Megan Grimes, thirty two years old and pregnant with her first child. It should be a happy time for her but instead she's fighting to survive with her sister in law and nephew. What happens when Daryl becomes overly protective of the mother to be?
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"We should have known it was too good to be true." Megan mumbled from her seat.
After finally killing all the walkers in the courtyard and the tombs as they now called them, the group had believed everything was going well. But of course the universe doesn't seem to work that way.
It started of with Hershel getting bit which led to Rick cutting his lower legs off.
Could it get any worse?
Of course it could. They also found survivors locked away in the kitchens.
Hershel was now in a critical condition. He had bled out far too much and still hadn't woken. It was all a waiting game.
The left over survivors from the kitchen area had been left in a different cell block from the others after Rick and some of the group helped clear it out.
Megan had been waiting patiently to hear news on Hershel in the seating area when she felt the first twang of pain in her stomach.
She dismissed it and didn't make a big deal if it as she went to help Carol make some food up for the group.
Rick and Daryl returned after making sure everywhere was locked up so no walkers could get in.
Merle came into the small area Carol and Megan were cooking in.
"Hows it going ladies?" He asked with his trademark smirk he always wore.
"Good, we are nearly done." Carol said with a smile.
He nodded and headed out but Megan grabbed his arm before he could leave.
"Woah, you alright, you ain't looking so good mama.."
She shook her head, her hold on his arm tightening. "I think the baby is coming." She whispered.
"Then tell someone." He hissed.
"I am." She growled back before tears began falling down her cheeks. "I don't want to die Merle."
"What's going on?" Carol asked approaching them.
"Carol forget the food she's going to have the baby. What do I do?" He asked frantically sounding panicked. It was like looking at a different person. The stone faced Merle had gone and was replaced by a very panicky man.
"Rick! Daryl!" Carol called guiding Megan from the cooking area and into the seating area.
The two man appeared. "What's going on?" Rick asked.
"Are you okay Meg?" Daryl asked.
She scrunched up her face and let out a groan of pain. "Oh god! No, no I'm not okay." She cried, her knees buckled and the only thing holding her up was Merle and Carol.
"Take her to her cell. I'll see if Maggie knows what to do." Rick said frantically before rushing away.
"I'm going to die, I'm going to die." Megan repeated.
"No you ain't! Stop saying that." Daryl chastised.
"But-" She began but Carol cut her off.
"Hershel has been teaching me what to do, I have a rough idea, could be hours yet or days before your baby comes." Carol said.
"Days?!" Megan screeched.
They arrived at her cell and Carol laid her down.
"I ain't sticking around for this shit." Merle muttered before making his exit.
Daryl and Carol were the only ones left with her.
"What should I do? Can I help in any way?" Daryl asked as he nervously but his finger nails.
"Well we'll need something sharp that's been sterilised, clean water, clean towels, something to clamp the cord.." Carol said listing all the stuff she could think off.
"Maybe me and Merle can take a quick run. You said it could still be days right? So we will go and get everything you need for the birth and after. Make me a list real quick." Her ordered Carol.
She nodded. Maggie and Rick returned to the cell. "I'm just going to make Daryl a list of things we will need. He's going on a run to collect it all. We can't use the rags we have they won't be clean enough." Carol explain.
Rick nodded. "Might as well bring all you can, Lori will be next remember." Rick added.
Daryl nodded.
"Wait! Daryl are you just going to leave me?" Megan asked tears were still pouring from her eyes.
"I've got to get these." Was all he said before walking out.
She cried out in pain once again.
"Well go on do your thing." Rick ordered Maggie.
"I don't know what to do. We have to wait till the contractions are closer together but I've never watched daddy help a person give birth only cows and sheep."
"Oh Christ I'm being compared to a cow." Megan groaned.
Rick chuckled. "Stop it."
"Just get them lot to hurry up I want dar-" Her eyes widened and she sat up slightly. "Please don't be pee..or maybe it would be better if it was pee" She questioned herself as she felt a gush of water.
"Carol!" Maggie shouted. "Her waters have broken."
"Rick your going to have to leave." Carol said as she came back into the room rubbing hand sanitiser on her hands. She passed the bottle to Maggie.
"What, why?" He asked.
"Get out!" Megan snapped. "I want Daryl.." She whined.
Rick nodded and headed out of the cell.
Merle and Daryl were packing to leave and everyone was waiting for anymore news on both Hershel and Megan now.
"I'll to instead...instead of you." Rick said to Daryl.
"I can do this myself." Daryl hissed.
Rick gulped. "I know but..she's asking for you."
Nothing more needed to be said. Daryl passed his rucksack to Rick and headed towards Megan's cell.
"Must have been hard to do that." Merle commented as they walked out of the prison.
"Yeah, well..like I keep being told he ain't Shane...and she's my sister if she prefers to have him by her side then so be it...I can't stop her."
Merle just nodded and they got into the truck to head to the closest stores to find the supplies we need.
Daryl entered Megan's cell cautiously.
"Meg?" He called.
She opened her eyes and held out her hand.
He walks over and knelt beside the bed and nervously took her hand. He looked at Carol and Maggie to check their reaction and found them both smiling.
"You okay?" He asked.
She just nodded and squeezed his hand.
"Ricks gone on the run with Merle instead. Said you wanted me here."
She looked away embarrassed before nodding.
"These are the cleanest things I could find." Beth said as she entered the cell carrying some towels and cloths.
"Thanks Beth." Maggie smiled taking them from her. "Make sure you check on daddy and see of he had any pain medication in his bags."
Beth nodded and headed back out the cell.
"Megan, I'm going to take your bottoms off..is that okay?" Carol asked.
Megan nodded.
Daryl didn't look away from Megan's face, he felt slightly awkward being there but he didn't seem to be able to get away from Megan's grip.
"How do you know how long it will be?" Maggie asked as Megan went through another contraction. "They're getting closer together but it doesn't mean the baby will be here any time soon does it?"
"Well at a hospital they would check how far dilated she is..." Carol said looking from Maggie and then too Megan who had wide eyes.
"This isn't normal!" Megan cried. "I should he at a nice clean hospital, with actually lights and not stupid lanterns, nice clean bedding and doctors who know what the hell they're doing."
"Well this is the best you are going to get now put up and shut up. This baby ain't stopping for no one do you understand?" Daryl blurted out.
Megan shut up quickly after than and nodded to Carol.
"I've read some books but I can't be sure if I'm doing the right thing..." She trailed off. "Two or three maybe.." She said awkwardly. "I'm sorry Megan. I know it's weird but If we don't check then you may push at the wrong time. I don't want you to hurt yourself or your baby." Carol explained softly.
Megan wiped her tears and nodded. "I'm sorry..." She whispered.
Carol nodded. "Still seems like a long way off why don't we leave you and Daryl alone and come back in a little while. Call us if you needs us." She said patting her knee and covering her legs with a sheet.
Megan nodded. "Thank you, both of you."
They nodded and left the cell.
Daryl stood and put a sheet up so no one could see in before sitting next to the bed and taking her hand again.
"So do you want a girl or boy?" Daryl asked trying to break the silence.
She smiled and shrugged. "I don't mind...what do you think?"
"Boy." He said immediately.
She chuckled. "Rick said the same." She smiled.
"If it's a boy what will you call him?" He asked.
Her face contorted in pain for a moment and she squeezed his hand before answering. "Matthew always wanted a little boy called Tommy." She chuckled. "I wasn't so keen on it though..."
"If it's a boy why don't you call it Matthew. You know after your husband..." He suggested.
She looked at him and smiled sadly. "I hadn't thought of that."
He smiled slightly. "What about if it's a girl?" He asked.
"Oh man, that's even harder to think of a name..." She chuckled.
The conversation flowed with the odd pause for a contraction. Hours passed and Carol and Maggie checked on her every so often.
"Are Rick and Merle back yet?" She asked weakly.
It was almost the middle of the night and there was still no sign of Merle and Rick.
"Shouldn't he long now." Carol reassured her. "Merles a bigger softie than he makes out, they're probably tied up looking at stuffed bears." She chuckled trying to keep Megan awake.
Megan chuckled slightly. Her eyes were closed and she was looking pale.
Daryl hadn't left her side once, he allowed her to squeeze his hand while the contractions rippled through her body, he tried to keep her distracted and upbeat about the entire ordeal but it wasn't making the experience any better. She was becoming weak and could barely open her eyes.
"It doesn't hurt anymore." She whispered weakly.
"Megan, you need to stay awake." Maggie ordered.
Megan hummed but said nothing.
"Megan you wake up right now." Daryl ordered her as he shook her shoulders, he was scared and she could see that even if he was trying to his it.
"I'm awake." She said although a she still sounded weak.
They heard the clanging of the prison doors opening and closing and quick footsteps approaching them.
Rick and Merle appeared with huge grins on their faces carrying baskets of baby stuff and supplies for the birth. Carl, Beth and Sophia also appeared with more.
"Had fun ladies?" Megan joked causing them all to laugh.
"The damn store had everything you need for home births and afterwards, we go all kinds of shit." Merle said sounding pretty proud of himself.
"Well we need a surface disinfecting, don't he putting the sterile equipment on these dirty floors." Carol ordered.
"Carol..." Megan called about an hour after the men had returned. "I think i need to push."
"Wait, what?" Daryl asked dumbly as he sat up. He looked exhausted and so did Carol.
Carol nodded. "I think its safe for you to push but we still have to be cautious."
Megan nodded.
Daryl watched both horrified and amazed as Megan pushed and pushed. She squeezed his hand so tightly he was sure she had broken it, she screamed, cried and cursed until the sound of a baby's cry echoed throughout the prison.
They could hear the cheers of the group along with Beth shouting. "Daddy's awake!"
"Well little miracle you're doing amazing things already." Carol said as she clean the baby up.
"Is..is it okay?" Megan asked breathlessly.
Carol smile. "Your little boy is just fine."
Megan looked at Daryl with a huge smile. "You were right." She grinned.
"And the cord is cut. Here you go mummy." Carol grinned handing Megan her little boy.
Daryl smiled when he saw the little boy. He had a full head of brown hair and dark tear filled eyes.
Daryl kissed Megan's cheek. "I love you." He whispered in her ear.
He stood up still smiling. "I'll tell the others." He said walking out.
Megan looked on wondering if she had really heard him say what he did it of she had imagined it.
She shook her head and looked back at her son as Carol finished the last part of the procedure.
"What are you going to call him?" Carol asked shortly after.
"Matthew." Megan answered.
Carol smiled. "It's a lovely name."
Megan smiled.
"Do you want me to get Rick?" She asked.
Megan nodded. "Carl too."
Carol nodded and left.
Megan sat up a little better in the bed cradling the small boy in her arms.
"She's asking for you." Carol said as she approached Rick.
He nodded and smiled.
"She also asked for Carl too."
"Come on Carl."
Carol watched smiling as they headed towards Megan's cell before looking for Daryl.
"Where's Daryl?" She asked.
"Outside with Merle."
She nodded and headed out.
"Is Megan okay?" Was the first thing Daryl asked when he saw her.
Carol and Merle smirked. "She and baby Matthew are doing just fine."
"Baby Matthew." Daryl repeated quietly.
Carol turned to Merle. "Can I talk with Daryl alone?" She asked.
He eyed her suspiciously before he nodded and heading back inside.
Once she heard the prison door close she spoke up.
"I heard what you said."
He looked at her confused. "What did I say?" He asked.
"You told Megan you loved her...right after Matthew was born."
He continued to look confused. "I don't remember that."
Carol shook her head. "Well I heard it and by the look on Megan's face so did she."
"Woah, hang up a minute. I never said that."
Carol smirked. "You did Daryl. Maybe it was accidental but you did. Be warned though, if you meant it or not it may still upset her to hear those words." She said before walking away.
Daryl stayed outside still trying to figure out whether he had said it or not before realisation finally hit him.
"Oh fuck!" He snapped. "You stupid fucking idiot!" He chastised himself.
-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-
A new addition and a slip up by Daryl.
Oh oh...
Spoiler alert but that slip up is going to cause a whole lot of trouble between the pair. Expect some angst in the next few chapters.
Next up:Megan's struggling to adapt to parenthood while still being confused about her feelings towards Daryl.
Was this good or bad?
I feel in other fanfics births are always over so quickly that don't explain the complications very well and they magically have the supplies at hand and nothing goes wrong (unless it's Lori.). I know I didn't add major complications but I think Carol having to do what she did would have been awkward for them all and in no way would they have had such supplies in a men's prison. Haha!
Anyway thank you for reading.
Next update should be tomorrow.
Frankie.