The late December cold bite at your skin as you closed the door behind you. Becoming instantly emerged in the dark winter night. The wind whistled all around you as you walked towards the guard tower. Burying your hands deeper into your pockets for some kind of warmth and keeping your head down to make walking into the wind easier.
The field around the prison was oddly beautiful at night. Something you had always thought when you went out for a late walk a night here or there. The dense trees were only a deep shadow in the distance, and in the dark you could hardly see the monsters waiting on the other side. But the stars above, those were crystal clear. They spakled in the deep blue sky, lending light to the blanket stretched far and wide above you.
Releasing a breath out into the air, you watch as it freezes in the cold. And climbing the steep steps, you make it to the top of the tower. A place that brought you closer to those beautiful twinkling stars.
The small room is dark and silent, but not empty. The person you came out into the cold night for stands feet away. His shadow highlighted in the dark.
"You hiding up here?"
Your voice feels loud in the silence and it startles Daryl, as his head whips around to look your way. The colorful poncho drapes across him, giving him more warmth than his leather and denim possibly could. And his bare hands grip tightly to the crossbow he holds.
"Took watch tonight."
Its a simple response, one he can give you quick and emotionless before turning away from your gaze.
"I can see that," You step closer to him. "But I thought Glenn was on watch tonight?"
Daryl doesn't turn to look at you, instead stands still keeping his back to you. "Told 'im I would."
You nod your head as you walk closer to him, nearly touching his back you stand so closely now. "Mhm. And why is that?"
Daryl stays silent. Maybe hoping that his quiet will be enough for you to leave him alone. To avoid the discussion you knew he didn't want to have. But you weren't going anywhere.
"Because you didn't want to be stuck all night in a bed with me? Because you didn't want to have the conversation we need to have? Because--"
"Stop." Daryl snaps and he turns to face you finally.
Crossing your arms over your chest, you raise an eyebrow at him. "We have to talk about it Daryl. It isn't something that'll just go away. We have to acknowledge it at some point."
Daryl sighs and grips tighter to his crossbow.
"I'm pregnant Daryl. And in nine months, we're going to have a baby come into this world. A baby we have to care for. A baby--"
"I know." Daryl mutters but his eyes refuse to meet yours.
"Do you? Because you iced me out the moment I told you. You ignored me and pretended as though me and this baby didn't even exist!"
"You think I don't know? It's the only damn thing I can think about. Last three days, got no sleep cause I'm up thinking bout you and me and that baby we got comin. Everyday I'm thinking bout how we're gonna keep that baby safe and alive. How I'm gonna keep you alive! How I gotta be good to you and that baby. How I gotta be there. So you think I ain't been thinking about it, I have."
The emotion in his voice stuns you for a moment. Taken back by the level or rawness and fear in his words, something he had never shown to you before.
All words that had been swimming in your mind to say to him disappear suddenly. Everything he said, everything Daryl admitted to you, it hits you like a punch to the gut.
"I'm scared too." You whisper breathlessly to him, tears threatening to freeze in the corners of your eyes.
"Can't lose you." Daryl murmurs softly, and taking the final step closer you touch your hand to his cheek.
"You won't."
Daryl shakes his head, almost making you lift your hand. Almost. "Don't know that. Rick didn't think he'd lose Lori, and look where he is now."
Daryl had a point. Rick was crumbling to peices before everyone's eyes and there wasn't a thing anyone could do. Thinking of your love ever becoming that badly wrecked breaks your heart in two.
"I'm not Lori," You tell him. "I'm not going to leave you with our baby to raise on your own."
Daryl's eyes raise hesitantly, but soon his blues stare right back into yours.
"How can ye be so sure?"
You can't be. You can't promise the man you won't die. But you can do everything in your power to hold on and make it with him and for him.
"Sometimes you just got to have a little bit of faith Daryl."
Faith brought you this far... It could take you a little further.
"We have to have a little faith this year Daryl. That you and me and the baby we made are going to be just fine."
Daryl grunts lowly, "New Years Eve ain't it?"
"Mhm." You smile softly at the fact he remembered you telling him so a few days ago. "And I think this is going to be our best year yet."
Daryl stares at you for a moment, as if there was an answer to find in your eyes. But with a soft sigh, he nods his head.
"Little bit of faith?"
Nodding you lean in, "Little bit of faith."
And as the clock struck midnight, you kissed Daryl Dixon as you both entered what would be the biggest year of your life.
A/N: Happy New Years Everyone! I hope you liked this one. It's short and I wasn't super sure about it, but hopefully it wasn't too bad.
