Summer in Virginia proved to be just as stifling as Georgia's heat. Shane pulled the old truck in front of the hospital, right by the maternity ward, waiting to roll up the windows until he'd killed the engine because they would suffocate otherwise. It would've made more sense to stop at the hotel first so they could freshen up but Beth had punched the address of the hospital into Google Maps on her phone that morning and Shane had driven straight through, only stopping to relieve their bladders or grab a bite to eat.

"You really gotta remind me to change your brakes when we get home," he said, putting the truck into park.

"Mmm, yes, you've said that already. About twenty times."

"It's the first time I've driven it. Not much longer and it's gonna be metal on metal. You wait too long and you'll have to replace the rotors too. I don't think you want that."

"And I think you're nervous," Beth replied, reaching over to force the keys from the ignition. "Which is kinda cute, I don't think I've ever seen you nervous."

"I'm not...alright, I am nervous."

"Admitting it is the first step."

"What if I go in there and they've changed their mind?"

"They won't. They've had since last night to change their mind. Shane, it's gonna be okay."

"I should've brought something, I-"

"You brought yourself. You woke up at 5 am to drive eight straight hours. I think that's plenty. If you want we can stop at the gift shop though."

"Nah, I just wanna get in there."

"Then let's go," Beth laughed, already getting out. "You coming?"

Shane drummed his thumbs on the steering wheel before finally letting out a deep exhale.

"Yeah," he answered, rolling his window up and getting out. "I'm coming."

She grabbed his hand once they were next to each other and Shane led the way through the sliding glass doors, straight to the desk to check-in. They took turns standing for pictures for the visitor badges and by the time they stepped out of the elevator, his nerves had been replaced with jealousy. Every door they passed was full of pastel balloons, with smiling mothers and fathers, all counting down the hours until they were discharged and could take their babies home. Was it possible to miss someone he hadn't even met yet?

Stretching his legs after such a long drive felt amazing but not quite as good as stopping in front of the correct room number, knowing his baby was on the other side.

Finally, he gave the door a knock and after hearing Lori answer from the other side, Shane paused to collect himself and look at Beth.

"Go," she urged, letting go of his hand to open the door herself, giving him a nudge inside.

He wasn't sure what he'd expected to find inside, but it wasn't the two faces smiling back at him. A part of Shane still refused to believe it was real. But judging by the swaddled newborn in Lori's arms, he wasn't dreaming.

"Well, look at what the cat dragged in," Rick said, standing up from the chair placed by Lori's bedside.

"Yeah well, we received a call about a juvenile."

Before he could even finish the sentence, Rick pulled him into a hug, whispering congratulations in Shane's ear. Shane had expected a handshake at most, but he hugged Rick back anyway, the same way they used to before it all went to shit, their arms gripping each other tightly, never ones to care about showing affection for another man.

"I take it no introductions are necessary," Shane said when they eventually parted. "Y'all know Beth."

"We do," Lori confirmed with a smile. "I remember when you were just a little girl."

"And I remember when Carl was just no bigger than this one," Beth replied after Rick had hugged her too and she approached Lori. "How's he liking being a big brother?"

"He's smitten. We all are."

Shane stood back and watched the two women interact for a moment, still struggling to grasp his new reality. It was hard to believe he'd ever rolled around in the sheets with Lori Grimes. Sure, she looked beautiful, glowing even - as any new mother would, but when his eyes landed on hers there was none of the comforting familiarity that was always present when he locked eyes with Beth. He'd never voiced his biggest fears to Lori or buried his face into her neck, they'd never stayed up talking just for the sake of learning about each other, it'd been nothing but a mistake. But probably the best mistake he'd ever made because it'd ultimately led him to Beth and his daughter.

"Speaking of being smitten," Rick said, always capable of reading Shane's mind. "You wanna hold your daughter?"

"I didn't drive out here just to shoot the shit."

Would he ever forget the moment Lori placed his baby in his arms?

Holding a newborn wasn't a foreign concept to him, he'd done it before, he'd even been Rick and Lori's full-time babysitter whenever they'd wanted a date night. Shane could burp and change diapers like a pro but it was entirely different when the infant in his hands belonged to him. No one had warned him how much more fragile they suddenly seemed or that, even though he knew he was doing just fine, Shane couldn't help but worry if her neck was supported correctly.

The gentle sway of his body came naturally though.

He stood there, rocking her just a bit, until her sleepy brown eyes opened and she wiggled in his arms. Already she recognized Lori's voice, and Rick's too, but Shane knew he was a stranger to the tiny baby whose fingers wrapped around his pointer finger. He introduced himself with a kiss on her forehead and tears in his eyes, not caring if anyone saw him cry. Shane was positive he could've stood there and stared at her forever, already seeing the smallest hints of himself in her features, but it wasn't until she stilled and fell back to sleep that he walked a few slow steps towards Beth, dying to show her off.

"What ya think?" he asked, leaning in close so Beth could brush a hand over her cheek.

"I think she's perfect. She has your lips, I know that cupid's bow anywhere."

Beth's words made them all laugh, breaking the silence.

"Yeah well, let's just thank God she doesn't have my nose."

"Hey, I like your nose."

"Is there an eye doctor in this place?" Shane joked, finally turning to glance towards Rick and Lori.

"No, but I think vision that bad warrants a trip to the emergency room," Rick told him with a grin.

It wasn't much longer and Judith really began to stir. Never before had Shane felt such a pull towards another person, her cries making his chest literally ache until Lori handed him a tiny bottle of already prepared formula. Sitting down on the edge of Lori's bed, Shane tried to pay attention to the conversation happening around him - Lori's reasons for choosing not to breastfeed, how the delivery went, a lovely nurse that had snuck them extra food from the cafeteria, but Shane's attention was focused on the baby in his arms, draining her bottle dry. He made a mental note to thank Beth for carrying the conversation on his behalf.

Sitting there forever in awe was tempting but when Lori asked Rick to run out to their car to grab the extra bag she'd brought, wanting extra opinions on the baby clothes she'd packed for Judith to go home in, Shane finally handed his daughter back to her mother, making sure to burp her first.

"I take it you didn't follow me out here just to help with one little bag?" Rick asked once they made it outside, the sun beating down on them as he retrieved the black duffle bag from the trunk before closing it again.

"Nah, I didn't."

They both leaned against the car's bumper and Shane waited to speak again. He stared as his ex-partner's profile, waiting for the other man to crack. Rick looked good, he sounded good, but Shane was positive the day's events had to hurt like hell. He tried to imagine another man getting Beth pregnant and then welcoming that same man back with open arms on what should've been one of the happiest days of their life.

"I imagine this ain't easy for you," Shane finally spoke, both of them staring out across the parking lot. "Welcomin' me back with open arms...I dunno man. I'm glad y'all are, but I don't think I could do it."

"It's not about me," Rick told him.

"Still. You know, I used to think I was the tough one, the hard cop. Think I might've been wrong."

Rick just laughed, his next words not coming until he was good and ready.

"This new baby high will wear off. And it's not easy. It's not. It won't be for any of us. But if we can't at least start off right, we're screwed. What happens when you two are arguing over who gets her for Christmas or her sixteenth birthday? Who gets to teach her how to drive or decides when she can pierce her ears? And I'll just stand back - wonderin' if I should even get a say in the matter."

"Of course, you will," Shane promised him. "I wouldn't expect anything less. But I just wanted to be there too, man. I already hate the idea of leavin' her but I know I gotta. You and Lori seem happier here, I bet Carl is too. Hell, next time I get to hold her she'll have already doubled her weight. You'll get the first smile, first laugh, get to read her bedtime stories."

"You'll get those things too," Rick answered, his accent coming out strong. "We ain't gonna keep her from you."

"I know. But still, you're gonna be there more than me, especially in the early days. No point in pretendin' you won't. It could be worse though. She gets two daddies, right? And I gotta tell ya, if it can't be me there, I'm glad it's you. There ain't anyone else I'd rather share the title with."

He watched Rick as the tension disappeared from his jaw, his head tilting at the words.

"Thank you," Rick answered, finally turning to face him.

"I missed you."

Shane wasn't expecting Rick to say it back, he would've understood, but he had to say it.

"I missed you too," Rick answered, breaking into a laugh. "'Specially when we moved into this new place and found out the garbage disposal was broke and the dryer connection is shot."

Shane grinned too, imagining Rick attempting to fix it all with a very pregnant Lori standing over his shoulder with a frown.

"You got my number, use it."

"If y'all wanna stay in town long enough, you can stop by and do it yourself. I doubt you're in any rush to leave and Carl would love to see you."

"I'd like that."

"Beth won't mind?"

"I'll ask her but I know she'll agree."

"You two...seems serious."

"It is," Shane confirmed with no hesitation.

"It's about damn time."

They both laughed at Rick's words, because of how very true they were. Rick had been there through every single one of Shane's one night stands or messy flings, he'd listened to all of Shane's stories about the women who left nothing more than a notch in the bedpost behind - the way Shane had preferred it. But things with Beth were different and getting that recognition from Rick, of all people, was something Shane hadn't even known he'd wanted until it happened.

"You ready to get back in there?" Rick asked. "Change some diapers before y'all head to the hotel?"

"Can't think of anything I'd rather do."

The last time she'd been in a hospital, her father had been having a stroke. Beth had been alone, her hands shaking as she struggled to fill out his insurance forms. At the time she'd truly believed there was no worse place on earth than inside the walls of a cold, sterile hospital room. But those days were easier to forget when Beth sat by Lori's bedside, admiring the newborn Lori had placed in her arms.

"You're a natural," Lori told her. "Must be all those babysitting gigs you used to do."

"Maybe," Beth agreed, stroking a finger down Judith's chunky cheek.

"Is this hard for you? Knowing he has a baby with someone else?"

Lori asked the question gently but Beth's answer was firm and honest.

"No," she answered.

How could it be hard? Beth hadn't known that someone else's happiness could mean so much to her until Shane had gotten their phone call. It was like watching someone she loved open up a Christmas present they'd always wanted but had never expected to receive and Beth had gotten teary-eyed just watching him.

"I think I would die of jealousy," Lori blurted out, making them both smile.

"She's always been there," Beth said. "I mean, from the moment we started spending time together, he's talked about the situation, how badly he wanted this. It's kinda always been a package deal. I'm just glad he gets to be a part of it. Plus...who couldn't love a baby? Especially one that's part him. She's beautiful."

Beth didn't even realize how hard she was smiling until she looked up and saw Lori beaming at her.

"You must really care about him."

"I do."

"Well, I'm glad. I'm happy he has someone. You know, things between him and I, we weren't-"

"Lori, you don't have to explain to me. Plus, he already has."

Beth's smile did little to remove Lori's serious expression.

"I know. I just feel like I have to explain to someone. Especially her," Lori answered, nodding towards the baby. "She's gonna hate me one day when she learns what I did."

Judith was still fast asleep when Beth repositioned, holding her snug against her chest, landing a quick kiss in the baby's brown hair before answering.

"Well, if it ever comes to that...I know someone she can probably talk to."

"Who?"

Luckily, Beth was saved from replying.

Rick and Shane returned, carrying Lori's bag, and Beth sighed in relief. Not just from the awkward answer that would've followed Lori's question but because both men were smiling. She'd worried that at the last minute things would turn ugly but it seemed whatever Shane had chased Rick outside to talk about, it'd went well. Or well enough.

"Well, since you're back, how about you take a walk with me," Lori said to Rick once everyone was settled. "I gotta start getting around if we want to ever escape this joint. Plus, I'm sure you two wouldn't mind a moment alone."

Beth waited until Rick had helped his wife out of bed and they'd made their very slow, very careful way out the door before she turned to Shane.

"You want her back?" Beth asked, giving Judith another kiss so she could breathe in that beautiful new baby smell one more time.

"In a minute," Shane answered, pulling up the spare chair to sit next to them. "I'm quite likin' this view to be honest."

"Is that right?"

"Yes ma'am, it is."

Before Beth could even smile, Shane had his phone out, snapping a quick picture in her direction. He took a few more, just for good measure, finally taking Judith into his arms again once Beth insisted. She waited until he was comfortable and not expecting it to snap a few pictures of her own, already setting one as her wallpaper before texting it straight to his number.

"So how you feelin' over there?" he asked. "Is this too much for you?"

It was too much for her, but not the way Shane meant it.

Maybe Lori had been right, maybe there was just a twinge of jealousy when she watched him cradle Judith against his chest. But not for the reasons Lori probably meant.

Beth just wished Shane could've experienced it all, every last bit. She was positive he would've smiled that shit-eating grin when the pee stick showed a plus sign, he would've went to every doctor's appointment, he would've picked out nursery colors and taken great pleasure in going to get midnight cravings. Would his training have kept him calm as a birth coach or would his excitement and nerves have won out? Beth didn't know all the answers, but she ached to be the one to learn them.

"Oh, Rick invited us over the day they're discharged. He's got a few things he needs help with plus you know…"

"I know," Beth smiled, knowing full and well Shane wanted every last second he could get before they headed home.

"That's good with you? You ain't got any plans?"

"Oh I have plans," Beth teased. "But I think they can wait a few days."

"That right?"

"Yeah...now that Daddy's room is almost cleared out, I was thinking we could paint it."

"Mhmm, and what color were you planning on painting it?"

They were both smiling and Beth pretended to think it over.

"I don't know, what about a nice shade of pink? Something a little girl might like."

"Pink?" he asked, nodding along. "Could work. But what about the rest of all those rooms?"

"What about them?"

"You could paint those too. But I was thinking something a bit more...what's the term? Gender-neutral."

"And why is that?"

Shane was still grinning when he reached out and grabbed her hand, placing a quick kiss on it before meeting her eyes and answering - always the mind reader.

"I mean, just because this one is a girl doesn't mean the next one will be."

"Next one?" Beth asked, faking confusion.

"That is an awfully big house you've got on your hands, lady. Sure would be a shame if one day we didn't fill it up with a few more rugrats."

"We?"

"Yeah, we," he confirmed. "That a problem?"

Beth locked her fingers with his and smiled.

"No. It never was."