Beth was groaning in the living room, shifting around on the sofa.

Meredith looked in and saw Merle rubbing her lower back, pressing more. "Sent Daryl to go get Harlan." She smiled up at Hershel. She checked on dinner, and let it continue to cook for a while. Hershel walked into the living room and helped Beth, talking to her and holding her hands.

"Daddy." Beth groaned laying her head on his shoulder, breathing hard. "Not sure I can do this."

Hershel chuckled. "Kind of too late to think about turning back now." He squeezed her hands. "Relax.." he said softly, looking at Merle. "How bout you go get something for her to eat from Meredith. Supper about done cookin'.."

Merle looked at Beth, then nodded, he walked into the kitchen.

Hershel moved Beth a bit, helped her. He wiped her face with a cool rag. He started telling her a story, about how he met Annette and helped her for a while through her contractions. Meredith popped her head in a while later getting the other kids to the table and told Hershel and Beth supper was done.

They let Beth eat in the living room, only spot she was comfortable right now. Meredith and Hershel got the kids ready for bed after supper, and into bed. Meredith read the kids a bible story, and prayed with them, then turned out the lamps and closed the door. She walked downstairs and smiled watching Merle sleeping - Beth was asleep a bit too.

Hershel and Meredith started working on cleaning up after dinner, after a while Beth went up to her room with Merle and fell back asleep.

The next day passed, and night came - still no baby. Maggie actually came over at this point, she had been in bed with horrible morning sickness. She was in with Beth rubbing her back and talking to her through it.

Beth cried having non-stop contractions at this point, and was just miserable.

"Breathe, Beth." Maggie said looking worried up at Meredith. Hershel had ran to the infirmary with Merle to grab some supplies, and also get on the radio to try and figure out where Daryl and Harlan were at.

Meredith sat down on the other side of Beth. "You're doing fantastic sweetie." She said rubbing her back.

Beth cried laying on her back. "How did you do this so many times, Mama."

Meredith grabbed her some water that she added some sugar, and salt to it. She got her to drink it. "I was mainly scared of frightening you girls." she smiled softly. "That and I had a really good coach, and just prayed nonstop."

Beth sniffed and wiped her eyes again. "Can we pray?" She was really scared now, she was at a 8 almost 9 - Meredith checked her about an hour ago.

"Sure honey." Meredith smiled, holding her hand and taking Maggie's. They closed their eyes. "Heavenly father, we pray for a quick, safe, delivery of this new baby and for Beth. It's mighty painful to have a baby, you know this Lord. We just pray for it to be over soon, and we can't wait to meet this little sweetheart." She smiled, "Thank you Lord for giving Beth courage, and strength through this rough time Lord. Thank you Jesus. Amen."

Maggie and Beth agreed, "Amen."

An hour passed:

Beth groaned shifting a bit. "Feels really weird." She looked at Meredith. "Something feels weird, Mama."

Meredith helped her a bit, and grabbed some gloves. "Breathe honey."

Beth nodded holding Maggie's hand and moving her legs, breathing more.

Meredith moved the blanket, and looked, then did a check and exam. "Baby's right here." She said smiling slightly. "Just breathe honey, try pushing if you feel it."

Merle and Hershel soon came to the house, with supplies. Meredith was sitting on the side of the bed, holding Beth's hand and watching in between her legs as she pushed a bit. "Breathe, doing good honey."

Beth was breathing hard, and holding onto her Ma's hand and Maggie's.

Merle ran upstairs putting the stuff on the table in the room and sat with Beth. "Anything?"

"She's doing good. I can see the baby's head." Meredith smiled watching and let Merle take over holding her hand.

"How you doing Beth?" Hershel asked walking in.

"Daddy." Beth panted hard, laying her head back, "I'm worn slap out.." She groaned closing her eyes. Hershel smiled coming into the room.

"It'll be m'kay lil 'arling." Merle said holding her hand.

"Oh hush yer mouth.." Beth was shifting more and groaned.

Meredith pressed her lips together to try and not smile, she moved and patted Merle's back. Merle looked up at her. "She'll be normal-ish again soon, promise." Meredith whispered and wiped off Beth's face. Merle nodded and moved. Hershel gave him a sympathetic smile. Merle shook his head, and kept quiet.

"Sweetheart." Meredith said holding her hand. "Be nice."

"I'm sorry, Mama." Beth panted more crying some. "Just scared."

"It's okay to be scared, sweetie." She said moving Beth's hair back into a ponytail. She looked at Beth. "Daddy, Merle or I? Since.. God knows where Daryl and Harlan are.."

"Merle." Beth breathed more, focusing with Maggie's help.

Merle looked at Beth for a moment. He looked at Meredith and Hershel. They nodded and he grabbed some gloves. He sat down and watched, he wasn't too sure about doing this. He never dreamed of having children with anyone, then bam. He knocked up Beth. They had a private ceremony with just himself and Beth, and Father Gabriel - not really telling anyone else they got hitched.

Beth breathed and gave into pushing. She pushed for a hour so far. She laid back panting hard. " I'm going to die." She groaned getting moved into a different position. "Oh!" Beth groaned louder, and cried feeling a lot more pressure. "I….I can't do this." She was freaking out more now, gripping hard on Hershel and Meredith's hands.

"Yes you can, Beth." Hershel said rubbing her back, helping her as she moved positions.

"You're almost done." Meredith nodded as they moed.

Beth was shaking her head and groaning on her side with Maggie holding one leg . " I..Cant." She groaned laying her head on Hershel's shoulder who was holding her.

"Beth" Hershel said looking at her.

Beth turned her head and forced her eyes open.

"You need to push. Holdin' that baby back isn't good for the baby." Hershel said sighing softly. "Baby gonna come no matter how hard you try'n hold back.."

Beth bit her lip and nodded.

Merle watched and smiled. "Keep going." He said gently. Beth breathed and kept going, she cried more. He was waiting at the end.

"That's it. Keep going honey." Hershel smiled softly.

Meredith smiled watching,. "Good Beth, Push, keep going."

Beth groaned and pushed harder, muttering to Merle and groaning more.

Merle smiled. "Crowning, Darlin… My god.."

"Oh." Beth groaned panting harder. "Mama….Dad! " She was freaking out.

"It's alright. I know it burns." Meredith said feeling Beth grab for her hand, she squeezed it reassuringly.

Beth groaned stopping, She shook her head, she was exhausted and done at this point..

"Beth. One….Two…" Meredith said looking at her.

Beth refused it, and cried out. "Mama… I can't." She looked up at her.

"Yes you can." Meredith said wiping her face. "Push. Now." and watching her. She was being more firm with her at that moment, but knew she needed it.

Meredith wasn't hardly firm with the girls or kids in general unless they really needed it. "1..2...Now Beth.." She never had to get to three before with any of the kids.

"Yes Ma'am..." Beth cried, and pushed. Hershel looked at Meredith and smiled slightly, glad she was able to get through to Beth.

Merle smiled big helping. "Push 'arling..." He continued watching.. "Oh god..Keep going.. Push..Push 'arling.."

Beth grunted and pushed harder.

He smiled big, " My god...Beth.." He laughed catching the baby.

Beth panted laying back and smiling hearing the baby cry. She started crying as the baby was placed on her chest.

" 'S...a girl.." Merle smiled looking at Beth and kissing her hard. "I love you Beth." He muttered softly.

Beth smiled and panted looking up at Hershel and Meredith, then Maggie, crying. "I did it." She said proudly.

"Yes you did." Hershel smiled kissing her forehead, and smiling at the screaming little baby in her arms. "So proud of you."

Maggie smiled and wiped her eyes. "I...She's so pretty."

Meredith patted Merle on the back and smiled, looking at the baby then at Beth. "You did fantastic honey." She kissed Beth's cheek, and covered the baby with a towel, rubbing it's back. "She's beautiful like a Georgia peach.."