Ruins

33

After we ogled him for as long as possible, Siddiq and I examined him, as best as possible.

"Daryl, how about you take him?" Siddiq offered. "I should make sure you're cleaned up down there." He told me.

I had pushed my placenta out on accident earlier, which I'm sure scarred Daryl for life.

I lifted my legs as he folded the sheet up.

"Do you see his little birthmark?" I asked, motioning to Noah's face. He had a freckle in the same place as Daryl's, right under his smile line.

Daryl smiled.

"I wonder how that happened- Ow!" I grunted, setting my head back.

"Sorry." Siddiq continued to work.

"Is she okay?" Daryl asked.

"She's alright. I'm suturing the episiotomy, and..." He drug out his words. "I'm done." He said.

I watched him take his gloves off and shrug.

"Siddiq I will be forever grateful-"

"Oh please! You just delivered your own baby..." He chuckled. "You are as bad ass as bad ass gets. And an amazing doctor. You should be proud." He nodded. He shook Daryl's hand and looked down at Noah.

"Cute, ain't he?" Daryl smiled.

"He's precious." I nodded.

"You can stay in here for the night, you're gonna need to get him to latch so he'll eat." Siddiq said. "And enjoy Mommy and Daddy."

Daryl watched warily as he left.

"Shouldn't he... Be doin' doctor stuff..?" Daryl asked as I took Noah from him.

"His mommy is the doctor now." I smirked, laying Noah on his back, against my legs. I took my stethoscope from beside me and pressed it to his chest. His heart beat beautifully and I smiled down at him. "God he's perfect." My lip shook. I sniffled and felt Daryl lay beside me. "I never imagined this is how I would have my first kid." I leaned into his shoulder.

"You did real good." Daryl rubbed my back. "I can't..." He shook his head. "I mean I just watched you deliver your own baby and..." He sighed. "I can't believe how strong you are."

"I love you, Daryl. I love you so much." I held his cheek. "I wish the world didn't have to end for me to meet you. Or Merle." I shook my head. "But I'm so lucky that I did."

"Well I'm happy that the world did go to shit. Cause I wouldn'ta met you if it didn't."

I fell asleep that night feeling more whole than I'd ever felt in my life. And being at the Sanctuary couldn't ruin it for me.

Noah was thriving as a newborn, he was lifting his head and looking around, smiling and even let out a few laughs.

As months passed and he just kept growing we were doing amazing, but the Sanctuary wasn't. We were thriving and the crops, the people, the building it was all falling apart.

"I don't think we should stay here anymore." I shook my head. "He sucks more nutrients out of me, than I even eat." I sighed, letting Laura take him from me.

"You gotta do what's best for you guys." She shrugged. We had become closer, seeing as Daryl worked and I didn't know anyone else. Siddiq had left a few weeks after Noah was born, and I'd tried taking over as doctor, but it was hard with an infant stuck to your chest.

I tried to breastfeed for as long as possible, considering we probably couldn't sustain him with formula anyway.

"Maybe we should visit Hilltop." I watched Noah sit in Laura's lap and look over the floor

"Aaamah." Noah cooed.

"Mama!" Laura gasped. "You hear your mama?"

"Well, I'll go relieve Daryl, you probably want to talk to him." She spoke, standing and plopping Noah in my lap.

"What do you think?" I asked, cradling him to my chest. "You wanna go see Auntie Maggie? Hm? And your cousin Hershal?" I asked.

I watched over the floor, seeing Justin, a big Savior, making a mess of the rations he was supposed to be organizing.

"Justin." I called, walking down the stairs. "Why don't you take South watch?" I barked, taking his spot.

"Let me." Jeff, one of the Sanctuary's workers spoke. He seemed to be a sweet man. "Please. You go sit." He nodded. I spotted Daryl up on the catwalk and moved back to my seat up there.

"What's up?" He asked, taking Noah, pressing a kiss to his cheek.

I let out a sigh.

"Don't say it." He groaned. "M'gonna talk to Rick." He said. "We gotta run into the city in a couple days. M'gon tell him I can't lead this place no more, alright?"

"He never should've asked." I growled. What made him think you'd be okay here?" I shook my head.

"Had to be someone." He bounced Noah in his arms.

"But you... Of all people-"

"Makes sense to me. I know how to handle these pricks."

I leaned forward pressing a kiss to Noah's head.

"Aaamah." He gurgled into Daryl's shoulder.

I smirked at him, and beamed at Noah. "That's right. Mama."

I took over for Daryl so he could have some time with Noah.

I was doing rounds, and made my way to the front of the building.

"That's his wife, dude." I could hear a man's voice.

"F'real?"

I stopped, before opening the door and listened.

"I heard it was Negan's kid. She was Negan's wife, and she escaped."

"Negan was a lucky son of a bitch-"

I slammed the door open and grabbed the first one I saw, by the throat. I pressed the tip of my blade to his chin and turned to look at Justin.

"Don't you assholes have something to go screw up?" I seethed. "My husband and my child... Are none of your concern."

"I-I'm sorry-"

"If I hear any of you utter one word about my family, I will string you up and let the walkers have you for lunch. Am I clear?"

"Ow..." The man growled

"Am I clear?" I pushed further.

"Yes, you're clear." He spoke, turning his head from me.

"Get the hell out of my sight." I breathed, lowering my knife and looking over the gates of the lot. I let out a breath and tucked my blade away. We definitely had to get the hell out of here.