"'Chonne, you alright?" Daryl's voice came from outside their bathroom door.
"I'm fine," she responded before she threw up again.
"Don't sound it," he countered.
"I said I'm fine. I'll catch up."
"You sure?"
"I said I'm fine, Daryl. I'm trying to use the bathroom here," she yelled at him. She sat on the floor against the toilet as she heard his boots walking away. She stood on shaky legs and rinsed her mouth before she left the bathroom. She was surprised to see him sitting on the loveseat, waiting on her. Daryl was sensitive sometimes.
Three months and twenty people later they were still together. Whatever 'together' constituted in this world now. She, Daryl, Jamal and Janet had spent a few weeks near Charlottesville, going into the city to places Janet and Jamal thought they'd find people before they moved onto the surrounding towns. They found people. They'd had to kill people. She knew Rand wished they'd left Jonathan Wilmer where they found him. He reminded her of Eugene, except with a little more personality, though not much more. Sometimes she thought Rand took great pleasure in shooting down his dumb ass ideas. If he kept up with the 'if I ran this place' spiel Michonne wouldn't be surprised if he had an accident or Rand gave him food and a map as she kicked his ass out of the castle.
She walked over and sat on his lap. Automatically he put his arms around her as she leaned against his chest.
"You sure you're okay, 'Chonne? Sounded like you're sick," he observed.
"Probably food poisoning," she sighed.
"Huh. Alright. You still wanna go? I'll tell Rand."
"No, we'll still go. I'll just be careful of any old world food I eat."
He muttered something she didn't take time to hear. He moved her off his lap, stood up and held out his hand. She took it with a smile and kissed him back when he leaned in. "You sure?"
She rolled her eyes and went to get her katana from the mantle. Rand and Waya were taking Jenny and Tsula hunting. She and Daryl were just back up. "I'm sure."
"Let's go. Wastin' daylight," he said from the door. When she drew near he kissed her again. "Can think of somethin' else I'd like to do better."
"Let's go. Wastin' daylight," he said as he watched her walk toward him. When she got closer he kissed her again. "Can think of somethin' else I'd like to do better."
"Aren't you a smooth talker," she teased before kissing him quickly. "Later I expect you to show me what."
"I will, 'Chonne," he promised.
Daryl watched 'Chonne as they headed out of the castle. He thought it was a good idea, teaching them to hunt. He'd thought it when Rand said it, he didn't know how many months ago now. When she yelled at Helen when they first got here. Mark and Lupe were learnin'. Seth and Adrian were teaching them, Helen, Bradford, Jake and Tom. All the new people should learn. They'd brought back four more kids and he didn't think it would take that woman long before they were out here learnin', too.
After they came back from recruiting they'd helped finish the spikes on the fence in the front before Rand decided to stop for a while. He thought she was still workin' on invisible walls. He wouldn't be surprised if she didn't invent some. Things had been calm since the dick attack. They had two tradin' partners and another community that wanted to be involved in the 'intelligence sharin'. Stupid ass name, but Lenny, weird ass guy, seemed to relate to it.
He smiled as they walked out of the fence. Those were some nice spikes they had on the outside. Rand wanted to be sure any cars would die before they could take down the fence again. The front of the fence looked like a porcupine. He saw Rand pause and look it over before Jenny nudged her and they started for the Trail.
He kept an eye on 'Chonne as they walked along, katana on her back. He put his crossbow down sometimes, inside. They all kept a knife or somethin'. Them four idiots still wore the swords. It was impressive. 'Cept for Jonathan Wilmer, the guy was an ass, everyone was scared of them when they first got there. After a few weeks things seemed to calm down and the new people were good. They were happy to be here. They should be. They'd found some of them in warehouses with barely any water or food.
Then he frowned when he remembered Tammy Jenkins tryin' to talk him up. Him and 'Chonne didn't spread their business, they didn't run around holdin' hands or kissin' in public. Waya knew 'cause he'd told the man. He considered Waya his friend and if he said he wouldn't tell anyone he wouldn't tell anyone, but she needed to stop. He didn't like that Dominic guy talkin' to 'Chonne. He always stood too close to her, in his opinion.
They slept together, ate together, had watch together sometimes and worked with the animals and the farm together. He didn't know if he was doin' anythin' wrong. 'Chonne treated him like normal, except when they were in their room. He liked they'd talk at night, in bed. It reminded him of some of the TV's shows he'd watched. Husband and wife talkin' in bed at night. He brought his attention back to the kids as they set their snares. Good kids. Waya caught his eye and looked at the ground. He nodded.
Michonne was getting a funny feeling in her stomach as Rand looked at the snares the kids had set. She kept tilting her head as she circled them. Daryl caught her eye and rolled his. He recognized the look, too. She was thinking of something. It would involve building. She liked the fence, even though it looked like a porcupine threw up all over it. The walls and spike barbed wire field in the back were nice. What few walkers made it down from the mountains were quickly taken out by whomever was in the battlements. Rand had wanted to pen some of them up for the kids to practice killing. Michonne agreed, but suggested cutting off the arms and jaws, to minimize the risks of being bitten or scratched. It was her next project and the four were working on the pen.
This? This wouldn't be good. For dicks in the long run but for the residents in the short run. Hell. The woman should try and invent some invisible walls. The farther they walked away from the snares she breathed a sigh of relief. Rand had to concentrate on Jenny and Tsula, not figure out new and improved ways to kill them.
When they returned to the castle, three rabbits heavier, she headed to their room and the shower. Daryl surprised her when he opened the door and stepped in. He pushed her up against the wall, under the spray, and showed her what he would rather have been doing. She appreciated his efforts. Daryl was never one, in the past, to start things with her. The kissing was relatively new. She liked it. It meant he was involved with her, not just using her as a piece of ass. Shower games were fun. The water was turning cold by the time she screamed his name. He held her up on shaky legs. "Shit," he whispered in her ear. He wasn't too steady himself. When the water did turn cold she found the energy to get out and she glared at him. "Can't help it, 'Chonne. Been thinkin' about this all damn day," he grinned wickedly as he shut off the water.
"Who are you and where's Daryl?" she said. She wanted to take it back when his face fell.
"Sorry," he muttered as he dried himself off.
She put her hand on his chest. "I liked it. It's. You usually never."
Daryl moved around her and she grabbed onto him from behind, stopping him before he left the bathroom. "Uh, watched your ass most of the day today. I, uh," he stuttered to a stop. "I'm. Never had a girlfriend before. I like you, 'Chonne. A lot. Not good with this shit. I do know we can't date or nothin'." He turned to face her. "Don't know if I'm doin' this shit right. You never say. You always start. Figured I should do some of it."
She wanted to cry, it was so sweet. She leaned up and kissed him softly. "You're doing plenty of shit right." He seemed to relax. "You'd know if you weren't."
He smiled a little then. "Kinda figured." He slapped her ass. "Come on. Got rabbit waitin'."
She raised her eyebrows. "Slapping my ass?"
"Got a nice one." He slipped out the door.
She shook her head and followed her…boyfriend to get dressed.
When she woke up the next morning she headed for the toilet. When she was done throwing up, she realized Daryl wasn't in the room and was happy. She wasn't a stupid woman. Since this started her period hadn't been regular. They were using condoms and she was taking the pill as a backup because condoms broke. She stood up, rinsed out her mouth, flushed the toilet and went to find Ray.
Rand sat behind the desk, per usual, as she watched her advisors enter the office. The hunting trip, aside from getting a few rabbits, had been inspirational. The snares were interesting. Daryl's help, along with Seth and Adrian's ideas she was sure they would have, would settle her mind about the woods.
"While we were hunting yesterday, I had an idea."
"Figured," Daryl snorted.
She sighed. "It's not bad, I don't think, and it wouldn't take a lot of work. I don't think."
"You're known for not thinking things out, Rand," Michonne responded blandly.
"True. Very true. Smart ass. The snares. Can we adapt them to the woods?"
"What?"
"Can we use snares in the woods to, I don't know, capture or kill walkers or people?"
Daryl frowned. "Like in the movies or somethin'?"
"Yes," she sat forward. "Like in the movies. Make a snare wall or something? You know, trip wires with nets or spikes or something."
Michonne raised her eyebrows while Daryl frowned and ran his hand through his hair. "Maybe. Don't know."
"Can you get with Seth and Adrian? They were Special Forces and have, in the past, set up trip wires to bombs. I'm pretty sure." Michonne gave her a look. "I know they had to have dealt with them in some fashion."
"How do you know?" the woman quizzed her.
"Experience."
Michonne didn't push it, which made her happy. Aside from the insulting lawyer question they didn't get into each other's histories. Not that she had anything to hide, she didn't, but what happened in her past life didn't have anything to do with her present life. It gave her skills to survive this.
Her present life included running a Castle she wanted to be the new DC of the area surrounding the old Virginia portion of the Shenandoah Valley slash Appalachian Trail, three men, a girl who adopted her and almost forty people to keep alive. Shit. It was easier in her last life.
"Booby traps?" Michonne's question got her attention.
"Yes, booby traps. Like what the pits may never be. These will be just in the woods, where we have less control."
She saw Michonne close her eyes and shake her head a little. Sue her. She was a control freak. "Actually, I'm an idiot and should have thought of them sooner," she pouted.
"Had other things goin' on Rand," Daryl reminded her.
"Still, I'm a little slow and I need to catch up."
"Did any of your other places have booby traps?" Michonne asked.
"No, but it wasn't my place to point out these things. A cop out, I know. But I'm serious. Other people ran the places. I offered suggestions. They didn't take them. They were there first. They shed the first blood for their places, I assume. Plus, I guess I really didn't want to lead the Castle and hoped you two would do it. Now, I do run it. So, booby traps for the woods."
"Yeah, I'll think about it. How to make 'em…booby traps."
"I know. Paranoid as all fuck," she grinned at Daryl.
"Nah. Good idea. Shoulda thought of 'em."
Rand narrowed her eyes at the sudden smirk on Daryl's face. "What?"
"Close. Invisible wall. Knew you'd do it."
"I don't like you," she huffed.
Daryl huffed out a laugh. "Sure ya don't."
Rand saw Michonne frown like she was trying not to laugh. "Smart ass."
Daryl stood up, told them he'd find the three stooges and start on the booby traps. Michonne rolled her eyes. "It's the three musketeers, Daryl," Rand raised her voice.
He turned in the doorway. "Nah. Stooges."
"Whatever," she muttered as she watched him leave. She shrugged when she looked at Michonne. "Not a lot of building," she grinned cheesily.
Michonne broke and smiled. "I can't believe you."
"It's not," she protested half-heartedly before she cleared her throat. "So, anything else going on?"
Michonne stood and shook her head.
"Okay. I'll see you later." She nodded to her advisor and watched as Michonne left. She put her head on the desk and sighed. Not much got by her, but something was up with the woman. She was torn between butting in and staying out of it. She'd never had any friends and she certainly didn't know how to interact with people in a social setting. Rand snorted. That was a lie. She did, she just chose not to. This was certainly not a normal social setting and she still didn't have friends.
"Fuck it," she whispered. If Michonne wanted to tell her something that would impact their lives, she would.
Ray smiled at her when she walked back to one of the exam rooms of the clinic where he was waiting for her. "So? Are you?"
Michonne sighed. "I am."
"Congratulations, Michonne. And Daryl, too." She widened her eyes. Ray frowned. "We're not stupid. We've seen how he looks at you. He doesn't like Dominic much." He gave her a bottle. "Prenatal vitamins. I have delivered a baby before. I, uh, helped with one. Umbilical cord," he stuttered to a halt.
Michonne understood and clenched the bottle in her hand. "I'll have the Four go out and get some prenatal equipment. Sonogram machine, incubator, just in case. And books. Maybe they'll find a doctor," he smiled at her again. "Rand's always saying all kinds of people made it."
She stood and thanked Ray.
"Michonne, I'm happy for you and although I'm not a real doctor I won't tell anyone," he promised.
She nodded and left the clinic. She was glad Daryl was on watch. She wasn't sure how she was going to tell him. She didn't even know if he wanted kids. He liked kids. He liked Tsula, Jenny and Mark. Carl and Judith. He named Judith before Carl did. 'Little ass kicker'. Carl had loved telling her that story. Shit. She was pregnant. She didn't know if she wanted to have another child. When she reached their room she laid on the bed and cried.
When Michonne opened her eyes she could see it was getting dark out. Great, she sighed. She fell asleep. She got up, went into the bathroom and washed her face. It was close to dinner, she could tell. She'd gotten used to eating regular meals and sleeping on a, mostly, regular schedule. She put her hands on her still flat abdomen. When she heard the door open she started brushing her teeth.
"Hey," Daryl greeted, kissed her near her mouth, started stripping and got in the shower. Michonne leaned against the sink and watched. She loved Daryl. Ray said Daryl looked at her. Didn't like Dominic Winston talking to her. He never said he loved her. He liked her. She wasn't just a woman he was using for sex. When she was finished, she spit and rinsed. Might as well rip off the band aid.
"I'm pregnant," she said quickly.
Daryl stopped drying off. "What?"
"I'm pregnant. The pills must be old or not my prescription or the condoms had holes or they were old or a combination of all four," she rushed out.
He finished drying off. "Okay. Whatta we need? Do we need anythin'? I know we have a lot, but do we have baby shit? Vitamins, right?"
When she started tearing up he dropped the towel and put his hand on her face, wiping away her tears. "It's okay, 'Chonne. Just…I'll ask Rand."
Michonne made a weird noise. "She's never had a child before, Daryl."
"So? She knows a lot. She can figure it out. Ain't nothin' gonna happen to you or the baby," he promised. He kissed her on the mouth. "Gotta start eatin'. You want somethin' special? Somethin' we don't have here? Pickles? We'll figure out how to make 'em. Can figure out how to make ice cream, too. I'm sure Rand or one of the stooges could."
"You want this baby?" she whispered.
He took a step back. "What the hell, Michonne? Course I do. I love you. After this started never thought I'd have a kid. Couldn't stand the women we found." He shrugged. "Sasha maybe. Them women in Alexandria? Fuck 'em."
"Carol?"
"Carol? Hell no. Carol and me, we went through some shit. She." Daryl huffed out a breath. "She lost her daughter. Rick had to put her down when we was at Hershel's farm. Didn't agree with Rick kickin' her out after she killed Karen and David. Yeah, she shouldna done it. Didn't do a damn bit of good, but she saved our asses at Terminus. Know you don't care for her. I do. Not like I love you."
"You love me?"
"What the hell, Michonne?" he finally yelled. "Yeah, I love you. You see me fuckin' anyone else? Almost killed Tammy Jenkins. Bitch grabbed my ass. That Dominic guy needs to stop tryin' to get in your pants." He shut up when Michonne started crying hard. "Hell. Not even dressed for this shit," he muttered. He wrapped his arms around his woman, took her in the bedroom and over to the loveseat on the other side of the room and let her cry it all out. When she was sniffling he figured it was safe to talk to her again. "Stay here. Fuck. Don't move, 'Chonne. Not gonna have a serious conversation about my baby naked." He had her lay down then snagged some boxers from the wardrobe. When he was as dressed as much as he could he had her sit up and adjusted their bodies so her head was on his shoulder.
"Now we can have a serious conversation," he grumbled.
"You."
"You ask me that again, 'Chonne," he trailed off. He'd never felt so pissed in his life. "Yeah, I want this baby. Do you?"
"I…don't know," she admitted.
He grunted. "I'll do what you want, 'Chonne. I'd like to have a kid. If you don't want this kid, now, maybe we could have one later."
When she relaxed into him he felt relief. He didn't mind she was pregnant. He wanted her to go through with this. Yeah, Lori had been a bitch, but he always thought she was whiny anyway. "Shit," he sat up, makin' Michonne move. "We need a doctor. Ray ain't."
"He said he's delivered a baby before," she put her hand on his chest.
"Don't care. If you gotta have a C section."
"I won't."
He took her hands in his. "'Chonne, you don't know."
"I do." She let out a breath. "I…had a son."
"You had a baby?" Daryl probably didn't realize he was holding her hands.
Michonne nodded. "I lost him. Early," she whispered.
"Shit," he took her in his arms again and sat back against the sofa. "Don't gotta tell me anymore."
"Carl knows."
"Huh," Daryl grunted out. "Makes sense. How you were with him and li'l ass kicker."
She nuzzled into his shoulder and Daryl started rubbing her arm.
"Still need a doctor. I'll tell Rand to try Atlanta. The hospital Beth, Carol and Noah was in. They had a doctor."
She sat up, knocking his hand off her arm, eyes wide and mouth open. "You're going to have Rand go to Atlanta, on the off chance that doctor is still alive?"
"Hell yeah I am. Fuck this, 'Chonne. Ain't takin' no chances. Don't want what happened to Lori to happen to you."
"Ah." She knew Carl's mother died giving birth to Judith and Carl had to put her down. "I had Andre. I didn't need a C section, Daryl."
"We're gonna have it?"
She laughed. Nothing was funny but she was laughing and started crying again. Daryl pulled her close again. Later, she didn't know how much later, Daryl was still holding her. Sleeping, like she had been, but still holding her.
"Daryl," she moved and his arms tightened around her.
"You okay now?" he asked groggily.
"No."
"Let's eat. Baby or no baby you ain't been eatin'," he yawned, kissed her then stood up. When she was on her feet he kissed her again. "You don't wanna have this baby I won't be mad. Want you to think about havin' one."
"I don't know. This."
He kissed her again, cutting her off. "Yeah," he started talking when he pulled away. "This world is shit. We got good people. We gotta good home. I ain't gonna try and take over. I ain't gonna go crazy. Can't promise I won't die, 'cause shit happens. I won't do somethin' stupid, like go on runs no more."
She put her hand over his mouth to shut him up. "I wouldn't ask you."
"Don't gotta ask, 'Chonne," he interrupted her. "I love you. I love this baby. I hope you keep it."
Now she just felt guilty. She didn't know if she wanted this baby. A baby. Daryl was right in that they had a good home with good people. Rand. Waya. Seth. Adrian. Helen. Bradford. The others. Yes, they lost, but they also gained. Maybe. She sighed. "I'll think about it."
He kissed her again. "Good. I want you to. I'm starvin' and you need to eat. Just lay down. I'll go get us somethin'." Daryl walked her to the bed, made sure she was laying down before putting on some clothes. "What'dya want?"
"Ah, soup."
"Chicken noodle."
"I'm not sick, Daryl," she rolled her eyes.
"Haven't been eatin', Chonne. Chicken noodle," he decided before he left the room.
"Well shit. I'll never be able to do anything," she whispered to herself. Then she felt the biggest smile on her face since the turn. She felt loved and protected. Something Mike hadn't been able to make her feel when this started. She rubbed her stomach. If she and Daryl were to have this baby, life would be harder. Better here than at the prison.
She rolled to her side to stare at Daryl's pillow. He loved her. She knew he liked her a lot because he'd told her. It settled her down a little. Maybe having a baby wouldn't be a bad thing. Michonne loved and missed Andre, that wouldn't go away, but she didn't want to have this baby as a replacement for him. Her Peanut. She sighed. When she'd been pregnant with Andre she'd had friends and family there for her. Now she had Daryl and the Four.
She'd have to tell Rand. Things would have to change a little. Watch. They didn't really need anything, so no runs. No walking the Trail. That might be out until the baby is older, unless Rand's little DC idea bore fruit. It would. The woman wasn't stupid. Michonne knew enough about history to know trade would start, if it hadn't in some places already. Dicks? They could handle dicks and they had a backup place if they lost the Castle.
She turned her head when she heard the door open to see Daryl coming in with a tray. She sat up, he put it on her lap and got in bed with her, after taking off his clothes. It was nice. They ate in silence. When they were finished Daryl put the tray on the love seat and got back in bed while she undressed. The minute she was in bed Daryl pulled her to him and rubbed her stomach.
The next morning Daryl made sure she ate some eggs and toast but no coffee. He'd rolled his eyes at her protest. "Until you tell me you ain't, 'Chonne, no coffee. Ain't good for the baby." She'd barely opened her mouth to call him out before he kissed her, told her to take it easy and he'd be on the farm if she needed anything.
Michonne fell back on the bed. "Ugh," she muttered.