AUTHOR'S NOTES: Thank you to those reading and thank you to malzateb and Guest and Guest for commenting on the last chapter.

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

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


Two Broken Hearts Eventually Beat As One

Chapter 3


"Elsa freezed…Daddy washed her and Elsa not freezed no more...seeee!" Judith sings thrusting and waving her beloved doll in Beth's face.

"Oh!" Beth says taken aback receiving Elsa in her hands as Judith clasps her hands together watching life-size Elsa holding her dolly Elsa happily. She couldn't wait to tell Andre at day-care, he would wish he was with her – her eyes shine brightly.

Rick grabs a tight hold of Judith as she rose and leant too far forward and he observes Beth holding Judith's doll trying to read her thoughts hoping she believed Judith and that he wasn't a sleazy creep trying to hit on her. He curses himself for the way she had backed away from him clutching her shoulder and waist as if shielding herself from him and then he was all up in her personal space hovering over her, holding her gaze waiting for what he was going to do. She froze, he froze and their eyes locked. It felt maybe a beat too long but could have been only just a few seconds, he had forgotten what was happening staring into her eyes.

With Beth distracted by Judith, Rick casts a long look at Beth.

They were big and blue he tells himself. The kind of big and blue that looked as if you were staring straight into deep, clear blue ocean water from a destination you only wished to go and if you looked closer, there was a light blue glow around the edges, then it went a shade darker and then lighter showing some sort of way but to what, was unknown. He felt like he wanted to jump right in and sink into them to find out what laid deep down beneath the surface. What would he find and before he could delve any deeper, he stops all his train of thoughts. He was treading into unknown territory of his thoughts searching for something in this unknown woman's eyes, he shifts uncomfortably averting his gaze adjusting Judith in his arms.

Tara tries to make her way over but her little boy begins to start crying he didn't want to try anything on. She was trying to convince him that he won't be laughed at for wearing a cute pinstriped pants and waistcoat suit that matched his older brothers, they were all meant to wear the same outfit to co-ordinate for their uncle's wedding. The boy was having none of it and had run off and she had to try chase after him in her snowman suit.

Rick hears Beth's voice and chances another look lifting his lids and watching her beneath his lashes for a moment confusedly. She had now let go of her waist she had kept shielded, he assumes she no longer felt him a threat. She was preoccupied by Judith and was smiling down at the doll.

Relief flows through him, he didn't put his hands on her. It would have been for assurance he wasn't going to hurt her and he thanks god he withdrew his hands just in time. She didn't know him, he didn't know her, it would have been inappropriate and possibly catastrophic. It was just, he was instantly (not knowing why) drawn to her, that he could approach her and calm her, he didn't want her to feel threatened at all by him. The mechanics of his brain began to work just in time to register how it looked and what she might have felt. He could've been surrounded by the store's security and dragged out of there had he not stopped and the big security guard walking past if he had seen probably wouldn't have cared if he was a Sheriff's Deputy or not. It was Oscar, Rick sees talking into his radio watching the teenage girls by the accessories section giggling and crowding the area. A former Deputy from Linden County, Oscar was aware he had cracked and had a breakdown, news travelled like wildfire when you had to see a shrink and be taken out of action - Oscar definitely wouldn't have hesitated and jumped him. He wouldn't stand for shit had he seen the scene of uncomfortableness of the shop assistant in front of him. Looking at Beth, he too would have jumped in between her and the person making her feel uncomfortable. He was saved from a scene of public humiliation.

Where's ya head at Grimes! He scolds himself closing his eyes behind Judith's body, thanking she was angled in such a way blocking his face.

Beth feels that the hair on the doll was a bit damp and she understood now and felt bad for the misunderstanding and her overreaction. She has issues and has had a few guys try it on with her but she remembers the Officer's face of embarrassed shock trying to explain himself for what came out of his mouth distractedly and then he approached and she instinctively backed away from him - it was a reflex reaction, too late to take it back when she realised he was only trying to apologise and then the shame replaced his embarrassment backing away. She wanted to slap herself right then. In all honesty, she had been caught off guard when she had looked up at him before he had even spoke. She had been thrown by how attractive he was, his piercing blue eyes caught hers instantly and she had frozen and then the rest followed remembering where she was and what had come out of his mouth, she hadn't expected it and it was evident, neither did he.

Shoot! Beth sighs seeing the little girl's face smiling at her waiting for her to speak. She all but smiles back relieved the little girl didn't understand what happened, she just seemed excited whereas her father's demeanour didn't look so good - shifting uncomfortably, the veins on his tanned toned arms holding his daughter were tensed, he felt out of place and uncomfortable.

Beth remembers, he was so stressed and flustered when she saw him one second and then what could have been a comical moment was blown out of proportion, turned into a scene and the dramatic reaction that followed. She feels terrible now wondering how to get past this predicament. He came in to look for clothes for his son and he just wanted to leave but knew he couldn't. Beth didn't want him to leave like this either, feeling like that! He needed help with his son and she wanted to help him if he'd let her.

Beth takes a look over at Rick. She just manages to get a view of part of his face behind the little girls head and he seemed to look disappointed and annoyed with himself and she wants to tell him - not to be! She wants to laugh at the situation and make a joke of it all to put him at ease. If Maggie would have been here, she'd be cackling like a witch wetting herself and be able to turn the situation into something comical for sure and make everyone laugh, Maggie could make the Officer laugh definitely, she wasn't sure she could.

Beth chews her lower lip and she suppresses the laugh she feels inside her now. She has to admit it was quite funny looking back. She was standing there, a grown woman dressed as a fictional character and his daughter practically carries a doll version of her around with her possibly all the time. He must have a zillion things on his mind and he just said whatever he was thinking, seeing her and remembering his morning task. He wasn't expecting to see a live version of his daughter's doll today or any other day in fact and here she is, an imitation standing there hefting the material of her dress back up her shoulder. She's said some silly stuff in her time when distracted out of her thoughts, she couldn't blame him for his blunder, if anything she wanted to apologise.

Beth straighten up and feeling the little round eyes on her, she winks at Judith, she just couldn't help it. The little toddler was such a cutie oblivious to everything and smiling making her relax a little.

Judith draws in her breath, mouth agape dazzled Elsa had just winked at her. She was going to tell Andre what had happened and tell her other friends and then she looks down at her pink leggings and rainbow t-shirt and wished she had worn her Elsa dress. Beth gets a full view of Rick's face as Judith was busy inspecting her outfit and Beth's eyes soften. He looks so sad and so sweet at the same time, like a lost boy, she had the urge to step forward and wrap her arms around him into a hug but obviously holds back. She didn't want to appear a creep and send him and his kids running. She stands there thinking what could she say or do to make him laugh or at least crack a teeny tiny smile!

Think Beth! Think! She says to herself…and Judith's begins to speak.

"I have princess dress too!" Judith tells Beth shyly, her eyes running over Beth's long sparkly gown.

"I bet yours doesn't keep fallin' off your shoulders! Mine has a mind of its own!" Beth replies with a sigh.

"Mine too!" Judith beams that their dresses were the same "But Daddy fixes it, Daddy's good at fixing!" Judith tells her and she's off explaining she has chocolate stains that her daddy can't take out in her sweet little voice.

"I have coffee on mine!" Beth points with a pout to the big stain where she spilt her morning coffee to fuel her for her long busy day.

Noah and Zach had jumped out of the rails and scared her half to death earlier. Full on chase erupted before opening time, she was pumped to go for the busiest day of the week and she had to walk around with a huge stain on her dress for all to see. The costume guys won't be pleased when she hands it back at the end of the day, hoping her huge award winning smile would distract them as she slips away before they saw it. She had hoped to take it home and clean it but they were told strictly to hand the borrowed garments back by the end of their shift.

Urgh and Crap! She groans internally.

"Mine too!" Judith exclaims remembering her daddy ironing her dress once and accidently spilling his coffee whilst putting down the iron which knocked over his mug when he tried to save the toast from burning.

"You love a Cup a Joe too huh?" Beth enquiries smiling.

"Who's Joe?" Judith enquiries looking to be deep in thought and Beth laughs and tries to explain focused on Judith now.

Rick's eyes were flickering back and forth between Beth and Judith like he was watching a Wimbledon Match, one spoke and then the other and so forth. He was wondering how he was going to tear his daughter away from the young woman and get them out of this awkward and possibly humiliating situation he was now in, all thanks to himself he scolds.

He couldn't see Judith's face, just the back of her head and body but could bet all the money in his wallet, her eyes were huge and dancing with excitement. She was obsessed with her favourite DVD and was like this every time the movie came on. She's seen it more than he can count, he's seen it more than he would like to admit and he knows all the words to the songs not that he'd ever sing them out loud. But right now, this to Judith he believed to be a whole lot better than sitting at home watching her DVD. Her excitement had reached a whole new level - he never knew that could be possible. He hears Judith talking away more than any child her age does and he doesn't know where she gets it from, he was a hermet and Carl wasn't too far behind with his earphones attached to his ears 24/7, he wants to tell Judith to breathe in between sentences as she moves closer to Beth. His sweet child looked like she wanted to keep the breathing, smiling, pretty looking Elsy.

His narrows his eyes and then frowns at himself. He was beginning to sound like Judith, he hoped his mouth stayed shut before he actually called the assistant Elsy trying to look for her name badge but he couldn't see one. The wrong thing slipped out earlier, he didn't need to start calling her the wrong name as well because wrong names could stick, she doesn't need round two of him making an idiot out of himself trying to explain he knew she wasn't actually called Elsa. This was the affect of disassociating himself from new people and that was why he now kept to himself, talked less, never ventured out of King County unless it was unavoidable. He knew everyone's name there and they knew his, he wasn't looking to learn new names to new faces or make any new acquaintances, a nod and a shake sufficed, interacting with strangers was rare, interacting with a sweet pretty looking stranger- Rick pauses his thoughts and silently groans lowering his head. It sounded so wrong, it sounded like something Shane would say to and about a girl, either way, it was rare, he tries to avoid females in general.

"Olaf is somewhere around here helpin' a little boy, I'll introduce you to him when I see him!" Beth tells Judith "He or she I should say, has sticky strawberry jam down her front from eating a warm gooey jammy dodger!"

Rick hears Beth's quiet conversation with Judith. Her voice was soft and gentle that gave a calming feeling that was soothing it flowed like honey, so feminine and ever so warm. He chances another look, he shouldn't but he does.

Yeah she's young, she's got a smile that could light up any darkened room, a face that could launch a thousand ships, she's definitely pretty, beautiful even and he can't stop staring.

He knows he's perfected a scowl that could be seen as intimidating and could chase wolves away. He hoped he didn't show her it but he knows he must have. He'd just been glaring at her again without reason, he hopes she doesn't see him. Rick lowers his eyes away just as he sees Beth raising hers towards him. This was definitely creepy he tells himself, he needs to stop.

"I was seriously thinkin'," Beth pauses "how on earth am I goin' to give you the rock bottom or a stone colder stunner in this dress!" Beth says gesturing to her dress getting Rick's attention.

Rick's eyes blink back up and to find Beth smiling up at him in a teasing manner as she adjusts the material beside her shoulders again. Nobody has teased or tried to humour him in such a long time. A vision flashes through his mind looking at a tiny innocent looking her. His mouth turns up at the corners, trying to keep it in control and all of a sudden, a loud noise comes out of his mouth.

Carl pulls his earphones out of his ears, eyes blinking to be sure. Judith stops smiling at Beth and looks back at her daddy stunned tensing in his arms in utter shock. Judith had never seen or heard her daddy laugh so loudly, soft gentle small laughs when they'd be playing but nothing in comparison to this, she was fascinated beyond belief. She turns around and sits in the crook of his arm staring at his eyes crinkle at the ends, his mouth spread out wide now revealing a glimpse of his pearly white teeth on show. The warmth of his laugh and breathe with the hint of the soft mint he had eaten in the car hits Judith's face, she all but pushes her face into his to take a closer look. She hadn't quite grasped personal space and Rick didn't seem to mind that she was nose to nose with him. It was a strange but nice feeling, Judith begins to giggle along and decides to rub her nose on his which makes Rick close his eyes laughing gently. Beth notices his laugh was very manly and deeply husky, she watches his face closely.

Oh gosh! She thinks seeing and hearing him, she managed to get this out of him from one of her stupid comments not believing herself. She wonders what he'll sound like when she actually does say something funny someday.

Carl just stands there observing his dad and Judith. He's witnessed a few tender moments between them but nothing like this in a happy laughing manner. His dad was very protective of Judith, everyone knew it but he didn't go out of his way to show his tender loving side. Carl knew Judith knew their dad loved her, they had their own way of communicating and interacting with one another that nobody understood. She would shower her love to their dad, look up into his eyes and he would look back and take it but had a hard time reciprocating a facial expression showing just how much he loved her. But Carl knew Judith knew in the way she just latched on to their dad and he to her. He guessed it was seeing their mom in Judith especially when you looked deep into her little eyes that was when their dad hesitated and pulled away. Lori Grimes was present and it was like she was looking back at you and Carl had been grateful for that, a piece of his mom lived on in his sister but it pained their dad and he just wanted to yell at him, it wasn't Judith's fault and not to do that, pull away when he should engulf her in kisses and hugs - it hurt to witness those moments. Their dad's way of showing his love towards Judith was keeping her close by and hardly out of his sight and most nights he'd be found sitting in her bedroom next to her cot watching her as she slept and only then being able to drift off himself.

Carl felt jealous at times of Judith but he also felt pity for her at the same time. She got to spend time with their dad but not really spend time with him. She didn't get to see the fun, loving dad their dad once was not like he had. Their dad was once the best dad out there, nobody could compete or compare. Judith didn't know him really not like he had and it was a shame, a shame that she couldn't experience the things he had with their dad when he was her age.

Rick's laugh had quietened down but was still there and then he let out a deep content sigh, he hadn't laughed like that in such a long time that it actually tired him. He rubs his brow smiling at Judith, she was still giggling and gives her own little sigh clearly happy to see this rare reaction from her daddy and Carl can't help the small smile appear on his lips for a split second because as soon as it appeared, it disappeared.

Carl looks over at Beth who was smiling elated, flashing her teeth at his dad and sister with a glint in her eyes. He was confused of how to react, he feels like something had just shifted in that moment but doesn't know exactly what, he stands there stumped – happiness and sadness and something else he didn't know what troubled him.

He had to agree, with all that has happened, it was nice to hear his dad laugh, see him as he is, he hasn't done that since way before his mom died, a long time before that even and all of a sudden the sales assistant makes him burst into laughter even after he said the wrong thing to her. He remembers Shane had said something similar to a girl once and it earned him a tight slap round the face. His dad saying what he did was one of the most embarrassing moments for him to have witnessed and he was so glad nobody in the store knew them. He was sure his dad had forgotten how to speak and act in public especially with women, he preferred to keep to himself and had become socially and emotionally inept.

Carl reminisces back to a time his dad was a public figure, someone important in society, everyone looked up to, he was so proud when everyone said good things about his dad, Rick Grimes - he was on his way to become a legend who had a whole bunch of Officers who always followed him and his orders without question and now he goes around by himself unless he's with Shane but he prefers to ride alone. Everyone went to Rick Grimes with their problems, the two off them were never able to walk down the street without someone rushing over for help or just to speak to him because they were pleased to see him. People now avoided him, they avoided them as a whole. If Shane, Jenny and Morgan didn't take it upon themselves coming around all the time, they'd be isolated with no contact with anyone unless they were at school or at work.

Carl just stares at his dad. He remembers when all his friends were in awe whenever his dad dropped him off at the school gates flashing the lights and the siren to inform them Carl Grimes had arrived and sometimes just for fun, his dad would announce it and it would boom loudly around the playground so everyone stopped and ran over to see the patrol car. That was the best and coolest feeling to have felt. He missed it when his dad got out and talked to his friends and fooled around with them, he was cool, everyone loved him and respected him. His dad knew everything about everything. He missed those talks they'd have and he missed him at his games running down cheering him and his friends on and then taking them for victory drinks or commissary shakes but more than anything, he missed that laugh and can't remember the last time he heard his dad laugh like that and looks down at the floor. He couldn't arouse a single smile from his dad in two years and this woman, he casts a look over at Beth, had him laughing and smiling within minutes of meeting and it wasn't just any laugh, it was his deep hearty laugh and she made him laugh like that.

"Daddy laugh!" Judith says grabbing Rick's face and making him stare at her.

"Yeah Daddy laughed!" Rick sighs and his eyes turn towards Beth gratefully she had forgiven him.

Beth returns the smiles, she was pleased she could get him to not only smile but laugh and he was still smiling. She wanted them to forget the earlier incident. She wanted him to forget it. She's already forgotten and he seems to have also and she can't stop smiling and staring, her jaw was hurting, she needed to seriously rub it.

Judith pulls at Rick's cheeks to look at her forcing him to break his connection with Beth. Judith pats his cheeks happily soothing his jaws and he was thankful, he closes his eyes relinquishing the feeling and relaxes.

"Dad!" Carl calls feeling like he was interrupting a moment between his dad, Judith and the woman.

Rick's turns to Carl standing there awkwardly and they look at one another and before Rick can speak, Carl speaks.

"Is it ok is she helps me?" Carl asks curtly.

Rick's smile disappears instantly and Beth notices this and she sees the vein at the side of Rick's forehead tense and pop up.

Oh god! That don't look good! Beth worries wanting to rush over and push those veins back in and run over and cover Carl's mouth from saying anything more.

"Carl!" Rick scolds "Is that how you address someone asking for their help, she has a name! Where are your manners?" Rick snaps loudly, people start to look over.

Carl just narrows his eyes at Rick wanting to ask him the same question and why was he so bothered, why did he care, he never cared to notice before and now all of a sudden.

"Beth! please may you help me find an outfit! I'd be ever so grateful!" Carl asks Beth seeing her name tag with a huge smile and then turns to his dad, Carl's smile drops abruptly just a glare for him.

Rick shoots Carl a final warning glare back and they were at some sort of standoff at the centre of the shop floor.

Oh Crap! Holy Crap! Beth gulps looking from one to the other. She looks around hoping Carol doesn't walk in and ask them to leave, Carol doesn't take any shows in her stores, so she'd ask father and son to go and come back when they could behave or never come back at all.

"It's for my birthday party that my dad forgot all about, it's tomorrow and I don't have anything to wear!" Carl counters back without taking his eyes off his dad.

Gone was Rick's glare and was now replaced with a look of hurt and of failure.

As soon as it was all said, he couldn't take it back. Carl regrets his bite back, he didn't know why or where it came from but it had, a flash of regret passes over Carl's face and then he pushes it away.

Beth looks from father and son and sees the amount of tension between them and jumps in seeing the hurt on Rick's face and the regret on Carl's and before she knows it, she rushes in between them.

"Well that's why I'm here!" She says a little too high pitched.

She always played referee between Shawn and Maggie when she could. She could do it with these guys, right? She asks herself, they won't pounce and get each other into headlocks, she hopes.

"Not for my rock bottoms or my stone cold stunners!" She says in the most pathetic butch voice she could imitate with her girly voice and she knew she sounded pathetic grabbing hold of her crown slipping off her head.

Rick and Carl both turn their gazes towards Beth and she shrugs her shoulders with a smile, maybe it wasn't funny anymore, she feels like an idiot and if all fails, just smile and she smiles, anything to distract them from one another.

Look at me, hahahahe! She cringes to herself wanting to hide.

"I'd have paid big bucks to see it, maybe could'a stunned him back to the livin' from the rock bottom he's been at for god knows how long!" Carl mumbles and Beth catches it wondering why they were behaving as they were, she couldn't imagine being like this with her daddy or her daddy like this to her and she feels the urge to call her father and remind him, she loves him.

Beth turns to Carl and gives him a pleading look. She was better at persuading and pacifying children. She usually could read any guy that walked through the door and know how to keep them calm and stress-free, it was her job to keep her shoppers happy but she didn't know how to pacify a man like the Officer stood behind her, he was at times unreadable and unapproachable like right now, just a big ball of hot air, fire and frost. He looked like he was at boiling point a moment ago ready to chew his son's head off and now he looked deflated like a balloon, all the air has gone out of him. She didn't know what would happen next if she turned to him. She knew she could be sickly sweet, some men liked that and took comfort but some men didn't and she could send the Officer right off the edge if he was in the poll that couldn't take sweet.

Carl felt uncomfortable with the people watching and snickering as they walk past now. He knew he shouldn't have spoken the way he did to his dad and to the woman wanting to help him. He finally gives into Beth seeing her being caught up in the middle of their domestic issues, she looked like she just wanted to help.

"Beth, please will you help me pick out an outfit? Carl asks just above a whisper, eyes peering through his bangs.

Beth hears, cocks her head and nods with a smile clasping her hands together down in front of her and Carl's sighs with relief she would help and she wasn't pissed at him for being an immature jerk.

Beth looks over at Rick checking that he was ok with this, their eyes meet and Beth waits for Rick's reply holding his gaze.

"Dad?" Carl calls no longer with the sass he had before, his dad was taking his time in answering.

Rick regards Carl standing there looking miserable and probably feeling like he was. He no longer had that pissed off face he adopted, the one Lori wore so well.

"If that's what you want?" Rick says now the same low tone as Carl.

"It is." Carl answers hands in his pockets, head bowed looking down at the floor. He needed help, he needed a woman's opinion and had wished Jenny was here but Beth was younger and most likely knew more about fashion, what was in and what was out, he didn't have a clue anymore preferring to go around in darker clothes which helped him mould and hide into the background so he was not seen and pitied all the time.

Carl's defensive wall was now down, Rick sees this. His son was being sincere, he was asking for help and Beth he had just learnt her name looked like she genuinely wanted to help and he turns his eyes towards her nodding once agreeing.

Beth lets out a sigh of relief when father and son finally agree so she decides to do her job before either get a chance to start anything. They were all standing in mutual harmony and she wasn't sure how long this would last. She gestured not to worry to Rick and he took her meaning and she motions Carl to follow her.

"Okay Carl, follow me, I can show you what I think you may be interested in but can I give you some word of advice from one trendy person to another" Beth asks looking down at her outfit walking with Carl and he snorts looking at her dress and just shrugs waiting for her to continue.

"The emo look is soooo yesterday!" She says raising her brows nodding to his clothes.

"Elmo?" Judith whispers to herself.

"Hey, I like this!" Carl answer back abruptly pretending to be offended.

"Aha, how many girl's numbers are ya gettin' in those?" She asks tilting her head "And I can hardly see your eyes with that overgrown mop on your lollipop head!"

"Tons!" Carl answers now open mouthed at the open scrutiny of his look. He should be offended but with Beth, he's surprisingly not.

"Well, I suppose I'm not one to talk!" Beth snorts too looking down at her dress "but…in my defence just so you know…I don't dress like this every day, this is a one-off for the kids!" She says.

Carl turns his head towards Beth watching her. She was smiling and waving to a little girl coming down the slide waving back at her. Tara was running down the other end ready to catch the little girl but the girl had run back to climb up the ladder. Tara had bent down trying to see which way the little girl had gone and then the little boy wearing the pinstriped suit she had tricked into comes rushing down the slide, he knocks into Tara's Olaf ass and she goes flying landing in the pool of balls. The boy is giggling hysterically as Tara tries to climb out, hands and feet flapping up and down making balls fly everywhere. Both Beth and Carl laugh watching the snowman trying to get up.

"That's Tara, she's usually so much cooler than that!" Beth informs Carl and he smiles as Tara falls back into the pool of balls when the little girl lands on her.

"None!" Carl corrects when they approach the 12-16 year olds section and Beth looks at him.

"None what?" She asks.

"Girl's numbers!" He answers embarrassed "I have none!"

"Would you like a girl's number?" Beth asks gently.

Carl shakes his head.

But there was one girl he liked but was too chicken to approach her. She sat in front of him in most of his lessons, she was new in town and he found out her name was Mika Samuels. She was pretty, smart and so sweet, she always had a sweet braid in her hair and he liked it when it was braided in a French-braid down one side of her face whilst the rest of her hair flowed freely. Carl then shrugs and Beth smiles. She knew the feeling but she crushed on her teacher in English Literature, it was similar only she was crushing on an older man, she could relate regardless of the age in question.

"Well then, time to do some damage control!" Beth says placing her hand on his shoulder and Carl just rolls his eyes and gives the smallest of smiles but Beth sees it and she sees a slight blush appear on his face. She leads him to the rails of clothing that knew would suit him and hoped he would give the cool and comfy look at try.

Rick carries Judith following behind listening to their conversation. Carl's never spoken to him about girls and he wonders whether there was any girls he liked, a specific girl, a secret crush? He look over at Carl and is shocked, he remembers when he was twelve, he had a crush on a girl in his class who sat in front of him but never had the courage to tell her, he liked her and was terrified of speaking to her. It was once he had spoken to his dad, he gave him advice that he finally approached the girl and asked her if she wanted to share his cookie and she did. He wonders will Carl ever confide in him about girls, ask him for advice. He begins to realise, in a few years' time, Carl is going to start dating and he begins to sweat at the thought and the talk that he'd have to give, the talk his dad gave him when he got his first girlfriend in High School. Would Carl ever ask him about what happens between a man and woman when they're attracted to one another? God the sex talk and the fasten up the condom rule when the time came! Rick closes his eyes shaking his head.

"Who's he gonna speak to about stuff like that!" Rick whispers to himself in shock now staring up ahead in a daze not sure he could give that talk, wondering if the schools would, knowing it should come from a parent, like it had come to him from his dad.

"Elsaaa!" Judith erupts pointing to Beth's head and Rick's turns to Judith.

Rick stares at Judith, brow raised.

"And who do I talk to with the stuff and thangs on my mind?" He asks Judith and again she points to Beth's head "Elsaa!" she repeats answering.

Rick takes a look over to Beth and looks back at Judith not wanting to burst her little bubble knowing he needed to. After today, they'd never see this Elsa again.

"Sweetheart, she's the shop assistant and she's not actually," Rick stops mid-sentence when he bumps head-on like a train into Beth when she stopped to turn around and they both collide straight into the footwear display.

Rick catches Beth in his arms before she stumbled over. A movement above, catches Rick's eyes. A heavy looking trainer was slipping off its shelf above Beth's head. His hand flies up, grabs the trainer and shoves it back onto its stand. He was leaning over Beth sheltering her body with his own as the other shoes stumbles around them, a few bouncing off Rick's back and shoulder as they fell to the ground. Beth had grabbed a hold of the front of Rick's shirt and her other hand grabbed a tight hold of his belt closing her eyes.

"Miss, are you okay?" Rick asks moving his head slightly so he could see her face.

Beth opens her eyes to see Rick's face centimetres above hers and she just nods and whispers "Are you?"

"Daddy not see where he's goin'!" Judith tells Beth before Rick could answer.

Both Rick and Beth look down to see Judith sheltered between them, she had ducked and hid her face into Rick's chest and then her head springs up.

"Daddy has stuff and thangs in his head!" Judith caresses at Rick's head and looks to Beth.

Rick just stares at Judith not believing how extremely talkative she was being today and that to a stranger. His eyes shift up to Beth whose smiling at Judith, neither not knowing what to say. Judith wiggles wanting to be put down and Rick sets her free and then realises his hand was on Beth's lower back and Beth hadn't yet let go of his belt buckle.

"Erm," Rick says looking down at her hand and then back up at her face and he sees the material slip down Beth's shoulders again.

"I can fix your problem!" Rick says and Beth follows his gaze at her naked shoulder and blushes "May I?" He asks and Beth nods staring up at him in a daze.

Rick reaches over and fastens up the hooks hidden at the sides and the material is now fastened in place. He remembered Judith's dress had the same problem.

Carl comes rushing over to see where everyone had disappeared to.

"What are y'all doin'?" He asks looking at the mess and his dad and Beth in the centre of it all, Judith waves from her sitting position where she had begun to gather up the shoes.

"There was just a little mishap but everything is ok, what do you think about the shirts I showed you?" Beth asks letting go of Rick, slipping away and picking up the shoes and placing them back up at super speed saying thank you to Judith as she hands them up. Her heart was beating rapidly from the feeling of Rick's fingers brushing her skin whilst he assisted her with her dress issue.

Carl looks over at his dad staring down at the ground for no reason, deep in concentration, in thought.

"Yeah, I was goin' to ask if you had any in black." Carl asks continuing to watch his dad.

"No black, we're steering you away from black, this is your birthday party, you can't be wearing black!" Beth says getting up and pushing Carl out and back to the shirts she had asked him to look at.

"Daddy!" Judith calls tugging at Rick's trouser leg.

Rick's head snaps up realising why he was there as Judith grabs hold of his hand and pulls him to follow Beth and Carl.


For the next fifteen minutes, Rick follows Beth and Carl around the aisles and racks of clothing. Rick was glad he listened to Jenny and made the drive up, he knew nothing about clothes and Beth seemed to know what she was doing and talking about, it was all mumbo jumbo to him about what was in and what was not for kids. She was taking the time helping Carl which seemed to please Carl. They were deliberating on a few items, Carl was asking Beth her opinion and she'd give her honest opinion and Carl to his surprise was taking it, no tuts, no sarcastic eye rolls and no storming off. Rick was astonished hovering in the background feeling like a spare part but glad they were making progress now with a pile of clothes put to one side.

He's never spent this much time in a clothing store. He was a quick search, grab and dash guy. He leans by the rail of clothing tired watching Judith and she runs past him, still a little wobbly at times, she trips. Rick's heart jumps in this throat and he jumps to help Judith but she's up and rushing not to him to rub her booboo but to Beth. He watches Beth crouch down and pick Judith up, placing her on her hip rubbing her little hand and knee. Judith remembers she had something in her hand and shows it to Beth.

"Wow, that's really funky but I don't think your brother's brave enough for that not yet anyway!" Beth grins looking at a bright pink shirt "It takes a certain confident person to pull off that shade of pink and I've only just convinced your brother to wear blues and greens!" Beth giggles.

"Elmo!" Judith points to a t-shirt "Car watches Sesame street!" She reveals moving her finger in Carl's direction.

"Hey!" Carl jumps to cover Judith's mouth looking around him to make sure nobody heard.

Rick glances over and smirks, Carl's secret was out. He always watched the reruns with Judith in the mornings and Rick was sure he secretly still loved to watch that show after all these years. Rick was glad Judith didn't reveal he too watched with her when Carl was at school.

"Oh my god, ya don't do ya?" Beth nudges and sees Carl scrunches up nose staring at Judith shaking his head "You do!" Beth giggles.

"He does, he watches with me!" Judith tells Beth.

"Ya such a tattletale!" Carl leans towards Judith with a smile.

"It's truth, I tell!" Judith sighs nodding.

"Judy!" Carl laughs now covering his eyes in embarrassment.

"Daddy, it's true!" Judith asks spotting Rick watching at the side.

They all turn to see Rick's smirk on his face and he removes it. He was enjoying the peace, he didn't need to upset Carl, he just shrugs looking down at his phone.

"I'll tell ya both a secret," Beth looks around and they all huddle close "I watch it too!" She reveals and they burst out laughing "For research!" She clarifies gesturing towards the children's department.

Rick smiles looking at his phone, he thought she did. Beth catches Rick grin.

"Becausssse!" She stops them from laughing "I have a niece whose three years old and we grown-ups!" She looks over at Rick and then back to Carl "Have to! Don't we!" She playfully pushes Carl and he nods trying not to fall over.

"You do?" Judith asks.

"Yep! Now why don't you go and try these on and decide which ones you like!" Beth tells Carl standing up and taking hold of Carl's clothes.

"Daddy watches too!" Judith adds.

Rick's grin disappeared, she ratted him out too. Carl hides his laugh and so does Beth.

"I can take these!" Carl insists taking the clothing out of Beth's arms to run away so he could laugh seeing his dad flushed with embarrassment.

"A gentleman!" Beth says to Judith following Carl to the changing rooms.


Rick sits in the waiting area with Judith on his lap on the funky bean bags that Judith wanted to sit on and not the comfortable couch which he wanted to sit on. He had to sacrifice the comfy couch for the Scoobydoo beanbag Judith had decided he would sit on and she would sit on his lap.

Beth helps a woman and her daughter in the next cubicle rushing in and out with a different coloured dress smiling at both Judith and Rick as she passes to see him sitting down on the beanbag, long legs stretched and then tucking them bent back when someone wants to get past him. He looked out of place but he looked a picture and the women walking in and out seemed to be walking in with their children on purpose to take a look at him. Beth had to agree, he was extremely good looking. Grouchy but still a looker.

"It's busy in here!" Rick says watching the herd of women dragging their kids in "Maybe we should wait outside Judy?" Rick says aloud grabbing a hold of Judith to get up.

Beth stands there outside Carl's curtain If only you knew, you were the reason! She smirks knowing sneaking a glance over at the gushing women and then lastly at Rick and turns away.

"No! No! No Officer! You stay right there, don't you be worryin' about little us, there's plenty a space!" One mother says to Rick taking a seat beside him and smiling at Judith and Judith smiles back.

Rick faces towards Beth who was talking to Carl behind the curtain.

"So dad, what d'ya think?" Beth asks as she pulls open the curtain "Tada!"

Rick and Judith both look up and over into Carl's changing room.

Carl steps out in a nice pair of comfy not too tight stylish dark blue Jeans, a white T-shirt and a cool blue shirt on top with the buttons undone and his sleeves rolled up just like Rick wears and a pair of bold adidas blue and white high tops.

"Wow!" Rick says seeing Carl in the outfit and not the clothes he's been going around in completely stunned "Are you happy and comfortable in this?" He asks Carl standing up to take a closer inspection, he actually liked this look but wanted to make sure Carl was comfortable, he hasn't dressed this nicely since, since he can remember.

Carl shrugs and Rick can see Carl's ear to ear grin when he looks over at Beth. Judith claps her hands and gives a little Owwww making Carl blush a deeper pink than he already was. Rick stands beside Carl and without realising what he's doing, wipes Carl's hair out of his face and he can actually see his Carl, he just stares at Carl warmly.

"Dad!" Carl moans stepping back sorting his hair out and then looks back at his dad and he sees a smile on his dad's face.

Rick looked a bit emotional and Carl just took this moment, letting go of his frustrations of the past days finally seeing the softer side of his dad who was paying attention to him and not work but him.

"Well I say you've found your outfit!" Rick announces seeing Carl's little smile which told him he had chosen his outfit.

Rick turns his smile towards Beth as she holds the curtain. He regards her standing back happy and satisfied. And what happens next shocks Rick. Carl's show of appreciation, there wasn't the "can't be bothered" attitude, just a well-mannered young man he knew he raised.

"Thank you Beth! Thanks for helping me, I really appreciate your time and it was…educational!" Carl gives a little laugh "Thank you!" He genuinely beams.

Carl turns around back into the changing room to get dressed and Judith follows wanting to help standing outside the curtain just like Beth had.

Rick walks up to stand beside Beth.

"Thank you for today and thank you for making this easier," Rick hesitates trying to find the right words "and I want to say sorry for before, it was the slip of the tongue and I hope we can forget it." Rick asks.

"Forget what?" Beth asks confused looking up at him.

For a moment Rick thinks she's forgotten but Beth smiles and Rick takes her meaning and he smiles back.


Beth bags up the newly purchased clothes and hands them over to Rick together his receipt and credit card. Just as Rick shoves his card and receipt into his wallet, his phone buzzes. He grabs it and sees the number he called last night.

"Oh take it, it could be important!" Beth tells him.

He smiles gratefully and steps away. Carl and Judith were by the toys and Beth smiles watching them, glad to see Carl smiling, a huge contrast from before.

Beth hears Rick's sudden raised voice and turns around and catches the end of the conversation. He hangs up and hangs his head scrubbing his face with his hand taking a heavy puff. He turns around and sees Beth watching him and his troubled face turns into a deep frown. Beth caught out, looks away and he walks over to the counter grabbing his bag.

"Thank you for your help today, I really appreciate it!" Rick says sharply, nods and leaves.

Beth stands there stung at his sudden change in mood. He had chilled out and now he was back to his moody self again. Beth tries to call out to him but he didn't look like he was going to stop or wanted to stop. His long legs were marching out of there as fast as they could.

Beth watches him as Rick calls over to Carl and indicating they were leaving. Carl waves and so does Judith sad that she couldn't come over to say bye.

"They're probably the toughest customers we've had so far!" Tara says watching Rick thundering off with Carl trying to catch up with Judith in his arms "Geez, you did good, look at that man go, glad I didn't have to deal with him, sorry for pushing him on to you!" Tara squeezes her shoulder "You won't have to see or deal with him again!" She blows out with relief going back to work.

Beth watches Rick, he was in a deep panic. From what she made out, the venue had been double booked and they had to cancel on him last minute, he didn't call back to confirm he definitely wanted to book the hall.

Beth slumps down into the chair and leans on her elbows rubbing her brow not sure why she was so bothered by this guy and his attitude and his kids, she deals with all types of families all the time. She leans her head and rests it against the wall and then she sits up looking at the notice board that they allow people to post advertisements for their businesses. She grabs the phone and calls the customer who left it.

"Hi, is that Jim?" She asks remembering the nice man coming in to shop for his brood.

Rick walks towards the escalators holding Judith in his arm panicked of what he was going to do, there were twenty kids coming to Carl's birthday party and there was now no venue. What was he going to do he worries, the party is tomorrow!

Fuck! He swears to himself.

"This is a customer announcement, please can Rick Grimes make his way back to Peletier's Children's Department Store, I repeat Rick Grimes make his way back to Peletier's Children's Department Store!" The Mall's announcement announces.

Rick looks up and then looks at Carl standing behind him on the escalator step.

"Did you leave anything behind?" Rick asks and Carl shakes his head.

Once they reach the bottom of the escalators, they turn around and go back up and make their way back to the Peletier's. Beth jumps from the counter upon seeing them and rushes over to Rick. He was confused and slows down his paces and hands Judith back to Carl telling them to wait there.

"Can I speak to you in private?" Beth asks looking up at him, hopefully he'd listen to her and not get mad, she hoped.

Rick looks at Beth and follows her so they're out of hearing range of Carl.

"I'm sorry but I couldn't help but overhear your phone call and I think I might have a solution to your problem!" Beth says before he can yell at her for eavesdropping on his phone call.

Rick doesn't say anything and just waits for her to speak.

"One of our customers, he's a great guy, he runs Laser Zone about a couple of blocks from here, it laser tag games and there are a dozen different types of games for kids from the ages 6 and above, even adults! He has a couple of slots free and they even have a party room for birthday cake and for the kids to just have fun and goof around in!" Beth says explaining. "You just need to call this number and tell him who you are and he will guarantee you a spot, they even have a crèche there for kids called Laser Play just a little playing area for little kids to play, they have qualified helpers and you can even go in and play along or have someone you want in there with Judith and I think Carl may enjoy it!" Beth take a breather and waits for Rick to speak and give his verdict.

Rick just stares at her and when he doesn't reply, she lifts up the leaflet and hands it over to him.

"It's just a suggestion!" Beth says and feeling like she has interfered enough already, thrusts the leaflet it into his hands and rushes off into the stock room. His eyes were boring into her but he was saying nothing and she didn't want to stick around for him to erupt, it was a suggestion, he could take it or leave it.

Rick stands there watching Beth disappear behind the doors and then looks down at the leaflet with Beth's hand written details and her name as his recommendation to receive a 30% discount. He realised how rude he must have appeared, he was just speechless for this save and her help. He wants to go back and thank her but Tara stops him from going back into the stock room having watched him, thinking this man was really ungrateful. She felt sorry for him earlier on but seeing Beth run off upset, she wanted to ram into him and send him tumbling into the pool of balls.

"Sorry sir, only staff are allowed back there!" Tara blocks Rick in her snowman suit "And we don't take kindly to dad's with a chip on their shoulders, so have a nice day…good bye!" She beams and standing there holding her round hips.

Rick nods and steps back leaving looking at the leaflet taking the hint. Taking one last look at the doors to the stock room, he leaves.

"Is everything okay?" Carl asks narrowing his eyes watching his dad.

"Yeah, we need to get home and I need to make a few phone calls!"

Rick picks up speed knowing if he got the venue, he'll have to call all the parents and tell them the new venue details and if nobody can get there, he'll have to arrange to pick them up and take them there and he hopes Dale still had his minivan, it could seat sixteen people and then he had his car and Shane and Morgan if need be.

He just wished he could have said thank you to Beth and not left it like that. He was never good at taking help from people and she really helped him. He prayed he'd one day get the opportunity to tell her if she would give him the time of day. He really appreciated her help today, she practically saved his relationship with his son from getting worse than it already had.

To be continued...