"Ya like it?" Daryl asked, trying to sound ambivalent but allowing genuine concern to slip between his words.
"Didn't we just establish how much I like it?" Beth tried to sound seductive but instead let out a light-hearted giggle, a satisfied smile spreading from ear to ear.
They lay in bed side-by-side, still completely naked, an old quilt haphazardly draped across them. Beth once again stretched her hand out above her, allowing the small diamond on her left hand to catch the sun's last rays as they shone through the cabin window. Beth knew Daryl could have found something bigger or something more intricate than this golden ring decorated with a small diamond, but that knowledge made her appreciate it even more. Daryl chose the humble ring specifically for Beth and to represent who they were as a couple; they were simple.
"I think it's the first pretty thing you've ever gotten me." Beth teased, twisting the ring on her finger.
Daryl grunted, "Bullshit."
"You know it's true! You bring me squirrels! Canned goods! A bag of gummy worms!" Beth's euphoria slipped into her words as she tried to suppress a giddy laugh. Upon receiving no reply, Beth turned onto her stomach so she could face Daryl and ensure his feelings weren't hurt.
"I brought you a turtle shell once." He chimed in, raising an eyebrow as he stared down at her.
"Yeah, with a dead turtle in it. We broke that shell when we attempted to make soup!"
Daryl smirked at the memory, running his index finger down Beth's spine and slowly pushing the quilt to reveal more of her porcelain body.
"I got you that damn gnome." He mumbled to himself, not breaking his concentration on her back.
Beth paused for a moment, questioning if she even had a gnome. She found it hard to believe she would ever forget such an odd gift from Daryl, even if she had lost it.
"In the prison." Daryl prompted, seeing her confusion.
"Oh! I forgot about that gnome! I loved that gnome! I never knew that was you!" Beth broke into yet another grin, remembering the red gnome that had mysteriously appeared next to her bed one evening in the prison. She hadn't even thought to ask Daryl about it, the possibility of a secret present seemed so out of character for him at the time.
Daryl just smiled, allowing his head to fall back onto the bed's mismatched pillows. "Found it raiding a house for supplies one mornin'. They had about 50 in the front yard."
"So why'd you bring me one?" Beth questioned softly, knowing Daryl's romantic feelings for her did not start until months later. "Why not one for Carl? Or Carol?"
Daryl moved his hands behind his head, relaxing back into them, "Guess it just made me think of you… Gnomes were kinda what I figured would have been around back at your type-a house."
Daryl took a deep breath and Beth watched fascinated as she could momentarily see the outline of his ribs as his chest expanded upward. She would never get sick of this view.
"As much as I pretended your optimism annoyed me…" he continued, "…well I felt bad about what you guys had lost. Hell, I missed it and I hadn't even been there long." Daryl trailed off, not wanting to open old wounds.
Beth leaned over, kissing his chest gingerly. "You, Daryl Dixon, are the kindest asshole I've ever met.
"So… that pretty ring good enough to make you Mrs. Asshole?" Daryl asked awkwardly, finally verbalizing the question he had meant to ask over an hour ago.
"Well… I mean it's not a gnome but… I guess it'll do." Beth smirked, feigning disappointment as she stole another look at her ring finger.
Daryl broke into a wide grin, grabbing Beth and pulling her to the head of the bed so they were face to face, "I'll make you forget that damn gnome." Daryl laughed before pulling her in for another celebration.