New Life
A/N: New one-shot for you all you all!! hope you enjoy it!!! As always thank you to @crossbowking for always supporting and motivating me and for being my friend!!!!! <3
Trigger Warnings: mention of rape
You were walking along, trees at every turn of your head, the sun beating down through the tree canopy, dragging your feet. The world was hard enough but trudging around with a nine-month belly protruding out made it so much more difficult and at times impossible.
You had to stop for a rest what felt like every five minutes, your legs hurt, your feet hurt, your shoulders hurt from carrying what little supplies you had.
You hadnât eaten properly in a couple of days and that worried you more than anything because of your unborn child, but the gentle kicks of your baby gave you comfort.
Finding a comfy enough looking tree to rest on you slowly lowered yourself down on a low branch, knowing that if you got on the floor, youâd ever get back up again.
So, you sat there, taking in the comfort of the shade, drinking a little water, being careful to ration it as much as was safe, you didnât know when you would be able to get more water.
You leaned your head against the rough trunk, closing your eyes for a second, you were exhausted, you hadnât slept properly for days, either because you had nowhere safe to hold up, or that baby was making you uncomfortable.
You tried to take in the sounds of nature, the slight breeze rustling through the trees, the chirping of the birds. This was the most relaxed you had been in a while, resting your hand on your baby bump.
But the peace and quiet was shattered by the rusting of leaves on the forest floor, the breaking of twigs underfoot and the groaning of the dead.
You tried to get up as quickly as possible, cradling your belly and reaching for your weapon.
You grabbed your knife and steadied yourself and built up the courage as you lunged as much as you could forward and stabbed the walker in the head, but as the walker went down two more took its place and you knew â you were in trouble.
You scrambled backwards, trying to keep an eye on the walkers coming towards you whilst trying to balance yourself.
One walker gained on you quicker than the other, standing by the tree you a moment ago found solace, you waited for the walker to come to you, trying to conserve as much energy as you could.
As it got closer you reached out and grabbed the walker, pulling it towards you with your knife at the ready as you pushed the knife through its skull and shoved it against the tree letting it fall to the ground.
While you were so focused on that walker the other one had gained on you without you noticing, with no time to prepare to attack the only thing you could do was retreat.
As quickly as you could you spun around, waddling your way to the edge of the trees where your next obstacle was a steep bank.
You stood for a second, catching your breath and looking behind you, checking on the walker that was still on your heels.
With your stomach protruding the way it was the only way up the bank was backwards and on all fours.
You awkwardly lowered yourself down and made you way up the bank your head towards your goal so you could see where you were going.
You got halfway up when something grabbed your ankle, you turned your head back to face the front, seeing the walker latched on to you. You tried kicking it off, but its grip tightened and started pulling you down the bank. You looked into the jaws of the creature that could be your end as you let out a blood-curdling scream.
You felt yourself sliding towards death, as you rolled to try and get more leverage causing your unborn baby to drag along the forest floor, and as cliché as it sounded, your life flashed before your eyes, but more importantly the life your baby would never have.
You used whatever fight you had left in you, clawing your fingers into the dirt, hoping to find something to grab onto when suddenly you stopped being dragged down. You turned around to see an arrow sticking out of the former walkerâs head.
You rested your forehead against the cool ground trying to compose yourself after what just happened.
âYa alâight?â you head a voice cut through the air.
âYeah,â you said breathily.
You pushed yourself up onto your knees, placing a comforting hand on your baby, your back still facing the stranger.
You managed to spin yourself around, sitting in a position that was more comfortable and seeing the stranger that saved your life - or rather strangers.
Two men were standing before you, one was clean-shaven, short hair, nice clothes, he looked clean which made you think he had a place to call home, somewhere safe. The other man, holding a crossbow, must have been the one that killed the walker, was the complete opposite. He was gruff-looking, he had a beard, long hair and was dirtier than the other man, he looked like an outdoorsman.
You sat there taking in their appearance, holding onto your baby bump when you noticed the looks on their faces, a look of shock.
âWhat? Never seen a pregnant woman before?â you said sarcastically as you tried to raise yourself from the ground when suddenly two hands entered your vision.
You looked up to see both men offering a hand to help you get up. You took both of their hands as they lifted you off the ground.
As you got to your feet you felt a sharp stabbing pain in your back, you hissed in pain and placed a hand on your back or support.
âYa good?â the archer asked.
âYeah, Iâm fine,â you said, thinking it was probably the adrenaline wearing off and the ordeal you just went through, you were not in a fit state right now.
âYou on your own?â the clean-shaven one asked.
âYeah,â you answered reluctantly, you didnât know if telling these people, you were alone was a good move, it was a risk.
âFor how long?â The same man asked.
âNot sure, found this couple a while back, stuck with them for a bit. A herd came through, they sacrificed themselves to save me and my baby,â you told them, your hand subconsciously finding its way to your bump.
âLook my name is Rick, this is Daryl, we have a place, a safe place for you and your baby,â his head pointing towards your baby bump.
You took a moment to think, you just met these people, you knew nothing about them, you couldnât put your finger on it, but when you looked at the archer, something in his eyes made you trust them.
You gave a tentative nod and immediately Daryl and Rick grabbed your things and started escorting you to their vehicle.
Rick took the lead and Daryl watchfully walked beside you.
Whilst walking, without any warning you felt warm liquid run down your legs.
âShit,â you swear, looking down.
âWhaâs wrong?â Daryl asked before diverting his eyes to where you were looking.
âShit,â Daryl mirrored. âRick, we got a problem,â Daryl calls out to Rick who just reached the truck.
The pain was unbelievable, you knew it would hurt, but not this much, at least you hoped not this much, you had no idea what was going on around you but before you knew it you were in the bed of a truck with Daryl by your side.
âTalk to her Daryl, keep her calm,â Rick shouted over the air blowing past the moving truck.
âErmm, hey, hey,â Daryl tried to get your attention. âJust breath, okay!â Daryl instructed.
You tried your best to breath through the pain, but with every contraction, it was getting harder to do so.
âHey, I⊠er⊠never got your name?â Daryl said.
You let out a breathy laugh.
â(Y/N), my name is (Y/N),â you told him as Daryl gave you a small smile.
âSo, er, where ya from?â Daryl asked awkwardly, starting conversations wasnât his strong suit.
âA bit of everywhere,â you said, keeping your answers short trying to concentrate on not feeling the blinding pain that came with the contractions.
âWhereâs the dad?â Daryl blurted out, he wasnât quite sure why he did, and even though she was in so much pain he saw her pause like she was frozen in time, only when she cried out in pain did, he know she wasnât frozen.
âNo father,â you said gritting your teeth and panting, clinging to your pant leg turning your knuckles white.
âHere,â you looked over at Daryl as he offered an outstretched hand.
Daryl didnât know what you meant by no father, but he knew now wasnât the time to press on it and he thought it wasnât really his business.
âYou sure, I donât want to hurt you,â you asked nervously, and Daryl gave you a small nod.
At that moment you couldnât believe where you were, at the end of the world, dead roaming around, about to give birth and on the road to a place you had no idea what you were potentially walking into, in the back of a truck with a stranger offering his hand to hold.
You gritted your teeth once again as, yet another contraction hit, you looked in his eyes before you took his hand in yours.
The biggest contraction yet hit, causing you to break from his eyes as you screamed out, gripping Darylâs hand in a vice-like grip.
âSorry,â you said through your gritted teeth.
âDonâ be,â Daryl said, looking back into his eyes, you felt a sort of comfort, of trusting even though he was a complete stranger.
âWeâre here,â you heard Rick shout.
You had no idea where you were, your brain couldnât take in anything right now, the only thing you noticed was big iron gates closing behind you.
Daryl hopped off the back of the truck and reached out two hands out to you, you took them both as he pulled you towards him until your legs were dangling off the back of the truck.
You slowly lowered your feet to the ground, trying to take deep breathes at the same time, as Daryl supported your weight by your waist, but with the first step, you almost collapsed, Darylâs arm being the only thing that prevented you from falling to the ground.
âI canât,â you said breathless and in pain as you doubled over.
Without a word you were suddenly lifted in the air and found yourself in Darylâs arms carrying you bridal style as he walked with you in his arms down the street with Rick taking the lead.
Daryl carried you through some double doors, to what you could tell was an infirmary and set you down on a bed.
A nice woman came up to you, you assumed she was their doctor as she had the coat on, she introduced herself as Denise and she placed a blanket over you.
âOkay, Iâm gonna need to take your pants off okay? See how far along we are,â she asked in a soft reassuring tone.
You gave a gentle nod as you helped her as much as you could get your pants off as you turned your head to see Rick and Daryl in a deep conversation.
âWell, my,â Denise blurted out causing all heads to turn to her.
âWhaâ? is everythinâ okay?â Daryl asked before you had a chance to.
âEverything is fine,â she said placing a comforting hand on your knee. âWeâre just further along than I thought, in fact, itâs time (Y/N),â Denise explained.
You looked at her in shock, you knew the time would come, but part of you still wasnât ready.
âSo (Y/N), Iâm gonna need you to push okay?â Denise instructed you.
âAlright, weâll leave you to it, just holler if you need anything,â Rick said as he and Daryl made their way to the door.
âStay,â you blurted out, looking towards Daryl. âPlease donât go.â
You had no idea why you said it, you just knew that you didnât want to do this alone, and at that moment Daryl was the only one you wanted by your side.
Daryl looked towards you, looking in the eyes of a terrified girl, and then looked back to Rick and gave him a nod.
Rick proceeded to leave as Daryl made his way towards the bed, standing by your side.
âOkay (Y/N), when your next contraction comes you need to push okay,â Denise directed.
You nodded, getting ready, well as much as you could get ready when a hand came into your view once again, you looked up at Daryl, a sense of Deja Vu coming over you as he gave you a reassuring smile, you took his hand once again, comfort washing over you.
The birth was long and painful, you were absolutely exhausted, but what came at the end of it was totally worth it as you looked down at your sleeping bundle in your arms. Your baby girl was perfect.
âYa did good,â Daryl spoke quietly as to not disturb the new-born.
âYa want me to put her in her crib, ya need ta rest,â Daryl offered.
You were reluctant to hand her over, but he was right, you needed sleep, you couldnât remember the last time you had a good sleep, let alone in a real bed.
Daryl gently scooped her up in his arms and softly placed her down in her new crib.
âYou wanted to know about her father?â you brought up.
âHuh?â Daryl asked, distracted by the beautiful baby girl.
âThe father,â you reiterated.
âYa donâ have ta tell me anythinâ ta donâ wanna,â Daryl reassured you.
It wasnât a nice story to tell but you needed to get it off your chest and for some reason you needed Daryl to know, you trusted him for reasons you couldnât explain.
âThe short version⊠I was raped,â you came straight out with it, Darylâs head whipped so quickly in your direction you were surprised he didnât get whiplash.
âItâs okay, Iâve made my peace with it,â you said taking a deep breath. âAt first I didnât want the baby. I didnât want it to be a constant reminder, but the more it grew, the more she grew, the more I didnât want to punish an innocent baby.â
You took a deep breath after your admission, wiping a tear that had fallen down your cheek.
You braved a look at Daryl, shame in your eyes, worried about his reaction.
âHey, it wasnât your fault, and look at her, she perfect, and youâre gonna be a great mom,â Daryl told you, taking a seat by your bedside.
You turned to him, locking eyes, you saw a loving gentle soul, you saw someone â who in some way â understood you, that felt empathy but not pity.
Daryl saw a young woman who had gone through things no one should have to go through, but he saw strength in her, and kindness, that despite everything, radiated from her.
âI decided that this baby was gonna be the most loved baby in the world,â you declared, making Daryl smile.
Despite everything that had happened to you before and after the world ended you were glad that this new world brought you to Daryl.
Daryl took your hand once more, and stayed with you as you feel asleep, declaring to himself there and then that he would protect you and your baby no matter what and as he looked upon your sleeping form he saw â for the first time in the very short time he had known you â a peaceful look upon your face â and thatâs the way he wanted it to stay.
He pulled the crib nearer to him so that you were both in his view, he shifted his view from you to the baby and decided that he would make a happy life for you and your baby and he hoped he would be able to share it with you.
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