One Shot Chapter 10

Seven Hours and Fifteen Days

Daryl couldn't understand how Beth had managed to get everything ready for their Baby's first Christmas even though she had just given birth two weeks ago. It wasn't like their baby was an easy baby either. He didn't think that Beth realized the baby was literally a pooping, crying and spit up monsters right now.

Beth had only stayed in the hospital for about 8 hours after giving birth, everything had apparently gone perfectly and the baby was fine so they sent them home. Daryl wasn't exactly sure how 22 ¾ hours of natural childbirth were normal. It wasn't like any birth had ever seen in a movie or TV show, Beth hadn't screamed and hollered or say that she hated him, she had just cried softly from the pain, thrown up a few times and even though he had told her he didn't notice, she had pooped on the table, the doctor had just slyly brushed it off the table and about 45 minutes later he placed a disgusting purple mess on her chest. He had gagged a little when Beth leaned down and gently kissed the top of the baby's head. He could admit that once the baby had been cleaned off and warmed up he was beautiful though. The baby was only quiet and content in Beth's arms though. They had brought him a few hours later and he had only been out of her arms for maybe 10 hours and she still had time to decorate their entire house and buy about 30 gifts for the baby. He rolled over and reached for her, he wasn't surprised that she wasn't there though. He rolled out of bed and softly made his way to the living room.

"Hey." Beth said softly as she patted the baby's back from the couch. "Did he wake you up? I think he's trying to see Santa."

"I didn't even hear him. You need to get some sleep. You haven't slept for more than about 2 hours at a time." Daryl added as he held his hand out. "Come on back to bed. Just bring him with you." Beth hesitated before letting Daryl pull her to her feet.

"What if we fall asleep and roll on him? What if I smother him in my sleep?" Beth asked softly, not wanting to disturb the baby. She yawned softly and stood at the end of the bed.

"What if I put his little bed between us?" Daryl asked as he walked towards the bassinette at the end of their bed. Beth nodded and sat against the pillows and bounced the baby.

"You think he'll sleep longer with us close by?" Beth asked as Daryl arranged the bed. "There won't be enough room for us." Beth said laughing.

"I'll put it on this side. We can squish beside it." Daryl said moving it over. "Give him here." Daryl said taking the tiny bundle in his arms. He held his breath, praying he'd stay asleep and placed him in his little bed. Beth reached into the bed and rubbed his tummy as he settled and smiled when Daryl walked around the bed and curled up behind her. "You good?" he asked trying to balance behind her.

"I'm good." She said snuggling into the pillows. Daryl rubbed his hand up and down her arm till she was asleep and stared over her head at the little bundle of blankets. He reached over and lifted Beth's arm from the baby and settled it against her body. The baby's face scrunched up and Daryl shot out of bed and grabbed the baby, looking over his shoulder and making sure Beth had stayed asleep.

"You can't be hungry." Daryl said as he settled the baby against his shoulder and covered him with another blanket and making his way to the garage. So his cries wouldn't wake Beth. He turned the heat up and started doing a lap. "This is our new truck. We had to get one with a backseat once you came along." Daryl said holding him up so he could look at the new truck. "You drove home right here." Daryl said pointing to where the base for his car seat was behind him. "This is my bike. When you're older I'll take you out for a ride. Your mom says no, but we'll work on her." The baby stared as Daryl showed him around the garage. "This here is where we keep all the extra clothes your momma has. The second she found out you were coming along she moved all her extra stuff out of your room and started filling it with baby stuff." Daryl said softly. "She loved you before she even met you. You're growing on me." Daryl joked as the baby dozed off again. He carried him back inside and settled on the couch with the baby on his chest. "Let's let your mom sleep for awhile alright?" Daryl whispered as he turned on the TV and fell asleep to Christmas specials. He vaguely remembered Beth lifting Jack from his chest, saying she needed to nurse before falling back asleep.

"What time is it?" Daryl asked as he sat up and rubbed his eyes.

"Oh good you're awake. The baby's been waiting to open his gifts." Beth said with a smile. Daryl smiled and shook his head, continuing down the hall to the bathroom. "I laid out some Christmas pajamas—."

"No." Daryl said over his shoulder. "I'll get dressed and I'll let you dress him as Buddy the Elf or Frosty, but I'm putting pants on." Daryl said before closing the door.

"Will you wear dark green or red plaid?" Beth asked through the door. Daryl ignored her and turned on the shower. When he made his way into their bedroom he stopped in his tracks and clutched the towel around his waist.

"No Santa hat." Daryl said as he grabbed the clothing Beth had laid out.

"I'll make breakfast." Beth said with a smile. "Thanks for taking him last night. How'd you get him calm?"

"Walked around the garage, showed him my stuff, talked to him like I used to when he was in your stomach." Daryl said as he pulled on his clothing.

"I missed it? I used to love it when you'd talk to us." Beth said.

"You needed the sleep." Daryl said sitting beside her. "You guys really waited to open the gifts?"

"Of course. You can't miss his first Christmas." Beth said sincerely as she handed him the baby to burp.

"Beth it ain't like he knows what's going on." Daryl said. "This is like a photo opt."

"And he's going to look wonderful in the pictures." Beth said taking the baby back and laying him on the bed and smoothing out his little sleeper. "Look at him!" she said leaning over and kissing the baby's nose. Daryl rolled his eyes and waited to follow Beth out to the kitchen.

Later that night, Daryl had to admit it had been kind off nice to watch the baby sit between Beth's leg and lean back against her and "help" open the shit load of gifts that had been bought. Even Merle had sent a card for the baby from prison. Maggie had bought the baby a little nutcracker outfit and he was currently sitting in a little vibrating chair that Hershel had bought, one of his clients swore by it and it seemed to be working.

"Here I got you something else." Daryl said pulling a small box from their bookshelf.

"What is it?" Beth asked smiling from the couch. "Is it candy?"

"You got enough candy from "Santa", just open it." Daryl said sitting beside her. Beth ripped off the newspaper that Daryl had used to wrap it. "You were always wrapping, I figured you'd have caught me if I tried to grab some paper."

"I would of." Beth admitted as she opened the box. "Oh!" Beth said sliding the ring out.

"It's a Family ring. It's got my birthstone, yours and Jack's. If we get have more kids those stones there that look like diamond, they come out and we can add the new babies." Daryl said sliding the ring on her right hand, testing which finger it'd fit. "I was aiming for your ring finger, but your right hand is a bit smaller than your left." Daryl said sliding it on her middle finger.

"I love it." Beth said kissing him on the cheek. "So how many stones can we add?" Beth teased. The baby started to cry from his little chair.

"Stop." Daryl said standing to go get the baby. "I said if we have more kids, I'm just getting used to him." Daryl said lifting the tiny bundle to his arms. The baby calmed against him and drifted back to sleep. Beth smiled and stretched out on the couch. "I guess he's getting used to me now too."

"Daryl you loved him from the start. I saw you cry when he was born." Beth said.

"I didn't cry." Daryl said. "I was just relieved you were ok."

"You cried and it was beautiful." Beth said. "We should probably get some sleep. He's probably out for at least an hour or two."

"You go ahead. I'm going to sit out here with him for a bit." Daryl said. "I don't got to go back to work till the fourth."

"And you haven't slept much more than I have, but thank you." Beth said kissing him on the forehead and standing to stretch. "We can bring the baby to meet uncle Merle on the weekend."

"You'd take our baby to prison?" Daryl asked.

"Sure. I know you want Merle to meet the baby." Beth said. "He should meet his Uncle. We can go see Merle and then head to my Dad's for weekend. I think it was nice to just have a relaxing day, just the three of us for his first Christmas."

"You've met him. I'm always surprised you didn't run the other way once you met Merle." Daryl admitted. "And I told you it was a good idea, just being us."

"You don't have any of his bad qualities." Beth said. "He's going to be home before you know it."

"Jack will be like 4 before he comes home." Daryl said. "Be nice to have company when I go to see him."

"Do we sit in a room with all the inmates?" Beth asked. "I'll have to make sure he's fed."

"No, we talk to him through glass." Daryl said. "I wouldn't even consider it if you were actually in a room with prisoners. Now go get some sleep." Beth smiled and made her to their bedroom.

"Alright little man, let's get comfy." Daryl said settling into the recliner and leaning back and resting the baby against his chest. "We should really show your mom how much you love this chair." Daryl added rubbing Jack's back softly, closing his eyes. "Are you ok with your first day trip being to a penitentiary?" The baby started moving his mouth, so Daryl let him suck on his knuckles, trying to stretch out Beth's naptime. "Maybe we should get you a soother." Daryl said standing to make his way to the nursery. The baby hadn't shown much interest in soothers, but that was probably cause given the choice to suck on a soother or Beth no one in the world would choose a soother. The baby accepted the soother but opened his eyes after a few pulls on it and looked up at Daryl. "Not that bad right?" If Daryl didn't know better, he'd swear the baby had rolled his eyes at him before closing them again. Once Daryl was pretty sure the baby was asleep he made his way to his bedroom and carefully laid the baby down before climbing into bed and passing out beside Beth. A celibate, sleep deprived Christmas had quickly become the best Christmas either of them had ever had.