Chapter Text
Connie’s eyes shot open. Oh no it’s going to happen again. Not waiting for her eyes to adjust, she rapidly lifts the comforter off and to the side so it bunches in the middle of the bed and sprints from said bed into the small ensuite bathroom to immediately put her head over the toilet to bring up last night’s dinner. Connie has woken up in the early hours for four consecutive days now. The first time she put it down to a stomach bug, the second time had her questioning but felt no overall worry but the third time she knew what it actually meant and her world seemed to stop because this can’t be good. Can it.
She was pregnant.
And this morning with her head practically in the toilet just clarified that, well among other things; her lower back aching, her toilet breaks had doubled and she got exhausted more quickly. Her periods aren't regular and haven't been for a while so she didn’t keep track of her cycle because how can you really keep track of something that was anything but on them.
As Connie thinks back to all of these symptoms of pregnancy kneeling in front of the toilet, gripping the seat with both hands, the light turns on and then a big familiar palm starts to make circular movements on her lower back and most of the tension in her muscles there releases. Turning her head back, Connie looks up at the owner of the comforting hand and gives a grateful smile. Daryl returns the smile but it doesn’t erase the look of worry that overcomes his face and this makes Connie's stomach hurt for an entirely different reason than morning sickness.
Grabbing a couple sheets of toilet paper from the roll left on the side she wipes her mouth, throws it down the toilet and pushes the handle to flush it all away.
‘Got it all up?’ Daryl signs when she has turned to face him.
Connie doesn’t sign anything in return but gives a nod and proceeds to walk past him to the sink to wash her mouth out and splash some cold water over her sweaty face. After taking a few seconds, watching the water drip from her flushed cheeks into the sink to compose herself, she looks ahead at her reflection in the mirror as well as Daryl’s behind her not knowing what to say or even where to start. He stands shirtless with every scar visible from before the fall and during on his chest. It took Daryl a while after they finally got together to become comfortable with being shirtless in the light but after a very open, hard and emotional conversation (for both of them) he realised that nobody was left unscathed in this world and more importantly that Connie loved him scars and all because that made him Daryl.
Since Daryl is a light sleeper and earlier riser he’s gotten up after Connie each morning wanting to make sure she’s okay and to make her feel better anyway he can but he hasn’t really known how these past few days besides comforting strokes on the back or a tight hug after the vomiting ceases expressing. So he just hovers hoping his presence is enough. Which It is.
Connie walks towards him, her legs shaking with each step she takes and grabs his hand, leading him back into the bedroom. When they go past the dilapidated armchair situated near the door (that Daryl always leaves a clean shirt on) he grabs the dark grey long sleeve henley he left there this time and puts it on. He now has goosebumps when moments ago he was fine. Connie motions for him to sit on the bed. Daryl does so without interrupting the heavy silence with the many questions and thoughts that are running through his head. After Daryl does so, she stands in front of him between his legs in her pyjama shorts and black tank top she now sleeps in due to the warm nights, looking a lot smaller than she actually is and stares down at him somewhat frozen because how is she supposed to tell him she’s pregnant with his child? It wasn't a part of their plans and Connie doesn’t know how he’ll take the news.
Daryl sits patiently and waits hoping Connie tells him what’s going on with her but after a minute or so that patience runs out so he talks first.
‘You’re scaring me Connie.’
He rarely gets scared. Actually that’s a lie he often gets scared but chooses to ignore the fear with another emotion to ensure survival of himself and those he cares about and since this isn’t a life or death situation seeing Connie act the way she is right now leaves him fearful and he can’t ignore it. Something has to be wrong, he thought.
This snaps Connie out of her trance. She doesn’t want to say it out loud because when she does it’ll become real and she doesn’t know if she’s ready for it to be that. It’s not because she thinks Daryl will leave her, he would never and she is a hundred percent certain of that. It’s because this change in their relationship is big and Connie doesn’t like big changes but Daryl needs to know and they can face what’s to come together. Not all change is bad after all.
‘I think it’s time I actually go see a doctor.’
‘I told you that you should have gone the first time you threw up.’ he signs with a slightly agitated expression.
They both knew that being sick wasn’t uncommon especially in the world they live in today so when he mentioned going to the hospital Connie rolled her eyes, jokingly called him dramatic, said she’d be fine and moved on. The next morning he was more persistent but again Connie continued to avoid the suggestion. But now she couldn’t and wouldn’t.
‘You’re right but I don’t need to go to the hospital to find out what’s wrong with me, I already know that.’ Connie signs the last part hesitantly.
Daryl leans forward in anticipation ready for whatever it is. The sooner he knows the better.
Taking a deep breath and exhaling it slowly to ease her heart rate she signs.
‘I’m pregnant.’
His eyebrows furrow. Confused is the feeling that crosses over Daryl and it’s not a ‘how did this happen confused’ but a ‘I don’t know what you just said’ confused. Connie isn’t surprised that he doesn’t know this sentence in ASL and why would he, it's not a common phrase people use in day to day life. Maybe that’s why she signed it to give herself more time to digest the information herself.
Daryl goes to reach for her notepad and pen (that she barely has to use during their many conversations now) on the small bedside table but Connie stops him by gently grabbing his reach out hand. He looks up at her, his piercing blue eyes finding Connie’s bold brown ones and a stillness fills the air around them.
With tears forming in her eyes and a small nervous smile gradually appearing on her face, she slowly moves his hand forward and flattens his palm to her stomach, lapping both her hands over his.
Daryl’s body figures out what it means before his mind does because tears begin to form in his eyes seconds after he makes contact. Happy overwhelmed tears. Then the realisation hits. Connie is going to have his baby. They're going to have a baby. His glistening eyes look up to her face and then back down to her stomach a few times while he processes this. Fatherhood for Daryl was never on the cards. It’s not that he didn’t like children, he loved his niece and nephew with his entire being and he enjoyed being in the company of all of his family's children like Hershel, Gracie and Coco. Aaron even told him years ago he’d be a good dad which he dismissed not thinking anymore of it. He believed that he’d always be alone while everyone else found their life partners and he was okay with that.
Yes there was Leah but he realised that their time together was due to both of them being so similar and lonely, turning to her for comfort was quite easy because he was away from his family and in a secluded place so it didn’t feel as real, the feelings were real but that was a long time ago in the past and nothing compared to what he feels for Connie. They have a future.
After a minute or two Connie removes her hands from over Daryl's which he then drops to place on the bed next to his lap. She continues to gaze at him and as he gazes up at her. A couple seconds go by, simultaneous smiles start to appear on their lips which turn into big grins. Daryl abruptly stands up and circles both his arms around Connie’s waist lifting her up in a strong hug, she wraps her own arms tightly around his shoulders as he lifts her feet off the ground.
They relish in this life changing moment.
Putting her back down, he pulls back slightly to wipe his own fallen tears and then hers.
‘We’re having a baby.’ signing.
‘We’re having a baby.’ Connie repeats.
They share a kiss that’s so full of love it fills them both with such content. They will always cherish this moment, this moment they never knew they wanted but so glad they have.