The names Daryl Dixon, not The Archer.

Chapter 21

It had been a month since Sansa and Jesse were born. But with 3 babies and 1 toddler in the house, we were quickly running out of formula. Maggie and I did breastfeed aswell, but because we werent getting much food, they needed formula aswell. Rick and I were heading out on a run to get some more today, and anything else we needed. Only the two of us were going because we can move quicker, and we needed as many people as possible to take care of the babies. Maggie and I are a lot closer since I had my twins, we were as close as Beth and I.

"Zoe, you gotta get up, we need to leave" I heard Ricks voice from the door. I opened my eyes to see Daryl with Jesse, and Carl with Sansa. I smiled. "Okay Rick, i'll be down in 5" He nodded and left. I got up and got dressed. "See you later Daryl" I kissed him, then kissed Carl, Lily, Sansa and Jesse on the forehead, "See you later guys" I walked downstairs and out to the cars where Rick was waiting.

"you ready?" He asked.

"Ready as i can be" I smiled and got into the passenger seat of the car.

About half an hour later we got to two shops, a baby store and food store.

"You take the baby store, il take the food store" Rick said and i nodded.

I walked into the baby store and stabbed any walkers. I saw cribs and picked up 3 of them in boxes, and put them into the car, then i put loads of clothes, toys and formula into my bag before putting it in the car. Rick hadnt come out yet, so i decided to go and check on him, i walked into the store to find walkers, i quickly stabbed them and seen Ricks bag on the floor. "Rick?" I said. I walked round the corner and there on the floor was Rick. With a perfect bite mark on his shoulder. I collapsed to the floor. "RICK! NO RICK! YOU CANT DO THIS TO ME! PLEASE DONT LEAVE ME!" I screamed. He was still alive. "Zoe...you gotta go...take my bag, its full...tell Carl and Judith i love them...and that im sorry...treat them as your own, let them call you mom. please..." and with that, his head fell back and his eyes shut. I sat there and cried and cried until my head hurt. "I will Rick, I promise" Then it happened. I heard the moan and Rick sat up, his eyes were white. I quickly stood and pulled out my gun, i pointed it at his head. My hand shook, then i did it, i pulled the trigger and he fell to the floor. I picked up his bag and ran to the car and started to drive. I cried the whole way home.

When i got back Daryl came out to meet me and he saw my red eyes and tear stained cheeks, and he didnt see Rick.

"Zoe...your not crying why i think you are...are you..."

I collapsed to the floor and started to cry again. "Daryl, he died, he died infront of me Daryl!" He wrapped his arms around me and I cried into his shoulder. "shhh its okay, its gonna be okay" But i could hear his voice start to shake as tears rolled down his cheeks. I pulled back, "We gotta tell the others...i promised him id let Carl and Judith call me mum, and that id treat them as my own..." I looked down, this is gonna be like having 5 kids. "We can do that" Daryl said and helped me to stand up. I took both the bags and Daryl took the cribs. I quickly ran inside and put the bags down, Maggie and Beth looked at me concerned, I ran into their arms and started to cry again, they hugged me tight and i managed to whisper "Ricks...gone...dead" before crying even harder into their chests. 

Carls POV

I was upstairs with Sansa, Lily, Judith and Jesse when Daryl came in, looking upset. "You okay?" I asked, he walked over to me and said "Do you think you and Judith would be able to treat Zoe and I like we were your parents?" I nodded. "Judith is only 2 Carl, you need to take care of her, she lost her mom as soon as she was born, and i hate to say it, but shes just lost her dad" Daryl looked down. "W...what?" I said, hugging Judith to me, she didnt understand, "I'm sorry Carl, but you have me and Zoe, we'll treat you both as our own. I promise" I didnt cry, I didnt want to. Sure, im gonna miss my dad, but I have Zoe and Daryl. Zoe took Lily in like she was her own as soon as she met her, she would take us in easily.

Zoes POV

I stepped back from Beth and Maggie as Daryl came downstairs "Carl knows" He said. He took my hand and we stood infront of everyone, "Ricks dead" Daryl said, I squeezed my eyes shut and turned to face Daryl before burying my head in his chest. Everyone was shocked and sad, but no one cried. No one, Daryl had shed a few tears. But i was devastated, Rick was like my brother, it was like losing Jesse all over again. "Theres a crib for Joe, Maggie" I said pointing to the cribs. "Thankyou" She said before hugging me, then taking it upstairs into their room with Glenn. Everyone made their way to there rooms since it was late now. Daryl carried the 2 cribs upstairs and i carried the bags after putting the food Rick got into the cupboards. I put all of the baby clothes away and gave some to Maggie for Joe. When i came back up Carl was sat on my bed looking at me with puppy eyes "What Carl?" I said trying to smile. "You have a big room, if we move your bed and Lilys bed, we could fit a Judith and I's beds in here, can we?" I nodded "Thanks Mom!" he quickly ran over to his room to get the beds.  I smiled that he said called me Mom. Daryl had set up the cribs. I moved Lilys bed into the corner and then Daryl and I's bed next to it, with a small gap in between to fit a bedside table, then another bedside table was on my side of the bed, then Carl put his bed there, with Judiths next to it, with a small gap inbetween. Jesse and Sansa's cribs were opposite our beds. I continued to empty my bag of baby and toddler toys, books and formula, we kept some formula in our room just incase, do did Maggie and Glenn. The rest was in the kitchen. I went into the bathroom to take a shower, while i was in there i realised that i hadnt gotten my period since Jesse and Sansa was born, Maggie had gotten hers a week after Joe was born, "Fuck" I whispered, I quickly washed my hair before getting a pregnancy tests out. I took it and waited for it to beep. When it did I stood up to check it

'Positive'

"DARYL!" I shouted, i unlocked the door and he came in, "whats up?" I shoved the pregnancy test in his face. "How? We used protection?" I rested my head on his chest, "I know, it must have split...your not mad are you?" I said looking up at him, he threw the test in the bin and kissed me, "Ofcourse not, we're safe here, this is our home, we can have kids here" I smiled. "Get in the shower, you smell" I teased him. "Yeah whatever Zo" He winked and i walked out. I was surprised we still had hot water. "Carl, can i speak to you?" He nodded and i sat down beside him. "Carl, Im pregnant, again, im not happy about it, but i love kids, and you love brothers and sisters, right?" He nodded. "Good" I kissed his forehead. "Get some sleep,all of you." I said, Carl, Lily and Judith all hugged me then got into bed, "Night mom" they said. "Night guys" I said back. I kissed Sansa and Jesse on the forehead and got into bed. Daryl came out and kissed them all on the forehead before getting into bed next to me and putting a hand on my stomach. "I love you Zoe, and baby Dixon number 3" I smiled, "I love you too, I dont know how we're gonna handle this, we've already got Jesse and Sansa who are only a month old. Judith whos only 2 years, Lilys whos only 7 years, and Carl whos 12"

"Babe, we'll find a way"

I smiled and kissed him, and then we fell into a deep sleep.