My eyes flew open, and I threw back the quilt, launching myself out of bed like a rocket.  I slapped a hand over my mouth like it might somehow buy me the time I needed to stumble to the bathroom.  I'd just managed to skid to a stop in front of the porcelain god when last night's dinner made a second appearance.  Closing my eyes, I gripped the toilet with white knuckles as saliva and bile flooded my mouth, my stomach contracting painfully a split second before the burn of acid tore at my throat. 

I was glued to the toilet for a few minutes after my body was finished exercising the demons, otherwise known as "morning sickness".  I'd made the mistake of leaving too soon only once, and Daryl's boots had paid the price. 

"Brought ya some tea."

Sweeping my long hair out of my face I glanced up my husband.  He was watching me with concerned eyes bordering on outright apprehension.  I eyed the cup in his hand with disdain.  I hated tea. 

"By tea, do you mean coffee?"

He watched me get to my feet and hastily brush my teeth.  He'd been doing that a lot lately, watching me like any moment something might happen.  I now knew what animals in the zoo must feel like.  It was killing him not to be able to do anything, to fix it.  It didn't matter how many times I told him this was normal he wasn't convinced. 

"Ya know what Siddiq said, too much caffeine ain't good for ya."

Rounding on him I thrust my toothbrush in his face like a weapon.  "You know what else isn't good for me?"  Daryl had the good sense to keep his big, fat mouth shut.  "Puking my guts out morning, noon, and night.  That's not good for me!  They should call it all day fucking sickness!"

Talk about false advertising.

Sid hosted a "What to Expect When Expecting" class a few months ago.  He painstakingly explained every aspect of pregnancy and just about every possibly delivery scenario known to man.  Out of everyone in the room I probably should have been paying the most attention.  Deadpool and Rick already had their childbirth merit badges, but after the first hours my eyes glazed over.  By hour two I was imagining different escape routes.  Not that I needed to pay attention, Daryl was so laser focused on the young doctor I don't think he blinked or breathed the entire time.  At least one of us was prepared.

Before I stopped pretending to listen, I remembered him mentioning morning sickness, how it was common, nothing to worry about, and normally abated by the end of the first trimester.  Well, I was officially in my second trimester and still upchucking like a college chic on spring break.

"Where's Chief Ramhorn?"

Daryl gestured vaguely behind him.  "With Lil' Asskicker." 

I needed to get my life together.  The fact my dog liked Nugget more than me made me want to cry or kill someone.  Since I wasn't allowed to kill people unless I had a really good reason crying was going to have to do.

"We got an appointment with Sid this mornin'," Daryl said softly, trying to talk me off the proverbial ledge.

Another joy of creating life were raging mood swings courtesy of the billion hormones fighting for dominance in my body.  One second I was absolutely livid and the next I couldn't turn off the waterworks.  Yesterday Billy Ray Cyrus announced he had fixed the solar power and I cried for an hour in our closet.

Sinking onto the bed I held my face in my hands.  "I feel like a crazy person."

The bed dipped when he sat down beside me, his muscular arm pulling me against his muscular chest.  "Ya ain't crazy.  Yur pregnant."

"Same difference," I sniffled, unable to stop my eyes from watering.  "Deadpool stopped throwing up weeks ago.  Did you see her yesterday?  She's practically glowing, and meanwhile, I'm sweating like Merle at a spelling bee and projectile vomiting better than that chic in the Exorcist." 

To say pregnancy didn't look good on me was a drastic understatement.  If Deadpool was the picture of a woman embracing pregnancy with both hands I was her polar opposite.  Where she looked vibrant and happy, I looked pale and sweatier than was socially acceptable anywhere except a spin class.  Her baby bump couldn't be labeled anything other than cute while mine looked like I'd indulged in one too many rounds at a Chinese buffet. 

Daryl put his finger under my chin, lifting my head until he could see my eyes.  "Yur the most beautiful woman in the world."  Now my eyes were leaking uncontrollably.  He smiled, leaning forward and kissing my forehead gently.  "I love ya Red."

"I love you too," I sobbed.

"Come on, we're gonna be late."

Reluctantly I got dressed for my doctor's appointment, and I used the term "got dressed" liberally.  It was all I could do to slip my swollen feet into fuzzy house slippers, rock a pair of sweatpants I'd stollen from Ezekiel the last time he was here, pulled on a sweatshirt Merle gave me, and topped it all off by pilling my messy locks into a bun on top of my head.

"Ready," I announced, stuffing my hands into the marsupial pouch on the front of the sweatshirt that proudly displayed in huge, bold, black letters, Pregnant AF.

Daryl bit his thumb while he slowly took in my ensemble.

"I bet you're regretting the 'the most beautiful woman in the world' comment now, huh?"

"Nope."

"Liar."

He snorted, taking my hand and leading us outside.  The community was already abuzz with activity.  The efforts to rebuild what the Saviors and walkers had destroyed a painstakingly long process.  My eyes shifted to the left, to the house that served as Negan's prison and I ground my teeth together.  I'd yet to see the former leader since we came back, and I had no plans to change that.  He could rot in his cell for all I cared. 

The walk to the Sid's wasn't long, but no less than 20 people greeted us along the way.  Daryl acknowledged each person, in his own way, which meant a nod or grunt.  Daryl didn't trust easily, and he let even fewer people into his inner circle.  He was like a running back going through life stiff arming people to keep them away.  Despite his efforts, people were drawn to the hunter.  He had a magnetism about him that attracted people despite his gruff exterior.

Well, that, or he was just hot as hell.

Apocalypse Barbie saw us and stopped, her perfectly sculpted eyebrows raising slightly.  "I'm surprised you're up before noon."

"I'm surprised you're wearing clothes that cover your catcher's mitt."

Daryl sighed, stepping in front of me to cut off Apocalypse Barbie's approach.  "That's enough.  It's too early for this shit."

I agreed wholeheartedly.  No one should be subjected to this much spandex so early in the morning.

She huffed, mumbling under her breath as she walked away without further comment.  Crazy as it sounded, verbally sparring with the woman actually made me feel better.  Judging by her almost smile I think she felt the same, either that or she was plotting my demise in her dungeon.  Not that I cared either way.  Ever since Daryl impregnated me everyone was tiptoeing around me, treating me with kid gloves.  I appreciated Apocalypse Barbie treating me like she always had, with disdain.  It was cute she felt confident enough to strut.

Once she was a safe distance away Daryl turned to face me.  "Why ya gotta mess with her?"

"She started it," I replied, pointing to the woman who had, in fact, pissed me off first.

"Red," he sighed.

"Don't Red me.  She's the one constantly wearing clothes that show off the good china."

Apocalypse Barbie continued to stride purposefully away, throwing her hand above her head and flipping me the bird.  I rocked back on my heels and chuckled, making my husband groan.  He took my hand and kept walking.  I interpreted his reaction to mean I was right.

My mood deteriorated the closer we got to Sid's.  It was impossible to forget the former occupant, or more specifically, how we'd failed her.  Denise had trusted us to keep her safe.  Tara had faith in us, and we'd let them both down.  I still had nightmares about holding her in my arms while she tried to speak, a bloody arrow protruding from her eye.

Like he could read my mind, which he probably could, Daryl squeezed my hand gently.  He didn't say anything because there was nothing to say. 

The front opened, Deadpool and Rick stepping onto the porch.  The couple smiled giddily at each other then started making out.  The wet smacking of their lips almost made me vomit on my brand-new sweatshirt.  Daryl showed grace I didn't think him capable of by diplomatically clearing his throat.  The rabid couple tore their faces off each other which allowed my traitorous stomach to settle, a little.

"Hey!" Deadpool beamed, bounding towards me with so much energy it made me dizzy.  She hugged me hard before pulling away and holding me at arm's length.  "I forgot you had an appointment today too.  How are you feeling?"

I was 100% sure how I felt was clearly displayed on my face.

"Great," I lied, giving her a thumbs up.

Deadpool looked radiant.  The look of a woman who'd stopped puking weeks ago and was embracing pregnancy with poise, grace, and beauty. 

I hated her.

"We'll catch up with ya later." 

Rick and Daryl shared their strange ritualistic boy greeting, and then the couple went right back to sucking face.  If I wasn't choking on puke I would have kissed Daryl for ushering us inside.  I bent forward, hands on my knees while I took deep breathes in through my nose and out through my mouth.

"Still nauseous?" Sid asked, stepping out of his office.

"Your powers of deduction know no bounds Sherlock," I countered, standing slowly once my stomach was somewhat under control. 

"Have a seat and we'll get started."

Twenty minutes later I'd been poked, prodded, and questioned like a prisoner of war only for Sid to announce I was knocked up.  Doctor school really was a complete waste of money.

"How is our morning sickness?"

I curled my hands into fists so I didn't do something stupid, like bitch slap him.  "I'm not sure I'd describe it as morning sickness."  Sid looked up expectantly, pen and paper ready.  "It's more like all damn day sickness."

He nodded, scribbling furiously.  "That's not unusual."

I wasn't sure how the knife in my hand appeared, maybe I blacked out, maybe it was magic, but before I could use it to threaten the doctor Daryl plucked it from my hands.  Sid gasped, scooting his rolling chair further away.

"Ya know the deal Red," Daryl chastised, tucking the knife into the back of his pants.  "No weapons."

"I never agreed to that."

"Ain't gotta agree.  It's against the rule."

He pointed to a handwritten sign taped to the wall behind him that read, No Weapons Allowed...This Means You Alex Dixon.

"Remind me to tell Nugget I like her work."

"Hey!" Sid squeaked, jumping to his feet.  "I worked hard on that."

I hooked a thumb at the disgruntled "almost" doctor.  "This is the man you're entrusting with your wife and child?"

Daryl's lips twitched, "It's him or Carol."

That sobered me up. 

"So, doctor, anything else?" I asked, on my best behavior.  I'd personally witnessed Carol prep for Lori's pregnancy, and I wanted her responsible for birthing my child like I wanted a hole in my head.

"Would you like to hear the heartbeat?"

The air seized in my lungs, my mouth hanging open in shock.  Meanwhile, Daryl was doing his best impression of a statue at my side.

"Ya can do that?"

Sid smiled, holding up something that looked like a microphone attached by a cord to a box.  "Yes, this is a fetal doppler and the transducer," Apparently the microphone was called a transducer.  Who knew?  "It's used to detect a fetal heartbeat."

"Well cut off my legs and call me shorty," Daryl mumbled.

Sid frowned, glancing at me.  "What does that mean?"

"That he's hungry."  Sid starred at me before glancing at Daryl to verify my translation, but my husband was still staring at me swollen belly in awe.  "Fire up the dope and let's get this show on the road."

"Doppler," Sid corrected.

If we had weed this would be more fun. 

Just sayin'.

Laying on the table I pulled up my sweatshirt, exposing my waist.  Sid rolled his chair forward, turning the machine on and placing the transducer on my stomach.  He fiddled with the dial for a second, sliding the transducer around until suddenly a loud and steady heartbeat filled the silent room.

My hand found Daryl's and I squeezed hard, eyes watering as I listened to our child's heart beating steadily.  It was the most amazing sound I'd ever heard.  Daryl's free hand cupped my cheek as he gazed down at me, and I his own eyes were filled with unshed tears.

"That's our baby," he whispered.  I nodded, and he leaned down, pressing his forehead against mine.  "That's incredible."

It was.  It really was.

"The heartbeat is 130 beats per minute which is good."

Sid shifted the transducer and the heartbeat faded abruptly.  Our eyes snapped to the doctor who assured us the baby was fine.  He moved the transducer around my stomach until finally the sound of a rapid heartbeat once again filled the room.

Daryl let out the breath he was holding, and I felt myself do the same.  Sid frowned, staring at my belly like he had x-ray vision.

"What's wrong?" I asked, squeezing Daryl's hand so hard I was probably breaking bones.

"It could be nothing."

"What the hell does that mean?"

The sound of the archer's stern voice had made lesser men pee their pants.  Either Sid was good at controlling his bladder or he wasn't paying attention.  He pressed a few buttons on the doppler then adjusted the transducer.  My body relaxed the instant a heartbeat pumped from the tiny speaker, but Sid's frown only deepened.  He immediately adjusted the transducer to the other side of my stomach.  Again, a steady, rhythmic heartbeat filled my ears.

"Sid?"

He repeated the exercise twice more before finally looking at me, a huge smile on his face.  "Congratulations!"

Daryl and I shared a look of confusion.

"For what?" I asked.

"You're pregnant."

"No sh...."

"With twins," he finished.

"The fuck did ya just say?" Daryl asked, his face a few shades paler than a second ago.

"It means you're having two babies."  Sid held up two fingers like it might somehow make this news easier to digest.  "See, listen," He held the transducer on the right side of my stomach.  "This one has a steady heartrate of 130 beats per minute."  He moved the transducer to the far-left side of my stomach.  "And this one has a heartrate of 140 beats per minute."

I may not have paid attention in Sid's class, but I knew enough to realize there was no way a baby could have two different heartrates simultaneously.  I also knew the baby was only the size of a peach or an apple or some fucking piece of fruit that most definitely would not stretch across my stomach.

"This explains so much."  I was glad someone found this comforting because I was freaking out.  "At first I thought we might have your conception date wrong which was why you were measuring bigger than normal."  I was pretty sure he just called me fat, but since I was in the middle of absorbing my buy one, get one surprise I let it slide.  "And why your morning sickness is so intense.  It's almost certainly a symptom of the increased HCG levels in your system."

Daryl bumped into a bookcase, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down rapidly.  I sat up, swinging my legs back down to the ground.  The normally surefooted hunter's legs were shaking, and he was mumbling incoherently under his breath.

"Is he OK?"

"Does he look OK?" I snapped at Sid, watching my husband lose his shit. 

"Did he say twins?" Daryl asked, eyes unfocused as he glanced around the room.

"Yes, but everything is fine.  Your wife and babies are fine."

Sid was making an effort to speak slowly and softly.  From my vantage point it didn't appear to be doing any good.  In fact, I think he was making it worse.  The second he said the word babies, as in plural, Daryl's eyes rolled into the back of his head and he toppled over, taking the bookcase with him.

I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose.  "Well, that went well."

"Should we check on him?"

"Sid."

"Yes?"

"Is he going to have to push two humans out of his south pole?"

"No, no he isn't," he replied with a solemn head shake.

"Then he'll be fine."

~ ~ ~

Drum roll please.....

A lot of readers have guessed the Dixon's might end up having twins. Great guess everyone!

I decided when I first started writing our fav couple would end up here. As a mom of identical twin girls I couldn't pass up a chance to write about the experience. What you see Alex dealing with is exactly how I felt during my pregnancy. Needless to say, it wasn't pretty. LOL!

The bit with Daryl is an ode to my hubby who was, shall we say, shocked when we found out at 21 weeks that we were having twins. Our doc stopped the appointment to coach him through an existential crisis. It wasn't funny then, but man does it make me laugh now.

I hope everyone is excited cause I sure am. Let the games begin!

Until next time...