Looking Ahead

We watched the sunset through the trees as we sat by the waterfall, the waning light casting a hazy glow over the rushing water. Daryl had barely let go of my hand since I told him, his thumb tracing slow circles against my skin. The tiny vest lay beside us on the blanket, a constant reminder that this wasn’t some dream I’d wake up from.

“How’d ya know?” he asked, his voice gentle, like he was still trying to make sense of it all.

I smiled softly, leaning my head against his shoulder. “I was more tired than usual, have been for ages to be honest, but even more so recently. At first, I just thought it was from everything going on with the rebuilding. But then my period never came... They've been unpredictable for a while, but this time it didn't come at all.”

He nodded, his brow furrowing like he was already running through every memory of the past few weeks. “When did ya… Check?”

“A couple of days ago,” I said. “I swiped a test from the infirmary. Did it while you were out.”

His lips twitched into a faint grin. “‘N’ it was positive...”

“Clear as day.” I laughed softly, remembering the disbelief that had hit me like a wave. “I just stood there, staring at it. Didn’t know whether to cry or throw up.”

He smirked, squeezing my hand. “Yeah. Can imagine ya throwin’ up.”

I nudged him playfully, though the shine in his eyes made my heart flutter. “I wanted to tell you right away, but I thought waiting until we came here would be special.”

He brushed a stray strand of hair from my face, his touch lingering. “It is.”

We sat there, the sound of the waterfall mingling with the breeze. Every so often, he’d glance down at the tiny vest, still not quite believing it. Honestly, neither could I. But for the first time in a long time, the future didn’t feel so uncertain.

And that night, as we climbed into the cabin’s bed together, full from the possum Daryl had caught and cooked, he pulled me close, his voice low and full of wonder.

“Still can’t believe it.”

I smiled softly, running my fingers through the strands of his hair. “Me neither.”

His hand slid up to rest just below my ribs, his thumb brushing absently across my stomach. “Never thought I’d have this... A wife. A kid.”

I turned to face him, my heart swelling. He’d lived most of his life expecting nothing more than survival. And now, here he was - starting a family with me. I reached out, cupping his face gently, running my thumb over the stubble along his jawline.

“Well it’s happening.” I paused, my head tilting. “You’ve said stuff like that before, but you’ve never fully told me why...”

He gave a half-hearted shrug. “People who grew up like I did. People who… messed up. Thought I’d just keep goin’, keep survivin’. That’d be it.”

“Everyone’s messed up in the past... doesn’t mean you aren’t an amazing husband, won’t be an incredible dad.”

He smiled, and we laid in comfortable silence for a while before. I let out a breath. “I really didn’t think I wanted it,” I admitted. “Not before.”

He frowned slightly. “Before we lost one?”

I swallowed, the ache creeping in, but it wasn’t the unbearable kind. Not anymore. “Yeah,” I sighed. “I didn’t think I wanted to be a mom. But knowing we'd made something together, and then it was gone… it changed everything. I realized I did want it. I wanted us to have that.”

He blinked, his hand brushing through my hair. The weight of my words settled between us. I could see the rawness in his eyes, a mixture of sadness, hope, and love. He kissed my forehead softly, as if trying to wipe away the pain, but I knew he was feeling it too.

He took a deep breath as if collecting himself. “I didn’t know what I wanted before I found ya,” he admitted. “‘N’ then after ya married me, I couldn’t stop thinkin’ ‘bout what it would be like, havin a kid with ya... but then ya said ya didn’t want that, ‘n’ ya were enough for me without it... I didn’t need it... but now... I feel like the luckiest damn man on the planet.”

I smiled softly, curling closer to him, resting my head on his chest. “We are lucky,” I whispered.

We stayed there, his hand resting on my stomach, a touch that made my heart flutter as we lay in silence, enjoying the soothing rumble of the falls outside.

Until, after a while, Daryl’s breath deepened, and I felt him shift against me. I looked up to find him watching me, his gaze tender but laced with something more intense - something protective but full of the same love he always had for me. He pulled me even closer, his lips hovering near mine.

“I love ya, Ath,” he breathed. “More than I ever thought I could.”

“I love you too,” I replied, my hands tracing the lines of his body, feeling the steady rhythm of his heart.

And in that moment, as he kissed me softly, the world outside felt miles away. The touch of his lips was gentle, more reverent than ever, as if he was savoring the sweetness of the moment - of us, what I carried inside me - and I could feel the weight of everything we had shared in that kiss. His hands moved over me with a tenderness that made my chest tighten. He wasn’t rushing, not trying to overwhelm me, but taking his time, as though every inch of me was something sacred, something to be cherished. I could feel the warmth of his palms as they traced the curve of my body, slowing more whenever they neared my stomach.

In the soft glow of the cabin’s dim light, our hearts beat in sync, the rhythm slow and steady.  Despite everything we’d been through - despite the violence, the loss, the heartbreak - we had this. And it was more than just the physical connection between us. It was the unspoken promise that no matter how dark things had been or could be in the future, we were standing together now, stronger than ever, embarking on our next chapter.

I could feel his love surrounding me, embracing me in ways words could never fully capture. It wasn’t just the gentle caress of his hands or the softness of his lips, though they both made my heart race in ways that felt like they could fill a lifetime. It was in the way he held me close, as if he was afraid that if he let go, the world would come crashing in again, that everything we’d built would disappear.

I wasn’t going anywhere. I wasn’t leaving him, and I could feel that reaffirmation settling deep within him as our bodies moved together - slow, tender, the way you hold onto something precious, something you can’t afford to lose. His touch, every brush of his skin against mine, felt like it was drawing us closer, making our souls intertwine in a way that felt almost beyond time. And it wasn’t just about the physicality of the moment. It was the promise - the beautiful, hopeful future we would share - that made this feel more significant than anything we’d ever experienced.

We were no longer just surviving; we were living. We were building something, not out of desperation or fear, but from the strength we had in each other. And it was a strength I could feel in every fiber of my being, every breath we shared. We were more than the hardship we had endured. We had something new now. Something beautiful. A future. Our future.

I could hear his breath hitch, feel his pulse quickenin as our releases stretched between us, and I knew - we knew - that this wasn’t just a fleeting moment of passion. This was us. This was the start of everything we’d dreamed of, everything we’d fought for. A future that would be full of love, laughter, and challenges, but challenges we would face together.

~

We spent the next couple of days enjoying the peacefulness of the cabin, enveloped in a bubble of happiness about our growing family.

As we packed up, readying to leave, I took a moment to stand by the waterfall, feeling the stray droplets of water that landed on my skin. It had been the perfect getaway, a peaceful respite that I knew we’d both carry with us for a long time. The thought of leaving it behind left a tinge of sadness in my chest, but the life awaiting us back home now felt more exciting than ever.

I took one last look at the fall, the mist rising into the cool morning air, then Daryl loaded the last of our things onto the motorcycle,

I knew that things wouldn’t be the same when we got back. Daryl wasn’t going to let me lift a finger with the rebuilding. He’d wrap me in cotton wool, and, honestly, I didn’t mind. After everything we’d been through, it was nice to know he’d want to take care of me. A part of me would miss feeling like I was part of the action, but it didn’t matter. We were building something different, something far more important.

Daryl swung his leg over the bike and glanced back at me, his gaze soft, a small smile tugging at his lips. He looked happy. He looked... different. His expression held a mix of excitement and something deeper, something that felt like a quiet kind of peace.

After we’d been on the road a while, I began to notice the landscape change, but it didn’t feel like we were heading in the right direction. My brow furrowed in confusion.

“Daryl?” I called over the hum of the engine.

He glanced back at me, his eyes glinting with a mischievous spark. “Yeah?”

“We’re not heading back to Alexandria,” I said, a question hanging in my voice.

He hesitated for a moment before he spoke, his voice calm but purposeful. “We’re goin’ to Hilltop.”

My heart skipped a beat at the mention of Hilltop. I knew exactly why we were going there.

“I wanna see our baby on that machine,” he continued, his tone soft but filled with a quiet intensity that made my heart swell.

I smiled softly, the weight of his words settling over me. He wanted to see the baby in a way that felt more tangible, more certain. And I couldn’t blame him. The idea of seeing that little life, growing inside me, would be beautiful. Only, I wasn’t sure if I was far enough along yet.

“That okay?” he asked, his voice a little unsure now.

I nodded, reaching out to touch his arm. “Of course it is, but don’t freak out if we can't see anything yet... it’s still early.”

“M’kay.” He promised. “Wanna make sure you’re alright, too.”

I smiled into his back. It wasn’t just about the baby. He needed to know I was doing okay.

~

As we rolled into the Hilltop, the familiar landscape stretched out before us, the cluster of buildings and the lush, rolling green fields that surrounded the community. Daryl slowed the bike and brought it to a stop just inside the gates, his boots hitting the ground with a soft thud as he dismounted, then hauled me gently off the bike, brushing dust from my jeans.

He leaned toward me, his lips brushing my ear. “We don’t have to tell anyone yet if you’re not ready. Just Siddiq so he can scan ya.” His voice was soft, but his concern was clear.

I could feel the love in his words, the weight of how much he cared about how I felt in this moment. But I smiled, squeezing his hand, and shook my head.

“I’m ready,” I whispered back. “I want them to know. I want everyone to know.”

His shoulders relaxed at my words, the relief so palpable I could almost feel it radiating off him. But even so, as we stood there, the moment felt bigger than we could’ve expected.

We’d barely made it two steps before I saw a figure moving toward us - a now heavily pregnant Maggie, her belly round and beautiful with the life she was carrying. Her face furrowed when she spotted us, and Glenn followed behind her, his eyes wide with surprise.

Maggie’s gaze moved from me to Daryl, her eyes scanning us both, no doubt wondering what had brought us here.

“Everything alright?” Glenn asked as they’d almost reached us.

Daryl shifted, moving closer to me as, “You wanna tell ‘em?” he mumbled.

I chuckled, knowing how much this moment meant to him. “No. You can tell them.”

He didn’t hesitate. He turned back to Glenn and Maggie, his voice suddenly louder, almost booming with excitement. “We’ve got somethin’ to tell ya!”

Maggie raised an eyebrow, clearly confused. “What’s goin’ on?” she asked, stepping closer. Glenn looked just as puzzled, his gaze moving between the two of us.

Daryl’s grin stretched wide, his excitement clear now. He put a hand on my back, guiding me forward a little. “We’re havin’ a kid,” he said, his voice full of awe, as if he still couldn’t quite believe it himself.

For a second, there was a stunned silence. Then Maggie’s eyes went wide, and her hand instinctively went to her own belly, her smile breaking out like the sun after a storm.

“You’re pregnant?” she asked, her voice full of disbelief and joy.

I nodded, feeling the weight of the moment. “Yeah. Just found out a couple of days ago.”

Glenn blinked, his expression changing from surprise to something else entirely - happiness. He stepped forward, wrapping Daryl in a tight hug. “That’s incredible, man!” he said. “Congratulations!”

Maggie reached for me, pulling me into a warm, tight hug, careful not to press her belly against mine too much. “I’m so happy for you both,” she said.

Daryl stood a little off to the side, his grin still wide, clearly overwhelmed by the joy of sharing this with them.

“Thank you,” I said, feeling my own eyes start to mist over as I held Maggie’s embrace.

When we pulled apart, Daryl’s energy shifted. “You’re not the only ones who’re gonna hear the news,” he said, a little too excited, and I could see the way he was trying to hold back from practically bursting.

He turned, looking for the next person to share our news with. “Jesus!” he called out, spotting him across the yard. “Get over here!”

Within moments, Daryl had tracked down Jesus, Tara, and then practically everyone else we knew. He couldn’t hold it in any longer. Each time he shared the news, there was a mixture of shock, joy, and excitement that seemed to ripple through the people around us, and with every new reaction, I could feel my own heart swell.

Jesus grinned ear to ear when Daryl told him, clapping him on the back. “That’s awesome, man!” he said, his voice full of genuine excitement.

Tara was next, her eyes lighting up when she heard, and she came over to give me a big hug. “Congratulations! Rather you than me.” She chuckled.

Soon, the entire Hilltop seemed to know. I couldn’t help but laugh, seeing how Daryl got carried away, sharing our news with everyone he saw - whether it was our family, familiar faces from the community, or even people who were passing through. The energy was contagious.

I glanced at Daryl as we stood there, surrounded by some of our friends and people who would be part of this new chapter in our lives. His smile was so wide, so proud, and it filled me with such an overwhelming sense of joy that I knew there was no one else I’d rather be standing here with.

He caught my gaze, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “M’sorry. Wanted ‘em all to know,” he said, his voice softer now, just for me. “You can tell everyone back home.”

I leaned into him, resting my head on his shoulder. “I don’t mind,” I laughed, my heart so full it almost felt like it might burst.

We made our way toward the medical trailer, the excitement still buzzing between us like static electricity. I felt lighter, happier than I had in a long time. Daryl’s hand was firmly resting on the small of my back, his steps just as eager as mine.

When we stepped inside, we found Siddiq and Enid working together. Siddiq was standing at one of the counters, organizing medical supplies, while Enid was behind a desk, her face buried in a medical book. Siddiq’s eyes lifted when he saw us, and his expression softened into a warm smile.

“Daryl, Athena,” he greeted us, his voice calm and steady as usual. Enid looked up at the sound of our footsteps and gave us a quick wave, her face lighting up when she saw us.

“Hey! What brings you guys here?” Enid asked, her tone friendly and curious as she moved to embrace me.

“We’ve got news,” Daryl said yet again, the excitement in his voice still betraying his usual rough exterior. He glanced over at me, a proud grin crossing his face before he continued. “Ath’s pregnant.”

The words hung in the air for a moment, and Siddiq’s expression shifted to one of genuine surprise, his brows raising just a fraction. Enid’s eyes went wide, and her lips curled into an immediate, delighted smile.

“That’s amazing!” she said, her voice filled with joy. “I’m so happy for you both!”

Siddiq stepped forward, his gaze shifting between us. “That’s wonderful news,” he said, his tone sincere, though there was a hint of something else, maybe a little bit of the medical curiosity that came with his profession. “How far along are you?”

“I think a few weeks,” I replied softly, still a little amazed that it was real. “Just found out a few days ago.”

Daryl glanced over at me, his hand still resting on my back, the touch protective but tender. “We wanna see the baby,” he said.

Siddiq nodded quickly, clearly eager to help. “Of course,” he said, his voice calm and reassuring. “Let me just get the ultrasound machine set up. I’m sure Dr. Carson’s equipment is still in good shape.”

Enid, standing next to him, looked up at Siddiq and smiled. “Siddiq’s training me to be a doctor,” She said, a note of pride in her voice. “So if you need any help, I’m your girl.”

Siddiq shot Enid a quick look, his smile soft and proud. “She’s learning quickly,” he said, though his tone was modest. “We’ll get you all set up.”

Daryl and I exchanged a glance before he nodded. “Thanks, doc,” he said, his voice softening again.

Enid led the way to the back of the medical trailer, where an ultrasound machine sat in the corner. It looked old but functional. I swallowed, feeling the weight of the moment. This was the first step, seeing our baby on that screen.

I climbed onto the examination table, a little nervous but mostly excited. Daryl stood beside me, his hand never leaving my shoulder as I settled in. He looked over at Enid, who was adjusting the machine.

"This what they used with Maggie?" Daryl asked, his voice low.

Enid nodded, her fingers quickly moving over the buttons and dials. "Yeah, this was Dr. Carson’s machine. It works just fine."

Siddiq was preparing the gel, his face focused as he spoke. “This might feel a little cold,” he said, a small smile on his face as he squirted the gel onto my stomach.

I flinched slightly at the coolness of the gel, but Daryl’s hand squeezed mine comfortingly. I could feel his gaze on me, steady and reassuring.

“Ready?” Siddiq asked, glancing up at me.

I nodded, taking a deep breath as I tried to settle my nerves. This was real. This was happening.

Siddiq moved the ultrasound probe over my stomach, and for a moment, it felt like everything had slowed down. The sound of the machine, the quiet buzz of the room, it all blended together as we waited.

And then there it was - on the screen, clear as day, unmistakeably a baby with a strong, beating heartbeat.

I let out a shaky breath, my own heart beating a little faster. “It’s really there...” I started, not sure if I could believe my eyes.

“Yeah... that’s the baby,” Siddiq said, his voicer suddenly more tense. “How far along did you say you thought you were?” He clicked something a few times, counting in his head. “A few weeks?”

“Yeah.” I replied, not liking the way his brow furrowed.

“She okay?” Daryl asked quickly, his tone sharp. “The baby okay?”

Siddiq didn’t reply straight away. Daryl and I glanced at each other, my stomach sinking. His grip on my hand tightened at the same time Enid gently took my other hand. She looked concerned now, too, which worried me more.

“Doc?” Daryl pressed, more impatiently. “C’mon.”

“Everything’s fine.” He finally said, allowing Daryl and I to release the breath we’d both been holding.

“It’s just...” Siddiq continued. “You’re not a few weeks along.”

Daryl’s grip on my hand tightened again as he leaned in closer, his eyes glued to the screen. “What?”

“Athena,” Siddiq said, his face etched with what looked like disbelief. “I’d say that baby’s been in there about five months.”

“What!?” Daryl and I exclaimed in unison, which would have been comical had the situation not been blowing my mind so much.

Siddiq let out chuckle of relief. “I don’t know what to tell you. You’re around five months pregnant.”

What.

The.

Fuck!?

The room was silent for a solid ten seconds.

“Maybe it's a giant..?” I whispered, desperately trying to use humor to mask my shock. Daryl still hadn’t blinked.

“No giant.” Siddiq confirmed. “Just a healthy, strong baby.”

“It can’t be!” I protested, finding it hard to catch my breath. “I don’t have a bump, I’ve had periods... You’re wrong!”

Daryl was still doing his best impression of a statue.

“Athena. I’m not wrong.” Siddiq insisted. “It’s unusual, but not impossible not to show until the third trimester. It’s sometimes referred to as a cryptic pregnancy - it can be due to strong stomach muscles, but most likely the position of your uterus.”

Daryl finally came back into his body. “Somethin’s wrong with her uterus!?”

“Not wrong - it’s just different.”

“And the bleeding?” Enid asked.

“Could be a bunch of different things... Cervical Polyps, Subchorionic Hematoma, Uterine Wall Bleeding, hormones... all usually harmless - and all not that uncommon in a Cryptic Pregnancy...”

“I think I’m gonna throw up.” I blurted out. Enid handed me a bucket, but I didn’t end up using it.

“We’ll give you guys a moment,” Siddiq said, gesturing to Enid to follow him.

They quietly stepped back, giving us the space we needed. Enid glanced at us with a soft smile before turning to Siddiq, talking about a few things they needed to attend to. But Daryl and I, we were caught up in the moment, our attention solely on the image of our future - the much larger baby than we’d expected.

We stayed there, watching in silence, letting the reality of the moment settle in. Our child. Growing. Alive. But much bigger than we’d imagined.

Daryl looked between the monitor and me. His voice was barely a whisper, full of awe. “S’our kid.”

I laughed nervously, “Yeah... but... what the fuck?”

He shook his head, a breathy laugh escaping him. “Don’t matter - S’our baby.”

My heart swelled as I looked at him, the shock dying down only a little bit. “Yeah, it is.”

Daryl squeezed my hand again, his voice heavy with emotion. “Still can’t believe it,” he whispered, looking from the screen to me again “Really gonna be parents.”

I nodded, smiling through the tears that started to form in my eyes. “Yeah, and soon...”

This actual scenario happened to my cousin – so I thought it would be fun to include it! 😜😂

Thank you so much for reading! ❤️