up to him just outside the door. "Daryl, what's goin' on? Yesterday you were all ready to go. Is Dani upset? Is that it?" Daryl shook his head.
"No this isn't about Dani bein' upset. I just…changed my mind." Rick studied Daryl's face.
"Daryl, I respect your decision, I do. But I need someone with these guys who I can trust to make sure it's not a setup." Daryl bit his lip.
"So get Tyreese or Glenn to go." Both men were startled by footsteps in the gravel. Michonne walked over to them, her face serious.
"What's going on?"
"Abraham and Taylor want to go on a scouting trip to Woodbury, see if the Governor's still in operation. Daryl volunteered to go with them but now…" Michonne cut Rick off.
"No. He doesn't need to go." She looked at both men. "I'll do it." Rick smiled.
"I appreciate that Michonne but…" she raised her eyebrow.
"Don't you patronize me Rick. I can take care of myself." Rick held up his hands.
"I didn't mean any offense, Michonne. If you want to volunteer, you're more than welcome to." She smiled slightly.
"Great then it's settled." She turned to walk out towards the fence. Daryl waited a moment and then hurried after her.
"Michonne, hold up." Michonne stopped. "Why are you doin' this?" He couldn't see her face in the dark but he could feel her eyes locked on his.
"Because I think your baby deserves the chance to know it's daddy, not just hear about him from other people." Daryl was startled.
"How did you know about the baby?"
"I overheard Dani and Alice talking. So, now that I know, if I ever hear you even thinking about cutting out of here again, I'll kick your ass Dixon you hear me?" Daryl fought to suppress his grin.
"I'll remember that Michonne. Thank you." Michonne shrugged and continued her walk to the fence. She'd only taken a couple of steps when she turned back around.
"Don't worry about my saying anything about the baby. I figure you and Dani will want to do that when you're ready." Daryl nodded in response.
"Thanks." Michonne turned to walk away. Daryl watched her for a moment and then called after her. "I finally told her, just like you said I should." Michonne didn't break stride when she answered.
"About damn time." Daryl smiled and walked into the prison. Back in their room, he carefully crawled in bed and wrapped his arms around Dani.
"You find Rick?" Her sleepy voice told him she wasn't completely awake. He kissed her shoulder and lay down.
"Yeah, it's all taken care of." He answered but she had already gone back to sleep. Daryl closed his eyes and saw the little blond boy running towards him. His son. He smiled and drifted off to sleep.
A/N: The full dream to which Daryl refers can be found in my one shot What He Always Wanted. I wrote that a while ago because I couldn't get it out of my head but it just didn't fit in the scheme of this story. However, as a little flashback segment on it's own, I think it works!