"Have you ever just wanted to sit with someone's arms around you for no reason."
"Glenn and I do it all the time. What brought this up?"
"There's someone whose arms I would love to be in for no reason than just to be in them."
"Is he cute?"
"Quite."
"So what's the catch?"
"Age."
"Older or younger."
"Older."
"Daryl's not that -"
"It's not Daryl."
Laying her book down, Maggie faced her sister more properly. "Do you have contact with … wait, you're talking about Rick aren't you."
"Yep." She turned her head to where Rick and Carl sat on the grass with Judith and Michonne, a soft sigh escaping her lips. "Just to be in those arms for any amount of time would be worth it."
Maggie stared at her for a long moment then let out a long sigh herself. "Then I would get my ass over there and do something about it before Michonne takes your spot."
Beth looked at her then broke out in a large grin. "Thank you." Kissing her sister's cheek, she got up and walked over to them. "Mind if I join you?"
"Sure, have a seat," Rick smiled as Judith tried crawling off. He leaned forward to try and grab her but almost missed. "I need longer arms."
Sliding around, Beth sat in front of him then grabbed Judith's shirt, pulling her backwards. "Now you do."
Chuckling softly, Rick slid his arms around Beth and laid his chin on her shoulder. "Glad you came to join us."
"Glad I decided to," Beth smiled and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek.
"Aren't you two cozy," Michonne chided them.
"Yea well what can we say," Rick laughed as Beth grinned at him. "There she goes again."
Leaning forward, Beth snagged Judith's pants and drug her back into her arms. Judith turned to look at her with a scowl on her face. Bringing her legs together, Beth let go of Judith who tried to crawl away. When she reached Beth's legs, she tried pushing them out of the way. She tried to crawl through them; she plopped back down on the ground and hollered her displeasure. "Sorry cranky butt," Beth told her. Judith turned around and gazed at her for a long moment. Reaching out with her hand, she grabbed Beth's leg and began to push upwards. "Oh baby … Rick, look … she's trying to stand."
"Whoa," Carl whistled as Michonne winked at him. "Think she'll make it?"
"We'll find out in a minute," Rick smiled, keeping his arms around Beth.
Other people in the prison began to turn their attention to them as Judith kept trying to push herself upwards to stand. On her third try, Judith stood up straight and stared at Beth and Rick. Her face broke into a wide grin as she let go of Beth's leg then lifted her own. She brought it back down, taking a step then made a second step then a third till she made the last two into Beth's awaiting arms. She fell forward and burst out laughing.
"She walked!" Beth giggled, hugging her and kissing Rick's cheek.
"Five steps," Rick replied and looked at Judith. "She walked five whole steps and I got to see it. If Carl hadn't insisted on me joining them I would've been in the tower."
"She only walked because I wouldn't let her keep crawling," Beth added.
"Glad you did join us then," Rick smiled and kissed her cheek.
"You two are sickeningly cute you know that right," Michonne spoke.
"Yea they know, they don't care though," Carl added. "I think the only person who does care might be Hershel. Where is he anyway?"
"Inside at prayer meeting where I'm supposed to be there but chose not to because I can't stand it personally," Beth spoke cautiously. "Daddy's getting a bit … zealous shall we say … about his prayer meetings here lately."
"We'll keep an eye on him just in case," Rick spoke and rubbed his nose. "Until then, we do nothing unless it endangers the prison. Agreed?"
"Fine with me, I hate stogy prayer meetings myself," Michonne coughed.
The sun began to dip below the horizon, putting on a spectacular sunset as one by one everyone headed inside. Carol came over and scooped up a sleeping Judith from Beth's arms, winked and headed inside. Stretching and yawning, Carl hugged Michonne in a lazy flop before patting Rick's shoulder as he drug himself inside.
"You two coming?" Michonne asked, getting up and stretching.
"We'll be in shortly," Rick told her as she walked away. "Thank you for coming to sit with us."
"Glad I did," Beth sighed as she laid her head back into him. "Such a gorgeous sunset."
"With gorgeous company," Rick spoke softly into her hair.
"You have my permission to kiss me whenever you want," Beth sighed.
"Okay," Rick replied and tilted her backwards. She stared up with surprise until she grinned as he lowered his face to hers. Reaching her hand up, she ran it over his cheek as they continued kissing. He stretched out onto the ground beside her, taking her in his arms as their hands began to roam over each other slowly. Lifting his head, he stared down into her serene face. "Stay with me tonight."
"Okay," she sighed softly.
He rose and helped her to her feet as they headed inside. Most everyone had gone to their cells as they headed upstairs. He pushed the blanket back to allow her entry first then he stepped in. She sat on the cot, sliding her shoes off and placing her back to the wall. He sat down, removed his shoes and shirt before lying down to face her. He pushed a strand of hair from her face as their lips touched again. "G'night Beth."
"G'night Rick," she sighed and snuggled into him.
He cradled her close to his chest as he rubbed her arms and back before sleep overcame him. Leaning his head over, their foreheads touched as he fell fast asleep.