Visitors

Daryl’s POV

The room was quiet, ‘cept for the soft little breaths comin’ from the tiny thing in my arms. I rocked her slow, lettin’ my fingers trace over her little hand, marvelin’ at how damn small she was. Barely bigger’n a squirrel, but warm, alive, real. My girl. Briar Dixon.

Ath was curled up in bed, sleepin’ off everythin’ her body just went through. She looked peaceful, exhausted but beautiful as ever. I couldn’t take my eyes off either of ‘em. Didn’t think I ever would.

A soft knock on the door pulled me outta my thoughts. I turned my head, careful not to jostle the baby.

“Come in,” I said low, not wantin’ to wake Ath.

The door eased open, and there stood Carol. She was still in her work gear, hair stickin' up, eyes already glistenin’. I barely had time to take in the sight of her before she crossed the room, hands reachin’ for my face as she kissed my forehead.

She pulled back, her eyes searchin’ mine. “Oh, Daryl…” she whispered, voice thick.

I felt my throat tighten. “Hey.”

She let out a soft, watery laugh, eyes flickerin’ down to the bundle in my arms. “I heard,” she said, takin’ a slow breath. “I came from the bridge as soon as I could.”

I glanced down at the little one, then back up. “Meet Briar Dixon.”

Her face crumpled, a mix of joy and somethin’ deeper, heavier. “Briar,” she repeated, voice barely above a whisper. She reached out, careful as ever, her fingers ghostin’ over Briar’s tiny hand. “She’s beautiful, Daryl.”

I swallowed hard, shiftin’ Briar just a little so she could get a better look. “Yeah… she is.”

Carol sniffed, wipin’ at her cheek. “She got a middle name?”

I hesitated, heart beatin’ hard in my chest. “Yeah,” I said finally, liftin’ my gaze to hers. “Sophia. If that’s okay.”

Her lips parted, breath catchin’ in her throat. She blinked, and more tears fell, but she smiled through ‘em. Shaky, but real. “Daryl…” She covered her mouth for a second, tryin’ to pull herself together. Then she reached out, touchin’ my arm, squeezin’ tight. “It’s more than okay.”

A lump formed in my throat, but I just nodded. Didn’t trust myself to say much else.

Carol pulled herself together quick, brushin’ her fingers over Briar’s tiny dark hair. “You’re a dad,” she murmured, lookin’ up at me with those damn watery eyes again. “I always wanted this for you.”

I huffed, shiftin’ on my feet ‘n’ glancin’ over at my wife. “I didn’t... Not until I met her.”

She gave me a look, tiltin’ her head. “You’re going to be fantastic parents.”

I let out a breath, starin’ down at my daughter, who was still nestled up against my chest, sleepin’ without a care in the world. “Still don’t feel real,” I admitted, voice lower. “Got a wife like her…" Now a kid the two of us made?” I shook my head, glancin’ toward Ath again as she slept. “Never thought I’d have this.”

Carol’s face softened, her hand pressin’ against my arm again. “You deserve this, Daryl. All of it. A wife who loves you, a daughter who’s gonna adore you.”

I sighed, rubbin’ my thumb over Briar’s back. “She’s strong, Carol - Ath. Went through hell bringin’ her into this world.” I looked at my wife yet again, my chest gettin’ tight. “Ain’t never been prouder of nobody in my life.”

Carol smiled, noddin’ slowly. “And now you get to take care of her, just like she takes care of you.” She wiped at another tear, her voice warm. “You’re gonna be amazing at this, Daryl. I know it.”

I swallowed hard, lettin’ the weight of her words settle. For the first time, maybe I believed it just a little.

Carol reached out again, brushin’ her fingers over Briar’s tiny cheek. “Welcome to the world, Briar Sophia Dixon,” she whispered. Then she met my eyes again, squeezin’ my arm. “And welcome to fatherhood, Daryl.”

I huffed a small laugh, shakin’ my head. “Reckon I got a lot to learn.”

She grinned, wipin’ at her face again. “You’ll figure it out.”

I looked down at my daughter, heart near to burstin’. Yeah. I would.

Carol kept snifflin’, then looked at my little girl again. “Can I hold her?”

I nodded, shiftin’ careful to pass Briar into her arms. Carol cradled her like she was the most fragile thing in the world, like she was holdin’ somethin’ she never thought she’d touch again.

“She’s perfect,” she murmured, runnin’ a gentle finger along Briar’s soft cheek.

I watched ‘em together - my child ‘n’ my best friend - somethin’ swellin’ in my chest so big I thought it’d crack me open.

“Gonna need a badass godmother,” I said, real low, real sure.

Carol’s eyes snapped up to mine, brows raisin’ in surprise.

I smirked. “Me ‘n’ Ath already talked. Ain’t nobody else we’d want.”

Carol’s breath hitched, her whole face crumblin’ again, but this time it was the good kind of cryin’. The kind that healed instead of hurt. She let out a wet laugh, shakin’ her head like she couldn’t believe it. “You sure?” she whispered.

I nodded. “Damn right.”

She let out another laugh, soft and disbelievin’, then pressed a gentle kiss to Briar’s forehead. “Then I’d be honored.”

I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holdin’, leanin’ back against the chair, feelin’ lighter than I had in a long damn time. I watched Carol holdin' my daughter, looked at my wife sleepin’ peacefully in the bed. It all still felt so unreal. So perfect.

~

It didn’t take long after Carol left for the door to creak open again, ‘n’ I didn’t even need to look up to know it was Merle. Man never did learn to walk quiet.

I expected when I saw Carol that he’d have come with her from the bridge. I was surprised he'd actually let her come in first.

“Well, I’ll be damned.” His voice was gruff, but there was somethin’ real soft under it. “Never thought I’d see the day, baby brother.”

I snorted, but I didn’t look away from Briar. “Nah. Me neither.”

Merle stepped closer, leanin’ over just enough to peek at her. “She’s a Dixon, alright. Got your eyes.” His gaze flicked up to me, smirkin’. “Poor kid.”

“Shut up,” I muttered, but there wasn’t no real bite to it.

Merle sat himself down on the edge of the bed, arms crossed. “Heard it was a helluva time gettin’ her here.”

I let out a slow breath. “Yeah. Was rough. Walkers. Thought for sure…” I stopped, throat tight, ‘cause I couldn’t even say it. Couldn’t think about what coulda happened.

Merle nodded, real slow. “But she’s here. And Athena’s good?”

“Yeah,” I said, eyes flickin’ to where Ath was still sleepin’. “She’s a warrior.”

“Damn straight.” Merle was quiet for a beat, then cleared his throat. “Well, lemme hold my niece then.”

I hesitated. Weren’t nothin’ against Merle, just… hard lettin’ go of her again. But I shifted forward, carefully handin’ her over. “Support her head.”

He scoffed. “Ain’t my first time holdin’ a baby, dumbass.” But his hands were careful, gentle, like he was holdin’ somethin’ made of glass. “Damn,” he muttered, lookin’ down at her. “She’s somethin’ else.”

I nodded, watchin’ ‘em. “Mhmh.”

Merle sat there, starin’ at her with this look I ain’t never seen on him before. “Remember when we were kids? Didn’t have nothin’ but each other?”

I swallowed hard, shiftin’ in my seat. We never talked ‘bout it. “Yeah.”

“Mean son of a bitch our old man.” His voice was quiet, like he didn’t really mean to say it out loud. “Didn’t do us no favors.”

I clenched my jaw. “I know.”

Merle glanced up at me, eyes serious now. “Ya ain’t him, Daryl. Yur gonna be a hell of a dad.”

Didn’t know what to say to that, so I just nodded. “Ain’t gonna let her feel like we did. Not ever.”

Merle smirked, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Damn right, you won’t.”

Briar started to fuss then, little whimpers turnin’ into cries. My chest tightened instantly, but before I could reach for her, Ath stirred, blinkin’ up at us.

She squinted at Merle. “Erm... hello?”

He snorted. “Hey Sis. Had to meet my niece.”

I sat down beside Ath as she stretched, sittin’ up against the pillows. “Carol was here too,” I told her. “She’s stayin’ till mornin’.”

Ath smiled sleepily, then reached for Briar. “Come here, baby.”

Merle handed her over, real careful, and I watched as Ath got her settled, lettin’ her latch on. She let out this soft sigh, brushin’ a hand over Briar’s tiny head.

"How ya feelin'?" I asked her.

She glanced at me, smilin’ a little. “I feel good, actually. Better now.”

I wrapped an arm around her, pullin’ her in close, my girls safe in my arms. “Good.”

"Did you ask him already?"

I shook my head.

"Merle," Ath said. "We want you to be her godfather."

Merle's jaw actually dropped.

Me 'n' Ath both laughed.

"Me?" He asked in disbelief.

"Yes. You." She confirmed. "Say yes, then..."

"Uh, yeah. Yeah. Of course."

"Don't mean I don't still think yur an idiot." I teased.

Merle just shook his head, smirkin’. “Never thought I’d see the day,” he muttered again. “Daryl Dixon, family man.”

I snorted, but I didn’t argue. ‘Cause he was right.

~

Briar woke up a lot durin’ the night and there wasn’t much I could do ‘cept hold her ‘n’ watch Ath feed her. It was the only thing that settled her down. I kept thinkin’ there had to be somethin’ more I could do for ‘em. I’d heard of them pump things, thought maybe that could help Ath get a bit more rest. I ain’t sure how they work, but if it meant takin’ some of the load off her, hell, I’d find a way to make it happen.

“How ya feelin’?”  I asked Ath as she stirred against me.

“Tired.” She breathed quietly. “But I’m good.” She brushed my hair from my face, lookin’ at me in that way she does that makes me feel like I’m the only damn man on the planet. “Are you?”

“Never been better”

I leant forward and kissed the top of her head, just a soft, lingering touch of my lips against her hair, breathin’ her in. But I needed more than that. I needed her to feel how damn proud I was of her, how grateful I was that she brought Briar into this world, how much I loved her - every damn part of her.

I lowered my face to hers, and without hesitatin’, I started kissin’ her - deep and slow. It was like all the feelings I'd been havin’ came pourin’ out, one kiss at a time. I could taste the sweetness of her lips, the way they molded perfectly against mine, and it felt like I was takin’ in everything I had ever wanted. Her warmth, her strength, that softness that made me feel like I’d found a piece of myself I didn’t even know was missin’.

She kissed me back, her hands findin’ their way up to my face, touchin’ me the same way I was touchin’ her. Her fingers traced the lines of my jaw, my neck, like she was tryin’ to feel all of me the way I was tryin’ to feel all of her.

When I pulled back, I looked at her - really looked at her. She was breathless, her chest risin' 'n’ fallin’ as if she was just as lost in that kiss as I was. 'N' damn, I couldn’t help but smile.

“Ya got no idea,” I whispered, my voice a little rough from all the emotions I couldn’t hold back, “how much I love ya, Ath. How proud I am of ya.”

She just smiled at me, all soft and sleepy but full of love. “I think I have an idea,” she murmured, her fingers still runnin’ over my skin.

I kissed her again, this time a little softer, just to remind her - remind myself - that this moment, right here, was everythin’. She brought me Briar. She brought me a family. And I wasn’t gonna let a single damn moment go by without showin’ her just how much that meant to me.

We didn’t let go of each other again until our little girl started fussin’. Ath lifted her from the bassinet Jesus found us and let her latch on. My baby girl sure did like to eat. I pulled Ath back in close to me as she fed her, still marvellin’ in how natural she was takin’ to it.

I took Briar when she was finished feedin’, holdin’ her against my shoulder ‘n’ burpin’ her. Ath found it hilarious when she spat up all over my back.

“Dunno what yur laughin’ at.” I teased. “S’yur milk she’s wastin’.”

“Touche.” Ath giggled.

I'd just taken Briar back into my arms after cleanin’ up the sick and pullin’ on a shirt when there was a knock at the door.

“Morning,” Maggie’s voice called.

She opened the door, and I saw her with her own kid in her arms. Glenn was right behind her, lookin’ all proud, carryin’ breakfast for us. Hershel was a couple months old now. I hadn’t seen him yet, but here he was, all cuddled up in Maggie’s arms.

I couldn’t help but grin at the sight of him. “Hershel Rhee” I said softly.

Maggie set Hershel down on the bed and took Briar from my arms without even askin’. She looked down at her, her eyes full of warmth. “Aww, look at her,” Maggie cooed. “She’s gorgeous.”

Ath, still lookin’ a little tired, but so damn happy, reached out for Hershel. “Look at you,” she said, her voice rough from all the feedin’ last night. “Can’t believe I’m only just meeting him.”

I was watchin’ the two of ‘em - Ath ‘n’ Maggie - holdin’ each others babies, and it hit me then just how much things'd changed. How much I’d changed.

Glenn looked over at me, chucklin’ under his breath. “You ever think you’d be here, man?”

I shook my head, still watchin’ Ath ‘n’ Maggie. “Still don't feel real.”

He slapped me on the back, a good-natured grin on his face. “But it is real. And it’s good, right?”

I nodded, a small smile creasin’ my face. “Yeah, real good.”

A/N: Thank you for reading! ❤️