A/N: In the light of the premiere of 5B I hope many of you are staying strong and Bethyl on. I hope this little story is an escape for you. I know I'm finding solace in fanfiction since TPTB can't understand the importance of Beth and Bethyl. As always... Much love to my Bethyl sisters.
Walk With An Angel
Chapter 10: Take Me to Church
Beth woke up early like she'd done every Sunday morning. She skipped down the stairs and into the kitchen. Her mother was sitting at the dining room table reading the morning paper, her dad making coffee. Since they brought Annette home from the hospital two days ago, the house had finally started feeling like home gain.
"Morning, mom... dad." She grabbed her favorite mug, the one with musical notes all over it and made a cup of coffee. As she held the mug between her hands as she thought about today and Daryl.
Then the thought hit her, she hadn't told her parents that Daryl would be joining them for church or what Zach had done. So she rambled towards the dining room, her dad taking a section of paper from her mother.
"Bethy, you got something on your mind. I know that look, what is it?" She was never able to fool her mother, she had that sixth sense that all mothers have.
"You remember Daryl?" Beth took a long sip of coffee, waiting for Hershel to emerge from his paper.
"I do... your friend Daryl?" Hershel's eyebrows were drew together, giving his words a more stern meaning.
Beth shook it off, deciding to address her mother instead of her father. "Well, I invited him to church this morning and he's coming. We're going to the Grimes's for a cookout after."
"Beth..." Annette cut Hershel off before he could say much more.
"You have fun sweetie. I know what people say about those Dixon boys, but I've never heard a bad word about Daryl. Some people aren't born into loving families and that isn't their fault. If our godly minister and our righteous flock had been good Christians all those years ago, they would have helped Mary Dixon." Annette's eyes flashed with a fury Beth had never seen before.
Beth wasn't sure what her mother meant, maybe it was because the Dixon's grew up hard. The stories were all over town, but Beth never listened to gossip. She let the matter lie there, reminding herself to pick it up some other day.
"Mom... are you going to church?" Beth took her hand, Annette smiling back at her.
She shook her head, reaching for the walker beside her chair. "Not this time. Maybe next Sunday. Patricia is staying with me so y'all go enjoy yourselves."
Hershel helped Annette to the parlor, Beth watching how loving her parents were to each other and she hoped for a love like that someday.
After a quick shower, she dressed for church in a simple white lace tank top dress with a black belt and black flats. She left her hair down, letting her wavy golden mane flow over one shoulder.
Maggie stopped her in the hallway, grinning from ear to ear. "You look good. You nervous about leading the kids choir this morning?"
"No, I have faith in them. Glenn going with us?" She hoped he was so she and Daryl could sit with them, instead of her dad.
"Yeah, he's picking me up in a few. Why?" Maggie dodged into the bathroom to brush her teeth, Beth looking at her through the bathroom mirror.
"Daryl's coming." Maggie dropped the toothbrush and turned to her sister with toothpaste foam on her lips.
"Shut the front door... no way." Beth quickly closed the bathroom door, pushing Maggie back inside.
"You like him... really like him. Bethy... what about... you know." Maggie rinsed out her mouth, but her eyes stayed on her sister.
Beth lowered her head, her eyes away from Maggie's sisterly glare. "We both know I can't... it's not fair to him. But yeah Maggie... I like him. I've never had these feelings before and I don't know what to do with them."
A single tear rolled down her face and Maggie pulled her into a hug. "You let it happen. You deserve to be happy and you're going to beat this little sister. You need to tell him, let him shoulder some of this burden for you. If he cares for you like you care for him, he'll be there for you."
Beth held on to Maggie, pondering what she should do. She wasn't ready for Daryl to know about her illness and she wasn't sure he wouldn't walk away.
Nervous butterflies fluttered around in her stomach as she waited outside the church for Daryl. Her fingers had twisted into a knot. Hershel walked up behind her as Zach walked by. She glowered at him as he gave her a smile.
"Daddy... you have to fire Zach." Hershel rested his hands on her shoulder, asking her why.
Beth turned to face him, her fingers now curved in towards her palms. "He kissed me yesterday and I slapped him for it. I don't want to see him around the farm."
Hershel nodded as if he was thinking about what she had said. "I'll talk to him, but I need him Beth. With all the medical bills and funeral bills I'm barely breaking even. If I don't bring the crops in on time I could lose the farm."
She fought back the hatred she held in her heart towards Zach, her hand taking her fathers.
The sound of Daryl's motorcycle vibrated in her ears and she turned around with a smile. She walked out to greet him, the butterflies still fluttering.
Her eyes nearly bugged out of her head when she saw him wearing a gray button up shirt, dark jeans and cowboy boots. Every part of her went numb, her body going on auto pilot.
"You look nice." She managed to get out, her mouth as dry as the Georgia clay.
"Ain't nothin'. Carol got me the clothes a while back, never had a reason to wear'em." Daryl looked uncomfortable to her, so she took his hand and they walked into the church.
As they were sitting down beside Glenn and Maggie, Daryl leaned over and whispered to her. "You look like an angel."
Daryl was glad Carol had given Merle is pain meds early that morning, he was snoring like a bear.
He took the clothes Carol laid out, got showered and even combed his hair out of his eyes. As he slipped on his cowboy boots, Carol leaned up against the door frame.
"You look nice. I'll tell Merle you're out with Martinez if he wakes up. We'll let this be our little secret." He nodded back at her and checked himself in the mirror.
"I look stupid." Carol brushes some lint off his shoulder and adjusted his collar.
"No you don't. Now get going." He picked up the stone from the quarry Beth had given him, tucking it in his pocket.
Church was as foreign to him as building motorcycle engines would be to anyone else. He didn't grow up going and to go now just felt wrong.
It was too late to back out now, he pulled into the parking lot and saw an angel walking towards him.
"You look nice." Her all too sweet smile took his breath every time he saw it and today was no different.
He climbed off the bike, wishing he was in his comfortable clothes. "Ain't nothin'. Carol got me the clothes a while back, never had a reason to wear'em."
He wanted to stand there and look at her, the angel in white with her golden halo. She took his hand and he happily followed behind.
The audible gasps and whispers that floated from the pews made him wish he'd never came, but looking at Beth he decided they didn't matter.
They took a seat three pews from the front, Glenn and Maggie scooting down. He leaned in towards Beth, the lilac scent around her caused parts of his body to wake up he'd wish wouldn't.
"You look like an angel." The truth slipped from his lips and he enjoyed the blush it brought from the beauty next to him.
Hershel sat in front of them, turning to nod back at him. Beth's fingers laced into his and he did his best to get comfortable.
The Reverend gave an opening speech, followed by prayer, then he called Beth to lead the children's choir. She stepped around him, the back of her legs skimming his. His body reacted like any hot blooded males would and he placed his hands in his lap.
Daryl got lost in her beauty, drawn in by the sweetness of her voice. The choir was singing in harmony along with her, but Daryl only heard Beth.
After three songs, she dismissed the choir and went back to sit with him. To avoid her walking past him again, he scooted over towards Glenn. Beth sat down beside him, taking his hand again.
He looked around the church to find Zach staring right at him. He wanted to get up and punch his smug face.
As the Reverend took the pulpit, he felt a lump gather in his throat. The sermon was about the evils of drinking and using drugs and he knew it was directed right at him.
He moved to get up, but Beth pulled him back down. "Daryl, don't go."
Her eyes pleaded with him and he was powerless to deny her. "Okay."
The sermon went on to fornication and having children out of wedlock. The preacher was really tossing everything out there, as if he were some drug dealing asshole that raped young girls.
As soon as the adult choir stood up to sing, Daryl unclenched his jaw and took a deep breath.
He didn't stick around for the handshaking portion. He let go of Beth's hand and bolted out the church doors. She quickly followed him, her face a mask of anger and frustration.
"Daryl, wait. I'm sorry. I'm sorry Reverend Smith is a judgmental, closed off, cold hearted man. He needs to pray hard for forgiveness. Please don't leave... please." When he reached his bike, he stopped and took the quarry rock out of his pocket.
He turned back to her, squeezing the rock in his palm. "I ain't comin' back here."
"Okay, you don't have to. Just forget about all of this and let's go to the cookout. I need to go change my clothes. Will you come back home with me... meet my mom?" He nodded to her, pushing the rock back in his pocket and climbing on his bike.
On the way to the farm, he remembered why he or Merle never went to church. If that was what good Christian people were like, he sure as hell didn't want to be a part of it.