Bethyl week prompt – Enchanted

I know. I know. I said this story would be a one shot. Then Hearts1989 begged and begged me to continue it...and my muse was absolutely stuck for a bunch of these Bethyl Week prompts, mainly because I couldn't help but try and tie them in to this story. So, fine. We'll try it. Call it a two-shot?

The newlyweds had made their rounds, greeting all of their guests, before the DJ announced that the happy couple was leaving the reception. They rushed off to their getaway car, covered with streamers and soda cans strung from the rear bumper. Beth stood near Daryl as they all waved their goodbyes, giggling uncontrollably. Daryl had told her that he and Rick had hidden a jingle bell in the spare tire compartment. She could just imagine the two of them, driving cross-country, frustrated in trying to find the source of the noise, and the thought only drove her to more giggles.

Daryl looked down at her and grinned. She met his gaze, and she found his expression nearly unreadable. It was as if he was sad and disappointed and angry, yet there was a longing beneath it all. It was that last emotion that had Beth anxious to know just what he was thinking. Her train of thought derailed as the car engine started and her sister and brother-in-law pulled away from the crowd of guests wishing them well.

Eventually the party came to a close. The guests drifted off, heading back home. Beth, Sasha, Daryl and Rick all went inside the house to change into their 'work clothes' as Hershel called them. "No sense in dirtying up your fancy party duds," he had said. Hershel and Annette supervised as the rest of the wedding party started taking down decorations, folding up chairs and tables, tearing everything down but the tent; the crew that had set it up would return the next day to collect it.

They were finishing stacking chairs and tables near the driveway for the rental company to pick up in the morning. The six of them looked at the yard; aside from the still-standing tent and the trampled grass, they could hardly tell that a wedding and reception had taken place here just hours before. Hershel and Annette thanked them for their help and turned to go inside. Rick, Sasha, Daryl and Beth all hugged their goodbyes.

Rick and Sasha walked to their cars while Daryl hung back with Beth on the porch. He leaned against the porch railing as she made herself cozy on the porch swing. Beth focused on the night sky, entranced by the twinkling stars. As much as she was avoiding looking at Daryl again, she could certainly feel his eyes on her.

She couldn't take the silence anymore. "It's beautiful, isn't it?"

He jumped at her question, apparently surprised by it. "What's that?"

"Everything about today. How nice everyone looked, the ceremony was beautiful, the weather couldn't have been more wonderful. The reception...everything was just...perfect."

Daryl nodded, but didn't add his own thoughts to the conversation. He had that look of mild anger in his eyes again, and Beth grew more and more curious as to what got him to that point. All she'd done was comment on the day. Had something happened that she didn't know about? Had someone said something to him to upset him?

Had she done something to upset him? He'd sat with her after their dance together...and their kiss. Oh...that kiss...

Was that what was bothering him? Was he expecting more from her?

Suddenly she stood up and turned to grab the old blanket that was draped across the porch swing. She just couldn't stand sitting with him almost glaring at her anymore. Still, she didn't want to be rude, and didn't necessarily want him to leave, even if he was in a bad mood for whatever reason. "I don't think I could go to sleep if I tried. I'm gonna go for a walk. Come with me?" She held her hand out to him, as he had done to her earlier that night. He took her hand and followed her down the steps and down the driveway.

She led them down to one of the outer pastures, one that hadn't been used for a while. Beth handed the blanket to Daryl, holding on to two of the corners. "Help me spread it out." He took the other two corners and they opened the large blanket and laid it on the ground. Daryl stood there, awkwardly, as Beth made herself comfortable by sitting on the cool fabric, pulling her knees up to her chest, and looked up at the night sky expanding above them. "I could just stare at them all night," she murmured. She looked up at him expectantly. "Well, aren't you gonna sit down?" she asked, patting the space on the quilt next to her.

She looked back up at the sky, but kept sneaking glances over to him. He looked so unsure of himself, which seemed unusual for him. Beth had always pegged Daryl as being very confident in himself; why did he look so nervous now? Did he really not want to be here? Was he just humoring her, like a little kid? He's a grown man. If he wants to sit down he will, she thought to herself, deciding not to be upset if he chose to stand all night. She wouldn't admit to her heart thudding in relief and anxiety as he finally sat next to her.

Another quiet moment passed while the tension built between the two of them again, and she elected to try and break it. "I love coming out here," she said, now focusing on the inky blackness dotted with shining beams of light. "It's so peaceful, coming out here, where I can just look up and I'm alone with my thoughts and can just...be, ya know?" She looked at him suddenly and hurried to add, a note of apology in her voice, "I mean, I'm happy you're with me." Her eyes widened in alarm, "I mean...not with me. I'm just glad you came with me. I...oh,geez, I sound like an idiot, don't I?" Her head sunk until her forehead rested on her knees. Daryl chuckled. 'Great. Now he's laughing at me. At least he's not angry, I suppose.'

"It's okay. I get it. I've got a spot like this, too, where I like just...being."

A wave of relief washed over her when he explained himself. "You do?" she looked up at him, eagerly, glad to be spared of any part of her embarrassment.

"Yeah. There's a pond not far from my old man's house. I used to go there a lot to get away from...everything. Now I just go when I need to think. It's not as quiet as it is here. Lots more frogs," he added, grinning at her.

Beth smiled broadly at him. "It sounds really nice."

Daryl swallowed hard, and looked like he had something he wanted to say, so Beth just waited him out. "Wanna go some time? 'S'only fair...you showed me your spot, I oughta show you mi...OH hell!" he cut himself off, blushing furiously and staring at his shoes. "I'm so sorry, Beth, I didn't mean..."

It was her turn to giggle at his little slip-up. She placed a calming hand on his shoulder, "Daryl. It's okay. I know what you meant." She hoped the moonlight would hide the blush growing across her face. "You sure I wouldn't be intruding or anything?"

He paused again before answering, "No. You wouldn't be intruding. I wouldn't mind havin' someone to share it with," he muttered before staring at his shoes again. She pulled her hand away from his shoulder, and she shifted slightly on the blanket, getting into a more comfortable position. Her arm brushed against his and she felt him tense for just a split second, but then he relaxed, apparently welcoming her touch. Her mind flitted back to their time on the dancefloor, how her heart nearly sang when he kissed her. And he was there with her now, wasn't he? Maybe he didn't find her so annoying after all. Throwing caution to the wind, Beth lowered her head to rest gently on his shoulder; she felt him cross his arm behind her, resting along her back.

She hummed softly, "This is nice." He looked down toward her at the same time she turned her head slightly to face him. His lips were tantalizingly close – so close she could feel his breath against her own lips. She wanted to badly to kiss him, but couldn't bring herself to be so forward. Finally, finally, he lowered his head and kissed her. The kiss was sweet, chaste, and ended all too soon. When her eyes fluttered open, he was already looking down at her. She took in his expression; it was as if he were waiting for something, something that made him nervous.

Unable to resist, she reached up and sought his lips again, lingering against him. She moved her lips against his, and felt him move along with her, deepening the kiss, her heart pounding the entire time. He brought his hand to cradle her along her jawline, a gesture she found incredibly romantic. His tongue grazed over her bottom lip, and she opened her mouth, just slightly. The tips of their tongues met fleetingly before they both pulled away. He pressed one last, soft kiss to her lips before pulling back completely and gazed down at her.

She was glad Daryl didn't say anything right away. Her heart was beating so hard, she didn't think she'd have heard his words anyway. After a moment, he said, just above a whisper, "We oughta get you inside. It's pretty late."

Beth pouted slightly; those were definitely not the words she had wanted to hear. "Just a little longer? I don't want to leave y...um...leave yet." Daryl raised an eyebrow at her stutter and grinned before nodding at her, bringing his arm to wrap closer around her, his hand resting on her hip. His thumb traced tiny circles just above her waist as she snuggled closer to him. "You know, Daryl, you can be pretty charming when you wanna be," Beth whispered. As their eyes met again, she didn't know which was shining brighter, the stars above, or the gleam in his eyes as that longing expression crossed his face once more.

04/07/2015 Edit – In beginning work on Man in Black, the counterpart to this story, I realized this second chapter was almost completely done from Daryl's POV, which just doesn't work with the rest of the story. I've changed everything so it shows Beth's POV. You'll notice that in both stories, the dialogue and their actions will always be identical.

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