It had been one hell of a day. Maggie and Glenn got captured by the governor. When the group rescued them, daryl got caught. He was forced to fight merle to the death until the group saved them. However, not everyone was as thrilled about merle returning as daryl was.
"Daryl, he can't come back to the prison," y/n said to daryl as they stood by the car, thinking over what they should do
"Why? He's ma brother! Ma family!"
"I know. I love merle like my own brother. I really do. But you know, if we take him back there, then he will just be kicked out again," y/n explained but daryl was having none of it. They were husband and wife and had been for several years before the world went to shit
"No him. No me. I ain't having it any other way. Now you can either come with us, or stay in that damn prison," he yelled, the group now watching
"I can't just leave everyone. What about beth? She's like a daughter to me and-"
"But she ain't ya daughter y/n! We've been trying for a baby for what? 10 years? You aren't supposed to be a mama, that's just the way it is. Get over it!" He raised his voice. It was rare for daryl to ever raise his voice at y/n
"You coming with us or not? Thought I was ya brother in law. Don't that mean something?" Merle asked. Y/n looked at him, her lip trembling
"This is ridiculous. You're asking her to make an impossible decision" maggie defended y/n
"Don't seem impossible to me. Either come with ya husband. Or, stay with these people who you've known for not even a year," daryl grunts
"It ain't as simple as that!" Y/n screamed at him, the tears now pouring down her cheeks
"Why the fuck not? Huh? Why ain't it that simple y/n?" Daryl was also trying hard not to cry, knowing that merle would only make things worse if he saw his brother crying
"Because....because..."
"Exactly. Well, guess I won't be needing this no more," he huffed, taking off his wedding ring and handing it to y/n
"You ain't seriously leaving?" Y/n whispered in shock
"I don't have any other choice! You can't expect me to leave ma brother all over again! Why ain't ya coming? These people more important to you now? I don't matter as much?"
"I have another person to take care of now. We have a home at the prison. It ain't the nicest place to stay but it's better than out in the woods with no food or shelter," y/n cried, her arm reaching out for his as she begged him to stay
"What other person? Beth's a big girl, she can take care of herself"
"I'm pregnant daryl. Now you tell me what happens 7, maybe 8 months from now when it's just us three on the road and I go into labour? Or what happens when we got a crying baby in the middle of the night, out in the open for every walker from miles around to hear?" Daryl stopped himself in his tracks, tears now running down his face
"Ha. Ya hear that? I'm gonna be an uncle. Uncle merle. Got quite a ring to it" merle cheered
"Ya ain't able to carry for more than 3 months. Never have been. We won't have to deal labour or a baby because that baby will be dead before its even born, just like all our other kids" and with that, daryl and merle left.
"Oh sweetie" Maggie said as y/n ran into her arms, sobbing whilst Maggie stroked her hair, kissing her head in comfort
Back at the prison, y/n didn't come out of her cell. She just cried and for the first time in her life, she prayed for a miscarriage. It was no world to bring up a baby and she didn't want to endanger the rest of the group. One baby was enough with Judith. She was adorable and loved. But two babies? One cries, so does the other and next thing ya know, got a hoard of walkers to deal with
"Y/n?" Carl walked in cautiously as she quickly wiped her eyes
"Hi sweetie. How ya doing? Must feel strange being a big brother," y/n smiled whilst he sat down next to her
"Ye, it is weird, but its really cool. Dad told me about you and daryl. And...I want ya to know that I'm here for ya. Anything ya need. I can go on a run for some of those vitamins mum used to take if you want. Or I can-"
"You, are the bravest boy I have ever met. Do you know that? Carl, I love you to pieces, and I'm grateful, but I'm gonna have to decline your offer. Can't have you running off to save my dumb ass. But, there is one thing you could do for me?"
"Anything"
"You ever see daryl again, you kick him in the dick?" Y/n asked, putting her arm around him and bringing him into her side as they both laughed
"Deal"
It wasn't long before y/n met daryl again. Him and merle helped them after the governor attacked. Axel was gone. But everyone else seemed OK. Atleast that's what they thought
Everyone was inside the prison, talking about what to do with merle
"I am so sorry y/n. What I said to you was horrible and I never shouldve taken my ring off. Please, I know I don't deserve you but-" daryl was interrupted by carol
"You doing OK sweetie?" Y/n was sat down, her head leaning against a bar as she wrapped her arms around her stomach, looking down at the ground. Carol felt her forehead, looking at her with worry. She knelt down to y/n who was on a step
"Morning sickness?"
"I...I think...I think...daryl I'm so sorry" y/n sobbed, removing her arms from around her waist.
Blood.
Y/n had been shot in the stomach. She puked all over the floor as daryl lifted her up, carrying her over to a cell, hershel and Carol following them
"I'm sorry" she cried
"It ain't your fault. I promise, it ain't your fault baby. I'm so sorry. I shouldve been there. I was an idiot" daryl panicked
"Never leave me again. Please don't leave me" she begged, in too much pain to be angry at him when all she wanted was for him to take away the pain.
Hershel fixed y/n up, removing the bullet as she screamed, daryl and Rick holding her down. Eventually, with a bandage around her body, hershel revealed that she was stable
When y/n woke up a day later, daryl was by her side in a second, holding her hand and kissing it softly
"I lost our baby didn't I?" Was her first question
"It was the governor. Not you. Don't ever blame yourself. I have been the worst husband to you. I never should have made you decide something like that. This group is our family now. I wish I realised it when you did. I love you so much"
"I'm so pissed at you. But...could you lay down with me?" Daryl nodded, cautiously lying down next to his wife and playing with her hair, the other hand on her thigh
"You don't have to forgive me right now. I don't expect that. Hell, I deserve to be shot by my own arrow. But, ya divorcing me? Because I swear to you, I will do everything I can to make this right y/n. I ain't ever leaving your side again"
"I don't forgive ya. You're right. But I don't want this marriage to be over. We don't fight often daryl but when we do, hurtful things are said from both sides. We just gotta move on. But I'm gonna be angry with you for a long time. I hope ya know that" y/n whispered sadly
"You've already given me more than I deserve"
Later that day, y/n was up and walking. Despite hershel and daryl telling her to rest, she felt uneasy being in bed when the governor was after them. She wanted to see everyone. Daryl helped her down the steps, holding her up every step of the way, literally. When she reached the bottom and had sat down on a chair, Carl walked over to daryl
"I'm glad you're back" he said
"Me too. I never shouldve left" Carl stuck his hand out to be shook, as daryl went to shake it, Carl ducked and punched daryl in the balls, causing the man to fall to the ground, clutching at his crotch in agony
"Oh my god! Carl!" Rick yelled, helping daryl sit up
"You, Carl grimes, are an absolute legend" y/n smiled, doing a handshake with him that they had mastered over the past year. She couldnt help but look at carl and think of her family if all those miscarriages hadnt took place. Over the course of 10 years, y/n has had 11 miscarriages, many hours of trying and zero babies. But at that moment, it didn't matter. All that mattered was focusing on the family around her, and praying that they all got to grow old together. Maybe, one day, her and daryl could try again. Ya never know. Could be the only light in all this darkness