Hi everyone! This is my very first Bethyl's fic here. I've read a lot stories from others and I got to say you guys are amazing! Thanks for keeping Bethyl alive. The first chapter here is just a long intro of what's going on at the prison of my story. Set in Season 4.
And pardon for my bad English as it isn't my first language...in this story, Beth & Daryl's relationship will be progress slowlyyyy like just how they are. Awkward and more awkwardness.
Rating for the fic is just for the future plot (wink)
When words run dry, he does not try, nor do I.
We are on par. He just is, I just am and we just are.
- Lang Leav "He and I".
The baby's cries echoed down the whole of cellblock C and a soft humming followed by, immediately calmed down little Judith. Warm summer breeze was seeping through the high iron-barred windows of the block indicating the sun would be up soon. Beth hushed as she lay the baby down for a quick change of fresh diaper.
"We're running out of your diappy soon, Judy".
Beth was mentally taking down notes to double remind the supply-run team on that. Baby diapers were getting harder to loot and she had been considering to start using the more traditional way of a cloth diaper. But that would require a lot more changing routine and washing throughout the day although it was not like she minded. Everyone got a job to do, just like Hershel always reminded them. And babysitting Judith was her job.
The prison had became a much peaceful place ever since the fall of Woodbury. They heard about how the town had burned down, most likely done by the Governor himself after a manic outburst of shooting down his own people - after they had attacked the prison, which fortunately, not too much damage was done to the inner zone or any serious casualties. One of the tower got destroyed and the front gate was crushed over but they were able to fix it back. A few men and women were injured by cuts and minor bullet wounds on the shoulder and arms, but Hershel was able to patch them up in no time.
The broken gates were removed and replaced by a makeshift metal shipping container doors that Abraham had found along one of the abandoned warehouses his group had stumbled upon during one of the supply run. How they had managed to tear it down and carried all the way back was still a mystery. It was a tall and sturdy big piece of metal, perfect as a door and protection against the intruding walkers. But it did required more strength to maneuver it as compared to the old fenced gate. Carl had been pretty positive and grinning on how that he would be growing some arm muscles soon.
They had taken in the other survivors of Woodbury after the incident of the attack. A school bus full of men and women, elderly, children and a few teenagers close to Carl's & Beth's age. Glenn, Tyreese, Michonne & Daryl had helped to clear out the rest of block D, secured it and shifted extra furnitures in for the people to live in. The newcomers lived in cellblock D while the usual gang lived in block C. No one was allowed into their cellblock unless necessary or permission was granted. It had always been their number one rule in the prison. Even after Rick had decided to step down and passed his leadership to Daryl, Daryl still stick to Rick's rules. Strictly.
And of course Abraham, Rosita, Eugene and Tara had long moved into cellblock C with them a couple of months ago. Glenn had found their group when he was stranded out there for a few days due to a broken down car and they had been trustworthy enough for Glenn to lead them back to the prison with him. Daryl had been the one to stop them at the gate and asked the three questions Rick used to lead; "How many walkers have u killed?", "How many people have you killed?" and "Why?" Abraham had told them he had murdered people in retaliation of some indiscretion against his family and he had lost them after his wife tired to runaway with their children afterwards. Since then, they had offered to help out a lot around the prison, almost likely to show their appreciation and usefulness, especially during a supply run. Even Daryl had absentmindedly gave Abraham a few pats on the back every time after a successful run. Boy, that man could carry a cow and no one would bat an eyelid.
There came the virus as well not long after taking in the rest of Woodbury people. Rick and Hershel had suspected it to be from the pigs, most likely a swine flu. After the mother pig had suspiciously fallen ill and died, people were starting to fall sick. It had started out from a cough, chills, fever and things just escalated quickly in such a confined space. They had used cellblock A as an quarantine zone and all the sick people were to be supervised there. Daryl had lead a small group with him to search for medicines in hoping to stop the spreading. Despite the risk of getting infected and a worried Maggie protesting against his idea, Hershel had been the one staying in and taking care of the sick. Beth had consoled her sister to trust their daddy and believing in him, reminding her how they were risking their life everyday and every hour in this damned world no matter what they do.
Then both Sasha and Glenn had started to show symptoms of the flu, it was a total miracle they had managed to pull it through. But also they had lost people, again. Which including Patrick, the one boy Carl had just started to grow a bond with and then he was gone. They had dug holes and buried the people who had passed on from the virus in the backyard. Everyday, the reminding residents would bring flowers to the graves and to make sure to keep the area neat and tidy as a form of respect.
Things had gotten a lot smoother after everything they had been through. It had been almost a month since any accident had occurred. Rick had replaced his gun with farming gloves and settled in to do farming in his own impressive vegetable and fruits garden. Sprouting from carrot to tomato to berries, he worked all day out there along with Hershel to keep the garden growing healthily. He had been devastated by the infected pigs he used to care for and Michonne had jokingly comforted him that she hadn't been fond of pork anyway.
The life at the prison had became as normal as one could ever believe.
The cellblock was slowly waking up by the time Beth had finished dressing both Judith and her for the day. She had her hair up in her usual long ponytail and a front braid that crowned around her head to meet the ponytail at the back. It was the neatest and easiest way to keep her hair away while doing chores and also from the humid summer of Georgia. She had long lost track of the time and date, not like it matter anymore. Judging by how the heat of the sun was blazing through the clear sky, she had assumed it to had to be around June by now.
"Good morning ladies," Carol greeted brightly at the bottom of the stairs as she stretched out her arms to hold Judith.
"Morning to you too, Carol. Judy says morning too," Beth poked Judith's cheek playfully and the baby laughed, trying to grab onto her finger with her little chubby ones.
"I'll take over the little princess now, you go on to grab your own breakfast. We are having the leftover roasted venison from last night. Savor it while it last".
Beth nodded in appreciation, wiped her hands from the baby's drool and headed outside of the block. A group residents had already gathered around the kitchen hut that they had built using wooden bamboos and straws for the roof, solid cement for the cooking counter and a few picnic tables made out of random wood pieces. The aromatic smell of the venison was making her stomach grumble.
Karen was standing behind the counter over at the big stove, heating up the venison for everyone. The warm weather and the heat from the stove was making her drenched in sweat as she had a towel hung around her neck and every minute she would wipe her face with a corner of it. She looked up when Beth approached, a wide smile spread across her sweaty face.
"Hey morning, girl".
"Hi Karen"', Beth greeted, winced at the heat of the stove when she neared the counter.
"It's sure is hot isn't it," Karen laughed, scooping up a big portion of venison onto a clean plate and handed it over to Beth, "make sure you drink plenty of water after this".
Beth stared at the plate and was going to protest it was too much for her, Karen raised her brow and gave her a nod. Smiling in defeat, she took the plate and thanked her. She turned her back to walk to a less crowded table when she heard the kids calling out her name. They waved frantically, inviting her to join them at the table. Beth couldn't had been more thankful to the kids.
It had been several months since they had last taken in any outsiders for sanctuary as the numbers had been growing and they had decided there were way enough mouth to feed as for now. Majority of them except for the elderly and kids, they all were assigned to a job. Some were on guard duties taking different shifts throughout the day, some at fence clearing of walkers and random jobs like cooking, laundry, anything that needed to be fixed at the prison. Only a small handful were allowed on supply run when necessary as the main run team had preferred to have people they trust a hundred percent to have their backs.
The last time they had allowed Bob, one of the recent lone survivor Daryl and Glenn had saved, on a run with them, he almost slipped down a roof and losing his life by the force of the walkers pulling at his backpack which he couldn't let go off when the others commanded him to do so. Turned out he was trying to save a bottle of rum instead of his own life and his confession of him used to be an alcoholic had Daryl raging and threatening to kick Bob out if he ever gotten his hands on any alcohol while being near his people.
Beth still felt as awkward as she was since the first day these people had arrived. She was only close to some of them like Sasha, Tyreese, Karen, Rosita and of course her boyfriend, Zach. Zach was a few years older than her and the only one that was closest to her age. She guessed that was pretty much why they were able to click and bond with each other better. Beth liked Carl, but he was much younger and she treated him like a brother while Rick was like her second father or something. They were a close family.
When the world had ended, she never knew how lonely she would felt even though she still got her family and a growing family with her. Jimmy, her ex-boyfriend who had died during the burning incident of the farm where they were overrun by a herd of walkers - her own mother was among one of them...and she was shot down right in front of her. Beth was heartbroken and was in a state of depression afterwards. She had tried slitting her wrist and succeeded, which resulted Maggie meltdown with her. Time heals the heart but she was still struggling with everyday. The scar was still visible under all the bracelets she had always worn to cover it. And when she met Zach, she sensed a small hope of a little comfort, a little warmth.
To be able to be held by another in such a world, it was all she needed. No, she did not loved Zach, but he was her only comfort when she needed. She hadn't told him about what happened to the farm or her suicidal attempt, she felt there wasn't a need to. Zach was always the one blabbering on about himself, trying to let her know more about him. He had asked her stuff but she always only replied a short answer or avoided the topic completely. She just needed a shoulder to lean on and sometimes small kisses to ease her insecurities. But Zach always had been a talkative one, he annoyed her at times.
"And then Lizzie caught the little mouse! We named her Marshmallow because it is soft and white like a marshmallow!" Mika exclaimed as she took in a mouthful of her dry cereal mixed in with a bit of water.
Beth swallowed dryly, feeling her now half-filled stomach hurling at what the kids just told her. A mouse? They caught and kept one as a pet?! That was just one of thing she feared most of, as much as a walker trying to bite a chunk of flesh off her. She wondered if she needed to share this info to Carol. The last time they had any animals on the farm, the pigs were infected and spreading swine flu to the residents. Her mind was busy reciting all sort of scenarios that could happen and what she would need to convince the kids about letting the mouse go - when suddenly an arm wounded around her waist and she shrieked.
"Zach! I told you not to do that!" She smacked at her boyfriend's shoulder and he just laughed.
"Morning my beautiful," Zach kissed the side of her neck, not minding the kids who were gawking at the couple.
Beth was flustered and pushed him away to stand up immediately. Bringing her empty plate with her, she walked awkwardly away from the kids and Zach followed right behind her, teasing at how she was being all shy about it. Beth might have called and labeled Zach as her boyfriend but she wasn't too fond of showing affection with him openly. Not like Maggie and Glenn. Definitely not like Maggie and Glenn.
"Good morning, Daryl!"
"Hey, Daryl!"
"Morning, Mr. Dixon".
The people greeted him along the way as Daryl approached the kitchen. A kid, Luke even went up to him and had his small hand up for a handshake, to thank him for hunting down the deer for them yesterday. They wouldn't be enjoying the delicious slices of venison if it wasn't for him. Daryl awkwardly nodded his head at the greetings and shook the little hand held up for him. Luke beamed up at him and ran off with a smile.
Daryl had stepped in as a leader in Rick's place and he had done a hella great job at that. When Rick had confessed he wished to step down at one of the earlier council meeting about a month back, no one said anything else. And right away Hershel asked if Daryl wished to take that spot instead. He was reluctant at first, but when he looked at Rick, the eyes of that man was tired, full of regrets and almost pleading, Daryl agreed on it. He knew Rick needed a break. Everyone understood how much burden Rick had carried with him ever since Atlanta, and losing his wife from giving birth to his newborn both at the same time, he was a broken man. Not forgetting the period of time where he started seeing hallucinations of Lori everywhere he went, he had almost went insane.
"Hey Daryl, we heading out soon?" Zach sudden question made Beth turned to look at him.
"Yea, out in 'bout twenty. Remember your gun".
"Yes sir!"
Daryl nodded and grabbed himself a plate of the venison. Karen had gave him an extra large portion of it that she had saved for him. The leader deserved as much extra protein as possible in order to keep the prison going. And everyone counted on him. Never was a man of much words, he grunted out a thanks and popped a big chunk into his mouth, giving her a thumb-up.
"You're heading out for the run today?" Beth asked Zach, her wide blue eyes looking a little uneasy.
"Yepp, Daryl had agreed to take me along with the others. We should be back latest by this evening if everything goes well. Are you worried for me?" She heard the teasing in his voice.
Beth looked at him and away. Heaving a sigh, she replied him.
"Not at all. You will come back fine, Zach".
Zach immediate instinct was to lean in for a kiss, a goodbye kiss. But Beth moved her face away before he could taste her lips. A puzzled look spread on his face.
"What, not even a goodbye kiss, Beth?" He sounded disappointed like a puppy who was told to stay out in the rain.
"Nope, because you will come back fine. You will, Zach. This is not a goodbye."
Beth Greene do not say goodbye anymore.
Instead on the lips, she kissed him at the corner of his mouth. She smiled sweetly at him and walked away before he could say anything else.
"Damn romance novel".
She heard Daryl snorted and almost laughed out herself. Feeling a little lighter, she started to small skip in her steps as she made her way back into the cellblock. But she stopped in her track when she heard a women voice.
"Hey Daryl".
She wasn't sure what it was that caused her to pause in her step, retracted her footing and turned her head to that whatever sorcery it was. A lean women with long dark hair stood herself in front of Daryl, one hand on her hip and a folded piece of paper in her other out stretched hand towards him. Her voice was in a tone a bit high-pitched than normal and her body language, one might just mistook her in an attempt of flirting...if she was. Or was she-
"I heard from Sasha that you will be heading out for a run today, so I had prepared a list of stuff I hope you can help me find...you wouldn't mind, right?"
Beth subconsciously frowned at that, an uncomfortable twisting started to form in the pit of her stomach. That woman's speech was making her feeling uneasy, almost annoyed. And hell, she couldn't even remember what was her name.
She watched Daryl shrugged his shoulder with a slight tilt of his head and he took the piece of paper from that woman's hand. As if it was the most normal thing to do and if Daryl Dixon was not the most private person, the woman found her hand laying on his bicep, giving it a firm squeeze as a way of saying her thanks, he flinched at her touch and shook off her hand before turning and walking away.
The way she talked to Daryl and how she had put it as if he was the only one going on the run by himself, asking specifically for his favor, Beth couldn't mark out what it was but she might had just started to dislike her for whatever reason and had absolutely not a single clue as of why.
