I don't care if the dates don't add up, Florence's baby is being born soon

The new people at the prison were useful, but only a few were being difficult, Florence and Daryl had their old cubicle back and Florence made a little curtain to give them some privacy. Their room was decorated with little pictures of them that they had taken with a camera, they had a bunch of baby stuff in their room and books for Florence to read.

Their room was their room, it was homey and Florence needed that, however, Florence wouldn't mind leaving if she had to. Florence always had the door locked and closed while they slept, knowing Daryl would be fast on his feet to unlock it and get them both to safety. With more people in the prison, it meant more risk of being eaten alive by a freak accident of a walker getting in and Florence wasn't taking that risk while she slept.

Daryl didn't mind that she wanted it done this way, he stood by her to do it, mainly as it meant she was being kept alive and safe. With more people, they got the prison secured, got a garden set up and got the gate secured, during this time two months went by and Florence was getting bigger, it was warm again and soon Florence would be giving birth.

Daryl wasn't pleased with the idea of having all these people, hadn't opened up much and mainly spoke with Florence who spent most of her time with Judith. Daryl walked over to Florence as he saw her sitting in their room, reading a book aloud as she spoke to the baby in her belly. He closed the curtain, sat down beside her and looked over to see the words being read from the book.

"Hey." She whispered, smiling as he caught her lips with his, Daryl rested a hand on her growing belly and smiled back at her. Florence took a deep breath, she tutted as she brushed his hair out of his eyes and pouted in his general direction.

"I want to see your pretty eyes, stop covering them."

"Or ya gonna give me little pigtails?"

"That's right." She teased, Daryl laughed and cupped her face in her hands, caressing her skin with his thumbs. Daryl rested his hand on her belly, glancing at Florence who always stared at him with love in her eyes whenever he'd talk to the baby.

"Hello little bean, this is your father." Florence giggled lightly, not saying anything but watched with a smile as Daryl glanced at her belly. Daryl found it silly but whenever he spoke, the baby would kick at the sound of his voice.

Florence got the same reaction when she'd sing or read, she hoped that the baby would love them both equally and want to be with them both equally. Florence took a deep breath as Daryl continued to talk, stopping once Mason knocked on the door.

"It's time." Daryl nodded, kissing Florence as he left and walked out of their room. Florence was making her medicines again, and Daryl kept getting stuff for her to use to make her things that were useful for everyone in their camp.

Florence was walking around when she stopped walking as she felt her water break, Florence clutched onto a wall, looking around for someone to help her. She stared at the puddle in shock, not ready for what was going to come. 

"Florence!" Beth ran over, looked at Florence and shouted for her father to come and take a look at her.

They got her to the room that they secured for Florence's birth, and she groaned in pain as her body became overwhelmed with the pain she'd be experiencing all day long. Beth rubbed her back, doing what she could to comfort her, Florence refused to get on the bed and refused to be lying down.

Something that she learnt was that when women give birth in movies, most of the time it's not how it actually happens. Florence learnt that a woman shouldn't be lying down with her legs spread, the woman should be squatting or on hands and knees, among other methods as well. It still shocks her now that this is the proper way to deliver a baby.

"I wish Daryl were here." She sobbed, wanting him to be with her and holding her hand as she gave birth to their baby.

"I know Flo, it's gonna be okay, just keep breathing, please," Beth asked, looking at Florence and doing what she could to help move the process alone. Hours passed, and the baby hadn't been born yet but they were getting there and by that time Daryl had come home and was led to Florence by Beth.

"Oh, thank god, you're here." She muttered, Daryl rushed to her side and grabbed her hands. She squeezed them tightly as her body was racked with more pain, she heaved in his arms and shook her head, wishing she was back in the modern world so she could have the pain taken away.

"I got you Florence, I ain't going anywhere." He whispered as he held her tightly, Daryl sang to her, every night she would sing Somewhere Over the Rainbow to the baby and he had learnt the words by hearing her sing, so he sang it to her in order to help calm her down.

The time had come, she had been pushing for what felt like hours and finally, the baby arrived. Florence relaxed in Daryl's arms as the pain slowly drifted away, Daryl could feel Florence weaken in his arms, he carefully sat her down on the chair they had and brushed her hair out of her face, giving her a proud look for what she just went through.

"I'm so proud of you, sunshine." Florence smiled upon hearing the words and nodded tiredly with a small smile as she heard crying coming from their baby. Just as the baby started crying, lightning struck, Daryl chuckled and glanced at Florence as he held her in his arms, watching over her, scared that something could happen if he turned away for too long, Hershel cleaned the baby up and turned to the new parents.

"You've got a baby girl." Florence smiled, glancing at Daryl, smiling as she saw the look in his eyes and turned back to Hershel as he handed her the baby. Florence cradled the baby close to her chest, smiling tiredly, thanking Daryl as he brushed away her tears.

"Hi, baby girl, I'm your mummy. You're so beautiful, yeah you are." Daryl crouched down, staring at the little human that was now his own child, it felt impossible to know that this is where he was now. A father of a beautiful baby and in love with a beautiful woman he couldn't imagine he actually had.

"You wanna hold her?" Florence whispered, Daryl nodded and carefully took the infant from her arms, Daryl rested a kiss on the baby's forehead and smiled at the infant.

"I can't believe you're here." He whispered, cooing at the baby, smiling as he watched this baby staring up at him, Daryl continued to coo at his baby and smiled at her.

Daryl was watching both his child and Florence as Hershel examined the woman who had just gone through an experience he couldn't imagine she'd wanted to go through again in this new world. Hershel looked at Daryl, then back at Florence.

"She's okay and so is your baby. There's no need to worry." Hershel and Beth left them alone, giving them a minute to have some time together. Daryl handed the baby as she reached for the baby, he sat beside her and stroked her hair.

"What do you want to name her?" Daryl whispered, grabbing a towel with water and dabbing it across her skin. He stared at Florence with a smile, staring at her with love in his eyes, his hand ran across his cheek and his fingers traced patterns on her skin.

"This is your job too," she whispered, resting a small kiss on her baby's head and smiling as the baby made a cute sound and relaxed in her arms.

"My job? How 'bout we call her Lightning Bug, seeing as she calls lightning with her cries, then in the mornin' we can name her when you've rested up." He whispered, still caressing her cheek and shaking his head as Florence nodded with a sleepy smile.

"I need to feed her first," Florence whispered tiredly, Daryl nodded continuing to caress her cheek as she breastfed the baby. After the baby pulled away, Florence gave her a little pat on the back, looking exhausted but ready to push through for her little girl.

"Come on, Flo. Let's get you both to bed." Florence nodded carefully standing up with Daryl hovering behind her, he helped her up the stairs, moved into their room and Daryl closed the door behind him, locking it with their key. He pulled the curtain shut, carefully took the baby from Florence's arms and got the baby stuff together.

"You get some sleep, I can get her in her nappy and clothes." Florence nodded, thanking him with a kiss on the cheek and curled onto the bed, burying herself under the covers. Daryl smiled softly, as he watched her get comfortable in the bed, Daryl turned his attention to his little girl and placed her on the changing table that he made, the man got the baby into a nappy and the right clothing before he gently placed her into the crib that was made for her.