in a dark meadow | daryl dixon

want to know you

word count: 4753

In the morning, Avery found out Shane had lied to them.

Rick, Glenn, and Hershel had not returned last night. Lori greeted Avery as she emerged from her tent and told her, but not before making a fuss about her arm. Brushing off her concerns, Avery asked about Shane, who had apparently told them Rick and the others were back so they'd go to the farm without protest. 

While Avery simmered in her own anger, she could see Lori was boiling in hers, too. She'd been tricked into thinking her husband was safe, but in reality his whereabouts were still unknown. What should've been a quick ride into town turned into an overnight run? They all had to assume something went wrong.

"Avery!"

She was pulled from her tumbling thoughts and looked up to see a ten-year old barrelling in her direction at top speed. Carl crashed into Avery's hip, trying to tackle her into a hug. 

Lori peeled the boy off of the injured woman and sent her an apologetic look.

"Guess what?"

Avery placed her good hand on her hip. "What?"

"I'm going to be a brother!"

Her eyes immediately went to Lori. How did Carl know? Lori seemed to be studying her reaction, as if she was wondering if Avery already knew. She wasn't going to throw Glenn under the bus for spilling the beans, so Avery feigned a wide-eyed reaction and moved her voice up an octave.

"You are?! How exciting!"

God, you're a terrible actor.

Lori bowed her head. "Carl, can you go help Dale in the RV? I'll be right there."

The boy complied, excitement glowing behind his bright blue eyes. Lori watched him run off, her lips pressed together, and Avery wondered if she was about to get a scolding.

"I know you know, Avery. It's fine."

She sighed, dropping her hand from her hip. "Glenn sucks at keeping secrets."

"Noted." Lori laughed once, shoving her hands into her front pockets. "Shane said something in front of Carl when we got back last night... He was so upset I didn't tell him. I just decided I was keeping it, and I hadn't had a second yet to tell him about it."

She's keeping it. It must've been an incredibly difficult decision, and Avery was glad she didn't have to make it. She watched the young boy practically bounce over to the RV. 

"He seems happy now."

"Yeah," Something in Lori's voice let on that she didn't feel the same way. Her eyes were distant, and it looked like her mind was folding in on itself.

"Hey," She reached out and squeezed Lori's arm, trying to offer comfort. "It's going to all be fine. I've helped with a handful of deliveries, and Hershel... I'm sure he's helped plenty of cows give birth."

Lori snorted, bumping her shoulder against Avery's.

"What I'm trying to say is that you've got a whole army behind you. Whatever needs to be done for you and this baby, we'll get it done. You're not alone in this."

"Thank you," She pulled her in for a quick, tight hug, releasing her only when Avery groaned in pain. Lori scanned her body, holding her out at arm's length. "I'm sorry. Are you sure you're OK?"

"It'll heal," Avery explained, brushing off her concerns. "Daryl helped pop it back in."

Lori dropped her arms and crossed them over her chest. "Well, that explains the noises I heard last night..."