Disclaimer: I own nothing.

– – –

"I'll get Denise," he said once he'd helped her onto the bed, and he hurried from the room, calling to the doctor, and he waited only a minute before she was running down the stairs at the alarm in his tone.

"What is it?" She saw the blood on his arm. "Are you okay?"

"It's not me. It's Carol. It's the baby."

She bolted to the back room, finding Carol coiled up on the mattress, shaking, and she dropped to her knees beside the bed, looking her over, but she couldn't see anything wrong. She tried to get Carol to explain her symptoms, but Carol's voice was a croak. She got her some water and was able to understand her better. She didn't know what would be wrong, so Denise asked Morgan to find Michonne and Sasha.

"What's going on?" Sasha was panting, having ran over from her shift, thinking something had happened to Abe, but her eyes instead fell to Carol. "Oh, shit."

"We need a car." Denise wiped the moisture from Carol's brow. "We have to get her to Harlan as soon as possible."

"I'll get a car." Sasha scrambled from the house, passing Michonne and filling her in.

"Morgan, give me a hand with her." Michonne collected a few bags in case Carol got sick on the trip. "Denise, I need you to stay here and tell Rick what happened."

"What about Tobin?" She watched Morgan carefully lift Carol up and off the bed. "Or Daryl?"

"I don't know. We don't have time to stand here and talk about this. We need to get her out of here and to Harlan's right now. I'm sorry." Michonne opened the front door for Morgan and hurried over to the car Sasha brought around. "Gently."

Morgan set her down in the backseat, moving to get in the passenger side, and Michonne didn't argue. She called to Eugene to open the gate, not bothering to tell him why, and Sasha sped out of Alexandria at top speed.

"How long has she been like that?" Sasha glanced back in the rear view mirror at the pale pregnant woman.

"I don't know. I only found her a few moments ago." Morgan peered back at her himself.

Michonne eased Carol back, allowing her to rest her head in her lap, and she set the cloth she'd gotten from the clinic on her brow, and Carol shuddered. Michonne swallowed hard, flashing back to Maggie, and she truly hoped this wasn't the same thing.

– – –

It was almost dawn when they saw the gates to Hilltop, Michonne called to the men on the wall, and Morgan carried Carol to the office, and he dismissed all of them, but Michonne. Sasha and Morgan sat outside his office, Morgan's weapon laid over his lap, and Sasha paced the length of the porch. They couldn't hear anything, which could be good or bad, and they waited.

Harlan asked for the entire story from Michonne, and she told him what Carol had told her. Carol was able to mention the couch and the walkers and the running and fish. He seemed particularly interested in that bit of information, and Michonne wondered why. He asked her a lot about the fish, about where it was caught, how it was prepared and how much of it she'd eaten. She couldn't answer every question, because she hadn't been there, but Michonne knew what she was talking about. She and Rick discussed that area, and she provided enough information for Harlan.

"Shit."

"What? What shit?" Michonne demanded.

"She could have food poisoning." He sighed. "There are...different forms, and the bacteria could cause multiple problems, some being premature birth or cause her to miscarry."

"Miscarry?" Carol tensed, eyes round and shimmering with moisture.

He nodded and explained it to her, Michonne stepped out to send Sasha and Morgan back to Alexandria to bring Daryl and Tobin, but Morgan declined. He wanted to stay there and look in on Carol once Harlan allowed her to have visitors, and Michonne couldn't just send Sasha back alone, so she would have to go with her. She fed Morgan the entire story of what happened with Carol and Daryl yesterday, so in case Carol was unconscious or couldn't recall, he had it.

"How could it be a danger to the baby?" Sasha unlocked the doors. "I mean it's not a good thing, pregnant or not, but...how bad could it get?"

"He said there's a bacteria that could cause her to miscarry."

"Son of a bitch."

"He has antibiotics and anything she might need, and what he doesn't have, I can grab from home." She slid around to the passenger side of the car. "I can't even imagine what Tobin must be going through."

"Or Daryl. That man's got a strong attraction to blaming himself for everything."

Michonne nodded. She hoped whatever Denise told them, it wasn't going to make them fly out of town to get to Hilltop. They might cross paths, so she'd keep her eye out for them.

––

Denise watched Morgan carry Carol from the house and stammered after them. She had no clue how she was going to tell Daryl or Tobin Carol was double over in sweat and found on the floor. She could tell Rick, but not them. Tobin would want to know everything, and she didn't know everything, and Daryl would be livid. He'd pace the room and fly out of town on his bike. He probably would the moment she said Carol was found on the floor, and it'd like a cartoon, a line of dust kicked up behind him as he dashed out.

"What is it so noisy?" Tara was on the stairs. "I need at least eight hours if I'm going to function at all tomorrow."

"Sorry. Enid...wanted to come and practice for her test," she lied. "I sent her back home to Olivia's."

"She's staying with Maggie," Tara corrected. "You're the one who told me that, and you're not the forgetful type. What's going on, Denise?"

"Honestly I have no clue what's going. Morgan's bleeding, Carol was on the floor, coated in sweat and saying something's wrong with the baby, and Michonne told me I have to tell Tobin and Daryl she's been taken to Hilltop. I have to tell Rick too, which I'm fine with. He won't run out or...have a breakdown."

"What?" She gasped and joined Denise by the door. "I'll go tell Rick. Tobin's crew is likely on their way back in, and Daryl's picked up a few shifts here and there. Let's just wait until they come home. We actually have to for Tobin, but we can't have Daryl roaming around in the middle of the night alone to Hilltop."

"Why can't I tell Rick?"

"Because you need to wait for Tobin."

"I'm the one who was told to tell these men, and we're wasting time debating. We'll just tell Rick now. He should be at home with his kids, and we'll find Daryl and Tobin later. Tobin should know, but honestly ignorance is bliss right now."

They departed the house to find Rick, Carl and Judith were on the porch with Enid, who had been studying, but stopped at how cute Judith and Carl were being. She laughed at them, her book lying to the side forgotten until she saw Denise then she snatched it up and pretended to be reading it. Denise told her it was fine, and they'd work on it tomorrow. They slipped by a wary Carl and found Rick and Abraham in the kitchen, and Tara wasn't sure if they were trying to prepare dinner or if they'd already tried and murdered it.

Rick felt the tension oozing out of the women and frowned. "What happened?"

"It's Carol," Denise answered. "She...may have lost the baby or is violently ill, or both."

"What?" Rick flited around the counter and over to them. "What the hell happened?"

"I don't know. Morgan found her on the floor, saying something was wrong with the baby, and she was feeling crummy this morning, but I assumed it was just food not settling properly. She mixed oats and fish, so I didn't think it was a big deal." She sighed. "Michonne and Sasha and Morgan are driving her to the Hilltop right now."

"Has anybody told Daryl?" Rick headed to the door. "Or Tobin?"

"No, Tobin's not back yet, and I don't know whose shift Daryl took. It might be Glenn's. It might be Spencer's. Hell, might be Aaron's." Tara shrugged her shoulders.

"I'll worry about tellin' Daryl and Tobin." Rick faced them. "Why don't you go and get some rest? It's on me now."

"I don't think I can sleep until I know she and the baby are all right." Denise stepped forward. "If Daryl goes to Hilltop, I'm going with him."

"You have Enid," Tara reminded her. "And you're our only doctor. Carol will be back eventually, and the wait's going to be killer, but we need you here."

She sighed, but knew her girlfriend was right. "Okay."

"What are you going to do?" Tara asked Rick.

"I'll find Tobin and Daryl, tell them together, and we'll get them to Hilltop. Tobin oughta be there, and Daryl ain't one to sit still when Carol's in danger." He strolled off the porch. "Carl, put Judy to bed soon, okay?"

"Okay, Dad." He pulled his sister back when she reached for her dad. "Not now, Judy. Dad has work to do."

"And so do I." Enid rose up off the porch. "I'm gonna crash at Maggie's, but I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Yeah." He smiled. "Good luck on your test."

"Same to you." She sauntered off towards home. "Good night!"

He had Judith wave to her, and he called to Enid, taking his sister inside for her bed time. He had heard what happened with Carol, him and Enid both, and they decided to keep it on the down low. The less people knew about this, the less likely it was to get back to Maggie, who really didn't need to hear about this.

Rick found Daryl by the empty houses, rubbing a sore muscle, and he called to him, taking him to Tobin's. Daryl was hesitant to approach the house, but Rick said it was urgent, so he complied for his friend's sake. Rick told him and Tobin to sit, and Rick could sense how little they liked each other. There was a certain distain for the other in the room, and Rick hoped this didn't cause it to blow up. Hell, regardless it was going to blow up, because it was about the single most important person in their lives. For Daryl, that was Carol, and for Tobin, it was his baby.

Rick ducked his head and pinched the bridge of his nose. "I got some bad news."

"What is it?" Daryl shot off the couch. "Did somethin' happen on the wall? Or those Negan assholes?"

"No, it's about Carol."

Daryl's breathing noticeably halted, and any color in his drained away. "What about Carol?"

"Is she gone?" Tobin whispered, a quiver in his words.

"Morgan found her on the floor, sayin' she thought somethin' was wrong with the baby." He held a hand up to stop their questions. "He was very specific. She wasn't in pain. She wasn't bleedin'. She was just pale and sweaty. They took her to Hilltop, and I only just found out, but we'll get y'all out there."

"Y'all?" Tobin blinked. "Why does he have to come at all?"

"You better watch your tone," Daryl hissed.

"No, I'm genuinely curious to know what the hell you have to do with my child's well-being." Tobin was on his feet, looking down on Daryl, and Daryl glowered up at the man. "You do know it's my child, right? Carol's your friend, and I get being worried, but you don't have to be up her ass."

Daryl scoffed. "Me? I'm up her ass? You should really take a look in the mirror, asshole."

Rick intervened, moving his shoulder between them to physically separate the two. "We don't have time for this. We need both of you to get to Hilltop. Daryl and Carol were out yesterday, and he call tell Harlan what happened. That's why he's comin'. If you want the best chance for your kid, for Carol, to survive then you won't argue with Daryl comin'."

"Out?" Tobin narrowed his eyes. "Outside the wall?"

"Yeah, she needed some air, so we went for a walk." Daryl headed to the door. "Let's go. We're wastin' time here. I'll drive."

Rick wasn't going with the pair. He was needed here with Michonne and Sasha and Morgan out, plus Glenn's group, so he sent them on ahead. He hoped they didn't kill each other, but he couldn't afford to leave this place with such small fighting numbers. Most of these people could fight walkers, but they'd rather just live their lives as civilians. He couldn't blame them, so he'd stay and keep them safe should any threats arise. He hoped they returned with good news. He couldn't handle the news if it were to be anything else.

"Rick!" Maggie ran over, perturbation on her face, and she was panting. "I heard about what happened to Carol. I'm goin' to Hilltop."

"What?" Rick stepped back. "How did you find out?"

"That doesn't matter. I'm goin' with whoever else is headin' out." She scanned the area and saw a car. "Is that Daryl?"

"Yeah, he and Tobin are driving over to be with Carol."

"I'll go with them then." She swept her gaze back to him. "And you don't have to keep news like this hidden from me. I did lose my baby, but part of me is happy that Carol's baby is alive. It helps."

He nodded. "I just didn't want you to relive your loss."

"I don't need help relivin' it," she imparted. "All I gotta do is close my eyes, and it's there."

"You should run over before they head out." He gestured to the car. "Daryl brought a few guns, but I think the biggest worry is keepin' him and Tobin from rippin' into each other."

"I'll make sure those knuckleheads get to Hilltop in one piece." She smiled and jogged over to where Daryl was about to get in the car. "Hey."

"Maggie." He held the door and met her eyes, knowing instantly that she had found out. "You want in?"

"I do."

"Passenger seat's open." He nodded his head to the door. "We gotta wait on Tobin. I don't know what he's doin', but he better hurry the hell up."

Maggie moved around the car, Tobin rejoined them, and Daryl blew out of Alexandria. Maggie had buckled herself in and thankfully so. If they were to crash at this speed, they'd be thrown out the damn windshield. She couldn't know how fast Michonne or Sasha had driven Carol to Hilltop, but she had a feeling it was just like this.

Unfortunately the driving wasn't the worst experience Maggie was going to have in this car. She could feel the anticipation pouring off both men, and she knew one of them would channel it into picking a fight. Daryl was focused on driving in the dark, keeping his eyes on everything to prevent an accident, but Tobin was stewing. She wondered how long until he finished and erupted. She didn't know the beef between the two men, but she knew the woman behind it. Carol was close to Daryl, but not Tobin. She had only known him in a Biblical sense and gotten pregnant, and they had no bond, no real friendship aside from that. It wasn't hard to tell it was a one-sided relationship now that Maggie thought back. She was distracted by her own pregnancy and her plans with this town to really notice. She hardly ever saw Carol, come to think of it, before they were kidnapped. She should remedy that.

"Why were you and Carol outside of the wall?" Tobin's voice shattered the silence.

"You were outside the wall?" Maggie's brows shot up. "When?"

"Yesterday." He dodged a few walkers, not wanting to deal with their guts and whatnot on the windshield. They could also cause damage to the car. He wasn't in the mood to tolerate with it. He simply wanted to get to Hilltop and see what the hell was going on with the baby and with Carol. "I found out she'd slipped out, so I went after her."

"And you didn't bring her immediately back?" Tobin pressed.

"She didn't wanna go back, and I was with her. I kept her safe." He shot a glare through the rear view mirror at the man in the backseat. "We didn't have any real problems, just a couple walkers."

"When did you get back?" Maggie grasped the strap to her seat belt, her stomach flipping as the needle inched toward ninety.

"This mornin'. She had real bad mornin' sickness, so Denise looked at her. I had to take one of Spencer's shifts to make up for them leavin', and I wasn't able to check in on her."

"So nothin' happened while you were out." Maggie nodded in understanding.

"Well, not exactly." He made a sharp turn and slowed the car down a notch. "We had to run from the walkers, move a heavy ass couch to block the door, and she started bleedin'."

"Bleeding?" Tobin whispered. "Why?"

"It was just spottin'," he assured the two. "She said it was normal, happened to her with Sophia, and it stopped."

"Are you sure it was just spottin'?" Maggie had to remind herself to breathe at the flashbacks playing in her mind.

"She wouldn't lie to me."

"Were you with her the whole time?"

"No. She took a shower to get the blood off." He peeked at the young woman. "What, you think she miscarried? She didn't lied to me."

"I'm not sayin' she showered through losin' the baby," Maggie remarked, "but maybe there was more to this than she let on. You worry about her, and she knows that. She could have been trying to protect you."

Daryl shook his head.

"It's just a possibility. I'm not sayin' it's true."

"If she'd lost the baby," Tobin breathed, "wouldn't she have told me? It's our kid, so she would have told me."

Maggie glanced back at the ashen-faced man and exhaled. "I can't pretend to know Carol's thoughts if she were to ever lose the baby, or had she lost the baby, so don't ask me. For all we know she's just sick or somethin'."

"What could have gotten her sick?"

Daryl's grip on the wheel tightened, Maggie noticed it, but Tobin hadn't. Maggie knew then what must have happened while they were out, and she reached over and set her hand over his. She knew he was finding some way to blame himself, and she didn't want that. Shit happened, and sometimes it wasn't anybody's fault. Ironic that she couldn't believe that in the face of her own miscarriage, but it was easier to console other people through their losses and hard times than it was to console yourself.

––

They arrived at Hilltop and nearly collided with Sasha and Michonne, Michonne spoke to them through the window and decided to head back home, and Daryl pulled in. The trio fumbled out of the car and to Harlan's office. Morgan was sitting outside on the ground, Maggie didn't ask if she could enter she just did, and Daryl and Tobin followed.

On the monitor, the baby was there, and the trio halted in their haste. Harlan couldn't do more in-depth tests, so he would observe the baby and the mother, and he was just about to finish when Maggie, Daryl and another man came barreling into his office. They all seemed to calm at the sight of the small little dot on the screen, and he smiled at the sight of it. They were truly a family, and he was glad they'd come to see Carol through this. It could provide to be a trying time.

"Oh, my God." Maggie moved to be by Carol's side, tears brimming behind jade eyes, and she covered her mouth with her hand. Her other touched her own stomach, and she didn't feel as hollow and as bitter as she thought she would. She felt odd and somewhat agonized, but it was manageable. For now. It'd likely increase the longer she lingered.

"Is she okay?" Daryl stood beside Maggie. "And the kid?"

"For now, they're all right. Carol has food poisoning, which could prove lethal to the fetus, but I'm going to keep her here and hydrated and basically do my job." He smiled a little. "I'll do everything I can do ensure both mother and child get through this."

"So, for now, the baby's all right?" Maggie lowered her hand.

He nodded, his eyes moving to the gentlemen in the room. "This the first time Dad's seeing the baby?"

Carol nodded. "Yeah."

"Well, I hope to see more of you here." He turned his attention back to the screen. "And I will, because until Carol has gotten through this, I want her to stay here."

"For how long?" Daryl asked.

"For however long it takes. I have a few spare cots in here, so you're welcome to stay too. All of you, if you want." He ran his eyes over the three. "I can't say they're cushy or that you'll even be able to sleep on them, but they could always be worse."

"I don't care. I'm stayin'." Daryl dropped his hand onto the gurney, and it brushed against Carol's. "I'll sleep on the damn floor."

"I'll stay too." Maggie smiled at Carol. "Enid has her classes, and she's practically livin' with Denise and Tara, so I'm not needed there much."

"And you?" Harlan inquired at the tall man. "I'm guessing you're staying too?"

"Of course," Tobin replied. "It's—"

Carol broke out into a coughing fit, Daryl's fingers slipped around her wrist, and Maggie helped her sit up. She told them she was fine, just a little thirsty, and Harlan got her something to drink. Harlan then politely asked them to leave so he could get Carol changed. He wanted her to be as comfortable as possible, and she still wore the clothes from that cabin, which were wrinkled and stained with sweat. She changed into a clean top and pants, preparing herself to be stuck in this room for the next however many days and also preparing herself for what the end results would be.

Harlan wasn't even shocked when four people returned this time. He got the names Morgan and Tobin from the two men he hadn't met before, and Daryl and Maggie pulled out the cots. Daryl just tossed a blanket on the floor and moved over to where Carol was. Maggie headed to the main house to find a book to read, and Morgan decided to go back to Alexandria, to fill Rick and other in on their stay. He had wanted to stay and chat with Carol, but he could see she had plenty of support, plenty of people to converse with, and he didn't want to crowd them.

"You takin' the car?" Daryl called to him.

"I'll walk back."

"Are you sure?" Tobin frowned. "It's a long way to walk."

"I could use the silence and the air. Besides if I took the car, how would you get back to Alexandria once Carol and the baby are all right?" He smiled. "I'll be fine."

"I'll walk you to the gate." Tobin dropped the pillow he'd been given and escorted Morgan out to thank him for his quick actions to help Carol and the baby.

Daryl turned to face Carol, drinking her in and feeling his heart drop. She was paler than he'd ever seen her, dark circles emphasized against her pallor, and she had a constant trail of sweat on her brow. He didn't know if it was the heat or the food poisoning, but he grasped the little towel in the bowl beside her and tenderly wiped it away.

Guilt rooted itself in his chest as she weakly breathed, her eyes closed as she was trying to rest for the first time since their impromptu trip. He knew he should have taken her directly back to Alexandria. He knew he should have put his foot down and demanded she turn around for the sake of her health, and the health and survival of her baby. He shouldn't have thought it would okay to let her wander around outside the walls in that heat without proper supplies. He'd only brought enough to get her back within the safety of the gates. He hadn't planned their overnight stay, which was exactly why he should have steered her back towards home, not aided her in senselessly meandering.

He told Rick he would find her and bring her right back. It was his intention the moment he found Tobin's house locked and dark. He had been so pissed with her and with Abe for not keeping a closer eye on the comings and goings of the people, which his fucking job that day. He had planned on going off on him for being so goddamned reckless and letting a pregnant woman slip by him, but he had to get Carol back. He had been so worried. Anything could have happened to her, and there would have been nothing he could have done. He'd been so helpless with her what felt like so many times. He had to watch those bastards drag her off to Grady after they'd run her over like she wasn't easy to spot. Sure, she was small woman, but for fuck's sake, she was right there! He had to hear that bitch say they had a Carol and a Maggie and not know where the fuck they were to make them pay for ever even approaching his family, let alone kidnapping a pregnant woman and his best friend.

He had to live with her loss that awful fucking day at the prison. He had to mourn her and thought he had to take out the motherfucking walker version of her. He didn't know what was behind that door, be it her killer or her...as one of them, but he knew he couldn't let her be one of those things. He knew he couldn't leave her or it in there, so he did what he did and found her alive. She was small little thing, weakly blinking up at him, dehydrated, unable to speak or move, and he had been so grateful. It was a damn miracle, and he couldn't take his eyes off of her the entire walk back to the cell block. He'd never held anyone in his arms until that moment, save for Ass Kicker, and there was something...nice about holding her that close, feeling her warmth and breath on his chest, the way her head rested on his breast, her arm around his shoulders. He knew she trusted him, but the way she felt in his arms, the way she held onto him even in her weaken, starved, dehydrated state felt like he was her lifeline. He'd never felt so important to anyone until that moment. He knew he was an asset to the group, was a friend to Rick and Hershel, but to Carol, at least in that moment, he was the air and the sun and hope and life all wrapped into one. He never forgot the way she looked at him when he threw open that door.

And then there was that nightmare of a day when Rick came to him to tell him Carol had killed Karen and David. He couldn't believe a word Rick said about Carol, about who he thought she was, and he wanted to explode on him for even considering that she wasn't sorry, that she wasn't haunted by that decision, that it didn't fill her with agony when she killed them. In the end, Carol had done the merciful thing. He and the others were so delayed, they already had people dead in A, and Karen and David didn't have to choke on their own blood and die in a horrible way and be reborn as walkers. Carol did what she did for the group and out of mercy, just like when Tyreese killed Bob. He did it for Sasha and to keep Bob as Bob, not as one of those things. Rick didn't know her like Daryl knew her, and Daryl damn near decked him for what he said, and he would have had Rick not polished it off with her banishment. The wind was knocked out of him, and he had to lean over the railing to try and inhale, because it felt like part of him had been ripped away.

First it was Merle. Rick had left him handcuffed to a goddamn roof where walkers were overrunning the place. He just abandoned him without a backwards glance, and he did try to make it right, but by that time it was too late. Merle had done what he had to do and gotten off that roof. He was a tough son of a bitch, a simple minded piece of shit too, and he didn't blame Rick for it anymore. He understood it now, had perspective on it, but when he'd heard he'd done basically the same to Carol, he couldn't breathe. He'd gotten pissed the first time, tried to attack Rick, but this time, the second time, he couldn't inhale. Rick had been nicer about it this time, giving her a car and supplies and tearing into her instead of handcuffs and a soon to be overrun roof, but nevertheless it was still someone Daryl loved. His brother and then his best friend, and he got no say whatsoever either time.

And now here they were again. It wasn't walkers overrunning the prison; it wasn't a car hitting her; it wasn't assholes who pinned her and Maggie; it wasn't Rick telling him he'd banished Carol; it was him and her and fish he didn't properly prepare. It was him disobeying a command he'd given himself. It was him not doing his best to ensure she and the baby were okay. It was just him this time. Him. He swore to never hurt anybody he cared about, not like his old man, not like Merle with his sharp, thoughtless tongue, not like the assholes they'd encountered since the world ended. Yet he had. He didn't raise his voice or his hand or his weapon; he simply misused his abilities and under cooked a motherfucking fish. Or perhaps caught a fish that had something foul in it, something that contaminated it. He didn't know, but it was his doing. He'd supplied the fish, he had watched her devour it, and he'd offered her second helpings. Him.

His hand shook as he replaced the moist towel, gulping around the lump in his throat, his blood running cold. If she lost the baby today or tomorrow or the next day, it was his fault. He had been careless, allowing their travels to continue. He'd been the one to get dinner. He'd been the one. If she lost the baby...how could he ever expect her to forgive him? How could he ever forgive himself? Knowing all she'd lost and even witnessing the biggest loss of her life? He'd been there for Sophia, held her back, tried to sooth her, and while he wasn't there for the girls, he knew what it must have been like for her—though she said it'd been much worse, so perhaps he didn't understand—but this time it was his actions that would cause her unspeakable anguish. How could he be around her if that were to occur? She wouldn't want him around, and he couldn't blame her.

If she lost the baby, he'd be to blame and he'd lose her. He'd lost his best friend, part of...who he was now...and he'd lose her baby too. It wouldn't be the same as her and Tobin's loss, but how could he not mourn this loss? He already had plans for the little dot, already had a spot in his heart where it was worming itself in, very much like its mother, and he wasn't sure how he would survive it. He'd been heartbroken with the loss of Sophia, nearly crushed by the loss of Beth, and if he were to add this child to that list...there might not be any recovery.

– – –

Maggie wandered back to Carol's room, finding her alone and asleep, and she sat down on the floor with a book she'd found in the main house. She opened the front page and glanced at Carol for a moment. She rose and moved to sit on the floor beside Carol's bed, clearing her throat, and while it wasn't a children's book or anything interesting that a child or Carol might like to hear, but she might as well pass the hours reading to them. She'd read softly as to not wake Carol however.

She opened the cover and cleared her throat, reading the first line softly. She knew it was foolish, to be reading to a fetus that likely couldn't even hear her or understand anything she was saying, but it was pleasant. She had plans to read to her own baby while it was still in the womb, but she never got the chance. She didn't know if she and Glenn would make it long enough to try for another child, but she sincerely hoped so. She had so many stories she wanted to tell their baby—from both books and her life.

She would tell her baby all about her Aunt Beth. A strong, little songbird who did as she was told and fought her way back through clouds so dark and foreign. She could tell the baby of how good Beth was with Judith, how Beth had a way of opening people up, even if she had to bust out a pair of damn pliers to do it. She would tell the baby of how Beth found herself, her true self, after the world had ended, how she built this armor around her and while it did have its cracks, she did her best to fight through them. She'd ensure this baby knew how special and amazing and rare Beth was to their family and this world, an eternal burning light of hope and faith and beauty.

She would also tell the baby of Daddy. She would tell the baby how wise and kind its Grandfather had been. She would tell the baby of Annette and her birth mom, about all the things they taught on the farm and on life and people, even what they taught her on how to be fearlessly herself. She would do her best to make sure her future child learned the lessons she had learned, accepted themselves and found an inner peace. That was desperately needed in today's world. There rarely was outer peace, and the world was a cruel, unforgiving and cold place. She had seen the many sides it had to offer, and she could hope and pray her baby never had to endure all she and her family had. She and Glenn would teach them how to survive, how to persevere, and when to draw on that inner strength. Lord knew they'd need it if its life was anything like theirs.

She paused when Carol moaned softly, but she didn't wake. Maggie shifted onto her knees and heedfully felt her brow, feeling her fever was still there, and she sat back, gazing at her friend. She set the book down and grasped Carol's hand, moving her free hand to Carol's stomach. She bowed her head and despite having a rocky faith, she prayed. It was what Daddy did, what Beth would have done, and God couldn't always be kind with His plans for them, as she well knew. She prayed this baby would live, would draw its first breath and live a long, happy, healthy life. She wanted to this baby to see sunsets and sunrises, hear rain pinging off the roof, watch snow flutter to the ground, jump and crunch on fall leaves. She wanted to be there and watch this little child grow, and she prayed herself into nearly crying, because she would lose all faith and hope of her and Glenn repairing their relationship and trying again if if baby were to die before ever seeing its mother or feeling a warm summer's breeze or eating fresh fruit or finding love and starting a family of its own.

Carol rolled away from her, Maggie inhaled to calm herself, and she slowly removed her hand. "I've done my part," she whispered, "so you do yours, okay?" She snuffled. "God can only do so much, your mom can only do so much, so please...please just fight through this."

Her green eyes reddened as tears seared there, and she shivered, stroking Carol's stomach. "I wanna meet you. I wanna hold you and watch you grow. In fact, I need it, so don't go into any lights, okay? Don't—don't." She squeezed her eyes shut and bowed her head. "Please, don't."

– – –

Tobin got to see what Hilltop was like during the early hours, meeting a lot of people and even getting tips on how to tend to the wall. He liked it here. He wouldn't mind living here were he not so happy in Alexandria. He couldn't ask Carol to pull up stakes and stay here. He wanted to be close to their kid, so he'd remain in Alexandria. He doubted Hilltop took new people in just like that anyway.

He found himself heading back to Harlan's, and he discovered the room was empty, save for Carol who was stirring a cup of what he assumed was tea and having broth. He didn't know where or what kind of broth it was, but he doubted they'd do anything to harm her or the baby. He smiled as a greeting, one she automatically and weakly and also sloppily returned. He could see she still wasn't feeling too hot, and he wished there was more he could do.

"Did Harlan bring you lunch?" He gestured to the broth and tea.

"No, it was one of the women here. I didn't catch her name." She set the spoon down. "Daryl insisted I have his portion for lunch and dinner. He said he'd get his own food, but I made her give it to him anyway."

Tobin's brow twitched and his lips pressed together as he stiffly nodded. "How are you feeling?"

"Lousy." She stared at the honey liquid in the bowl and sighed. "I don't want to eat this, because I know I'll throw it back up, but...I can't afford not to."

"You don't know if you'll puke it up."

"I have evidence to the contrary." She drank the tea and glanced at him. "He'll be back to check on the baby in an hour or so. You...uh, do you want to be here for that?"

"Yeah! Yeah, of course." He smiled. "How is it looking? Has he done anything more?"

"Well, so far everything is okay as it can be under the circumstances." She set the cup down. "I don't know how long it'll last, but he's somewhat optimistic. It's only been a few hours though, so he's reluctant to say or do more."

He nodded. "Well, I'm here for whatever you need."

"Okay." She pulled out a smile. "Thanks."

"I am the father. I should do more to pull my weight around here."

Carol lowered her eyes and swallowed with difficulty, Tobin noticed and wondered if she'd be sick, but her stomach was moderately okay for now. He didn't know she was struggling with his eagerness to step up and be there for the baby. She was so used to doing it all alone. She had to check herself. She knew Daryl would force himself into any situation that involved her, because he cared, and they were friends; however, for a man like Tobin who didn't know her to offer his assistance and to be there and to support her felt bizarre. She doubted she'd ever truly adjust to it. She had the father slot filled with filth like Ed, so for Tobin to be here and be kind and supportive and show love for his child...was strange. She knew she'd have to erase her memories of Ed as a father to replace them with Tobin as a father, and she wasn't certain how that'd turn out. To be honest the only man who proved himself to be a good father was a man who wasn't a father or the father. He did more for her little girl in one day than Ed ever did in her entire twelve years of life, and she was forever grateful, despite the outcome.

"I'll let you eat," Tobin murmured. "I'll come back soon." He reached out and comfortingly squeezed her shoulder, leaving without another word.

He inhaled deeply outside the door and stuffed his hands into his pockets, deciding then and there that he needed to talk to Rick once they were back in Alexandria. The present was rocky as hell, so he'd do this best to preserve the future. He knew Francine's group had supplies—clothes, medicine, food, weaponry—but Aiden and Nick deemed it too high-risk to even approach it. They had the people and ammo take it on. He wouldn't just sit around anymore. He couldn't. He was going to be a father, so he was going to secure those goods to safeguard Alexandria. Besides with more food brought it, more could go to Carol to give her nutrients and strength and plump up the baby. Well, if this...wasn't the last stop.

– – –

"All right." Harlan smiled at Carol and Daryl who were waiting for him the next morning. He'd seen Maggie helping feed the older people, and he didn't know where Tobin was. He was a tall man but easy to lose sight of. He was kind of a plain Jane, only for a man so perhaps it was plain Joe? Eh, it was early for these thoughts. "How are you feeling?"

"A little better. I was able to keep my breakfast down."

"That's good." She looked a little shaky, but was regaining a bit of color. "How did you sleep?"

"Like a damn rock." Daryl smirked, and Carol rolled her eyes. "She didn't wake up once till lunch, and she was out all night."

"Good. You needed it." Harlan paused and met Daryl's gaze. "How did you know she slept through the night?"

His cheeks reflected a sheepish blush, and he scratched the back of his head to divert attention from his face. "I was up real late," he lied. "Tobin snores." That wasn't a lie. He was worse than Merle. Maggie threw a pillow over his face to try and shut him up. It didn't work. If it didn't creep him out to think about the two of them together, Daryl would wonder how the fuck Carol slept through the sound.

"Uh-huh." Harlan checked her temperature, seeing it was a low grade fever, and he began his normal check up routine with her. He had rolled up her shirt a bit when Tobin walked in with Maggie. "A crowd, huh?"

Maggie smiled and slipped by Daryl to stand by Carol's head. "Yeah. It's like we're all the father."

"Except it's not." Daryl smirked at Carol's teasing comment. "And honestly, Mag, you're the least qualified person in this room to be the biological father."

She smiled a little wider and set a hand on Carol's shoulder. "Have we missed anythin'?"

"Not yet." Harlan cleared his throat and steadied his hand, momentarily hoping there was still a living baby in there. "You ready?"

She nodded. "Yeah, I am."

"So I am," Tobin murmured.

Harlan blinked and his brows knitted together. "Wait a minute, you're—?" He stopped from finishing that question and shook his head. "Never mind."

"No, what?" Tobin requested. "You're what?"

"I—I just thought he," Harlan gestured with his finger at Daryl, "was the father."

Maggie winced at the expression the two men gave, and she dropped her gaze to the floor for a moment while it passed.

"Why?" Tobin folded his arms over his chest.

"H—he was just here for both appointments, and he asked me about a million questions about the baby and risks to its health and Carol's and so on. It just seemed like the questions an expectant father would ask, and I just assumed it was him." He couldn't maintain eye contact with the man anymore and felt a heat creep up the back of his neck, and he wanted to dig his own grave. He also assumed it because the man clearly had strong feelings for Carol, and he didn't hide it. Honestly he spent the whole damn night staying up to keep an eye on her, and the actual father...slept and snored through the night? He was no one to judge, but there was something odd about that.

"Well, he's not," Tobin pointedly stated.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to...strike a nerve." He turned to Carol. "Let's check on the baby now."

"Here." Maggie moved between Daryl and Tobin, guiding Tobin toward Carol's head for the better view of the baby, and she shared a look with Daryl.

There was a moment of heart-stopping silence and searching, and if there was ever a time in history when there was collective skip of five hearts it happened yet again in that office. Harlan couldn't find the baby, but after what felt like an eternity, he was able to reveal the little dot they all knew as Carol—and Tobin's—baby. Maggie exhaled a small laugh, Tobin ducked his head to blink back tears that were forming at the thoughts building up in his head, and Daryl felt something compress his hand. He looked down and found it was Carol's hand, and he didn't know when she'd taken it, but he squeezed back. She didn't take her eyes off the screen, nevertheless he knew she felt it.

– – –

In total they spend a week up at Hilltop, Carol and the baby recovered and were given a clean bill of health along with new sonogram to take home with them. Maggie was keen to get back home, Tobin was ready to get back to work, and Daryl was just damn ecstatic to know Carol and the baby were all right—as they all were, of course.

Maggie said her goodbyes to Harlan and waited by the car. She couldn't wait to get home. She wanted to see Enid and her office and hopefully Glenn was back by now. She missed him and sorely wanted to see him. Hug him. She hadn't wanted to hug anybody so badly in her life. It was a good sign. She knew she still loved her husband, but now...it felt like it used to. Perhaps she was beginning to heal. With all the time spent here with Carol and the baby, reading to them now and then, watching the little thing on the screen...it did her broken heart some good. She was happy to be leaving, as it was in better shape than they'd all arrived.

Daryl started up the car, ready to get them back to Alexandria before nightfall, and he sighed. He and Tobin were doing even worse since Harlan's comment, so he was yearning to get back to Alexandria and the hell away from the grumpy, tall mass known as Tobin. Though he and Carol had gotten to just talk while they were here. She couldn't sleep some nights, and he waited to keep an eye on her, so they chatted. He would find her stroking her stomach more often than not, and he had to keep from smiling. She was so precious, so protective, and whenever he lingered on that, he felt...his heart race. Although it ached too, because she kept a mask up. One he wanted to rip off and destroy. Perhaps one day he would be able to.

Tobin and Carol walked to the car together, and he carried their luggage of now clean clothes. They hadn't said much over the past week, unless it involved the baby and how she was doing, and they weren't speaking now. It was a pleasant kind of silence, and Carol was grateful for it. She was tired, emotionally worn out, and she wanted to sleep in her own bed. She hoped she could. The only time she'd slept well was...that night with Daryl in the cabin...

"You want to ride up front?" Maggie rested her arms stacked on the top of car.

"Sure." Carol moved to the passenger seat. "Tobin, why don't you sit behind me? I can give you the leg room you probably didn't get on the way up."

He smiled. "Okay."

They had learned to keep Tobin and Daryl apart, even if it was just one seat back, but it did keep the peace. They all loaded into the car, Carol buckled herself in, and Daryl smiled at the action, pulling out. His smile widened when her hands moved to her stomach, and he remembered their talk from last night.

"I'm sorry," she whispered in the darkness. "I'm so sorry."

"What for?" He frowned.

"For being so goddamn reckless." She snuffled. "I shouldn't have left Alexandria. I shouldn't have put you in that position. You or the baby."

"You just needed to get out for a bit," he argued.

"I'm pregnant, Daryl," she softly chided, mostly directed at herself. "I can't afford to be so selfish. You were right. What you said to me when you first caught me was correct. I was being careless, and I can't do that anymore."

"The kid's fine, you know."

She lifted her head. "Do you know?"

His frown deepened. "What do you mean?"

"We can leave tomorrow. I've recovered, and Harlan doesn't believe the baby is in danger anymore." She searched his eyes with the light the moon provided. "We're okay, Daryl."

"I know."

"You don't have to blame yourself for this. It wasn't your fault. You caught us dinner, that's all. You wouldn't have had to do it if I had stayed inside Alexandria. The blame is ultimately mine."

"I shoulda been more careful," he ground out. "I shoulda made sure the fish was safe, that it was cooked properly. I should have...been better. If I had, you would—"

"Daryl, don't. It wasn't your fault. It never was. Stop blaming yourself for things that are out of your hands. I know you want to place the responsibility and thoughtlessness at your feet, but it's mine to bear. You have to know that." She scooted closer to him. "Please don't think anyone blames you."

He chewed on his bottom lip silently and nodded. "I'll try."

She nodded back. "Try real hard then, because this wasn't on you."

"Okay."

"Thank you for keeping me company." She gently knocked her arm against his, and he chuckled softly. "I'm going to try and get some rest."

"I'll be right here."

She stood up and looked down at him. "I know."

––

Glenn told Sasha to open the gate. "I'm going to Hilltop. It's been days, and you don't know if she's all right? Any of them? I'm going."

"Glenn, they'll be back." Michonne tried to stop him. "Maggie wasn't in danger."

"Yeah, but Carol was!" He whirled around. "I need to know she's okay. I need to know her... I just need to know, Michonne."

"I understand. I get it, but you need to calm down. Going out there right now in your mindset isn't going to help anybody. You need to cool off."

He wracked a hand through his hair. "Okay."

A sound caught his attention, Daryl drove inside, and Glenn smiled at the sight of them. Maggie nearly tumbled out and fell on her face trying to get to him, and she embraced him tightly. Michonne grinned at the sight, Daryl nodded to her to let her know it was all good, and Abraham hollered down at them to close the damn gate.

"Your boyfriend needs to calm his ass down," Daryl joked.

Sasha smirked. "You go right ahead and tell him."

He returned her smirk and headed to pull the car around, peeking at Carol who had pulled Tobin aside to speak with him. He nibbled on his bottom lip as they spoke and averted his gaze to get back to his task.

"I just wanted to apologize."

Tobin met her eyes. "For what?"

"For my...hasty and selfish actions," she answered. "I shouldn't have gone outside the wall, with or without Daryl, and I'm sorry for putting the baby at risk. I assure you it won't happen again. I don't want to go through what I went through this past week, what I put all of us through, and I'm sorry."

"It's okay." He placed a hand on her shoulder. "I got to see the baby for the first time, and I made a decision while we were up there."

"What decision?"

"It's nothing to concern yourself with, really." He smiled kindly. "Why don't you get some rest? You look pretty bushed."

"It's been a long week." She subconsciously stroked her stomach. "Thank you for not making a big deal out of Harlan's mistake. I'm sure he thought Rick was the father too at one point."

"Yeah, it was a little...awkward at first, but it's okay. And, hey, he knows now."

"Yeah." She heard Rick calling to her, and she looked back. "I should talk to him and Denise, let them know we're okay."

"I should see how much work Abe has for me."

"A lot," Abe called from the wall.

"I better get to work then." He chuckled and skirted off.

Carol smiled down at her stomach and turned to talk to Rick. She definitely wouldn't doing anything else to imperil the baby. She had warned Maggie before they were kidnapped, and she couldn't make the same choices. There were risks, and she knew the cost, so...she'd get through her shit within the walls. Well, she'd try her best anyway.