Title: Moving Forward
Author: veiledndarkness
Pairing: Billy Darley/OFC
Rating: Mild R throughout series
Summary: Deo dona nobis pacem - God grant us peace.
Disclaimer: Not mine, no profit made, and no harm is intended.
*A continuation of Watching Him* Death Sentence AU
1 – Moving In
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"Sweet Jesus," Beth muttered, reaching for a cardboard box that been hastily taped shut and bore a scrawl of black marker across one side. "I swear I ought to make him re-learn the English language."
Eddie dropped another box by her side. "Won't do ya nothin' good outta that," he said, cigarette perched firmly between his lips. "Boy never had a care for learnin'."
Beth shook her head. "There's a shocker. Do any of you ever finish school?"
"Nah, no point to it. What's a...uh whatcha call 'em, diploma...yeah, diploma good for when y' dealin'?"
"Basic math," she shot him a sly grin. "Grams, kilos, things like that. And proper English won't hurt you none, either."
Eddie winked at her. "I know 'nough to flirt with pretty girlies like you, eh Bethie?"
"Uh huh," she pushed the box closer. "Can you figure out what the hell he wrote on this then? It's worse than a doctor's chicken scratch, honestly."
"S' clothes an'...books, by the looks of it…"
Beth raised both her eyebrows and slid the box cutter across the top, opening the cardboard sections. "Books...Billy's, or Joe's?"
Eddie shrugged. "Dunno. Joey wrote a fuckin' storm all the time, never showed nobody nothin' but Billy never looked at no books, 'cept some skin rags an' bike shit."
Beth wrinkled her nose, "Charming." She dug through the box, removing the clothes. She separated them into piles of what needed to be washed, and what was beyond repair. Underneath a pile of sweaters, she found a tattered book, the blue cover faded and the pages dog-eared.
"Where's he at? I need 'im to ship some stuff out tomorrow."
She ran a finger over the cover, tempted for a moment to open it. "He's on his way; hold your horses, Eds." Beth bit her lip. She set the book aside, curious by it nonetheless. She'd been unpacking his things for the better part of an hour, helping him move in.
"He's here," Billy drawled from the doorway of Beth's apartment. "Shut the fuck up already. I got stuck dealin' with an old fuckin' acquaintance." He leaned in, the scowl on his face smoothing out at the sight of Beth. "Hey."
She scooped a pile of shirts up and stood, the book forgotten in that moment. "Hey yourself," she smiled. "You an' me are going to talk about that terrible handwriting of yours," she nodded to the boxes.
"Aw, Bethie," he groaned. "I can write nice, honest. Jus' don't care most of the time, is all."
She grinned and stood on her tiptoes, pressing a light kiss to his cheek. "Mm, I'll believe that when I see it. Go with Eddie. By the time you get back, you'll be starving. An' I need time to cook still."
Billy slid his arm around her, tugging her flush against him. "Stop fussin' over me, or else, woman," he said with a wink.
Beth listened to the familiar sound of his heart beat for a moment. "Someone has to," she replied, tugging on his cross necklace. He leaned down, his lips brushing a heated kiss over her mouth.
"Call if ya need me," he murmured, letting go of her only when Eddie pointedly cleared his throat.
Beth nodded and slipped away from Billy's hold on her. He watched her, blue eyes following her movements as she walked to her bedroom with the clothes. He made a sound in his throat and looked to Eddie. "C'mon, let's get this shit over with. I got better stuff to come home t' now."
"Y' sure about this movin' in stuff?" Eddie asked before taking a long drag off his cigarette.
Billy ran one palm over his shoulder, touching the covered scar in memory. "Yeah, yeah I'm sure. Ain't nothin' for me at the Roses, an'...it's Bethie, y' know? She's mine, and I...I kinda need her," he added in a near whisper.
"Girlies like her, them type, s' one in a million, Billy." Eddie clapped him on his good shoulder. "Let's go, getcha back wit' ya girl faster if we go now."
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