Melanie calmed down after a bit and got Ford's clothes all washed and hung up to dry by the fire. "Thank you Daryl." She said softly, as she went in to check on Maggie and the baby.
Daryl nodded. "Welcome." He said holding the baby as Maggie slept. "You alright?"
Melanie nodded. "Yeah. Sorry about freaking out earlier." She sighed and brought in a baby onesie and sleeper, along with a hat. She had hidden some clothes here. "Might be a good idea to get some clothes on him." She brought in a small newborn pack of diapers she hid the last time she was here also.
"You hid them here?"
"Yes, though it would be safe here incase something happened at the compound." She smiled slightly and took the baby, and ran her fingers through his black hair, then laid him on the bed and got him cleaned up and in some clothes. She put some water on his cord and washed it gently. "Gotta keep that clean until it falls off."
Daryl nodded listening and watching.
Melanie picked up the baby and rocked him slightly. " Such a good boy." She smiled watching him for a minute, and then handing him back to Daryl, "Dinner will be ready soon. I'm going outside to bury Sherry first."
Daryl gently took the boy back. "Need help?"
"Negan and I got it. Probably best you stay with Maggie. She needs to be looked after for a few days - probably next month. If we don't get back…" she paused and looked down. She sighed, "Sarah and Ford are sleeping on the sofa."
Daryl nodded listening, "Yes Ma'am"
Melanie went back out and started walking towards the big oak tree. She seen Negan digging. "Hey." she said grabbing a shovel and starting to help.
"Hey." He replied not looking up. "Gotta get it deep."
Melanie nodded and helped him, it didn't take as long now with two people helping. Pretty soon it was deep enough and they lowered Sherry's body into the hole and started refilling it. She stood back beside him after they were done.
"She was a good friend." Mel said softly. "Along with being a housemate."
Negan sighed. "Might of been a pain in the ass but she was a good wife. Kept you girls in line - and didn't take shit from anyone. I'll miss screwing her."
Melanie inhaled slightly, and walked to the tree and grabbed two twigs and make a cross from them and stuck it in the dirt.
"At least she isn't buried alone." Negan said walking to the next plot next to her and sat down.
Melanie crouched down next to him, "Lucille would like the company." She said wrapping her arm around him. "Two good friends should be in eternity together." She whispered.
Negan chuckled slightly, and leaned against her. He didn't say anything else. It killed him watching her die. That was the day he broke.
Melanie held his hand and kissed his cheek. " Lulu… loved you, I'm glad to have known her, and sherry, and you."
Negan nodded and sighed. "Can you give me some time alone doll?"
Melanie nodded and hugged him again, she got up and went inside.
Negan sat outside for while until it started getting dark out. He came in and cleaned up. "Thanks doll." He said kissing her cheek. "Just…"
"I know." She smiled softly. "It's okay to miss her." She said hugging him.
Negan froze, slowly hugging her back and smiled slightly. "Lets…. Get some chow."
Melanie nodded and went into the kitchen and dished up the food after letting it sit on the table for a little bit to cool down. She walked into Maggie's room. "Maggie? Feel hungry?"
Maggie nodded. "Starving."
"Do you wanna sit on the couch? "
"Mmmm sure." She said sitting up. Melanie helped her up and put a blanket around her, she helped walk her to the living room and onto the sofa. "Best to get moving around some."
Maggie groaned and sat down, Mel had brought in a card table and sat it up, then threw three more chairs around it, and sat the food out along with glasses of clean water. She held Ford on her lap sitting next to Negan and Sarah, as Daryl sat with Maggie on the sofa, while the baby slept in a old dresser drawer.
Supper was really good that night, after a shit day.
Melanie smiled and fed Ford while she ate. She cuddled him close, and hummed softly after he was done eating. She had barely eaten herself, she just wasn't hungry right now, nothing tastes right or stayed down the past few days. Ford fell back asleep, and she laid him on the sofa, and went to go sit back down. She continued eating and took another bowl full and dishes some more out for them.
The baby started crying, and Maggie tried moving to get him.
"Maggie, sit down and eat. I got him." Melanie smiled slightly and picked him up and rocked him, humming softly, closing her eyes slowly remembering the words to the song her biological dad used to sing to her. It was an old Irish lullaby, " On the roof of the house There are bright fairies Playing and drinking Under the gentle rays of the spring moon Here they come To call my child out Wishing to draw him Into the the fairy mound My child, my heart Sleep soundly and well May good luck and happiness Forever be yours I'm here at your side Praying blessings upon you Hushabye, hush
You're not going with them…Hushabye, hush - My child and my treasure My guileless jewel My portion of life Hushabye, hush It's such a great pleasure My child in bed Sleeping without any care My child, my heart Sleep soundly and well May good luck and happiness Forever be yours I'm here at your side Praying blessings upon you Hushaby, hush You're not going with them"
Maggie watched and smiled slightly listening to her sing. Daryl listened to a bit, to the beautiful song in Irish. He kept eating while he listened.
Negan smiled slightly, he had heard that song so many times when she sang it to Ford. "a choíche in do chóir...Tá mise le do thaobh…" He grinned slightly, "Thats all i know sweetness." He said stroking her hair. Sarah smiled slightly. "So pretty."
"My bio-dad used to sing it to me." She smiled slightly, and frowned. "Best thing he ever did for me." She sighed softly, "Crazy what you remember at 3. I also watched it for two years because it was on video. Mom destroyed all tapes of him."
Daryl looked at her, then at Maggie. "Was….Ford yer dad's last name?"
"Yeah. Abraham Ford." She said feeling to grab something out of her pocket. She frowned and sighed disappointed. "Lost the last photo I had of him and my mom." She shrugged slightly, and looked down at the baby. "Have you come up with a name for him yet?"
Maggie smiled slightly, "After my dad and husband - Hershel Glenn Rhee.."
"Thats a good name." Melanie smiled slightly. "They'd be proud." She said kissing his head, and handing the baby back to Maggie.
Negan had taken Ford and Sarah into the other bedroom, and decided to take a nap.
Maggie smiled taking him and cuddling with him.
Daryl got up and walked into the kitchen, carrying the bowls.
Melanie carried the pot and put it back on the fire to keep it going hot, she stopped and put her hand on her small bump forming, and groaned feeling a tight sharp pain.
"Mel…." Daryl croaked slightly.
"Yeah?" She said breathing slightly, turning around to face him.
"I know your Pa..." He said hushed, looking down.
