Chapter 10: Elastic Heart
After the sleepover at the cabin, Daryl was eager to get to their date. Beth had stopped by for lunch every day and on Friday she brought Beau.
Martinez was still being a prick to him over Beth, but he didn't let it get to him. She and their son were all that matter and he'd be damned if small minded people were going to stand in his way of being happy.
When he got home Friday night, he saw Lori had been by to add a few more of her feminine touches. He didn't mind the fancy soap in the bathroom or the yellow comforter on his bed, but he was going to have to draw the line at lace doilies. The doilies reminded him of coming to his grandma's house on Sundays with his mother and Merle. No way was he going to have his cabin turn into little house on the prairie.
After taking the doilies and putting them up in the hall closet, he got out the coasters made from deer antlers and tossed them on the coffee table. The fact that he asked Rick and Lori to fix up his place hadn't slipped his mind, but he had to have a little of himself here before he broke out in a rash from all the girly around him.
He tossed the leftovers from the dinner Beth had made him yesterday into the microwave. The smell of the homemade chicken pot pie filled the kitchen and he smiled at the memory of her bringing it over.
He had just stepped out of the shower when he heard her calling his name. He looked down at his state of undress and moved quickly to toss on some jogging pants and a t-shirt. She came down the hallway with Beau on her hip, smiling from ear to ear.
"Sorry, should have called first," she said with a giggle to her voice,
He watched her eyes scan down his body and her eyebrows lift up when she noticed he wasn't wearing underwear. He mentally kicked himself for not tossing on some boxers and for letting just the smell of her perfume made him hard.
"It's okay." He hurried down the hallway, hoping to calm down his little Dixon before he got to the kitchen.
The chicken pot pie sat on the stove with a six pack of beer. He put the beer in the fridge and took out a spoon, dipping out a corner from the casserole dish.
"I can't stay. I promised Maggie I'd do her nails for her date with Glenn tomorrow night and she's doing my nails for me." She gave him that sweet but seductive smile that made his manhood twitch.
He walked her to the door, taking Beau from her as they left the kitchen. Beau made an O with his mouth as he yawned and snuggled into his chest. He wished they could stay tonight, he had missed waking up with both of them cuddled up to him.
"Do ya think you could stay over again… soon." Daryl could feel his throat go dry as he looked into her smiling eyes.
"Yeah… sure. I was sort of hoping for a private sleepover this weekend, but we can go back and get Beau after our date if you want." She ran her eyes over him again, licking her lips as she did it.
"No… you want a date and that's what I'm gonna give you," he said as he handed Beau back to her. His mind raced to their previous conversation about birth control and he had to know if she'd gotten on the pill yet. "Beth… did ya see the doctor yet?"
She laughed slightly as she took Beau from him and watched a faint blush creep up his neck. "Yeah… yesterday. If you're thinking about re-consummated this relationship, Daryl Dixon, you'll need to make a trip from some little latex friends."
Daryl turned from her when she took Beau, leaning up against her truck. He felt the heat in his face burn down his body as the thought of being buried deep inside her again filled his mind.
"Takin' it slow… remember." He had hoped that was what she wanted, but from the way she was biting her bottom lip and undressing him with her eyes, he knew Saturday night might break his resolve.
Beth jumped in the truck, still grinning. "I remember."
He watched her back out as he waved at her and Beau. He wished he could have every night of coming home from work to her signing and a hot meal on the table. Just the idea of Beau greeting him with a laugh or a smile made his world so much brighter.
There was no doubt he had fucked up by leaving. This sweet girl that wanted nothing more than to love him and the baby he already loved more than life could be his, they could be a real family.
Thinking back to his mistake last summer, he started to think of Merle. He hadn't spoken to him since he got back to Senoia and he was eager to tell him he had a nephew.
As he piled some pot pie on a plate, he took out his phone and called his brother. It was a pleasant surprise to hear Carol on the other end, her cheery voice making him smile.
"Hey, Carol... been a while. How's Merle?" he asked as he placed a fork full of food in his mouth.
"Good. He's been wondering when you'd call, if you'd call at all. How are things in Senoia?" Carol seemed distracted, as if she were hiding something.
"Things are good. Got the cabin back in shape and got my job back at the garage. Seeing Beth again. We're going out on Saturday. Is Merle around?" Daryl needed to hear Merle's voice. His brother was a pain in the ass, but he was still his brother.
"He's not home, Daryl. He's at the bar. Don't you worry about him, not again. You've already gave up so much of your life to take care of him. I got this and trust me he'll wish he'd never left this apartment when he gets home." Carol let out an exasperated breath.
"I got a son, Carol. He's three months old. I want Merle to meet him. Call me when he's sober… okay." Daryl waited for her to answer before he ended the call.
It made him mad as hell to know the sobriety that Merle had gained because of him was easily discarded as soon as his ass had left Atlanta. Part of him wanted to drive to Atlanta and kick his ass, but it was like Carol had said… he'd spent too much of his live taking care of Merle.
He had to put all his time and effort into Beth and the baby they made together. Merle had to deal with his own shit, including having Carol kick his ass for being a dick.
Daryl shook the memory off as he finished eating his dinner. Tomorrow was their date and nothing was going to ruin his good mood.
The humidity made the morning heat cling to Daryl as he woke up from his sweet dreams of Beth. He really didn't want to wake up and lose the vision of her big blue eyes and that smile that brightened his world.
Lori had told him to come see her before he picked up Beth and to wear his best shirt and tie. He pulled out the only pair of jeans he had that didn't have holes in them, his white dress shirt and black neck tie. He only wore the tie for funerals, but hopefully it would work for a first date.
It was still early, so he made himself a pot of coffee and got out the only skillet he owned to fried up some eggs and bacon. As he flipped the eggs over, he thought about calling Beth. He was eager to hear her voice, that soft as silk southern tone that washed over him like rain on a warm Georgia day. The first thing he noticed about her was how sweet her voice was and how perfectly it matched the rest of her.
He finished his breakfast, washed up the dishes and made up the bed, just in case Beth came back over after their date. He didn't expect anything to happen tonight or any night soon, but when it did he needed to be prepared.
A quick shower later, he was dressed and ready for Mrs. Grimes' inspection. Somehow, he knew Lori would find something wrong with his attire, but for Beth he'd go through the makeover.
On his way over to the Rick's, he stopped at the pharmacy for a box of baby insurance. He grabbed the first box he came to, tossed them on the counter and chewed on his lip as the clerk rang them up. Rosita grinned back at him, remembering him from all the poker games her husband Abe had last summer. She didn't say anything as she placed them in a bag and took his money. Daryl didn't wait for his change as he darted out and back to his bike.
He parked his bike behind Lori's minivan, chuckling to himself at the thought of him driving one someday. Lori walked out on the porch with her hands on her hips.
"Not bad, Daryl. I half expected you to show up in something sleeveless," she teased him and he nodded back at her.
They walked into the kitchen where he saw a bouquet of white roses resting on the table. "Those fer Beth?"
"Yes." Lori was putting some gunk in his hair as she grinned back at him.
Rick walked through the back door, giving him a whistle. "Lookin' good."
He wiped the sweat from his face as he guzzled down the cold bottle of water. His white t-shirt and jeans were covered in grass as were his shoes. Lori frowned at him and he quickly stepped back out.
"I ain't never seen him move that fast." Daryl tried not to laugh as Lori finished grooming him.
She turned him towards the mirror in the hallway next to the kitchen and he didn't recognize the man looking back at him. With the shirt and tie and the untangled mess that was once his hair, he didn't feel like the backwoods redneck most people saw.
"I just enhanced what was already there. Beth fell in love with you Daryl, the real you. It doesn't hurt to wrap all of that in a pretty package, but remember to stay true to you." Lori handed him the roses and the note of their reservation at the Wine Bar.
Daryl didn't really know what to say. Lori had gone above and beyond what he had asked her to do. Rick had been his best friend for years, since Carl was a baby, and he'd never really taken the time to get to know his wife. That had all changed now, with this simple gesture of friendship.
"Thanks. I mean it," Daryl mumbled out as he quickly walked out of the house.
It was half past three and their dinner reservations weren't until seven. He tucked the flowers in his saddlebags before giving Beth as call. She answered on the first ring with a gleeful tone.
"Hello, Daryl. What time are you picking me up? Maggie wants to know, she's doing my hair," Beth said as she tried to take the phone back from her son.
"Right now if ya want. We have an hour drive, but we can go fer a walk in the park if ya want. I got to get my truck, but I'll be right over." He could practically see the smile she was giving him through the phone.
"Really? I've always wanted to go there." Beth was a little surprised, but she had a feeling Daryl would try to make tonight special.
Daryl rushed back to his cabin with Beth on his mind. This was his chance to prove to her he could do this, he would be here for her and Beau.
He quickly cleared all his hunting gear out of the truck, placing her flowers on the truck seat. After putting the box of condoms in his nightstand, he hauled ass over to the farm. All the times they'd been together, her meeting him at his cabin or out by the lake had never made him this nervous. He'd always worried about people finding out before, but now his anxiety was that he would disappoint her somehow.
After taking a deep breath, he climbed out of the truck with the roses in hand and made his way towards the house. Hershel greeting him with a smile as made his way up the steps.
"Didn't know you there for a second, Daryl. You clean up good." Hershel teased him a bit before he patted him on the back.
Hershel opened the screen door and motioned for him to come in. Daryl waited by the stairs for her as he pulled at his tie.
Annette walked in, sitting in the living room and picking up her yarn and needle. "Relax, Daryl. You look like you're about to bolt out the door."
"No ma'am, I'm good. Just don't want to mess up things again." Daryl kept his eyes locked on the stairs, waiting for his songbird to appear.
Maggie came down first with Beau on her hip. The little boy's face wore a smile that melted Daryl's heart. He kissed the top of his little blonde head, wishing her had more time to spend with him.
"She's almost ready." Maggie gave him a cheeky smile as she walked Beau over to his playpen.
His heart nearly stopped beating when he saw Beth walking down in her lacy white summer dress and cowgirl boots. Her hair rested over her shoulders in long flaxen waves. The mid-thigh dress let him see just enough to tease and the brow belt cinched her waist in, showing off how curvy her hips were. From the looks of the dress, she was most definitely wearing a push up bra, her humble breasts were standing at attention and made him wish they were alone.
Beth stopped on the bottom step, smiling back at him with her blue eyes scanning him. She let out a small giggle and Daryl handed her the roses.
"I didn't know you'd be wearing white. Thank you for the roses... they're beautiful." She took them, letting her nose take in their floral scent.
"Ya look... amazing." Daryl didn't know what else to say but the truth.
Beth gave Maggie the flowers and kissed Beau before she took Daryl's hand. He laced his fingers in between hers and gave her a genuine content smile.
He opened the truck door for her, noticing the large cuff bracelet on her left wrist. She knew all his scars and he knew hers. They're wasn't much of each other's past they didn't know and that made all this a little easier.
She turned on the radio as they pulled out of the drive and he finally relaxed. The sound of her singing beside him took him back to all the times she'd sung for him. The sound of her sweet voice was always a happy place from him and to hear it now made him melt into the truck seat.
They talked mostly about Beau on the way to the park. She showed him all the pictures on her phone and pulled out a few photos from her purse. Seeing those photos only made the hole in his heart rip a little wider. He had left her and in doing so, left his son.
Beth's shoulders squared up as she leaned out the window when the park came into view. The rolling green carpet of grass went on as far as the eye could see. The trees that lined the city gave Atlanta that mystical look.
There were people having picnics, jogging and riding bikes as children played nearby. She was nearly hanging out the truck when he parked it up by the walkway.
"I used to come here with Carol when she'd try to get Merle out of the house. She's got a little girl, Sophia. I'd take her to the playground sometimes." Daryl walked beside his angel in white, holding her hand as they made their way out towards the grass.
Beth's eyes burned this vibrate blue as she took in Atlanta. Daryl had never really seen the city as much, just a lot of concrete and no woods. Beth, however, drank it all in.
She pulled him out towards a bench as she sat and took off her boots. Daryl held them for her while she walked barefoot through the plush emerald grass.
"Yer a country girl, that's fer sure. You can find the beauty in anythang." He looked at her with such affection that it made her stop and look back at him.
"I see the beauty in you, Daryl Dixon." She perched up on her tip-toes and kissed him softly.
They walked over to a towering oak tree and sat down underneath it's shade. Daryl crossed his feet over as Beth sat beside him with her feet tucked under her.
A long moment passed before he spoke. "Beth."
"Hmm," she answered back with her head on his shoulder.
"How can ya forgive me so easily? I'm glad ya did, but I know I hurt ya." He leaned his cheek against her head, hoping she'd never stop loving him.
Beth lifted her head, causing him to sit up straight. She shifted around, looking him dead in the eyes as both of her small hands held one of his.
"My heart doesn't break, it bends Daryl. After Shawn, I take each moment as it is. Everyone comes into your life for a reason and sometimes they leave too soon. You came into my life to give me Beau and show me what true love is. Just like Shawn, you left me too soon. I could never hate you... I'll always be in love with you. You are the reason my heart is so strong." She stared back at him for a long moment, watching his emotions play out on his face.
Daryl lifted her hand to his lips and kissed the back of it gently. He could see her love looking back at him and in that moment he wanted nothing more than to tell her he loved her back. He licked his lips, trying to find the courage to say the words that were now bleeding from his heart.
Beth sprang up, pulling him up with her. She took her boots, slipping them back on and dusted off the back of her dress.
"It's about time for dinner," she said as she looked at the time on her phone.
Daryl turned her around to face him, pulling her into a deep kiss. His lips claimed hers with such passion, he heard her sigh.
When he released her, the words just spilled from his lips. "I love ya too, Beth Greene. Didn't know I could love until you."
She wrapped her arms around him and gave him another long, passionate kiss. A low growl rattled from his chest as she let her tongue slide over his.
His hands were buried in her long golden hair as he pulled her deeper into the kiss and his manhood threatened to burst his zipper.
"Beth... dinner." He pulled back, trying to collect himself.
She sucked in her bottom lip as she took several deep breathes. Beth swallowed hard as her heartbeat returned to normal. The white lacy panties she was wearing were slightly damp, which caused her to blush.
Daryl gave her a crooked grin as he took her hand and they walked back to the truck. They had a heat, a chemistry that always erupted when they let their primal nature take over.
Tonight wasn't about heated kisses and wandering hands, it was about reconnecting and Daryl was going to make sure Beth's elastic heart never had to bend again.
Thanks for the reviews, follows and favorites. The date continues in the next chapter and there will be sparks. Much love and Bethyl on!