A/N: Obvious CW for pregnancy and labor on this one! Hope you all enjoy it.

"How long are elephants pregnant for?" The question filtered through the gap in the barely-opened door, coaxing an immediate laugh from Beth in response.

"Well good morning to you, too," Beth joked, still laughing as she held the door open for her very pregnant sister. Maggie was past her due-date now, and she waddled more than walked through the door and into Daryl and Beth's cabin. Prior to her arrival, Beth had been lounging on the couch, relaxing in a brief moment of quiet. Daryl had gone out to walk Bear, taking Annie-May with him. He'd invited Beth to join, but she hadn't wanted to miss Maggie, who usually stopped by after breakfast these days for a check in. Here she was, right on time.

"Yeah yeah, good morning." Maggie waved a hand at her as she stepped past her. "But seriously, how long are elephants pregnant for?" Maggie paused just a couple feet through the doorway to take a deep breath. Then she sagged back against the nearest wall, her hands falling to her massive pregnant belly as she looked down at it with a frown. "Because I think maybe this baby thinks it's an elephant. Or that I am. Seriously. I feel like I've been pregnant for years."

"You've been pregnant for forty-one weeks," Beth remarked with a soft laugh as she closed the door behind Maggie and gently guided her towards the couch with little nudges of her hands on her sister's lower back."

Maggie wasn't dissuaded from her argument, retorting sharply, "Which is practically a year."

"It's a bit short of a year, but I don't blame you for feeling like it's longer." Beth was doing her best to sympathize. She couldn't imagine what Maggie was going through, especially given that she had none of the comforts either of them had expected to have when they grew up and had babies. No hospital, no doctors appointments, no ultrasounds, no running to the grocery store for every craving… Thankfully most of her pregnancy had fallen over winter and spring, so at least she didn't have to struggle too much with the lack of air conditioning.

Beth held Maggie's arm for support as she lowered herself onto the couch and then settled with a big huff. "Well, it does feel longer." She settled her hands on her belly and looked down at it again, her brow furrowed. Beth watched her sister carefully as she settled in a chair to the right, angling herself to face Maggie. Her sister looked to be frustrated, but she could see something else just under the surface. Something darker or more concerning, flickering in Maggie's eyes every once in a while when the mask of frustration slipped.

After a moment Maggie looked up and when she caught sight of Beth studying her, she gave another sigh. "To be honest… half of me wants the baby to just come out already and half of me is, well… terrified."

Knowing Maggie that had taken a lot to admit, and Beth didn't want to smooth over it with platitudes and promises that she'd be okay. She was sure others had been doing that, and even if it was with the best intentions, it wasn't helpful. Because the truth was, they didn't know for sure that Maggie would be okay. They couldn't. Even in the best situation, giving birth in a fully staffed hospital, the doctors couldn't 100% guarantee you'd be okay. So how could she?

What she could do, though, was support her sister, be there for her, and provide as much factual reassurance as possible. "Of course you're terrified," Beth murmured with a sympathetic smile. She rested her hands on her lap, one hand fiddling with the engagement ring that had rested on her ring finger for two months now. "I think maybe you'd be terrified even if things were normal. Well, the old normal, anyway. I bet mama was scared when she gave birth to me."

Maggie got thoughtful at that. "You know, I was only six but… I think she was. I remember overhearing her talking to Daddy one night, making him promise he'd take care of Shawn in case anything went wrong."

"See?" It sounded like an odd thing to find reassuring, since some people would probably take it as encouragement to be more anxious. But in a way, it could be helpful to know that other people had been afraid in the same situation as you. At least, it was to Beth. It helped knowing that you weren't wrong to be afraid, that you weren't being stupid or silly.

"I guess it does help to know it's normal to be scared, but…" Maggie sighed. "It doesn't make the terror go away. I keep thinking about…" She paused for a long moment, and when she spoke again her voice was hushed, as if she were afraid that speaking the words might bring them closer to reality. "Lori. I keep thinking about Lori. And Brigid, even though I wasn't even there when she gave birth and… died."

Beth could never bring herself to wish that they hadn't run across the Butchers and Brigid, since they had brought Annie-May to them. Of course, Daryl had also done his part to ensure that Beth no longer blamed herself for Brigid's death, making sure she understood that her presence had been a boon to the girl, had not only saved her daughter but also saved her from what might have been an even more traumatic death.

But still, she often wished it had gone differently. That Brigid hadn't been added to the long line of traumas that weighed them all down. Especially Maggie, these days, but also herself.

"Brigid and Lori gave birth in far worse situations, Maggie. Actually… look." She leaned forward and squeezed her sister's knee before pushing up to her feet. "C'mon, let's take a short walk, so I can show you something." When Maggie made a face at her, Beth grinned. "Just a little one. I promise, it'll help."

Though other people had seen the new medical room since Daryl had added it to their cabin, Maggie hadn't come by to see it yet. Possibly it was because Beth always just treated her in one of their homes, and Maggie was usually taking it easy these days. But there was also a chance, in Beth's mind, that Maggie had avoided it a little, out of misplaced fear of seeing the place where she would be giving birth. Normally she wouldn't have pushed her sister. But in this situation, Beth had a feeling it would help, rather than harm.

So she propped her sister up and helped her waddle to the back door, making sure Maggie was steady before she pushed it open to reveal the space. Even after a couple months, it still smelled a little like freshly-cut wood and finishing. But the scent of herbs and medicines overlaid that, giving it a sort of minty scent with a hint of antiseptic.

The place had been transformed by Beth's efforts after Daryl had finished building it, adding a warm and friendly touch to the space. She'd sewn curtains for the single window out of a leftover floral sheet, currently tied back on either side to let the sun in. Across from the window, the two cots were made up with crisp white sheets and pillows, each with a thicker and warmer blanket folded and resting on the end of the bed just in case. There were new little bedside tables to the left of each bed, and a low couch under the window across from them for visitors or if they needed space for someone else to lay down.

To Beth and Maggie's right, the built-in shelves were now filled with books to the right side of the stove, and medical supplies (dried herbs, bandages, medications and more) to the left side. The stove itself had been cleaned up, and herbs hung drying from the wall above it, filling the air with their scent. She'd also added some small back pillows to the two chairs sitting on either side of the door across from them, and directly to their left was the little rolling stool and cart that had been scavenged from the medical center for them.

"See?" Beth guided Maggie inside, bringing her to one of the chairs rather than the bed. "Lori gave birth in a dark, dank prison, and Brigid in a dirty storeroom. It's no wonder they were afraid, or that things went wrong. But we've got a clean, bright space for you. All these sheets are freshly washed, I clean in here daily even if no one comes by. I've got light from the windows, and Daryl found some solar powered lanterns—" There was one next to either bed, and more hung from hooks on the sloped ceiling. "—We have extras and we rotate them so some are always charging. And if those fail, we have some oil lamps and candles as backup."

She moved towards the wall of supplies. "Lori and Brigid had almost no medical care, no supplies… Even with Brigid I only barely had the things I need. But here?" She gestured at the shelves. "Here I've got herbs, medicines, clean water, clean rags, all the medical tools you'd need to deliver a baby. Even forceps, though I'm hoping to not need those." She crossed in front of the stove, and swept her arm towards the shelves full of books. "And I'm not exaggerating when I say I've read every book I can find on labor and pregnancy. Most of them multiple times over. And believe me, it's far more than just a few books, Maggie."

Maggie's gaze roamed the room as Beth turned back to her sister and crouched in front of her. She took Maggie's hands in her own, drawing her sister's attention away from the room and back to her. With a small smile, she went on,"I know you're scared. And I know I'm not a real doctor, and I didn't go to medical school. But Maggie… I'm ready for this. And so are you. Scary as it sounds… but you know I wouldn't say it if I didn't mean it." Her voice filled with confidence. "We can do this, Maggie. You and me… and Daryl, and Glenn. Enid has been training to help me, too. You've had a good pregnancy. There was a little scare with the blood pressure, but we got that medication and it helped, along with the teas and you making sure to rest. You've had prenatal vitamins, you've taken amazing care of yourself." She squeezed her hands again and her smile widened. "You can do this, Maggie. We can do this."

For a moment, Maggie just studied Beth's face, as if drinking in the sight of her confidence and trying to take reassurance from it. "Thank you," she whispered after a long moment, her fingers curling to squeeze Beth's hands in return. "Seriously, Beth. I'm… I'm glad you're going to be the one helping deliver my baby. I really am. I don't know if I'd trust anyone else."

"I'm glad." Beth slowly rose to her feet and leaned over to press a kiss to her sister's head. "Now why don't we go back to the kitchen and have a nice cup of tea, and maybe talk about something else, hm?"

She slipped her hands from Maggie's, but a second later her sister reached out, gripping her tightly by the wrist. "Beth, I…" Beth turned back to her, brow furrowed with worry at the sudden shift in mood. Her sister looked away for a second, eyes dark, before her gaze darted back to Beth's. She spoke hesitantly at first, voice hoarse but gaining in firmness as she went on, "If I… If something happens to me, Beth… I need you to promise me something. Promise me you'll take care of them. Glenn, and the baby. Promise me you'll make sure they're okay. That the baby knows who I am— Was— Oh, you know what I mean."

The sound of desperation in Maggie's voice made Beth's stomach clench, even as her sister's words made her heart sink like a stone dropping to the bottom of a deep, dark lake. But she couldn't deny her a reply. Denials weren't what Maggie needed right now. She needed promises. Reassurances. So Beth took her sister's hands again and looked deep into her eyes as she spoke honestly and firmly, "I promise, Maggie. If anything happens to you, I'll take care of Glenn and the baby. Daryl and I both will. I swear."

To her surprise, she even managed to keep the quiver of fear out of her voice when she said it.

"I don't know how I stayed so calm after," Beth admitted a short while later, her arm hooked through Daryl's as they walked through Haven. He'd come by to pick her up after seeing Maggie leave, and when she'd mentioned wanting some air, he'd headed right back out with her. Bear ranged alongside them now, and Annie-May was wrapped very adorably against Daryl's chest. "I knew she needed to hear me promise but god, Daryl. When she asked me that… I felt like… like a part of me was dying inside." She looked up at Daryl, eyes suddenly bright and watery, and asked, "Is that silly?"

His response was immediate. "Of course it ain't." He brought them to a stop and turned towards her, slipping his arm out of hers for a moment so he could wrap them around her in a hug instead. "She needed t' hear you promise, an' that's understandable. But I reckon it also makes sense that for you, it was a reminder that she might not make it. More so than th' conversation you had before that, when you were reassuring her."

"It just made the fear feel so much more real," she murmured, though any sorrow she felt was mitigated by the fact that Daryl hugging her put her face to face with little Annie-May. She nuzzled her nose against their daughter's, smiling as Annie-May gave a sleepy little gurgle in response. "Though this little muppet makes it hard to be as upset."

"She has a way of doin' that," Daryl leaned down to kiss the top of Beth's head, his nose briefly nuzzling her hair as he added softly, "You've prepared as much as you possibly can, Beth. You'll have me, an' Enid, an' Glenn. We'll all do our best t' make sure it turns out well."

"Yes. I know." But it still stung. Unfortunately, there wasn't much she could do about that right now. She could only keep waiting, keep studying, until Maggie went into labor. And when that happened, hopefully the adrenaline and action would keep the nervous thoughts at bay. Still, Beth lingered in the hug for a few moments longer before pulling away with a little sniffle. She looked around, trying to find something to distract herself, and spotted the chicken coop in the distance. With one last sniff of her nose and a quick brush of her hand under her damp eyes, she suggested, "Let's go look at the chickens. Annie-May always loves to watch them."

The chickens were well-settled now, almost two months after Beth and Daryl had found them, though getting them back to camp had been quite the event. They'd ridden the motorcycle on that date, and a motorcycle wasn't exactly conducive to carrying back a small flock of chickens. It didn't help that they hadn't had one of the radios on them because at the time the camp had only had two, and Daryl hadn't thought they'd need it.

(They'd since expanded the radio collection and now anyone who went out of camp usually had one on them. They kept them charged with the solar generator they'd gotten from the Butchers. That itself was a whole other story; the Butchers had been using a gas generator because apparently they hadn't been able to figure out how to use the solar one. Luckily for Haven, Eugene had spent a week studying it and gotten it working on his second try.)

At the time, however, their only option had been for one of them to stay behind while the other went to get a more suitable transport. Luckily they were only ten minutes from Haven, so Beth had stayed with the chickens (doing her best not to spook them), while Daryl had rode the bike back to camp. He'd returned about thirty minutes later with a couple of cages (previously used to transport rabbits), and assistance in the form of Carl and Enid, riding in the back of the truck. The attempts at capture that had followed had been like something out of a childhood cartoon, minus the goofy music that would have played over the scene of the four of them chasing chickens around the woods and trying to corral them into the cages.

But in the end, they'd managed to get six hens (three brown, two silver, and one a speckled cream)and a single black rooster back to Haven and into the chicken coop, which had thankfully been ready for occupants. As they neared the coop, Beth was unsurprised to see Carl inside cleaning up the pen. He had been very interested in the chickens even before their arrival, helping to build the coop with his dad, and had now taken over caring for them as his daily chore. (She thought it was genuine interest, though it helped that Enid seemed very fixated on all the animals, including the chickens.)

Today he wore blue jeans and a brown flannel shirt atop a worn red t-shirt, with of course the sheriff's hat perched on top, and was in the midst of raking up the ground of the pen as they came close. "Hey Beth, hey Daryl!" Carl waved as they approached, the chickens clucking around his feet, and then his eyes dropped to Annie-May and he chuckled as he added, "Hey Annie-May."

"Good morning, Carl." Beth smiled down at him, or rather, across at him, since he was as tall as her these days. Perhaps taller; it was hard to tell with the sheriff's hat sometimes. "How are the chickens doing?"

"Pretty well," he replied, tipping his hat back slightly to look at them as he leaned on the rake he was using to clean up the pen. With a hint of excitement and pride, he added, "I got two eggs this morning, hopefully I'll have a couple more this afternoon."

With only six hens and one rooster, they usually got anywhere from three to six eggs a day. Not every chicken laid daily, especially in the colder months when the days were shorter. But Carl was hopeful that in the summer, the chickens would start laying fertile eggs, which meant they'd be able to expand the flock. Enid in particular was very excited about having baby chickens, though Beth still hoped both of them would temper their excitement at least a little. She knew from life on a farm how easy it was to lose baby chicks sometimes.

Still, there was no denying the chickens had improved life around Haven. They had fresh eggs now, albeit a small amount. Without any refrigeration, eggs would last about two to three weeks. In the finished root-cellar, they lasted longer. Alberta had taken to saving them up in batches, so people could have eggs for breakfast once or twice a week. The first morning she'd had a batch large enough, the entire camp had come to breakfast. The plate of scrambled eggs, venison bacon, and preserved apples had been the best meal any of them had had in ages.

The hope was that once the flock grew, they could have eggs daily. They also had plans for growing wheat and other crops, so that come next harvest, they could start making bread and other baked goods again. She couldn't even imagine what it would be like to add bread to breakfast, let alone toast. It felt like Haven was truly beginning to develop into something self-sustaining, something that filled her with pride and a dash of nervousness. (These days, they all got nervous when things went well, even when they continued to do so. Perhaps especially so.)

But she pushed those thoughts aside for the time being, and let herself just enjoy the moment. For now, she was happy to let Carl ramble about the chickens to her, while she and Daryl looked on and Annie-May gurgled away at the sight of the hens running to and fro in the pen and the rooster strutting around with importance. It was more than enough to push her anxious thoughts of Maggie giving birth aside and let her focus, at least for the moment, on just the daily delights of life in Haven.

Bang bang bang! BANG BANG BANG!

Two nights later, the sharp and increasing loud rapping sound burst into Beth's dreams and jolted her awake. She sat up with a gasp, clutching the sheets to her chest as she looked around in sleepy confusion. Comfy as they were in Haven, the confusion only lasted a second before the adrenaline and the related instincts born of a life in an apocalypse kicked in. One hand reached for the crossbow that rested in its usual spot next to the bed, while the other reached protectively for the bassinet beside her, where Annie-May had begun to softly fuss in her sleep.

Beside her, Daryl was already out of bed, not bothering to add anything over the flannel pants and t-shirt he'd slept in. Crossbow slung over his back, he gave her a look (one that said: stay put, keep an eye on Annie-May) and headed down from the loft.

Beth scooted to the edge of the bed, resting the crossbow on her lap as she soothed Annie-May with gentle rubs to her belly. The baby's fussing began to settle just as she heard Daryl pull open the door below them, the creak of the door followed by his sleep-gruff voice asking sharply, "What is it, Glenn?"

Glenn?

She knew in her gut why he was here without even having to hear the words, and was already rising to her feet before she heard him reply, "It's Maggie. Her water broke. She's in labor."

They had planned for this, of course. And they'd known it could happen at any time of day, including the early hours of the morning, which was what Beth judged it to be after a quick glance out the loft window. Perhaps four or five am, she thought. She didn't have her watch on her, but it didn't seem to matter. The mere mention of the words had erased any bit of exhaustion from her body, filling her with a taut sort of energy; excitement and nerves rushing through her veins. "I'll get dressed," she called down to Daryl and Glenn.

Without hesitation, Daryl replied, "I'll take care of Annie-May, fetch Enid, and then help Glenn get Maggie over here."

They moved much like they did out in the woods or on a hunt, in perfect unison, like they were following an organized routine. And they were, in a way. They had gotten ready together even more times than they had discussed their plans for this very event. Beth got dressed in the corner of the room, pulling on a pair of scrubs (in a bright lemon color with a white daisy pattern that was as far away from a certain shade of blue as she could get) and sneakers and braiding her hair back expertly.

As she did, Daryl came back up to the loft, pulling on his own sneakers and a flannel shirt over his t-shirt. As he grabbed the emergency bag they'd prepared for Annie-May, Beth found herself babbling on, "Make sure she's got enough formula and extra bottles, and diapers…" She knew on some level that the bag had everything the baby needed, but she couldn't stop the words from spilling out of her panicked lips.

Then Daryl rounded the bed to stand between her and the she tipped her head up to him, hands still occupied in braiding back her hair, he leaned in and pressed a kiss to her forehead. His nose nuzzled hers for a brief moment, long enough for him to murmur, "You've got this, Greene. I'll be back with Enid and Maggie as soon as possible, and I'll be right by your side." His eyes met hers, lingering long enough to make sure the words had gotten across. Only when she gave a nod did his lips brush hers in a kiss.

He turned and picked up a half-asleep Annie-May, carrying her down the stairs just as Beth finished braiding her hair. She followed him down to the main room, so in unison that he was on his way through the front door with Glenn, just as she was going through the back door and into the little medical room to prepare it for Maggie's labor. To her amusement, Bear followed her. He settled himself on the dog bed that sat in the living room just beside the door to the medical center, curled up in a ball but his ears alert and eyes on the front door, as if he were on guard.

The time it took for everyone to arrive gave her plenty of time to prepare the room. Soon she had all the lanterns lit as well as a few candles, including one she'd been saving for ages, with a scent that reminded her of wildflowers in the farm fields on a warm spring day. She had turned down the freshly cleaned sheets on the cot, brought in a pitcher of water and a glass for the bedside table and, of course, set up all her tools and equipment, including one of two emergency, just-in-case books.

She looked up when the door opened, and smiled at the sight of Enid stumbling in, fully dressed in her own pair of purple scrubs, albeit with her hair half-done and one of her shoelaces untied. She'd expected Enid to arrive first, since the arrangement was for Daryl to take Annie-May to Carol's. It covered both bases; Annie-May had someone to watch and protect her, and he could notify Enid that the time had come.

"You didn't have to rush that much," Beth teased with a little laugh. She made sure to follow it with a warm smile, making sure Enid knew she was just teasing. The young woman had opened up so much more since they had taken care of the Butchers. She was coming into her own; talking more, showing her true character as well as her interests. And it was very clear to Beth that one of Enid's interests was in medicine, specifically in helping others. In that regard, they were very similar. And Beth wanted to encourage that interest as much as she could.

Warmly, she added,"Sit down, fix your hair and your shoelace—" Enid looked down in surprise at Beth's words, and then laughed at the sight of her untied sneaker. "—Once you're done, the first bit of hot water should be done. You can make us all some tea, and then boil some more water with the kettle, alright?"

Three mugs sat steaming on the small rolling table when the back door opened again ten minutes later to reveal what she assumed was Maggie, judging by the annoyed grumbles echoing through the door. Her suspicion was echoed by the little 'roo' of recognition Bear gave from the opposite door that led to the living room. Sure enough, Maggie's voice quickly followed, "I changed my mind. I want to be an elephant. Uuuugh…"

Biting back a laugh, Beth moved around the prepared bed and towards the door, where Daryl (who looked amused) and Glenn (who looked alternatively scared and excited) were helping Maggie inside."I don't think this would hurt any less if you were an elephant," Beth joked, not faltering even when Maggie shot her a glare. "Though I'm guessing you're wishing for more time, instead?"

When Maggie merely grunted in response, Beth shifted out of the way and gestured towards the bed. "C'mon, let's get you settled on the bed. Enid made us all some tea." When Maggie raised an eyebrow and started to respond, Beth added, "Yours is red raspberry leaf tea, to help with your labor, and I added some crampbark tincture, to ease your cramping."

The words 'ease cramping' seemed to be exactly what Maggie wanted to hear, because the tension in her face relaxed and she focused instead on getting in the cot. Soon she was sitting up in the bed, her legs stretched out in front of her, a grumpy look on her face as she reached for the tea.

Beth handed it to her without hesitation, asking as she did, "How far apart are the contractions?"

Maggie blew on the tea in her hands and frowned. "Well it's not like I have a working watch…"

"They're irregular," Glenn put in, ignoring Maggie's glare. "Anywhere from like, six to twelve minutes apart? Her water broke right before I came over this morning."

"Sounds like you're still in early labor." Beth reached for some gloves, and gave Maggie a smile. "Why don't I do an exam, and we'll see how things look?"

"It's been three hours," Maggie groaned, leaning her head back against the stacked pillows in frustration. "Why won't this baby just come out?"

Beth turned her head slightly, hiding a smile at the way Maggie continued to bounce back and forth between wanting the baby to come, and not. Once she had her expression under control, she focused on her sister and replied, "You're in active labor now, Maggie. Things are coming along nicely. Last time I checked, you were about seven centimeters dilated, so you're well on the way. And your contractions—" She broke off as her sister clutched her stomach and gave a well-timed groan, signaling that she was having another contraction.

Beth glanced at her own watch. The camp had a couple hand-wound watches that didn't require batteries and could be relied upon. Beth had been given one, as the camp medic, which she kept in the medical center. The guards usually shared another, and Rick had one he kept aside that was given to people sometimes when they went out on runs, along with a radio. They hoped to acquire more someday, but they weren't as easy to find.

Her eyes followed the ticking of the second hand on her own watch, tracking its movements until she heard Maggie relax with a deep sigh. "That was almost a full minute. I think you might be getting close to transition."

"What's that again?" Maggie asked, her voice already sounding tired from the combination of the early hour and the labor.

"That's when you transition into actually giving birth. You'll start wanting to push soon, and then the baby will finally start making its way into the world."

"Thank god." Maggie said the words reflexively, but not as relieved as she'd expect. Beth glanced up in time to catch a look of anxiety on her sister's face. No wonder. Contractions were one thing, giving birth was another entirely.

But that was part of her job, keeping Maggie calm and happy. That was part of what she had prepared for.

"How're you feeling?" She asked, moving to stand beside Maggie's bed. Glenn had taken up his post on the opposite side, sitting in a chair placed there, with the curtain drawn part-way around the bed to shield Maggie somewhat from view, should anyone decide to pop in. Thankfully, Daryl was doing his part along with Bear to keep anyone from coming by and sticking their head inside. Bear stayed inside their house, guarding that entrance, and Daryl had taken up a post just inside the outside door, where he could both keep an eye out and help Beth, if needed.

Maggie gave a low moan. "Besides these painful contractions?" Beth checked her watch as Maggie began to wince again. The contractions were just under two minutes apart. Definitely entering transition. She kept an eye on her watch again until the contraction eased, and then focused on her sister, who sighed before adding, "Honestly, my back hurts a lot. My lower back."

"That's normal, but we can help. Enid, why don't you get those heating pads we've been warming up." As Enid moved to the wood-stove, Beth gave Maggie a warm smile. "You'll like this, I promise. I made it out of spare fabric and filled it with some corn and seeds from a feed store we found. You fill it up, add some herbs for a nice scent, sew it shut, and then warm them on a stove or whatever you have available. It's like a heating pad, without the electricity."

She helped Maggie lean forward and Enid slipped the little pillow of seeds behind her, making sure Maggie's shirt was between it just so it wouldn't be too hot on her skin. When Maggie leaned back, she immediately gave a sigh of what Beth had to assume was relief, quickly followed by a breathy exhalation of, "God that feels good. Thanks, Beth."

"That's what we're here for." She brushed a stray curl of hair off Maggie's damp forehead, and reached for her glass of water. "Here, have a sip of water, and we'll warm up your tea, and then maybe check how if you've dilated anymore, alright?"

"Alright, Maggie, just push through the contraction. Just like that, beautiful!" Beth leaned over the end of the cot, her head partway under the blanket that they'd spread over Maggie's knees and lower half to keep her privacy somewhat. Glenn sat beside her up at the head of the bed, letting her squeeze his hand to her heart's content as she pushed, and bravely only giving a slight grimace at her strength. Enid stood beside her, ready to assist at a moment's notice.

All was going well, minus the fact that it was taking Maggie a while to give labor. That wasn't at all unexpected. It was her first labor, after all, and they often took longer, according to the books anyway. But any labor could vary. Transition had taken a couple hours and she'd been actively pushing for at least another hour now. But Beth kept telling Maggie that she was progressing through all the stages at a perfectly good pace, and there was no need to worry. Because honestly, there wasn't. So far, at least, this had been textbook labor. (Which was especially great, in Beth's opinion, since most of her knowledge of labor came from textbooks.)

"You're doing amazing," she repeated to Maggie, smiling up at her above the sheet.

"My back is killing me," was her sister's only reply, grumbled through gritted teeth. They'd rotated out the heated pad three or four times now, keeping one on the stove while the other was in use. They'd helped a lot during the transition, both for Maggie's pain, and by filling the room with the relaxing scent of lavender. But now that Maggie was actively in labor and pushing, Beth had some other ideas in mind.

"Let's try something different then, alright? I think you're about to get this baby's head out, and I have a position in mind that might make it easier." She stood up and gestured for Glenn to do the same. "Let's get you to turn over onto your hands and knees. It'll ease the pressure on your back, and make it easier for you to give birth, alright? Enid, why don't you help Glenn."

While the pair of them helped the grunting and groaning Maggie to roll onto her hands and knees, Beth slipped the cooled pad out from behind her and rounded the curtain to bring it to the stove. Outside of the privacy curtain, her eyes immediately caught Daryl's where he sat beside the back door. The walls she'd built up must have slipped with Maggie out of view, because his expression immediately shifted to one of concern, and she knew the strain must have been slowing slightly on her face. As she set the heated pad on the stove and gave her hands another wash in the warm sterile water, Daryl came up beside her.

He waited for her to dry her hands off and then leaned in, carefully pressing a kiss to her forehead without otherwise touching her. She appreciated the gesture, specifically his attempt not to ruin the sterility of the white gown she had put on over her scrubs, just as much as she relished the soft kiss. "You're doing amazing, Beth." His words, murmured for her ears only, pushed back some of her sudden anxiety, easing the strain that had caused her shoulders to tense. "Seriously. You sound like a pro, and Maggie is doing just fine. Keep that in mind, alright."

He waited until she looked up at him and met his eyes. Only when she gave a slight nod of agreement did he smile. "Just know I'm right over here if you need me. I've got your back." A soft whine punctuated his statement, and both he and Beth glanced to the side to see Bear peeking around the doorway from his conveniently placed bed. With a chuckle, Daryl added, "Sorry. We've got your back."

"Thank you." She lingered just a moment longer, fighting the urge to reach out and touch him, hug him, do anything for some more physical contact. Instead, she held his eyes and whispered, "I love you, Daryl."

His murmured reply of "I love you too, Beth," was worth more than physical contact at that moment.

Buoyed by his confidence in her, she returned to the privacy of Maggie's cot to find her sister properly situated on her hands and knees. "That's perfect, Mags. And if your hands or arms get tired, just pull one of those pillows down and lean forward onto it, okay? Now let's see if that baby has finally decided to show their face, hm?"

"The head is out, Maggie!" A few pushes later and Beth found herself staring down at her niece or nephew. Specifically, right into their little scrunched up face. The baby had been born facing her back, which was typical, but since Maggie was giving birth on her hands and knees, that meant its little face was pointed right up at Beth. "What a thick patch of dark hair he or she has," Beth added with a little laugh. "Do you want to feel her? Reach your hand down and I'll guide you."

Maggie, who had been leaning forward onto a pillow, reached one hand down between her legs. Beth caught her hand and guided it until she could feel the baby's head. "God, that's…"

"Weird? Incredible? Amazing? Freaky?" That was Enid, to their delight, her shocked utterance coaxing an unexpected laugh from everyone in the room.

"Yeah, all of the above," Maggie gasped, caught between laughter and the pain of another contraction. "Oh god, I feel another one coming…"

"That's perfect, Maggie." Beth readied herself to guide the baby out, and added, "You just have to get those shoulders out and we'll be ready to catch her."

"Glenn," Maggie gasped between gritted teeth, "Glenn wants to catch the baby."

Beth looked up to see Glenn watching them, his expression a mix of eagerness and fear. "Well then c'mon, Glenn. Stand right here beside me, put your hands under the head… perfect. Now Maggie, just give one more big push, that's it, just like that—"

It happened faster than she could blink. One minute Maggie was pushing and screaming through the pain, then suddenly the shoulders popped free. Her hands shifted to guide the baby out on the remnants of that last push, and it slid into Glenn's hands in a rush, all wet and slightly-bloody and perfect.

"You did it, Maggie!" She glanced down, double-checking what she was seeing to make sure she was right about what she was seeing and then, with a grin that lit up not only her face but her voice, she exclaimed, "It's a girl! You have a little girl, Maggie!"

As Maggie sobbed into the pillow in happiness and relief, Beth leaned back to give Daryl a thumbs up. From behind the curtain as she tied off the umbilical cord and helped Glenn to cut it, she heard Daryl open the back door and stick his head outside to tell whoever was out there the news.

It was probably no surprise that it spread like wildfire around the camp. She wouldn't be surprised if people had gathered outside throughout the morning, listening to Maggie's cries and waiting for news. But she couldn't deny that the sounds of cheers and exultations from outside the walls turned her smile into a grin. They, along with the sharp squalling cries of her newborn niece, turned out to be all the encouragement she and Maggie needed to push through the afterbirth just as easily as they'd handled the labor.

The quiet that followed was so peaceful that it almost didn't feel real. But it was, even if Beth had to keep reminding herself of that fact. Maggie had delivered the afterbirth without issue; every bit of it was intact. There had been no complications, no excessive bleeding. It had been a near-perfect labor. But the relief that filled Beth as she moved around the warm, sun-lit room paled in comparison to the happiness she felt looking down at the bundle in Maggie's arms.

Her sister sat up in bed, propped against the pillows, Glenn perched on the edge beside her with one arm around her shoulders. In her arms she held their daughter, who had been cleaned up by Enid and wrapped in a nice clean yellow blanket they'd kept warm by the fire. Her little red face nestled under her thick head of black hair, and her eyes were still closed, her face screwed up a little as if she were still a bit sulky at having been brought into the world.

(To be fair, who wouldn't be? Especially these days.)

Beth had stripped off her white smock and the wrap she'd worn over her hair, and she stood in just her clean scrubs now, hands washed clean, body filled with a mix of exhaustion, joy, and adrenaline. When Daryl came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and resting his chin upon her head, she felt the adrenaline ease as the joy swelled to fill the space it left. She sighed and melted back into his arms, letting herself sink into the happiness that filled her as she watched her sister and her brother-in-law hold their perfect baby girl.

"You're incredible," Beth murmured to her sister with a soft smile.

"No you are," Maggie joked back, a tired smile on her lips. Her gaze dropped down and her expression softened. "And so is she. I can't believe she's finally here. And she's so perfect." She ran one finger over the baby's hair and laughed. "She looks like you, Glenn."

"I dunno," Glenn remarked, his own voice thick with emotions. "I think she has your nose."

No one was going to argue with him, even if the baby mostly looked like a scrunchy, little red alien right now. She was still beautiful.

To Glenn, Maggie murmured, "Should we tell them officially?" When Glenn nodded, Maggie looked up at Beth and Daryl. Her smile was radiant, the glow of it erasing the exhaustion that had shadowed Maggie's face after her labor. "Alright then. Meet your niece…" She looked down at the baby, and finished, "Shelly Elizabeth Rhee. After her grandpa, who would have loved to meet her. And her Aunt—" She glanced up, eyes finding and holding Beth's as she finished, "—Who helped bring her into the world and without whom she might not have arrived so safely and so perfectly."

"Oh Mags..." Emotion surged through Beth, heightened by the exhaustion of what they'd both gone through, and the relief of everything turning out alright. But just as she felt her knees weaken with the intense emotion, she felt Daryl's arms tightening around her waist, holding her upright against his chest.

As always, he was there for her when she needed her. Her rock. Her support. She leaned back into him and let him hold her upright and safe as she smiled across the cot at her sister and softly confirmed, "It's perfect. She's perfect."

Beth might have been biased, but she didn't care. Her niece was perfect, the whole day had been perfect, and she knew she would never forget this day. It would always linger in her mind: the day Shelly Elizabeth Rhee had been born and their family had grown just a little bit bigger and a little more wonderful.

A/N: I'd like to thank Call the Midwife and my repeated watching and re-watching of every season for assisting me with this chapter, haha. That, and google. Apologies if I got anything wrong, I did my best. Hope you all enjoyed it, thank you again for any and all comments. I can't believe we're finally so close to the end of this story. Gosh!