This was going to be a happy, cute chapter, and then the doctor's office called me and woke me up from my nap, so now I'm groggy and grumpy (they're giving a person with a phobia of needles a blood test). If I kill anyone off at this point I apologise but you know why….
Daryl woke up early, the shuffling sounds of Judith were turning into small whimpers. As to not disturb Beth, he quietly rolled away, moving her hand off of his own. He picked up a fussy Judith, wrapping her little blanket around her and bounced her slightly like Beth did. He was little rough and not a smooth as her, but Judith groggily just yawned, rubbing her tired eyes. Looking around the room Daryl could see a restful Beth, her blonde hair was splayed across the entire length of the pillow. She was very obviously biased to his side of the bed, where she had fallen asleep.
Little eyelashes were fluttering closed again, the attention she wanted had been given. Daryl smirked, this little girl was going to be so spoiled with attention. He gently moved Beth's arm to slip Judith underneath. Judy went straight to snuggling her cold face against Beth's warm shoulder. Instinctively Beth held her a bit closer. The two of them together were really something.
He left then. Sneaking s=down the stairs to the kitchen. It was still dark outside but Michonne was sat at the window. She nodded at him, before going back to her watch. They were happy to sit together in companionship, muttering ideas of plans to each other. This place was great, and homely. Good for the groups esteem, but it was too small for them all, particularly if Kenneth stayed long or the rest of the prison filtered through. It was weeks later, it was unlikely. Besides it was spring now, the perfect time to try and go to find someone else. Nearer to amenities but away from potential other groups or herds. Somewhere secure was going to be a godsend. Somewhere like the prison was an unrealistic expectation, but it's the kind of thing that they needed.
The sun rose lethargically, shining in the open window. Soon the others would drift in, position themselves around the table and start pointless morning conversations until Beth brought them coffee. They could do it themselves of course, but she glared at anyone who tried, liking to have some sort of functional routine.
Sure enough, Beth came down after a disgruntled Sasha, who put her head in her hands and dozed off, dribbling on the table. Beth had Judith in her arms, both still dressed in pyjamas. Without asking or looking for any indication, Beth placed Judith on Daryl's lap. He watched her walk away, her pale legs exposed in a large t-shirt that fell mid-thigh. It hung off her small frame, sticking slightly at the hips and chest. He wondered if anyone else saw how frustratingly effortless her beauty was. Having Judith brought back a rosiness he hadn't seen since the prison, and it seemed knowing she was alive was enough to keep a hint of a smile at her lips.
She softly went into singing under her breath, fussing around with cardboard cereal and mashing fruit chunks for Judith. The small kettle whistled quietly with her, as she set up all the cups with the right amount of coffee and sugar. They all had it black now.
Kenneth headed down the stairs, his back clicked when he stretched, but he rest a level of energy he hadn't in a while. He was still tired, but his energy reserved were recharged at least, hopefully he could remain a few more days until he was set up to go. Looking into the kitchen he saw the blonde running around, she saw him and smiled holding up a coffee cup in one hand and sugar in the other. He held one finger at her, before helping carry the mugs to the table. He managed to have them taken off him to be placed in front of their appropriate owners, she smiled nicely at him, but still he felt a bit embarrassed.
Looking down he saw Daryl sat against the wall. His legs were outstretched, Judith on his legs. He was pretending to let her fall before catching her with soft reflexes, she giggled, holding her hands around his finger, leaning back to suspend herself. The child looked at him, and smiled and dribbley smile. Beth settled a mug next to Daryl, he noticed it was slightly fuller than the others.
Judith looked at Beth expectantly, Beth only tilted her head at her clearly asking 'what?'. Judith let one hand go of Daryl to reach upward. She almost let herself slip to the boiling coffee, but Daryl was too quick at scooping her up and settling her more securely. Still Judith's hands reached for Beth, she gently placed her hands under the baby's arms lifting her and spinning her. Daryl got himself up, understanding Beth's coded layout for breakfast, settling the right old cereals to the right person. It was a strange world where you could pick what you liked.
Breakfast ended with the conclusion of jobs. Kenneth's leg muscles were burning with every step from their overuse, and he wasn't as young as he had been once. Daryl was keen to get out and start hunting, the pressure of extra members was resting on him. Likewise Sasha and Tyresse wanted to go back to the store to pick up the rest of the food they never got to scavenge after the Judith debacle. There might also be some useful stuff in the cars, so they headed out together. Michonne was checking the area, eradicating the threat of any stumbling walkers and seeing for signs of the others. She headed out with Daryl, not before he slipped a small gun down the waist line of her shorts.
Beth helped Kenneth to living room, to the sofa Daryl had been on when they first arrived. She shook her head of the thought. It had been moved during Daryl's absence to the window, so you could watch out the window and see anyone approaching. The small task felt better than doing nothing, but Beth made a small pile of books next to him too. Just in case.
He didn't read them, instead he covertly watched her play with Judith, helping her support herself onto her feet and try a few steps. After every few supported steps, Beth blew raspberries on her stomach so the little girl giggled. She reminded him of him wife somewhat, that youthful love over a chid they should have waited years to have. But they had managed, he got a job that just about supported them and he still got major holidays off. The stress wasn't even remembered now, why had he spent so much time worrying about it? Kenneth closed his eyes, listening to the baby imagining it was Lilian and Lola. It was a dull ache of recognition that he had lost them, they were different now. But his little boy was at total peace, up there with God. He had never been a strictly religious man, but he felt the need to be now.
Out in the woods, Daryl was walking with Michonne, they would split their ways when they got to the road. But for now they trudged along, hyperaware of their surroundings. If you're stuck in the woods in an apocalypse and you're already a redneck badass with a crossbow, the only partner you need is a woman with a katana.
They reached the road the road slowly. Turning to leave Michonne looked at Daryl, her rare real smile.
''Don't hunt too long, daddy.'' She walked off silently, leaving Daryl's humoured and puzzled face behind. She hadn't expected to see Daryl ease into this role so easily, he was really becoming a pseudo-Rick, without the dead wife delusions. She could see right through him, having spent long periods of time on watch together and on runs. He was one of the people she could stand to talk to, not the way she liked talking to Beth, but they had alike minds. And alike minds can bounce off each other to find the best solution, it had saved their lives before. It had brought them this home.
Michonne loved what they had, but she was never one to be able to stay cooped up inside with Beth, who even when silent had her own way of expressing things. She had let her mope around for a few hours each day, then forced her to do some trivial task. Her eyes shined with the need to do something, and it was obvious that even sharpening everyone else's knives or alphabetising the list of books on the shelf. Beth had seemed hopelessly lost without Daryl, she wondered if she noticed it in herself. At night Michonne often had to duck flying limbs before being nuzzled like mother hen. Personally, she found it hilarious that the two of them gave what the other lacked.
No signs were found of any fresh tracks, sighing Michonne told the group over squirrel stew that most likely she would have to head back to the prison and they could track from there. She would need Daryl for a few days or weeks, perhaps even taking the whole group in pursuit. There was no one way of doing things.
Beth resigned herself upstairs to sort out the bed situation, now they had time to worry about it. Tyresse and Sasha were happy to continue sharing the twin room, inviting Michonne to take the air mattress on the floor between them. Daryl had made a joke about a samurai sword and an air bed and been punched. Silently it was acknowledged that Daryl and Beth were happy to share, since no one else stopped her screaming and lashing out at the bed partner. Judith was a simple case. Kenneth had taken the baby's room, so the crib was being folded away and lent flat against the wall in the operation-dining room downstairs. There was still little room, but a makeshift bed and if she could just clear out a few of these draws for him.
Downstairs Sasha was playing aunty, making Judith play peek-a-boo and hitting Tyresse to when she didn't get a girl. Tyresse complained about his sister pinches and slaps but they and Judith expel baby words. Kenneth looked across, Daryl was nursing a partially drunk bottle of boiled water and fruit juice, Beth was adamant Judith would have no germs at all. Suddenly there was a loud squeak from upstairs and the noise of a door being frantically pulled open.
Everyone was up and running into the hallway, as Beth tripped down the last few steps in haste. Daryl pulled her up before she face planted, she moved like a little doll. The smile indicated she was safe, but they all looked at her like she was insane. In retaliation to the question, Beth held up a woman's hand bag, reaching inside and pulling out a packet of tic-tacs. Kenneth smirked as Sasha and Tyresse went into full laughing mode, making Judith giggle in ignorance. Michonne made a grab for the box and ran into the living room, Daryl felt coolness of Beth leaving him. He hadn't noticed he had still been holding her up against him.
In the living room Beth tried to tackle Michonne, who in fairness to her was playing easy, but still flipped them over, pinning Beth's body with her strong legs. Michonne took out a tic-tac putting it in her mouth and making an exaggerated noise of pleasure. Beth's arms reached up but Michonne kept them just out of her reach. They were like children. Michonne took another, making the same noise and Beth pouted still struggling. Tyresse and sasha at this point were on the sofa holding their sides, it was about time they had a reason to go into a giggle fit. After a good five miutes of the others letting eth be sat on, as they went back to small talk, ignoring small grunts on the background, daryl walked over. He was strong and swift enough to lift an unsuspecting Michonne off Beth, she was laughing too much to tighten her legs.
''Unfair Dixon, let the girl fight her own battles.'' There was no malice in her voice, instead she leant down to grab Beth's hands and pull her up. Making an 'o' mouth at Beth, the girl caught on and opened her mouth, Michonne slipped in a tic-tac to a smug Beth. She then slapped her ass as she walked away, Beth spun around with a red face. Daryl raised an eyebrow at Michonne, who only laughed at both their faces. Teasing was just so much fun.
The two took exactly 73 seconds to become giggling school girls again at the discovery of an iPod. Beth, with shaky hand, pulled out the device flicking it to play any music. An old cringy hot chocolate song, which both Michonne and Beth were all too happy to start dancing badly to. Everyone but Daryl, who took the baby as a shield, got up to sing and dance. Song after song until the battery was dead, he watched her singing along and laughing, her feet never still. Rather than show her age, it gave a glimpse the personality of Beth, the one that peaked through sometimes. But everyone had to let their past farm girl shine through, and it warmed all their hearts.
Beth was drunk on the high of dancing and laughter, a combination she rarely got to experience anymore. Her body was buzzing as she changed into some pyjamas, opening the door wide when Daryl knocked to make sure she was decent to his un-expectant face. There was some inexplicable force behind her. So taking advantage of surprise Beth leant up and kissed Daryl.
And after a moment he kissed back.
Ok so there we're done, ooh what's gonna happen?! xxx