The snow crunched beneath Ellie's boots as she glanced back at you. Her green eyes, sharp with concern, scanned your every movement. You smiled reassuringly, adjusting the strap of your backpack over your growing belly. It wasn’t easy convincing her to let you patrol, especially with how protective she had become since finding out you were pregnant.
The baby wasn’t hers biologically—your ex had died in the early days of the outbreak before you and Ellie had met—but that didn’t matter. To Ellie, the baby was hers too.
“You sure you’re up for this?” she asked for the third time, her voice low but firm. Her hand lingered near the pistol holstered at her side.
“Yes, Ellie,” you replied, trying to sound exasperated but failing to hide the affection in your tone. “I’ll be fine. You’re the one who should be resting, remember?”
Ellie scowled, her injured shoulder still bandaged from the arrow that had grazed her during the last patrol. She hated feeling useless, and the thought of you patrolling without her made her stomach churn.
“I don’t like this,” she muttered.
“I’ll be with Joel,” you reminded her. “He’s like… a tank.”
Ellie snorted but didn’t laugh. Her brows furrowed in thought before she finally relented. “Fine. But you stay close to him. If anything happens—”
“I’ll be fine,” you promised again, stepping closer to kiss her cheek. “I’ll come back in one piece. Both of us will.”
Ellie hesitated, her hand resting on your belly for a moment before nodding.
---
As you and Joel prepared to leave, Ellie lingered at the gates, watching you from a distance. Joel walked over to her, his hands in his pockets.
“She’ll be fine, kiddo,” Joel said softly. “I’ll keep her safe.”
“I know,” Ellie replied, her voice cracking slightly. “I just… I love her, Joel. And the baby. It’s… it’s everything to me now.”
Joel’s expression softened, and he placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “You’re doing good by her, Ellie. And that baby’s gonna have one hell of a mama. Two, actually, if Maria has her way.”
Ellie chuckled despite herself, wiping at her eyes.
“And you?” Ellie asked, looking at him hesitantly. “You gonna stick around? Be like a… grandpa or something?”
Joel smirked, his eyes shining with rare warmth. “Already consider myself one. That kid’s family. Just like you are.”
Ellie nodded, a quiet smile tugging at her lips as she watched you and Joel ride out of Jackson.
---
As you and Joel rode along the icy trail, the rhythmic sound of the horses' hooves filled the silence. You rubbed your belly absentmindedly, smiling as you felt a little kick.
“You reckon it’s a boy or a girl?” Joel asked, breaking the silence.
You grinned. “What do you think?”
Joel tilted his head, pretending to think. “I’m bettin’ on a boy. Stubborn, tough… like his mama.”
You laughed. “Ellie’s convinced it’s a girl. Says she has a feeling.”
“Well, I guess we’ll find out soon enough,” Joel said with a wink.
The conversation turned lighter, but the tightening in your abdomen didn’t ease. You ignored it at first, brushing it off as nothing more than cramps, but the pain grew sharper. When the nausea hit, you barely managed to keep your composure.
Joel noticed. He always did.
“Y’alright?” he asked, slowing his horse to ride closer to you.
“Yeah,” you lied, trying to keep your voice steady.
But when you dismounted to sneak through an abandoned building, your steps faltered. Joel caught your arm as you leaned against the wall, breathing heavily.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” he demanded.
“I think…” You hesitated, gasping as another sharp pain shot through you. “I think it’s happening. The baby…”
Joel’s face paled, but he quickly regained his composure. “Alright, we’re gettin’ you inside. Now.”
---
Joel guided you to an abandoned furniture store, laying you down on the closest bed he could find. His voice was calm, but you could see the panic in his eyes as he handed you his gun.
“I’m gonna get help,” he said firmly. “Ellie, Maria, Dina… they’ll be here before you know it. You just stay quiet, alright? You can do this.”
You nodded, tears streaming down your face as another contraction hit. Joel hesitated for a moment, squeezing your hand before running out the door.
Alone in the quiet, you felt the weight of the moment crash over you. The baby was coming, and there was no stopping it. With trembling hands, you removed your pants, bracing yourself as the contractions grew stronger.
It was the hardest thing you’d ever done. The pain was overwhelming, but when you finally heard the baby’s first cries, a surge of relief and joy washed over you.
“It’s a girl,” you whispered, cradling the tiny, wriggling baby to your chest. Tears of exhaustion and happiness blurred your vision as you held her close.
---
The sound of galloping hooves and hurried footsteps filled the store as Ellie, Joel, Dina, and Maria rushed in. Ellie’s eyes locked onto you immediately, her face pale with worry.
“Are you okay?” she asked, rushing to your side.
You nodded weakly, tears streaming down your face. “She’s here,” you whispered, holding the baby up for Ellie to see.
Ellie’s breath caught as she stared at the tiny bundle in your arms. Slowly, she reached out, her hands trembling as Maria helped clean the baby and swaddled her in a blanket.
When Maria handed her over, Ellie held the baby as if she were the most fragile, precious thing in the world. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears as she looked down at her daughter.
“She’s beautiful,” Ellie whispered, her voice thick with emotion.
Dina and Joel stood nearby, both grinning through their tears. Joel leaned down, squeezing your shoulder. “Told you everything’d be alright,” he said softly.
You laughed weakly, leaning against him. “Guess you were right.”
As the group settled around you, cracking jokes and offering words of comfort, you couldn’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of love and safety.
