Chapter 9: Solutions

A few weeks had passed since Rick and Beth's kiss. During those weeks he barely spoke to the young girl and she tried her best to keep her distance. She would tell him how Judith was but their conversations never went passed that. He found himself missing her company, just being in her presence made his day better like she was some kind of light to him. Ever since he sent her away that night he knew he was making a mistake. Maybe the kiss was wrong but it didn't feel that way. He knew he shouldn't have, she was only eighteen years old, she's Hershel's daughter he could imagine how he would react if he knew what happened that night on the guard tower. No, no matter what Hershel and the rest of the group could not know and now matter what it couldn't happen again.

"Mornin' Judy," Beth murmured picking up the young girl from her bed. "Did you sleep good? I hope at least one of us did."

Ever since she kissed Rick nights had been restless. She kept tossing and turning, blaming herself for their ruined relationship. Even though they were rare she missed those moments when it was just him and her with Judith. She knew she wasn't the child's mother but it felt like their own little family with the rest of their families nearby. She felt guilty, she felt like she had pushed herself on him. He still loved Lori, everyone knew that, losing his wife wouldn't be something he would easily forget and move on from. Sitting down on her bunk she knew she had to talk to him eventually, avoiding him and the subject at hand wasn't solving anything. She just didn't know when would be the right time to talk to him.

Later on that day Beth was helping Carol in the garden when she noticed Liam walking towards them. "Hey Beth, Carol," He said, "I see the garden's coming together nicely."

Beth could see Carol smirking out of the corner of her eye. "Yeah, we should have a decent salad here soon." Beth muttered.

"Good, I mean I love oatmeal as much as the next guy but it gets old after a while." Liam chuckled. "So Beth I was wondering if you maybe wanted to talk a walk or something later this afternoon."

Rubbing her hands on her jeans she sighed. "I-I don't know, I think Carol needs my help with supper tonight."

"No I don't, Karen has already volunteered to help. You have the night off." Carol interrupted.

"Well I still need to make sure I don't have to watch Judith."

"I'll handle that, go on Beth, you deserve a little break after everything you've been doing these past few weeks." Carol prodded.

Finally nodding her head she looked up to meet his eyes. "Ok, I'll meet you outside of C block later tonight."

"Great, see you then." He grinned. "Well I better go, I'm helping Glenn on the fences."

When the boy was gone Beth could feel Carol's eyes on her. "Go ahead, I know you want to say something."

"Why did you seem so uninterested in going with him?" Carol asked. "He's cute and he's your age. What's going on?"

"I don't know, I'm just...not into him like that."

"You've got someone else on your mind."

'Is it that obvious?' Beth thought. "N-no, I just...I don't think I should be interested in boys right now."

"Beth, even with all this you're still a teenager and everyone needs someone to confide in. Even the strongest people need a little help now and then."

"What if the people you're trying to help won't let you?"

"Who?"

Sighing Beth shook her head. "No one, forget about it. Are we done with this? I need to go help Daddy with Judith."

"Yeah, I can take it from here," Carol said, before the younger girl could walk away she stopped her. "Beth, whoever has your mind all wrapped up, just know they would be lucky to have you."

Frowning Beth mumbled. "I don't know about that."

In the yard Rick was watching Glenn and Liam take care of a few walkers gathering around the fence. As the weeks went by Liam tried his hardest to prove himself but to Rick it seemed forced. He had tried to shake the feeling that Liam was not to be trusted but he couldn't. After his previous years as a police officer he learned how to read people and all of his instincts told him Liam was shady.

Behind him he noticed Beth walking towards the cellblock. He knew it was now or never to talk to her about their current situation. "Beth! Hold up a sec." He called out.

"What is it?" She questioned, her voice soft.

"I just...I think we need to talk about that night."

"I think you made yourself quite clear, I thought it never happened?" She snapped.

Running a hand over his face he sighed. "No matter how much we tell ourselves that we know it happened and now ever since then you barely look at me."

"I thought that was what you wanted?"

"No, I don't want to act like you don't exist. Beth I appreciate everything you've done for me and my family, I trust you with my kid's lives. And for what its worth I miss having you around." Taking a deep breath he looked into her blue eyes. "But what happened that night shouldn't...I shouldn't have taken advantage of you like that."

"I haven't gone anywhere." She murmured. "Rick I can't just act like what happened didn't, and I can't act like I didn't enjoy it. It wasn't just you that night, it was me too. If I really didn't want to I would have pushed you away."

"Still, after everything Hershel's done for my family I can't just disrespect him like that."

"I know how much you respect my dad but denying yourself something that we both want is no way to live your life." Beth was surprised, everything she had pent up for so long was coming out before she could stop it. "Daddy would never stop me from being happy or you for that matter."

Placing his hands on his hips he shook his head. "I still don't think its a good idea." He mumbled. "Its just not..."

"Don't say its not right." She told him stepping closer. "Cause what I felt that night wasn't wrong in any way. I care about you but if you just want things to go back to the way they were then I guess I can try to do that for you."

When he heard her say that Rick knew it wasn't what he wanted but it was what needed to happen. "That's all I ask. I am sorry, Beth."

"Yeah...me too," She muttered walking away from him trying her best to keep the tears at bay.

After checking on Judith Beth decided to take a nap. Laying in her cell she thought of Rick, how could he just act like it was so easy to forget about their kiss? Wiping her face she decided she couldn't stress over it anymore. It wasn't going to happen, she would just have to accept that. She would just have to put those feelings away and hope they would soon fade away.