Chapter Eighteen
PLEASE NOTE (Really you need to read this): DUE TO MY PLOT LINE I HAVE HAD TO ADJUST THE TIME FRAMES TO SUIT MY STORY. ROUGHLY 8 MONTHS HAVE PAST IN BETWEEN SEASON 3 AND 4!
The air was hot and muggy making her sweat stick to her skin as she sat in the shade, a glass of water in hand. She watched as Carol tended to the meat on the BBQ the smell making her feel nauseous, she took a sip of water relishing in the feel of the cool liquid slipping down her dry throat.
She felt the usual stare blaring into her head and she turned to see familiar blue eyes smiling her way, she grinned back, placing a hand on her massively swelled stomach. He walked over and she soon felt his strong hands massaging the knots out of her tense shoulders, "how are ya feelin' Angel?"
"Mmm better now that you're here," she said moaning at his deft hands.
He chuckled lightly before kissing her swiftly on the cheek, "love ya," his whisper was rough yet soft, enough to make her shiver in delight.
"Love you too Daryl, stay safe on the run today," he kissed her lips this time. "I was thinking about names again and I know it sounds kind of ironic but how about Archer? For a boy? Or Hunter," she looked at him nervously.
Daryl grinned, "Wha' bout if it's a girl?"
She frowned in thought, "well I was thinking Arrow? Or Artemis?"
"Artemis? Tha' the Greek goddess of the hunt?" Daryl said, surprising Joelle with his knowledge for Greek mythology.
"Yeah, I think it would really suit her, well if she is a her. You'll teach her everything you know," she had grown more confident once he didn't laugh at the names she had chosen. They had been thinking of names for months now but none of the names had really clicked, these ones felt more appropriate for their little fighter.
"I like 'em all, we'll just have to see when the little one gets here, I have ta go Angel, love ya," he gave her another quick kiss before moving away to get some food before leaving on the run. Joelle used to worry herself sick every time he left, now she just worried, she trusted him to come back to her. He had promised.
She watched as Daryl and the usual group left, namely Sasha, Glenn and Michonne (when she wasn't looking for the governor), there were always a few other volunteers but they didn't always come back. Bob (a man Daryl and Glenn had found by himself) also seemed to be going, along with Zak (Beth's boyfriend) and Tyreese.
Joelle was always bored when he left, she couldn't cook because it made her nauseous, definitely no runs whatsoever, no fence duty, she couldn't do watch because she need to not be in the line of fire or stressed, laundry duty already had too many of the older women doing it and they refused to let her help, gardening was too laborious and the infirmary was too dangerous for her health. She was fucking bored.
Roxanne who now hovered, never far away (just in case), walked up to her, "Come on Jo, let's go watch over some of the little ones," Roxie was, other than Daryl, the main contributor to her entertainment.
Sighing inwardly she forced a small smile at Roxie, other than her family Jo didn't really like dealing with children.
The day was slow, drawing out until she felt like screaming out in frustration, being as close as she was to the end of her pregnancy her hormones were raging the only people able to stand her mood swings were Daryl, Roxie, Maggie, Merle and surprisingly Lucas.
It was dusk when the gates reopened, Daryl on his bike roaring up the drive, the weight pressing on Joelle lifted, she noted his sullen face. Walking towards him slowly, because she waddled like a fucking penguin, she smiled at him causing his glum gaze to brighten.
Gently as if she were glass he wrapped his powerful arms around her, his hands laying protectively over her stomach, "lost Zac today, someone has ta tell Beth," he said lowly, he sighed deeply before nuzzling his face into her neck, breathing deeply into her hair.
"I'm sorry, I know you hate losing people," she ran her fingers through his hair, "it may be selfish but I'm glad it wasn't you."
He smiled slightly, "Come on Angel," he took her hand and led her back to the cellblock, no one batted an eyelash at the small display of affection, they were too used to it by now, it was too common.
There was only light conversation at dinner that night, the death of Zac still fresh in everyone's mind. Once Joelle was finished Carol quickly took her dishes before she could protest, instead Jo gave her a glare, "don't give me that look, I bet your feet are aching, not to mention your back hitting a new kind of hurt, go on back to your cell and Daryl will rub those feet of yours." She ran off before any more could be said but obviously hearing Daryl's snort of protest.
Shuffling slowly back to their cell she sat down gently caressing her stomach, she felt her baby respond by moving into her hand slightly, she smiled "hey baby, I love you," she cooed down to her stomach.
Daryl's hands suddenly came into view and rested on top of the space left, he was rewarded with three sharp kicks, "gentle now, can't hurt ya Mama," in response he received a much gentler kick, grinning he met Joelle's smiling face. He leaned in and kissed her lovingly, "c'mon let's get ta sleep Elle," he pulled her shoes off massaging each sole until the pain and tension ebbed away.
She was breathing deeply by the time he was done and Daryl couldn't help the smile that crossed his face at the sight of her peaceful form, a shadow fell over the door and he looked up to see Merle watching, the corner of his mouth upturned in one of his own rare smiles.
"She looks happy baby brother, keep it that way," with that Merle left his half smile still firmly in place.
Joelle woke to the sounds of gunshots and screaming as they broke through the usually peaceful atmosphere of the prison, Roxie quickly ran in, gun and knife in hand.
"There are walkers in cellblock D, the others have gone to clear it out," Roxie explained as she sat on the bed next to Joelle's spread out form.
"Hey there sugertits!" Merles drawl caused them to look at the redneck in the doorway "came ta keep my baby sister safe."
"Well thank you Merle, is Daryl helping the others?" Jo asked not really liking the thought of him away from her.
"Yeah he'll be right though," Merle reassured. She grumbled under her breath for a minute before closed her eyes again. She vaguely heard Merle when he said he was going to go see what was going on.
It felt like she had barely drifted off before a hand was shaking her away, Roxie was staring down at her a sympathetic look in her eyes, "turns out Patrick got sick; it's an aggressive flu strain that works fast. Everyone that went into that cell has to be quarantined, which means you can't see Daryl, it could get you sick and the baby," Roxie explained slowly as if she were afraid that Joelle would panic and run.
She didn't speak for a long time as if what Roxie said was so far beyond comprehension for her. "So I can't see him?" her voice was barely above a whisper.
"We have to move you, Judith, Beth, Daniel and Carl along with myself, Lucas and Merle to the offices to keep you safe. Merle and Lucas are gathering the supplies now," Roxie continued to explain the situation, still in that patronizing tone.
The offices had been cleaned and cleared out and Joelle sat herself on the makeshift bed that had been created for her, Merle and Lucas walked in carrying heaps of the newborn items and medical supplies, Joelle grew confused.
"Roxie says your close enough that you could pop any second so we came prepared," Lucas said with a smile. After his original shock and anger he had become quite protective, often gaining a boyish grin whenever the baby responded to him, he even talked to her stomach saying that he would be the best uncle in the world. Lucas and Daryl had also gotten close, Daryl only tolerating either Lucas or Merle on his hunting expeditions, they had become brothers.
When everything was ready and all the supplies there the doors were shut, the heavy thuds echoing in the halls. The others were doing everything they could to keep her entertained, all except Beth who was sitting by the door talking to her sister, Judith in her arms. Trying to make the time go faster Joelle shut her eyes hoping that sleep would take her, it did.
For a second time that day Jo woke to a hand shaking her awake, Beth peered down at her, "Daryl is at the door." She said with a small knowing smile, Joelle moved as fast as her pregnant body would allow and all but collapsed at the door.
"Angel," Daryl's gruff voice was muffled by the door but it was still his, she relaxed instantly.
"Daryl," she whimpered quietly, "I need you," tears were already welling in her eyes.
"I know, I love ya," his voice was low as if he was trying to contain his own emotions.
"How is everything out there?" she asked trying to distract herself from her tears.
"Someone killed Karen and David, lots of th' others in cellblock D and even some in A are getting sick, along with Sasha, Glenn and Sophia."
"Oh no, how is Tyreese taking it? And what about Carol? And Maggie?" Joelle was completely at a loss for words, if this flu was as bad as it seemed they might not have much of a group left.
"Not well, none of 'em are taking it well, Angel I… me 'n' some others we're going on a run fifty miles out ta get some medicine, I just wanted to say goodbye 'fore I left. We leave early tomorrow."
A sob bubbled from her throat, "I know you need to go… I just…. Please come back to me… to us…" she was sobbing violently, her head against the door.
"I will I promise, love ya Angel." His voice was chocked as if her fighting back tears of his own.
"I love you Daryl, we both do," she heard him move away, she looked up and saw his hand resting on the plane of glass above the door, before he turned and walked away. Her sobs quietened until the tears were silent rivers running down her face.
Lucas moved towards her before helping her up and over to the bed, once there he just held her while she cried, trying to soothe the exhausted women in his arms.
"Glenn, Sasha and Sophia are sick, I just don't know what to do, I want him to help, I really do but what if he doesn't come back?"
"He will he promised Jo, you know how he is, nothing could keep him from you, not even this sickness." Lucas tried to reason.
Joelle just stayed silent not having the energy to fight, she cried herself to sleep that night, she cried for Daryl, for Sasha, Glenn, Sophia, Karen and David, she cried for herself.
The next morning she woke, her head aching, eyes puffy and dry, she felt like shit. Her pillow moved and she looked up to see Merle instead of Lucas, she raised an eyebrow in question.
"Luke's gone to go make breakfast and help with entertaining the others, you would let him go until I held ya," he looked at his eyes soft, "it's okay to miss him but ya needn't worry yourself, he'll be fine, he'll come back and save the day just like always," he spoke with conviction, knowing exactly what would happen.
"When did you get so wise?" she smiled at him, "I'm serious Merle you've changed, for the better too."
He hugged her tighter in response, come on let's get you some breakfast. She sat down at the small table, a small pain shooting through her abdomen as she did so. Ignoring it she dug into the food Luke had made them, which was surprisingly good considering the lack of cooking utensils.
The pains continued throughout the day steadily growing in strength until she couldn't hold back the groans as they wracked through her body.
Joelle stood walking around the room as she tried to ease the pain, she felt a sort of pop before a warm wetness seeped down her legs, she looked at Roxie and Lucas her eyes wide, her voice was eerily calm which greatly contrasted with her panicked expression, "Either I just peed my pants or my water broke."
Poor Daryl do you think he will make it back before the baby is born? Is it a Boy? is it a Girl? it's so damn exciting! :)
Thank you so much to everyone who followed and favorited my story, MASSIVE thank you to those who reviewed I cannot tell you how much I appreciate it! Thanks to Aidan and Sallie who are amazing! Ytdollface, thinking about taking your suggestion, if its a girl! Aha who knows yet. Thanks to everyone else who suggested names! XX