OMG. Is everyone else heartbroken right now? I had a feeling that Hershel was going to die this episode, but my gosh, it still absolutely broke my heart. Then when Lauren Cohan was near tears on Talking Dead, speaking about Hershel/Scott Wilson, the floodgates opened and I could not stop the tears! I am a huge Bethyl shipper –Yes I know there's quite the age gap between Daryl and Beth, but I still love it- and with Beth and Daryl taking off together I can imagine lots of other Bethyl shippers are dreaming of what could take place.
So here's a little one-shot that I thought up! Maybe I could turn it into something longer if you guys would like. As always, much love to you my lovelies :)
"We gotta go Beth…we gotta go."
Beth gripped the gun to her chest and ran as fast as she could next to Daryl as they dodged the trees and made their way deeper into the woods. "Inhale, exhale, one foot in front of the other…We've all got jobs to do." She kept her eyes focused on the angel wings stitched onto Daryl's vest.
They ran for what seemed like hours, ran until Beth felt she could not take another step, and that the overwhelming horror and grief that she pushed back with every step was beginning to push against her, threatening to break over the wall she had put up around her emotions. Daryl suddenly turned to the left and held a hand up for her to stop. They both looked at the decapitated body with a sign "Liar" nailed to its chest. Daryl readied his crossbow and gave Beth a pointed look and she placed the rifle against her shoulder and nodded as they crept into the clearing. Another decapitated body was slumped with the sign "Rapist" also nailed to its chest.
"Daryl," She hissed to him and his sharp blue eyes snapped back to glance at her.
"Quiet."
"I don't think we should,"
"We need some place to stay for the night; you got a better idea?" His tone was harsh, and she again felt her emotions threaten to crash over her. Daryl, perceptive as usual, picked up on it as her face fell and he softened his voice and moved back beside her. "We'll make sure it's clear, then figure out what we're gonna do." He scanned her over and Beth bit her lip hard enough to break the skin and the iron taste of blood filled her mouth. The pain and sharpness of the taste of blood helped her refocus. They entered the cottage slowly and cautiously, the smell of decay harsh in the air, the bodies of walkers still on the floor. Daryl ensured the walkers were dead and together they dragged the bodies outside and then silently moved back into the cabin and barred the door. As she stepped away from the door, a wave of nausea hit Beth and she gasped and felt herself falling before strong arms wrapped around her and held her upright.
Daryl cursed and swung the petite blonde up and glancing around deposited her on the dusty couch, growing more and more concerned when she began to hyperventilate, her eyes glassy.
"Beth," He gently shook her shoulders. "Beth you gotta breathe." He jumped when her tiny hands grasped onto his vest with surprising strength.
"My Daddy," She groaned and then she was sobbing, making the worst sounds that Daryl had ever heard and he awkwardly sat down beside her on the couch and then she was on his lap, her body convulsing, her tears soaking the skin on his neck, her sobs making his own chest tighten as images of Hershel's head nearly sliced off as he swayed on his knees.
Daryl awkwardly patted her back, as he had no words to comfort her and was not accustomed to being in such an intimate position with anyone. He held her as she cried, until her sobs turned into silent tears, her small frame trembling.
"We'll stay here for now and then we'll scout around for everyone else."
"They're all dead." Her voice was muffled into his neck.
"No they're not."
"Maggie went back in the prison to get Glen, I didn't see them."
"That's cause you were too busy trying to find the kids."
"I couldn't find any of them either…" Beth began to sob in earnest again. "Judie, oh poor Judie."
Daryl sighed and let his head fall back against the wall. Beth's tears had quieted again and he was beginning to feel claustrophobic with her still on his lap. He grasped her upper arms to move her over and froze when her thin arms suddenly wrapped around his neck and her big blue eyes were staring into his own, her face was close, much too close to his own.
"Just stay."
"I ain't leaving, just going to look around the cabin."
"No, I want you to stay, just stay, please,"
Beth felt her breathing quicken again and she wrapped her fingers into Daryl's hair, not wanting him to move, frantic and incapable of thinking rationally. "Please don't leave me." She did not register Daryl's wince at her painful grip on his hair.
"Okay, it's okay, calm down." He gently gripped her wrists and tugged her fingers out of his hair. He was shocked into remaining still when her lips suddenly pressed against his own and she was kissing him with enough force to bruise. When she moved so that her legs were straddling his own he was roused from his shock and he threw her off of his lap onto the couch and moved to the other end of the cabin, breathing heavily, staring at Beth like she was more dangerous than a walker.
On the couch Beth covered her face in her hands and began to cry again. "I'm sorry, I just wanted to feel something good." Her body ached, her head felt like it was going to split in half, her eyes were sore and swollen and her throat was tight. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry." She did not see Daryl slowly approaching her again, and was only alerted to him returning to her side when the couch dipped next to her.
"It's fine."
"Can you please just stay close? Just for tonight?"
"Alright."
Several hours later Daryl woke feeling warmer that usual, his body stiff and his spirit dropping as the events of the day came back to him. Glancing down at his side he studied Beth. She had fallen asleep within minutes of him rejoining her on the couch, physically and emotionally drained. Though highly uncomfortable, he had remained still when she had curled up against him, her hands clutching at his arm as if afraid he might slip away while she slept. He tentatively wrapped an arm around her and she sighed and curled into him even more, her arm moving to wrap around his torso.
"Daryl?" She murmured.
"I'm still here, go back to sleep."
"You won't leave?"
"Promise." He tightened his grip around her shoulders and closed his eyes again. "I promise I won't leave you."
This didn't turn out how I wanted it to, but hopefully some of you might enjoy reading it!