A Second Chance

Chapter 17

A/N- Okay, so I don't usually do this but, oh well! I wrote a 'prequel' to this story, showing Carley's backstory. It's only one Chapter for now but if I get enough people who want me to, I'll continue it! ON WITH THE STORY!

"Lee. I need to talk to you for a moment." She said, looking at me sadly. I nodded silently and gulped.

"What's wrong with my Girlfriend? What's happened to my baby?" I asked, not bothered that we were still in front of everyone.

"Just… follow me." She said, leaving the room. I did as she asked, making my way up the stairs behind her. Eventually, she opened the door to our bedroom. My breath caught in my throat.

The first thing I noticed was blood. A lot of it. Carley was on the bed, a blood-soaked blanked covering her parted legs. I stood for a while. What could I say to her? After what had just happened to her.

"Lee." She said, her voice cracking. My heart broke to see her like that; so vulnerable. She was obviously trying to keep herself from crying. Hair was matted in her forehead and she was clearly getting weaker. I pulled a chair over and sat on it gently, taking her hand in mine.

"I'm here…" I said softly, running my thumb over her hand gently. It took everything in me to stop myself from crying.

"I'm sorry, Lee." She said, allowing tears to fall freely. My eyebrows shot into my hairline.

"Hey. You don't have anything to be sorry for." I said, squeezing her hand and brushing her hair softly.

"But… this shouldn't be happening for another two months at least!" She argued, becoming visibly paler.

"I know. I don't blame you. If anyone, I blame myself." I said, kissing her hand and looking in her eyes deeply.

"Sorry to interrupt you guys but we need to discuss the options." Katjaa said from the corned. I was about to agree when I heard Carley speak.

"What options are there? You keep this baby alive, no matter what." She said, her voice quiet. I looked her with wide eyes.

"You're no saying what I think you're saying?" I asked, my voice higher than usual.

"I am. If anything happens to me and I could come back as a walker. Don't fucking hesitate. I don't want to hurt anyone." She said. I was about to protest when she gritted her teeth in pain once again and screamed out.

"Lee. I need you to get Christa and Lilly. I don't let men in the room when I do this." Katjaa said, shooing me out and slamming the door behind her. I sprinted down the stairs, hearing Carleys screams as I did.

"Christa! Lilly! Katjaa needs your help." I said, running inside. They took one look at my pale face and did as I asked, bolting upstairs. Lilly stopped halfway up and turned to face me.

"I'lll do what I can, Lee. I promise." She said. I smiled slightly at her as she sprinted up the stairs.

"Is everything okay?" Kenny asked as I sat down beside Clementine. I wrapped a protective arm around her and silently shook my head. His face dropped. "What happened?"

"I… There was blood… a LOT of it." I said, feeling myself become faint.

"A lot…" Ben repeated quietly in the corner, his eyes threatening to roll. I would have laughed if it were under different circumstances.

"So… how is she?" Omid asked, genuinely upset. I turned to him, my eyes boring into his.

"She… I don't know." I admitted, standing and walking to the window. I started pacing. Back and forth. Back and forth. I continued for what felt like hours.

"Will you quit pacing?! You're making us all nervous!" Kenny said irritably, making me glare at him. He backed down, relaxing in his chair. For about an hour, the only sound was my footsteps. Ben had taken the kids outside to play in an attempt to make the wait easier on them. I heard panting from the doorway and turned to see Lilly with an empty bowl.

"Katjaa sent me for warm water." She explained, holding the large bowl up.

"Yeah, sure." I said, following her into the kitchen and relieved her of the receptacle and placed it into the large sink. Turning on the tap, I looked at the woman beside me closely.

"Not long now, Lee." She said gently, touching my arm comfortingly. I nodded, gulping down my nerves.

"I know. How's she doing?" I asked, keeping an eye on the water level.

"Actually, pretty good. She's tired but… she has an excuse for thet." She joked, trying and succeeding to make me laugh. I turned to look at her, closing the tap.

"What was that? Lilly Caul making a joke?" I chuckled, picking the heavy bowl up and handing it to her.

"Hey, I'm not a brick." She smiled back, walking from the kitchen and back into the living room.

"See 'ya." I said to her, resuming my pacing. I heard her go back upstairs and leaned against the window sill.

"Sit down, pal." Kenny said softly, patting my back. I did as he asked, taking my place on the couch. I relaxed into it, the stress of the day leaving me and sleep overtaking me.

Half An Hour Later

"Lee! Wake up!" I heard. My eyes fluttered open and revealed Lilly smiling down at me. Somehow, I must have shifted to lay on my back. "Someone wants to meet you."

My heart hammered against my chest. Kenny yahooed in the corner, fist-pumping the air. Omid joined him, running into the garden to fetch the kids.

"She's… It's over?" I asked, sitting up and looking at her hopefully. She smiled happily.

"Yeah." She said. I practically bounded up the stairs, her trailing behind me. I stopped before reaching our door, breathing heavily. I felt her presence beside me. "Go on, dumbass. Don't keep them waiting."

I pushed the door open gently and was met with the most glorious thing I had ever laid eyes on. Carley was in our bed, sweat covering her head, making her messy bangs cling to her. Blood soaked blankets sat in a pile on the floor. Her eyes were showing love like I'd never seen towards a bundle in her arms. My heart swelled with pride as she spotted me and smiled.

"Hey Lee… You want to meet your son?" She greeted quietly, adjusting her arms slightly to reveal the red faced infant. I approached the bed silently, unable to come up with the words to say. She chuckled at my expression. I knelt beside her bed and brought my hand up over her arm to rest on the tiny boy. I looked deep into her eyes and smiled happily, letting out a sigh of relief.

"He's… he's perfect." I breathed, looking at my son. My son. God, that was weird so think. The little boy in Carleys arms was ours. His head was covered in a little mop of black hair that looked like it would stick up in the same way mine did. I turned to the woman next to me. "You're perfect."

"You're kidding, right? I've never looked worse." She laughed, pushing a strand of hair from her eyes. I took her hand in mine. Her emerald eyes sought mine out and held my gaze.

"You've never looked more beautiful." I smiled, earning an embarrassed look. I looked to Katjaa, silently thanking her.

"It was no problem, Lee. You've got yourselves a healthy baby boy." She said happily. "Don't worry, we won't tell anyone. We'll leave that for you two."

"Thank you, Kat. For everything." Carley said softly, happy tears threatening to fall. She smiled back and left us alone. She looked down at the sleeping infant. "I can't believe he's here." She said, he voice disbelieving.

"Neither can I. He sure gave us all a scare." I chuckled, running a finger over his soft hair.

"No shit." She laughed. The sudden movement woke him up and he began to cry, reaching out for his mother's touch. "Shh… I'm here. Mommy's here." She said, cradling him close. Suddenly, she changed. I no longer saw her as a young girl. She became a woman… a mother… His cries quietened and he fell silent.

"Hey, it's okay, buddy." I cooed, letting him take my finger. Carley looked at me genly and held him closer to me.

"Does Daddy want to hold him?" She asked softly, holding him out to me.

I nodded my head silently, nervously accepting the small boy. He wriggled slightly, trying to get comfortable in the change of environment. Eventually, he settled and opened his eyes. Emerald orbs stared back at me, making my breath catch in my throat.

"He has your eyes." I said simply, addressing my girlfriend. I looked back down at my son. "Hey, buddy. I'm your daddy. Oh, I love you so much." I said softly, giving the infant my finger to hold. I turned back to Carley. "What're we going to name him?"

"I don't know. I haven't thought about it." I admitted, sitting in the cushioned armchair by the bed. She bit her bottom lip and looked at me.

"I have one. It was the first name I thought of when I saw him." She said, nervously. I looked at her happily.

"Go ahead." I said, smiling happily.

"Logan James Everett." She breathed, looking at me for approval. "It's got a ring to it, no?"

"It does." I agreed, looking down.

"So, that's his name?" She asked as I adjusted him, trying to get him comfortable once again.

"Yeah… I think so." I agreed. I laughed softly. "You think I should go tell everyone? They'll be causing a riot down there."

"Yeah. Take Logan with you? They'll want to see him." She said, kissing his forehead softly.

"Back in a bit." I answered, leaving the room and walking down the stairs slowly. I heard the buzz of conversation getting louder as I neared the doorway. I stood in the doorway for a while, just observing them. Lilly and Kenny were getting along (for once) and sharing a beer. Katjaa sat with the kids, keeping them occupied and Christa sat with Omid, watching them happily. I cleared my throat, announcing my presence. Everyone's eyes widened when they noticed the tiny boy in my arms.

"No way…" Kenny muttered, smiling happily at me. I nodded, glancing down at the sleeping infant.

"Guys, I want to introduce you to Logan James Everett."

A/N- So, extra-long chapter as a way of apologising for being a bastard. Last chapter, I left you on a huge cliff-hanger and felt awful! Plus, I'm back at school tomorrow, meaning I won't have as much free time, meaning I won't be updating as fast as I have been. Sorry! I hope you enjoyed it!