Chapter 40-The babies are born

One month later

Daryl's P.O.V

Daryl is awoken when Alicia slaps his arm. "Daryl," Alicia says.

"What?" Daryl asks his with his eyes still closed.

"My water broke," Alicia says. Daryl's eyes snap open. He quickly gets out of bed and helps Alicia sit up.

"Wait here," Daryl says as he leaves the room. He goes to Charlie's room and opens the door. She brings herself up and looks at him.

"It is like 2 in the morning," Charlie says.

"Alicia's water broke. Go get June and tell her to meet us at the infirmary," Daryl tells Charlie, who nods as he puts her shoes up and leaves the cabin. Daryl goes back into his room and helps Alicia stand. He walks with his arm behind her back as he leads her out of the cabin. He leads her down the stairs and to the infirmary. He pushes the door open and helps her lay down on the bed. The door opens behind them, and June walks in with John slowly behind her.

"I have a grudge with these babies," John mumbles as he rubs his eyes.

"Sorry," Daryl says to John, who nods. June looks at Alicia.

"Alicia, I found some epidurals that you can use. They will help manage the pain. Do you want it?" June asks Alicia, who nods. June nods as she starts to set it up.

Shane's P.O.V

Shane sat on the porch of the big cabin. It has been about three hours since Alicia went into labor. Shane looks at Madison as she walks over to him. "June said we still have a little bit," Madison says.

"We were finally able to reach Alexandria, Kingdom, and Hilltop," Shane says with a yawn.

"Are you still tired?" Madison questions him with a smirk.

"Shut up," Shane mumbles. "I'm so glad it's not fucking cold anymore. This would be much worse. How is Alicia doing?"

"She is pushing through," Madison answers as the sun slowly starts to rise in the air. "Take Daryl something to drink. I don't think he's left the infirmary since it started," Shane nods as he stands up and walks away.

Beth's P.O.V

Beth walks outside of Barrington house. She looks at Al, who was waiting by the van. "Everything ready?" Beth asks her.

"We are waiting for Carl, Enid, Lilly, and Tara," Al answers.

"What about Maggie?" Beth asks. Al sighs and shakes her head.

"She isn't coming," Al states. Beth turns around and walks back inside of Barrington house. She pushes Maggie's office door open and looks at her sister, who is just sitting at her table looking at several papers absently.

"You aren't coming?" Beth questions, anger clear in her voice.

"No," Maggie answers, not looking up.

"This is Daryl's child. Daryl, the guy who has been with you since Daddy's farm, the guy who would jump in front of a bullet for any of us. You aren't coming to see his kids?!" Beth questions, getting somewhat heated.

"No, I'm not stepping foot in the campgrounds with Negan there," Maggie states, her voice void of emotion.

"You're unbelievable. He came here for Hershel. You could see how much it hurt him to see him and know that Hershel doesn't have a father because of what he did. So much for family," Beth says before she leaves the office, slamming the door on her way out. She walks out to the van and climbs in the back. She nods to Al, who starts the van and leaves.

Looking up from her desk, Maggie's face crumbled...she tried to get up...

But she stopped and her face hardened...

*I'll Find You*

Negan's P.O.V

Negan walks out of his cabin as Rick pulls into the campgrounds. He walks over to the car as Rick gets out of the car, followed by Michonne, who had Judith. Aaron was holding Gracie and Jesus got out after him. "Hey, Rick. Good to see you," Negan greets with a grin.

"Surprised to see you awake," Aaron says.

"Alicia's in labor. I know you see me as a cold-blooded monster, and I don't blame you for that. But I care about that girl, and I care about those two babies she is giving birth to right now. If you got a problem with me. Keep it to yourself," Negan says. "If any of you start some shit today. I'll happily die after I beat the shit out of you. Clear?"

"Crystal," Aaron says. Negan nods.

"They are making breakfast in the big cabin. Ezekiel, Carol, and Jerry are already here," Negan says before he walks past them and into the big cabin.

"...Huh."

Rick looks at Michonne "What?"

"He actually looked human right there." She remarked.

Rick snorted but looked at the others "Trust me it kills me to say it but he has a point. This? This is about Daryl and Alicia, not him."

Jesus tightened his jaw but nodded, Aaron giving him a pointed look...but turned back to Rick nodding reassuringly "You got it Rick."

"Good." Rick nodded back and they followed to the cabin.

Maggie's P.O.V

Maggie sat on the balcony watching Hilltop. "Seems like you could use a friend," Gregory says from behind her.

"We aren't friends," Maggie says.

"That hurts Maggie," Gregory says. "Where's the kid?"

"Tammy has him. She likes taking care of him," Maggie says as she watches the older woman with her son. She looks at Gregory, who has two glasses. He holds one out to Maggie.

"One small glass couldn't hurt, could it?" Gregory says. Maggie sighs, if just to make the shithead go away, but grabs the glass. Gregory smiles as he pours some whiskey into her cup. Maggie stares at the glass, not trusting the man. "Don't trust me? That's fair," Gregory says. He pours some in his glass and takes a drink. He holds his glass out to Maggie. "To new life."

"New life," Maggie says as she taps the gas and takes a drink. Below them, Earl stood by the forge, watching Gregory.

"Horrible man," Tammy says as she walks over to him.

"He is," Earl agrees. "Maggie's in a tuff spot right now. She wants to be with her friends, but she doesn't want to be near Negan."

Tammy just stares at her husband flatly "Can you Blame her?"

Daryl's P.O.V

The cries of babies filled the air around the campgrounds and inside the infirmary. June had delivered the girl first and handed her to John. The boy came out a few minutes later. "Are they okay?" Daryl asks as he looks at June. June nods as she cuts the boy's cord and wraps him up. She walks over to Daryl, who is standing by Alicia and hands him the boy. She wraps the girl and hands her to Alicia.

"Who do you want us to get? Not everybody can come in here," June says.

"Um, Rick, Beth, Shane, Carol, Charlie, Morgan, Madison, Nick, Carl, and Maggie," Daryl says...then he saw the looks on John and June's faces...

They looked at each other with grimaces...

John turned back to say reluctantly "Maggie isn't here." Daryl looks at him and slowly nods.

"Then just them. You stay here too," Daryl says to John.

"And Daniel," Alicia says. June nods as she leaves. A few minutes later, they walk into the infirmary.

"How do you feel?" Madison asks Alicia.

"I'm fine," Alicia says, still breathing heavily.

"She'll need to regain her stamina, but she'll be fine," June says.

"What are their names?" Morgan asks. Daryl nods to Alicia.

"Her name is Ofelia Steven Dixon. Ofelia was Daniel's daughter and my friend, and Steven was my Dad," Alicia says.

"And his?" Rick asks.

"Merle Dale Dixon," Daryl says. Carl smiles as he looks at the boy.

"Dale? Is that someone you knew?" Daniel asks.

"He was a part of our good at the beginning," Daryl says. "Best guy I've ever met. He didn't let this world change him. I put him down when the time came," Daryl explains. They nod.

"Well, I think you two need to sleep, and I need to give them checkups," June says. Daryl and Alicia nod. "Daryl, you can stay on that bed." Daryl nods as he slowly hands Merle to June. Alicia hands Ofelia to John as Daryl goes to bed.

"We'll be outside when you guys wake up," Rick says. They nod as the others leave.

Dwight's P.O.V

Dwight was on watch and looked at Amanda as she walked over to him. "Alicia is fine, and so are the babies," Amanda says. Dwight gives a small nod without a word as he continues to watch the woods. Concerned, Amanda asked "What's wrong with you?"

"My wife and I. We wanted babies before all of this. I'm happy for those two. I am they deserve. They've been through a lot, but I can't stop thinking about Sherry. I wonder if she's alive," Dwight explains sadly. "It's been over a year since we left Texas."

"If your wife is alive. She would have come back by now. Dwight, you can't spend the rest of your life wondering if she is alive," Amanda says as she lays her hand on his shoulder. "Life's too short," She tells him before she walks away.

Daryl's P.O.V

Daryl walked outside about two hours later. Alicia had fed the babies, and now all three of them were sleeping in the infirmary. Daryl pulls out a cigarette but stops before he puts it in his mouth. He shakes his head with a groan and throws it on the ground. "I never thought I'd see the day," Rick teases as he walks up to him.

"I don't need those things helping the walkers," Daryl says.

"I plan on making a run to Washington soon. There is a museum where we can get a wagon and a canoe and use those to make more. I would ask you to come, but you just had kids, and Alicia is going to need help," Rick says.

"I would've said no, anyway," Daryl says. "Take Alden and Luciana. They are smart and could help," Rick nods as he pads Daryl's shoulder.

"I'm happy for you for both of you. You'll be great parents," Rick says before he walks over to Alden and Luciana. Daryl nods as he turns around and goes back inside.

"How are they doing, boss?" Negan asks. Daryl turns around and looks at the former savior.

"Good, sleeping right now. Did Shane not tell you?" Daryl asks him.

"No, he did. I was just wondering myself," Negan answers. "I can't imagine there is any chance you'll let me see 'em anytime soon." Daryl stares at Negan.

For a moment, Negan wondered if he pushed his lucked after a few moments of silence...then Daryl just grunted

"Give it a few days. Let me talk to Alicia," Daryl says to Negan, who nods. Daryl walks back into the infirmary, and Negan smiles as he walks away.

Beth's P.O.V

Beth walked back into Barrington house that night and saw Maggie sitting at her desk again. "Did you even leave?" Beth asks her sister.

"How are they?" Maggie asks, ignoring her question.

"Good, the boy's name is Merle Dale Dixon, and the girl is Ofelia Steven Dixon," Beth answers. "Alicia is doing okay. Of course, you would know all this if you decided to come."

"Fuck you," Maggie says angrily. "You don't get to judge me. None of you do."

"Everybody in that group loved Glenn. He killed the man Rosita loved, but she is still there. I knew Glenn, and I knew if you saw what you did today. He'd be just as pissed and ashamed as I am," Beth says before she walks up the stairs. Maggie grabs the glass off her desk and throws it into the wall.

Alicia's P.O.V

Daryl sat on the side of Alicia's bed. She had her head on his leg. She looks at the babies. "June said it's common for them to sleep a lot after birth," Alicia tells Daryl, who nods. "I still can't believe we are parents."

"We'll do great," Daryl says as he grabs her hand.

"I know we will," Alicia says. "I got to say. It feels really nice not having them inside me anymore."

"I bet," Daryl says. "Come on. Let's at least try and get some more sleep," Daryl says.

"Where's Charlie?" Alicia asks.

"She's staying with Daniel tonight," Daryl tells Alicia, who nods as he stands.

"Stay," Alicia says. Daryl nods as he crawls into the bed beside her. He wraps his arms around Alicia and kisses her head.

"I love you," Daryl says. Alicia smiles as she kisses his hand.

"I love you," Alicia says as she closes her eyes. The two fall into a peaceful sleep.

Thanks for reading. You will see more of the character's reactions to the babies in the next chapter and how they feel, but I felt this chapter should have been more focused on Daryl and Alicia, and I had a lot of fun writing it. This is the start of the bridge saga, and I am very excited about that. A lot of stuff is going to happen. As always, suggestions, ideas, and feedback are welcomed. Until next time.