Author's Note: I don't own anything having to do with the Walking Dead only Becca belongs to me.

Thanks to EnglishPoet and ispiltthemilk for letting me toss around a few ideas for this chapter. Hope you enjoy :)

Chapter 7

It was still early morning and most were just starting to move around the camp. Dale was perched on top of his RV with the binoculars around his neck and I thought about joining him one of these days just to get a lay of the land around me. Daryl had slipped out before the sun had even peeked over the tree line and one could only guess where Merle had wandered off to. It was a peaceful moment sitting in front of our tent and for a moment it was easy to forget about the horrors of the world lurking around us.

"You're not even trying!" Carl shouted grabbing my attention as Sophia tossed the ball back in his direction.

She huffed and held the stick up ready to try again, "Am too!" I watched as Carl concentrated on where he wanted to throw the ball, turned to the side, and threw it in Sophia's direction. She swung with all her might and I had to bite back a chuckle at the murderous expression on her face. "You're doing that on purpose!" She scurried after the ball and chucked it back at him as hard as she could.

"Carl, hold up a second," I got up from my chair and made my way over to where they were playing; ignoring the dumbfounded look he was giving me. To be honest, it was probably the first time I had spoken to him. Sophia glanced up at me as I stood behind her. "Go on and stand like you're going to hit the ball." She let out a deep sigh and lazily held the stick in her hand not really seeing a point to this. I lightly kicked her foot over until she was standing with them shoulder length apart and readjusted her grip on the stick. "Don't lock your knees."

I didn't know much about sports, in fact hitting a baseball was as far as my knowledge went, but it was the one thing my brother had been adamant about teaching me. I took a step back and nodded to Carl to throw the ball. It once again went sailing past her but this time I jogged over to get it and tossed it back to Carl.

"I don't want to play anymore," she dropped the stick and crossed her arms. "I can't do it."

"Okay, you're right, you can't." Her little eyes got as wide as saucers at my statement and I picked the stick off the ground. "If you think you can't do it then you never will be able to."

I handed her back the stick and smirked when she stood like I had shown her but this time I kept my hands overtop of hers so she could get the feel for timing. I nodded at Carl once more and he was clearly excited that I had convinced Sophia to keep playing with him. He wound up and threw the best pitch he could. Sophia and I swung and the stick connected with the ball sending it into the side of the RV. Dale peered over the edge to see what the noise was and I felt like a little kid again about to get in trouble.

"Sorry!" Sophia called over to him and I gave a short wave as an apology. Her little arms came around my waist and gave me a tight squeeze. "Thanks, Becca!"

It shocked me but I patted the back of her shoulder awkwardly, "No problem. Keep practicing and maybe we'll play again later, okay?"

She nodded enthusiastically before preparing to hit all by herself. It was nice being able to show her something that she didn't know before and I wondered if this was how my brother felt after he taught me all those years ago. Doubt it though, I wasn't as sweet as Sophia, and definitely gave him enough attitude. I saw Lori and Shane walking out of the woods together and her trying to discreetly rejoin the group while she fixed her hair. Andrea made a face and when we locked eyes from across the camp we shared a little chuckle.

"Good morning, Becca."

I whipped my head to the side surprised anyone had come over to chat with me. The only time any of them came to me was when Merle had done something and wanted me to reel him in. Not that I've ever had luck with that. "Morning," I replied slowly, waiting to hear what Carol had to say.

She took a seat next to me and I internally groaned figuring he had said something offensive to her. "Saw you with Sophia earlier." That was not the route I was expecting the conversation to go and I immediately went to apologize thinking I had overstepped a boundary. "You were really good with her. I'm happy you didn't let her give up. She needs more of that in her life."

"Oh, it was no big deal," I absentmindedly played with the fringe on my shorts to give my hands something to do.

"Did…I mean do…" she stumbled over her words and having been wrong so far with what she wanted to talk about I stayed silent until she got out, "Do you have any kids?"

*Flashback*

I couldn't tear my eyes away from the stick sitting on the side of the sink with two little pink lines staring back at me. My whole body felt numb and I wasn't sure I could wrap my head around the idea. I hadn't been against having kids but I certainly didn't think I was ready for them either. I was being so careful so this would never happen.

"Becca, I'm home!" Rich called out and the door shut behind him before I heard him moving around the trailer. I walked out of the bathroom and headed to the kitchen knowing he would be expecting his dinner to be made. He was sitting at the table with a beer in his hand as I came in and automatically started talking about his day. "Busted two kids trying to break into the old Miller house over on Fuller Lane thought they were going to shit themselves when I pulled up." I hummed a response and he picked up on the far off look in my eyes as I leaned against the counter. "Bec? Something wrong?"

"I'm…I'm…pregnant," I choked out the words not even wanting to say it.

His jaw dropped as his whole face lit up like it was the best news he ever heard, "Are you serious?"

The excitement in his voice only made me want to run away from it all but I forced myself to nod. "I was late, like really late, and I took a test."

Forgetting the beer on the table he engulfed me into a hug and spun me around a few times, pure laughter coming from deep within him. He set me back on my feet and placed a hand on my flat stomach, "We're going to have a baby!"

"Yeah, I suppose we are." It was in that moment that Merle's face flashed through my mind and how much this was going to kill him.

X-X-X

I had avoided Merle since he had gotten out of jail in fear that Rich would make good on his word. He had been out for a little over six months now and I knew I'd have to see him eventually. I was just starting to show and news was going to spread fast that I was pregnant. He deserved to hear it from me so while Rich was working overtime one night I dressed in a loose fitting shirt and the only pants that fit me at the moment.

Time wasn't on my side and I couldn't afford to drive around all night looking for him. I called the trailer hoping by some miracle he'd be home but not even Daryl answered the phone. The bar was the only other place that popped in my head so I slid on a pair of flip flops and snatched my keys off the hook.

After dealing with the drunken assholes of our town the bar ended up being a bust too. At this point Rich would be getting off of work in a half hour, I was hungry and about ready to curl up on the couch. I stopped off at the diner as a craving for a strawberry sundae with peanut butter and chocolate sauce hit me. The place was always crowded no matter what time you popped in and I stood at the counter waiting for the lanky teenager to take my order.

"Well, look what the cat dragged in, baby brother." My mind had been so set on food I hadn't even bothered to look around to see who was in the diner. Merle and Daryl had been just a few stools down from where I was waiting. "Been so long almost forgot what you looked like."

"Hey, guys," I bit my bottom lip as I replayed in my head what I wanted to say to him. It wasn't going to be hard, I tried to reason but even I couldn't lie to myself.

Daryl nodded in greeting, "Gotta take a piss."

The moment the two of us was alone I felt like I was going to be sick. "How've you been?"

Merle shook his head with betrayal flashing through his eyes, "Ain't nothing I couldn't handle." he raked his eyes up and down my body, "'bout time you put some meat on ya been tryin' to get you to eat for years."

"About that-" I started to tell him the truth before I completely lost my courage when Rich's voice sounded behind me.

"Becca, there you are!" I could almost feel the blood drain from my face, terrified that he had seen me talking to Merle. He came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my middle making a point to kiss the side of my neck. "Was just stopping in to get you a treat before I came home."

"I got hungry and we were all out of ice cream," I lied as Daryl came back from the bathroom. "We should head on home."

I could feel Rich smirking against my neck, "Yes, yes we should." I didn't get to say goodbye or even get to grab my sundae as I was ushered out the door and to my car. "I'll see you at home."

The ride went by in a flash but I was going to hold my head up as I got out of the car. I hadn't done anything wrong technically I ran into him while trying to get a snack but now I'd have to convince Rich of that. He parked his cruiser next to my car and walked straight into the trailer without a second glance in my direction. I took a few calming breaths before following him through the front door.

He stayed silent until I slipped my shoes off and I could see his eyes almost twitching in anger. "What did I say, Rebecca Ann?"

"Rich, I didn't-"

He growled as a hand went around my throat pinning me to the wall. "It's not even mine, is it?" He started sliding me up the wall, my feet leaving the ground causing my air supply to be cut off even more. He glared down at my stomach before meeting my eyes again. "Is it his?"

I shook my head in the negative and he released his hold sending me crumpling to the floor. I lay on my side trying to draw air back into my lungs. "Tonight was the first time I've seen him."

He studied my face for a moment before crouching down in front of me. "Liar."

The first punch barely registered but a switch was flipped in my brain and instead of trying to fight back like I normally would have I rolled into myself trying to protect the baby. It wasn't until I started spitting blood that he finally backed away, his darkened eyes fading away as he took in what he did.

Rich called his father to clean up another one of his messes and he was advised to bring me to the emergency room. He carried me through the sliding doors screaming out for someone to help me trying to appear like he was a concerned husband. My father in-law stood off to the side and nodded to his son. When the nurses asked what happened he told them I was in a car accident.

The doctor had spewed some bullshit that I wouldn't have been able to carry to term anyways like it was supposed to make me feel better. She patted my sheet covered foot and flashed a sympathetic smile when she told me that children would never be a realistic option for me. I had my tubes tied later that week much to Rich's dismay but it was better this way. I'd never have to tell Merle that I had started a family with someone else.

*Present*

"Becca?" Carol placed her hand on my shoulder and still lost in the memory I flinched away. There wasn't sympathy or pity in her eyes only understanding. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked it's none of my business."

I wanted to tell her that it was okay, that it was a long time ago and it was actually kind of nice to have someone to talk to besides my Dixons, but instead I just offered her a small smile. When there wasn't any chance of a future and the present was too clouded to walk through the only place to live was the past no matter how tormented it may be. She headed back over to where Sophia and Carl were still playing about the same time Merle came around the side of the tent.

"Keep up the good work, sugar," Merle winked at me and I raised an eyebrow in confusion. He crouched down next to me and whispered in my ear, "Gain their trust so we can find out what they have before we rob 'em blind and head off on our own."

An uneasy feeling grew in the pit of my stomach but I'd walk through a burning ring of fire if he asked me to. "When?"

"Soon as I get back from Atlanta. You and Daryl be ready."