A/N: We had a preliminary hearing yesterday for the man who killed my sister. It has made this week pretty difficult to deal with and motivation went out the window after the hearing was over but I am going to try…so here we go, an attempt at an update.
I miss you, sis. So much. This chapter is for you.
This chapter is also for Summers Rage and no-place-like-it for their support/constant nagging for updates and beyondmythought-s and bethgreenewarriorprincess because I love them.
This chapter is brought to you by Elenowen's "The Storm."
I'm also without my glasses right now, so pardon any mistakes. I have the font to the size labeled "blind" and the page zoomed into like 150% to help me read what I type but still…anywho:
Safe and Sound – Chapter Three
Daryl followed Beth's old truck up a curved gravel driveway. The full moon lit up a large, but dark, farmhouse. His eyes took in the barn, with small amounts of light shining through the closed doors and windows, and the chicken coop located not far from it, the lights emitted through the small mesh windows and door of the coop. The dark woods in the distance made Daryl's fingers itch to go hunting with his crossbow and he hoped that he could make time to explore them the next day after he adjusted to the house. The red brake lights of Beth's truck brightened as she pulled her truck to a stop near the steps of the farmhouse. Daryl pulled his truck up beside hers and parked, turning the key to kill the engine while his eyes took in the house in front of him.
Even with the full moon, Daryl struggled to get a full view of the farmhouse's size but the moonlight helped show the hunter just how much land Beth owned. It was truly awe-inspiring and it gave Daryl the urge to sleep out under the stars and explore the land to its entirety. He climbed out of his truck and grabbed his duffel bag of clothes and his crossbow. A quick glance at his motorcycle told him it was still safely strapped into the bed of the truck and could stay where it was until morning.
To be honest, Daryl was exhausted and eager to crash in the bed Beth told him would be ready for him. He would have his own bedroom again. A bedroom and a real bed, not a pallet on the floor of the Grimes's house in their living room, not that there was anything wrong with that and not that Daryl wasn't grateful for the temporary housing they had given him but he had missed having his own bedroom.
"Do you need help with anything? Need me to take you bag and bow while you move your bike off your truck?" Beth asked as she came around the front of his truck. Daryl unconsciously tightened his grip on his crossbow at her question. Nobody touched the hunter's crossbow except for him.
"Nah, it can stay for the night. Take care of it in the mornin'," he replied. Beth nodded and turned from the hunter, her steps graceful and quiet as she ascended the steps to the front porch of the farmhouse. Daryl's eyes followed her for a moment and he shook his head when he realized he had been staring at the blonde's ass.
Fuck, Dixon, walk and look ahead. Daryl followed Beth up the stairs and to the front door, watching as she opened the door and noting the lack of the locks being used.
"You normally leave the front door unlocked?" he asked, his eyes making quick sweeps around the living room for any signs of unwanted guests once Beth flipped the lights on.
"Yeah, we've never locked the door that I know of," Beth replied, her voice full of curiosity. "As far back as I can remember, we have never had any issues of people finding or coming out here…"
"There's never been anybody famous living here, til now. Best get in the habit of having your keys and locking up." Beth's eyes widened and Daryl shrugged. "You're worried about your safety, leaving your house unlocked ain't gonna help that concern. Once your more…exuberant fans, as you call them, find out where you live, it won't take 'em long to come and visit ya at home too." Beth's mouth formed an "oh" as she listened to the conversation before she nodded.
"I have spare keys so I will grab one for you to have in the morning," the blonde reached around behind Daryl and turned the lock on the front door before gesturing that she was going to go and do the same thing to the back door. Daryl nodded and walked around the living room, looking for anything that seemed out of the ordinary. He was also looking around to try and get a handle on his new roommate. A black piano sat against one wall, blank and half written on sheet music sitting on and around the instrument. A guitar laid across one of the couches and several notebooks sat on the coffee table between the couches.
Various jackets and even a few t-shirts lay on the couches and multiple shoes were vicariously strewn about on the floor. Daryl smirked at the sight of the slightly messy room, his opinion of the blonde already adjusting. He had honestly expected her to be a neat freak.
"Oh gosh, I am so sorry about the mess. I was so focused on getting your room all set up and cleaned that I completely ignored all of the other rooms. This is, um, the living room. Obviously. I sort of use this room to do a lot of my work in and I'm normally much cleaner than this I just…I got writer's block something terrible the other day and I was so sore and frustrated that I just kicked off my shoes and tore through the house for my boots and some clothes I could go out and do some work in…yeah, I'll clean this up…" Beth rambled, her cheeks turning pink as she took in the clothes that were strewn on one of the couches.
Oh lord, the blonde stared mortified, one of my bras…When did I leave that there?
Daryl seemed to notice the article of clothing at the same time Beth had, his ears turning a slight pink before he glanced at the photos on the wall. Beth hurriedly grabbed all of the clothes and ran them down the hall to the washroom.
"Umm, the laundry room is down here," Beth hollered to Daryl, the hunter looking briefly in her direction before moving into the dining room and kitchen, the blonde joining him after she had stashed her clothes in the washer.
"Anything food or drink wise is yours so if you get hungry or thirsty, just help yourself at anytime. If you finish something, just write it on the grocery list and we can replenish it when the next grocery day is. There's a bedroom and a bathroom through this other hallway from the living room. I figured you would want this room since it is the only one on the first floor. If you'd rather be upstairs, we can do that too." Beth led Daryl down the hallway and into the room that would be his. It was surprisingly large with a queen-sized bed in it and an attached bathroom.
"My bedroom is upstairs…" Beth continued before a yawn interrupted her.
"The tour can finish tomorrow, Beth. Go get some sleep," Daryl gestured with his head for Beth to go and she nodded sleepily as she turned to leave. The blonde paused in the bedroom doorway.
"Daryl?" the man in question turned to face Beth and quirked his eyebrow at her. "Thank you…for doing this. For starting tonight…" Daryl's eyes settled on the bruise that stood out darkly on the youngest Greene daughter's temple and nodded.
"You needed me. No need to thank me."
A/N: I honestly do not like this chapter…sorry. The next one will be better!