A/N: Hey guys! This chapter is a little rough, but I am super tired so don't hate me haha. I have the next several chapters already written out so I just have to type, edit, and publish. I am going to try and space them out to about one every week or so, so I don't bombard you with all of it at once. As always thank you for your patience and support. You guys rock!
~ASD
Night fell slowly and, although none of us would say it, we were getting a little worried about Daryl and Maggie. I was sitting on the floor in the common area of the cell block, leaning against the wall and watching the others. Glenn was on watch with Oscar and Axel manning the fences for when they did return. Hershel was holding the baby who had been crying almost non-stop for two hours. She was hungry. I hated hearing her so upset, I felt powerless to help. I slowly started banging my head against the wall and her crying only furthered my headache. Finally, after another minute, I jumped up, startling everyone in the room.
"Adeline?" Hershel asked, still rocking the small baby who was wrapped in one of Maggie's shirts.
"How much longer can she last?" I asked, hating that I had to ask.
He gave me a weighted look, cast glances at the others in the room, and then began to speak. "A couple more hours at most. She needs the formula now but she can survive another hour or two. After that and I'm afraid it may be too late." I closed my eyes and clenched my fists.
"Okay, I'm going out. I'll find something and bring it back, just keep her alive until then," I instructed as I put my knife back into my boot and grabbed my gun.
"Maggie and Daryl will be back soon," Beth said, her wide eyes conveying her innocence and also her worry.
I swallowed hard in preparation for what I had to say now. "We have to realize they may not come back. And even if they do it may be too late. We can't risk it. I'll go," I said, my heart tightening in my chest as the foul words left my mouth.
No one else said anything so after another second of collecting myself, I walked out of the prison and into the yard. I began mentally weighing my options; both for which vehicle to take and where to go looking for formula. I heard Glenn calling to me from the tower but ignored him, I couldn't tell him what was already swarming around in his head, that both of us had lost the person we cared most about. I shook my head to clear it before opening the trunk to the SUV to see what kind of supplies were in there. Not much but probably the best I was going to get and hopefully enough to get me through this mission.
"Hey!" I called to the inmates who looked confused. "Open the gates when I get up there!" I jumped into the car and turned the key that was left in the ignition in case of emergencies.
Just as the car started, headlights flooded the road leading to the prison and the most beautiful sound I had ever heard filled my one good ear. A motorcycle.
"Open the gates!" I yelled and started sprinting toward the gate as Oscar and Axel quickly scrambled to obey my order. "Get them open!" I cried as the motorcycle approached and the walkers began to converge.
The gates parted and Daryl and Maggie flew inside pass me. One walker managed to squeeze inside before the gates were closed and I quickly whipped out my knife and killed it without hesitation. It fell to the ground in an unceremonious flop and I turned away without a second thought, running at a full sprint toward where the motorcycle had stopped and Daryl was climbing off. I crashed into him and he let out an 'oomph' as the air momentarily left his lungs. Then he wrapped his arms around me and looked down at me with a mixture of surprise and admiration.
"Well hello to you too," he joked and I playfully pushed him as we broke apart. "Come on, let's get this to the baby." He lifted up a bag which I assume had the formula in it. We jogged quickly back into the prison where the baby's cries had intensified.
Daryl quickly handed the bag over to Beth who walked over to a table and started preparing a bottle. Then Daryl took the baby from Hershel and started rocking her gently, taking the bottle from Beth once it was ready. He was softly cooing at the baby and everyone was looking at him like he had grown another head. I was equally shocked, but my heart also swelled at the sight.
"She got a name yet?" He asked as he put the bottle in her mouth and the crying stopped.
Carl stepped forward meekly, looking at the small girl in Daryl's arms. "I was thinking Sofia," he said and all of us fell quiet. The atmosphere was somber at the mention of the little girl. "And then there's Carol, too. And… Andrea, Amy, Jacqui, Patricia, or Lori. I don't know." He looked pained at the last name as did everyone else in the room.
"You like that sweetheart? Huh? Lil Ass Kicker, you like that sweetheart?" Daryl cooed quietly and we all laughed. "Come meet your Aunt Addie," he whispered even more quietly, where only I could hear. He walked closer and tipped the baby where I could get a better look at her. I smiled at her sweet face, those innocent looking eyes staring into my soul.
"Hey Lil Ass Kicker," I joked and grabbed her toes, shouldering Daryl and he gave me that crooked smile of his before bumping my hip.
"Cute, Walsh," he said and I stuck out my tongue before he carefully placed the baby in my arms.
"Oh, no," I said trying to hand her back but he refused. "No, I'm not a baby person," I said, feeling extremely uncomfortable.
"You kidding me Walsh? You look like a natural," he said, looking over my shoulder and tilting the bottle up to a better angle.
Smiling at her, I walked away from the others and sat down in one of the chairs as she continued to suck down the bottle. I looked at her, falling asleep in my arms, then looked over to Daryl who was smiling at us. We are going to be okay, I thought.