AUTHOR'S NOTES: Here's is the next chapter...There are Flashbacks like my story The Journey. Once one or two of my other stories are finished, I'll be updating this regularly.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own the Walking Dead or its characters.

Apologies in advance for any spelling and grammatical errors. Thoughts in Italics.

The Mansion And The Things That Go Bump

Chapter 2

Life was on the up, everything was falling into place. Rick applied for a deputy's position at the Sheriff's Department and without question or thought, the Sheriff hired him without even meeting him.

"Your the best baby, everyone knows it!" Beth said smugly and proudly whilst massaging Rick's shoulders when he got home from work one evening. He had that look on his face which was the cutest face Beth ever did see, his 'I can't believe my luck face'.

Beth couldn't resist kissing Rick's cheeks and he pulled her into his lap and kissed her back. She threaded her fingers through his thick hair tilting his head back whilst she deepened their kiss whispering how amazing he is and he deserved to get the job, he was every ones number one but he was all hers to enjoy and cherish! She had him fidgeting on the chair with tiny moans of appreciation of her loving words and but more importantly her ministrations working over his body. Beth's free hand had trailed down and brushed him teasingly over his work pants and lingered there stroking him and then she was caressing him harder and that grabbed Rick's attention, his arousal was poking up into Beth and without any further delay, Rick picked Beth up and deposited her down on to the couch. He was on her in an instant and then in her in the next heartbeat and had her moaning, running her fingernails down his back leaving marks and gasping for air when she came and Rick followed shortly after collapsing on top of her. Their coupling was quick and rough but it was still amazing and they laid there catching their breathes hoping nobody would come by as the windows were wide open and they were sprawled half naked on the couch facing the main open window. Rick laughs heartedly, he actually didn't care and rolled back on top of Beth making her giggle when he said he can see their neighbour leaving her house from over the lake with a basket. News travelled fast and they should give the town something else juicy to gossip about before they left. Beth had smacked his bare bottom to stop but he was relentless and dove straight back in taking Beth by surprise and she was moving with him forgetting the neighbour but hoping Rick would be finished before she made it over whilst hobbling with her walking stick.

It turned out that one look at Rick's glowing portfolio, The Sheriff snapped him up before Rick went applying at the neighbouring county. The Sheriff had found his replacement much to his joy that he would hand over the reigns in a couple of years to a reliable officer who'd keep the peace and order that the county was greatly known for. They were a small law enforcement but the county was a sleepy one so there hadn't really been much to worry about. A couple of robberies, poaching, land disputes, there was an unexplained death and a suicide many years ago but nothing much notable has happened for the county to make it into the headlines. It was idyllic, it was perfect!

Rick couldn't have been happier, his life had suddenly flourished when Beth came into it. He had fully recovered from a bad divorce three years previously which ended in a custody battle for his son who is now twelve. He shares custody of Carl with his ex-wife Lori who had now shacked up with his once best friend to his dismay, it was a punch in the guts that his "brother" jumped into bed with his former wife even before the ink had dried on the divorce papers. Even though he loathed the idea of them, Rick finally accepted it. He knew Shane and he would be down on him like a ton of bricks if he tried anything that would hurt Carl. But Shane loved Carl so he knew he'd take care of Carl when he was in Lori's care. Lori was flaky and never seemed to know where Carl would run off to. That was the only reason why he had let the bitterness go for Carl's sake to make the transition easier for him than himself. Marriage to Lori was something, not quite right but marriage to Beth was everything that he could have imagined or dreamed of, he honestly couldn't believe his luck and he hoped Carl would accept Beth and he has Michonne to thank for interfering in his life.

Lori on the other hand, had turned bitter and anything to do with Rick, she despised. Especially Rick's younger wife who was a complete and utter shock to her system when she found out about them, she nearly fainted. The younger woman was completely different to her in looks and personality and could be recognised for her own success and merits in her life before Rick got together with her. Lori wasn't happy her ex-husband was rumoured to be dating a girl thirteen years his junior and who was an up and coming author and she was a divorced single mother with no prospects on the horizon. She had Shane but he wasn't husband material, she found that out when he moved in with her and a couple of years later she was regretting that move she made of divorcing Rick. So much so, she even considered going to his house one night to see if there was any hope of a reconciliation but then Shane had come home telling her the news that Rick proposed to Beth less than six months of meeting and then the talk about town of the wedding of the century. She was furious that Rick was parading around as if he was getting married for the first time, she saw how he had celebrated on his stag night, it was like he never had one, he was acting like he was getting married for the first time.

Michonne would remind Lori every time she complained about Rick, that how good Rick was doing when she met up with him, rubbing Lori's face in it that they were still friends and that Rick was happy and that she'd chose to have the affair with Shane, she made her choice, she had to live with it. If she didn't like hearing of seeing Rick happy about town, then maybe she shouldn't watch or listen, just look the other away and invest in earmuffs. That only made Lori mad at the normal serene 'On the fence' Michonne's bite back. But Michonne couldn't help it, Lori just plain irritated her. She only put up with Lori because of Carl, she promised Rick she'd watch out for him and because Carl and Andre were friends otherwise, she'd have slapped Lori years ago and danced in public to show how happy she was Rick escaped Lori, a life of boredom and a life of regret and not only for Rick but for herself, she had found a great friend in Beth and she was a Fan-girl of Beth's work regardless of whatever was going on between Rick and Beth.

Michonne was a secret lover of fantasy and romance novels and Rick had seen her secret collection when he was invited round for dinner one day. Andre had to show him, his newest comics added to his collection and had to go into his mom's room to get them out of her secret closet where she kept her Katana and other possessions which are always under lock and key but Andre had sneaked them from their hiding place. When Andre opened up the secret closet, Rick had been pleasantly surprised and teased Michonne relentlessly. She walked around like such a badass but she was actually a girly girl underneath that headband full of dreadlocks and that killer stare she gave. But that one revelation of Michonne's had set Rick up for the rest of his life. Rick had met Beth at one of her book tours having been dragged there by Michonne requesting that she couldn't go on her own, he had to go with her whether he liked it or not. She likes to remind Rick how he met Beth, it was all thanks to her and she likes to tease him whether he will tell his kids the story of 'how I met your mother and it's all thanks to Aunty Mitch!'

Flashback

Rick is standing in line for the best of three hours thanks to Michonne and it was finally her turn to get her book signed. Girl of the moment, author of the number one seller, Beth Greene looked up and asked what his name was so she could sign one of the free books she was giving away. Rick lazily looked down and met the eyes and voice of an angel and he lost all functions, especially his voice, he lost his words. He tried to speak but no words would form having been hypnotised by those big gorgeous blue doe-eyes that sparkled like a sapphire and those beautiful plump lips looked so fresh and kissable. She was a heavenly angel and he had thought maybe he had eaten too many bacon buttys throughout the day and he had unknowingly had a heart attack from all that fat, grease, salt and carbs and he had passed to the afterlife. He is staring at the angel who would let him through the gates to her haven until Michonne snapped him out of it.

Michonne had seen the sparks between Rick and Beth. She thought she saw fireworks pop out of Rick's eyes the way he was staring and she nudged him as it became awkward, to her anyway. The crowd behind was starting to make noise wondering what was taking so long, they had books to get signed as well, photos to take and the line had suddenly come to a holt.

"Er….erm?" Rick brows furrowed trying to remember.

Beth burst into giggles and scribbled into the book when she sees her agent motioning to the people that they were going to be wrapping this up fairly soon.

Michonne covered her face and looks at Rick shaking her head "really?"

After signing the book, Beth holds it in her hand to her chest. She looks up at Rick and hands it over to him. His eyes hadn't moved from her the whole time and he finally had some movement in his body, he reaches down and takes it, their fingers touch and his eyes widen and so does hers. It was like the stuff you read in romance novels which Rick thought was corny and made up. He had been proven wrong. He had the sweaty palms, his heart was thumping, he forgot his name, he forgot what day it was, where he was, he suddenly felt like how Carl explains when he gets nervous when Mikka comes to talk to him and then he starts to do simple arithmetic's in his head, 1+1=2, 2x2=4, then he tried to recite the National Anthem in his head,

"Oh, say! can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight"

And then he tries to remember his name again? "Rick Grimes you idiot!" His brain tells him and before he can answer, Michonne pushes Rick out the way.

"Hey honey, my names Michonne!" Michonne tells Beth and then looking over at Rick over her shoulder and rolling her eyes.

Beth chattily signs Michonne's book and they have a quick conversation where it was revealed that Beth was in talks about writing a possible second novel if this book did better than her rival writer who was trailing behind her trying to snatch the limelight. This was private and nobody but Beth's inner circle were privy to this information but she felt comfortable with Michonne and she didn't know why but she wanted the handsome man to know so hopefully he'd go through the painstakingly task of making it out to one of the book signings and stand hours in the queue to hand her, her book and be able to tell her his name so she could sign it for him. She knew he wasn't a reader but was accompanying his friend like a few other people she had met but still, she couldn't help herself from hoping, she couldn't stop sneaking looks over at the handsome stranger over Michonne's shoulder.

Michonne stamped Rick on the foot to stop gawking, she had never seen him like this and wondered did he take one of the magic mushrooms he confiscated from the teenage boys he busted the night before down by the creek. Rick was acting so out of character, it made her laugh and noting that Beth was doing nothing to help by blushing and batting her long lashes up at him every so often only fuelling Rick to smile that smile that flashes his teeth, he was acting all smitten and a idiot in Michonn's opinion. Michonne felt sick at this showcase of puppy love, she wanted someone to hand her a bucket so she could barf into it. Michonne could see Rick had it bad, seriously bad!

Beth's agent, Amy had come along and shoos both Rick and Michonne along. Michonne wanted to slap the Little Miss Hoity Toity round the head and Rick, he was a goner, he catches Beth's eyes one last time before she is swamped when her agent announces Beth can only sign a few more copies and needed to leave for another book signing across town, anyone who wanted their books signed, to get down over to the Mall ASAP. The crowd were upset and groaning. A line of ten women standing in the long line were standing with their arms folded across their chests and looking crossly at Rick.

Michonne pulled Rick out of there and to her car parked at the back of the Mall's parking lot. Rick had sat beside her in comfortable silence. Michonne had never seen Rick like this before, it was really out of character.

Rick opens up the hardback to reveal a beautiful picture of Beth on the sleeve and then on the first page with personal acknowledgements to her late mother, father, brother and sister, her autograph just below with a note she wrote to him in her swirly joined neat hand writing:-

"Dear Erm,

Hopefully one day you can tell me your name?

Thanks for brightening my day - you made me giggle, the day doesn't seem so long and daunting after all!

Hoping we met again, my man of mystery without a name!

Beth x "

Rick, from time to time hoping Michonne wouldn't catch him, was grinning to himself all the way home. When Michonne caught him, she couldn't look at him, she just could not look! So she turned up the radio and watched the road ahead, dropped him off outside his little cottage and was zooming off with a thanks for coming leaving him standing alone in his driveway holding his book.

"Retard!" Michonne laughed watching into her rear-view mirror at her friend still standing there staring down at the book held in his hands.

Weeks past and finally Rick and Beth's paths crossed one night on a dark country road when she was making her way home to her daddy's farm. Her car broke down and she was stuck in the middle of nowhere. Rick was on his way back home from the city after getting some papers signed by a Judge when he happens upon a broken down vehicle at the side of the road. The bonnet was up and a woman was peering in with a flashlight. He gets out his car and puts his hat on making his way over.

"Maam, do you need any help?" Rick calls out when he is half way over.

Beth whips around with her flashlight, flashing it in his face grabbing the dipstick as a weapon. The light blinding him, he reaches up and covers his face blocking the light, holding his other hand out to calm her down.

"Maam, please put the flashlight down, my name is Deputy Rick Grimes, I work for the Sheriff's Department just over at King County, if you need my help, I will be more than happy to help you, now if you'd please co-operate?" He asked gently but still that tone of authority in his voice.

He was understanding she was a vulnerable girl out on her own in the middle of nowhere with no vehicles coming by anytime soon, so he tried to make her feel at ease and then he sees her shoulders relax realising he was not an axe murder.

"I'm sorry, I just got spooked, I'd REALLY appreciate your help deputy!" Beth says seeing part of his uniform and the patrol car behind him.

She puts her flashlight aside so the headlight's of Rick's patrol car was enough light so they could clearly see each other.

Rick removes his hand from his face and squints over to her form and Beth looks up apologetically and their eyes meet. Rick recognising Beth, the corners of his mouth turn up in a surprised smile and Beth was beaming up at him knowing his face too.

"Miss Elizabeth Greene, the famous writer?" Rick asks knowingly breathing her scent in from where he was standing feet's away.

"Deputy Rick Grimes! a deputy? So you do have a name!" Beth says finally getting an answer to her question she asked all those weeks ago, in the same tone admiring him in his uniform, tilting her head taking him in from his boots up to the top of his Stetson hat on his head.

Rick remembers what a complete and utter idiot he was that day, takes off his hat, smoothing down his hair in embarrassment nodding "Yea" he replies.

Beth thought that was the cutest thing she ever saw, he was cute and hot and sexy and more!

"Beth Greene" she holds out her hand.

"Rick Grimes" he says taking hold of her hand gently - pop go the fireworks again from both of them.

They smile and shake hands, neither withdrawing until there's howling in the distance which makes Beth jump up and into Rick, he catches her and wraps his arms around her shoulders.

"Sorry!" she blushes as she moves her face away from his chest, he smelled so good she thought taking a quick sniff.

She felt a tad ridiculous right now. She grew up on a farm and that was just a couple of foxes making some noise but still she didn't know why she reacted like that. Maybe it was the vixen inside herself wanting to touch the deputy to see if he was real and not a figment of her imagination. She'd thought about him quite often when she had a spare moment to herself. She imagined him a lot and even wrote a steamy raunchy scene for her novel and he was the hero in it. She blushes thinking about the draft that's saved on her laptop "god, if only he knew!" she blinks back up to him trying not to blush, she was the female protagonist in the scene with him "Nobody needs to know that!" She grins.

"It's alright" he replies watching her biting her bottom lip in embarrassment and then she manages to look up at him and smiles blushingly.

Rick finally manages to tears his eyes away from her noticing the rain clouds fast approaching.

"I'll take a look at your car" he says letting go noticing how inappropriate he was acting with a woman he barely knew, he was on duty, he had to remain professional. Actually he wasn't, he was off an hour ago but still, he didn't want to appear like a creep staring and holding her like he was.

He walks beside her and bends down looking into the bonnet. Beth's eyes tilt over to take a look and she liked what she saw. She grins to herself and she can tell how strong he is, he's definitely a runner, just perfect she thought, if there was such a thing as perfect, Deputy Rick Grimes definitely would be classed perfect in her books.

"So was you goin' to poke me with the dipstick?" he asks with a hint of sarcasm whilst he grabs the cloth and wipes away at something.

Beth looks to the object in her hand and she laughs. It was the closest thing that she could grab to defend herself if needed to. She was thinking of what to say and then she realises that he was teasing her.

"I could hurt you ten different ways with this baby and I'm pretty good at fencing!" Beth replies holding the stick in the on guard position.

Rick turns around and takes her in noticing how poised she was in her position that he actually thought she wasn't joking and she looked quite sweet trying to prove her point.

"Well, I fenced in college as a sport" Rick replies leaning back on the car wiping his hand and then looking back up to Beth with a smirk.

"So did I, but it was just a hobby, nothing serious" she says looking around "one day, we'll have to have a duel, I'm pretty fast!" She says challengingly and secretly wishing to duel with him in other ways.

Rick raises his eyebrow not knowing whether she was serious and she hands him the dipstick and when he goes to take it, she doesn't let go and they're both holding onto the object at a standstill.

Rick finally grins back to her, never had he come across a girl who openly challenged him and at a fencing match, if at all anything. He hadn't fenced since college, maybe he should brush up on his techniques he ponders. He cocks his head and accepts her challenge and Beth tries not to break eye contact, they were having some sort of stare out but his eyes were piercing into her that she became extremely shy, she has to turn away and she lets go of the dipstick.

Rick laughs as he wipes the dipstick down looking at her and then places it back where it belongs under the bonnet.

"Looks like your battery died, I don't have the jump lead, I'll radio for the recovery truck to come and get your car and I can drop you off and you should be able to collect your car from the garage tomorrow?" He suggests.

Beth was so grateful and it was beginning to shower lightly, she agreed.

Rick slams down the bonnet, Beth grabs her purse and carryall out of the boot and locks the doors.

Rick walks over and takes her bags and gestures to his car. He opens the passenger's car door and Beth enters into it with a smile. Chivalry was still alive she sighed. It was a welcome relief, to stumble upon a true gentleman. He exudes chivalry with even his smallest actions.

Rick shuts the door and puts her bag in the back seat. Beth watches him in the rear-view mirror whilst he walks around, she had butterflies in her stomach. He opens the door and climbs in. Rick turns round towards her and they look at each other. He was more handsome up close right next to her, he looked to be in his early thirties to mid. She was crushing on a man possibly ten to fifteen years older to her and she wasn't sure how to feel about that. She always did have a thing for older men compared to men her own age.

"Where would you like me to drop you off?" he asks looking at her.

You can take me back to yours deputy! she wanted to say and she looks up hoping she didn't say it out loud. He was being the perfect gentleman, whereas she? - she sighs with relief as he was still smiling at her when he asked where she wanted to be dropped off.

Beth finally gave him the directions to her father's farm, he knew the way.

He starts the car and looks over to her. Beth looks at him questionably. He reaches over leaning right up next to her, his face literally brushes up close past her chest, she has to hold in her breath, her chest falls and rises and she watches as he opens the door and shuts it properly. The light hadn't gone off on her side signalling the door wasn't shut and he didn't want her falling out. He looks up at her and then moves back into his seat.

"The beeping sensor must not be working your side but the light is!" Rick points so she doesn't think he was trying to hit on her in the car.

Beth pushes her hair behind her ear and says blushing "thanks".

He nods and begins to drive her to the farm. They sit in comfortable silence with soft music playing in the background. Rick glances into his mirror and then looks away and then she does the same, both trying not to get caught out by the other.

They finally reach the farm. Beth looks up at the house, there was a lone light on in the house, her father must still be up or he had dozed off in the armchair.

"Well, this is me" she says taking her seat belt off.

Rick looks up at the house, he thinks he's been here once before trying to remember, he looks around curiously.

The porch light comes on and then an elderly man comes out with his dog tailing along behind. Beth waves and then opens the door. Rick gets out and grabs her carryall and walks around to see the dog jumping off the porch, running, tail wagging in excitement to see Beth. His front pores jumping up and holding on to Beth's arms and she dances around in a circle with him and Rick can't help the smile on his face watching. Rick looks up to hear the man laughing walking down to meet them. Beth rushes over and hugs the man and kisses him on the cheek.

"Hey baby girl, you should have told me you were coming home, I would have come get you!" he says kissing her hair and pulling her in for a tighter squeeze.

"I wanted to surprise you daddy!" She laughs stealing his cigar out of his pocket and looking at it dismayed. She holds it up in his face, tapping her foot on the floor with a tut shaking her head.

"Busted!" her father says mischievously "C'mon Bethy, I've been saving this for a special occasion and today seems to be a special occasion, my baby girls come home having taken time out of her ever so busy schedule to come see her old fart of a father!" he says opening his arms for another hug.

Beth gives in and returns to his embrace "just this once daddy, you know I don't like you smoking, momma won't be pleased if she was around" Beth says sadly.

"Your momma would forgive me just this once and I know you're as every bit like her and you'll forgive me this once too" he replies and Beth nods an innocent okay.

That did it, it took that one little facial expression, her father scrunches his face up knowing what he was going to do that would make his little girl happy.

"Ok! You win! You always win!" he replies sulking.

Beth smiling hands the cigar over to her father and he snaps it in half and hands it back to Beth who puts it into her pocket to discard of it later and she kisses his cheek, it was a reward worth more than the cigar he said.

Her father looks up remembering the man standing watching them. He walks over offering his hand out.

"Rick?" he asks in disbelief taking in the Officer when they meet in the middle.

Rick looks up closer, his mind working overdrive and it hits him, he recognised the man, how could he forget this man.

"Herschel Greene?" he whispers to himself.

"Mr Greene!" Rick says finally putting a name to the face and shaking the old man's hand with a big smile on his face.

Beth watches them both, shaking her head, she has to interfere.

"Wait - You two know each other?" Beth interrupts their greetings completely and utterly gob-smacked looking from one to the other.

"Bethy, you know my old friend Richard Grimes, used to be Sheriff of a nearby country, well this is his son, Richard Grimes Junior, known by all as Rick!" her father says clapping Rick on the shoulder.

"How are you son, I haven't seen you, let's see, the last time I saw you was when you got married, how is Lori and your son?" Herschel asks enthusiastically wanting to know what his friend's son has been up to after all these years.

Hearing all this, Beth suddenly felt sick to her stomach silly. She was flirting with a married man and he did nothing to stop her. She takes a look over at Rick in disappointment, he's married, all the good guys were married, he was just humouring her, being nice and she took it the wrong way. The infatuation she had with him took over her mind. She was a silly college graduate who'd found success over one book, that book took her all of her college years to write and get published. She just wanted to go in, climb under her covers, play some sad music (Adele) and go to sleep and hopefully not dream of Rick Grimes.

"It didn't work out with me and Lori, we're divorced" Rick replies and there's no sadness when he says that but there's sadness when he says the next part.

"We're sharing custody of Carl," he sighs "he's eleven now and doing great in school, academically - he's a genius, doesn't get that from me" Rick laughs "and he's getting into sports which is my forte, I try and make all his games and help out with practice where I can, it's hard but Carl's a great kid, he's toughs as boots, he gets that from my father!" Rick cheers up listing all of Carl's achievements.

"Oh Rick, I'm sorry, I never knew and where is that rascal father of yours, haven't seen him in years!" Herschel asks changing a painful subject of divorce.

Rick chuckles "Dad, what can I say, he's moved into a retirement home," Rick looks up and holds up his hands "I didn't put him in there before you chew my ear off, he wanted to go and he's actually happy, it's nothing like a retirement home, it reminds me of a college dorm, tidier but with mature people but still mad and hectic!" Rick laughs on the last time he visited his dad "I wasn't happy, I wanted him to move in with me but he doesn't want to cramp my style, me cramp his but the day he wants to leave and wants familiar territory, I've got a room ready and waiting for him." Rick replies.

"I remember why I always liked you when you were little" Herschel says pulling Rick into a side hug "You were always a good lad, take after your father, you tell me which retirement home, so I can bust him out of there for a day!" Herschel winks.

"I'm sure he'd like that a lot" Rick says happily.

He wanted his dad to be happy, he knew he missed his mother who died a couple of years ago and the friends that were around, where what was getting his dad through the heartache and loss and with Herschel reappearing would only make his dad's life the richer. He remembers the stories they used to tell one another. Rick's eyes move slowly over to Beth's, she was standing there not knowing what to do with herself and Herschel catches Rick staring over at his youngest.

"Bethy honey, you won't remember but when you were little, both you and Maggie had crushes on this fine man. You said you were going to marry him one day and Maggie went off in a huff because you were so adamant and wished on a shooting star before she could!" Herschel chuckles watching Beth's reaction.

Beth looks up, her mouth open ready to debate but then she remembers the college guy that joined the academy and she looks up at Rick, he was her first ever crush and her cheeks burn red.

Rick looks at Beth trying to do the math and he blushes remembering her. She was just a kid back then and he was in his beginning twenties. He begins to shift on his feet hoping his father's friend who had a hand around his shoulder wouldn't use his other hand to strangle him if he knew what type of thoughts and graphic dreams he's had of his precious daughter. He never looked at Beth like that back then but this was a grown woman in front of him, he couldn't help it. Who'd have thought a decade later he'd be considering asking her out on a date.

"It was nice to see you again sir, I'd love to chat and reminisce about the old days but need to get back to the station, chief will be expecting me," Rick says not looking at Beth now going into deep thought, the lines on Rick's forehead told Herschel he was suddenly disappointed and saddened.

"Yes, I don't want to keep you and thank you for dropping Beth home, safe and sound," Herschel says with a kind smile.

"Oh, it was my pleasure, I'll take my leave, good night Mr Greene" Rick says nodding his head putting his hat on his head. Before he turns to leave he looks at Beth.

"Miss Greene" he literally whispers but she hears him and looks up to meet his eyes focused on her, they weren't shining as bright as before.

"Good night Deputy Grimes" Is all she says, she wanted to say something to him but she didn't know what.

Beth was embarrassed. He probably thinks of her as that little girl and not the woman she is now, they barely knew each other back then but she wanted to get to know him now, the question was, did he? She highly doubted it. She was that silly little girl in that silly frilly church dress, hair in a french braids and she had those awful braces on her teeth god what a geek she frowns.

One last look, Rick turns and makes his way to his car. Beth watches him climb in and as he backs out to turn the car around, he drives off the farm and puts his hand out the window with a wave.

Beth watches until he's out of sight and Rick watches Beth in his mirror. He sighs thinking she may think he's too old for her, there was a twelve to fifteen years difference between them. It was nice thinking that maybe a woman like Beth would have been interested in a guy like him. She needed someone on her wavelength. It was a nice thought he thinks as he turns onto the main road and heads in the direction of home.

Herschel turns to Beth.

"I'm guessing your mother's old car broke down again?" Herschel asks and she just nods.

"In a way that car's a blessing in disguise," he looks at Beth knowing she had a crush on Rick all those years ago and it looked like those feelings had resurfaced.

There was nothing to stop anything from happening now that they were both adults and clearly liked one another and to top it, Herschel adored Rick so he wouldn't be pressing the trigger on his shotgun when he came knocking in the near future, he was sure of it.

"Who'd have thought Rick Grimes turning up on the farm after all these years, such a lovely boy!" he says taking Beth's shoulder in his arms and the bag leading them into the house.

Beth didn't ask what he meant, she was clearly lost in thought of the man she'd probably never see again.

To be Continued...