#daddy daryl

[cr0cxx]

Im back || daddy issues drew this

[randomeditsicantletgoof]

[rememberwhouare]

♡ Daryl Dixon ♡

[youknowrenee]

Norman and his son Mingus<33 HE LOOKS JUST LIKE HIS DAD OMLLL

[dixoncaruso]

Proud Papa Moment

“Yeah!” Dante lights up at the prospect, turning himself towards the bullseye before reaching for the crossbow in Daryl’s arms. His eyes alight on it joyfully.

Richard, the man who handed him the crossbow, chuckles and steps aside to watch curiously. Daryl kneels down and has Dante step over to him. “Your hands go here… move that finger.” Daryl helps adjust his initially all over the place grip, with the only difference being that Daryl has him lay a hand over Daryl’s own so that his finger is around the trigger. He doubts Dante is strong enough to pull it with one digit and hardly wants any accidents happening.

Leaving his hand there does not seem to bother his son, who peeks through the sights and shifts it a little. Dante is adorably careful and precise, rather than just grabbing and squeezing the trigger as soon as it is offered. He makes an effort and Daryl loves him for it. 

“Press it when yer ready.” Daryl murmurs after he thinks Dante is almost done lining up his shot. Daryl pretends to let the kid line up the shot, himself but adjusts it slightly at the last second so it is a real good one. 

When Dante’s little finger squeezes over his own rough one, Daryl presses the trigger and watches the bolt fly. It is only on the second ring of the circle, but the way Dante leaps would have had anyone thinking he hit a bullseye. The gleeful child turns and throws his arms around Daryl’s neck.

“Papa, you sawed?!” Dante asks eagerly. 

“I saw.” Daryl affirms proudly. “Real good.”

“Again! Again!”

“You got a little fighter.” Someone remarks in amusement while passing by, chuckling at the cute weapon-wielding child.

He’s mah boy. Click to read more of the Outdoor Cat & Indoor Dog

[yetanotherhiddlestoner]

Summary ~ Daryl finds a journal on a supply run and reads it, what will happen when he sees the world through someone else's perspective?

Words ~ 2040ish

Warnings ~ None

GIF NOT MINE. CREDIT TO RHEEDUS.

And I am back, kinda lost motivation to write, then life got in the way once more, the kiddos are back at school now so I have more free time to update my stories. 

Sorry if this one seems a little off (It does to me right now) currently fighting a headache but wanting to get this chapter out for you all. 

The Entries Chapter 4

The next day you hear the revving of a motorbike outside, and you sit up in bed, peeking out the window to see the man who you assume is Daryl straddling the seat as he revves it. You can't help but to take in his arm muscles as his hands grip the handlebars. He is talking to Michonne who nods and waves him off as he speeds out the gates, the dog beside her running after him but stopping at the gates.

You close the curtains and lay back against the headboard opening your camera and taking a photo of the room, as you wait for it to print, you start writing in your journal about you experience and how you got here. 

Still not too sure if anyone has found the others you sent out into the world, and if they did, did they read them? Did they flip through the pages to see the story within? No matter what you still take the time to write and share your experiences.

You rip some tape off and stick the photo to the page and start writing. This will be the first positive entry in a long time, when you start writing, you put all that has happened in the last 48 hours, making it a very different entry than what you were used to writing.

You started noting all the good things here, the people who you met, how they seem so welcoming. You truly wonder if this could really work out for you? 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Entry 30 ~

"Death is coming. A horde full of biters, to many to guess are heading towards us, we probably have a couple days before they get here. I have tried to tell the group if we don't move, we are going to die but they said we are fine as long as we don't draw attention to ourselves. 

I have started packing, my bag is always on my back, weapons in my boots and holsters. I am ready to run. No-one else is, I go out document the horde daily, they will tear though our camp. 

I barely sleep these nights, terrified for us all."

Daryl looks at the photo of the horde and recognizes the location as one that they have seen once before, the horde now though triple in size since you took this photo. This fills Daryl with a sense of hope that you might be in the area, with reading the journals he feels somehow connected to you. 

He places the journal back in bag he has strapped to his bike. He is not too far from the Commonwealth now; he pulled over to have a quick break and to stretch his legs after riding for so long. After walking for a bit, he picked out a snack and the journal to bide the time till he felt like riding again.

He had hoped he wasn't needed at the Commonweath for too long though, he would much prefer to stay at the Kingdom.

That night, he laid in his room and once again found himself reading again. 

Entry 31~ 

"The night is filled with groans of the dead, as they march towards us. I plan on running out during the night, I know I shouldn't, I should stand and fight for my camp, but this is a battle I know we cannot win; we don't have enough bullets, and we don't have the room to hide it out."

Entry 32~

"I couldn't leave, I really wanted to but as I stood at the gates of my tiny community, we cannot stay here. If it wasn't for the children, I have grown to love as family I would have been long gone.

But now Death is at our doorstep."

Entry 33~

"I was able to convince some of the group to leave, just moments before the horde started tearing through our camp. We lost 5 of our friends today, as we drove away, we could hear the gun fire and screams that slowly were drowned out by the groans of the dead.

It was only the adults that had to witness the terror of it all, the kids were loaded into the front seat of the truck for their protection. Tonight, we were lucky once more, we found a massive storage unit that was unlocked, with no dead inside.

We have barricaded the door while we hide out in an empty unit, we scavenged some mattresses and pillows so that we can rest here the night before trying to find food and water tomorrow."

Once more there is a photo of everyone in the unit, the kids sleeping on the bed, adults sitting with guns at the ready.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Days pass and your wounds heal, the doctor checks you daily for infection, but he clears you and tells you that you can start doing some light duties around the community. Aaron is waiting outside the doctors for you.

"All clear, I can officially start helping around here now" you say to him as you give him a thumbs up.

"Light duties" The doctor replies from behind you, making Aaron chuckle.

"The stitches will start falling out soon, but we still don't want you breaking them before it fully healed"

"Got it doc, I'll keep an eye on her." Aaron says as you turn to walk away.

"So what is the plan for the day?" You ask Aaron.

"Well, we were going to plan another supply run, Michonne always likes to try and find things that we and the other communities need, we are always looking for beds, clothing, the general things that one needs to live. Each run we have to expand further and further so it takes a lot more planning"

You nod as he talks. "When do you think I could go on runs?" You ask calmly.

"You wanna go on runs? Does that mean you thinking of staying?" 

You shrug, "I mean if the offer still on the table" 

"Of course it is."

"It's the first time since the start I have actually been able to feel safe, been able to sleep without have one eye constantly opened in case of danger. But if I stay, I need to be able to help, not just in the garden but on runs" You explain to him.

"Agreed then, welcome home Y/N" Aaron says as he embraces you in a hug. 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Daryl spends almost two months at the Commonwealth, helping everyone there, he takes on jobs fixing cars and bikes for them. He helps them by trying to teach them to hunt, to read the footprints on the ground and how to track animals. 

So, when he gets back on the road, he is happy to be heading home to the Kingdom. He is not the type to settle down in one place to long, but he prefers them over the Commonwealth.

The ride home is long and boring, he pulls over for the night at an abandoned cabin as the rain sets in. The pitter patter hits the windows, while the lantern he has lights up the room he has taken as his for the night.

His legs are sore from being on the bike to long, he stretches them out and massages them, groaning as he works out the knots in his body. He loves his bike but sitting on it for hours on end isn't as easy as it used to be in his youth.

The rain sets in for the night, Daryl settles down and falls asleep to the sound of the drops hitting the cabin's tin roof.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lightning strikes above The Kingdom, the thunder cracking loudly, waking you up from your sleep. The storm was high above the community, lighting brightening up the sky, you watch in awe as it streaks across the sky, followed by the loud thunder.

It was all fine until, lightning struck the big tree next to the fence causing a huge branch to fall down. You quickly get out of bed and grab your weapons, you peek out your window, the rain hitting it heavily, but you are able to make out the dead making their way into the community. 

You quickly run out of your house and head to wake up Ezekial to alert him about the danger.

You reach the house doors and bang on them loudly, waiting for someone to hear you. You look behind you, seeing the dead starting to get closer your bangs get louder and finally Jesus opens the door and you push him inside and slam the door.

"Y/N?" He says, looking at your drenched form. It takes you a moment to catch your breath before responding to Jesus

"We have a breach" You get out starting to feel cold from the rain.

Jesus is quick to wake up the house, Michonne has her katana ready, Aaron and Maggie start handing out guns to those in the residence, you watch as they show no panic just determination to save their community. 

When the last person leaves the house, you grab the last gun from the cabinet, turn a heel and head back out into the cold rain to fight alongside your friends.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The first thing Daryl sees when he rides his bike through the gates is the broken fence, the dead walkers on the ground and the small group of people who are working together.

People dragging the dead over to trucks to dispose their bodies. 

Others dragging parts of the tree over to dry out knowing they will be used for firewood.

He jumps off his bike and walks over to Maggie, who is sitting on the ground, her head in her hands, covering her face from the sun.

"What happened?" He asks.

"Storm came through last night, tree got hit and let walkers in."

"The fuck?" Daryl looked at the damage, it would take days to get this branch out of the way and more time to fix the fence.

"Yeah, just our luck, we are going to have to halt runs for now till we fix it, if it hadn't been for Y/N, we would have not known about it till the morning"

The shock on Daryl's face hearing that name was not missed by Maggie.

"Y/N?" He repeats.

"Yeah, the newcomer we almost hit on the road. You know her?" 

He shakes his head, he doesn't know how to explain to Maggie about the journals he has been reading, and he wasn't too sure if you were the same Y/N as the one in the books.

"Nah, don't think I do. Just didn't know her name" He lied, the look on Maggie's face was clear that she didn't believe him, but she didn't push the subject.

 

"She left the safety of her house to come and wake us last night to inform us of the breach, poor girl soaking wet apparently when Jesus opened the door, we are thankful for her doing this, then she joined us in fighting, she hasn't stopped for hours, don't know where she gets the energy." Maggie stands up, wiping the mud from her jeans. Looking over at you as you start sawing the smaller branches off the tree. 

Daryl looks at you, your back to him as you move the saw back and forth. Your covered in Mud and walker blood, the t-shirt your wearing sticking to your body. He watches as Dog runs up to you barking and wagging his tail, Daryl watches as you turn to Dog, you wipe your hair and sweat out of you face and smile at Dog before giving him scratches on his head. He hears you call him a good boy before Dog barks happily, leaving you and running over to Daryl. Daryl can't help but watch as you turn and smile at Dog, your eyes slowing going to his. His gaze locks with yours.

The breath is Daryl halts.

The girl who he has been reading about.

The girl who he has been thinking about.

The girl who he learns more about daily, yet she knows nothing of him.

The girl whose journals he somehow finds.

That girl is right in front of him. 

[twigg96]

Right Here with You

Daryl X Reader

Place: The HIlltop

POV: You

Pronouns: You/ Your/ They/ She/ Her/ Wife

Warnings: Fluffy fluff, Domestic Fluff, Phoenix acting out, Pregnancy, Complications with pregnancy, Birth, anxiety, worry,

Summary: After the Savior's War you find out your unexpectantly pregnant with your third. You and Daryl move through the motions as best you can surviving the best you always do.

Ever since the Saviors War, you and Daryl had found yourselves visiting the Hilltop more and more. Hershel had just turned one. Phoenix liked to visit and help her auntie Maggie and neither of you minded her using all of her energy doing the mundane tasks Maggie assigned her. Beau was fascinated with the youngster and when you both started to visit after his birth would often be found staring down at him with wide curious eyes whispering imaginative stories to the baby. As time went on however, Beau became strangely clingy to you. You wrote it off as just normal jealousy. That since there was a child younger than him he wanted attention from you he had to make sure you gave him equal treatment.

But strangely enough his behavior persisted for months past when you thought it would stop. Even when you had caught a summer flu that had you down for nearly a week, Beau was clinging to you like a life line. Each time anyone tried to pull him away he screamed at the top of his lungs, kicking and screaming until he could scramble back into your embrace.

So you sat on the wrap-around-porch of the Hilltop with Maggie. She had just finished feeding her little one and handed him to you to hold while she went inside for a quick meeting. Bouncing Hershel on your knee you listened to him happily babble nothingness to you, smiling away. "Is that so?" You whispered back once in a while, giggling as he squealed reaching out with chubby fingers to grab at your face. "Am I interruptin'?" Daryl teased, trudging up the stairs, dripping in sweat, completely filthy from whatever work he had been doing around the Hilltop. "Nah. Just listening to his complaints." You teased back, lifting Hershel up for him to take. Daryl smiled taking the baby from you looking at the baby for a moment. "Ah... he don't look like he's got a lot to complain 'bout... 'sept the mashed peas taste like shit." He laughed as the little one giggled waving his arms around energetically as if to agree with him.

Feeling a soft tug at your shirt you sighed and rolled your eyes. Without even looking down you smiled, reaching down to pat your son on the head. "Well, hello there... how can I help you Beau?" You asked. Beau whined, yanking at your clothes, desperately trying to scale your body and climb into your lap. "Hey... no Beau." Daryl chided, shuffling Hershel in his arms. "C'mon you said ya wanted to come with me ta talk to yer aunt Maggie. So let's go." He muttered. Opening your legs a bit so you could hug your son close you sighed into his hair. "Go on now. Go go keep your Daddy company." You whispered, kissing his crown. But instead of pulling away, you felt him lay his head and his little hands rub your tummy. "I'm so excited, Momma." He giggled. You couldn't help but laugh cocking a curious brow. "Excited for what, baby?" You asked meeting Beau's brilliant blue eyes. "I'm excited for the baby in your belly Momma!" He started and instantly you felt your breath catch in your throat and your skin blanch. Meeting your husband's worried glance you could tell this was news to him too. And why wouldn't it be... you weren't pregnant.

Before you could even speak, Beau had kissed your tummy and pulled away running over to Daryl, holding his hand tightly. "Yeah! There is a baby in your belly like when auntie Maggie had her baby. And when you have him it'll be so cute!" He giggled, bouncing up and down, using Daryl's hand like a spring. "Beau..." Daryl mumbled looking nearly just as sick as you felt. "Who told you Momma had a baby in her belly?" He asked. Your little hellion looked up at Daryl and smiled. "No one... I just know." A wave of nausea crashed over you which absolutely did not help the situation. By the look on your husband's face he felt about the same... ever since the whisperers started to become a problem, none of you ever felt completely comfortable. A new baby... thrown into this... it always was dangerous but now of all times. Right after you just got Daryl back... when you still felt so raw? You felt lightheaded and unsure. But then again it was just something your son said... right?

Standing slowly you turned to the door as it creaked open. Maggie stood smiling, Jesus by her side. "Know what?" She asked, stepping forward holding her arms out to take her son from Daryl. "Momma's got a baby in her belly!" Beau yelled before either you or Daryl could react. Both of the Hilltop residents looked completely shocked, looking from Daryl to you back to Daryl. "Well, congratulations..." Jesus said smirking a slight hint of a tease in his voice. Daryl sighed rolling his eyes as he handed Hershel to Maggie, but you for whatever reason couldn't help but feel a little overwhelmed, cornered. "We ain't pregnant." You bit out a little too venomously for anyone's liking. Maggie frowned, holding Hershel to her chest. "Well... Judith was my early warning... she told me and..." She went silent looking to the wood of the porch swallowing a lump in her throat. "That's when I first tested ya know." She whispered. Jesus nodded along. "A lot of the children here have predicted pregnancies... if anything you should at least-" But you didn't let him finish, turning on your heel you huffed, holding your middle you stormed down the stairs. "I said I ain't pregnant!"

"Hey!" Daryl's annoyed voice called out to you as you stormed through the fields of the Hilltop. watching as people hulled wood from one place to another. Trailer doors opening and closing as people filed in and out. Hammers working tirelessly at the heavy wooden wall. You only stopped when you felt Daryl's strong fingers wrap around your wrist. "[Y/N]!" He nearly yelled, pulling you to a stop with him. "Hey! God damn it! Stop and talk ta me." He huffed. The world around you felt like it was moving all too quickly but not fast enough. Your chest felt tight and like there wasn't enough air in the world to supply you. Turning to face your husband you shook your head as the first sob rattled you both. "I-I" You got out just as he pulled you close. "Hey..." He whispered into your hair. "Take a deep breath... tell me what's gonin' on in that head of yers." You couldn't help it. You wailed. You made a scene. Clinging to Daryl like a lifeline you let yourself release the tense anxiety that had been drowning you ever since the day Negan took him well over a year ago. And maybe Daryl understood this because he never said a word edgewise. He never tried to move you. He simply let you do what you needed. And as your sobs died down and you were able to formulate sentences you tried your damnedest to make sense. "I- sorry." You started, only to be shushed with a gentle kiss to your temple. "It's alright, don't ever feel sorry baby. Just tell me... what's wrong."

Clutching to his shirt you pulled away looking deep into Daryl's blue eyes. "I just got you back..." You whispered, tears rolling down your cheeks. Daryl stayed silent but you could see it written on his face. That shared uncertainty. The fear of losing each other you both experienced. "I'm right here, darlin' girl." He whispered cupping your cheek gently. You nodded, reaching up to mirror him. "I know... I know and I could never be more grateful, Daryl. But..." You closed your eyes feeling the hot tears stream down your cheek only to be swiped away by his calloused thumb. "But, nothin'." He whispered back, taking your wrist in his other hand he turned his head, gently kissing the inside of your palm then your wrist. "I am right here. I'm right here with you. That's all that matters. Ya told me that when I first came home didn't ya?" You nodded staring longingly up at your husband. Daryl smiled kissing your wrist once more before pulling you closer, wrapping your arm around his neck. "Then we'll get through this... no matter what happens. Always do." You blushed, wrapping your arms around his neck as he leaned down to kiss you sweetly. "Love you, Dare..." You whispered into his mouth. Pulling away he smiled. "I love you more than anything... now lets get you tested."

Staring down at the little pink plus sign you felt yourself shaking and turning pale. Daryl held you close to his chest, his chin resting atop your head. "Mrs. Dixon." Dr. Carson prodded, frowning at the pair of you, pulling gloves over his hands. "I'd like to preform an ultrasound if that's alright? To determine how far along you are." Glancing hesitantly to Daryl, he scanned your face. "Up to you, baby. I'll be with you every step of the way no matter what you choose." He murmured, but there was a sadness to his eyes you could see. You had been strong with every child you bore. Phoenix who had been a complete surprise to you both who were both still just teenagers yourselves. Beau who you could say was planned but in reality was just as big a surprise as Phoenix. Turning to the doctor you nodded. "We can do this..." You muttered hesitantly. Dr. Carson smiled ushering you over to the exam table. "Just lift your shirt a little. We can do an internal later if you feel you need one." He said softly, plugging the machines in and getting the jelly out of the cabinet you just knew would be cold as ice. Jumping onto the side of the table you laid down, wincing away from the coldness of the metal.

"Sorry. Wish I could have a better area but..." the OBGYN sighed as he clicked a few buttons on the machine. Daryl stepped to stand beside you taking your hand he squeezed it reassuringly. Holding the wand high Dr. Carson turned the screen so that the three of you could all watch. "Ready?" He asked, not waiting for an answer as he pressed the wand against your tummy. "Sorry if it's cold." He muttered, fully focused on the screen as it came to life in a bright array of whites and greys. You whined, trying to sit as still as you could for the man as he pressed it harder into your full bladder but you couldn't help but pull away slightly. "I know it's uncomfortable..." Dr. Carson whispered, twisting the wand to the right pressing a few buttons and then to the left. "Alright... moment of truth." He said twisting it downward. You had expected to see a sea monkey or a bean like you had when you found out you were pregnant with Phoenix. Maybe even an alien looking ameba. But if you hadn't been laying down, you would have most certainly fallen to your ass when the doctor showed you both a fully formed, kicking, moving baby inside you. "What the-" You squealed. "Well..." The doctor chuckled. "You're most defiantly pregnant."

Daryl's hand slipped from your own as he stagged back, siting in the chair beside the table staring up at the screen in disbelief and shock. "H-How?!" You whined, gesturing to your flat stomach. You hadn't shown... at all. "Are you asking how you got pregnant? Because if you two need the talk after three kids I might need to put you on a makeshift birth control..." Carson joked, smirking as you glared and wound back to smack him. "No... but seriously." He chuckled, handing you a towel to wipe your stomach off with. "You're having a cryptic pregnancy." He said suddenly becoming serious. "You're lucky we caught it now, even though it's as late as it is. Most women who experience them never find out until they go into labor. Especially now it could lead to a very serious and dangerous birth for you and your baby." He said, rolling the machine away. "You could have gone into labor out on a run... or worse in the middle of escaping the walkers or whisperers.” The doctor said watching your face blanch in horror.

“That’s not to mention the other complications this type of pregnancy causes.” He muttered, tossing his gloves in the bin before grabbing a small clear model of a pregnant torso with a little extendable belly. “What normally happens is that the uterus fills with fluid and falls into place in your pelvis here under your other organs pushing the belly out.” Carson said squeezing the little devise to make the uterus enlarge and the belly grow. “You however,” he said covering the belly and pushing the uterus back in. “Have either grown too strong of abdominal muscles and it is holding your uterus inside. Or during the birth of Beau you tore some vital ligaments and it’s keeping your uterus from having the room it needs to grow. Either way, your uterus is moving all your organs up and out of place.” He pointed to the model and how the little jelly organs moved when he pushed the belly in. Carson went silent for a moment placing the model down before sighing. “There is a higher chance of stillbirth, SIDS, and even higher mother mortality with this type of pregnancy. Due to the strange placement of the uterus and chance of preexisting injury it may be harder to push or even cause the child to get stuck on the pelvis and can require a cesarean. You'll both need to consider your options carefully.” He muttered softly refusing to meet your eyes. “I’m very sorry.” Covering your face you tried not to gag or scream. “Fuck… fuck.” You whispered hot tears rolling down your face.

Guilt washed through you as your breath hitched in your throat. Daryl was by your side in a second, you could feel his calloused hand wrapping around your wrist desperate to move it away from your face. "I-I... I smoked. I drank. I was doing heavy lifting." You whispered desperately, letting your husband pry your hand away. "You didn't know." He countered but you could see the fear swirling in his eyes. Carson nodded. "We do our best with the information we have, [Y/N]." He muttered reassuringly. "Just stay away from the stuff from now on til baby comes." He said in the most cartoony doctor voice you had ever heard. "You can lift things in moderation but I want you here so I can keep an eye on you and monitor your birth... and I really don't want you walking or riding home if you can avoid it. The least amount of danger we can put you in the better. If I had to guess your only a few weeks away from having this little one." He said handing you a picture of your ultrasound. "I'll leave you two alone to talk. Just make sure to lock the door when you leave." He said softly, touching your hand.

Watching the doctor walk out of the makeshift clinic you sighed. Laying your head back on the paper like pillow you sniffled. "Do you know what this means?" You whispered to Daryl, meeting his stormy eyes. He stayed silent scanning your face for an answer. "It means we gotta get Carol to make our son cookies." You whispered a sly smile crossing your lips. Daryl chuckled a smile blooming across his own face. "Scoot over, woman." He laughed shooing you over on the exam table. Laying down beside you, Daryl draped his arm around your body holding you close. "Oh, god we're gonna have to get the nursery ready." You whispered, swiping at your tear stained face. "We are." Daryl agreed, nuzzling his head against yours. "Do we still have Beau's old crib or did we give that away?" You asked, gripping your hair. "It's in the attic." Daryl whispered. "We need new cloth diapers I think we burnt Beau's old ones..." You whined. "We did." Daryl hummed, threading his leg through your own.

You seemed to relax slightly holding the little black and white photo up. Your thumb swiped over the baby in the picture. "I wonder if it'll be a girl or a boy?" You whispered. "As long as both of my girls are healthy I don't care." He hummed. "You don't want another boy?" You asked curiously. "Nah... boys fight. Girls don't do that." He muttered curling in on you. "That's a lie and you know it." You giggled. "Phoenix has kicked boys asses before." You giggled as Daryl let out a satisfied hum. "She better always be that way too." He chuckled. You whined playfully. "Phoenix was a big baby, Daryl. Beau was an even bigger baby." You reminisced. Daryl chuckled. "Yeah, they were." He laughed until you bopped him on the back of the head with the ultrasound photo. "You gave me big ass kids Daryl!" You whined, handing him the picture. "Has ta come from yer side." He hummed, sitting up on an elbow. "Merle said I was a month and a half premature." You stared at him silently for a momet as your fingers carded through his hair. He already told you this... several times before. With Beau when you were as big as a beach ball and when Phoenix was small Merle always commented about how much bigger she was at her age than Daryl was being "unseasonable".

"Do you think we can really do this again?" You asked, turning your gaze from the picture to Daryl. Your husband shrugged. "We gotta try right?" He hummed looking up to you. You nodded, scooting closer to him. "Yeah..." You whispered letting your hand fall to your tummy for the first time. Nothing. Not a kick. Not a flutter. Not even a butterfly. It frustrated you. "You ever hear of a cryptic pregnancy before?" You asked. Daryl hummed moving his hand above yours. "No." You sighed, turning your head away. "Don't do that. This isn't your fault." Daryl whispered. "Yes it is, my body is-" You replied, closing your eyes. But Daryl cut you off. "Darlin' girl." He hummed kissing your neck. "You're perfect and I'll make damned sure everything turns out alright. Ya have my word."

Slowly. Steadily a week passed at the Hilltop. And while you still felt totally normal, you felt the heat the eyes made drilling into the back of your head. Already you were starting to go a little stir crazy inside the walls. You never liked to be confined. Dr. Carson let you stand guard up on the wall with the exception that someone stand with you and you didn’t actively put yourself in danger. Daryl left on the second day after you assured him for the umpteenth time that you weren’t about to have the baby without him. He radioed back from the Kingdom when he arrived. But before he could get a word in edge wise he was cut off by Carol. “Who told you two you could have more munchkins!” She screamed over the radio. “I’m so happy for you two!” You giggled. “Thanks Carol.” “So have you thought of any names yet?” Carol asked seemingly both of you as you heard Daryl’s struggle to get his radio back over the waves. “Not yet C. You’ll be one of the first to know when we do.”

“Do ya know what yer havin’ yet?” Maggie asked softly, walking side by side with you, later the same day. She was carrying half of the wood you would normally carry to the drying rack. You hummed, shaking your head. “Nah. Dare and I always liked it to be a surprise with Phoenix and Beau. Figured we’d keep the tradition with this literal surprise.” You giggled placing the wood down on top of the ever growing pile. “How’d ya know it ain’t twins?” Maggie teased. But the mere thought of it made you choke on your own spit and gasp for air. “Jesus, Maggie don’t put that nasty juju on me!” You wailed wiping away the spit from your chin as Maggie laughed so hard she was bent over her legs clenched to keep from peeing herself. But when your next appointment with the doctor came you couldn’t help but to crane your neck to see the monitor. “Looking for something?” Carson asked. “Making sure there’s not two in there.” You muttered to the doctor who only laughed and shook his head.

As the second week dawned Daryl spent most of his time between the Hilltop, on runs looking for baby supplies, and Alexandria. When he came back he told you all about the preparations he was making to your home. “I moved the crib down from the attic and found some diapers in Beau’s old things so we’re good there.” Daryl muttered taking a bite out of the crab apple he picked up from the ground. “We kept those? Ew.” You whispered making your husband laugh. His strong arm wrapped around you as you walked, pulling you close to him. You could feel his large hand rubbing circles on your flat tummy. “Did you remember to feed Dog before you left?” You asked absentmindedly turning your eyes to the changing colors of the leaves. “Like always.” He hummed. “Do you think he’ll be good with the baby?” You whispered, leaning down to pick up one of the leaves. “He’s always been good with Phoenix and Beau. Don’t see why that would change with this one.” Daryl lied. But you shrugged letting it slide. “Wish I could feel ‘er.” Daryl muttered, his mouth full of apple. “Me too.” You deadpanned.

Little did you know that you would both be wishing for the exact opposite in just a few hours time. It started in the middle of the night. You felt what you thought was fluttering. Maybe gas. But soon that gas became painful and you knew this feeling. Reaching behind you in bed you patted your husband awake. “Baby, I think I’m going into labor.” You whispered tiredly. You giggled feeling Daryl’s strong arms pull you closer to him, his stubble tickling your bare shoulder. “It bad yet?” He asked tiredly, his drawl stronger in the dead of the night. You knew from experience Daryl knew when to panic. That he would understand when it was go time or not. But this was early stages of labor. Simply moving his hand from your chest to your stomach to act as hot water bottle you hummed. “Nah not yet.” You felt his hot breath on your neck as he sighed. “Good. Try and get some more sleep.”

Hours passed. The ache that once felt like cramps radiated to your back uncomfortably but not overwhelmingly painful. You paced back and forth in front of the house trying to ignore the way everyone's eyes were on you. "You could be doing anything other than staring." You tried not to hiss glaring at your husband and two children. Daryl cocked a brow, leaning back on the porch stairs. "What d' ya need me to do?" He asked. Phoenix worriedly watched you from her place beside him. Beau on the other hand was all too interested in the little bug crawling on the wood of the stairs to care. If anyone had a camera and could capture a photograph, in the old world the picture would have sold for millions in the old world. "I want you to stop staring at me. Go find something better to do." You growled. Phoenix sighed patting her father on the shoulder before she stood. "Whatever you say..." She huffed. "but you both should consider getting fixed!" She screamed, kicking a metal bucket full of water over as she walked away. You wanted to yell at her. The hormones throwing a rave in your body were telling you to scream and cry. But instead you took a deep breath trying to breath through the next wave of the contraction crashing through you. Daryl stared at the ground in front of him, biting at the skin around his thumb. "She's j'st worried." Daryl murmured, instinctively wrapping his arm around Beau's waist to keep him from tumbling off the porch, reaching for the flying beetle.

Tears slipped down your cheeks when the pain slowly started to get worse. You had managed to make it back inside to your shared bedroom. Kneeling beside the bed you rocked side to side, Daryl right beside you, his hands on your sides acting as heating pads. "On a scale of one to ten where are you?" He whispered. Your low groan stopped you from answering. "Do you need me to get Carson?" He whispered, daring to kiss your collar bone. Shaking your head you let out a sob. "I-I'm not ready." You whispered. "Yes you are." Daryl whispered kissing the shell of your ear. "You have two beautiful kids and your gonna do great with this one." You sobbed again shaking your head. "W-We didn't even pick a name." You whined, groaning as another contraction ripped you in half. "We'll know when we see her. Just like we did with Phoenix and Beau. We'll know." He whispered kissing your cheek. "Now I'm going to get Carson."

You fucking hated this. You hated Carson looking at you down there. You hated that you were in an uncomfortable bed that smelled of old people and moth balls. You hated that you could hear Greggory screaming about staining the linens from outside your door and Maggie doing her best to keep him from barging in. You hated that your fucking god damn knees were being held up behind your head like a fucking pretzel by Daryl and Jesus. But overall it was the pain you hated most. With Phoenix it hurt, sure but you were drugged up for the bottom of the ninth so you didn't feel it after they kicked in. With Beau the pain was more from the ripping when he came too fast for your body to adjust. But with this one... the pain was different and overwhelming. Bearing down just as Carson instructed you pushed with all your strength. Sweat dripped down your face. You tried not to scream or moan. Carson said it was it was a waist of energy. But when it became too much for you to bare you couldn't help it. As the contraction ended you gasped, slumping against the pillows behind you. "Doin' great darlin' girl. Just keep fighting. Don't give up." Daryl breathed, rubbing your thigh, lovingly. Jesus on the other hand looked like he was about ready to be sick. "Y-Yeah..." He managed to get out. "Just... do that."

Before you could manage an answer you could feel another contraction ebbing its way up your spine. "Fuck..." You whimpered. "You're so close to crowning, [Y/N]. Just keep it up." Carson praised, reaching up to help pull you forward and help you to bare down. Holding tight to your thighs you moaned beginning to push with Carson's encouragement. "There you go! There's the head!" Carson yelled, moving his hands down. Jesus paled, turning completely towards the wall. But Daryl... Daryl moved so that he could see his baby being born. His face lit up in a way you had only seen happen two times before. With one more good push you felt it happen. At first there was silence. You were too afraid to breath. You could see Carson moving swiftly below you, grabbing towels and wet cloths. You could see him rubbing the baby's back. "C'mon." he whispered. And suddenly you had a whole new fear as the men holding your legs let them down gently. But when you watched the little baby twitch and heard the sudden inhale followed by the tiny most perfect cry you had ever heard a baby make you couldn't help but sob. Handing you the wriggling bundle Carson smiled. "It's a girl." He whispered. You sobbed, moving the little blanket from her face. "She's beautiful." You whispered watching Daryl cut her cord. "She's so tiny." Daryl replied holding out his finger to his tiniest daughter who instantly grasped it in her hand. "Lilybeth?" You whispered looking to Daryl. "Nah, don't sound right..." He hummed, caressing your daughter's cheek with his thumb. "Lilian?" He offered making you smile. "Perfect. Lilian Beth Dixon." He smiled kissing you then her head. "Now c'mon. let's get you cleaned up, momma."

[proximamidnight1]

I love how soft and gentle Daryl was here comforting Judith beneath the tunnels in Alexandria. The way he gently rubbed her back to soothe her during one of the most tragic scenes of the entire series really tugged at my heart stings 😩😢