Hope's POV

I lean back in my rocking chair, watching the people moving past from my porch. My feet ache so much lately, the extra baby weight the cause. I run my hand over the mound, shutting my eyes as I hum under my breath. I remember that babies can hear their mother's voice, so I've taken to singing to the baby when I'm relaxing.

Melody Taylor or Theo Chase, whoever he or she turns out to be, I hope they're wonderful and healthy. It's all I can ask for right now. Please, let my baby be strong enough to survive.

Slowly, my humming turns into words. I still can't believe I'm remembering all these little bits and pieces of songs after so long, but I guess certain things stick with me. Then again, Alexandria does have a lot of CDs for me to listen to nowadays.

"Your little hand's wrapped around my finger,
And it's so quiet in the world tonight.
Your little eyelids flutter cause you're dreaming,
So I tuck you in, turn on your favorite night light.
To you everything's funny, you got nothing to regret.
I'd give all I have, honey,
If you could stay like that."

My hand runs over my protruding stomach over and over, the simple song making my heart ache with memories of my childhood.

"Oh darling, don't you ever grow up.
Don't you ever grow up, just stay this little.
Oh darling, don't you ever grow up.
Don't you ever grow up, it could stay this simple.
I won't let nobody hurt you, won't let no one break your heart.
And no one will desert you.
Just try to never grow up, never grow up."

Elliot and Sasha walk by in the road, Lightning weaving around at their feet. Elliot says something to her, and she cracks a smile and laughs a little. I smile too, loving that she's getting back to normal again.

Elliot looks up at me, waving and flashing a grin. I return the gesture, one hand on my stomach as I feel a small kick. I exhale heavily and lean my head back.

"You're gonna fight like your daddy, aren't you?" I murmur, taking a sip of my water from the glass nearby.

"Talkin' to yourself again?" Daryl asks as he lets the door swing shut.

I swivel a little, taking in his damp hair and unbuttoned shirt. I smirk.

"The baby, actually. He's a great listener," I respond.

He cracks a small smirk as he brushes my bangs aside, kissing my forehead gently. "I suppose he is."

I run my hand down his arm, taking his hand in mine. He doesn't protest. Instead, he pulls up a chair next to me, settling down without detangling our fingers. We watch the road for a moment, holding hands, no words being uttered between us.

For a moment, I wish it could be like this in the distant future. The two of us on a porch, me in a rocking chair, Daryl beside me, when we're nothing more than two old geezers with their glory days behind them.

"Is there a timer or something for the food?" he asks.

"I set one," I respond. "When it goes off, I'll waddle in and fix up our dinner."

"Waddle?"

"I'm not exactly as graceful as I once was."

"Well, yeah, but waddle?"

"Call me Nurse Penguin."

He chuckles. "If you're Nurse Penguin, I'll be...Doctor Polar Bear."

"You're gonna remain far away from me?" I tilt my head a little.

He shifts, looking confused. "Huh? No. I mean...arctic animals, right?"

"Yeah, but the thing is, polar bears only live in the Arctic, the northern hemisphere, while penguins live in the Southern Hemisphere, principally the Antarctic. Thus, the chances of a wild polar bear and a penguin meeting are...zero." I shrug, a tiny bit of a smug smile appearing on my lips.

He rolls his eyes. "You can be a real smart-ass when you try."

"It's a talent."

"All I got from that was they're at separate poles, right?"

I clap my hands slowly, still teasing. "Congrats Mr Dixon! You get a gold star!"

He runs a hand through his shaggy hair and purses his lips. "Remind me why I love you?"

"Because you can't help it?"

"Yeah, I suppose so. Come 'ere."

He leans over and pulls me into a warm kiss, his hand resting on my neck as his thumb brushes my jaw. The timer goes off inside the house, making me break away.

"Gotta go cook," I say, pushing myself to my feet.

I exhale heavily, Daryl immediately keeping me steady. I smile at him, moving past him as fast as I can manage. He keeps his hand on the small of my back nearly the whole time.

"Alright Daryl, watch Nurse Penguin do her waddle," I say, shuffling into the house.

He laughs, following me. "So, what animal could I be that would be near a penguin?"

"A seal," I respond immediately, shutting off the timer and readying the pasta. I eye him with a small smirk. "You could pull yourself around on your little flippers and look all cute and cuddly."

His nose crinkles in disgust. "Woman, you'd think after three years you'd know me by now. I don't do cute and cuddly."

I dump the pasta into the boiling water and stir it, not looking his way.

"Too bad, you seem awfully cuddly at night."

"That's only 'cause you like cuddles."

"So it's settled. You're my Doctor Seal."

"God dammit," he curses under his breath.

"Gosh darnit," I return swiftly.

He only moves to my side and kisses my cheek, his hand resting on my stomach again.

"Think Mini Dixon is gonna be ready for our family?" he murmurs in my ear.

"He'll need to be. I'm getting tired of carrying him around all the time." I frown a little. "Feeling bloated in an apocalypse situation is rather uncommon."

His nose brushes my neck lightly as he breathes out. "Ah, no one can work a pregnancy like you."

"Not even Lori?"

"You'd win in a heartbeat, darlin'."

I smile, stirring the pot absentmindedly.