A/N: Finally Chapter 10! Thanks to all who reviewed on the last chapter:) You guys are the reason I continue to write! So thanks again! I got this out faster than I expected! Hope you enjoy it!

M Rated

Disclaimer: I do not own the Walking Dead or its characters.

Lose To Win - Chapter 10

*A week later*

Rick finally got the tubes out and everything after that was gonna be time for healing. He would stay on the medication to ease any pains he would have. But other than that, he was free to go.

"I can't believe I'm leaving. I'm gonna need something decent to wear. I have nothing decent." Rick says.

"That's okay. We'll find you something." Beth says placing the beanie she bought some time ago on his head. "We'll go shopping."

"Ugh. Well can I sit in the car?" Rick asks.

"No! It'll be good for you to walk." Beth says. Rick rolls his eyes. "You've been such a grumpy pants lately."

"Because I'm on my period. Duh. I would think you of all people would understand that." Rick says all too seriously. Beth giggles.

"You are absolutely too much for me." Beth says. "But you're cute." Beth kisses him softly. He smirks.

"Tell me something I don't know." Beth slaps him on the arm playfully. He chuckles and stands up. "It feels good to be in normal clothing. The hospital gown makes me look sick." Beth slaps him on the arm again.

"You have terrible humor..." she tells him. He smiles.

"Yep." he says shrugging.

"Carl texted me earlier and said he wanted us to meet his girlfriend today. So after we shop for you some clothes, we're gonna go to their house for a bit. Whaddaya say?" Beth says looking up at him, realizing how tall he was compared to her.

"I say no." Rick says shaking his head.

"Rick." Beth says pouting. "Why?"

"Because. I don't wanna. You know how awkward that's gonna be?" Rick asks.

"It won't be awkward if you don't make it awkward!" Beth exclaims.

"Yeah yeah. I hear ya." Rick says looking at Beth in a nonchalant way.

"Why must you be so difficult?" she asks, rolling her eyes.

"Why must you be so cute when you're annoyed by me?" Rick asks slyly grinning. "You shouldn't take anything I say seriously, baby."

Baby? That was the first time he's called her by some cute endearing nickname. Well a more serious one. She couldn't help but squeal inwardly. Its not really that huge of a deal, but Beth loved small things like that.

"I'm starting to learn that." Beth says, still blushing from that little word. He swiped her cheek briefly with his thumb, letting her know he could see her blush. She blushes even more.

"Good. So uh, are we free to go?" Rick asks her.

"Yeah but we have to go get your meds first from your pharmacy." Beth says. Rick nods.

*In Beth's Car*

"Feels so weird to be in a car. I haven't been in one in 4 years. This is all... new looking." Rick says running his fingers over the dashboard and radio. Beth smiles. "What kind of car is this?"

"BMW M6 Gran Coupe. My father bought it for me when I graduated college." Beth tells him.

"Sweet." Rick says smiling.

"Do you wanna drive?" Beth asks with a smirk.

"Hell no. It's been too long. I don't trust myself." he says.

"I trust you." Beth says shrugging.

"Nope..." Rick says.

"Well I guess we're just gonna sit here in the parking lot then." Beth says crossing her arms.

"Fine." Rick says getting out and going to the drivers side. Beth's smirk grew as she got out and went to the other side. "I don't even know where to go."

"Yeah you do. It's your pharmacy." Beth says casually.

"But I never actually went and got medicine from there. Lori would always do that." Rick says. Beth rolls her eyes.

"Okay. I'll show you then."

"If I wreck your car, I'm leaving the country." Rick says.

"You're not gonna wreck it. Pull out." Beth instructs him. He sighs and backs out of the parking space. He goes to exit the parking lot. "Take a left and just go straight. I'll tell you when the next turn is."

"Okay." Rick says nervously.

"Just calm down. It's literally three minutes from here." she says.

"Three minutes too long." he says.

"You'll be fine." Beth tells him.

Eventually, they arrived at the pharmacy, unscathed. Rick wasn't at all a bad driver.

Rick turns the car off and settles his hands into his lap and breathes out a nervous sigh.

"You okay?" Beth asks him. He nods. "You gonna get out?" He shakes his head.

"I just really don't want to get out looking like this." Rick asks. Beth scrunched her eyebrows.

"Looking like what?" she asks.

"Like, I have leukemia." Rick says.

"Well you do Rick. That's nothing to be ashamed of. It's nothing you can do about it but embrace it. And plus you have on the beanie, I doubt anyone will really pay it much attention." Beth says.

"They will... When I- when I snuck out of the hospital on Valentine's Day, to buy you all gifts, they did." he says.

"You snuck out of the hospital on Valentine's Day?!" Beth asks in shock. Rick shook his head.

"It doesn't matter. It's long gone. I just can't get the stares from that day out of my head." he says. "Makes me feel like I'm a monster or disgusting or something."

Beth smiles.

"Well you know you're far from that. Perhaps they're just curious about you? It doesn't matter. Just smile and ignore the stares okay? I can hold your hand?" Beth suggests. Rick shook his head.

"I really don't want to, Beth. Next time? I promise I'll be okay to go in next time." Rick says gently. Beth nods.

"Okay." she says with a small smile. She leans over and kisses his cheek then exits the car.

She walks into the pharmacy, taking the paper with the prescription order on it with her. While she's waiting in the line, she spots Lori on the skin care aisle. She steps out of line to go speak to her.

"Hi Lori. Remember me? From the hospital. Rick's gir-"

"I know who you are." Lori says rolling her eyes slightly.

"Oh. Well I've just come to say-"

"Listen here, Beth. I don't know where you got the idea that I liked you but I don't. All that yesterday was just a show. Shane didn't want me to get out of line in front of his... former best friend. It's the least I could do." she says shrugging. Beth nods then crosses her arms.

"Why don't you like me?" Beth struggled to hold back what she really wanted to say.

"Why would I?" she asks.

"Because I haven't done anything to you." Beth says.

"You didn't have to do anything for me to realize I don't like you." Lori says.

Beth looks away, amused. Trying her best to not hit the bitch.

For one, she was standing there, telling her that she didn't like her. Two, she had no reason for it. This whole exchange was beyond her right about now. She didn't understand it.

Or maybe she did.

"Is it because I'm with Rick?" Beth asks. "Is it because I make him happy?" Lori chuckled.

"Not at all. I have the man I want. I don't want Rick. He's worthless. He could never do right in our marriage. Then he got sick. Became even more worthless. I don't see why you're with him." Lori says amused.

"Because he's an amazing guy who does his best to make people happy. Sick or not. And I feel sorry for you that he could never show you that side of him." Beth tells her. Lori rolls her eyes.

"Guess what? I don't care. I don't want him either way. And I still don't like you." Lori says.

"Well... Are you gonna tell me why?" she asks running her fingers through her hair.

"You think you're good for them. You think you can just replace me. I'm still Carl's mother and just because you're... young, doesn't mean Rick will marry you." Lori tells her.

"Who said anything about any of that?" Beth says.

"I did." Lori says glaring.

"Oh. I see. You're jealous of me." Lori looks at her in disbelief. "Because Carl likes me and he doesn't really like you. But that's on you because you gave him up-"

"Ha. Not even close."

"And because I'm younger than you... And more attractive than you. And I make Rick happy. And that intimidates you doesn't it?" Beth asks. Lori grits her teeth.

"Not. At. All. And I don't have time to deal with this. I already have a husband and a son waiting on me at home. Good bye... Beth." Lori says leaving.

Beth shakes her head. Once she goes back to the line, there was only one person in it. So thankfully, she wouldn't be in the area much longer.

*Back in the car*

"I saw Lori come out of there." Rick says looking at Beth with a look of concern.

"Yeah. I saw her." Beth tells him.

"Did she say anything to you?" Rick asks. Beth fake smiles.

"It doesn't matter right now. But I'll tell you later. I promise." she tells him.

"Okay." he simply says, reading her face perfectly, knowing she didn't want to talk about it now.

"To the mall?" Beth asks changing subjects. He smiles and nods.

"And I'll go in this time." Rick says.

Once they finished shopping for Rick a few outfits, some underwear and socks, they headed back to Beth's apartment.

No one was there considering Maggie and Gracie had left because Glenn was no longer on his business trip and Gracie really missed him. And Tara had to work today. They had the apartment to themselves and some time to get ready to go see Carl and Enid. They were going to meet them in about 3 hours.

"Your apartment is really nice." Rick says. Beth smiles.

"Thanks." she says.

"Where's our bedroom?" Rick jokes. Beth giggles and walks down the wide hallway to the main bedroom.

"Here." Beth says. "And you can put your new things in the closet over there. Should be more than enough space for your things too."

"Sweet." Rick says opening the closet, hanging up all of his outfits at once, since they all had hangers.

"And I've made a drawer in my dresser specifically for your socks and underwear." Beth says pulling out a drawer for him to place his socks and underwear. He walks over and throws them in. Beth giggles. "You have no idea what organization is, do you?"

"Nope." Rick says.

"Well that's who you are so I'll let it stay that way. As long it doesn't interfere with my things." Beth says with a soft smile. Rick grins and flops on Beth's bed.

"This feels so nice." Rick says. "So much better than the hospital bed."

"I hope you don't have to go back for a long time." she says truthfully. He sighs.

"Well, that's 99.9 percent inevitable. Unfortunately." he says standing up walking towards her.

"You never know." Beth says in some sort of denial. Rick sighs, takes her hands, and brings them to his chest.

"I'm really sick, babe. I'm gonna have to go back sometime. This leukemia is just really unpredictable. One day I can be perfectly fine, and in a snap I can be back at the hospital... or worse." he tells her. Beth ignores the last part.

"Or one day, you'll wake up and won't be sick anymore. You'll be 100 percent healthy." Beth says optimistically. Rick chuckles.

"I like your positive thinking." he says smiling. "But I'd need top notch medical care to even think about that."

"And I can give you that, Rick." Beth says biting her bottom lip, hopefully.

"No, Beth. I will not ask you to do that." he says.

"But I want to do that." Beth tells him.

"But I won't allow you to do that." Rick says. "Let things take their course." He smiles and kisses her head.

"And things will be taking their course. I'm here for a reason and you're here for a reason and I have the money to help you and I want to help you because I care about you!" Beth says.

"Okay. Okay. But how about we don't worry about that right now. We'll talk about it later, kay? Promise." he says calmly with a smile.

What if there is no later... He couldn't promise that to her, so why did he?

"Okay." Beth says.

How was he just able to live without a worry about his life?... It seemed it was too easy for him to let go of this life. Beth felt the opposite. She cared about him way too much to just let him go that easily. He needed to let her help him get better. Even if he wasn't cured, she could help him get better treatment. To postpone... things.

"So, want to talk about what happened in the pharmacy?" Rick asks.

"I guess I don't mind." she says. Rick nods for her to continue. "She actually hates me. Her attitude was completely different from yesterday. Turns out, she was only being nice because Shane wanted her too. She said I couldn't replace her and basically that me being young didn't mean anything. But thing is, I never thought about any of that. And replacing her was never my intention."

"Wow. Yeah. That's- wow." Rick says scoffing. "Just when I thought she had a change of heart. It's okay though. I wouldn't worry about it too much if I were you."

"Yeah I'm not. It just kind of bothers me. Some of the other things she said." Beth tells him.

"Care to share or?"

"No. It's not important." she says.

"It is if it bothers you." Rick tells her.

"I promise it's okay." she smiles. He wraps his arms around her and buries his face into her neck. She could hear and feel him sigh ever so softly.

She feared making him feel worse than he was already feeling. She didn't want to tell him Lori thought he was worthless. He was insecure about enough already. Beth just wanted to make him happy.

Rick was a good man. He didn't deserve anything less.

"You're really amazing, you know that?" Beth says looking up at him. He smiles.

"Nah. That's you." he says. He takes off his beanie and rubs his head. "For seeing past this."

"Seeing past what?" Beth asks grinning.

"Ahh." Rick chuckles and puts his beanie back on. He then puts his hands lower, to her tiny waist and squeezes there slightly. She puts both her hands on either side of his face. She caresses his cheeks with her thumbs. He turns his head to kiss her thumb. She smiles softly. He leans closer. They were having a moment they had never had before. Because it was just easier to be themselves when they weren't surrounded by four boring white walls. She tilted her head upwards and let his lips capture hers in a slow and tantalizing kiss.

She practically melted in his arms and her knees went weak as he slips his tongue into her mouth. She outwardly squeals as she didn't expect it. Rick grins in the kiss at Beth's reaction. Feeling pretty confident he's never had a woman react this way. Not with Lori or even before her. And he loved it.

He slips his hands under the back of her shirt, just to feel her skin. He could only imagine how other parts of her body would feel... But he stopped himself. He didn't want to move too far too fast. He wanted to save that for another day.

If he got that chance.

He slowly breaks the kiss while his arms remained around her.

Beth put her head down, with her forehead against Rick's chest. He knew she was blushing. So she wouldn't look at him just yet. She needed to recover from the most intense kiss they've had yet. Rick smirked knowing this.

"You're so cute when you blush, you know that?" he asks her, probably making her blush even more. She giggles.

"Stop it." she mumbles in his chest. He chuckles.

A couple of minutes pass and she stays there... enjoying the vibrations from his chest. Hearing his heart beat. Praying it wouldn't stop, not even for a minute.

*3 hours later*

Rick and Beth stand at Carl and Enid front door, seconds after knocking. Rick rolls his eyes after Beth glares at him for taking so long to knock.

He was gonna get to know his son obviously but he already knew it'd be awkward to see him and his pregnant girlfriend. Actually together... Being close... and other things. But he braced himself.

The door opens and an older woman, probably in her forties is standing there. She was brunette with hazel green eyes and her face was quite ageless considering how old she may have been.

"Hi, you must be Carl's father, Rick!" the woman says shaking Rick's hand then she looks to Beth. "And you must be Beth! Carl loves you. Oh! I'm Marci. Enid's mother." Rick and Beth nods.

"Nice to meet you." they say simultaneously.

"Cmon in!" Marci says with a big smile on her face. They walked in as Rick lets out a nervous cough. Beth discreetly elbows him in his arm. "Carl and Enid are in the kitchen."

"Oh boy." Rick mumbles. Beth glares at him once again. He nods at her, understanding.

They walk into the kitchen and are greeted with Carl standing behind Enid, massaging her shoulders. Rick cringes slightly but Beth goes forward before anyone notices Rick.

"Hi, I'm Beth. You must be Enid." Beth says sweetly. Enid smiles shyly.

"Yes. Nice to meet you." Enid says then looks to Rick. "And you're Rick? I mean, Mr-"

"Call me Rick." he says with a forced smile. She and Beth smile in relief.

"Nice to finally meet you. Carl's been searching hard for his biological parents. I'm glad he's found you." Enid says. Rick actually smiles from his heart this time.

"Me too." he says.

"And I'm glad Carson will have a grandfather." Enid says excitedly, stroking her stomach. Rick gulps.

"Yeah. Me too. Excited to be a... grandfather." Rick says awkwardly, clearing his throat a bit. "Sorry can I have a cup of water?"

"Most definitely." Marci says. "I heard you cough earlier. I knew you needed some." Marci winks knowingly. "Don't ever be afraid to ask for anything around here." Rick nods slightly and Beth just giggles.

Rick Grimes was something else.

So that's it for this chapter! Drama, fluff, & humor filled! Please review and tell me what you think! Let me know if it's completely terrible or really good. I feed off of reviews! I know a few of you will have some words for Lori. Haha. Review away, loves. Until next time!