A/N Happy Day to All of You! Here's a little lighthearted and romantic fic I hope you enjoy. My Dear FF friend Kevkye sent me a prompt the other day for a story. The prompt was that Beth is "purchased" for a date at a charity auction. Kevkye likes Rick, Daryl and Merle stories, so she gave me the freedom to choose who I'd use in this story.

I decided what the heck, I'll write three one shots all with a different take on the auction. We start with Rick *swoon* Yep, I'd bid. This story will be in three parts. Each part is a standalone story, so read one, two or all three. The first chapter is a Rick and Beth one shot, the second a Daryl and Beth one shot, and the third a Merle and Beth one shot. Believe me I totally get that some of you wouldn't read a Merle story if you had a gun to your head, I'm okay with that, reader's choice :)

I hope I somehow made sense with all of that!

The King County Auction – Part One - Rick

He loved his job and everything about it, except for this part about it.

Just over a year ago the longstanding county sheriff had retired so Rick ran in the election. He hadn't really expected to but he'd won the election handily. At 30 he'd become the youngest county sheriff in King County history.

After five years being a widower he'd recently began to feel like he was interested in dating, but things were different now. He wasn't interested in causal relationships or dating anyone he wouldn't feel proud to introduce to Carl.

He was real sure he wasn't going to meet his perfect match by being auctioned off at the county fair. It was one of those deals though he was kind of trapped into it. It was a fundraiser a local philanthropic group was putting on; all proceeds were going to The Senior Meals on Wheels program. How do you say "no" to that? Especially when you're an elected official. Yeah, the voters wouldn't be happy if he just said "No" to seniors being fed.

Well it was only one date, he ought to be able to live through that.

He'd always wanted to be a cop ever since he was a little boy. He'd been lucky enough to get into the state law enforcement academy right out of high school, and then he got hired by the King County Sheriff's Department.

He'd been thrilled because he thought he'd have trouble being taken seriously by any department, he was still a kid just barely 20 then. He'd been worried he was too young and he might have to try and find a job in private security or something like that.

He did well. Within six months he'd busted a huge car theft ring. They were running a chop shop operation out of a big warehouse building on a remote piece of farmland. That bust had put him on the Sheriff's radar as an asset.

Investigating that particular crime had led to the first time he'd seen Beth Greene. She was about nine or 10 years old, small and skinny with a couple of curly blonde pig tails and a whole lot of energy.

He'd gone to speak to her Daddy, asking him questions about the land adjacent to his. Asking if he knew the fellas working out of that big shop building. While he'd talked to her Daddy she'd been running around the yard like a whirling dervish chasing the family dog and giggling her head off. Yeah, she was a cute kid.

After the big bust it had been a pretty fast move up the ranks for him. And then he met Lori. They'd gotten way too hot and heavy way too fast, and four months into what he thought of as mostly a physical relationship, she got pregnant. He was the kind of man who stepped up and did the right thing and they got married.

It never was real good but they managed to hold it together for Carl's sake. The first wall they hit was when she had an affair with his best friend in the department, Shane Walsh. But still somehow they managed to keep it together for Carl's sake.

Life as Rick Grimes knew it was turned upside down in a split second when she was on her way home from Atlanta one day. She and her friend Andrea had gone on an all-day shopping trip to the big mall there. Then for whatever reason they'd stopped and had Happy Hour at some trendy bar before leaving the city.

Andrea was driving and she'd hit a concrete barrier in a road construction zone, going 30 miles an hour over the speed limit. Her blood alcohol level was well over the legal limit. The only tiny bit of gratitude he felt was that it had been a single car accident; they hadn't taken anyone out with them.

He was 25 at the time raising a three year old son on his own. Poor Lori hadn't been gone three months when it started. It seemed everyone in the county knew just the right woman. Someone who'd be the perfect wife for him and the perfect mother for Carl.

He knew they were trying to be helpful and all, but shit he wasn't ready for anything like that. He just wanted to be a good father to his son and be a good cop. That kept him busy and helped him get his priorities straight.

And now he was being auctioned off at a county fair. He was trying to hide his embarrassment and humiliation, be a good sport and all. But when they asked him to take his shirt off and turn around for the ladies, he respectfully declined.

They'd already auctioned off the other four men. A local dentist, a fireman, the owner of a car dealership, and a high school football coach. It was then he had a moment of panic, what if no one bid? Or what if he was "purchased" for the minimum bid of $25.00? Either of those things would just add to his humiliation. He couldn't wait for this day to be over.

Several women bid on him in the first few calls so that made him feel a little better. It eventually came down to just two bidders. One was that waitress from the local diner, Jessie. He'd known for a while she was interested but there was just something strange about her and the interest wasn't mutual. The other woman was very pretty. She seemed vaguely familiar but he didn't really recognize her.

But yeah, man she was pretty. Her hair was a beautiful shade of blond, and shiny. She had it up in some kind of ponytail thing but it wasn't staying real well. There were little curls and wisps of hair going all over in the light breeze. Damn that looked sexy.

She seemed kind of young and he was thinking she could probably have her pick of guys, why would she spend her money to bid on an older guy like him? She had to know he had a kid; the auctioneer had referred to him as a "single parent." Shit couldn't he just be a parent? Why was it necessary to qualify parenthood?

And what was with these two women? He just wanted this nonsense to be over so he could go home and drown his embarrassment in a couple of cold ones. Although he'd gone so far as to decide he hoped that petite blond outbid Jessie.

And finally it was over and he was astounded, he couldn't believe he'd been auctioned off for more money than any of the other men, even that young firefighter. But yeah, he probably wouldn't ask the blond what she wanted with him, he was just feeling real damn happy he'd be going on a date with her.

He was stunned when the auctioneer said her name. She's that skinny little girl Beth Greene? She may still be small and slim, but she was definitely all woman. He did some quick calculating, she must be 21 or 22 by now, perfectly legal and old enough to have a glass of wine. This might end up being fun.

He walked over to her, "Wow thanks so much for feeding my ego, and of course adding to the coffers of Meals on Wheels." He looked down at the little index card with the auction guidelines on it, "Let's see Beth Greene, your date includes dinner and your choice of dancing, a movie, or bowling."

She smiled a smile at him that made his face smile right back, "Well sheriff, I was thinking since I've been waiting for this date for 10 years I'd let you take me somewhere real special. Let's see, I think I'd like a double bacon cheeseburger, cheese fries and cold beer at Ike's. After that I'd like to walk all over town with you, we could chat and maybe get to know each other a little. If it works out, I'd hope that next time you make the first move because frankly, I'm broke now."

Damn, she's beautiful, she likes beers and burgers, and she has a sense of humor. "That sounds perfect Ms Greene. When can we go on this date?"

"You're the one with a child to think about so you should probably decide what works for you."

"It so happens Carl is spending tonight with his buddy and I'm alone. If you're free I can pick you up whenever you'd like, or we can do it another time. I have a neighbor who's very generous about watching Carl for me."

"Tonight would be perfect. Let's see, it's three now how about six? I'm already hungry." Oh yeah, there was the smile.

"Well I don't want you starving can I buy you something to hold you over until dinner?"

They walked around the fair munching on popcorn and watching people play the games and she asked, "Didn't your son want to come to the fair?"

"Well yes but I'm bringing him tomorrow. I didn't know how good an idea it would be for him to see his father being auctioned off." And he laughed but she could swear she saw his neck turn pink. He was every bit as handsome and appealing as she'd been thinking he was for 10 long years.

He was touched that she'd considered he had a son and needed to make arrangements for child care, and that she'd inquired why his son wasn't at the fair.

"I'd better get home and get freshened up Sheriff Grimes I have a date with a very handsome gentleman tonight. If he'd give me his phone I'd put my number in it for him. I'll send you a text with my address when you call that number." Damn he felt like he was already falling for this beautiful, funny and sweet woman, and they hadn't even been on their date yet.

He called her, pushed the end button and she quickly texted him the address. It was then he nearly fainted. She leaned up and kissed his cheek, "I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to having burgers with you Sheriff."

He was betting she wasn't looking forward to it any more than he was.

He'd thought maybe they'd get to Ike's and she'd be one of those girls who'd order the burger without the bun, or ask for a small dinner salad. But Beth Greene had ordered the bacon cheeseburger with mushrooms, cheese fries and a bottle of Bud. He didn't see any reason he shouldn't go ahead and order the same.

He wanted to be smooth with her but that just wasn't really his deal, and he had a feeling it wasn't hers either. "So Miss do you come here often?" And then he lost it and laughed.

She kept a straight face, "Only six nights a week, I diet on Sundays."

"You're a character Beth Greene and a very pretty one at that."

They finished up their burgers and their beers and they left for their walk. He hadn't even thought about it he'd just automatically taken her hand, and man did that slim delicate hand feel good in his. He couldn't believe how comfortable and relaxed he felt around this completely charming woman.

She couldn't recall being more happy. She'd wanted to go out with Rick Grimes for a very long time. It wasn't just that he was the most handsome man she'd ever seen. And those eyes, oh my gawd sitting across from him at Ike's, it was all she could do not to just stare into those ice blue eyes.

But there was so much more to him than just those killer looks. She knew about his loss and she knew he was a good Daddy to his son. She knew that because her Mom's best friend Patricia lived next store to him, and she was always telling Mama what a great Dad he was, how she'd never seen a man care for a child any better. She knew Patricia was the woman he'd referred to as being so generous with her time watching Carl.

Otis and Patricia loved kids and had never been blessed with any of their own.

And she'd heard all about his charitable work, and of course he was in the local paper and on the local news on a pretty regular basis.

But that didn't really tell a story. Being around him, listening to what he had to say, oh my, and then there was the way he kind of cocked his head to the side, and the way he smiled that damn smile that melted her.

Yep, she'd be eating Ramen for the next month after this auction and she was thinking it was the best money she'd ever spent.

He was already dreading having to say goodnight to her. How could he go five years not being particularly interested in any of the women he'd met, and along comes this spunky little blond with attitude and she's already got a firm grip on his heart? He didn't know and he didn't care, he just knew he wasn't passing up any opportunity to see this woman any time she said he could.

Six Months Later

He'd dreaded the idea of allowing himself to be auctioned off. It was embarrassing and he'd been mortified at the very idea. But now he looked back on that auction as such a gift. Would he and Beth have ever gotten together without that auction? He didn't think so.

And she truly was the love of his life. He didn't have a single thread of doubt in his mind, she was it for him and he knew she always would be. End of story.

And Carl was crazy about her, he had been right from the start just like his Dad. Beth hadn't pushed anything with his son. She'd just made herself available to be his friend. And she hadn't treated him like a little kid, she talked to him like he was her equal. Not only did Carl think she was fun, funny, pretty and smart, but he respected her the same as she respected him. She knew how to win the heart of an eight year old, and a 30 year old.

So yeah, he had no doubt about what he was doing.

He took her to Ike's just like he had that first night. They ordered Bacon cheeseburgers with mushrooms, cheese fries and cold Buds.

He was holding her hand across that high top table while they sipped their beers, made small talk and waited for their food.

Then he stood and walked over to her, he didn't get traditional and kneel down on that barroom floor covered in sawdust. Instead he ran his fingers through her hair on either side of that pretty face, he pulled her close and kissed her softly on the lips. "You won me at the King County Auction Beth Greene. You've owned every piece of me since that day, especially my heart. I'd be honored if you'd marry me and keep hanging onto that heart for the rest of our lives."

She had a huge smile on her lips and a tear in her eye when she answered, "You're the best investment I'll ever make Rick, and yes I want to keep reaping the rewards of my wise purchase for the rest of our lives."

A/N Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. The Daryl and Beth version will have a totally new auction scenario and you'll see it sometime in the next week or two. Please leave me a comment and let me know what you thought. xo

To see the chapter photo please visit my tumblr at bethylmethbrick Many thanks! x gneebee