AN: This story, our wonderful Bethyl is already established. IF I make this more than a few chapters then I will do, at some point, a backstory to how they got together. I hope you enjoy this - what I hope is going to be a thriller/romance. If you read the summary, then you know what the deal is. If not? Well, get ready for Beth to fall victim to a stalker. Daryl go into sexy, protective mode. And, watch as Beth becomes the badass we all knew she was on the show. So, this is all AU, no ZA. Please review. Good. Bad. Awful. And, give me your honest opinion. (Please, don't be too harsh because I am one sensitive bitch. lol!) With further ado... Here is 'Greene With Envy'.
It took a second for her mind to register what was going on. It had been storming when they went to bed earlier that night. She figured it was just thunder that she had heard. That had to be what woke her up.
"Yeah. It was thunder, Beth. That's all it was."
Wrong.
Beth sat up when she heard the distinct sound of the front door downstairs opening. The house was old so it made noises. The floorboards creaked when anybody was walking through the house. The door squeaked whenever it opened or closed. She closed her eyes and shook her head to clear her thoughts.
"You're fine. It's nothing. You're hearing things. That's all."
She heard the front door again followed by footsteps in their living room. Nope. She definitely wasn't hearing things.
"Daryl," she whispered to wake him up even though he was already awake. He'd always been a light sleeper. But, with the current situation, it seemed like it got even worse. He was constantly on edge and on alert because he had to be. For her.
"I heard it. Stay here," he said as he grabbed his pistol from the bedside table, checking that there was a bullet in the chamber and the safety was off.
"You are not leaving me here by myself," she whispered, the panic in her voice evident.
It was dark - darker than normal - the clouds blocking the moonlight that usually lit up their bedroom. But she could feel the look he was giving her. The one that said, 'I don't have time to argue with you'.
"Fine. Stay behind me," he whispered.
Well, that went without saying. She was sure as hell wasn't going out there first if someone was breaking into their house.
They heard a crash as they headed towards the stairs. So, it was no longer if someone was breaking into their house. It was now about who was breaking into their house.
She tried desperately to not freak out. But, she knew who it was. He told her he was going to find her. And, he had. Many times. He told her he was going to get her. No matter the cost. This man wouldn't stop. All she wanted was to be left alone. For all of this to go away. But, deep down, she knew it wouldn't. Not until he got what he wanted: her.
They slowly made their way down the stairs. Daryl held the gun out in front of him, ready to shoot the son of a bitch that was in their house unwelcomed.
He didn't say it. Hell, he tried not to think it. But, he had a gut feeling that the person in his house wasn't just a random person. If his gut instinct was right, which was rare for it to be wrong, it would be nothing for Daryl to shoot him.
He has watched for the past year as Beth spent all her time being afraid. He watched as she went from the happy, carefree woman that he fell in love with to being somebody completely opposite.
She was constantly watching over her shoulder whenever they left the house. She would jump if her phone would ring or she heard a weird noise. She would watch as he locked the doors and windows at night, then check them for herself just to be sure. He would hold her while she cried because nobody believed her at first. They made her feel as if she were crazy. She cried because she just wanted this person to leave her alone but that was the last thing the bastard had planned. His girl had spent the past year being afraid and Daryl wanted nothing more but to make that fear disappear.
"More like make the person that has caused her fear to disappear."
He would show up when she went grocery shopping or out to eat with friends. If she went shopping at the mall, he was there. If she was working at the towns' diner, he would sit in a booth all day. It didn't matter where she went. He always seemed to be there. She just couldn't get away from the asshole. He would call and text her constantly. They even caught him standing outside their livingroom recording them on his phone.
They talked to Shane and Rick. At first, they couldn't do anything. Said the guy showing up at the same public places as her were just coincidence. They couldn't arrest a man for eating at a restaurant. When Daryl and Beth showed the call log and text messages from the guy, they wouldn't do a damn thing.
"So, maybe the guy is being a little obsessive but he isn't threatening her or sexually harassing her. It's just a crush, Daryl," Rick tried to console the man.
"I agree with Rick," Shane spoke up, "you have nothing to worry about, Beth."
They tried to push the issue but Rick told them they couldn't arrest the guy for calling or texting her. Neither were illegal.
"All I can recommend is changing your number," Rick said.
It wasn't until they told them about catching the man outside of their house did Rick and Shane seemed to take them seriously.
Daryl loved them both. They were like brothers to him. But, he would have been lying if he said it didn't piss him off the way they just brushed off Beth the way they did. It took this creep looking into a window of their house for them to take this seriously. Beth told them he was bothering her. She told them how terrified she was. (And, anybody who knew Beth Greene knows that wasn't an easy thing for her to do.) They didn't want to protect her? Fine. He would. Besides, there was nobody he trusted with Beth's safety more than himself. And, neither did Beth.
They reached the bottom of the stairs and Daryl turned sharply to the right, stopping in the corridor of their living room. He saw the silhouette of a man sitting in his recliner. Hearing her gasp from behind him, he knew that she saw him too.
The man turned on the lamp, illuminating the living room in soft light. The man had jet black hair. He wore a black leather jacket and the creepiest fucking grin Daryl had ever seen. Hell, he had his old man beat. And it was no secret that Daryl's pop was one mean son of a bitch.
"Well, good fucking evening folks!" the man shouted joyfully as he stood from where he was sitting. "How are y'all this fine evening?"
"Get the fuck outta our house, Negan," Daryl barked.
The man let out a laugh. He kept trying to look at Beth but each time his eyes moved towards her, Daryl just stepped in front of her.
"Ah, come on, Dixon. You can't keep this pretty little thing all to yourself."
Daryl's blood was boiling. This prick gets off on terrifying her and now he breaks into their house and makes disgusting remarks that Daryl knows insinuates more than he is actually saying.
"The fuck I can't," he growled.
"Daryl," Beth softly cried from behind him.
"It's okay, baby," he gently comforted her, his gun still trained on Negan.
"Beth, angel, why don't you come and give Negan a hug?"
The man spoke with such confidence. He didn't have a care in the world that the object of his affection was shaking in fear at the sight of him. If Daryl thought he had hated someone before, he was wrong. Looking at this man made him truly understand what it felt like to hate someone. He wanted to shoot him. He wanted to end this for her right now. But, he also didn't want to go to prison for murder. He knows he has the right to defend himself, his home and his girl. He knew Rick and Shane would look the other way if they had, too. The mayor, however, wouldn't. He has been waiting for any excuse to send either one of the Dixon brothers to prison for a long damn time now. Daryl had to play this as smart as he could without any blood being spilled.
But, when it comes down to it, he knows he won't hesitate to pull the trigger if he has to. When it comes between Beth and anybody else, he will choose his girl every time. Fuck what happens to him and the consequences be damned.
Beth stood behind Daryl, her hands placed on his sides. Why the fuck was this man doing this to her? She hasn't been able to go anywhere without running into him. She had to change her number just so he couldn't call or text her. He even stood outside her house watching her and Daryl. Now, this? She just wanted it to end.
"Come on, angel," Negan spoke again, "I just want a hug. That's all."
Beth shook her head, "No! Just leave me alone!"
Her voice broke Daryl's heart. She was so afraid and just so damn tired of this. He felt her fingers dig into his sides where she still had ahold of him. He could feel her entire body shaking and the longer Negan stood there, the angrier Daryl became. Why wouldn't this fucker just leave her alone?
Negan shook his head. "But, I came all the way out here just to see you. How about some southern hospitality?"
"How about you go fuck yourself?" Daryl replied.
The weird-ass smirk fell from his face and a scowl took its place.
"I don't think I like how you are talking to me, Dixon."
"And, I don't think I give a shit. Now, get the fuck out of my house before I put a bullet in your skull."
Negan stared Daryl down and then quickly glanced back at Beth.
"Fine. You win this round. But, I will be back," Negan surrendered before walking out the door.
Daryl quickly turned around, placing the gun on the mantel and pulling her into his arms. Her arms wrapped around his waist, holding him just as tightly as he was holding her.
"Oh my god, Daryl, that man was just in our house!" she cried pulling away to look up at him. "He didn't even care. He walked in as if he owned the place."
"I know, baby," he spoke, brushing her hair out of her yes. "But, he's gone now. You're ok."
All she could do was shake her head at first.
"He's going to come back, Daryl. He always does. What are we going to do?"
"We're going to call Rick. They can at least arrest him for breaking and entering and hopefully add stalking or harassment to the charges."
"What if that doesn't work?"
The tears were free falling and she was shaking as if it was winter time. This shit was going to end and it was going to end soon. If Rick didn't do anything about, then Daryl sure as fuck would.