A/N: This is the sequel to "Playin' the Missus". If you haven't already, I would suggest reading that story first.
*Anything in Italics is a flashback.
Dead Flowers
Chapter 1
There wasn't a call, nothing but the police at her door.
The hospital seemed colder than it ever did as Beth waited and watched the clock. Minutes turned into hours and hours turned into her life flashing before her eyes.
She stood when she saw the doctor walking towards her, then she felt her knees buckle beneath her at his words.
Beth's world had been turned upside down.
There were no tears shed on her part, her whole body was in shock.
She had just gotten him back and now he was gone.
The coolness of the hospital floor against her cheek did nothing to ease the pain in her chest but she couldn't stand, she couldn't feel anything but the coolness.
Everything around her began to spin, whispering voices and clocks ticking were the only sounds.
As she pushed herself up off the floor and tried to stand, unseen hands grabbed her in an attempt to steady her.
She was led into a room and as the doctor pulled back the sheet, her heart started beating faster than it ever had.
"No." The word fell from her lips in a pathetic whimper.
Her body shook as she reached out to touch his face. He was cold, so much colder than she had ever felt.
Her fingers traced the cuts on his face and then his lips before she pressed hers to his.
It was such a pitiful attempt to make him wake up, to come back to her but he didn't.
The next two days flew by in a whirlwind.
She wasn't sure how but she found herself sitting in the front row with Cody and Daryl next to her. She dared to look around at the people dressed in black behind her.
Her eyes found the carrier at her feet and a sleeping Sadie, dressed in black.
The casket in front of her made an awful pain shoot through her chest.
She closed her eyes and felt a small hand on hers. Looking down into the saddest blue eyes she had ever seen, she was at a loss for words. Not that she had been able to speak much in the last few days.
She stood there like a statue after Merle was lowered into the ground. Arms wrapped her in hug after hug, condolences and comforting words were spoken to her but she couldn't distinguish one person from the next, one voice from another.
They all made her feel empty inside.
"Mommy," Cody tugged her hand.
Such as simple word and gesture brought her out of her haze but caused her body flinch.
Being home, surrounded by pictures and their things, Beth was able to find a little comfort.
The more people that left, the more flowers Beth found in her home. She was sure Merle would've cursed every single petal and stem if he saw them. But she left them where they had been placed.
The day went on just as any other would. She fed the kids, bathed them, put them to bed. Everything a mother would do.
Maggie and Daryl watched every move she made, waiting for her to break.
They were both standing in the doorway of the bedroom she had shared with Merle as she pulled one of his shirts out of the closet and disappeared into the bathroom. They were both gone when she returned to the bedroom, wearing Merle's shirt. Maggie had taken the guest room down the hall and Daryl had taken the couch.
Beth stood there staring at the bed.
It looked so big and empty without him in it. Usually at this time of night he would've already been in bed waiting for her.
She walked around to her side of the bed and climbed in, facing away from his side as she laid down.
Her eyes never closed so when the sun started peeking through the window she turned off her alarm clock before it was time for it to go off, she got dressed, woke Cody up to get ready for school and then made her way to the kitchen.
She put on a pot of coffee and made the same thing she made every morning unaware that Maggie and Daryl were rushing around the house, taking care of the kids.
To her it all seemed normal as that was what Merle did.
After everyone's plates were filled and set on the table, she turned the coffee off and poured two glasses, both black.
She handed one to Daryl and set the other one down at Merle's spot. Her grip on the cup tightened before she let go of it.
She could feel their eyes on her when she turned around to fix her own plate though she wasn't at all hungry.
She sat across from where Merle would have sat and stared at the empty space.
He was just there.
Beth had decided it was finally time for them to get remarried.
So many things had been keeping them from doing it, like her pregnancy with Sadie, and despite Merle disliking the idea of an actual ceremony, he felt he owed that to Beth but he knew she didn't have to have it. She wanted a simple ceremony in front of their family and just a few friends. After all, their first wedding had been in front of the Justice of the Peace.
A week before Merle's accident, the Greene farm was decorated but it wasn't over the top.
There were a few chairs and several tables with food but it was hardly anything fancy.
Merle and Cody were dressed up nicely and waiting for Beth at the alter.
Instead of carrying a bouquet of flowers, Beth was carrying a sleeping Sadie in her arms. They were both dressed in white dresses with lavender ribbons.
Merle smiled at his girls and leaned down to whisper to Cody.
"Ain't yer Mama an' sister beautiful?"
Cody smiled and nodded.
Beth tried to hand Sadie off to Maggie while she and Merle exchanged vows but the baby threw a fit, Beth decided it was best to hold her.
When it was time for them to exchange rings, they kept their old wedding rings but wanted to start fresh with new ones, Beth was able to pass Sadie off to Maggie.
Beth slipped the ring onto Merle's finger and when it was his turn, he asked Beth to hold her hand out so Cody could help him put the ring on her finger.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife, again. You may kiss the bride."
Merle pulled Beth close and kissed her while their family and friends cheered.
He couldn't believe that after all these years and the hell he put her through, she was still his. She was still by his side and, if it was possible, he loved her even more than before.