Right Here With Ya

Daryl tried to keep his breathing steady, but I could see the worry etched into every line of his face as he took in the soaked fabric of my pants. We weren't even close to the Hilltop yet, not really, and the reality of the situation was crashing down on both of us.

"It's okay, it's okay." He said, though his tone wavered. He cupped my cheeks, searching my face for any sign of reassurance. "Yur okay. Baby's okay."

I nodded, though the pain in my stomach was becoming more insistent. "I'm fine." But my voice betrayed me, trembling with the same nerves I saw in him.

He grabbed the radio again, "Anyone? Siddiq? Hilltop?" The static on the other end made my chest tighten. I could feel his frustration, and I couldn't shake the sinking feeling in my stomach.

"Daryl," I gasped, my breath shallow, "We're not going to make it."

He was quick to try and reassure me. "We are. Jus' gotta keep movin'."

I wanted to believe him, I really did. But every breath was harder than the last, the pain increasing by the moment. Still, I nodded, forcing myself to let him help me back onto the bike again.

Every bump in the road felt like a jolt of fire through my body. I gritted my teeth, trying to hold back the sounds of pain. Daryl kept glancing back at me, his concern written all over his face. His voice, usually so steady, was breaking every time he asked if I was okay.

Each time, I just nodded, unable to speak, too focused on trying to breathe through the pain. But it kept getting worse, more debilitating, and I couldn't ignore it anymore. The contractions were coming faster, and my body was starting to scream at me. I felt like I was breaking apart, like there was no way this was supposed to happen out here, on the road, so far from help.

The pain hit again, sharp and overwhelming. I cried out, my body jerking from the intensity. My hands gripped Daryl's vest desperately, trying to steady myself against the force of it.

"Stop! I can't- I can't..." I gasped, panic clawing at my chest. He didn't hesitate. He braked hard, the bike skidding to a stop. His hands were shaking as he helped me off, guiding me gently to the ground before pulling a bottle of water from one of the saddlebags - needing to be helping me in some way.

He held the bottle to my lips, his fingers unsteady as I took a sip. The cool liquid burned its way down my throat, but I barely noticed. My mind felt like it was trapped in a fog - clouded by pain, fear, and the looming doubt that we weren't going to make it to Hilltop.

Daryl hit the button on the walkie again, his grip tight. "Hilltop? Siddiq? Maggie... Anybody, copy!?"

A broken reply crackled through the speaker, but the words were garbled, indistinct. We couldn't even tell who it was.

Daryl's jaw clenched, his eyes darkening with frustration. "Fuck!" He yelled, looking like he wanted to throw the walkie, but thought better of it. The fear in his face was enough to make my heart break.

"Daryl," I whispered, my voice trembling, "I can't get back on the bike."

I hated the weakness in my voice, but there was no denying it. The contractions were relentless now - faster, stronger - and tears flowed freely down my cheeks. Not just from the pain, but from the terror creeping in. We weren't going to make it to Hilltop. I knew it.

Daryl's panic was evident, but he forced himself to nod, his voice soft as he cupped my face in his hands again. "Okay, baby... okay. No more bike."

He pulled the walkie to his mouth again, his voice rough. "Does anybody copy!? Hilltop!?"

Another broken response crackled through.

Daryl let out a long breath, trying to steady himself, before pressing the button again. His voice was more composed this time, though I could hear the strain beneath it, and I could tell it was taking every ounce of self-control he possessed not to yell.

"Hilltop, if ya can hear me, Ath's in labor... Baby's comin'." He paused, breathing deeply again to calm himself. "We're 'bout an hour west of ya, not far from a burnt-out school bus. We need Siddiq."

Another distorted reply. It was useless. He dropped his head for a moment, as if bracing himself, then he swallowed hard and lifted his eyes back to me. His voice was firm now, more focused. "Ath, we're gonna figure this out. I promise ya."

I nodded, though a sinking feeling in my stomach told me I didn't really believe it.

And then, the worst contraction yet surged through me, so powerful it took my breath away. I cried out, fresh tears falling, my body trembling under the weight of it.

Almost instantly, the distant groans of walkers reached my ears.

Great. I forgot about those fuckers.

Daryl squeezed my hand, his other hand gently pushing my hair back from my face. "I know it hurts, baby. Yur doin' so good - but we can't stay here."

"I can't go on the bike," I sobbed, my voice breaking. "Please."

He didn't hesitate. "I know, but we gotta find cover. Will ya let me carry ya?"

I nodded. The groans were growing louder, closer. They'd heard me. I didn't have a choice. The undead were coming, and we had no time to waste.

Daryl moved swiftly, his strong arms supporting me as he carried me away from the sounds of approaching walkers. The air around us felt thick with tension, the forest alive with the rustle of leaves and the distant groans that echoed behind us. Each step he took was careful but urgent, his grip tightening on me as if he could hold the world together with just his touch.

We pushed through the trees, the rough bark scraping at my skin as he maneuvered us through the dense woods. Every jolt sent pain through my body, but I focused on Daryl's steady presence, his strength keeping me grounded. Finally, we reached a clearing, a small patch of open space surrounded by trees.

Daryl lowered me gently to the ground by a tree, his hands careful yet hurried. His eyes scanned the area once more, as if making sure we were safe. His voice was low and tense when he spoke, but there was still an underlying calm to it. "I jus' gotta make sure we're clear, okay?"

I nodded, though the fear in my chest was hard to shake. I wanted to believe we'd be alright, that somehow this would work out, but everything felt so uncertain.

When Daryl seemed satisfied that the immediate danger had passed, he knelt down in front of me, his hands still shaking slightly as they brushed over my hair. His eyes softened, concern on every inch of his face.

"Yur gonna be okay, Ath," he said quietly, his voice full of tenderness and fear. "We'll get ya through this. I'm right here with ya."

I swallowed hard, the lump in my throat making it difficult to speak. Tears welled up in my eyes again, the weight of everything pressing down on me. "I'm scared," I whispered, my voice breaking.

Daryl's expression softened even more, his thumb gently brushing away the tear that escaped. "I know ya are," he murmured. "I am, too. But we're gonna do this together. Ya ain't alone. I promise."

His words were a balm to my frayed nerves, but the reality of the situation didn't go away. We didn't have any medical supplies, no one to help us, and no real plan beyond the hope that we could get through this.

Time lost all meaning as we clutched each other there. It felt like we there in that clearing for hours, Daryl holding me close, stroking my hair, whispering reassurances in my ear each time a contraction ripped through me.

I've got ya, baby.

Ya can do this.

I love ya so much.

Then, I could feel something changing in my body, something intense and terrifying. The pain was sharper now, closer together, more real. My breath came faster, and I could barely focus on anything else except the feeling that something was coming - something I had no control over.

"Something's happening," I gasped, my voice trembling, "It feels different."

Daryl's face hardened with concern, but there was no hesitation in his actions. He moved swiftly, helping me shift a little so he could assess the situation. The pressure building inside me was almost unbearable, and before I even realized it, Daryl had started to remove my boots and pants. His hands were gentle, but there was a certain urgency to the way he worked, as if every second mattered.

He paused for a moment, his brow furrowing as he glanced at me, still trying to reassure me. "Don't see anythin' yet," he murmured, his eyes scanning for any signs, though the way his face tightened told me he knew it was coming soon.

But then, as he moved my pants further down, I saw it - blood. It was dark, slick against the fabric of my pants, and it sent a shock of panic through me.

"Oh God, no, no!" I choked, my hand flying to my mouth in horror. "What's happening!? Is the baby okay!?"

His eyes went soft with understanding as he quickly removed my pants, his hands warm on my skin as he calmed me with his touch. He didn't look panicked, but his voice had a steady urgency to it when he spoke.

"Yur okay," he said gently, leaning in close. "That don't mean nothin', alright? Siddiq warned me. S'normal."

I could feel the tension in my chest ease just slightly, but it didn't make the fear go away completely. My hands gripped his arms, still trembling.

"But it's... it's so much," I whispered, my voice shaky with the overwhelming fear. "What if something's wrong?"

Daryl met my eyes, his own filled with an intensity that was equal parts worry and determination. "Ath," he said softly but firmly, "Nothin's wrong. Just breathe for me, okay? Everythin's gonna be alright. I've got ya."

I nodded, barely able to take a breath, but Daryl's words helped calm the panic swirling in my chest. The blood was still there, but somehow, hearing that it was normal from him made it feel like maybe we weren't as far off track as I feared.

I clung to him, trying to steady myself. "I'm so scared," I whispered again.

His hands held mine tightly, and his voice cracked as he spoke again, "We're gonna do this together, okay? We just gotta keep goin'. Yur doin' so good, baby."

Without warning, another new sensation tore through my body, more painful, but also like something was rushing through me - a weight bearing down inside of me.

"Daryl... I think-" I whimpered, before the agonizing sensation ripped through me again. "I feel like I need to push."

He took a deep breath, his hands still gripping mine, and then he helped me to sit up slightly, his voice determined as he said, "Then we ain't got much time. Baby's comin'."

I sobbed at the overwhelming pressure of what was happening to my body, but I couldn't fight it. We were here, and there was no turning back. Daryl was right - we had no choice but to deliver our baby ourselves, right here, in this clearing.

He moved back between my legs, and despite the sharp waves of pain wracking through me, I saw the fear in his eyes. He was trying so hard to hide it, to stay calm for me - but I knew him too well. I could feel the trembling in his hands as they brushed against my skin, the weight of his panic hanging in the air between us.

His fear cut through me like a knife, sharper than any pain I was feeling, more overwhelming than the fear of what was coming. The man who was my rock, my anchor in this broken world, was shaking. I could sense that it wasn't just concern for me; it was concern for the baby too.

I cried harder. It was all too much.

His hand trembled as he reached out again, brushing a strand of hair away from my face. His touch, despite the urgency, was gentle, comforting. "It's okay," he whispered, his voice breaking yet again.. "We've survived everythin' else. We'll survive this too."

I forced myself to nod through my tears, clinging to his words like a lifeline.

Then, through the fog of pain, I heard frantic voices calling out, full of urgency. My heart leapt, a flicker of hope pushing through the fear as I strained to hear what they were saying. My eyes met Daryl's, and I saw pure, unfiltered relief flood across his face.

"Over here!" He called out, his voice filled with exhaustion and hope.

And then, there they were - Siddiq, Glenn and Tara - panting as they emerged from the trees, their faces flushed with urgency. When I saw them, a rush of disbelief and gratitude overwhelmed me. My heart swelled with relief, though part of me still couldn't quite believe it.

"We heard you," Glenn said quickly, his eyes scanning the area like he was still bracing for something to go wrong. "The calls came through."

"We saw your bike." Tara added, breathless. "I'm not really sure why I'm here - I just panicked."

Through it all, Tara's lack of filter still made me want to laugh. I didn't - I couldn't remember how - but I wanted to.

Daryl turned to them, his voice steady but strained. "Baby's comin' right now."

Siddiq's eyes locked onto mine, and without another word, he knelt down next to me, his hands moving with practiced precision as he assessed the situation.

Daryl moved behind me, wrapping his arms around my body, bracing my back against his chest. His touch, him being here with me, was all I could focus on, all I could cling to.

"Looks like we're just in time..." Siddiq forced a reassuring smile. "Tara, Glenn, eyes out for walkers." His eyes flicked to Daryl's as his voice lowered. "They're gonna hear this."

Another contraction hit me, harder than the last, and I cried out in agony. It felt like my body was being torn apart, and I wasn't sure how much longer I could handle it.

"That thing you can feel is your body pushing for you," Siddiq continued. "But I need you to help it. Every time you feel that sensation - you have to push as hard as you can."

"I can't do it." I sobbed. "I can't."

Daryl's grip tightened around me, his warmth anchoring me. "Ath," he whispered, his voice hoarse with emotion. "Yur the strongest person I've ever known. Yur my warrior. Ya can do anything..." He kissed the top of my head fiercely. "Ya've got this. I'm right here with ya. Ain't gonna let nothin' happen to either of ya."

The words were both a promise and a plea, and I held onto them like they were the only thing keeping me from slipping away. Through the pain, through the fear, I focused on his voice, on the steady rhythm of his breathing behind me, the light kisses he kept pressing to my hair. His presence was the only thing negating the fear that was trying to overtake me.

With each surge, he whispered words of reassurance, never loosening his grip, never showing any sign of giving up, even when the pressure became unbearable. "Yur doin' so good, baby. Jus' a little longer."

I could feel him trembling behind me, his heart racing, but he never let go, never showed me anything but determination. He was right here - holding me close - giving me every ounce of strength he could.

Siddiq was moving quickly, his hands expertly guiding the process, but it was Daryl's steadying presence that kept me grounded. When I cried out, he tightened his arms around me, desperately trying to take some of my pain away.

The contractions continued coming in violent waves, each one stronger than the last, and I could feel my body working against me, pushing, pulling in ways I never imagined. I screamed, the pain overwhelming me, but Daryl never let go. His arms were a lifeline, pulling me through the agony, holding me steady as I fought against my own body.

"I love ya, sweetheart," He whispered, sounding on the edge of tears himself now - finding it difficult to see me in such distress. "Jus' a little longer."

I couldn't help but cling to him, my body trembling from the intensity of the contractions. Every part of me screamed, but Daryl's touch, his voice, were the only things keeping me tethered to this moment, to the hope that we could make it through.

Siddiq's voice was calm but urgent. "Athena, I need you to keep pushing. I know it hurts, but you have to push. Your baby's almost here."

I nodded through my tears, and with all the strength I had left, I pushed. A scream tore from my throat as the pressure intensified, and I felt a sudden rush of warmth, a relief that was immediately replaced with an even deeper pain.

"Good, good," Siddiq urged, his hands guiding me. "Just a little more, Athena. You're almost there."

"I can't..." I cried out again.

Daryl's grip on me tightened, his breath quick and shallow as he whispered in my ear. "Ya can Ath. I love ya. I love ya."

I closed my eyes, focusing only on Daryl holding me. The woods around us felt distant, the sounds of walkers lingering faint in the background. Nothing mattered but this moment, this battle to bring our baby into the world.

Another wave of pain hit, and I pushed again, my whole body screaming in protest. I could feel the baby moving, coming closer. My mind was a blur of fear, pain, and exhaustion. I felt like I wanted to give up.

"C'mon baby," he murmured, his voice thick with unshed tears. "Yur doin' it. We're almost there. I love ya. I love ya, so much."

And then, in one final push, I felt a release, a rush of warmth and wetness, there was silence for an agonizingly long moment, before the sharp cry of a baby pierced the air.

The universe shifted in that moment.

Our child was here.

Tara handed Siddiq a pair of small scissors to cut the cord, while Glenn pulled a small blanket from his pack. Both of them were looking into Siddiq's arms with awe, glassy-eyed but smiling.

"Ya did it, Ath." Daryl breathed, kissing my hair again and squeezing me impossibly tighter. "Shit... ya did it. Our baby..."

Siddiq gently wrapped the baby - our baby - in the small blanket, and slowly placed it on my chest. My arms came up to cradle the small bundle automatically, Daryl's then instantly cradling both of us.

His breath hitched behind me, and I felt him trembling as he looked down at the tiny, perfect creature in my arms.

"Ath," he whispered, and I knew the tears he'd been holding back were finally starting to fall... "You did it." He choked. "That's our baby."

The world around us went quiet for a moment. The only sound was the baby's cries and the rush of air in my lungs as I struggled to catch my breath.

Siddiq's voice was soft. "Meet your little girl, mommy and daddy."

"She's a girl?" I sobbed, in disbelief that she was really here.

Siddiq nodded, beaming.

"We have a little girl." Daryl choked out, as if trying to make himself believe it. "Ath, we have a daughter."

I stared down at her, the tiny, squirming life in my arms, and I could barely process it. After everything we had been through, this was it. This tiny little person was our future, our hope.

The world seemed to stand still. The pain, the fear, the exhaustion - it all faded away in an instant. All that remained was her.

Dark hair, damp and matted, clung to her small, delicate head. Her tiny hands curled into fists, trembling slightly as she got used to breathing, her cries settling as we held her. And then she opened her eyes - eyes the same shocking shade of blue as Daryl's. Eyes that stared up at me with a kind of innocence and wonder that I could barely comprehend.

She was utterly and completely perfect.

Siddiq and Tara moved to the side, giving us a moment, and Daryl wrapped his arms even tighter around me, holding me and our baby closer.

A sob escaped me, though I wasn't even sure if it was from joy, relief, or the overwhelming rush of love that consumed me. My chest ached, but it wasn't from pain. It was from the sheer force of everything I felt - the immense, indescribable love that struck me harder than anything ever had before.

Her skin was so soft, her tiny body so impossibly small against mine. I traced her cheek with trembling fingers, afraid she might disappear if I let go. But she was real. She was ours. After everything, we had made it. She had made it.

My heart swelled as she made a small, soft sound - another weak little cry that sent fresh tears spilling down my face. I held her closer, pressing a kiss to her forehead, tasting the salt of my tears as they mingled with the warmth of her skin.

"Hi, baby," I whispered, my voice breaking. "Hi, my sweet girl."

I could feel Daryl trembling behind me - his breath shaky against my shoulder, but he didn't say a word. He just held me, his face buried in my hair as he let his tears fall.

I never thought I could love like this. I never thought I could feel something so pure, so all-consuming. She was everything - every piece of us, every moment that had led to this. And as I traced my fingers over her tiny nose, her perfect lips, I knew that nothing would ever matter more.

"We did it," I whispered through my tears, lifting my head to look up at him. "She's here."

In his eyes, I saw it too - that same overwhelming love. The fear was gone. Only awe remained.

"She's here," He repeated, his wet eyes burning into mine as he looked at me with more adoration and pride than I could ever have imagined possible. "Ath, yur... God, I love ya so much... both of ya." He kissed my forehead, his lips warm and gentle. "Yur incredible."

"I love you." I whispered back, as we both turned our eyes back to our baby girl.

She was here.

She was really here.

A/N: 😭❤️😭❤️😭❤️😭❤️