„Glenn!" I pulled him back and got us away from the others. I really needed privacy for this one.
"What is it?!" He looked at me curiously. "You look nervous, is something wrong?!" There was honest concern in his voice.
"No..well, yes, I am nervous, but nothing's wrong. Not really. Anyway.." I took a deep breath to brace myself for what I was about to ask. "I need you to get me something."
"Yes, sure, what do you want?"
"I need..." Oh god, I felt so embarrassed to even ask for it, but I got a little injury the other day and Hershel did not allow me to go on a run for a couple of weeks.
"I need a pregnancy test." I felt the blood in my cheeks. It was pretty dark inside the prison but I was sure he could see me blushing anyway.
I heard a deep sigh from Glenn and looked up ready to take his refusal, but the only thing I saw was a big grin on his face. "Why does it always have to be ME!?" he joked patting me on the head. "I'll get it for you. But seriously, why not asking Daryl? I mean, he's the father of that potential baby, isn't he!?"
"Yes, of course he is. But I'm not going to tell him until I'm a hundred percent sure. He's going to freak out, along with everyone else, what actually is the reason why I asked you to get it, but anyway. I don't want him to freak out if in the end there's nothing to freak out about." I smiled apologetically.
"Oh hell yeah, they're so gonna freak out." Glenn was still grinning at me. At least someone who was kinda happy about a potential new pregnancy in our little family. He turned away ready to go on that little mission of his, when I suddenly felt strong arms around my waist.
"Hey Honey, ready to go?!" I asked Daryl whose gentle touch I would recognize among thousands.
"What were you guys talking about?! Looked like serious business", he muttered gently caressing my ear and neck with his lips. I was so glad he couldn't see my face because I was blushing again. "Nothing, really. Just talking about the run. Told him to be careful. You know, the usual."
He murmured something in approval and went on kissing my neck, his hand slowly wandering up my belly towards my breast. He really took me by surprise since he normally was so reserved when others were around.
"What are you doin', Daryl, you need to meet up with the others." I whispered. His strong body felt so warm against my own and I really felt the urge to pull him into our cell with me.
"Dunno, you look so beautiful today, I need everyone to know who you belong to", he whispered under his breath.
"My love, be sure I already told everyone." I giggled and it was true, I was so happy when we finally confessed that I had to tell everyone.
"Daryl, stop that. There're children around and we need to go..now!" Carol was standing in the prison door with a knowing smirk around her lips while she was watching us.
He sighed and kissed me one more time before grabbing his crossbow and following Carol outside.
I nervously wandered the prison until they came back a few hours later. I was standing near the little barn we build for the pigs when I heard the engines roaring in the distance. I instantly recognized the sound of Daryl's bike and ran up to the gates to let them in. Rick was around too helping me to secure the entrance. There were walkers at the fences as always but we managed to keep them from getting in.
"Everythin' alright?!", Rick screamed running up to the others. They looked exhausted but considering the heat and the danger they were in it was not much of a surprise.
It was Daryl who told Rick about their run. He had taken the lead more often lately and I have to admit I was really proud of him. I had a big smile on my face when I too approached the group and gave Daryl a tight welcome-home-hug. He gently stroke my hair and hugged me back while he was still talking to Rick.
"What is it with you guys today!?" Rick looked us over from head to toe, an amused look on his face.
"Guess, we're especially happy today", I grinned and gave Daryl a kiss on his cheek. He hadn't shaved in a while and his stubble was tickling me. All of a sudden the thought of having a baby didn't sound all too scary anymore. What actually reminded me of the fact that I had to go look for Glenn. I needed to know.
Rick looked us over again and rolled his eyes, but I could still see the amusement on his face when he left. I was glad that everyone was so happy for us.
"Is it true?!" I heard Daryl mumbling under his breath.
"Is what true?" I moved in his arms a little bit so that I could look him in the eyes.
"That you're happy."
"Yes, I am. I'm here with you, we're finally safe. I couldn't be happier."
He didn't say anything at first. Did I say something wrong, I wondered. But then a bright smile lit his face and he pulled me even closer to him. "Good to hear", he mumbled.
At this point I couldn't wait any longer. I kissed him one more time before I excused myself and almost ran back into the prison to look for Glenn. My mind was as blank as a canvas as I was searching the prison cells for my partner-in-crime.
"Oh, there you are, I was looking for you!" Glenn was sitting on Beth's bed probably waiting for her and Maggie to return form wherever they went. Anyway, that was none of my business.
"Did you get it?!" I asked eagerly.
"Yeah, I did. Man, getting this little thing outta there without anyone noticing was harder than expected. Daryl's like a watch-dog. Nothin' gets past him."
"But you did it?!" I was at the verge of a nervous break-down at this point. Thank god Glenn started grinning and handed me over the little thing I was so eager to get.
"Sure I did. I'm the best after all!"
"Thank you so much, Glenn. I gotta go", I turned on the spot and hurried towards the toilets. The absurdity of the whole situation crossed me for a second, but I was too anxious and excited to really mind.
Fortunately I didn't come across any obstacles on my way to the toilets. The three minutes I had to wait for the result to show felt like an eternity. My mind went crazy while I was staring out the window counting the seconds. When I finally looked down on the little stick I couldn't believe my eyes. Pregnant. Fortunately Glenn brought more than one test, so I peed on another one and then on another one, but the result was always the same.
I was pregnant.

There was a new life growing inside of me. I had expected this to happen when I asked Glenn to get me the test and I thought I was prepared, but I was so wrong. I was far away from being prepared to fully embrace the thought of being a mother. Especially in a world like this. Not sure what to do and whom to tell I wandered the prison once again until finally I ran into Daryl. Of all the people in this prison it had to be him.
"You look pale. Somethin's wrong?" He examined me closely. His blue eyes sharp as daggers. I had to look down, but I guess there was no denying it. Things were probably as wrong as they could be and he saw it in my eyes. So I could just as well try to tell him.
"Have you ever thought about having a child?"
He looked at me in confusion. "No, never. Why?"
Tears were dwelling up in my eyes. I know he would say "no", but his words still felt like I was stabbed.
"I'm pregnant!" I blurted out right before my knees went weak and I was about to collapse to the floor. He caught me in his strong arms holding me tight with one hand on my back, the other gently caressing my hair.
"You ain't lyin' 'bout that, are ya?!" His voice was trembling. Just slightly but I could hear it nevertheless.
"I'm not lying!" I cried out desperately burying my face in his chest. "Daryl, what are we gonna do? I'm so scared."
He took a deep breath before he spoke, his voice merely a whisper. "I can't lose ya."
Silence fell upon us and it felt like hours until I finally found the courage to say something.
I considered every word carefully: "Considering our current situation we might be able to handle this. I know, we thought so before and what happened to Lori was tragic... but I don't want to be afraid of living. I don't want to kill the child I always wanted to have." Tears were still running down my cheeks when I looked up at the man I loved, the man whose child I carried within me. Daryl slowly kissed my tears away never taking his eyes off me. I desperately needed him to say something but I knew I had to let him consider the situation at his own pace. I closed my eyes, gave in to the feeling of him gently caressing my face.
"What if the same thing that happened to Lori happens to you as well?", he whispered into my ear, his voice barely audible. His body was shaking. Was he crying?
"What if it doesn't?!" My face was still buried at his now trembling chest. "I know this wasn't planned, but we'll make it work", I mumbled and felt him nodding against my head. "We have Dr. S. now, right!?"
Yes, we had a doctor amongst us now. We could be a family. I never planned it that way but things were different now and we had to make the best out of it. "Should we go see him now?!"
I slipped out of his embrace and headed straight for his cell when Daryl suddenly grabbed my arm and pulled me back. His kiss was soft but demanding. "I love you, I always will", he muttered under his breath and hand in hand we walked to Caleb's cell to ask him to examine our unborn child.
On our way to the doc's cell Glenn nearly bumped into us. Apparently Maggie and Beth still haven't returned and he seemed a little concerned about their whereabouts. However, when he saw us walking hand in hand his eyes lit up with excitement. His honest reaction truly warmed my heart.
"So you are having a baby!" He smiled brightly and hugged me. "Congrats to the both of you." He was about to leave the cell block to look for his wife and her sister when he turned around again: "And don't worry, it's gonna be okay.", he screamed and waved at us still a big smile on his face.
"You told him before me?!" Daryl sounded a little disappointed. If I had known how he felt about this situation I would have asked him, but I didn't.
"Yah, I had to ask someone to get me a pregnancy test and I didn't want you to freak out about it."
He snorted in a huff. "You're my girl, you should have asked me." I looked up at him and couldn't believe my eyes: Daryl Dixon was pouting. I squeezed his hand and smiled to myself. "I wanted to be sure before telling you. I didn't know getting me the test was so important to you."
"Now you know. Just, don't leave me out on this one. You know my family..."
"We are not going to be anything like your family." I stopped to look him in the eyes. "We are going to be ourselves and we're going to be just fine, you hear me?!" I planted a quick kiss on his lips and dragged him with him down the cell block towards Caleb's little room. I think I heard Daryl chuckle behind me, but it was too quiet to be sure.
Caleb was sitting on his bed reading a book when we reached his cell.
"Hey, Dr. S.", I smiled at him nervously.
"Hello you two. How can I help you?" Caleb smiled back at us.
"We..how do I put this..." I really didn't know how to start. "I need your help." I felt myself blushing like hell and as I looked up at Daryl for support I noticed he wasn't really better off at this moment. His cheeks were blushing too and he stared straight at the wall without even blinking. This whole thing made us both feel really awkward already. And the worst thing, Caleb did not understand. He rushed towards me, checking my temperature, asking me all these things before I even had time to explain what was going on. But in the end expecting a baby really was not something someone would expect in a situation like this. With the whole apocalypse thing going on.
"Dr. S, no, I'm fine, I swear."
"Then, what is it you need me for?!" He looked at me in surprise.
I heard Daryl clearing his throat. "She's having a baby", he mumbled and Dr. S. looked at us in pure shock, but snapped back just a second later.
"Well", he gave a slight cough, "Come on in and let me see what I can do."
I lay down on his prison bed not letting go of Daryl's hand for even a second while the doctor tried his best with what he was given.
He stood up after a while and looked us both over. "Everything seems fine as far as I can tell. But regarding the circumstances there's really not that much I can say now. I guess you're about three months pregnant now, but that really is no more than a guess. We have to wait and see."
"Thanks, doc." Daryl helped me get up and embraced me tightly.
"We should probably tell the others", I mumbled against his chest.
"Tomorrow." He kissed me softly. "Tonight you're all mine."
I chuckled. Yes, there was plenty of time for us to tell everyone.
"Then, let's go." I winked at him playfully. A slight squeak escaped my lips when Daryl suddenly lifted me up and carried me back to our cell. Maybe our future wasn't all too dark after all.