Snow was melting now, the house they were holding up in had kept them warm, but it wasn't suitable, the door could easily be taken down, and the dead were beginning to grow more restless. The group was moving from place to place to protect their pack and their heavily pregnant omega.

Daryl was surprisingly happy, he didn't complain about the moving, and even when his mate requested him to stay in the car if he could he'd get out and help check the area or shoot a rogue walker. That night they were held up in an old house, the pack had become more used to sleeping together and they enjoyed it more, they didn't tend to divide up space. They worked as one.

Daryl was laying with Rick when he felt the movement, it had become more frequent and it made him smile each time, this time however Rick got to feel it too. Rick began to chirp like a pup as he held his hand on the middle of Daryl's pregnant stomach. Small ripples hit Rick's hand, the pups kicking like crazy. "You like that alpha?" Daryl mumbled as he rolled onto his back, Rick was sitting up now watching the kicks come. The pack was watching Rick and Daryl with light in their eyes, no matter how bad it got the prime couple and the thought of two little pups running around could get their hopes up. Rick nodded with a smile as he continued to watch, mesmerized.

Carl and Beth were growing curious now, Daryl side eyed Rick who smiled beckoning them close. "You want to feel your siblings?" Rick asked.

"Yes please," Beth smiled. The girl was careful as she placed her hand down, Daryl smiled watching her do so, she was hesitant but the moment her hand got the first kick her eyes were wide and her smile bright. She turned to look at the pack with a large grin plastered on her face. Maggie and Hershel smiled, Beth was flushing with the pack, with Daryl as her mother and Rick her surrogate father. Rick never required the girl to call her dad, he never asked her to and Hershel knew very well the man wasn't trying to take his daughter from him. Carl then placed his hand down beside his 'sister's', the two pups wide eyed as the kicks came to their hands.

"Can we name them when they come momma?" Carl asked, watching Daryl excitedly, Rick snickered. The two had expected them to ask that.

"As long as you follow one rule, they deserve new names. We have lost so many, but they deserve their very own." Rick remarked. The two pups squealed excitedly, Daryl grinned as the pack watched carefully.

"You can touch too, you know." Daryl offered, it wasn't often that Daryl accepted physical touch from anyone but his pups and mate. The pack looked at one another before eagerly taking turns. Maggie and Glenn held their hands on his stomach together, they had been courting and wished for their own pups one day. Their fingers were slightly interlocked, that's where the kicks came between their fingertips. T-Dog was shy about it, but was eager he looked at Rick who nodded with permission. In a pack this was a big deal, allowing your pack even the betas to touch your mates stomach while pregnant meant a lot.

As the man's hand wrapped softly around the bump the kicks were softer but still feelable, he smiled big. "Thank you." T-Dog whispered as he stepped to the side. Carol was quick to set her hand down, the rush of euphoria flushed over her.

"You are going to be a good mother," the woman smiled nodding to Daryl. Daryl smiled, the doll he had ensured she got was still wrapped in her bag. "You already are." She turned her head to the side, Carl and Beth were happily discussing the names of their future siblings. Daryl smiled, he felt a tinge of sadness thinking back to the pups he had lost.

Sophia and Jimmy, as well as the pups that were ripped from him by their father Moralis.

Hershel was last but certainly not least, he had felt the pups a few times while checking on the omega but he was adamant this was the best time. Rick smiled as he watched his pack commit this intimate act. He wished Shane, Andrea, and Dale were here too, and wished they could see the omega growing with life.

Rick then laid his hand back down, Daryl smiled looking up at his mate.

Their prime.

Daryl grinned as Rick began to rumble with pride, the pups would be here soon, and he needed walls. Needed security. Rick kissed Daryl's belly button getting a sweet kick from within, Daryl snickered as the alpha adjusted his jaw a bit.

"Those little things have a good kick in them." Rick noted.

"Gonna be alphas like their daddy." Daryl remarked, he honestly hoped they weren't like him. Weren't plagued with the curse the world had made being an omega. They were wanted by all to collect or use, Daryl was beyond lucky his pack was good, that his alpha loved him.

Rick smiled, his pack was close, they had gone through so much together. Their scents intermingling, the strongest that of Dary's the sweet vanilla.

The groans brought them from their happy moment. Rick was quick to stand, the pups stepping behind him. Maggie and Glenn helped Daryl up on his feet while standing on either side of him, Hershel and Carol each stepped in front of one of the pups and T-Dog took the back, they had a straight shot to the cars and their huddle was one of protection. Daryl grumbled but knew it was safest for him to be in the middle.

They quickly got into the cars and drove more, they parked in the middle of the woods sleeping in the cars that night. Rick, Daryl, Beth, Carl, and Hershel in one while Maggie, Glenn, T-Dog and Carol slept in another. Daryl adjusted uncomfortably but wouldn't complain, he refused to act like he was more miserable than the rest of them just because he was with pup. The next morning they kept driving, Daryl was ready for these two rowdy pups to pop, they stopped to convene on gas and other necessary things when Daryl let out a soft whine. He didn't mean to, but as a small foot kicked into his ribs he doubled slightly. The pack was quick to check on their omega, he waved them off.

"Just a damn foot in my ribs." He muttered, tapping the left side of his stomach in hopes of repositioning them.

Rick cocked his head, the entire pack knew Daryl was probably feeling it more than he let on. "You want to take a walk 'mega?" Rick asked, Daryl nodded eagerly. Rick handed him his crossbow and they began to walk down an old rail. The pack stayed back knowing Rick wanted time alone with his mate. "Are you really feeling okay? None of us have heard you complain once, not when we knew you were hungry, or needed to adjust how you were sitting. You haven't let out much as one whine until today."

"This isn't the only thing we are all dealing with," Daryl replied, rubbing his hand down his stomach.

"We aren't all pregnant Daryl," Rick finally replied after a minute of silence, "you are Daryl not us."

"Yeh, I know but..the entire pack is a part of our relationship, they are relying on us. We are prime, us. I may be the one carrying our little monsters," at the comment he got another kick to his ribs, he winced a bit but didn't buckle, "but you are their father. Those pups over there are their siblings, those betas and that elder look to us for answers. They protect us, they protect our unborn pups as well as our living ones. I am not going to make it worse for anyone then it has to be." Daryl grumbled. "So what if I miss a meal, I was raised in a goddamn closet, there were times I went weeks with only a cup of water and suppressants. This," he waved his hand over his stomach then at the trees around them, "is easy Rick."

Rick was hesitant about what to say next, but there was a low growl that escaped his throat. "Weeks?"

Daryl narrowed his eyes, "what?"

"Weeks, you said you went weeks in a closet with only suppressants and a cup of water. Is that true?"

"That ain't the point," Daryl replied.

"But I want an answer."

"Yes. Alright, yes. The longest was two weeks and five days, then I got a half empty bag of stale chips and a new bottle of water and more suppressants. I asked for more and got my first lash Rick. You want to do this now?"

Rick stopped hearing the whine in Daryl's words. "No..I'm sorry..I shouldn't have..I'm sorry." Daryl exposed his neck to Rick, the alpha leaned in taking in his mates scent. He calmed then did the same for Daryl. Daryl eagerly took in his mates scent, the memories of the past he was still trying to understand knocking like the dead. "I just worry about you Daryl, you are my mate. Our bond is stronger than Alpha and Omega, our bond isn't just about our pups. Or that you could give me them."

Daryl nodded, he turned and kept walking trying to clear his head when his eyes grew wide. "Damn shame."

Rick came out of the bush and his mind started working. "That's it."

"What?"

"We are making that our home. We can take the courtyard, then the inside little bits at a time, we can do this, that is where we will live. Those fences, the walls, we can do this."

"Can I help?" Daryl asked, raising his crossbow, he was eager to please his mate. Rick was hesitant, but nodded.

"As long as you and I are together, we can do it. About to pop or not," Rick kissed Daryl quickly, he was excited. The scent of contentness wafting through the woods being taken by the wind. Daryl smiled, thankful he was still going to be useful. He wanted to make sure that this was the packs home, and that he was a part of its beginning. Rick and Daryl headed back, at the scent of their alpha the pack knew a plan was hatching.

"There is a prison close, we can take it, it has fences. Guard towers, we can make this a real home. We need walls for the packs pups, we need to begin to farm and rebuild. We need this, we need this place and we need this win. We can do this as a pack, we have become so strong we can handle this. There will be walls for once, there will be a place we can use to make whole. I need this, I need to know my pups are safe, that my pack is safe, that my omega is safe."

The pack nodded ready, they had become a machine in the last few months. They had ups, and they had downs, this was going to work for them. "We are ready, alpha." T-Dog smiled.

"We want this too." Glenn remarked, Maggie took his hand in hers and raised them up.

Hershel and Carol agreed as well.

"You pups in for it?" Daryl huffed, he wouldn't go if the pups didn't.

"Yes momma." Carl chirped, Beth smiled nodding in agreement.

"Then we take it, and it will become ours." Rick barked, they nodded piling into the cars to prepare. The drive over to the prison seemed to breathe new life into the pack, Daryl was itching to shoot a few walkers. Hershel wanted a safe place for his daughters, and the pups, Glenn and Maggie wanted to see life flourish and relationships sharpen. T-Dog wanted to make sure Rick knew he could be counted on, Carol wanted walls to protect these pups better than her own, Rick wanted a safe place to raise his family.

The pack piled out of the cars, Daryl once again placed in the middle as they began to cut open the fencing. T-Dog kept the outside while Maggie and Glenn took either side of Daryl. Hershel and Carol were in charge of the pups, Rick took the lead, the pack rushed through while Glenn began to wrap the fence together. This was going well, so far, and they hoped it continued this way.

Daryl was starting to get real excited at this point, the scent of vanilla and pure pleasure was rushing from Daryl. Rick eyed the pregnant omega wondering if a knot this late would either send him into labor or get him pregnant again.

He shook the thought from his head and they began to plan.

"Alright, Daryl and Carol up in the guard towers. I need my good shots."

Daryl smiled proud of his abilities, Carol nodded excitedly happy to be given a job. "Beth, Maggie, and Glenn I need you down here killing and getting their attention so I can run and shut the gates. Hershel I need you and Carl in the opposite gun tower, all eyes on me. T-Dog, I need you here, you open the fence and close it when I go out, same when I finish."

The rest of the pack nodded. Daryl, Carol, Carl, and Hershel raced to their positions.

"You okay pookie?" Carol asked Daryl as he huffed up the steps.

"Oh shut it, just fine." The heavily pregnant omega snarled at her.

The two laughed it off as they got up, Daryl looked to his pups with pride, then to his mate. A bit of fear but overall they were feeling pretty good about how the series of events were playing out for them. Daryl continued to watch carefully, Rick nodded and T-Dog let him inside the walker filled fence. Those in the guard tower began to help take out the threats that weren't going to the sound of rattling fences or yelling.

Daryl let his arrows fly, he felt exhilarated, his unborn pups kicking as if they were helping in the fight for their new home. He laughed as they did, Carol eyed the omega when she saw the movement under his shirt.

"They helping?" The beta questioned.

"Kicking ass." Daryl replied, smiling big.

The two nodded at one another as they continued to help take out the dead, Rick raced through shooting the ones he needed. He was quick and adrenalin was taking over, he kicked one back and slammed the gate closed locking it up. He turned, there were a few coming for him but thankfully the guard tower was there. Daryl shot an arrow right beside his head, Rick turned seeing a walker had been much closer then he had thought. Daryl nodded to Rick who nodded to Daryl.

They were going to do this.

Rick raced up the guard tower and Daryl smiled. "Light it up!" Daryl shouted, the others began to shoot. Daryl felt the pups kick a bit more before the gunfire ceased, they had done it.

They had done it!

The group howled in joy, they raced out to get to the fields, they would take some time to pull the bodies around and make space but this, this was a real start. Daryl was slow to make it down the steps of the guard tower. As he stepped out into the light Rick and Hershel were the first to pick up on a new scent radiating off of Daryl.

Rick was getting more excited, the pups were coming soon.

"What are you looking at me like that for alpha?" Daryl snapped, he was being eyed by everyone but Rick in particular was freaking him out a little. "No time for sex."

Glenn, Beth, and Carl yelped in surprise at the brash words. Rick smiled and narrowed his eyes a bit. "For one, there is always time for that, and two, you smell like milk. Milk and vanilla."

Daryl stopped moving, he brushed his stomach in surprise.

He didn't know he could smell like that, that the pups would have this effect on him. "How long am I gonna smell like that for?"

"Till you finish feeding, if they go a whole year you may smell like your pretty pine and milk. Or if you get pregnant again, vanilla and milk."

"Ain't no way you are putting more of those," he pointed at Beth and Carl, "Inside me. These four are already pains in my ass." Beth and Carl snickered, the pups inside kicked in reply. "I don't need another one anytime soon. Four is enough, four is far too much."

"But we want more puppies!" Beth cried.

"You aren't carrying them inside you little lady." Daryl barked back, the girl smiled in response. He shot an arrow into the furthest guard tower. "Momma wants that one back."

The two pups looked at one another and raced off trying to push the other one over in the process. "No, I want to bring it back!" Carl yelled as Beth pulled it free. The two began a yelling match, but Beth had it first. They began to run back to Daryl, he took the arrow and shot it again.

"Oops." Daryl said with a smirk, the pack laughed as the pups raced off to get it for their mother. "Going to tire those little monsters out so they stop ganging up on me with their father. No more, not for a while. You got me."

Rick nodded smiling, they watched for about half an hour as Daryl would shoot the arrow and the pups would retrieve. The last arrow the pups began to growl and yap at one another, "Carl be nice to your sister!" Daryl shouted as Carl pushed Beth. Caryl lowered his head, the sheriff hat hiding the smile in his eyes.

"This is going to be a good place for us Rick," Hershel began, "once we get all those bodies out we can start a farm. Maybe find some wild pigs or escaped cows. I think we could set it up real nice."

Daryl yelped in pain, everyone turned to look at him with concern. "You little asses." He snarled to his stomach, everyone could see a foot poking out of either side, what they couldn't see was the fists in his ribs. "They gang up on me like those two. Butt heads too," he looked at Rick. "Wonder where they get that from."

"Don't blame me for this." Rick snapped holding up his hands in self defense.

Daryl looked at the two pups watching them. "Momma wants you two to go collect all my arrows I shot, go."

The two got up and raced off claiming themself the one that would bring Daryl back the most arrows. Once the pups were out of ear shot Daryl leaned closer. "You are the one who knotted me during my first heat and knocked me up. This is your fault." Daryl snapped back, Glenn started to feel hot again averting his eyes. The others laughed at his comment, he was growing more comfortable with the pack and willing to say whatever he wanted when he wanted.

"Well then, maybe I just wont knot you next time you beg for it." Rick replied with a fire in his eyes.

Daryl mumbled something under his breath as T-Dog and Maggie made another bet. The pups finally returned with arrows. They each had the same amount so there was no fighting going on between them. The rest of the day was spent piling bodies into the truck to burn when they could, they then set up a nice place to rest and sleep.

Rick kissed Daryl lovingly, Daryl grinned, he leaned in and whispered something to Rick who eyed his mate before standing. "Excuse us please."

Maggie smiled and T-Dog tossed a rock handing her two bullets and a piece of his dinner. Glenn gave them a curious look when Daryl yelped being picked up by Rick. Despite the weight he had gained he was still easy for Rick to move. Daryl was set carefully on the ground and whisked off to the furthest guard tower. They walked up the steps stopping for kisses and laughing at the bet that Maggie and T-Dog continually kept on if they would stop for sex or not. As they shut the door and Daryl was laid out Rick smiled.

"Last time before those little puppies get here." Rick remarked.

"Maybe." Daryl replied. "Maybe."

Rick smirked as he tossed his shirt off, Daryl was quick with his own. His scars embarrassed him still, there was always going to be shame behind them but with Rick it wasn't bad. He didn't feel the need to hide anymore. Soon both of the men had their pants off and Rick helped the omega into a kneeling position. "Hold the bars alright, if it gets too much I will stop, no questions asked." Rick ordered. Daryl nodded, spreading his legs apart slightly, he held onto the bars, his head hanging down the hair that had grown longer, hiding his baby blues. Rick began to slowly enter into his mate.

Daryl moaned at the sudden feeling, Rick's thrusts were soft and sweet. He could be brutal if he wanted but this wasn't the time, Daryl was a week if not a few days from giving birth and he just wanted to give him one last time before he was going to be feeding and resting for a while. Rick smiled as he stroked Daryl's cock, Daryl grunted moaning and muttering under his breath. "Cum for me." Rick growled, Daryl bucked his hips pushing back on the alpha male. Rick let out a surprised hmph as Daryl came and Rick knotted.

"Fuck!" Daryl yelped, Rick panicked but didn't move. The rush of seed sent Daryl's eyes crossing. "Ah..fuck..yes."

"Did you do that on purpose?" Rick mumbled.

"Maybe." Daryl grunted, he needed that, he had needed that so badly.

Rick rolled his eyes trying not to upset Daryl, he was just worried this would do more damage than good. However the omega seemed fine as he breathed heavily and shook in bliss and pleasure. "Ah..yeh..you feel so good taking all of me Daryl."

Daryl blushed and whined in pleasure as the knot finally popped. Rick helped Daryl back into his clothes, he watched him carefully for a good ten minutes before he let him down the stairs to ensure he didn't go into labour.

"No pups yet." T-Dog whispered back to Maggie who handed one bullet back slowly.

Glenn rolled his eyes, he loved Maggie but that women and sex bets was getting out of hand. Daryl sat slowly with the help of Rick and Carol. The pack made their way to their sleeping pile soon after. Daryl laying against Rick, Beth and Carl laying as close to their mom as they could get without Rick growling. Maggie and Glenn were sleeping closer now, and then T-Dog. The semi circle still mostly applying, with Hershel and Carol on the outskirts of the arrangement. They would clear out a cell block in the morning, they needed to be prepared if Daryl went into labor.

That next morning they woke to the sounds of the pups bickering, Daryl opened his eyes to see Beth running around with Carl's hat in her hand. "Beth! Give your brother his hat back." He yelled, the girl stopped and handed it over. The rest of the pack started to wake and prepare for the day, they had a long road ahead of them. Rick watched the pups chase and run, they finally had space and felt safe enough to do so. He smiled, he was so thankful that they had found this prison.

"Those two are going to end up killing one another," Daryl grumbled watching Beth and Carl throw a rock back and forth. "Honestly."

"I'll talk to them, tell them they are giving their mother heart palpitations." Rick smiled, Daryl narrowed his eyes letting out a low growl. He made sure no one was in the line of fire and shot an arrow past Rick's head. He was growing more agitated the closer to popping he got. Rick cocked his head and raised an eyebrow. "Did you just shoot at me?"

The pack was silent watching their alpha talk to his mate, the pups were rushing to get the arrow Daryl had shot. "Yes."

"You could have killed me."

"I'm a good ass shot, If I wanted to hurt you I would have." Daryl remarked as Carl came running, arrow in hand. Daryl took the arrow from the pup and looked past Rick with a smile, "You can't get this one." The archer said to both pups as he shot the arrow again. Everyone turned to watch it, the arrow glided through the air twisting in the air. It went through both fences landing between the eyes of an unsuspecting walker. "Like I said, if I wanted to kill you or injure you I would have."

Rick turned back to look at his mate who had turned to walk towards the truck to find a ball for the pups, his hips swaying with each step. Rick's eyes were wide and his body told him to take that omega right there in front of the whole pack to assert his dominance, but all he wanted to do was kiss him.

The others were talking, Daryl was impressive and an asset they needed. Rick had picked a good mate, they all hoped that even if Daryl had kept his second gender a secret Rick would have picked him as his mate.

"Are y'all ready to clear out a block?" Daryl asked, poking his head around the truck, he watched Rick with a smile. "Cause I sure as hell am."

The pack whooped in excitement, they were going to claim this space for themselves. The courtyard was already theirs, now they needed walls.

Rick smirked watching his mate hand out weapons. The pups took weapons as well and they began their tirade.

The biggest issue was they needed to spread out to attack but the also had a need to circle the vulnerable and weaker of the pack.

Daryl was fine with being with the pups he knew if anything did happen he would be able to protect despite being so far along. However Rick didn't like the idea much, so he split the group Carl and Beth with Hershel and Carol. Maggie, T-Dog and Glenn, then himself and Daryl.

The normal inmate walkers were fine and easy to deal with, it was the undead riot cops and swat that made it more difficult. Daryl shot an arrow in hopes of getting through the shield mask and found it was no use. The archer growled as his arrow bounced back towards him. He grabbed it quickly and Rick stepped in front of him stabbing upwards into the skull of the walker.

The positives about them wearing the mask is they couldn't bite, the negatives was the brain was hard to get to.

Blood spraying, bodies rolling, arrows and bullets flying they fought through the hoard of undead through to their new home.

Cell Block C.

Rick found keys, he handed one to Daryl, one to Carl, and one to himself. "This, this is where we set up. We will slowly cut down other blocks but for now, this is what we call our space."

Daryl began looking cell to cell. "Daryl what are you doing?"

"Finding my nesting spot." He yelled back as he climbed a set of stairs, they watched him and Rick hid his smile seeing him wobble. Daryl entered the guard tower, more room here.

Then without a word he began to walk out to the car for the blankets and coats that had kept them warm all winter as well as the few pillows that they had been able to keep. He walked in and out a few times and no one could stop him.

He was nesting.

Rick couldn't help but smile seeing the usually very brash and careless archer become meticulous about each item's placement. Pillow here, blanket there, coat there, Rick's shirts in a pile in the corner. They watched him with smiles on their faces as he sat in the center and looked around making sure it was all perfect.

"What does nesting mean dad?" Carl asked.

"Means your siblings are coming real soon." Rick replied with a grin as Daryl began to move and fluff pillows.

"Not yet..not right." He mumbled as he moved more pillows or an odd shirt around. He grumbled still feeling something was wrong he was missing something.

"What's wrong mom?" Beth asked, Daryl turned his head to look at the girl when he saw the hat. That damn sheriff's hat.

"When the pups come, can I use the hat? Kinda as a little bed-ish..till we find them a crib?" Daryl asked, watching it intently.

"Yeh of course." Carl said, taking it off.

"No you should wear it till then, let your sister too. That way the pups can get used to your scent." Daryl replied, refusing to take the hat from the pups. They nodded and Beth took it over for a little bit. This place could be perfect, all he wanted was that hat.