AN: I need Alexandria to go away. I'm bored out of my skull writing this. I need walkers and excitement and for Hope to have her baby already (which is finally happening, yay!). Honestly, I feel like my writing has gotten progressively worse. Daryl's Angel was good, Beyond Terminus it got better, ANNNNDDDD now it's plummeting again. Ugh.

"Are you sure you don't want to go to the medical centre?" Elliot frets, keeping a secure arm around me as we walk towards Carol's house.

I shake my head. "I'm fine, really. I'll come to the medical centre when it comes time for me to actually give birth."

He creases his eyebrows worriedly, adjusting his glasses with his free hand.

"I can't believe you actually told Daryl to go on the run today," he comments.

"I don't need him staying here and worrying about me," I retort smoothly.

He sighs. "You know, it's alright to have people worry about you. It shows they care."

I frown a little, but quickly hide it and let my lips twitch into a relaxed smile. "Well, it's alright to loosen up and know that some people don't need constant supervision."

I poke his chest lightly, ignoring the cramping pain that moves through me at that moment. My friend rolls his eyes, glancing back at the gate.

"You're funny, Hope," he says.

"Funny as in comedian?"

He shakes his head. "No, funny as in you're different. You've been out there with your group since the beginning, and yet you're not like them. You can kill walkers, unlike me, but you're still holding onto the kindness that certain people..."

He pauses, and I just know that he's thinking of Rick. I know that Elliot believes Rick can help us, he just wishes that my current leader was less violent and harsh in his methods of teaching. I choose to remain quiet on the matter, not wanting my opinion to cause any more rifts in this fragile community.

"Um...certain people have lost," he finishes.

"I know," I say softly. "I don't know how I've managed...maybe I've been kind of naïve, or I just hold onto the hope that things can still get better."

Elliot smiles lightly, not showing any teeth but still offering warmth with the gesture. "I personally think it's great. I mean, if anyone is to remain hopeful, it should be the girl named Hope, right?"

"Now you're making puns?" A teasing smile crosses my face.

He shrugs. "I try." He looks up, relaxing a little. "Oh, here we are."

Sure enough, we're in front of Carol's house. I sigh a little, feeling heavy and sluggish. Of course, that's exactly what I am right now.

Carol opens the door as we reach the porch, her eyes widening. I smile sheepishly and wave.

"Hey Carol," I greet.

"She's in labour," Elliot adds. "I assume Daryl told you?"

She nods. "I already set up the couch. Come on in."

The grey-haired woman moves forwards and stands at my other side, helping me through the door. I force one foot in front of the other, step by step, just wanting to sit down again. The two of them finally manage to get me to the living room, and I slump onto the cushy couch willingly. I rest my hands over my stomach, finally able to relax.

"Carol?" I hear Carl call from upstairs. "Is that Hope?"

"Her and Elliot just got here!" Carol returns.

There's a few thumping footsteps before Carl appears at the doorway with Judith in his arms. He smiles lightly when he sees me, moving to my side and sitting down.

"Hey...how're you feeling?" he asks gently.

I exhale heavily and smile a little. "Aside from the pain? Fine."

He smiles. "I just...I just hope this goes better. The last time a baby was born..."

We both look at Judith, who gurgles happily and claps her hands together.

"Ca-ca," she coos, tugging lovingly at her brother's shaggy hair.

"Yeah, Ca-Ca," he returns, kissing her forehead lightly.

I shut my eyes, taking a few deep breaths. Carl looks up at me, moving a little closer as he takes my hand and squeezes lightly.

"Did you and Daryl already talk over names?" he asks.

I nod. "Melody Taylor for a girl, Theo Chase if it's a boy."

"Nice names."

"Thanks."

He rubs a small circle on my palm as a sigh passes his lips. "You'll be a great mom, I know it."

"Thanks Carl."

"No problem...Auntie Hope." A teasing smile graces his face as his eyebrows wiggle.

I nudge him gently in the shoulder with my fist. "Goofball."

----------

I stir from sleep as I hear screams echoing from outside. I look around, hazy with confusion, just able to make out Carol saying, "You have to stay here and keep Judith and Hope safe."

The door slams shut and I hear the latch click. I wince as a cramp sends pain through my body, trying to push myself up.

"Carl?" I call.

The teen dashes into the living room, large gun in hand. He purses his lips, moving to my side.

"Just...stay calm," he orders gently. "There's people inside the gates...bad people. They aren't getting in." His face grows steely, cold and determined. "I won't let them."

"What about-" I cringe as a small gasp leaves me. "What about Elliot? I'm going to...to..." My eyes widen and I tremble noticeably. "Carl..."

He lowers the gun and grasps one of my hands. "Just. Stay. Calm."

"I'm having a baby while there's murderers outside," I snap. "How the heck am I supposed to stay calm."

He sighs. "I don't know. Just...hold on."

I take a deep breath, resting a hand on my stomach as I bite my lip.

----------

The cramping gets worse by the minute, and I find it harder and harder to keep my cries silent. Carl peeks in regularly to check on me, his face creased with worry. I try to be as positive as possible, but the screams of Alexandrians outside does little to help.

I hear the doorknob rattling, something that makes my heart jump up into my throat. Carl looks to me, placing a finger on his lips. Carefully, he slips towards the back door. I can only wait and see what happens. There's a few more jiggles before the door opens, a small gasp sounding.

"Hi," Enid's voice sounds slowly.

"Why didn't you just knock?" Carl asks.

"I have these," she comments, and I swear there's a jingle of keys for a second. "Didn't want them to have them." Carl slips back into view, sparing a sympathetic smile as Enid watches him. "And I wanted to say goodbye."

"Okay, watch the back door," Carl orders, ignoring her last words. "Tell me if you see them coming."

"I'm not staying," she insists.

"You're not going anywhere," he retorts smoothly. "Sit down. You're helping me protect Hope and Judith."

Enid seems to notice that I'm there for the first time, her eyes widening minimally. I whimper in pain, the aches of labour growing worse and worse.

"Oh my-" she starts.

"They're not getting inside this house," Carl interrupts. "We're not gonna let them."

"How...how bad is it?" I ask, panting a little.

Enid sits down on the floor, hugging her knees to her chest. She doesn't answer me. Carl settles down with his back against hers, still remaining silent. I bite my lip, pressing my head into the pillow beneath it and trying to be just as quiet.

"Did you see them?" Carl asks.

"They're just people," Enid responds. "This place is too big to protect. There are too many blind spots. That's how we were able to-"

"They got in the walls, but they're gonna die," he promises. "All of them." There's another beat as they both take a deep breath. "Don't tell me goodbye."

"Okay," she whispers. "I won't."

A sudden pain, worse than any of the other contractions, moves through me and I cry out. Carl gets to his feet in an instant, moving to my side. Tears stream down my face, the agony growing.

"The baby...it's coming," I stammer, grabbing onto the bottom of the couch and squeezing. "You...you need to help me. Elliot...Elliot won't get here in time, not in this mess."

Carl nods, motioning to Enid. She moves to his side hesitantly, still staring at me in shock. An almost feral scream breaks through me, my cries becoming heavier.

"Hope, calm down...it's okay, it's okay..." Carl soothes.

"Daryl...D-Daryl isn't here..." I sob. "He n-needs to be here."

He purses his lips once more, his blue eyes stark with sympathy. He glances to Enid, who seems to be waiting for his response.

"Come on, help me get her pants off," he mutters.