I know I am absolutely insane for starting a new story while I'm still working on the other one, but I just couldn't not type this one up. I am still working on Not all those who wander are lost for any of you still reading that and I'm in the middle of writing the next chapter. So it has not been forgotten. You can thank Electrickpanda for helping me get this one up and running. She is my super amazing Beta and you should totally go check out her fic as well. As always I do not own anything and no profit was made.
"No. You're not doing this today Beth." Maggie stormed into her room and ripped the covers off of her baby sister. Beth groaned and curled in on herself. "You're not staying in bed and pouting on your 20th birthday. Get up."
"No." Beth turned her face into her pillow. "I'm staying in bed forever."
"Oh don't be such a drama queen." Maggie rolled her eyes before grabbing onto Beth's ankle and tugging her forcefully off the bed. Beth landed on her ass with a loud thump and glared up at her sister. Maggie gave an exasperated sigh and crouched down so she was eye to eye with the tiny blonde. "So Jimmy's a dick and broke up with you to run off with that tramp, Anna. Who cares..."
"If the words 'there are plenty of fish in the sea' leave your lips I'm going to punch you." Beth set her sister with another glare. "Right in the mouth."
"Well good thing I wasn't going to say that." Maggie smirked. "You can't lay in bed all day. It's been a month. He's not worth it Beth, he never was...now I called Zach. He's got the band up and running and you guys are performing tonight at Dale's."
"No." Beth shook her head. "Maggie...it's going to take me forever to just look presentable."
"Good thing you have a wonderful older sister who went clothes shopping without you and picked you up a cute little dress to wear tonight." Beth smiled at her sister's excitedness. "Now, get in the shower and shave off that carpet that's growin' on your legs."
"Bitch." Beth grabbed her pillow off the bed and smacked Maggie with it.
"Skank." Maggie retorted and ran out of the room before Beth could assault her again.
Beth slid the little floral dress on. She had to hand it to Maggie, her older sister really knew her style...and her size. She quickly put her hair up in a side braid before throwing on some light makeup and threw on her usual cowboy boots before heading down the stairs. No use looking in the mirror. 'Can't fix a train wreck' she thought with an amused grin.
"Well look who's up?" She heard her mama croon through the open doorway of the kitchen.
"Mornin' mama." She smiled cheerfully at the older woman.
"Mornin'?" Her mama chuckled and shook her head. "Bethie...it's one in the afternoon."
"Really?!"
"Yes. Really."
"Didn't know..." Beth murmured to herself.
"Well how would you know...been up in that bedroom of yours just cryin' your pretty lit'l head off."
"Leave her be." Maggie quickly came to her sister's defense as she walked into the kitchen. "She's been in mournin'"
"Ain't nothin' to mourn." Annette rolled her eyes. "That boy wasn't worth a wet bag of horse manure...and everyone knew it!"
"MAMA!" Beth gasped throwing her hand over her mouth to hold back a giggle.
"Oh don't 'mama!' me. That boy was dumber than a cow pie...wasn't worth our precious little Bethie."
"Well...maybe you'll meet someone tonight who is." Maggie nudged her slightly.
"Oh..." Annette turned around. "Where you two headin' tonight?"
"Headin' to Dale's." Maggie grinned. "Beth's gonna be performing with her old band and who know's she might just meet mister right."
"Well..." Annette gave a knowing glance to the two sister's "As long as he isn't mister right now...mister right now always leads to problems."
"MAMA!" Beth let out another horrified gasp.
"Bethie...you are a beautiful girl and I know times are changing...just be careful who you're lettin' into your bed."
"And on that note..." Maggie grabbed Beth by the arms and lead her towards the door. "We're gonna go."
"Make good choices girls." Annette waved to them "And happy birthday Bethie! Love you both."
"Love you too mama!" they both hollered back. Maggie leaned into her little sister slightly.
"Make good choices?" she scoffed. "It's like she don't know us at all." Beth laughed and hopped into the truck.
"Ain't it a little early to be heading to Dale's?"
"Well I got a few errands to run and I figured you'd want to meet up with the gang a little early to get everything figured out." Beth nodded and rolled down the window of the truck to feel the soft summer breeze blow through her hair as they drove down the road.
Beth hated when Maggie lied to her. She wasn't going to run errands she was going to pick up her boyfriend who lived two hours away and needed Beth as a cover. Glenn was a nice enough guy, a little too eager for Beth's taste, but sweet as pie. He spent the whole car ride talking about comic books, which Beth just kind of nodded along to.
Dale's was the local dive bar. It was clean enough, it just didn't attract the right group all the time. Living in a small town had it's perks, for instance Beth had been drinking at Dale's for over a year. It helped to know the cops and bar owner who would just call her daddy to pick her up if she couldn't drive. Beth smiled at Glenn as he watched in horror as two rough looking men were thrown out on their asses by an even tougher looking guy.
"Hey Tyreese!" Beth greeted him with an eager wave. He smiled down at the dainty looking girl.
"Well if it isn't little Beth Greene." He hugged her quickly. "What the hell are ya doin' here?"
"Apparently performing." She grinned.
"Ah." He nodded. "Thought I saw Zach setting up in there."
"Well I'm gonna head in...make sure ya give Glenn here the third degree... He's Maggie's new boyfriend." She said with a wink before patting him on the arm and ducking into the bar.
The bar hadn't changed much since she had last performed here. Jimmy never liked her singing at bars or really drinking with friends. If they were hanging out with people it was always his friends. She didn't really care much for them, but it kept him happy. Now she was starting to realize just how stupid that was.
"Little Beth Greene back from the dead." Zach greeted her with a one-armed hug. Zach and her had been best friends since kindergarten when she shoved James Anderson for making fun of poor Zach. They had been inseparable ever since.
"I wish everyone would stop saying that...ain't like I wasn't around." She shrugged with a frown.
"Ah...I'm just givin' ya shit." He shoved her playfully. "Me and the boys gotta finish setting up, but give us a minute and we'll go over what we want to play. Dale says we gotta make it short tonight." She nodded and headed towards the bar. She looked up to the bar and saw it was already five thirty. Time for a drink.
"What can I get you Beth?" Sasha the bartender smiled at her. She had always liked Sasha. unlike everyone else, she knew when to say something and when not to. Her quite greeting was much more appreciated than everyone else's loud and excited ones.
"Whiskey, please." She went to go pull out her card, but Sasha stopped her.
"Your money's no good here, Greene, you know that." Beth smiled at her politely and sat down on a stool and waited.
"Ya have got to be the sexiest lit'l thing I have ever seen in my entire life." She would recognize that annoying drawl anywhere. She turned to meet the cold stony gaze of Merle Dixon. He wore his usual stupid jackass smirk proudly as he leered at her, his eyes never straying far from her chest. "Name's-"
"Merle Dixon." She rolled her eyes. "Yea...I know who you are. You used to work on my daddy's farm and three summer's ago you stole my horse." His eyes grew wide as the realization of who she was hit him.
"Beth Greene!" He smirked at her again. This time his eye raked over her entire body. "I have ta say baby girl...ya grew up nice. Ya know...we could always-"
"Not if you were the last man on earth." Sasha gave her a sympathetic smile while she placed her glass on the bar and moved on the the next customer.
"Well sugar tits...if I was the last man on earth...how else are ya gonna get yer kicks."
"Guess I'd just start fuckin' women." She shrugged and moved past him, making sure to ram him with her shoulder.
Everyone knew who Merle Dixon was and to a lesser extent his younger brother Daryl. Merle and Daryl's daddy, Will, use to be the town drunk until he died a few years back. Merle has now taken over the title. He had quite the rap sheet, last thing being when he stole her horse and tried to sell it for drug money, Merle wasn't too bright. His brother Daryl brought Nelly back the next day and offered her an apology. She liked Daryl enough and the few times she had spoken to him while he was working on the farm he seemed nice enough, but he wasn't one to get too close and Beth never pushed it. Daryl hadn't escaped her sights though, that man was like walking sex and Beth may have day dreamed a time or two about him, but once Jimmy caught wind of all that he made sure they weren't on the farm when Daryl was.
Daryl hated nights like this. It was midnight and Merle had called him for another damn ride, too drunk to drive himself home. So now he found himself standing in front of Dale's rolling his eyes. He knew Merle was going to cause trouble, he was always starting shit with someone here. He just hoped he was able to stop it this time before things got out of hand. He gave a silent nod to Tyreese, hell he saw the man enough coming to pick up Merle all the damn time, and headed into the bar.
The smell of bar smoke and sweat hit him immediately. The bar was packed for a Friday night, but that might have had something to do with the live band they had playing up on stage. Live bands always brought more people in. The boy singing wasn't half bad, although he'd rather get to know the little blonde girl standing next to him smiling. She was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen and it cause him to stop for a moment just to take her all in. Her light blonde hair was pulled off to the side in a braid, it was cute, but he'd rather see it down. Her floral dress stood out against her pale alabaster skin and her legs sticking out of those cowboy boots seemed to go on for days. It was as his eyes were trailing up her body that he realized she was staring at him too. A knowing smile graced her lips as she seemed to watch him there like a predator stalking its prey. Daryl wasn't gonna lie, it was hot, being hunted for once rather than doing the hunting.
"Well hey there baby brother!" Merle's clap on the back brought him out of his thoughts about the tiny girl singing on stage. "Baby Greene's sure grown up ain't she?" He winked at Daryl and headed back to the bar.
Baby Greene? Who the hell was...His own thoughts trailed off as the realization slowly hit him of who he was just ogling. Beth Greene, darling youngest daughter of the town vet. Merle was right she sure had grown up nice. He gave her one last look before heading to the bar where Merle was.
"Haven't seen Beth in furever." Daryl drawled out slowly.
"What...?" Merle chuckled. "You mean since she was seventeen and we was workin' on her daddy's farm." Daryl nodded. "Still got a thing fer her don't ya baby brother."
"Don't know what yer talkin' 'bout."
"Sure you don't" Merle took a drink of his beer. "When she first walked outta that house thought yer jaw was gonna damn near hit the ground. Then that pussy boyfriend of her's caught ya two eye-fuckin' and she weren't 'llowed 'round ya no more."
"Quit spoutin' off an' finish yer drink...'m ready to leave." Merle rolled his eyes.
"I want to thank everyone for coming out tonight and welcoming Beth here back out into the world." The younger boy spoke loudly into the microphone, effectively silencing the whole room. "We're gonna sing ya one last song and then I intend on gettin' little Miss Greene here plenty drunk." A few patrons whooped from the other side of the bar while Beth glared at the boy and shoved him playfully. He watched, intrigued, as her foot began to tap along to the music the band was playing. The boy sang first and he was good, but Daryl barely paid attention. His eyes stayed fixed on Beth, standing up on that stage in all her glory. Just as she was about to sing her eyes flicked over to him as she gave him another appreciative glance.
I had me a boy
Who buttoned me down
Drew me a line
He, he washed me as clean
As a sinner could be
Showed me the light
Oh that boy, he taught me to pray
But for all of his spit-shinin' ways
Lord, he could
The boy joined her on a chorus of ooh's, but Daryl was able to pick her voice out easily. Damn girl looked like she should be crooning out some teeny-bopper crap. He didn't expect her to sing low and seductive like she was. He felt his pants tighten as she sent a wink his way and finished out the song. The whole bar clapped excitedly as the band began to pack up and Beth was surrounded by guys as soon as her feet hit the ground.
Beth loved the high of finishing a show, although she could do without the fan club. As she continued to ignore the boys they seemed to take the hint and try to move on to easier prey. She smirked at her sister and made her way over to her table, interrupting a heated make out session between her and Glenn.
"You know..." Beth began with a playful smirk.
"Don't even!" Maggie warned with a pointed finger in her face. "No drink?" She motioned to Beth's empty hands.
"Oh...shit." She frowned. "I got distracted by the mob of men-folk by the stage."
"No..." Maggie grinned. "I think you got distracted eye-fuckin' Daryl Dixon from the stage." Beth turned a bright shade of red and ducked her face.
"Must you be so vulgar Maggie." Beth said quietly.
"I ain't bein' vulgar if that's what you was doin'." Maggie nudged her baby sister playfully. "And that was most certainly what was goin' on. How long ya been harboring that crush Beth. 3 Years?"
"Oh just shut up and go back to suckin' face." Beth grumbled as she turned towards the bar. "Like ya better silent anyways."
The bar was jam packed as Beth made her way towards it keeping her eyes low so no one would talk to her. Several of the boys standing there, and they were boys, tried to get her attention with throat clearing and a few quiet 'heys', but she just smiled and moved past them. Sasha grinned at her as she began to pour her whiskey.
"Thanks Sasha." Beth gave her an appreciative smile, but before she could pick up the glass a large dirty hand beat her to it. "Hey! Rude ass that was my-" She turned to look at the blue eyes that were staring back at her. He smirked like the shit disturber he was and took a sip. "Drink." she whispered the end of her statement.
"Thought you'd be more of a sharer Greene."
"Didn't picture you as thief Dixon." two could play at this game.
"I ain't"
"Well...see now I see things a bit differently...that's my drink. Sasha here." She motioned back to her friend. "Was pouring it for me. Weren't ya Sasha?" Sasha's eyes grew wide.
"Oh no..." She waved her hands in front of her. "I'm not getting in on this." Sasha winked at her subtly and high tailed it away from the situation.
They both stared at each other. Neither one of them willing to give up at this battle of wills. They didn't realize how close they were standing until a drunk ran into the back of her causing her to tumble into Daryl's chest. As she slammed into him his arms wrapped around her instinctively and she fought off a shudder. He smelled like sweat, leather and the woods. God she never knew someone could smell so entrancing. She looked up at him and smiled before stepping back out of his personal space. He tried not to frown at the sudden absence of her.
"So how have you been Daryl?" She playfully smiled at him as she took her drink from his hand and tipped it back.
"Fine." He answered quickly. "Been workin'"
"Where ya at these days?" He raised an eyebrow at her question. "ya just never came back to daddy's farm...figured you'd be back and you just weren't"
"Sayin' ya missed me Greene?" He teased.
"Ain't sayin' no such thing!" She faked horror.
"No, but she's thinking it." They both turned to see Sasha washing a glass next to them. She looked up at their pause in conversation. "oh shit...I said that out loud didn't I?" Beth glared at her while Daryl chuckled. "I'm just gonna...go...over here now."
"Anyways." She blushed a deep shade of red. Daryl thought the color looked absolutely beautiful on her. "So where are ya workin' these days?"
"At T-Dog's shop. Pay's decent and he's the only one willin' ta hire Merle." He tossed his head back in a gesture to his brother who was sitting behind him. "Gotta keep an eye on the trouble maker."
"yea." She smiled. "That's probably for the best." Beth leaned in a little closer to him. Breathing in that intoxicating scent that seemed to fill the air that surrounded him. Once she realized what she was doing she took another step back. "You should probably get him home." She pointed to Merle who looked damn near ready to pass out."
"Yea." He nodded. "Best get goin'" He moved to help Merle out of the stool, but the drunk just brushed him off.
"I can walk maself!" He stumbled a few steps and turned to leer at Beth. "Sugar tits." He winked. "I'll be seein' ya later."
"No you won't." she grimaced. "Go sleep it off Merle. See ya later Daryl" He gave her a quiet nod and did his best to corral his brother out the door. She turned to see Sasha staring at her. "What?!"
"You're just going to let that fine piece of man walk out of here without so much as giving him your number."
"Sasha!" Beth rolled her eyes. "Behave yourself. Besides he already has my number...we have each other's numbers."
"oh." Sasha looked surprised. "Old flame."
"I wish." Beth said to herself. "Use ta help out on Daddy's farm, both of them. If they were ever going to be late the best way to get in touch with Daddy was through me so Daryl just ended up with my number."
"mmhhmm." Sasha didn't look convinced. "And how many times did you guys roll around in the hayloft?" Beth blushed. "That's what I thought."
"Oh nothing ever happened between us. Barely said two words to each other while he worked there. I was dating king douche bag at the time." Sasha nodded needing no further explanation of who she was speaking about. "Besides Daryl would never be interested in me."
"That's a damn lie." She scoffed. "I thought that boy was gonna mount you right here on the bar."
"And on that note...I'm gonna need another drink and I'm going to head over to my table." Sasha laughed at her friend. Beth was a smart girl, but when it came to men she was completely oblivious, that's probably why she stayed with that dickhead for so long, but Sasha would bet her right arm that was not the last time Beth would see the infamous Daryl Dixon that night. If that look he was giving her when he left the bar was any indication, Sasha was sure he'd be back in a couple of hours.
Sasha was never one for betting, but tonight she wished she had been. Not two hours after he had left the bar to take Merle home, Daryl came walking back through the door. She smirked as his head whipped from side to side trying to spot Beth's Blonde head of hair anywhere. She saw his face fall as he came to the realization that she might have left.
"Hey loverboy." Sasha waved him over as she called out to him. It was just too damn pathetic watching him panic.
"What'd ya jus' call me?!" Sasha wasn't scared by his he-man, macho bullshit. She called things like she saw them and he was a man in love, or at least a man with a serious crush.
"Called ya loverboy because that's what you are."
"No clue what yer talkin' 'bout." He rolled his eyes and went back to scanning the bar.
"uh-huh..." Sasha raised an eyebrow at him. "You're telling me that you just left less than two hours ago with your brother and now your back all of a sudden."
"Suppose I like ta drink as much as the next man." He shrugged.
"And it has nothing to do with that pretty little blonde girl you were chatting up earlier?" She laughed as he looked down at the ground. She had seen Merle and Daryl here on many occasions and she had seen them both in a variety of moods, but she had never seen him so nervous or embarrassed. It was oddly endearing. "She's right over there." Sasha pointed to the table where Beth sat with Maggie, Glenn and Zach. "Oh shit." She said slowly as she took in the scene that was unfolding in front of her. Jimmie, drunk and looking like he wanted to cause a few problems, was sauntering his was over to her. Before she could say anything to her brother about getting him the hell out of there, Daryl stood and stalked towards the young man. "ohh...this is gonna get bad."
Beth let out another annoyed sigh as she watched her sister practically grope her boyfriend in public. This was her life now stuck as the third wheel on some date with her sister while her friend, Zach, only stayed with her out of pity while he eye-fucked every girl in the place. She finished her drink and slammed the glass down on the table.
"Ya know...if you two want to leave I can just catch a ride home with someone...you've got other things on your mind." she rolled her eyes before whispering "obviously" to herself.
"Yea." Zach slung an arm around her shoulders. "I'll take Bethie here home."
"Don't call me that." She elbowed him in the side. Maggie thought it over for a second and then smiled at her sister.
"You're the best!"
"Yea I know...but don't go spreadin' that shit around. People will be expectin' me to be nice all the time." Just as Maggie leaned in to hug her she whispered in her ear.
"Too bad Dixon didn't stay. He could have given you a ride home on his motorcycle and then he could have given you a real ride." Maggie waggled her eyebrows as Beth turned a shade of red that had only been seen on tomatoes.
"Alright!" Beth shoved her sister towards Glenn. "Get your drunk ass to where ever it is your going and stay there."
"Yes ma'am" Maggie saluted and headed towards the door.
"It was nice to meet you Beth." Glenn nodded to her. "Zach." he smiled at the younger boy.
"Good luck Glenn." Beth and Zach called out to the young man as he attempted to wrangle a very intoxicated Maggie towards the door. She loved her sister to death, but she really was a lightweight some times. Just as she turned around she saw Zach eyeing up some pretty brunette across the room. If the girls smiles and giggles were any indication she was very interested in Zach too.
"Zach..." Beth rolled her eyes. "Go talk to the girl...it's not everyday you can get a woman who looks like that."
"Oh shut up you big brat." He playfully shoved her. "I told your sister I'd give you a ride home."
"Yea, but that was before you had a chance with her...and if you don't take it I'm going to start questioning your sexuality. Go on. I can catch a ride home with Sasha or Tyreese." He looked at her skeptically and then nodded.
"Alright, but text me when you get home. I want to know if you made it home okay." She smiled and pushed him away and towards the girl.
Great stuck alone on her birthday and she would have to wait for a ride home until after the bar closed. She downed what was left of Maggie's drink and went to stand up when she felt a hand graze her ass just slightly. She turned and pushed whoever it was back. Jimmie stared at her. Looking a little too sure of himself.
"What's a matter baby..." he purred trying to be seductive, but his words were slurred and she could smell the cheap beer aroma wafting off of him. "You used ta love when I'd grab yer ass."
"Yes..." She replied cooly. "I also use to love when you didn't fuck other women, but we all know how things played out." She went to move past him, but he pushed her back to stand in front of him. "GET YOUR DAMN HANDS OFF ME!" She screeched causing everyone in the bar to turn and look at her.
"Aww. Baby...don't be like that." He moved his hand slightly to go cup his face, but she grabbed him by the arm and shoulder as she forcefully slammed his face into the table that she had been sitting at. He dropped to the ground and screamed out in pain and blood began to pool around his nose.
"You don't get to touch me, ever!" She turned to storm out and ran into a solid form. She looked up to meet the cool blue eyes of Daryl Dixon. He looked astonished and little proud as he smiled at the kid on the ground.
"Not gonna lie...that was impressive."
"Yea...daddy insisted on Maggie and I taking self defense classes." she smirked. "And Tyreese taught me a few things back when I use to sing in here regular like."
Daryl looked at the screaming kid on the ground and then looked around the room. There were too many witnesses to what Beth just did. As he looked up he saw Sasha and Tyreese were thinking the same thing. Both motioned towards the back door and Daryl didn't hesitate to drag Beth by the arm towards it. She didn't seem to care too much about what was going on. She hadn't wiped that smirk off her face since she cracked that kids head on the table. He dragged her around the side of the building and towards his bike. She paused momentarily in front of it.
"I'm wearing a dress." She said flatly.
"Well then tuck it under ya or everyone in town's gonna get a flash of yer panties." He growled before slinging a leg over the bike and waiting for her to do the same. She sighed dramatically and did as she was told, daintily tucking her dress under herself and then grabbing onto Daryl's midsection. His stomach tightened slightly as he felt the warmth of her arms through his shirt. "Where we headin'?" She thought for a moment before smiling at him.
"The old Baptist church off of highway 7." He nodded. He knew exactly where it was. His ma use to go there back when she was alive.
Beth loved the feeling of the wind in her hair as they flew down the deserted highway. It was so freeing to ride on the back of Daryl's bike, almost like she was rebelling all over again. She let out an excited yell as they turned a corner rather quickly. She apologized to Daryl for yelling in his ear, but she missed the small smirk on his face right as she did so. He found it strangely sexy that she could get so carefree and wild just by riding with him. She seemed so different from that smiling, happy, good girl he met all those years back, but people change and maybe she did too.
Just as they were about to turn onto the road that would lead them to the church a siren cried out into the night. Beth's body slowly deflated and her arms wrapped around Daryl a little tighter. As he stopped the bike he gave her arms a reassuring pat. Beth winced with every footstep of the approaching officer. She was nervous that this had something to do with Jimmie maybe he was pressing charges.
"Evenin' Daryl...Beth." Her stomach seemed to unclench itself as she recognized the smooth southern drawl of Rick Grimes, the town sheriff and her God-father. She had known Rick since the day she was born, besides her daddy and mama he was the first person to hold her and she was always babysitting his daughter Judith and son Carl.
"Evenin' Officer Grimes." She smiled at him.
"Beth..." He warned. "You wanna tell me why I got a call about you slammin' Jimmie's head into a bar table tonight. Kid's in the hospital with a broken nose."
"Well..." She shrugged. "I did tell him not to touch me." Rick nodded for a moment. He had always had a soft spot for the youngest Greene, although he was a little worried that her brush with that law happened to coincide with her being on the back of Daryl Dixon's motorcycle, but she was a good kid with a good head on her shoulders.
"It's a good thing that I took his statement after the ambulance worker had started the pain meds." He smiled mischievously at her. "Not a damn thing is going to be able to be used in a statement...and no one in the bar is talking."
"Well." Beth smiled. "Ain't I just a lucky girl."
"Yea." He smirked. "Ya are...and I don't want anymore calls about you tonight Beth."
"Yes, sir, Mr. Grimes." He smiled at her one more time before turning around and going back to his police cruiser. That girl had always had a wild streak. He knew back when she was still in diapers that she would be breaking hearts and causing trouble. He just hoped the price she paid for the fun she was having wouldn't be too heavy. He gave the pair a wave as he drove off into the night.
"Damn girl." Daryl chuckled. "Ya got this whole town under yer spell don't ya?"
"Maybe." She grinned from ear to ear. "But officer Grimes is my God-father and he would never arrest me...older men who hang out with me maybe, but never me."
"Ya done back there, Ms. Smart ass." She nodded and smiled as she heard the bike roar to life beneath her again.
The church was just a tiny little thing. Looked like every other tiny church in a small town. White paint that chipped from the outside. The glass was slightly dirty, but it seemed to shine in the moonlight. Beth hopped off the bike with enthusiasm and bolted towards the front door. Daryl wiped some sweat from his forehead and followed her with a chuckle.
"Don't ya think breakin' and enterin' is pushin' it with that assault charge ya got comin'." She smirked at him and raised a set of keys.
"Ain't breakin' and enterin' if ya got the keys." She turned the lock and pushed open the door. "I teach Sunday school and my daddy owns the land the church sits on."
"Well Damn-" She turned around and smacked him in the side of the head.
"Watch yer mouth." She glared. "Don't mind the cussin' all that much, Lord knows I do enough of it myself, but keep it PG. We're in the house of the Lord." He nodded and rubbed the side of his head carefully. "Sorry." She frowned. "Didn't mean to smack ya so hard."
"S'alright." He shrugged.
"Well. It's pretty hot outside."
"It's August and Georgia..." He raised an eyebrow. "Course it's hot."
"Well if yer gonna be rude then you can find yer own cold drink." She sauntered away quickly towards a door just in the back of the church. He couldn't help himself as his eyes zeroed in on her ass as it swayed side to side.
"Lord don't appreciate yer eyes where they are neither." She cackled as she pushed open the door and made her way away from him. He turned red rather quickly and followed her into what appeared to be the kitchen.
He smirked as Beth grabbed two sodas from the tiny fridge and hopped up on the counter to sit down, like it was the most normal thing in the world. She turned and looked at him strangely and gave him a small smile before tipping back the can and downing the soda.
He watched as a small drop of soda trickled out of her mouth and down her extended neck. He wiped it away with a calloused finger and as she looked at him with wide eyes he realized he was standing between her legs. Neither breathed for a moment as the silence enveloped them.
He leaned in slightly taking in her scent. She smelled like flowers and something a little more earthy, like right after it rains. God he wished he could smell this forever. Just as he leaned in a little closer he heard a loud thud as she kicked off one boot and then the other. He stepped back slightly as she brought her knees up and quickly pulled off her socks.
"What in tha hell ya doin' girl?" He asked quietly. She simply dropped her socks on the ground, grinned at him like she had some sort of secret and bolted out the door. "Beth?!" He followed her quickly, maintaining a brisk pace as he caught sight of her legs moving out the front of the church. As he pushed the door open he caught sight of some pretty floral fabric laying on the ground next to the cement steps. Her dress...
He looked up to see her standing on a dock in front of a tiny pond he hadn't noticed earlier. A tiny pink strapless bra wrapped around her chest and a matching pair of panties graced her lower half. She looked like some sort of goddess standing there in the moonlight. Her skin seemed to glow and her hair, which she had taken down from the braid it was in, flowed lightly down her back. He had never seen a woman look so beautiful in his life. She turned and smiled at him for a moment before jumping into the water.
"You go swimmin' in yer underwear often?" He chuckled as he walked up to the edge of the dock.
"Well no..." She smiled at him seductively. "I usually swim naked in this pond." His breath caught in his throat and she threw her head back as she let out a loud laugh. "Oh my goodness! The look on your face!" He felt his face grow warm as he blushed. "Daryl Dixon! Are you blushin'?"
"no."
"Oh you are! That's adorable."
"stop."
"What just sayin' it's cute is all." She continued to tease him from her spot in the water.
"Stop it." He warned her in a joking manner.
"Oh what are ya gonna do about it?" She looked so mischievous keeping herself afloat in the water grinning like the damn cat that caught the canary. "The way I see it...your on the dock and I'm in the water." He kicked off his shoes and made quick work of stripping down to just his boxers before cannon balling into the water right next to her. "DARYL!" She screeched as she was splashed in the face.
"What'sa matter Greene?"
"You're a jerk." She splashed him.
"Oh!" He laughed. "Yer gonna regret that." Her eyes went wide as she moved quickly to get away from him. He reached out and pulled her flush against him, her back was warm against his back and he moved closer to the shore so he could stand comfortably. He pinned her arms down at the sides. She turned to yell at him and paused when she realized that their faces were so close. Her breathing hitched for a moment and quickened as he leaned into her slightly and marched towards the shore.
"Daryl..." Her voice was breathy as she fought back a moan. He realized in an instant what was about to happen. He pulled away dropping her into the water quickly and stepping back from her. She turned to face him, her wide eyes searched his face slowly looking for any sign of affection.
"Beth..."
"Daryl Dixon if you don't kiss me right now you might just be the stupidest man I have ever met."
Daryl didn't need another invitation as he pulled Beth into his chest and crashed his lips onto hers. She moaned slightly and leaned into him as she opened her mouth and allowed entrance to his tongue. They fought for dominance with the kiss as she wrapped her legs around his waist and he made his way towards the dock.
Beth was barely able to pay attention to her surroundings, but she did feel the warm hard wood of the dock underneath her back as he laid her down. She arched into him as he placed small feather light kisses down her face and neck leading into the valley beneath her breast.
"Sure ya want this?" He asked in a low growl, he wasn't even sure if he could stop himself in this moment.
"yea..." Her breathy moan just pushed him farther as he pulled down the strapless bra to reveal her small perky breasts. God even covered in pond water the girl smelled delicious. His thumb ran over the lining of her underwear as he took a nipple into his mouth causing her to release another breathy moan.
"God...Daryl." He didn't know if he could wait anymore. He had been thinking about this moment for 3 years, way longer than he should have, but if her vocalizations were any indication she had been thinking the same things. It only lessened his guilt slightly. He slowly began to pull her panties away from her when she gave another moan, this one sounded a little more irritated.
"too slow." She breathed out as he moved back to kiss her lips. He chuckled slightly at her eagerness. Damn girl was gonna be the death of him. He watched as she peeled the wet clothing away from her body. She was a sight for sore eyes that was for sure. He didn't think he had ever seen a more beautiful creature in his life. She smiled wryly at him. "So I'm going to assume since I'm the only naked one I'll just be playin' with myself." He coughed and moved to kiss her as he removed boxers.
"Can't say things like that girl, likely to kill me."
"Well then...I'll try to refrain from that until we're done."
Daryl let out a sigh as he positioned himself at her entrance. He looked up into her stormy blue eyes for reassurance, she nodded once and then leaned up to kiss him lightly. His first move was slow, deliberate. He knew she had probably only ever been with Jimmie, Lord knows with his complexes that the kid wasn't packing much. So he tried her best to ease into her. He smiled as she threw her head back and called out his name.
"Daryl..." She breathed. "I know you're trying to be romantic and everything, but for the love of God just fuck me." He pulled out quickly and slammed back into her.
"Like that?"
"Yea." She hissed as she pushed her hips up to meet his thrusts.
He leaned in close to her licking and sucking the soft skin of her neck and shoulders, making sure to leave his mark. He wanted the world to know just who she belonged to. Damn girl was a hellcat though. Meeting each and every thrust with vigor and enthusiasm. Her finger nails scratched down his back slowly, he was sure she drew blood. He knew the moment she was about to climax. Her walls clenched around him tightly as she opened her mouth to scream, but no sound came out. As her walls spasmed around him Daryl gave a few final thrusts before he spilled into her with his own low moan in her ear.
Both pulled their clothes back on silently. Daryl had to run up the the church to her her dress and neither was really dry, what with the wet underwear. As she say down on the edge of the dock, her toes dipped in the water just slightly, Daryl sat behind her. His arms wrapped around her middle to pull her close. His chin rested lightly on her shoulder.
"Not who I pictured you were." He said slowly.
"oh...?" She smiled at his words. "Who did you think I was then?"
"When I first saw ya walkin' at of yer daddy's house, my first day working on the farm. You looked beautiful in that pretty yellow sundress. Yer hair was down." He sighed as he pictured that first moment of seeing her perfectly. "Ya looked perfect, like if I touched ya I would get ya dirty. I just figured ya wouldn't give me tha time a day."
"Daryl..." She sighed.
"Then ya talked ta me, and I realized ya were the kindest, most generous person I had ever met. I realized in that moment...ya were too good fer me. That I would never have ya."
"Well I think we just blew that theory right outta the water." She giggled.
"No kiddin'." He scoffed. "What would yer daddy say? Sneakin' ol' redneck into the church, swimmin' in yer panties with him and then havin' sex with him right on church property."
"Ya know...I was baptized in this lake." She paused. A small smile played on her lips. "Mama always did say that the water looked a little muddier that day."
"C'mon..." he said pulling her up slowly. "Better take ya home before yer daddy calls the cops." She nodded. Daryl couldn't take his eyes off her as she came out of the church, after going to find her boots. She locked the door quickly and practically ran over to him. He kissed her nose gently and held out a hand to help her get onto the bike.
The ride back was shorter than she would have wished. She could have sat behind him on that bike all day. He had a calming effect on her. Beth's life had always been about pushing forward and she enjoyed the quiet night with Daryl. He didn't expect anything of her. He just wanted her to be her, nothing more nothing less. He pulled up in front of her house. It was quiet which meant everyone was still sleeping. She hoped off slowly and turned to face him.
"Ya better call me tomorrow, Dixon." She teased trying her best to give him a stern look.
"Screw that...I'm callin' ya when I get home."
"I'll hold ya to that." She smiled before leaning forward to kiss him on the cheek softly. "Drive safe Daryl" She didn't wait for a response as she quickly turned and ran towards her front door. He watched her until she made it inside and then he quickly pulled away with a smile. Damn girl was gonna be the death of him.
Daryl walked into chaos back at his and Merle's house. Clothes were thrown everywhere, the mirror on the wall had been smashed and he was pretty sure that he could smell smoke. Merle was running bags in and out the door to the truck.
"Ah...? Merle? Ya mind tellin' me what yer doin?" He raised and eyebrow. Merle didn't even bother to stop as he shouted out the situation to him.
"Martinez got here man...needed a fix." Daryl rolled his eyes. Merle was always getting into trouble. "Didn't have no cash in the house. So i broke into the neighbors-"
"What in the hell d'ya do that for?"
"Ain't the end baby brother. Anyways, the guys was home, he ain't never home, but he was tonight. He tried ta stop me...so I beat him till he was unconscious. We gotta go."
"no." Daryl shook his head as the image of Beth filled his head. He finally had a good thing going, something he had wanted for a long time, he was gonna be damned if Merle took that away from him now. "Not this time...ya go by yerself."
"Daryl..." Merle said with a sigh. "Ya can't leave me on my own."
"Yer a grown ass man!" Daryl shouted. "Take care or yer own damn problems!"
"Who was there fer ya when the old man was beatin' on ya." Daryl remained quiet for a moment. "and who took yer beatin' more times then I can count." Daryl looked down at the ground sadly. "That's what I thought...now get in the damn truck. Ain't nothin' worth stayin fer in this damn town anyways." Daryl thought of Beth for a moment before realizing her life would be better without him and Merle there to ruin it. He looked around the yard slowly taking it all in for the last time before climbing into the truck silently. Goodbye Beth.
It didn't take any idiot to figure out that the Dixon brother's left town the same night that Mr. McMorris had been beaten. Beth knew that Daryl had nothing to do with it because the time the assault happened he had been with her, but that didn't stop him from taking off with his no good brother. Three months later and she was still pissed about it. She laid in bed angry at the thought that he didn't even bother calling when he got home, he had promised. She was a fool. As she moved to sit up Beth felt bile rise in her throat and she made a mad dash to the bathroom, cutting Maggie off in the process.
"Bethie?" Maggie knocked on the door loudly. "Are ya alright?" Maggie cringed out the sound of vomit hitting the toilet water.
"I'm fine!" Beth croaked out from her place on the bathroom floor. She reached up to flush the toilet and made quick work of brushing her teeth before exiting the bathroom.
"Ya sure you're alright, Beth?" Maggie raised and eyebrow. "That's the third morning in a row."
"I'm fine." Beth wiped the sweat off her forehead. "Just that stomach bug that's going around the congregation. Mrs. Millows had it last week." Maggie stared at her for a moment before nodding.
"Well ya better get dressed. We gotta another potluck at church and Mama wants us all to look our best." Beth nodded and moved to her room. She knew the perfect dress for the day. She pulled out the little yellow sundress, the one Daryl had first seen her in, and made quick work of pulling it on. The only problem with the damn dress was she could never reach the zipper. That damn zipper was a mile long, it started in the middle of her butt and went all the way up to her neck, but at least the dress was pretty.
"MAMA!" She called out. She heard the quiet footsteps of her mother approaching and the squeak of door hinges.
"What is it, Bethie?"
"Would you mind?" She turned slowly.
"Not at all sweetheart." Her mother began to zip it up slowly but frowned when the zipper hit her mid section. It was stuck! The damn thing wouldn't zip.
"Beth honey...I think the dress is too small."
"Oh." Beth said with wide eyes. "Better lay off the cupcakes then I guess." Her mother stared at her for a moment and nodded with a weary smile.
"Why don't you pick out another dress and I'll meet you downstairs.
"okay Mama!"
Beth finally settled on a skirt shirt combo. The skirt was the same shade of yellow as the dress and the shirt was white. As she descended the stairs she saw her mother and Maggie sitting on the couch looking sullen while her father paced by the hearth slowly. The air was thick with tension and Beth thought for a moment they were fighting about Maggie moving to Atlanta with Glenn again, but as her foot reached an old rickety stair everyone turned and set their gaze upon her.
"Bethie..." her father said slowly. Oh, this was not good. "We need ta have a family meeting."
"okay." She nodded and walked down the rest of the stairs on shaky legs. Whatever was going on was a big deal.
"Beth, sweetheart." Her mother began as she sat down next to her sister. "We're concerned...you've been throwing up every morning. Your clothes don't fit anymore and you're awful moody."
"okay...guess my time of the month is just coming up." Everyone was silent. "what?!" She panicked.
"Sweetheart," her mother sighed. "When was your last period?" She blushed slightly at having to answer that question while her father was in the room, but the look on her face told her that her embarrassment was the least of her worries.
"Don't rightly know mama, it ain't like it's ever really been regular." Her father sighed and handed her a box. She looked at it with wide eyes.
"A pregnancy test?!" Beth stammered out. "You want me to take a pregnancy test?!"
"yes." her father said cooly. "now." She nodded and stood to slowly walk to the bathroom.
Those few minutes she waited were torture. Everything was falling into place. She was pretty sure she didn't even need to the test to know. Her breasts hurt, she was sensitive to smells, she was moody and had been throwing up and now her clothes didn't fit. Damn! She thought to herself. Just her luck, finally get the guy she's been after for years and he up and leaves her with a bun in the oven. Just great! She looked at her cellphone to check the time. She sighed and looked at the little white stick that was balanced precariously on her bathroom sink. Her heart dropped. Two solid, very dark lines stared back at her. She tossed it in the trash and stood up. As the bathroom door opened her family turned to stare at her with expectant eyes.
"Well..." She began with a sigh and a shrug. "Shit."
Alright So let me know what you think. Please read and review. The faster you review the faster I update...just sayin'. And again a big thank you to my wonderful Beta Electrickpanda. Also just to reiterate I am still working on Not all those who wander are lost.