Chapter 37-Guilt and love
Four months later
Carl's P.O.V
Carl wakes up to someone knocking on his door. He groans as he crawls out of bed. He stands up and goes to the door, and opens it. Beth looks at him, taking a step back"Jesus, your eye is not pretty," Beth says.
"What do you want?" Carl grumbled, ignoring her previous comment.
"Maggie's in labor," Beth says. Carl's eye snaps open.
"What!? Why didn't you lead with that?" Carl asks as he goes to the bed. He shakes Enid, who opens her eyes. "Maggie's in labor."
Enid jumps out of bed and grabs a shirt. She put it on and grabbed her shoes, and within two minutes, she was gone. "Is Al already with her?" Carl asks Beth, who nods.
"Yeah, she asked me to get Enid and tell you. I was about to go radio Daryl," Beth tells Carl, who nods as she walks away. Carl puts an eye patch Tara and Beth had found on and puts it over his eye before he puts his hat on and leaves the trailer.
Daryl's P.O.V
Daryl walks into the cabin and goes over to the radio. Negan had told him Beth was waiting for him. He grabs the radio and sits down. "What's up?" Daryl asks her.
"Maggie's in labor," Beth tells Daryl. His eyes widened.
"I'll be there," Daryl tells Beth before he sets the radio down. Daryl goes back to his cabin. He walks inside and grabs his crossbow.
"Where are you going?" Alicia asks. Daryl looks at her. Her stomach had started to show, and most people knew she was pregnant by now.
"Maggie's in labor. Gotta go to Hilltop," Daryl says.
"Let me come," Alicia says.
"You can't ride on my bike," Daryl says.
"Then we'll take the damn truck. Daryl, regardless of what you think. This will not be easy for you," Alicia states. Daryl stops and nods. He walks outside. Shane walks up to them while they walk towards the truck.
"What's going on?" Shane asks.
"Maggie's in labor. We're going to Hilltop," Daryl says. Shane nods.
"John left a few hours ago. June went with him. She wanted to look at Maggie and get prepared for Alicia. It looks like she may get some practice," Shane says.
"Ask Daniel to watch Charlie," Daryl tells Shane, who nods as Daryl and Alicia climb into the truck. They leave the campgrounds heading for Hilltop.
Al's P.O.V
Al stood by Maggie, holding her hand as Edwards looked at her. "She's still got a few hours before she can start pushing," Edwards tells them. They both nod as the door opens and June comes in.
"What are you doing here?" Al asks her.
"John was coming to finish up his lessons. I figured I could get a look at Maggie. It's been a little while since I delivered a baby. I wanted to refresh myself on the state Alicia will be in. Do you mind if I help?" June asks Edwards and Maggie.
"Please, I'm not the most experienced in this field. From what I could tell, it looks like it will still be a few hours before she can start to push," Edwards informs June, who nods as she looks at Maggie.
"Yeah, he's right," June says. "I'll stay in here if you have other things to do," Edwards nods as he leaves the trailer.
"Is Daryl here?" Enid asks.
"No, we left before he was awake. Beth said she radioed him, and he was on his way. So are Rick and Michonne. I think Carol too," June explains to Maggie, who nods. "Relax, for now, Maggie. You still got a little bit." Maggie nods as she lays her head back.
Daryl's P.O.V
2 hours later
Daryl drives the truck up the hill to Hilltop. The gate opens, and he drives the truck in. He climbs out of the truck, and John comes over to him. "How is she doing?" Daryl asks him.
"June just told me in about an hour she will start pushing," John tells Daryl. "Beth, Enid, and Al are in there with 'em." Daryl nods. John sighs and looks at Carl. "The kid seems distracted. I would ask Rick, but he said he would be running a little late," Daryl nods as he walks over to Carl. He sits down beside him, and Carl looks at him.
"You thinking about Lori?" Daryl asks Carl, who nods.
"I know this is different. There aren't walkers, and we have doctors by us, but I can't stop thinking about the boiler room," Carl explains to Daryl, who nods.
"I have the same worries," Daryl tells Carl. "I've had them about Maggie, and I have 'em about Alicia."
"How do you deal with them?" Carl asks Daryl.
"I don't. I can't control this, Carl, and neither can you. I know that isn't what you want to hear, but it's the truth. We just have to wait and hope that everything goes okay," Daryl says.
"I know. How are you doing?" Carl asks, and Daryl knew he isn't talking about the fact that Maggie is in labor.
"Give me a few hours, and I'll let you know," Daryl says as he stares at the trailer Maggie was having the baby in.
June's P.O.V
June looks at Maggie again and looks at Edwards, and nods. "Okay, Maggie. It's time to start pushing," June says to Maggie, who nods. June motions for Edwards to come over to her. "You ready?" She asks Edwards, who nods. She nods to Maggie. They push for about an hour. June looked at Maggie, who looked exhausted. "Okay, Maggie. One more hard push, sweetie," June says. Maggie nods as she does what June tells her. June held the baby in a small blanket as it began to cry. June cuts the umbilical cord. She wraps the baby and hands it to Maggie. "I'll be back in a few minutes," June says. Maggie nods.
"Send Daryl and Carl in here," Maggie says. June nods as she steps out of the trailer. The others look at her.
"She's fine, and the baby looks healthy," June tells them. "She wants to see Daryl and Carl," The two of them nod as they go in.
Daryl's P.O.V
Daryl and Carl walk into the trailer and look at Maggie, who smiles at them. "You look like s***," Daryl says.
"Thanks, tell me how you look after delivering a baby. Alicia will look the exact same or worse," Maggie says. Daryl nods as he walks over to them.
"What's his name? You said you wanted to wait until you had birth," Carl says. Maggie nods.
"Hershel. Hershel Rhee," Maggie says. Beth smiles as she looks at the baby boy.
"I think Daddy and Glenn would like that name," Beth says to Maggie, who nods. Daryl stared at the baby, and all he could think about was Glenn and the fact that the man wasn't here to meet his son. How it was his fault. Daryl turns around and leaves.
"Daryl," Maggie says, but he was gone before she could say anything else
"You knew this wasn't going to be easy for him. Give him a minute," Al says to Maggie, who nods, still looking concerned
Daryl walks away from the trailer and walks behind Barrington house. He hit the side of his hand into the brick wall. He felt Alicia wrap her arms around his waist from behind. She lays her head on his chest as he lowers his head and cries.
Carl's P.O.V
Carl looked at Maggie as June took the baby away to go to a proper exam on it. "Try and get some rest. It won't be long before he needs it to eat," June tells Maggie as she takes the baby to another part of the trailer. Maggie looks at Carl.
"I'm glad you're okay," Carl tells Maggie.
"I'm thinking about her," Maggie says to Carl. "I've been thinking about her a lot lately."
"So have I," Carl says. "I want to talk to Dad about it, but I don't want to at the same time. He doesn't know everything that happened down there, and I like it that way. He shouldn't have to hear every detail on how his wife died," Carl says. Maggie nods, agreeing with the teenager.
"Neither should you, Carl. You shouldn't have had to watch that, and you shouldn't have had to shoot her," Maggie says.
"You couldn't do it. She was my Mom. Nobody should have had to do it. We shouldn't have to do a lot of what we do," Carl says. Maggie nods, agreeing with him.
"I know we've been at odds with each other over Negan, and I don't think that will change, but I'm still here for you. We're still family," Maggie states.
"Till the day we day and after," Carl says with a smile. Maggie nods.
Rick's P.O.V
Rick and Michonne walk into the trailer and look at Maggie, who smiles at them. "Took you guys long enough," Maggie says. They could both tell that she was tired.
"We aren't staying long. We're a little busy at Alexandria," Rick says as he walks up to her. "Carl told me his name is Hershel."
"Yeah," Maggie says.
"We're glad you are okay," Michonne tells Maggie.
"We just wanted to check on you. You need to rest. We're going to stay a little and talk with Carl," Rick says. Maggie nods as they leave. She lays her head back and falls asleep.
Daryl's P.O.V
Daryl walked into the trailer about two hours after he had left. Maggie was sleeping, and Carl, Al, and Enid had gone to get her some stuff. He looks at the baby sleeping in her arms. "That baby is going to need his uncle Daryl," Beth says as she comes out of the bathroom. Daryl looks at her.
"I keep seeing, Glenn," Daryl tells her.
"I do too, Maggie probably does too, but she's told me how much you've helped before you left, at least. Regardless of your problems right now, she needs her friend," Beth says. "You don't have to hold him today or tomorrow or next month, but one day, she may need you to take care of him."
"I'd still die for her. For that boy. For you," Daryl says.
"I know you would. It's been a stressful day. Do you want to stay at Hilltop today? It will be night by the time you get back home," Beth explains to Daryl, who nods.
"We'll use the guest room," Daryl says. "Where's Jesus?" Daryl asks.
"Alexandria. He's visiting Aaron," Beth answers. Daryl nods as he leaves the trailer.
Al's P.O.V
Al sat by Maggie in the trailer. Everybody had gone off to go to sleep, and the baby was beside them sleeping. "How are you feeling?" Al asks Maggie.
"I feel fine. Still a little tired," Maggie says.
"June said it will take a little while for you to retain all the stamina you had before you got pregnant," Al explains to Maggie, who nods. She grabs Maggie's hand and holds it. "I love you."
Maggie smiles and kisses her hand. "I love you, too," Maggie says. Al lays her head down on the bed as Maggie lays her head back. They go to sleep, their hands still together.
Thanks for reading. Once again, I will state I am no doctor, so don't talk to me about medical shit. This chapter was fun. I like going back and showing that Daryl still feels guilty about Glenn even though he is trying to honor him. I liked the scene between Carl and Maggie as well as Carl and Daryl. I think two to three more chapters before we get to the bridge arc. As always, suggestions, ideas, and feedback are welcomed. Until next time.