* Please Review! Caffiend04: let me tell you, I had many emotional break downs with my pregnancies, lol! Vexingvixen: Im glad your back!*
Daryl yanked away from her and grabbed his gun. She threw her shirt down as he unzipped the tent. Daryl went charging out and towards the direction of Dale's voice. He was sprinting across the dark field. Dale was on the ground, his middle section torn apart. Daryl shot the head of the walker who had attacked Dale then cursed and looked up towards camp. He jumped and waved his arms as he called out to Rick and the group.
" Uncle Dale!" He heard Layla's voice. Daryl whipped around to see her running towards them.
" Layla, no!" He yelled as he started towards her.
" Uncle Dale!" She screamed, again. Daryl wrapped one arm around her waist and twisted them around so Dale was at their back.
" You don't need to see this." He said into her hair. Dale was struggling to breath and moan.
" Please, I need to be with him." Layla cried.
" No. You just gonna get upset." Daryl said. The screams and cries of the group had reached Dale.
" Daryl, please! He's all I have left!" Layla cried. Daryl's hold on her lessen enough that she could wiggle away from him. She turned around and ran to Dale. Daryl turned around slowly. " Uncle Dale!" She cried as she sank to her knees. He groaned and reached out to her. Layla started to cry harder as she took his left hand and placed it against her cheek.
" Someone help him!" Andrea cried. Voices trailed around Layla as she and Dale locked eyes. She covered his hand with hers and leaned forward to touch his face.
" Oh my God, Uncle Dale, hold on, please." Daryl heard her beg as he came up to her back. " You're all I have." She begged.
" He's in pain! He's dying!" Andrea cried. Layla shook her head as blood bubbled up from his mouth. Daryl crouched down and took her hand quickly before the blood got on it.
" Don't." He said.
" I need to touch him!" Layla cried.
" He's infected, Layla. Think of the baby." Daryl said. His voice was low and rough against her ear. Rick pulled out his gun and loaded it up. Daryl stood up and put his hand on Rick's gun. " I got this." He said. Rick nodded. " Get her, please." Rick walked around Dale and bent down until he had reached Layla.
" Daryl, help him!" Andrea yelled as she cried.
" Layla, come with me." Rick said gently as he took her shoulders. Daryl took out his gun and aimed down. Layla slipped from Dale's hand as he raised up his head to the gun. Rick pulled Layla up and away.
" Sorry, brother." Daryl muttered before he pulled the trigger.
Layla covered her face with her hands and started to sob. Rick turned her and held her close to him. He had one arm around her waist and the other on the back of her head. He was muttering softly to her as she then put her arms around his waist. All the women were crying. Daryl put his gun down then turned towards Rick. He was frowning.
" Let Daryl take you back to the tent. Try and relax." Rick whispered.
Layla pulled away but won't turn around. She didn't wait for Daryl. She started towards their tent. Daryl quietly followed after her. He was going to let the others decide what to do about Dale. He knew, from the book, that if the mother got over stressed, it could cause problems for the pregnancy. He quickly realized he was worried. He was worried about her and worried and scared about the baby. He picked up his steps to reach her quickly.
" Layla." He said as he reached her. She turned around quickly.
" Please don't burn him." She said in sob. " He's the only family I have." Her shoulders heaved with her sobs. " Please, Daryl, please." She cried. Daryl grabbed her shoulders and shook her.
" Stop." He ordered. " Calm the fuck down."
" I know we burn the walkers, I know that! That has been what we have always done but please!" She was begging as she sobbed.
" Layla!" He yelled sharply to get her attention. She blinked with her eyes filled with tears but she stopped rambling. " You can't be gettin upset, ain't good for the baby and he ain't all you got. He ain't the only family you got. You got the baby and everyone here. The baby's half you. " He stopped and took a deep breath before he dropped his hands from her. " Half me too. So we ain't alone anymore." He finished up quietly. They stared at each other for a few minutes. She was breathing hard but her tears had slowed down. She swallowed, pulling his eyes to her throat. He suddenly remembered how good her skin tasted.
" Don't burn him." She asked softly. " Please."
" Ain't gonna burn him." He answered just as softly. " I'll make sure of it."
That night she laid on the floor with him. He stared at her as she crawled under the blankets with him. She didn't try and cuddle up to him and for that he was kind of grateful. He hadn't known what he would do if she had but another part him wished she had. Instead, she give him her back. He stayed on his back with his hands behind his head.
Sometime in the middle of the night, Layla rolled over and snuggled up into him. Daryl opened his eyes the second she touched him. Her hand was on his left arm. He frowned then swept his right hand down his face fast. With a groan, Daryl pushed himself onto his side so he was facing her. He looked down at her stomach through the blanket then at her face. He pushed the blankets down slowly while he stared at her. Gently and carefully, he slipped his hand under her shirt.
Her little rounded tummy was firm. There was a small movement against his hand and it pulled his eyes down. He pulled her shirt up and stared as his throat tighten. There was a movement again. He pressed into her skin, feeling the baby push back. He wondered if he moved his hand, could he see the movement but he didn't try. He liked the way it felt.
" You feel me?" He whispered. " I feel you." He shook her stomach like he had earlier, again the baby moved. " I'm gonna be a good daddy. I ain't gonna drink, ain't gonna beat you or your mama. Things gonna be tough for you but I'm gonna be there."
Layla squeezed her eyes shut as she listen to Daryl make his promises. She knew he was talking to the baby and to himself. Tears pricked against the sides of her eyes. If he didn't stop talking, she was in danger of sobbing openly and ruining his moment. He needed that moment, just as much as she did. He continued to touch her but he had stopped talking. His hands moved around her. They were strong against her. Everytime the baby moved, he squeezed. When Layla finally fell asleep, Daryl was still rubbing against her.
XXXXXX
Daryl waited inside a bedroom of the farmhouse while Hershel checked Layla over. She was laying on the bed with Hershel feeling around her stomach. She was pale and had been crying off and on all morning. Hershel had checked her blood pressure and her legs for swelling. At that moment, he was feeling around, trying to get a feel for the baby. Hershel was staring at her face.
" The baby feels fine. Seems to be laying on it's side." He said. Layla nodded as she stared at the ceiling.
" I feel the movement mostly on the right side." She said quietly. Hershel nodded.
" You know, feeling around for a human baby is a lot like feeling a calf during pregnancy." Layla looked at Daryl then at Hershel.
" Did you just compare me and our baby to a cow and a cafe?" She asked. Hershel smiled.
" I did. But not because you're a cow. Because I want you to have faith in me." He said as he pulled her shirt down. He took her arm and pulled up so she could sit up. He patted her arm then turned to Daryl. "I'd like to talk to you outside."
Daryl nodded but didn't take his eyes off Layla as she readjusted her shirt. Rick, T-Dog, and Shane were busy digging the grave they would place Dale in. Daryl hadn't wanted Layla to be there during that. He didn't want Layla to see them lower Dale into the grave. Dale had been not only her uncle, but the one who had been there for her when she was sick. Daryl didn't want to admit it but Dale had stepped up and taken over her care. Dale had been doing what Daryl should have, what he wanted to do but didn't know how.
" Just relax in here for a few minutes." Hershel was saying to Layla. " Maggie is going to bring in some water. I want you to drink two glasses before you come out. It's going to be hot today, I fear. So every hour you are to drink a glass of water."
" Okay." Layla said as she sat on the bed.
Hershel looked at Daryl and motioned him to follow. As Hershel and Daryl walked out, Maggie walked in with a smile and two glasses of water. Daryl and Hershel walked through the house and out the front door to the porch. Daryl sat down on the railing and twisted to bring his right leg up while his left one stayed planted on the porch. He crossed his arms over his chest.
" How do you think she is doing?" Hershel asked.
" Seems alright. Sickness and throwin up has passed." Daryl said.
" You need to know something. When the baby comes, there will be nothing I can do to ease the pain Layla will be in. And she is going to be in pain."
" Ain't nothin? You can't give her anything?" Daryl asked.
" No. I don't know what effects pain relievers would have on the baby so I don't want to risk it. While I can feel against her stomach, and I think the baby is growing right, we have no way of knowing for sure. With Dale dying we need to watch her. Stress can trigger premature labor. If she goes into labor before it's time for the baby to come there will be nothing I can do. If the baby came now, it would die." Daryl nodded. " I need you to plug in. She lost her biggest supporter and caregiver so I need you to step up and fill that spot." Daryl sighed and looked out over the fields. He could see the guys and it looked like they were lowering Dale into the ground.
" I don't know how to." Daryl admitted.
" You need to talk to her, pay attention to her. Don't let her fall into depression." Hershel said. Daryl looked back at the old man. " That's your baby inside her so that makes you a father right now. The best thing a father can give his child is to take care of the mother. I understand that you two aren't married but that doesn't matter now. What matters is that tiny gift God has given you. It doesn't matter what happen in your life or hers. You have been given a chance to bury your past and start fresh." Daryl's chest deflated. He hadn't thought of it like that. He had looked at Sophia as his way to overcome his past and when that didn't work, Daryl had crashed straight down. Maybe Hershel was right. Maybe he could finally move forward.
" I get it." Daryl said.
" I hope you do. Now that she is getting bigger, I'd like you two to move into the house. Sleeping on the ground is going to be hard on her body."
" I gave her my cot." Daryl defended.
" Then that was a start of you caring for her. But I'm sure a bed will be better for her back. The others will be moving into the other house soon and it's going to get cold. You should move today, maybe after the funeral." Hershel said.
" Excuse me." Carol's small voice surprised them both. " Is Layla still inside? I'd like to talk to her." Hershel looked at Daryl and he quickly realized they were waiting for him to answer. He cleared his throat and dropped his leg to the porch as he stood up straight.
" Yeah, she's in the bedroom." He said. Carol nodded.
" They are covering Dale up if you want to head over. I'll bring Layla over a few minutes." Carol said before she disappeared inside the house.