AUTHOR'S NOTES: Thank you to those following and reading, and thank you to; Guest, brinxb, WalkerHarley, BethFan and SoutheastChicagoMom for your comments on Chapter 1.
This Chapter is more angst and Rick not being able to say what he feels and Beth finally having enough.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own the Walking Dead or its characters
Apologies in advance for any spelling and grammatical errors. Thoughts in Italics
You, Me, We are Family
Chapter 2
Rick eyed the suitcase and guitar case sitting at the bottom of the stairs by the hall table as soon as he pushed the front door open. He slowly closed his eyes and hung his head letting out a resigned sigh as he pulls his key out the lock.
He walks through the front door and quietly shuts it behind him, just standing there staring at Beth's cases and looks up to the top of the stairs seeing Snowbell, the kitten he took in moping around the landing obviously sensing something was amiss and lets out a low mew when he sees him wanting him to do something and make things right again. Rick just stares at the white kitten Beth had fallen in love with and had spent hours taking care of, he had adopted Snowbell because she wasn't allowed pets in the share-house she lived in with other students.
Flashback
Rick slices the salmon he had grilled in butter and herb sauce he made himself and spreads the slices of salmon over the honey roasted glazed vegetables on the large serving dish. Watching the cooking channels when he couldn't sleep during his long drawn-out and painful divorce finally came in handy. He could replicate a few simple and easy dishes that the chefs would be proud of and he'd learnt a few cheats to make the meals in record timing and right now he was famished and needed to refuel and energise after an extensive workout.
"Rick, this place is just too beautiful to put into words and once all the works are done, your home will look…it will look amazing!" Beth had said genuinely, admiring the original features of the house and glad Rick wasn't going to completely gut it out like some people do and ruin it. The original features were what gave the house character and charm, just like the man putting in all the effort into restoring the house back to its former glory and soul.
She had leisurely wandered around his house, loved the completed looks of attic room, two of the bedrooms out of four on the first floor and the bathrooms, She was quite excited about Rick's plans for the remainder of the house. The architect's picture plans were just breath-taking but also costly thus the reason why works had come to a standstill and Rick was doing some of the works himself when he had time. She's been to the house a few times but it was always dark when they stumbled in and she was up with the birds and out the door once her phone alarm went off because she had early classes.
Rick looked up from his task to see Beth coming down the stairs leading into the kitchen with her hair damp and loose and dressed in just his shirt and smiled to himself not believing he'd caught the eye of such an amazing, clever, funny, kind and attractive girl who he was crazy about. He never knew that this would ever be possible again and like Shane would remind him every time they stopped at the diner to grab coffee and snacks, he was one lucky son-of-a-bitch! She made him feel wonderful things inside he hasn't felt in such a long time, she was like a breath of fresh air and a new lease of life and didn't expect anything from him just his good company which he'd gladly give her. She was such an open book and honest he admired that about her and wished he could be like that, be so open but reality was different, he had become guarded, but little by little things slipped out of him about how similar their backgrounds were, his grandfather owned a working farm and he spent all his summers and holidays there learning his ancestry roots. They surprisingly had a lot in common and he was fascinated in the life she led, her studies and her career choice and he was impressed and hoped she'd succeed in everything she set her mind on.
He continues piling up the food. They were meant to go out for a quick bite to eat and movie after work but things got a bit heated and they ended up in the bedroom longer than they should have been and were too worn out to get dressed and go out, so had decided to have a romantic night in with Rick cooking much to Beth's delight wanting to know if he was as good in the kitchen as he was in the bedroom.
He smirks, he was sure Beth would be amazed to learn, he was quite the very talented man in many areas of his life and not just the bedroom. His smirk turns into a blushing smile shaking his head, glad he didn't say that out loud. Being with a gorgeous woman like Beth made him a little too bold and full of himself and he couldn't deny, he loved every minute being with Beth and feeling this great.
Beth walks up and hugs Rick from behind, leaning her head on his arm watching him at work, steals a parsnip and lets out a little appreciative moan looking up at him to find him smirking again and she was unable to keep the smile from spreading across her lips and face.
"Did you order all this in whilst I was takin' a shower?" She asked questioningly pulling open the bin drawer and cupboards to look for takeaway bags and containers making him laugh.
"Ma'am, it may surprise you but I'm not just good looks, brains and amazing!" He smirks that gorgeous smirk of his leaning in and stealing a kiss, lips hard and punishing and they breakaway when the doorbell rings.
Rick lets out a muffled groan pulling her back telling her to leave it, they'll go away.
"I'd better get that Master Chef!" She says assertively catching her breathe and covering his mouth to stop.
He just chuckles and tilts his head grabbing her arm down so he can speak, pulling her towards him.
"And give whoever's at the door a heart attack lookin' like that!" Rick eyed her mischievously as she looks down at herself blushing and pushes him out the way to get the door as she finishes the finishing touches of garnishing his cooked meal.
Rick clears his throat by the doorway and she looks up over at him.
"I need my shirt!" He says looking at himself in just sweatpants and then indicating to her body to hand his shirt over.
Beth scrunches up her nose and mouth, grabs a glazed carrot and chucks it at Rick to behave and get out, there was no way she was going to take his shirt off and stand there in his kitchen in the nude. Rick catches the carrot and puts it into his mouth laughing as he goes to answer the door grabbing a t-shirt from the utility room adjacent to the kitchen as he goes.
Beth deposits the large serving plate onto the kitchen table and then walks into the conservatory looking out into the beautiful vast garden. The former owner was definitely someone who took pride in their garden and Rick seemed to enjoy getting out there, down and dirty, digging and planting in his garden. He'd caught the green finger bug and she thought that was sexy - a man who loved to garden and she grins thinking she would maybe sunbathe on the sun lounger whilst Rick did some gardening and she'd make him garden with his shirt off and watch his tight muscles flex and watch him sweat it out and then she could spray him down with the hose to cool down.
Beth just stands there grinning to herself. She couldn't believe a guy like Rick Grimes would be interested in a girl like her. He was smart, strong, funny, charming and sexy as hell and just all round amazing, she felt like the luckiest girl in the world and she couldn't help but feel she was falling in love with him the more time she spends with him and this was all happening so fast.
A noise interrupts her thoughts and gets her attention. She turns around and walks back into the kitchen hearing it again. She follows the noise which sounded like a meow and then she looks up and sees a little white kitten on the table licking at Rick's salmon and vegetables and then it was climbing onto the plate and slipping knocking food everywhere.
"Oh no!" She shrieks running towards the table and picking the little white fluff ball up "No kitty, Rick's been slavin' away cookin' and…OH NO!" She frowns biting her lower lip seeing Rick's perfect salmon destroyed and the kitten's whiskers and face was covered in chunks of it and vegetable.
Meow!
"You need to say sorry to daddy, you're goin' to be in so much trouble!" She says holding the kitten up and now smiling "But how can anyone stay mad at you for long, you're just so cute..awwwww!" She coos placing the kitten into her arms and cuddling it as it lets out little purrs whilst she cleans him "You like that yeah? How 'bout this?" she asks tickling it.
"Girl Scouts selling cookies," Rick informs returning back to the kitchen and Beth hides the kitten behind her back "Guess this will be desert!" He says putting the box down next to the plate platter and his smile disappears.
"What in the?" Rick says in disbelief at his cooked to perfection salmon with his mouth agape and turns to Beth who was fidgeting standing there looking at him and the salmon giving him an apologetic smile.
"He didn't mean it!" Beth blurts in defence placing her free hand to his puffed out chest when he heard he.
"He who?" Rick asks not knowing who, looking around for he.
Beth reluctantly pulls her arm around from her back and presents a little white kitten "Your little kitty." She reveals with a little pout handing the kitten over "Don't be mad at him, don't make him sad!" She pleads.
Rick takes the kitten holding it under the armpits in one hand and then looks down at his salmon shaking his head.
"I have no words for you right now!" He says sternly to the kitten taking a seat at the kitchen table as he strokes its head, dinner was ruined.
Beth walks over and massages Rick's shoulders, grabs the beer from the counter and hands it over. Rick takes a long swig and places the bottle down with a little thud. He sits there staring at the mess and after a while, his eyes narrow together confused "Beth, I don't have a kitten!" He reveals and pushes his chair back standing up.
"What?" Beth asks looking from Rick to the kitten who was now licking Rick's hand making Rick frown disapprovingly, he wipes his hand down his sweatpants.
"I don't own a cat or a kitten, this is a little trespasser - a burglar!" Rick says eye to eye with the kitten.
"He's so CUTE!" Beth interjects pulling a funny face waving and stops when Rick watches her shaking his head not to entertain the trespasser and then turns back to said trespasser with his stern face.
"This looks like it could belong to someone, looks healthy and looked after but no collar!" Rick begins inspecting it and the kitten begins to wriggle, it was hungry eyeing the salmon and suddenly bites Rick's finger "Owww fuck, shit it bit me!" and the kitten jumps out of Rick's arm and onto his face and latches on.
Rick was trying to pull the kitten off his face spinning around the kitchen not able to see and Beth's running around behind Rick trying to help detach the kitten.
"Rick, hold still!" Beth orders grabbing hold of him but Rick twirls around "Fur balls!" He groans spitting out "Carl's definitely not gettin' a cat, a dog, he'll be lucky if he gets a fish!" Rick says adamantly.
The kitten suddenly draws it's paw up and smacks Rick hard across the face and makes a tiny hiss looking over at the salmon.
"It's a little demond!" Rick hisses back.
"Rick, don't be silly…stand still!" She demands swatting his backside.
"Gettit off!" Rick now yells jumping up and down and twirling around feeling tiny sharp paws scratching him, he grabs the sink spray and sprays it at the white fluff and getting Beth wet in the process as well as the kitten and himself.
"Rick!" Beth screams holding up her hands blocking the cold spray of water.
The kitten crawls down into Rick's t-shirt.
"Oh shit, it's down my shirt…down my back!" Rick pulls his t-shirt off and chucks onto the floor, arms reaching back trying to grab at it.
"Here kitty, kitty!" Beth makes kissy noises to it reaching out and just as Rick goes to spray his back, the kitten jumps into Beth's arms meowing.
"It's okay little kitty-kat!" She cuddles the kitten grabbing a piece of salmon and feeding it to him "There ya go!" She cradles him in her arms like a baby calming him down "Just a little hungry, poor, poor baby!"
Beth smiles giggling seeing how eager the kitten was to eat Rick's food, enjoying himself and clearly hungry. She looks up at Rick and her smile disappears to see a not so happy Rick eyeballing the ball of white fluff in her arms holding his hips soaking wet and his dinner and kitchen was a complete mess because of the little kitten.
Beth pulls the kitten up and places it next to her cheek and holds its front paw up facing Rick.
"You're not just good looks, brains and amazing, you've got a big loving heart and you make a mean grilled salmon…yum!" Beth says on behalf of the kitten and walks over to Rick and wraps her arm around his waist and kisses his cheek "He's just a baby, you can teach him to be an obedient Cop-Kitty!" She reveals showing Rick the kitten was looking around taking in its new surrounding "See!" She says holding the kitten up.
Rick looks at the kitten letting out a little meow and then to Beth's smiling face.
"Look he likes you!" Beth beams forcing the kitten into Rick's hand "See…awww!"
The kitten lets out a yawn and snuggles into Rick when he looks down at it.
"He doesn't have a name collar, I'm guessin' he doesn't belong to anyone, we can put up posters and if nobody claims him, you should keep him!" Beth suggests.
"No!" Rick answers abruptly.
"Oh, I can't keep him, I wish I could but I live in a share-house and he's already at ease with you - look!" Beth points as the kitten nuzzles into Rick's arm "Awwwww!" Beth is off again covering her mouth wanting to cry and then gives Rick her big doe-eyes "He loves you, it's hard not too!" She smacks her lips to Rick's cheek.
"Yeah, loves the free food, free rent, free to ruin my home!" Rick says holding the kitten up staring at it thinking it was the skinniest kitten he's ever seen and really naughty.
Meow!
"No!" Rick shakes his head.
"Please Rick!" Beth presses her chin to his chest staring up, kneading his back.
Rick groans "If someone recognises him and claims him, he's gone, outta here…kapeesh?!" Rick says to the kitten.
Beth squeals hugging Rick and taking the kitten into her arms.
"What shall we call you?" She asks wrinkling her nose pulling a face.
"Beth, don't give it a name!" Rick warns rubbing his forehead feeling a headache coming on and knowing she was going to get attached, she was already getting attached.
"We can't not…Snowbell!" She reveals and Snowbell lets out a meow.
"Snowbell Grimes meet daddy, Daddy Grimes meet Snowbell!" Beth grins hugging Rick and they both look down at Snowbell eyeing the salmon, Beth lets him go and he's jumping into the plate of food happily making a mess whilst he eats.
"Look how happy he is and that's because of you!" Beth beams reaching up and pulling Rick into a kiss and he gives up and kisses her back.
"I don't know how to take care of a cat!" Rick says letting out a puff draping his arm around Beth's shoulder as they watch Snowbell eating.
"I'm here, I'll help you, we're a team!" She assures Rick entwining their fingers together "There's gonna be a time when you won't be able to live without him!" She beams seeing Rick's face soften.
"And you?" Rick asks and Beth looks up in thought and nods adamantly.
"Oh, you're definitely not goin' to be able to live without me, neither of you!" She grins knowingly and giggles when Rick gives her that look, lifts her up and carries her out the kitchen.
"Snowbell, stay!" Rick points not to follow "Don't make any more mess, I need to take care of mommy!"
End of Flashback
Rick averts his eyes away from Snowbell who he's become quite fond of now, is a part of his everyday life and who follows Beth around the house and garden like she was his mother.
Beth wanted to go and he couldn't stop her from going, keep her from visiting her family. Beth's relationship with her parents had become a little strained when he met her parents roughly four months ago for the first and last time. Mr and Mrs Greene were disappointed to learn, the man their daughter was dating and gushing about, was a man sixteen years her senior, divorced with a son and Mr Greene practically nearly had a heart attack when they revealed they were expecting a baby and there were no marriage vows before the baby making. He'll always remember the look in Mr Greene's eyes when they were standing face-to-face in his living room. Disappointment.
It was already that time and this was actually happening he reminds himself having tried not to think about this moment keeping himself busy. It's been a week since the night of the thunderstorm when they sat in the conservatory when Beth broached the subject of her going to visit her parents at the farm. He guessed, Beth needed this time to reconnect with her parents before the baby came. He knew she was heavily emotional not speaking to them when at a time she needed her family around her. He just hoped with all the reconnecting, she wasn't disconnecting herself from him, not that he would blame her with the way he's been behaving. He thinks of his behaviour; he was a fucked up moron. All of everything he has put Beth though was uncalled for. He wishes he could give Beth and the baby everything they needed and for them not to feel like second best. Money was tight, his future career as Sheriff was being questioned and hanging by a short thread. He needed that job, had worked so hard to get to this point and that job was what was going to support Beth and the baby, Carl and all the hefty alimony he pays Lori until she either finds a decent paid job or finds someone rich to marry. The solution would be if Carl just came and lived with him. He just needed to work his butt off a little while longer and all the tensions will be resolved. He needed more time. He wasn't ready for this, this wasn't planned. Neither of them had anticipated a baby, they'd never spoke about the future, they were dating and everything was going great the way it was and they were both chasing their dreams, they had goals to reach in their personal and professional lives. But time was slipping away from him. She was slipping away from him.
Beth's been keeping her distance, giving him his space and time and that alarmed him - was she slowly weaning herself off him. She didn't wait for him to get home to have dinner together when he got back a little late. He would find the dinner Beth made for him warm in the oven. She was taking long walks on her own to keep fit during the pregnancy as per the midwife's instructions. He was meant to join her but hasn't yet. She wasn't trying to find reasons to spend time with him in the evenings anymore. She wasn't venturing into his study and sitting on the chair opposite him across the table reading her book just to be in each other's company anymore and she wasn't waiting up for him. She would leave him watching TV and go to bed early and she didn't wake up for cuddles and pillow talk when he got in from a night shift. The distance had already begun and was growing and he didn't know how to reverse it all.
He walks over to the stairs, takes a seat on a step and lifts the guitar box and rest it down on his lap. He runs his hand over the vintage case he had found in the retro shop knowing Beth would love it and she did. The flashing light of the answer machine gets his attention and he presses play.
"Rick, I left a message on your cell phone!" Lori's grating voice booms out the answering machine and he slumps forward putting the guitar case down taking an annoyed breath.
"Carl's misbehavin' and gettin' into fights in school but you'd know that if you were around for him!" Rick sits up frowning, Carl never got into fights, it must be a mistake he tells himself.
"I need you to come over tonight and talk to OUR SON if you can tear yourself away from that barely legal girl you knocked up! How could you be so careless and insensitive...Carl's actin' up because of this baby business…You didn't want any more kids until we were financially safe and yet you go and get the first piece of young skirt you can find, young enough to be your daughter pregnant before the ink has even dried on the papers…classy Rick…real classy…number one role model for our son who needs you more now than ever before!" Lori spits and Rick just buries his face into his hands taking a deep breath.
"How are we goin' to pay for Carl's schooling tuition fees if you're buying diapers and baby grows and designer clothes for your little new squeeze? We put Carl into private school because we wanted the best now looks like he's going to be kicked out and attending public school because of this baby!"
Rick feels his insides bubble with anger, he grits his teeth.
"I'll see you around dinnertime and DON'T YOU DARE bring Teen Mom with you!" Lori said bitterly before she slammed the phone down and Rick just pulls the cord out of the socket and knocks the machine off the table and it bounces onto the carpet runner.
He leans forward growling into his hands not knowing what to do. He had promised Beth, he would drive her to the farm, that was a two-hour drive there and a two-hour drive back and he wanted to spend a little bit of time with Beth before he left the farm. There was a nice little lake he wanted to take her to so they could just talk like they used to talk. And he wanted to speak to Mr Greene, man-to-man. He wanted to leave Beth at the farm on positive terms with her parents and especially with Beth. They had a lot to think about and he needed to explain himself and explain why he's been so detached. He needed to know she was coming back home to him once the two weeks were up. He was afraid to ask afraid of Beth's answer.
Snowbell rubs his head against Rick's back and he reaches over and scratches behind his ear and Snowbell lets out a whiney meow.
"I know buddy, I know - I feel the same!" Rick answers Snowbell lifting him up onto his lap stroking his back.
He pulls out his cell phone and presses Speed Dial 1.
"Hey Bud, it's Dad." Rick says into the phone and listens to an upset Carl and he frowns not being able to give him a cuddle. "I believe you Carl, I'll talk to mom and I'll talk to your principle, leave it with me son."
After a moments silence, both just breathing calmly together.
"I need to take Beth to see her parents this evening, it's a long drive and I won't be back until late tonight which means I can't see you until tomorrow late afternoon but I'll promise to pick you up from practice and we can grab a shake." Rick says into the phone.
"No, no, Beth's okay, the baby's okay!" He reassures Carl and smiles at his son's concern.
"I'll ask Beth to call you and you can speak to Peanut before bedtime. Okay. I love you too!" He says and disconnects the phone.
Rick takes off his hat and places it down on the tall chest of drawers next to the doorway. He had gotten off work early having worked overtime the night before to be able to drive Beth to the farm before nightfall.
He watches Beth sitting on their bed crossed legged in a pair of white cropped cotton trousers and a loose pink floral gypsy top, hair in pigtails folding her clothes.
"Hey," Rick whispered in a scratchy voice stepping into the room watching her.
"Hey," Beth answered back in the same manner concentrating on folding the way her Mama taught her to get as much clothes packed neatly into a suitcase.
Rick frowns seeing most of Beth's clothes which were maternity clothes being packed up, it looked like she was packing for more than two weeks.
"Your folks know we're comin' down tonight?" He asks.
"I spoke with Mama and they're expecting us by seven…Maggie and Glenn will be there, they're visiting." Beth gives Rick a heads up.
Maggie was still angry with Rick's behaviour with Beth and the last meeting he had with Beth's older sister was, she was going to gut him like a fish if she sensed Beth upset, Glenn needed to be there to control his hormonal wife who was now eight or so months pregnant.
Rick nods not looking forward to seeing Maggie. He makes his way over and takes a seat on the bed as close as he could sit next to Beth, the open suitcase was the barrier between them.
Rick peers over at Beth, he can see her eyes were swollen and all he can think were from her crying. She had layered her face with concealer and foundation covering the dark circles from the lack of sleep. She's been having tossing and turning every night. Dark circles and bags beneath her eyes all thanks to him, he'd aged her beautiful young face. He looks down at her leg dangling down the side of the bed, her pretty foot was swollen. They looked like they needed a massage. Without thinking, he reaches over to take her foot in his hand but Beth gets up and walks towards the bathroom and disappears inside. He sits there listening to Beth sorting through the cabinets grabbing her toiletries together and he looks back into her suitcase and narrows his eyes reaching in. He lifts up her hospital folder with all her pregnancy notes and sees her bag that she carries her important papers and documents. This wasn't looking good. He gets up and makes for the lockable drawer and unlocks it and rifles through it, locates his passport but doesn't find Beth's. When he goes back to the suitcase, he opens the bag and sees Beth's passport and he just stands there staring at it.
He hears Beth making her way back out the bathroom and he quickly puts the bag back and walks over to the window staring out into their garden they had taken care of together. He looks over at the hammock he put up and remembers the evenings they'd lay there together and look up at the stars. It seemed like a life time ago, everything was perfect but in reality, it was just under a year ago.
"How long are you plannin' on stayin' at the farm?" He asks seeing Beth's reflection in the glass not believing it was just two weeks.
Beth rubs her stomach, the baby was kicking like mad and she looks over at Rick meeting his eyes in the reflection of the window thinking she was imagining the look of hurt in his eyes but why would he be hurt, relieved more likely she corrected herself and then goes back to her packing grabbing her phone charger, her laptop charger, her laptop and stuffs them into the suitcase between clothes.
"Beth, it looks like you've packed for months!" He says getting her attention, her eyes marginally look at Rick as she speaks and she takes them back as she continues.
"Maggie can be due anytime now, The Greene women go into labour according to their own clockwork, Shawn was ten days late, Maggie was a week early and I was two months so Maggie's goin' to be stayin' with Mama and Daddy whilst Glenn's at work but he'll be driving back to the farm every night and he doesn't want Maggie to be on her own in the city all day, she was getting depressed. Daddy's a retired doctor, Mama was a nurse and Patricia's delivered more babies than I've met in my lifetime and Dr Cloyd lives two farms away, it's all been carefully planned out. Glenn can drop everything and be by Maggie's side with just one phone call!" Beth states chucking the remainder of her belongings into the case, folding neatly all out the window knowing Rick wouldn't do that for her.
"Maggie has always wanted to give birth at the farm and asked me to be there with her, we promised each other we'd be there for one another when it came to giving birth and I made a promise and I'm goin' to keep it!" She states.
Rick watches Beth never heard her so curt and short, clearly hurt.
"I'm not needed here, school's finished, I'm on maternity leave from the diner and you're never home…You won't even notice that I'm gone!" She breathes in and out catching her breathe, letting out her frustrations hoping Rick was listening, she was at home alone all day and into the night some nights and he doesn't once check up on her anymore, she might as well not be there. Maggie was always of Glenn's mind night and day, he was always there.
Rick just stood there like he'd been slapped round the face, slapped with the bitter truth – he was a shitty boyfriend.
"...Are you plannin' on havin' the baby at the farm?" He asks closing his eyes.
They'd not discussed the type of birth Beth wanted, he and Lori had gone through countless reading material for months and advises from doctors and midwives when Lori was expecting Carl and he doesn't remember having one conversation with anyone about what's best for Beth and the baby with this pregnancy. Glenn and Maggie had worked out Maggie's birthing plan possibly as soon as they found out Maggie was expecting.
He stares at Beth's reflection with regretful eyes wanting to reach out and take hold of her hand when he sees her fighting not to let her emotions show.
"Yes." Is all Beth answers finally zipping up the suitcase and begins to try and lift the heavy case off the bed wanting to get on the road. The sooner they left, the sooner she could get to the farm and retreat to her childhood bedroom and never come out again.
Rick turns around rushing over and grabbing the suitcase wanting to yell that she shouldn't be doing this in her condition, she could hurt herself and the baby.
"I've got it." Is all he says facing Beth wanting her to look him in the eyes but she won't and he turns around and walks out the room knowing Beth's uncharacteristic behaviour is his doing.
Beth doesn't know where this mean streak in her has appeared from. She's never in her life been mean to anyone and she feels pretty shitty watching Rick's retreating back. She loves him but she just wanted to scream at him and she just wanted him to pull her into his arms like he used to and hold her and mean it.
She steps back and sits down on the bed with tears running down her cheeks. She just didn't know what to do, he didn't want to hear anything and she was tired of trying. Looking around the bedroom she shared with Rick, the moments they spent together in here comes flooding back to her. So many good memories and she wasn't sure whether this was the last time she would be in here or whether they'd share any intimate moments again. Rick was truly really the only man she really was completely intimate with and trusted. She wipes her eyes and slips on her pumps and makes her way out not looking back.
Snowbell was sitting at the bottom of the stairs and when Beth reaches him, she picks him up, kisses and cuddles him. He just meows and it breaks her heart to leave him but he was Rick's kitten.
"Be a good kitty, mommy will miss you, I love you so much but I'll see you soon!" She sniffs "Look after daddy for me, don't let him sit alone, stay close to him!" She kisses Snowbell one more time and hands him over to the little nice old lady next door who had agreed to take care of Snowbell until Rick got home.
Rick stands by the passenger's side holding the door open feeling nauseous watching Beth making her way over. Her little bump was more prominently rounder and, she looked so delicate and vulnerable, he almost wants to pick her up and take her back into the house and make her rest in their bedroom.
"Rick?" He hears Beth calling getting his attention.
Rick looks down at Beth and then down at her hands protectively on her stomach. He reaches down and places his hands beside hers. Beth a little startled, looks up at Rick and he was just staring at her bump like he had so much to say but couldn't find the words or say it. Words never used to be difficult between them and she didn't understand how and why Rick just changed like he had and she can't remember when the last time Rick touched her stomach and before she can say anything, he removes his hands and helps her climb up into the truck. He leans over, helps buckle her in and shuts the door.
Beth just watches Rick making his way round to the driver's seat and climbs in beside her, switches the engine on and putting the truck into gear
"There anything you need before we set off?" He asks gripping the steering wheel, his knuckles turning white looking at Beth's face in his mirror.
When Beth shakes her head no, Rick pulls out their drive and sets off. Beth watches the house she called home for a little while get smaller and smaller in her wing mirror the further they drove away. Rick takes a glance at Beth just sitting beside him, head slumped against her window holding her belly looking completely and utterly miserable and lost.
A/N Next part of the story will be at The Greene's Farm.
Thank you for reading.
