Growth

3 Months Later

The main parts of Alexandria's rebuild were finally complete. After months of hard work, the walls were reinforced, the guard towers stood sturdy, and most of the damaged homes had been rebuilt. The pantry was well stocked, the gardens had been replanted, and the solar panels had been repaired - enough to keep the lights on through the night.

There were still a few things left to finish. The water filtration system needed some extra work, and the storage shed out by the church was only halfway built. Some of the houses were still missing proper furniture, and the infirmary could use a coat of paint. But compared to how things had been, it was nothing. Alexandria felt like home again.

Not that I got to help with much.

After finding out about the baby, Daryl refused to let me lift a single thing. It didn't matter how many times I told him I'd been doing my fair share for five months already without realizing I was pregnant. To him, that was just proof that I'd done enough. Anytime I reached for a crate or a toolbox, I'd feel his eyes on me - protective, stubborn, and determined to keep me from pushing myself.

"Ain't worth it," he'd grumble, pulling it out of my hands before I could argue. "Baby comes first."

And the worst part? I couldn't even be mad. Not when he was so damn earnest about it.

When we'd returned to Alexandria after the trip to Hilltop, the first person we told was Merle. He'd been lounging by the gate, picking at the dirt beneath his nails, but the moment he spotted us, he stood up with that familiar cocky grin.

"Well, look who decided to come back from their little sex adventure," he called, his eyes narrowing suspiciously. "Ya'll just wanted to skip out on a few days work."

Daryl huffed, shaking his head. "Shut up, Merle"

"Maybe I missed ya a little." Merle smirked, but his teasing stopped cold when Daryl shifted beside me, his hand finding its place on my belly. "Got some news," Daryl said.

Merle raised a brow. "What kinda news?"

I bit my lip, unable to hide my smile. "I'm pregnant."

For a moment, Merle just blinked. His gaze flicked between us, like he was waiting for the punchline. But when none came, the realization hit him. His jaw twitched, and his face softened in a way I hadn't seen often. He muttered something under his breath, then turned away, his hand rubbing roughly over his face.

"Merle," I teased, stepping closer. "Are you crying?"

"Shut up," he grumbled, though the sniff he let out gave him away. "Ain't cryin'. Just... somethin' in the air."

I couldn't stop myself from laughing, and even Daryl smirked. Merle scowled, but the facade didn't last. He shook his head, then pulled us both into a gruff, bone-crushing hug.

"Proud of ya, little brother," he murmured, his voice thick. "Real damn proud."

Daryl didn't say anything. He didn't have to. The way he held Merle back, his hand gripping the back of his brother's neck, said more than words ever could.

When we revealed how far along I was, Merle welled up again, but tried to hide it. "Kinda dumbasses don't realize there's a half-cooked baby growin' in there?

After that, we found Rick and Michonne by the garden. They'd been helping Aaron with the last of the planter boxes, Rick wiping the sweat from his brow as we walked up.

"Hey," Rick greeted, setting down his tools. "How was the trip?"

"Good," Daryl answered, his usual roughness softened by the grin he was struggling to hold back.

"Everything alright?" Michonne asked, picking up on the look we exchanged.

I nodded. "More than alright." I reached for Daryl's hand, squeezing it tightly. "We're having a baby."

For a moment, they just stared. Then Rick's face broke into a wide smile, his arms immediately wrapping around Daryl.

"That's..." he said, pulling back to look at us both. "I'm so damn happy for you."

"Congratulations," Michonne added, her own smile glowing as she hugged me. "Welcome to the world of diapers and no sleep."

Daryl ducked his head, a little overwhelmed by now with all the attention. But when Rick clasped his shoulder and grinned, I saw the pride flicker in his eyes.

"You're gonna be a great dad," Rick said firmly. "No doubt about it."

The next person Daryl wanted to tell was obviously Carol.

"Could ride out to the Kingdom," he offered one night, though his reluctance was clear. "But don't like the idea of you bein' here without me."

"Yeah... I'm not travelling that far," I added, rubbing my still pretty flat belly. "Not when I've already got a reason to be tired."

That settled it. Daryl scribbled down a letter - short and sweet, and handed it off to the next group heading to the Kingdom for a trade run.

We hadn't expected an immediate response, but the very next morning, the clang of the front gate had us both stepping out onto the porch.

"Where are they!?" Carol's voice rang through the street, her face practically glowing with excitement as she marched toward us. "Athena! Daryl!"

I barely had time to laugh before she was at my side, pulling me into a tight hug.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" she scolded, though the grin on her face betrayed her. "God, I'm so happy for you both."

"We didn't know," Daryl mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck. "We thought she was only a few weeks gone."

"That happened to an old friend of mine." Carol stepped back, her hands still gripping my shoulders as she looked between us. "I had to see you. Had to see this." She rested a hand gently on my belly, her eyes brimming with warmth. "You're gonna be amazing parents."

Daryl's hand found mine, squeezing it tight. "Sure as hell gonna try."

"Come here!" she instructed Daryl, pulling him into her and planting a sloppy kiss on his forehead.

~

Three months had passed since the shock that I was further along than I'd realized - putting me at eight month's according to Siddiq's calculations - and with each day, the reality of it all began to settle into something beautiful. My body had started to change in ways I hadn't expected. My clothes were getting a little tighter, and there was this small, yet unmistakable bump now, just enough to be noticeable. I loved it. Every time I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror, I couldn't help but smile, watching the transformation. It was as though my body was growing in time with the love that was blooming inside me.

Daryl, of course, couldn't keep his hands off it. He was always so gentle, always so attentive. His hand would drift to my belly whenever we were close, even when he was just standing next to me or sitting together on the couch. He'd rest his hand there, almost protectively, as if it was a silent vow that he would always be there for both me and the baby.

At night, when we would climb into bed, he would wrap his arms around me, his hands resting on my stomach, just holding me close. His warmth enveloped me, and I could feel the quiet joy in his touch. It was like he couldn't get enough of it - couldn't get enough of us.

With our little one on the way, he had shifted into a role that seemed to fit him perfectly - he'd always held that tenderness with me, that  protectiveness, that undeniable love - but it had intensified in a way I hadn't thought possible. The way he whispered to me at night, the way his eyes would light up every time we talked about names or baby plans, made it clear that he was just as excited about this new chapter as I was.

"Ya feelin' okay?" he would ask me constantly, his voice soft and concerned.

I'd laugh, squeezing his hand, knowing he only ever wanted the best for me. "Yeah, I'm fine. Stop worrying."

He would press a kiss to my forehead, then gently rub his hand over my stomach, as if telling our baby that it was safe and loved already. Sometimes, when he'd hold me close at night, I could feel him falling asleep with his hand resting on my belly, a subtle, but constant reminder of the little life we had created together.

During the days, we'd talk about the future more - about how we were going to raise our child, what kind of parents we would be. Daryl had this quiet certainty about it, as though he already knew he would do anything to make sure our baby grew up safe and loved.

One morning, as I was putting on a shirt, I caught Daryl watching me from across the room. His gaze softened, and I noticed his eyes flick down to my belly before meeting mine again. "Ya gettin' there," he said, a grin tugging at the corner of his lips.

I laughed and turned to look in the mirror, glancing at the bump that was growing more prominent by the day. "Yeah, I guess I am."

Daryl stepped up behind me, wrapping his arms around me and resting his chin on my shoulder, his hands gently placing themselves on my stomach. " I love it," he murmured. "Can't stop thinking 'bout it. 'Bout us... our family."

I felt my heart swell, and I leaned back into him, letting the warmth of his presence wash over me. "Me either," I whispered, reaching up to touch his hand where it rested on my belly.

We were both still adjusting to the idea of parenthood, still figuring out what this new chapter would mean. But we had each other, and in this small moment, with Daryl's hands on my belly and his heartbeat against my back, I knew we were ready.

Despite our excitement, the little rebel inside me had other plans. At the initial scan' after Daryl and I had time to process the shock of me already being five months gone, Siddiq had laughed as the baby wriggled and shifted, stubbornly refusing to get into a good position. Every time he tried to get a clear view, the baby would twist away, almost as if it knew what we were trying to do.

"Got yourself a little troublemaker in there," Siddiq had teased, grinning at the screen. "Takes after their dad already."

Daryl had huffed a playful grunt at that, though I could see the amusement dancing in his eyes. He was too awestruck by the flickering heartbeat on the monitor to argue. Seeing our baby, knowing it was real, had been enough to keep us both smiling for days.

A month later, we made the trip back to Hilltop for a follow-up scan, hoping we'd have better luck. Enid was helping out again, still training under Siddiq's watchful eye. She'd given me that reassuring, bright smile of hers before guiding the ultrasound wand over my belly. But once again, our little one was as stubborn as ever. Legs tucked, twisting and turning, never quite allowing a glimpse.

"Guess they're keeping the mystery alive," Enid had said, biting back a laugh. "But everything looks perfect. Strong heartbeat. Good growth. Just... shy."

"Just like their daddy," I'd joked, squeezing Daryl's hand.

He snorted, though the soft, proud smile on his face never faded. "Ain't shy," he murmured, his thumb brushing over my knuckles. "Just knows how to keep folks guessin'."

And that was fine. More than fine. We'd already decided that we were happy to be surprised. There was something special about not knowing, about letting the anticipation build with each passing day. Boy or girl, it didn't matter. We loved them just the same.

Daryl had made that clear too, whispering late at night as his hand rested on my belly. "Whoever ya are... whoever ya're gonna be... We're waitin' for ya."

And so we waited, hearts full and hands intertwined, excited to meet the little rebel who had already stolen both of ours.

One night, just as the sun dipped below the walls of Alexandria, it happened.

I was curled up on the couch, Daryl's hand absentmindedly resting on my belly as we talked about the day. Suddenly, I felt something - a flutter, faint but unmistakable. I froze, my breath catching.

"Daryl," I whispered.

"What? Ya okay?" His eyes widened, concern flashing across his face.

"I think they just kicked," I said, tears filling my eyes.

He stared at me for a second before quickly shifting to kneel beside me. "Here?" he asked, his hand pressing gently to the spot.

"Wait," I murmured, placing my hand over his. "Just... wait."

And then, there it was again - the tiniest movement beneath my skin.

"Shit," Daryl breathed, his eyes wide with wonder. "I feel it."

A laugh bubbled up through my tears. "Another little ass-kicker."

He shook his head in disbelief, his hand trembling slightly as he cupped my stomach. And in that moment, nothing else in the world mattered. Just us, and the little life growing between us, reminding us how much we had to look forward to.

A/N: I hope you enjoyed a bit of baby fluff. ❤️