Walking Dead One Shots #22
I really should have made this one it's own little story….
This was getting real fast. The first month that Beth had been living with him had been a week of awkwardness and then 3 weeks of familiarity. The next two weeks were filled with what was kinda indescribable, maybe common law bliss? They had exactly defined their relationship and honestly it was better for Daryl that way. He in no way considered it a casual, but he didn't like labels and he preferred not having to deal with everyone being in their business, asking about their relationship. He barely could handle being constantly asked about the baby now that her stomach had popped. Now the fact that she was pregnant wasn't always just on the back of his mind, cause no matter what she wore or how she was sitting he was reminded that he was going to be a father.
"Hey." Daryl said suddenly shaken from his thoughts as Beth joined him for breakfast. "You good?" He asked kicking her chair out so she could join him at the table.
"I'm good." Beth said smiling at his tough take on gallant behavior. "A bit tired. Glad my doctor appointment is at 9:45 so I only have to work a half day." She replied honestly. She had quickly realized that Daryl had little patience for polite answers; he wanted to know the truth.
"You need more rest. Maybe you take the truck yourself, don't go in so early." Daryl said. "I know you want to work right up to you pop, but maybe you take the last month off."
"I want to bank as much extra cash as possible. I won't be going back to work for about a year." Beth said pushing from the table and starting breakfast. "I only get 60% of my salary while on maternity leave."
"You won't have as many expenses." Daryl said. "No more buying work clothes, lunches and gas money. I won't let you give me rent money if you aren't working."
"You'll still let me help with household stuff though right?" Daryl nodded. "We'll use most of my paycheck for the baby too, since you won't let me pay rent."
"I don't see how that's fair." Daryl said frowning. "Be like I'm not supporting the kid at all."
"Of course you are, you're keeping a roof over our head and heat and water. All I'm going to be doing is buying food and diapers." Beth said leaning back against the counter after flipping the bacon. "And you've helped me buy almost everything we have so far."
"I guess." Daryl said leaning back. "You going to have enough left over to still have a little bit left for you?"
"It'll take some budgeting but I should." Beth promised as she set out the various condiments they both enjoyed. She placed their plates on the table and kissed the side of Daryl's head after pouring out his coffee and their juices. "How's the construction project going?" She asked after sitting down.
"Guy has got to be some type of cult leader." Daryl said as he dug into the eggs. "He bought that old lot that had those two warehouses on it, you know the one on Elm?" He asked looking up. Beth nodded her head as she spread grape jelly on their toast. "He's converting them into housing. Not like apartments, or just big houses. Almost like dorm rooms. There's going to be one big kitchen and eating area. Keeps saying it's for his family."
"Maybe he's got a really big extended family and they all want to live together. The Millers that were about 5 miles down from the edge of our property, well they had about 5 houses on their land, and it was Mr. Miller's sons, they all built there. They all worked together."
"I don't know, it doesn't fell like it's a family business type situation. You might be right though." Daryl said leaning back after he finished. He was working on not eating so fast but he always finished way before her. He was still getting used to not just eating in the car on the way to work or while standing and looking over his house and yard for another project. Beth smiled at him and finished her breakfast.
"And he was ok with you not going in till lunch today?" Daryl nodded.
"Reg told him I had an appointment. I don't like getting too chummy with clients, I didn't elaborate." Daryl said standing to clear their plates. "I can barely deal with Rick and Merle knowing our business."
"And Maggie and Glenn." Beth said smiling. Maggie had followed them home the week before and insisted that she meet Daryl while Glenn stood by awkwardly with an apologetic look on his face.
"Glenn wasn't that bad." Daryl admitted helping Beth up. She smiled and held her back as she made her way down the hall to get ready. "What time do you want to leave by?" Daryl asked looking down the hallway. Beth came back out with a scared look on her face. "What's wrong? There something is the backyard again?" Beth shook her head.
"I'm bleeding." Beth said softly. Daryl walked quickly towards her and held her arm, helping her back to the bed. Beth sat down and looked stricken as Daryl pulled one of her longer sweaters out of the closet and helped her into it as he called her doctor. Beth barely heard his side of the conversation as she moved her hand over her stomach, trying to feel the baby.
"Come on." Daryl said helping her back up. He grabbed a pair of her jeans and a t-shirt and stuffed it into one of his backpacks. Beth opened her drawer and handed him some underwear and a bra and slipped her feet into her flip-flops and wrapped the sweater around herself before letting him walk her to the truck. "Doc's meeting us at the ER. Said spotting is normal."
"It wasn't a spot." Beth said. "It wasn't a lot..."
"I know I saw them in the hamper." Daryl said interrupting her. He noticed that she had stopped moving her hand around. "You feeling anything?" Beth nodded and he breathed a sigh of relief. The doctor had asked him if she was feeling movement and he said he didn't know. "Everything's going to be fine." Daryl said as he ran to the driver's side of the truck and quickly started on the way to the hospital.
"It's kicking like normal." Beth said. The baby was always really active after she had juice the sugar hyped it up. "We need to stop calling it, it."
"We'll know soon enough if it's a boy or girl." Daryl said to himself. "Only about 2 ½ months to go right?" He added looking at Beth when they had to stop at a set of lights. "We agreed to be surprised and we'll be surprised."
"Yeah." Beth said softly, looking relieved once they started to move again. "And we can wait another few weeks to know little one." She said looking down at her stomach grimacing. Once Daryl pulled over into one of the emergency lot spots Beth pushed open her door, leaning out to throw up. "I'm alright. My stomach is just upset from the stress." She said as Daryl made his way over to help her into the waiting room. He led her right to the triage nurse and explained what was going on. Beth handed over her insurance card and they were quickly whisked away to a curtained area. An intern came in while they were waiting and checked her vitals.
"Where's my doctor?" Beth asked as he started hooking her up to a few machines.
"Right here." Dr. Cloyd said as she made her way into their little cube and pulled the curtain shut. "I need the portable ultrasound and tech right now." She said over her shoulder. "Alright Beth, look at me." Denise said as she pulled out the stool and sat the end of the gurney. "Any pain at all in the last few days?" Beth blinked and tried to think. "Anything at all, even if you don't think it's important or relevant. If it's not, I'll know." Denise said as she picked up the chart.
"Just a bit of pain in my lower back. Like I've been wearing heels too long, but it's constant." Beth said. Denise nodded and made notes on the chart.
"Anything else change in your pregnancy?" Denise asked as she pointed to the cart and waved the intern off.
"She's really tired all the time." Daryl said speaking up. Beth smiled and nodded at him. "She's sleeping though, we just thought it was cause she's further along, like her books said." Denise nodded her head agreeing with them before reaching up and folding her nightgown up above the sheet so that the goo could be smeared over her stomach. Sure enough her other intern had arrived with the machine. Beth was a bit worried when Denise positioned it so that neither her nor Daryl could see the screen and flicked the sound off. Denise pointed as the tech moved the wand around in silence.
"Alright everything looks ok." She said flicking on the sound; the faint sound of the baby's heartbeat was steady in the curtained cubicle. "I want to give you an injection to help the baby's lungs develop a bit faster, just incase we have to go in and get the little one."
"Why? You said everything looked alright, that it was ok." Beth said grabbing Daryl's hand in a death grip.
"It does and the baby is fine, right now." The doctor said patting Beth on the hand. "I'm worried about the blood though. It could be a partial tear to your placenta. If it's the case you are going to have to be put on bed rest right away. Any type of jostle, shove or nudge could cause complete placental abruption. If that happens, we'll have to go in and get the baby out. We can give you the shot and it'll make it a bit easier road to full recovery. We still want to keep them in their till we are closer to your do date."
"Did we do something to cause this?" Daryl asked placing his hand on the back of Beth's head when she turned into his shoulder and cried softly.
"No, God don't think that." Denise said patting Beth's back. "You're going through a stressful pregnancy but you're young and healthy and we are just giving your baby the best options and care to make sure you take it home with you." Daryl nodded and continued to comfort Beth. "You sit tight and let me try and rule out anything serious. This could just be a spotting situation, even though it was a bit heavy." Daryl perched on the side of the bed and pulled out his cell phone and began calling both his work and Beth's work to let them know they would not be in today. They both wished him and Beth well and asked to be kept in the loop.
"What are we going to do?" Beth asked softly, her face still pressed into Daryl's shoulder. "I can't take a lot of time off. I don't have much vacation and sick time."
"We'll be fine." Daryl said. "I'm not just saying that. I got insurance that I can get you on once your sick time runs out and leaves run out. I looked into it in case you didn't want to go back to work right away. Technically I can claim we've been together a month before you conceived. We only got to be together for a year to get you on it." Daryl said smoothing her hair and trying to comfort her. "Be a bit tight money wise but nothing we can't handle." Beth nodded into his chest and sobbed out how grateful she was for him being in her life. "You want me to call anyone?" Beth shook her head.
"Just, let's wait till we know more." Beth said looking up at him. "I don't think I could take him just hanging up on me right now." Beth added looking down. "Maggie would just be pacing and freaking out in the waiting room." Daryl smiled into the top of her head. "Glenn would be trying to calm her down and she'd be yelling at him."
"I didn't take her for a yeller." Daryl tried to say with a straight face as he helped Beth get comfortable. "I mean she's not as personable as Merle, but I don't think she's as hotheaded as you make her sound." Beth smiled at him and kept an eye on the fetal heart rate monitor as Daryl made small talk, making her smile and laugh through the various tests. Denise came back and Beth grimaced when she recommended a vaginal ultra sound but quickly moved to the stirrups.
"I'll be able to tell if the placenta is covering part of the cervix." Denise explained. Daryl eyed the wand as Denise slipped a condom over the end and added lube. Beth made a face showing her discomfort as it was inserted but the picture was much clearer. They could see the baby sucking on it's thumb, the umbilical cord and Denise apparently could see what she needed to see pointing to the screen and motioning for the tech to maneuver the wand. "Right there." She said. The tech nodded and withdrew the instrument and left the room.
"What?" Beth asked as Denise tossed her gloves and scribbled at the chart.
"It's a grade 1 placental tear. The blood is mostly clotting behind the baby. You are going to need to be on bed rest and you are going to have to deliver early." Beth's lip trembled. "How early will depend on how the baby continues to reach to the pregnancy. If it keeps going well we are going to keep 'em in there for as long as we can."
"The bed rest, is she going to be in the hospital?" Daryl asked chewing his nail.
"How far do you live from here?" Denise asked as she charted away. "No an ambulance or you yourself could get her here in lots of time and I expect you to get here as soon as anything feels the least bit weird or off." Denise said. "This happens in a bout 1 out of every 100 births. We know how to treat it. We can't stop it and sometimes we just find out there was a tear during delivery, when we encounter clotted blood. Your baby moves a lot and the blood was able to flow out. That's why it was so red." Denise explained. "She really shouldn't be alone though. Can you take time off too?"
"I can take a few days off to get her settled. We might have to talk to some of our friends though. I can't be taking a lot of time off." Daryl admitted. "I can swing about 2 weeks now and 2 weeks once the baby's actually here."
"In all likelihood Beth is going to be back her at the start of her 8th month in two weeks. In fact I want to schedule her for a c section or induction two weeks from right now."
"Is that too early?" Beth asked. Denise shook her head.
"No and it's safer than just risking the placenta tearing even more."
"Should we go in now?" Daryl asked, taken from his thoughts on who he could get to stay at home with Beth. Merle was out of the question, Lori wasn't a much better option and none of Beth's friends had even been by to see her since she had been staying with him. His all had jobs and wives, all 2 of them.
"Let's get her to 32 weeks." Denise said. "The odds go up to 98% survival rate and the risks are obviously greatly lowered." Beth nodded her head. "We'll meet in two days for a check up and follow up twice a week till your scheduled C section. I'll push back the section if I feel it's safe." Denise went on to explain the odds after 34 weeks. "I'll get your discharge papers. Remember do not hesitate to get back her at any signs of labor or pain. Moderate spotting is expected with your condition but anything like what you experienced today and you come right back here to get checked out."
"Is a normal birth still possible?" Beth asked.
"It's risky because of the bleeding." Denise said. "If you want to try we can try."
"No, we want to go with whatever has the lowest risks for both her and the baby." Daryl said speaking up. Beth nodded quickly agreeing. Denise smiled and left them to go fill out paper work and get print outs for them. "I know you were planning all natural and no drugs I'm sorry it's not possible."
"Me too, but I want what's best. The situation is different now." Beth said as Daryl helped her dress in the clothing he had brought. "I don't know how we are going to finish doing everything in two weeks though Daryl."
"We knew you might have a bit of a shorter pregnancy. I'll go out and buy the last few things we 100% need before you give birth and we can get it ready."
"I don't have that kind of money laying around. We'll have to just get the car seat. We can't leave without that installed and bought." Beth said mentally doing the math in her head. "We can make do with what sleepers we have already, they'll be too big but that's ok. I don't know if I am lactating enough yet, some of the money might have to go towards formula."
"Don't worry, you're body knows when you need to start producing milk." Denise said as she came back. "You'll need a pump though, your baby might not be able to nurse much and you'll want to keep up in your milk production and have milk on hand for supplemental feedings." Denise adding handing over pamphlets Beth and Daryl thanked her as the papers were signed and processed. Daryl was allowed to push Beth out to the truck in a wheelchair, he just didn't trust the teenage looking candy stripper they sent to do it, so he just followed them to the truck to bring the wheelchair back. Beth was slightly startled when Daryl bent to lift her.
"I just need a hand." She said as he lifted her to his arms.
"Stop." He said to her protests. "Just let me be extra careful." He said sitting her gently in the seat and buckling her up. Beth nodded and waited till he was in with her. "I can't think of anyone to come sit with you. We got reach out to your family."
"We can talk to Maggie when we get home." Beth said. "She might be able to come sit with me a bit. I might be able to get Tara to come out, but she's so busy with her comic shop trying to turn a profit. She's down to one other employee. I don't really want to ask an ex to come stay with me. My only other close friends are Jimmy and Spencer."
"I could drop you off home every day and pick you up on the way home. We can talk to your dad. Maggie would still be able to do her work around the farm with them but they'd be close by in case you needed them."
"What if we ask and my dad says no?" Beth said softly. "I don't think I can take it."
"He's your dad, he won't say no." Daryl said. "All I could think about, from the moment you told me you were bleeding was making sure my kid and my girl were alright. Your dad is going to feel the same. I think the not knowing is more stressful for you." Daryl added as they slowly and carefully made their way home. "I mean even if Merle and you got along, I don't know if I'd trust him to be responsible enough to get you to the hospital in one piece. Glenn, I feel could handle it." Daryl added turning into their driveway. "Stay in the car. Let me get the door open and I'll help you in." Beth unbuckled but waited till Daryl came back out a few minutes later. She let him carry her into the house where he quickly laid her on the couch that had the pillows from their bed there.
"Thank you, it'll be more comfortable out here for now." Beth said as he took her flip-flops off and covered her with a blanket.
"I can pull over a kitchen chair and we can eat right here too. I know the doctor said you could still be on your feet to cook for a few minutes at a time, but if you make breakfast I don't want you making lunch or dinner. One meal a day." Beth looked at him and raised her eyebrows. "Just for the next few days till your next check in." Daryl said taking the bag with her dirty nightgown to the kitchen and tossing it in the laundry closet. "I'm going to get our hamper and get some laundry going. I'll wash all the baby clothes and blankets and we can fold them and get them ready. I'll set up the corner over there like we planned and you can tell me how you want it done from the couch."
"So we're nesting." Beth said laying her head back. Daryl nodded and sat on the floor in front of the couch with their bag of baby things. He pulled out his pocketknife and started cutting the tags off. "You should head out and buy a few packages of premature diapers and some preemie clothing." Beth said. "Not today, but maybe tomorrow."
"Here. Call Maggie. See if you can get her to come out tomorrow. We can make a list tonight of everything we need. Anything you need too." Daryl said as he worked on the tags. Beth took the phone into her lap and Daryl listened to her side of the conversation. Beth confirmed that Maggie could come by and stay with her before hanging up and calling work to let them know she wouldn't be back, she had to start her leave. Daryl took the phone from her and spoke to her boss, who he felt was making her feel guilty. Beth was surprised at how calm he was, all he did was promise to bring in documentation from the doctor.
"You don't got to deal with that bullshit." He said once he hung up. Beth let out a laugh. "I know better than cussing out your boss. I mean I want it to be your choice if you go back or not. I know you love your job and I ain't costing you it."
"Is your boss mad at you?" Beth asked. Daryl shook his head.
"The client is worried that we're a bit behind but it ain't nothing. I can get caught up easily. I do all the carving to the fixtures and I drew up the plans, it just goes more smoothly if I'm there. Ain't like they didn't know I'd be taking time off, just thought it'd be in a few months, we'd be further along in the project."
"Who's the client? Anyone I know?" Daryl shook his head. "I know a lot of folk."
"You've heard of him, I know that. You know the guy Merle owed? Negan? It's for him." Daryl said. "I wanted to turn down the job but it was just too big of a contract for Reg to turn down and too big a bonus for me to lose out on."
"Well The Monroes usually make good business moves right?" Beth asked yawning. Daryl nodded as he stood up with the small pile of baby things. "I mean from what Spencer told me anyway."
"As long as they don't listen to their sons, they do alright." Daryl said from the laundry area. "You get a nap in. I'll make something edible for lunch." Beth hummed out an agreement and Daryl sat at the table and placed his head against it and quietly calmed himself. He placed his hand against his heart and waited for it to stop racing, feeling it slowly make it's way to a steady beat. Everything would be ok. It had to be. He was working towards a better life than he ever thought he could have. Surely the world would not be cruel enough to give him a glimpse of happy normal only to take it away. He heard Beth sigh in her sleep and made his way to the living room. He smiled at her as she slept soundly on her side with her hands over spot where her could see the baby kicking. He walked over and crouched down, carefully placing his hand over hers. He said a small prayer, something he hadn't done since none of his cries to God for help when he was younger were answered, asking for God to let him have this. But he didn't beg. Dixon's did not beg.