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As Layla packed her clothes into the small bags she had been given, she felt almost numb. She had done her crying and her eyes hurt from it. She had told Daryl how she felt and he had rejected her. He had the confession and all but threw it but into her face. She had resigned herself that she would have and raise their baby without him. The group would come together and help her, she knew that much but they weren't Daryl. None of them were the father of her baby.
Layla was folding up one of her shirts when the door to her room opened then closed. She swallowed hard but didn't turn to see who was coming towards her. She knew it was Daryl. She couldn't say how she knew, but she did. Maybe it was his scent, maybe it was the quiet way he walked, she would never know but she always knew when he was behind her. He set a box on the bed, beside her. Without a word, Daryl opened the lid of it then stepped back. Despite her best efforts not to look, Layla's eyes went to the inside of the box. She almost whined out loud.
" What is this?" She almost whispered. Daryl didn't answer, he didn't have too. Layla was looking into it. She pulled out a pack of daipers first, the binkies were next, then another pack of daipers. The rest of the box was filled with blankets and clothes, tiny clothes.
" When you leavin?" Daryl asked, just as quietly as she had spoken. She closed her eyes as her eyes tighten on one of the onesies.
" In a few hours." She answered.
" Merle'll be pass out by then. Gonna be drunk." Daryl said. Layla nodded and opened her eyes. She let the outfit slip from her hands before turning and facing him. Daryl was leaning back against the dresser with his arms crossed over his chest.
" That's why we're waiting." She said. Daryl nodded slowly.
" Guess I better go and get my shit then. Should start packin up the car and truck." He said. Layla's breath caught as her eyes filled with tears.
" You're coming?" She asked. Daryl nodded and dropped his arms. He stood up straight and took the two steps that was between them.
" If you still want me." He said. She covered her mouth as she nodded. She closed her eyes and let the tears fall. A second later his hands came to her stomach. He watched her stomach as their baby moved under his hands. At 22 weeks, the baby was easier for him to feel and it seemed like it moved more.
" I just can't stay here." Layla said without opened her eyes. " I don't want to take you from your family but I can not be here anymore." She swallowed again but opened her eyes.
" You ain't." Daryl said, softly. " I'll be with my family. You, the baby, the group, all my family now."
" Merle is toxic." Layla said. Daryl nodded, still watching his hands.
" He ain't right. I know that. Ain't right to have the baby round him when it's born, ain't safe." He said. They didn't talk as the baby moved between them. After a few minutes, he looked up at her. Layla was fighting her tears and losing. " I'm gonna pack my shit then I'll be back. We gonna leave here together." She nodded as a fresh round of tears fell. She dropped her head, covered her mouth, closed her eyes and started to cry harder. Daryl blinked slowly, surprised by the emotion that was flowing from her. He put his hand on the back of her neck and drew her into him. Layla took a hold of his sides and let her head come to rest against his chest. Daryl put his other arm around her waist. " I'm sorry." He said. He was sorry he let Merle control him, sorry for the things he had said to her and how he had treated her, and most of all, he was sorry he hadn't taken care of her like he knew he should.
Late that night, when most were passed out from the booze, the group pulled out of the prison. The button to open the prison was by the gate so Rick hit it then climbed into the car. The gate didn't close until the bike, the truck, and the car had pulled away. They all drove with hope in their hearts and relief to be out of the prison.
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They drove to the farmhouse that they had fixed up. After it was cleared, the group moved into for the night. Some slept on the floor in different rooms, others in the bed. Daryl and Layla took a room on the second floor. She clung to him hard throughout the night. Daryl stared at the ceiling with his right hand behind his head and his left arm locked around her shoulders. Their weeks with his brother flowed through him. He was angry and embarrassed at his behavior. He didn't deserve her. He didn't deserve to have her laying beside him, holding him like he was her only life line. Daryl cleared his throat then tilted his head towards her.
" I love you, too." He whispered. Layla sighed and rubbed her cheek against his chest but stayed asleep.
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Lucky for them, Hershel's farm was almost untouched by the hoarde that had moved through. They had lost one of the barns and some of the animals had run away but the house was fine and there were no walkers in the area. The group spilt with some staying at Hershel's and some at the other farmhouse but they always came together for dinner. Daryl had even taught Rick how to hunt, skin and gut animals.
At her 37th week of pregnancy, Daryl and Rick were both dragging a deer out of the woods when Rick looked up and saw her coming towards them. She was waddling through the field with her hands on her hips. Her stomach was completely rounded and when the baby moved, everyone could see it. They could watch the baby as it pushed it elbow out, or feel it's little butt.
" I thought you and Hershel told her to stay in the house until she delivered." Rick panted out. Daryl looked up and frowned.
" We did. Damn woman won't listen to shit." He snapped. They didn't want her to slip and fall or to go into labor in the fields.
" Hey, you two." Layla called out as she reached them. " You both got one."
" I'm gonna start tapin your ass to the bed if you don't stop comin out." Daryl snapped as they worked. Layla laughed, coming to Daryl's side.
" I'd love to see you try." She said. Daryl grunted. He dropped his head down and pulled harder on the deer. It was cold but he was sweating from the work. Layla suddenly groaned and grabbed her stomach, making both Rick and Daryl drop their deer.
" Get Hershel!" Daryl yelled as he reached for her. They thought the baby wasn't due for four more weeks but since she couldn't have an ultrasound, they couldn't be sure. They had been keep track of the days and weeks with an old calender Hershel had.
" Got you!" Layla said, standing up straight. Rick shook his head and picked up his deer while Daryl put his hands on his hips. Layla was laughing.
" That shit ain't funny." He snapped.
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3 weeks later:
Daryl was by the horse barn, chopping wood one afternoon. He was sweating hard as he brought the ax down. Carl and Glenn came running towards him. At first Daryl felt the panic rise up in him. He was worried that something was wrong with Layla but then he remembered her earlier trick and went back to the wood.
" Daryl! It's time!" Carl called out.
" Sure, kid." Daryl muttered.
" No, it really is. Hershel and Rick are getting the bed ready right now. Her contractions are a minute apart. Lori's timing them." Glenn said as they slowed their pace. Daryl set the ax down, swiped his arm across his forehead.
" Why the hell would you wait so long to get me?" Daryl snapped.
" They were two minutes apart but then they just changed. Hershel said the baby is hours away." Glenn said.
" This shit's real?" Daryl asked.
" Yeah, come on! She's asking for you!" Carl said. The three men took off running.
When Daryl came into the room, Layla was leaning over with her arms crossed over the dresser. She was swirling her hips around while Carol rubbed hard against her lower back. Hershel and Rick were covering the bed in trash bags. Daryl's throat closed up and he suddenly couldn't breath as his vision started to tunnel so she was all he could see. She moaned out softly.
" Hershel, it feels like the force of gravity just increased on my legs." She moaned out.
" That's alright." Hershel reassured her. " The baby is moving down."
Daryl knew that answer, they had read it together in the book. She had laid in their bed while he rubbed his hand over and over her stomach. She read outloud one page then gave him the book and he read one page. They had been reading outloud for the past month so the baby would learn their voices above everyone else. Daryl cleared his throat, making everyone look at him. Layla looked behind her and smiled weakly. She was pale and her hairline was covered in sweat.
" You alright?" He asked.
" Yeah." She said.
" How long you been like this?" He asked from his spot in the doorway. She looked back to the dresser and put her head down.
" I started having them in the middle of the night but I didn't say anything because I wanted to make sure they weren't the braxton hicks again." She said. She had had her first braxton hicks during the little baby shower the group had thrown them. Everyone had went through the baby things they had stored in the attic and picked out what they wanted to give them.
" Daryl, I need you to help me get her in bed." Hershel said as him and Rick stood up straight. Daryl moved to her at once.
" Wait, I'm having another one." She moaned out.
" Start timing." Hershel said to Lori who was using Dale's old watch.
" Holy shit." Layla's voice was low and breathless. Daryl came to her side and placed his hand on her arm. She whimpered and brought her forehead down so it was against him. " Hurts so bad." She whispered. Daryl squinted at everyone then bend down to her.
" Gonna be alright now, you hear me. We gonna get through this." Truth was, he was scared shitless. He understood, after talking to Hershel, the dangers that lay ahead of them. He could lose her, he could the baby, he could lose them both.