Chapter Thirty-One
As soon as Daryl, Maggie and Glenn head off for a car I start shuffling Carl and I inside. We're not even inside for 2 minutes before the door swings open and my gun comes up ready to defend us, only for Glenn to be standing in the doorway.
"Fuck Glenn" I sigh, putting my gun back in its holster.
"Why aren't you going with them?" Herschel asks.
"They're going to try to get to the daycare we've spotted but the road is too full of debris to take a car so they're taking his bike" he explains moving down the steps into the common area.
"Smart decision" Herschel remarks
"I just wanted to tell y'all that I was going to be outside checking the perimeter and then keeping watch for them" he tells us.
"Be safe" I tell him.
"Alright" I sigh a few seconds after Glenn leaves "Carl, the baby and I need to get cleaned up. Beth if you could take Jack, Penny, and Anne to your cell or their cell or somewhere and maybe just read to them or something. I don't really care what you do, just do something" I ask her.
"I got them Gen; you take care of you 3 for right now and yell if you need anything" she tells me.
"I'll be staying out here with them" Herschel tells her, and I nod my thanks.
Before I can start getting us cleaned up Herschel fills us in that Carol and T-Dog have presumably died and that the prisoners, Axel and Oscar are with us for now. In his words, until Daryl or Rick says otherwise.
It takes Carl, me, and the baby admittedly longer than it should've to get cleaned up, but with tears - from all 3 of us - to navigate we did remarkably well.
At some point Herschel went out to speak with Glenn and Glenn went looking for Rick only to come back slightly bloodier with the report that Rick tried to attack him and was not mentally present, before he made his way back outside to wait for Maggie and Daryl.
It seems like since they left, we've all just been waiting for Daryl and Maggie to return. The sun has set, and the baby has been crying almost nonstop for the past 45 minutes and has finally set off Anneliese who cries until I hand the baby over to Carl and take her into my arms.
The baby quiets in Carl's arms for a few minutes before picking up again, as has been the standard for the day so far.
This carries on for another 10 minutes before finally Maggie and Daryl come rushing through the door.
"Gen!" Maggie calls and I quickly pass Anneliese off to Beth and rush over to the table where Maggie is ripping a bottle out of a plastic sleeve.
I dump some pre boiled water into the bottle and a scoop of the formula that Maggie has ripped open, only enough to make 2 ounces, she can have more soon but too much, and she'll just spit it all right back up.
I shake it quickly and turn to see that Daryl has acquired to crying baby and pass him the bottle as soon as I'm satisfied that its mixed.
"There you go, there ya go" He coos to the baby, and I can't help but smile as Beth passes Anneliese back to me who peers at the new baby from her perch in my arms, with what I can only describe as a look of disdain.
"She got a name yet?" He asks Carl.
"Not yet. But I was thinking about Sophia. Then, there's Carol too. And Andrea. Amy. Jacqui. Patricia. Or Lori. I don't know." Carl says ending with a sigh and hanging his head until I reach out and pull him into my side.
"Yeah? You like that? Huh?" Daryl coos down at the steadily drinking baby, bringing everyone's attention away from Carl "Little ass-kicker" he tacks on at the end.
"Right? That's a good name, right?" he asks the group at large, making me roll my eyes, everyone else, Carl included, letting out a laugh.
"Little ass-kicker. You like that, huh?" he asks the baby "You like that sweetheart?"
It's not long before Anneliese is laying her head down on my shoulder and sucking her thumb, ready to go to bed. Beth catches my eye as she stands up from the table and moves over to us.
"Why don't you let me take the girls to bed?" she offers holding her hands out for Anneliese.
"Good idea, I think we're all just about ready for some shut eye" I tell her letting her take Anneliese after pressing a kiss to her forehead and give Penny a hug before shooing her after Beth.
"Here, take her." Daryl says to me before turning to Glenn "Glenn. Me and you are gonna do a lap then lock it up for the night" Daryl says passing me the baby who has just about finished her small bottle.
"Not to intrude but where should we sleep?" Axel speaks up.
"You can sleep in one of the cells on the top floor end of the row, keep the cell door shut" Daryl tells them after a moment.
"Thank you" Axel tells him already moving off to settle.
"Be right back" Daryl says before heading off with Glenn.
I watch them leave before settling onto one of the benches, a sigh leaving me as the boys and Maggie, all follow me to the table.
"Gen, is there anything I can help you with?" Maggie asks and I take a second to think about it.
"Can you wash this bottle and the other ones you've grabbed, and the pacifier I see in that bag?" I ask her as the baby starts whining in my arms like she wants to cry again.
"She cries a lot" Jackson states from next to me.
"Yeah, but we have to remember she had a bit of a rough entrance into our world" I tell him knocking his shoulder with mine
"Anne didn't cry that much."
"Mm she cried a lot, but we had food ready for her when she was born, and clothes too" I remind him.
"That's true, I guess."
"She'll get all those things too, right?" Carl asks softly from my other side.
"She will, we'll make sure of it" I tell him.
"We'll all make sure of it" Herschel says as he shifts himself to his foot "Now, Gen. Boys. If you need anything you don't hesitate to wake me up" he says patting my shoulder before using his crutches to make his way to his cell
Just as Maggie finishes drying the last bottle Glenn and Daryl get back and secure the outside door behind them.
"Everything okay?" I ask.
"Looks fine for now, everyone else go to bed?" Daryl asks.
"Yes, I just need to prep these bottles for the rest of the night and then we'll be set" I tell him passing the baby back to him.
"Alright, I'll take this one up, boys help her out, ya hear?" he instructs them before making his way out of the room.
"We're heading to bed too. Wake us up if you need anything Gen" Maggie tells me resting her hand on my arm.
"Thank you, but I think we'll be okay."
"Still, don't hesitate."
"Thank you, Mags. Beth has Anne so we should be okay for the night. But if I need you, I'll wake you" I tell her.
"Good night" she tells me and the boys, Glenn echoing her, following her out.
"Jack? Can you gather that bag over there. Carl? You can help me put the bottles together."
With the boys helping me its quick work to put water in each of the bottles, assemble the pieces, and pack them all into the bottom of the bag. Slowly we make our way up the steps to the perch where Daryl is holding a squirming baby.
After depositing the bags on the bed, I give the boys a chance to change before following them into their cell, noting that Beth must've kept Penny with her and Anne because she's not in her bed.
"Goodnight Jackson, I love you" I tell him leaning down to press a kiss to his hair.
"Night mom, love you" he says around a yawn.
"Carl?" I whisper "If you need me during the night come get me okay? Your sister will have me up a lot anyway."
"Okay" he whispers back.
"Try to get some sleep, I love you" I tell him running a hand through his hair.
"Love you too" He murmurs, relaxing under my hand.
I don't leave immediately instead I run my fingers through his hair 'til his breathing deepens, and I can hear the baby on the perch start whining.
By the time I make it to our mattress the little one is rearing up to start wailing again even though Daryl is bouncing and shushing her
"She sounds unhappy" I whisper.
"Can't blame her" he whispers back.
"No guess we can't"
"Here you take her. You think she's still hungry?" he asks passing me the squirming baby.
"Hey there little one, what's got you upset?" I coo at her "I'm not sure Daryl, she could be hungry, cold, not comfortable, tired, anything" I tell him.
"Well, here's a diaper. I'll mix up a bottle."
I make quick work of changing her diaper and wrap her loosely in the blanket as Daryl works on mixing the formula into the water.
"How many scoops?"
"Let's still do 1, I'm not convinced she's actually hungry and I don't want to wear it."
And so, the night cycle begins, for the next 6 hours she sleeps for 30 minutes then wakes up wailing until one of us gets up, bounces her and eventually she gets fed. At this point she's eating between 0.5 and 2 ounces every 2 hours. Finally, after hour 6 and Daryl and me both just wanting to pass out it clicks.
"She's probably getting cold" I blurt from my spot on the bed.
"What?" Daryl asks turning towards me.
"She's probably getting cold when we put her down. Babies are supposed to be chest to chest with their parents for as much as possible 'because it can be hard for them to regulate their temperature yet, she's only had that thin blanket and our body heat when we hold her, so when we put her down, she's getting cold. It makes sense."
"She can't sleep in the bed, she's too tiny" He protests.
"No, I know that, but maybe I can just prop myself up a little and she can lay under my shirt on my chest."
"I'll try anything" he grunts before settling on the bed next to me and helping me maneuver the baby so she's laying with her head right over my heart and my shirt covers her back.
"Here" Daryl says placing his jacket over top of us as well as pulling the blanket up as he settles into the bed.
We're not even laying there for 5 minutes when the sound of a sheet rustling pulls my eyes back open to see Carl sneaking out of his cell,
Wordlessly I motion him to come sit next to me.
"What's wrong?" I whisper.
"Can't sleep" he mumbles, eyes shifting between me, Daryl, and the baby curled up asleep on my chest.
"Well come on you can lay down here with us and we'll catch a few hours before your sister decides she's no longer comfy" I tell him shifting over 'til I'm completely pressed against Daryl, who is already asleep.
Carl hesitates for a second until I lift my arm for him and after meeting my eyes for a second, he pulls back the blanket and slides under it, laying his head on my shoulder and staring at the top of his sister's head.
I pretend not to notice when my neck gets wet with tears instead just brushing my fingers through his hair over and over again until finally, he goes lax against me and then and only then do I let my head rest on the pillows and close my eyes.
The baby lets us sleep for a blissful 4 hours before she wakes up absolutely screeching sending all 3 of us scrambling.
Carl barely manages to sit up and avoid my elbow, as I pull his sister out from under my shirt and Daryl hands me a diaper and starts making her a bottle.
"Last one" he mumbles shaking it.
"Wash 'em after she eats, gotta make breakfast, sun is startin' to rise" I mumble right back, feeling Carl sag into my side as I rewrap his sister and lean back.
"I'll go get started on washing. Carl? You wanna stay or come?" Daryl asks.
"I'll come" he murmurs rising to his feet as Daryl passes me the bottle.
"Go get your boots on."
"Daryl?" I ask once Carl is out of earshot.
"I love you" and I truly do. It takes a special kind of person to take on someone else's kids because you love them and an entirely different thing to nurture and care for the children of someone completely different because your significant other made a promise and Daryl has done that. With Jackson, Penny and Anne, he treats them like his own, and Carl he seems to be getting closer to and now this new little one is only going to make us all closer, I think.
"I love you too" he whispers back leaning down and giving me a kiss.
The baby lets out a whine just as he pulls back so he leans down and presses a kiss to her forehead.
"Yes, you are too little ass kicker. Though you better start sleeping more"
"I'm sure she will, most newborns only sleep, but she started out a little traumatically and then spent most of the day hungry, probably cold. She's gonna need more stuff-"
"Hey, it's okay, don't stress we'll get her more. Use my flannels if you need to."
"I know" I murmur running a finger down the side of her face making her eyes flutter as she sucks down the bottle.
Carl rejoins us, still not looking quite awake but his boots and hat are on
"See you in a bit" I tell 2 of my boys as they make their way down the steps.
The baby ends up finishing her bottle and falling asleep soon after they head downstairs. So, I dig the baby wrap I used with Anneliese out of the bag and maneuver the little one into it, she's smaller than Anneliese was so I make sure its extra secure before I grab one of Daryl's flannels and put it on, buttoning it over the baby.
Once we're both situated, I move into the kids' cell and wake Jackson up, leaving him to sort himself out as I head downstairs with the makeshift diaper bag - aka bookbag, to help with breakfast.
True to his word Daryl is washing all the bottles, and Carl is stirring a pot of oatmeal, the coffee already made.
"Well look at you two, y'all can start doing this every morning and I can sleep in" I laugh.
"No thank you" Carl quips.
"I'll do whatever you want so long as the little one sleeps" Daryl sasses.
"She's sleeping now, so there's hope."
"Hope for what?" Herschel asks crutching into the common area, Beth with Anneliese, Maggie holding Penny, Glenn and finally Jackson trailing behind them.
"Hope that little ass kicker sleeps"
"Ah, thought I heard her awake for a while."
"'Til about 4 hours ago" I tell him.
"Woo, hopefully you don't have a little night owl on your hands."
"God, I hope not, last thing I need is her to keep Anne up too" I grumble resting my head on my hand.
"I can keep her with me for as long as you need" Beth speaks up.
"Thank you, Beth, but-" I try to protest but Maggie cuts me off.
"We can keep her some nights too that way Bethy gets breaks too."
"That's very kind of you to offer, but I can't ask that of either of you" I protest.
"You're not asking. We're offering" Glenn adds.
"It takes a village Genevieve, let us help" Herschel says the 4 of them ganging up on me.
"Fine, fine. Y'all can keep Anne with you 'til this one is on a schedule and then she can rejoin us."
"Or she can go in the kids' room" Daryl cuts in
"If she's sleeping through the night" I tell him and he nods, conceding the point, before moving to help Carl serve the rest of the oatmeal to everyone.
"What else can we do Gen?" Maggie asks.
"What you normally do." I tell her honestly "She's going to need clothes and more food before we know it."
"We'll do another run either today or tomorrow" Glenn tells me.
"I can help more with meals, even with having Anne at night, it's nowhere near having a newborn at night" Beth offers.
"Are you sure?" I ask and she nods "Well maybe, we can split meal duty and laundry duty, and school duty."
"Take a breath Eve, don't need to jump right back into things. We all need time to readjust" Daryl tells me placing my bowl in front of me and pressing a kiss to my forehead.
"I know you're right but-"
"But nothing. Eat."
"Alright, what's everyone's plans for the day?" I ask when everyone has finished eating and Carl and Jackson have started collecting and washing dishes.
"I'm going to clear out the tombs some" Daryl says making my head snap to him.
"What?"
"It needs to be done" he tells me squeezing my thigh.
"Herschel and I are going to see if we can find Rick" Glenn cuts in, obviously trying to keep me from starting an argument - which I wouldn't have in front of everyone.
"Please be careful" Beth tells them.
"We will be Bethy" Herschel reassures her.
"What will you 3 be doing?" Glenn asks nodding his head towards me and Beth
"Well, I think my time will be pretty occupied between this little one and the others so I'm probably just going to start trying to get us into a routine" I tell him trailing off at the end as my mind starts trying to compile list after list of things, I'll inevitably have to do in order to get us into a state of functioning again.
First and foremost, I have to get baby girl on a schedule, not that it was going to be an immediate thing or something that would be the same every day, but we have to figure something out.
Second, I have to keep the kids on their chores, schoolwork and nap routine, while incorporating baby girl
Third, I have to talk to Carl and help him pick out a name for his sister.
Fourth, I have to talk to Maggie and Glenn about going on a run for more baby supplies.
Fifth, I have to talk to Beth about figuring out who is going to cook what meals and when.
Sixth, I have to talk to the kids about how things will be dif-
"Gen?" Daryl says leaning down to meet my eyes, obviously he'd been trying to get my attention.
"Huh? What?"
"You, okay? You kinda zoned out for a second."
"Yeah, yeah, I'm good. Was just thinking."
"Gotta stops thinking so hard" he tells me pressing a kiss to my temple.
"Got a lot to think about" I murmur back leaning to my left to rest my head on his shoulder.
"Leah"
"No"
"Marie"
"No"
"Jane"
"Does she look like a Jane to you?"
Carl and I have been playing this name game for going on 20 minutes now and I don't think we're any closer to naming her now than we were this morning.
"What about any of your friends from school? You like any of their names?"
"They're probably all dead."
"That's dark. What about a favorite teacher? A coach?"
"I don't know, why's this gotta be so hard?" he complains flopping backwards onto the bed.
"I don't know dude, I guess it's harder when you've lost as many people as you have" I tell him.
"I guess. Hey! How did you name Anne?" he asks popping back up?
"I didn't. Jack went through a baby names book and picked her name."
"Think he's got any ideas?" he asks.
"Well, it took him a few hours with the baby book, so probably not."
"Ugh! It's so hard!" he groans flopping back on the bed…again.
"We'll keep thinking about it, she doesn't have to be named right now. Daryl is pretty fond of Little Ass-Kicker."
"But mom would've named her by now" He whines, and I'm not shocked to notice tears in his eyes.
"Hey, you will find the perfect name for her, okay? Come here" I tell him pulling him into a hug.
"I just want my mom" he murmurs, tears getting my collar wet.
"I know, I wish I could give her to you" I whisper running my hand up and down his back.
At some point in comforting him, both Carl and I dozed off only to be woken up by his sister loudly demanding a diaper change and her next bottle. It's not even lunch time yet but Maggie has whipped up a snack of some rice and canned fruit.
"Gonna have me spoiled Mags. No cooking or cleaning duty and snacks before lunch!" I jokingly tell her while burping the baby.
"Need all the energy we can get after yesterday and last night, don't expect it every day" she laughs.
"Fine, fine" I playfully grouse back
"Look, probably right after Glenn and Daddy get back, me and Glenn are gonna head back to the daycare to look for more supplies. Is there anything that is top priority other than formula and diapers?" She asks.
"Clothes, blankets" I tell her.
"That's it?" she asks.
"For now."
"Gen?" Beth cuts in
"Yes Beth?" I ask glancing her way.
"I'll keep the kids with me, they can do schoolwork while I finish today's laundry then we can all make lunch together if that's okay?" she asks.
"Can we Mama? Can we?" Penny cuts in before I can agree, excited about the idea of making lunch for everyone.
"Yes, Penny you guys can" I tell her smiling at her enthusiasm "I think the three of you should pick out something to go in the lunch" I tell them including the older two so that they all feel included.
"While we do that, your Mama and the baby should go take a nap" Beth stage whispers to Anne.
"We just woke up!" I protest with a laugh.
"And we all know you didn't sleep much last night" Maggie retorts.
"Hey now! Don't gang up on me! I'll lay the baby down for a nap, and I'll nap later with all 3 girls after lunch" I compromise.
"Sounds like a plan" Beth agrees getting up from the table and moving to get some of the kids' schoolbooks.
Just as Maggie goes to say something the cell block door opens, and Herschel and Glenn make their way in.
"Did you find him?" I ask once we join them at a far table.
"We did" Herschel confirms.
"And?" Maggie asks just as impatient as me.
"He's not as gone as he was yesterday, but he's not fully there" Glenn tells us.
"Like a psychotic break?" I ask.
"I think something like that, but hopefully short term, more of a trauma response" Herschel explains.
"Do you think you got through to him?" Maggie asks.
"I really hope so Mags" Herschel tells her honestly.
"So, what do we do in the meantime?" Maggie questions rubbing her face tiredly.
"Well, Daryl should be back soon. You and Glenn should head out after lunch at this point, and I guess we just wait for Rick to go one way or the other" I speak up.
"That's exactly what we need. A crazed man suffering a trauma induced psychotic break in the tombs of the prison."
"To be fair, I think we've had that the past few hours based on the state of the walkers down there" Glenn says with a grim look.
"Joy" I murmur.
"Go take a nap" Maggie all but demands.
"I'm going, I'm going" I huff back at her before turning to the group of kids - who all look ready for a nap.
"Which of you boys want to carry Anne?" I ask deciding that trying to get up the stairs with both babies in my arms would not be the best decision.
"I got her" Jack says picking her up from her spot on the floor.
"Mama, can you carry me?" Penny asks around her thumb, which she has already shoved in her mouth in preparation for her nap.
"I don't think I can carry you and the baby, Pen."
"How about a piggyback ride?" Carl offers.
"Okay" Penny agrees already moving to stand on the bench when Beth swoops her up and helps Carl situate her.
"Here Gen" she says once they're steady, passing me 2 bottles one of formula and one of water.
"Thanks, Beth. Wake me if you need anything please."
"Okay, you can send the boys down if they're not interested in resting."
"Thank you" I tell her again.
It doesn't take too long to get everyone settled. After Jack almost immediately goes back downstairs to help Beth, I settle into the middle of the bed propped up with baby girl in my arms, and Anne next to me both happily drinking their bottles. Penny and Carl sandwich us all in on either side and before long everyone is drifting off to dream land.
"Judith" Carl whispers just as my eyes start to slip closed, both babies already asleep
"Hm?" I hum in response.
"Her name, I think she's a Judith."
"Why Judith?" I ask after a moment blinking myself fully awake to look at him.
"My 3rd grade teacher Mrs. Mueller, her first name was Judith" he whispers back.
"It's a beautiful name, and it fits I think" I tell him giving him a reassuring smile when his eyes dart from his sister to mine
"Now I just gotta come up with a middle name."
"Take your time on that one, maybe we can find a name book. She's got a first and a last name and personally Judith Grimes sounds pretty damn good to me" I tell him.
"Yeah, yeah it does"
"Now, hush, we all need a nap" I tell him.
"Yes ma'am" he says with a laugh.
"OPEN UP" Daryl's voice breaks through my sleepy haze and has me jolting into a sitting position.
"MOM!" Jack's voice echoing close behind has me flying to my feet and swinging Anneliese onto my hip, and barely managing not to trip over Carl as he sits up.
Carl luckily has the same train of thoughts as me and manages to lift a barely awake Penny into his arms as he follows me rushing down the steps. Anne and baby girl both starting to cry at the rude awakening.
"Jack!" I call as I make it around the corner into the common area, before stopping in my tracks
Glenn has the cell block door open and coming through is Daryl carrying Carol, a very much alive Carol.
"Oh my god" Beth whispers from next to me where she has a hold of Jack, obviously in an effort to keep him from going anywhere.
"Get her to my cell" Herschel orders and Daryl wastes no time doing as instructed, brushing past us with Maggie and Herschel following, Glenn locking the door behind them.
"Here let me see her" Beth says plucking Judith from my arms, allowing me to sooth Anneliese.
"Daryl?" I ask rising to meet him, when he joins us in the community space.
"Herschel says she'll be okay, just gotta get her cleaned up and get some water and food into her. Beth, he asked for you to bring back some water and rags" he tells us, placing an arm around my waist and pulling me into his side.
"Should I take her with-" Beth starts to ask gesturing to a sleeping Judith.
"I'll take her" Daryl cuts her off holding his arms out for Beth to transfer the baby to him, before she rushes to gather what her dad requested.
"DA! DA!" Anneliese squeals trying to launch herself out of my arms at him, the moment he has Judith settled in his arms.
"Wanna trade?" he offers, to which I nod and together we swap babies without anyone hitting the floor or screaming.
"Dadadadada" Anne babbles laying her head down on his shoulder and gazing at me - or rather the baby I'm holding with a look of pure disgust.
"Can I hold her, Gen?" Carl asks from his spot at one of the tables.
"Of course," I tell him moving to place his sister in his arms before taking a seat next to Jackson across from Carl.
"You name her yet?" Daryl asks Carl sitting down next to him.
"Judith"
"Judith?"
"Yeah"
"It's pretty, it fits her."
"That's what Gen said."
"Well, ya know she's pretty smart" Daryl stage whispers shooting me a wink causing both boys to groan in disgust.
"Y'all are gross" Jack snipes from next to me.
"Oh, are we now?" I ask pulling him closer to me and smothering his face with kisses 'til he's laughing so hard he can't breathe.
"Ok okay fine. Slightly gross" he amends leaning into my side.
"Hear that Daryl, we are only slightly gross."
"Guess we gotta try harder."
"No" both boys say in near unison making us all laugh.
"Is Ms. Carol gonna be okay Mama" Penny asks inserting herself into the conversation from where she was coloring and worming her way from between Daryl and Carl over to me to sit on my lap.
"I think so baby. She'll need tome extra care and cuddles, and I know you are an excellent cuddler who can help with that" I tell her tickling her sides.
"Yep! When can I give her a cuddle?"
"Maybe after she's cleaned up and had some food and rest. Okay?"
"Okay Mama"
Both babies eventually fall back to sleep and Daryl carefully transfers a sleeping Judith to lay in my arms with a sleeping Anneliese, so that he can finish up the lunch dishes with Carl and Jackson.
Maggie and Glenn verified their look out list and headed out not too long after Beth went to help Hershel.
Eventually Beth came back out and warmed up some broth for Carol and when she took it to her, she took Penny back with her to administer cuddles.
"Were they able to find Rick?" Daryl asked in a hushed voice sitting down next to me.
"Yeah"
"How was he?"
"Still pretty gone."
"Dammit"
"Yep"
"We're gonna have to figure out a plan."
"I know" I agree tilting my head back, as much as I can without overbalancing.
"Even if he does come back…" he says letting the sentence hang.
"I know, things are going to have to be different. I know it's only been a day but-"
"But we need to be secure" Daryl finishes for me.
"Exactly"
"We're done with the dishes. What can we do now?" Jackson asks interrupting our hushed conversation.
"Uhm, grab a book and read?" I suggest.
"That's so boring" Carl complains.
"You can go get Penny and teach her letters and numbers and anything else you can think of" I offer.
"Wait. Really?" Jack asks.
"Sure. You both know letters and numbers."
"Let's go" Carl says pulling on Jack's arm obviously trying to get away before I can suggest a more boring option.
"Sure, that's the best idea?" Daryl asks.
"Can't be any worse than no school at all" I tell him with a nudge into his side.
"Look at that though, we're all alone." Daryl quips leaning down to capture my lips with his
"Not quite" I whisper in between kisses.
"They don't even know what we're doing" he grouses back, cupping my jaw and angling my head better.
"No, but the second I move they'll wake up" I whisper against his lips.
"Ain't gotta do more than this" he whispers back catching my lips once more.
That is until a throat clearing causes him to pull back.
"Hope I'm not interrupting something" Herschel says with a laugh, crutching the rest of the way into the room.
"Nope, not a thing" I joke back "How's Carol?"
"Sleeping, I got her hooked up to one of the extra IVs so that should help with the hydration, so other than that and rest, she should be okay in a few days."
"That's good to hear, we need some good news around here for a change."
"That we do" he agrees.
Conversation flows between the 3 of us and Beth when she joins us, for who knows how long before Anneliese starts to wake up.
"Here I got her" Beth says reaching over the table and plucking her from my arms.
"Why don't we go find your siblings and change you" She mock whispers to her.
"Please do, I want to do some actual schoolwork with the boys" I tell her.
"I'm sure they'll love that" she says with a laugh, making her way out of the common area.
"I don't know what we would do without Beth to help" I tell Hershel and Daryl
"I don't know what we would do without you" Herschel returns.
"Well, if Daryl and Rick wouldn't have stumbled upon us in the woods that day, you wouldn't have 4 extra mouths to feed and care for" I try to joke, but based on the looks on their faces it didn't quite hit the mark.
"I also get the feeling we wouldn't have a hunter either, and we wouldn't have anyone who knows how to care for the kids and group as well as you, Genevieve. Truly without you, this group wouldn't have made it this far" Herschel tells me.
"Oh, come on Herschel you're gonna make me cry" I tell him swiping at the moisture gathering in the corners of my eyes.
"He's right though. You hold us all together." Daryl tells me pressing a kiss to my temple.
"Well thank you, we all have our roles and the things we need to do to keep us functioning." I tell them both.
"Your role just so happens to be multiple at once."
"We cannot have any more children" I tell Daryl after we finally get both babies, and all 3 children, settled or otherwise occupied.
"No"
"Glad we're in agreement."
"I don't know. Y'all could probably handle at least 2 or 3 more" Herschel says with a laugh.
"You're not even funny Herschel, wishing that on us" I snip back making him laugh harder.
"In the interest of not wishing that upon us anymore. Let's see if we can figure out a schedule. A shift changes. For meals and nights with Anne. You and Maggie can figure out who has her what night, and all that" I tell Beth.
"Gen, seriously take a breath" Daryl remarks from next to me as I shift a stirring Judith into my non-dominant arm.
"I didn't even mention schoolwork!" I protest as Beth passes me a notebook and a pencil.
"Wow. I'm so proud. Only mentioned a million other things."
"Shh." I hush him before turning my attention back to Beth "Now, are you sure about keeping Anne-"
"Yes, Gen we will be fine" she cuts me off.
"I'm just making sure" I tell her, jotting that down on my paper "Now for meals, we can switch off every other meal or every other day. What do you think?"
"I think Maggie and I can switch off for breakfast. And I can do lunch every day and you can do dinner?" Beth suggests.
"You only say that to try and make me sleep" I play grumble at her.
"I said no such thing."
"Fine, that will probably work. But we will revisit it if we need to."
"Of course, I think for laundry we just do it together every day and whoever can get it done can get it done."
"So, what we already do" I agree writing it down "Now are you absolutely positive about nights, I'm sure we'd be fine hav-" I try to argue but am cut off by the cell block door opening, causing Daryl to fly to his feet with his gun already unholstered.
"Everyone okay?" Rick asks from the doorway.
"We're all here" Daryl tells him, lowering his gun but not putting it away, which tells me all I need to know on how much we're trusting him right now.
"How 'bout you?" Daryl asks in return.
"I'm back" Rick states.
"For good or-"
"Daryl" I cut him off with a hand on his leg.
"For good, yeah" Ricks answers moving further into the room until he's next to Carl, but his eyes are purely on the baby in my arms.
"Good" Herschel says.
"Cleaned out a block or two" Rick says.
"Didn't have to do that" Herschel tells him.
"Yeah, I did"
"Not alone you didn't" Daryl cuts in
"You name her yet" Rick asks Carl eyes finally moving off the baby to focus on his son.
"Yeah, Judith" and like her name summons her, Judith starts to fuss in my arms pulling Rick's attention right back to her.
"Like your teacher?" Rick asks, and yeah, I'm a little surprised he can remember that.
"Yeah, Gen and Daryl say it fits her" Carl remarks.
"Yeah, it does." Rick agrees coming to a stop behind my shoulder and peering down at the baby, I pretend not to notice his hands reaching out, not quite sure if I should trust him with something as fragile and precious as a baby, especially not this baby who in less than 24 hours has become my own.
"Hey" he whispers smoothing a hand down her head, before reaching to take her from my arms, and only meeting my eyes when I tighten my grip, bringing her closer to my chest.
It's only a silent hand on my waist from Daryl that has me unclenching my jaw and muscles to let him take her. No sooner than Judith leaving my arms, Daryl snakes his arm around my waist and pulls me into his chest.
"Hey" Rick whispers to his daughter again, gazing at her face as she momentarily stops fussing to stare at him.
"Here" Beth whispers passing me Anne from across the table, I obviously wasn't hiding my discomfort very well as Rick starts to take a few steps away from the table, all the while talking to Judith in a hushed voice.
"Wanna go explore?" I hear him ask the baby a few minutes later.
"Explore where?" Carl asks beating me to the question although I've swung my legs over the bench in response to it, Daryl tightening his own arm on my waist as if that would stop me from taking Judith back as soon as I wanted.
"Just outside, get a breath of fresh air, some sun. I think it'd be good for everyone" Rick answers turning to meet my eyes once again.
"Sounds nice" I say earning me a slight smile from Rick and a squeeze from Daryl.
"Well let's go then" Rick says striding for the outside door, with me not quite on his heels but close behind, everyone else following.
"She looks like you" Rick tells Carl with a laugh as we break the threshold into the prison yard.
"Eh I don't know" Carl jokes back, but his smile falters when he notices Rick's attention is already elsewhere.
It's only when I come to a stop at Rick's elbow that my own eyes lock onto what he sees - a very much not dead woman is making her way to the fence, and even from this distance I can tell her eyes are locked onto us too.