A/N: Happy Birthday to my lovely friend Robyn! This is based on her prompt/request: "pregnancy angst-hurt/comfort". I really hope you like it and it's what you were looking for ;)

Timeline is between seasons 2 & 3

The first time Lori felt the baby move, the whole group was hiding from a herd of Walkers. With her weapon drawn and adrenaline and fear surging through her, it would have been easy to dismiss the flutter she felt low in her belly. But even after the threat passed, as the rest of the group clambered out of the hiding spaces they had found in a dilapidated fruit stand-shack and nearby rundown truck, her heart rate was steadily decreasing when she felt the small movement again. It was most likely her own state of anxiousness and pent-up energy that had caused the baby to move in response, yet she couldn't help but feel a little disturbed at the fact that the newest member of their groupdecided to make his or her presence known in a tense moment that was surrounded by Walkers. What she had feared for Carl-that this life of running and surviving and dispatching Walkers-already seemed to be the norm for the baby. It would never live in a world in which fearing and fighting for your life wasn't a constant reality. She sighed heavily and hoped the tickling sensation would go away soon. She wasn't ready for the baby to have such a strong and tangible presence in her life yet.

Carol approached her later when the group was gathering around a small fire, taking the seat that Carl had just vacated. "Everything alright?" Lori looked up at the other woman, startled. She had been staring blankly into the fire, bringing her mind to a place of blissful emptiness. The orange flames soothed her and though she felt a slight burning in her eyes as a result, it was a fair trade in her opinion. She now stared at Carol, bewildered, "sorry, what?"

The other woman looked at her sympathetically. Lori could see in her eyes that she had noticed, just like everyone else had, the distance that had grown between her and Rick. Of course, he pretty much kept his distance from most of them these days. He didn't give anyone much more than a few barked orders or some talk of strategy with Daryl and sometimes Hershel. "I said, is everything alright?" Carol repeated.

"Oh…yeah," Lori breathed, shrugging. "I guess as alright as things can be right now. Why do you ask?"

"Well, you seemed a little far away right now," the other woman replied gently, "and I heard you gasp earlier when we were hiding, it just seemed like there was something else going on. Is the baby alright?"

As a mother herself, Lori wasn't surprised that Carol was intuitive when it came to things involving the baby.

"Oh," she started, shrugging a shoulder again to give the impression that it wasn't a big deal, "uh, I felt it move is all."

Carol's face brightened, "oh! That's great…" she began, but drifted off when she noticed Lori's lack of enthusiasm. Instead, she settled for placing a comforting hand on her friends shoulder, giving her what she hoped was a reassuring smile.

Lori returned the smile. She was grateful that Carol was around to give her support, she was just simply not ready to be happy or excited about the baby. She wasn't sure she ever would be, considering the circumstances they had found themselves in. If they were still at the farm, she probably would have been more willing to be more enthusiastic about the little things like this. The situation as it was, all she could muster was a mild satisfaction that the baby was clearly still doing alright. Which appeared to be more than she could say about her husband, who hadn't bothered to ask her how she was feeling or show any real interest at all. The only way she could tell he still cared even a small amount was by the way he would make sure she had first pick of whatever food it was they found for themselves. Many days he'd go without a portion of his own to ensure that she ate. She didn't like it, but she wouldn't argue. It would be a losing battle. She did, however, pull Daryl aside one day and ask him if he could perhaps take Rick hunting with him. If they could get more food, Rick could actually eat himself more often. She braced herself, expecting a surly reply just as she had received back at the farm when she asked him to go get Rick and Hershel from town. Instead, he simply nodded and said he would try.

The weeks wore on, her belly got bigger and her husband got quieter. He still positioned himself next to her and Carl when they laid down to sleep. They still rode in the same car together as the group moved on almost daily to new locations. One day as they drove along quietly-as usual-she sat in the back seat with Carl and Beth as T-Dogg drove while Rick took the passenger seat, having spent the majority of the night before on watch. Carl, despite her protests, had insisted upon taking most of the shift with his dad. He was more exhausted than usual as a result and sat dozing on her shoulder. In his sleepy state, his arm draped over her side and his hand came to rest on her belly. She smiled, knowing this was as close to a cuddle as she would get with him these days. Her boy who was getting older and insisted upon being seen that way. She could feel his head sliding down her shoulder and then he would jerk up again. She was just about to put her arm around him and suggest he just settle further into her when a hard thump came from inside her belly, against his hand. Evidently the sibling rivalry was already beginning.

"Whoa," Carl startled up all the way this time. That got the attention of everybody in the car. Rick craned his neck to look over his shoulder, his eyebrows scrunched as he tried to assess what was wrong with his son.

"Are you really that hungry or somethin' mom?" Carl asked, naively. Lori couldn't help but let out a chuckle at her son's bewildered and slightly annoyed face. "No, sweetheart, that was…um," she hesitated, feeling Rick's intense stare still on her, "that was your…uh, the baby movin' around," she finished lamely.

"Really?" Carl asked, his face brightening, "cool!" Lori grinned at him, pleased that he was happy about that and remembering when he first found out she was pregnant, placing his hand on her then flat stomach and asking if he could feel the baby. He once again placed his hand back on her now much larger belly, "can I feel it again?"

"Well, I can't really control when it moves but sure you ca-," she cut off with a slight gasp as the baby responded once again to it's brother's touch, this time flipping around and feeling more like a ripple to Carl which made him laugh.

"Oh, that is so excitin'!" Beth spoke up, "would it be alright if I could give it a try, too, Lori?" she asked politely.

"Of course, honey," Lori laughed again as Beth's hand quickly joined Carl's at her permission. Both giggled to each other when the baby continued to respond to all of the attention. Lori was overwhelmed, she had continued to feel the baby move a little bit here and there after that first time but never as much as it was now. She felt much happier about the development now, as she could see how much joy it was giving her son and Beth.

She chanced looking up once again to see that Rick had softened his gaze and though he turned away when she met his eyes, she could see he kept glancing back out of his peripheral vision. When the group made a stop, Beth and Carl ran out of the car to inform everyone else about their introduction to the baby. Carol, Maggie, and Hershel also tried their luck, with less results. Lori sensed the baby had gone to sleep after being tired out from all the activity in the car. Hershel let Lori know he would like her to keep him informed on how active the baby was so he could assess the progress of her pregnancy as much as possible.

That night she stirred from a deep sleep at the feel of a hand once again resting on her belly. Still half-asleep, she assumed it was Carl once again but quickly realized that she could still feel him pressed up against her back, and there was no arm around her side. She didn't dare open her eyes to break the moment, feigning sleep, but awake enough that she could also conclude that the the tentative touch was from a large and masculine hand, it definitely did not belong to Beth either. It had been so long since the first time she was pregnant, but the memory came to her all the same. There was no mistaking to whom the hand belonged. She fought hard not to show any sort of comprehension or emotion in her expression. Knowing that if he realized she was awake he would quickly retreat. She wondered if this was the first time he had done something like this while she-presumably-slept. She noted with satisfaction that the baby was beginning to rouse. And almost as soon as it started moving the hand retreated from it's place. She felt the whoosh of air signaling Rick's departure from her side. She stored the memory away to keep with her for the times his distance felt like too much to handle. She knew he had to work things through in his own way but she was thankful for little slivers of hope. Turning onto her other side, she drew their son close to her, enjoying the extra warmth his body heat provided. He would probably complain about it in the morning, but she'd take what she could get from him, too.