A few weeks later Melanie finally asked Harlan to look her over and make sure everything was okay. She was showing a lot, and getting asked daily - if she was pregnant, how far along she was, and who the daddy was.
The other questions she didn't mind - the last one about who the daddy was bothered her a lot - she knew who the father was but the way people looked at her, she could have done without. She sighed softly running her hands through her hair and tying it up into a very messy bun on top of her head. She glanced over at Harlan for a moment then flickered her eyes to the screen again.
She watched on the monitor and tried to not hold her breath as she saw the little baby on the screen, a wonderful outline of one itty bitty baby "Never tired of seeing that." She smiled, breathing slightly relaxing.
Harlan smiled seeing the baby more "Healthy.. 140 heart rate.." He looked over more. "It's still to early to tell the gender."
Mel sighed, "Everything okay?" She didn't care if she knew or not of the gender, she didn't know with the others until delivery.
He nodded looking at the ultrasound and smiled more, he moved the monitor with one free hand, and showed her more. "Growth is on track. Everything is fine, great - Mel's." He turned up the volume a bit letting her listen to the heartbeat's
She broke her eye contact with the screen and her face scrunched up a bit, and she laid her head back, covering her face with her hands. She was trying to not break down again, but was having a hard time.
Harlan put the wand down, he rolled his chair up to her face, and put his hand on hers. "Mel." He said softly, he knew she was going to have a hard time adjusting to this new reality. He moved her hands softly. "It'll be okay."
Melanie moved her hands, she had a few tears, but was trying to control it and hide it. She nodded.
Harlan took her hands in his, and moved a bit shifting slightly wrapping an arm around her. She shifted letting a soft sigh escape her lips. "I know. Just really, really sucks balls right now."
Harlan didn't say anything, he just kept quiet holding her.
Melanie sighed softly, calming down after a bit. "Thank you Harlan. I know this...can't be easy for you."
He raised a brow and looked at her. Wasn't easy for him? He still loved her - though about her all the time.
She glanced up at him, and furrowed her brows slightly. "Surprised you hadn't kicked me out yet."
Harlan shifted slightly. "Why would I do that?" He had no ill feelings towards her or the kids - he made a promise, and he was intended on keeping it. He loved the kids, and her as well.
"Not fair to you - helping me raise my kids, choosing Negan over you, being in this mess.." She shook her head slightly.
"I'd never kick you out, Melanie." He sighed rubbing her back slightly. "I love having you around, and the kids. I love them all.." A slight smile formed as he watched her. "I enjoy having you around too, a lot."
She smiled slightly, glancing up at him, sitting up on the bed. "I appreciate you, and everything you have done for me, and the kids." She moved her hand from his and pushed his hair from his eyes. "Thank you." She leaned in and kissed his cheek, pushing her shirt down a bit and slowly getting up. "Time to spread the news." She bit her lip slightly. "I'm sure everyone knows the way people can't keep their damn mouths shut.."
"Mel. It's been my pleasure helping you and the kids." Harlan said softly, as he got up, and helped her up also. "Anytime." He placed a hand on her lower back, and walked to the door.
She nodded, smiled and hugged him again. "See you around dinner time." She knew he had a full day ahead of him - checking on Maggie and Michonne, as well as some of the kids that needed check ups because they were getting over being sick.
"See you soon." He walked her out of the infirmary, and held his bag in one hand, leaving his other hand on her lower back. They parted ways.
Melanie went off and told Rick and Maggie about the new baby, later on she was planning on telling the kids.
Michonne hugged her, and really steered the conversation on planning everything for the new babies - it was good to see her excited. Rick was sitting down with his head in his lap. "7 grandchildren..along with a new baby of my own.." He muttered - he considered Melanie's kids his grand-kids it also didn't help Melanie told them to call him Grandpa. Melanie smiled slightly looking over at him hearing him exhale and get up. "You trying to make me go grey early?" He smiled slightly hugging her.
"Yes. I get enjoyment out of causing you to get grey. Doesn't help you look like a lumberjack.. Missing the plaid shirt and the axe.." She said plucking on his his grey hairs. "Make a wish." She smiled slightly. Michonne was laughing sitting down, Carl and Enid were snickering imagining him as a lumberjack.
"Hey, stop plucking them - every one you plug three new ones grow!" He sighed rubbing his head slightly.
She smiled and laughed. "So dramatic." She said sitting down.
Rick scoffed slightly and then smiled. He sat down and started talking to her and Michonne about the new babies.
Maggie, she was happy and sad for her at the same time considering that everything that happened. They sat and talked for a while in the kitchen away from listening little ears. Hershel Jr was playing with the other kids, he was close to two and a half now.
Maggie was expecting twins boys with Daryl, and Michonne was expecting a little girl. Judith was over the moon about being a big sister, as was Carl. Lorileigh was getting so big, she just turned 16 months old, and was hitting all her milestones - she was a beautiful little girl with thick curly black hair, and brown eyes that really melted Rick's heart - She had him wrapped around her finger already along with Michonne's, and her parents. Melanie smiled holding the little girl in her lap. "What a sweetheart.. Little Miss Lori-bean."
"Truck!" The little girl giggled and cuddled with her cousin, playing with the button on Melanie's shirt. Mel smiled and rubbed her back cuddling with her. "Firetruck." She said grabbing the toy and handing it to her.
Carl smiled slightly. "She's getting so big." He sat back. "Still not used to her walking yet. Melanie played with Lori's hair and tied it up into two tiny pig-tails.
"What a fun age, they really start talking more, and growing - wait until next year." She smiled at Carl.
"Not looking forward to terrible twos.." Enid sighed looking at them.
"Twos? Hell - wait until terrifying threes, and feisty four and fives then sassy sixes and sarcastic sevens.." Mel smiled and laughed. "Sarah is so sarcastic lately…"
Michonne smiled. "Sassy fives.. That was my favorite." She said looking down, rubbing her growing bump. "Andrei was a sassy sweetheart." She kept looking at her stomach and remained quiet and closed her eyes for a moment, letting a soft smile remain on her face. She hadn't talked about him in a long time - she always though about him it just hurt to talk about him still..
Rick leaned over and placed an arm on her shoulder rubbing it softly.
Michonne smiled slightly looking up at him, leaning over and pecking a kiss on his cheek. "I'm okay.."
Rick held her close and rubbed her back.
