So, this is the last Chapter of the story. Everyone will get what he/she deserves and please enjoy Bethyl fluff!

I apologize that this update took me a bit longer than usual but real life consumed all my free time. Thank you so much for those who read, review, follow and favorite this story. Your support is priceless.

CHAPTER 10.

Beth woke up with a start and felt Daryl's hot breathe at the back of her neck.

"The baby is up again?"

"Shhhh, no" Daryl's hands sneaked around her waist and his lips started tracing hot kisses along her shoulder. "It's just me… I forgot to turn off my alarm for my day off. And now I just can't take my hands off of you. Again…" He sucked in her earlobe and she moaned.

"What if Rick wakes up now?" Beth was so lost in sensation that she could hardly manage to form a coherent thought.

"Basing on the previous night, he will be asleep for the next hour or more."

Beth closed her eyes giving in to his warm lips and strong hands and smiled at the memory of how much happened during this first night in Daryl's house.

Their sex earlier that night was mind blowing and it was better than she could remember although she couldn't understand how it was possible. Maybe because it felt like not just sex but making love. Beth couldn't help the feeling that something was different about Daryl. He was more passionate, tender and caring. Maybe it was the baby that changed him – she told herself.

The first time Rick woke them up that night was when Beth was dozing off in the circle of Daryl's arm. She heard barely audible whimpers and rushed to his room unsure whether she should calm him down first or fix him a bottle. But Daryl was immediately at her side. He scooped the baby into his arms and started talking to him in a calming whisper. By the time Beth reappeared in the room with a bottle Rick stopped crying. She took the baby from Daryl and they sat in front of each other: Beth on the rocking chair and Daryl on the bed that was supposed to be hers.

Beth smiled at the baby in her arms and when she looked up she noticed the intense Daryl's gaze who was definitely bracing himself to ask her something.

"What?" Beth whispered with a small smile.

"Beth… I've never lived with anybody under one roof so… I may do something stupid or even screw something up and I apologize for that. But I wanted to ask you something…" he suddenly found his hands more interesting than anything else "well… eh… alright… would you like to move in to my room?"

Daryl looked up to see her wide smile "I would love that" she whispered back to him and he exhaled a breathe he didn't know he was holding.

When Rick woke them up for the second time that night, Beth felt more sure of herself and didn't panic as much as the first time, but Daryl was at her side nevertheless. But this time they changed their roles as Daryl decided to feed the baby himself. He watched this tiny, soft, so trusting and vulnerable human being in his arms, his son, and his chest was squeezed with intense feelings. And Beth couldn't take her eyes off of Daryl.

"You are going to be a great father"

"I think I love him so much already that it even hurts" he wasn't looking at her and she understood that it was that rare moment when Daryl opened his heart to her.

Beth smiled and whispered trying not to interfere with a comforting silence of the room "I love him too… How can I not? How can someone…"

"Beth!" Daryl sounded very angry all of a sudden "promise me that we won't speak about that woman again. For a long time I was pissed about my parents, about my father. But what he did to me was nothing compared to how Christa treated this innocent child. There is nothing human about her. Even wild animals won't try to do that to their child. I don't want to hear her name ever again. Ok?"

Beth came closer and kneeled in front of the rocking chair putting her hands on his knees and looking up into his eyes "Ok, Daryl"

XXX

It's been three months since Beth and Rick moved in with him and Daryl had never been so happy in his entire life.

He loved Rick so much that sometimes it seemed like his chest could burst with feelings. But sometimes it seemed like an amazing dream and he was scared to death that he would wake up one day and find out it wasn't real. But every smile of this baby, his every whimper, every soft touch of his tiny hands and even every dirty diaper reminded him that yes, he had a son, for real. His flesh and blood who depended on him now and ever. And he felt scared to do a wrong thing but it was overshadowed by overwhelming happiness.

And he loved Beth. Oh, yes! He'll be damned but he finally got it: he loved her. He'd never have thought that he would ever love any woman but here he was, an asshole redneck Daryl Dixon in love with a pure angel of a girl who invaded all his thoughts. She poisoned him with her bright smiles, soft voice, sweet songs, with her tenderness, passion and light and he was happy to be poisoned. Every time he couldn't wait for his working day to be over to rush back to their house, to her and their son. He couldn't get enough of her and he was sure he would never will. So yes, he loved her.

xxx

It was a beautiful warm October Sunday and Beth asked Daryl for a "day-off" to spend some time with her friend Rosita. Daryl smiled to himself at the memory of their lazy morning after the best sex he had. Well, to be honest every time with Beth was the best, for sure. But remembering her hot mouth over his length he immediately felt himself getting hard again and couldn't wait for her to come back home to return the favor.

Now Rick was sound asleep after Daryl fed him and lulling him to sleep in a rocking chair almost dozing off himself. Daryl rubbed his eyes, grabbed the baby monitor and went to the porch to have a smoke.

"What the hell?" he saw a familiar fancy car parking by his house and Beth, his Beth, got out of it smiling and waving to that handsome prick.

Daryl froze feeling such a pang in his heart that he almost stopped breathing. There was no anger, just a helpless feeling of fatality.

There it was… he allowed himself to relax, to feel happy, to hope that this life with Beth could be real. But he forgot that he was doomed: everything he loved was taken away from him.

Beth rushed up the porch steps and tried to kiss him but was taken aback by a stone cold expression on Daryl's face.

"Daryl, what's wrong?" she frowned.

"So, when were you going to tell me?"

"Tell you what?"

"Beth, stop that shit. I am not blind. You are still seeing this guy, aren't you?"

"But this is Zach… Wait, what do you mean "still seeing"? Where could you possibly see us before?"

"Well, nice to know the name of you boyfriend. And I saw you at the diner together when you jumped into that prick's car" Daryl saw her astonished look but didn't care "Yes, I came by the diner a couple of times trying to find the right time to talk to you, to apologize, but you were with him. Damn it, I was so stupid to believe that after everything we went through, you are with me now. That we are together… Fuck…" He looked away and clenched his teeth.

Beth wanted to be angry at the things he was implying before trying to talk to her first and find everything out. But all she could feel were butterflies inside her: was he jealous? Was he watching her all that time when they were not together? Because in Daryl's language "a couple of times" meant he was constantly watching her. Beth smiled and rushed to him.

"Daryl, look at me" she put her hands on his cheeks and tried to catch his gaze. "Zach is Rosita's boyfriend. I know both of them since I moved to Atlanta. They live together and I slept on their couch for weeks when Christa chased me away. And today they invited both of us to their spring wedding. Zach was just giving me a lift home".

"Shit!" Daryl deflated and squeezed his eyes shut. And when he finally got over embarrassment he hugged her tight with shaking hands. "Beth, I am sorry… I just… I am so afraid to lose you. I… I care about you so much" his frantic hot whisper against her neck sent shivers along her spine but she stepped back to look into his eyes again.

"You won't lose me, Daryl. I love you and I am not going anywhere unless you tell me to." She couldn't hold back her feelings anymore. She had to tell him even if he wouldn't tell it back to her. And when she saw his astounded look, she simply nodded and smiled.

Daryl was so thunderstruck by her confession that he couldn't form any coherent word. He just stood there like a complete idiot and blinked at this beautiful woman who just said she loved him. He couldn't believe his ears but then she smiled and repeated those words and he kissed her with all love he felt for her.

Screw it! Screw this fear he had! He was determined to make this woman happy and loved. And although he didn't tell her those words, he wanted to show it to her with everything he had.

XXX

The Christmas tree was big and beautiful and Beth put all her excitement into decorations. She was the happiest she had ever been with two amazing people next to her whom she loved with all her heart. Rick never failed to amaze her with his progress and she was thankful to Daryl that he insisted on her staying at home with the baby until the next school year. Beth poured all her energy into Rick's development and he was growing and progressing almost as good as other babies of the same age.

But Christmas was a family holiday and that made her feel a bit sad that she couldn't share her happiness with her family at the farm who were still reluctant to communicate with her. No, she didn't want to ruin her Christmas mood.

She put Rick onto her hip "So, Rick, your daddy never stops surprising us. Now he thinks that we don't have enough decorations and decides to put Christmas lights on our house" Rick squealed and clapped his hands as if understanding what Beth was talking about and she laughed "Oh, yes! You're right, pumpkin, he is the best Dad!"

They approached the large window of the living room and Beth smiled and waved at Daryl who was standing on the ladder trying to hang Christmas lights above the front porch. Daryl noticed Beth and Rick who was now giggling and bouncing on Beth's hip and broke into a broad smile.

"Come on, Rick. Your daddy seems to be finishing up. Let's get dressed and come out to see how our house will turn into a Christmas tree."

Daryl was more excited about this Christmas than Beth. It will be his first Christmas with his son and Beth in their house. As if one of his fantasies came true. Daryl smiled which he did a lot recently and thought about his present for Beth. He was wishing like hell that she would like it.

"Hey you, lover boy. Decorating your little house?" the familiar voice made him jump and turn around abruptly.

"What the hell?" Daryl's blood started boiling with rage "What the fuck are you doing here, Christa?" and while Daryl was climbing off the ladder she started babbling.

"Oh, honey, there is no reason to be so rude. It just didn't work between me and Gareth. After all, he was assistant director of porn movies. Of course, he gave me a chance to participate in a couple of movies, not a big deal, you know? But I didn't quite like it and besides he enjoyed teaching new girls how to play in certain scenes, you know" she laughed not noticing Daryl's wide eyes and clenched fists. "So I returned back here and decided to stop by and maybe catch up with you for the sake of old times" she took one step towards Daryl when the front door opened.

"Hi, Daddy! Rick wants to see our house with… Oh…" Beth's smile faded in a second when she registered who Daryl was standing with at the front porch.

"Oh, you slut!" Christa immediately shrieked. "I knew you had a crush on my man. He didn't notice you and you decided to use his baby to get close to him? You know what? I will contact lawyers again and will get this baby back. And then you'll see that he won't need you. He will…"

"Beth, get back inside" Daryl said between his clenched teeth. There was so much ferocity in his tone that Beth stepped back into the house without any argument. She hold the baby close to her chest whispering some soothing words into his ear and silently praying that Christa didn't mean what she said. Any of it.

"And you need a real woman not this…"

"Shut. The fuck. Up." Christa stopped abruptly and a sudden feeling of danger and primal fear started seeping through her bones. Something was definitely wrong and went not the way as she planned. And at this moment she didn't recognize Daryl at all and was scared of him.

"How dare you come to my house after everything you've done to my son, to Beth, to me? How dare you think that you have a right to say anything to us?" Each word was so full of ferocity that Christa shrank into herself and started stepping back to her car. "Now, listen to me, sweetheart, if you ever come close to anyone of us again or if you even think of doing anything to the baby, I swear to God, I will do anything… you hear me? to protect my family. Now get the fuck out of here."

Christa nodded frantically, rushed to her car and drove away as fast as she could, the frightened expression never leaving her face.

Daryl watched Christa leave, took a couple of deep breathes to calm down and rushed to the house to check on Beth, a decision forming in his head.

"Beth? Beth, where are you?"

"Shhh…" Beth stepped out from Rick's room. "Your son decided to take a nap."

"Alright, I will wait for you in the living room."

When Beth reemerged in the living room she immediately smiled at the sight: all Christmas lights were on and mixing with the dim evening light made the room seem like a fairy tale mansion.

Daryl came up to her and answered the question that was on the tip of her tongue. "Christa won't bother us again. Ever. I promise you."

Beth's soft smile lit her face again and for the hundredth time he wondered how he ever got so lucky to be loved by this beautiful woman.

"Beth, I know that Christmas is only in two days but with this Christa situation I thought that it would be the right time to give my present to you right now." Daryl handed her a small box and Beth suddenly gasped realizing what it was. He opened it and there it was – a ring with a small beautifully shaped diamond "Beth, you know me, I am a man of few words. But I want to say this: meeting you was the best thing that has ever happened to me. I love you." Beth gasped again and felt her eyes filling with tears. "I've been loving you for a long time already. I think I fell for you when I first met you in the bar for the first time. You are everything to me. You are my light. I can't imagine my life without you. Beth, will you marry me?"

The tears were now flowing freely down her cheeks and she nodded "Yes, Daryl. I will be happy to be your wife."

Daryl put the ring on her finger and kissed her lips tenderly "Will you ever forgive me?"

"For what?" Beth was taken aback by his sudden question.

"That I made a wrong choice that night at the bar. That I ignored my attraction to you and went for an easier option."

"But then we won't have Rick. And maybe we won't understand what we mean for each other without going through all difficult situations we had. So maybe sometimes a wrong choice is just a lesson and a step to your true happiness." Beth smiled before pressing her lips to his "And I am happy that your wrong choice still brought us together"

XXX

EPILOGUE

Beth was moving through Walmart and Daryl was going behind her with Rick sitting on his hip. Rick was almost a year old now and constantly wanted to walk and even run but if Daryl let him do it here, they won't be able to do any grocery shopping. Daryl smiled remembering his old fantasy about going shopping with his family. Once it had been just a fantasy but now he was a proud father of a great boy and a husband of the most beautiful girl in the whole state

"Daryl, you really don't mind my daddy coming to our house for the 4th of July?"

"Why would I? It was my idea after all. Hershel made such an amazing spring wedding at his farm for us!"

"Speaking of which… I still feel a little embarrassed that my wedding was one week before Rosita's"

Daryl rubbed her shoulder "Beth, stop worrying so much. Rosita was truly happy for us. You have good friends, I really like them"

"Even Zach?" Beth raised he brow in a mocking surprise.

Daryl smirked "Yeh, even him"

Beth smiled but then signed again "What if my dad doesn't like it here? What if…"

"Beth, relax. Everything will be just fine, I promise. Do you remember how terrified I was before meeting your dad for the first time? And look at me now! I ain't afraid of nothing as long as I have two of you next to me"

Beth suddenly stopped and turned around to meet Daryl's gaze with a mischievous glint in her eyes "Actually… it will be three of us in eight months."

"Wait, what?" Daryl was struck with the news and a sudden wave of happiness washed over him. "Beth, are you sure!? Oh my God, Beth!" Daryl hugged her with his free hand holding Rick closed to them with the other. "You have no idea how happy I am! I love you, Beth."

She saw her reflection in his happy eyes and smiled "I love you too, Daryl"

Thank you so much for reading this story. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed it myself. You are amazing readers and your constant support is truly inspiring. Thank you so much and see you next time.

To see a picture to this last chapter please go to roksolanna77 tumblr com