A/N Thank you all so much, golly gee you're a swell bunch! It seems the Honeymoon was a success for our couple, let's see how the first few days of married life play out. I wonder if we'll run into Daddy and Mama :)
As you read this keep in mind we're in 1958, things were different in many ways. Women's lib wasn't even a spec on the horizon, and men's and women's roles were clearly defined.
Daryl didn't have to be back at work until Thursday morning so they stayed in the little bungalow until check out time on Wednesday. The only time they left was to go in search of something to eat, all that "exercising" worked up an appetite.
She cuddled up as close as she could get to him for the ride home. "Gosh Daryl I can't believe I'm going to be living at your house." She kind of giggled when she said it.
"I s'pose it ain't my house anymore Cream Puff, now we're married that makes it our house. I guess you'll wanna be makin' it more girlie, huh?" He arched a brow in her direction.
"Well golly I don't know, I guess I hadn't even thought about that. But well gee, yes maybe." She was a little shy about telling him she'd very much like to give it a bit of a feminine touch.
"Cassandra sure did go about fixin' up their trailer when she moved in with Merle. Course his place did look rough, Merle ain't very domesticated. She done him a favor."
"Would you get mad at me if I did change a few things maybe just a little?"
"Nah I don't care whatever ya want it's yer house too, well as long as ya don't go makin' everythin' all pink colored. An check with me if I got the money for whatever it is ya want, we're gonna have ta figure out a budget. I'm tryin' ta pay the note off on the house quick as I can so I kinda keep an eye on money."
"Well I have my savings I can spend for decorations and on Monday I'll be starting back to work at Ripley's."
He looked over at her with his brow furrowed. "We're married now ya ain't s'pose ta be workin'. Folks are gonna think I can't take care of ya."
"Well gee whiz Daryl I can't just stay home all day, what would I do?"
"Fuck I dunno. Whatever the hell it is wives do I guess."
"Well golly that's just it I don't know either. I mean it seems like I could keep the house up and cook for you, and still have time to work. And I could use the money I make to help pay for the house and buy groceries and things."
"Nah, ain't gonna be like that. Ya can't be payin' for that stuff Beth, that's my job. What're ya thinkin'? I ain't capable a takin' care a ya?" He sounded a little angry now.
"No Daryl that's not it at all. It's just that gosh I could help a little." And by the sound of her voice quivering he was afraid she was going to cry. He couldn't have that.
"Lemme think on it. We can talk more 'bout it when we get home, k?"
"Yes Daryl."
He could hardly wait to change the subject. "Thought maybe we'd just go ta the diner when we get back ta town, have dinner there. Tomorrow I'll leave ya the truck ta use an money for the grocery an whatever ya need."
"Well gee willikers Daryl, are you sure you trust me to drive this? I know it's your pride and joy and gosh, what if something happens?"
"Nah Cream Puff yer my pride n joy, an if sumthin' happens make sure it don't happen ta you." And with that she cuddled even closer.
They didn't take long at the diner, they were both anxious to get home to what was now their house. She smiled at him, "If it's okay I can put my things away tomorrow while you're at work. I'd rather spend the evening with you."
"Course its' okay." They sat cuddled on the sofa watching Ozzie and Harriet and when it ended he said, "K I been thinkin' on it an I decided 'bout ya workin'."
She was nervous, she'd do what he decided because he was her husband now, but she hoped he'd give in.
"I ain't happy with the idea a you workin', but I ain't wantin' ta be mean to ya Beth. I say as long as there's no trouble, an yer able ta keep up with both the workin' an bein' a wife, I'll go along. At least for a while n see what comes. But ya ain't spendin' money on things that're my responsibility. You can save, or ya can buy decorations or whatever the hell like that. But I'm the man a the family Beth, I pay for the house and food and such as that. An I want ya here with me in the mornin' an here at night when I come home. That's how it's s'pose ta be."
She threw her arms around his neck and held him tight, "Thank you Daryl, you're the best husband in the whole world."
And that started it, before they knew it they were in the bedroom, their bedroom. They'd grown a bit more confident with each other, each knowing a little something more now about what the other liked, the way they wanted to be touched, the things they liked to hear and to say. And they'd agreed the more they learned, the more they enjoyed each other. And the more they learned the more they knew there was plenty more to learn.
They looked forward to that learning.
xxxx
She found grits and some eggs to fix him breakfast and some bologna and an apple to make his lunch. "I'm sorry things are a little skimpy but I'll go shopping this morning."
"This is real good right here girl, more'n I'd do for myself. An just so ya know, if yer gonna be back workin' at Ripley's next week I'ma be there for lunches. Ya ain't gotta pack me one."
She smiled, "Oh good, okay." But she also got the feeling he'd be keeping a real close eye on Ripley's.
When he left she re checked the cabinets and the refrigerator to see what there was. She decided on some dinner menus and things for his breakfast and staples they'd need. And then she made her list. She'd done this same thing with Mama many times so she knew what to do.
He'd left her a small fortune in grocery money, $40.00. That would buy some pretty fancy foods. She'd show him how she could get by with much less, he'd be proud.
He got to work and checked his tools and his job list, and he found himself automatically looking down the street for her at 7:45. He almost laughed and wondered how many years he'd have that habit.
Then he saw Rick drive up, step from his car and start walking over. "Hey Daryl, ya got a minute?"
"Yeah sure." He stepped out to the sidewalk wiping his hands on a red shop rag. "Whaddya need?"
And Rick proceeded to tell him about the phone call from Hershel Greene. Daryl shrugged, "I'da done the whole thing proper Rick but damn, those folks wouldn't even talk ta me, acted like I's the scum a the earth."
"Yeah I know I could tell when I was talkin' ta him his doesn't wanna reason. I just thought I'd fill ya in on what happened. It's up ta you n Beth what ya do. You guys are legal and there ain't anything I need to get involved in." He clapped Daryl on the back, "Good luck man."
"Yeah, shit thanks."
The little truck was a lot different than any vehicle she'd ever driven and she was pretty darn nervous driving it. Especially because she knew how much he loved it and all the hard work he'd put in it. But she got to the store and got it safely parked.
She was looking forward to cooking for Daryl. He loved to eat she knew that for certain, and she was anxious to show him what a good cook she was. She knew he had simple tastes and liked down home cooking best, so that's what she planned to make for him. She followed her list and got everything she needed.
The box boy had just loaded her grocery sacks in the truck for her when Sally came over, "Beth oh my gosh…"
And Sally said something to her she couldn't quite believe; something she'd never even thought about. And even though she'd denied it she knew Sally wasn't convinced. Oh my golly was everybody in town talking about this?"
She was so upset that when she went to pull the little truck out of the parking place she gave it too much gas, it lurched and she hit the lamp post. She was crying so hard now she almost didn't make it home.
She was so scared, certain he'd be angry with her. The bumper was dented and scratched, not real bad but it was bad enough. She got the groceries in the kitchen and put away, and locked the little truck safely back in the garage.
She emptied her suitcases and put her things away and then she lay down on the bed and cried her eyes out. Then she cleaned everything that needed to be cleaned, laid back on the bed and cried her eyes out.
Then she baked cookies for her husband.
And then she sniffled while she mixed the meatloaf ingredients for his dinner.
Maybe a good dinner would help, maybe he wouldn't be so angry with her.
She was making something she was sure he'd like, meatloaf with mashed potatoes and collard greens. And she'd made a double batch of chocolate chip cookies. She'd bought enough groceries for a week and she still had $20.00 of the grocery money left. Maybe all these things would help, maybe he could forgive her.
But then there was that stuff Sally had said to her.
She put the meatloaf in the oven, set the timer, and lay back on the bed and cried some more.
She'd tried her best to fix herself up before he got home, but she'd cried so much her eyes were red rimmed and swollen. And she was worried her nose looked like Rudolph's.
The table was all set, she'd tried to do everything just right. She was going to wait until he had a full stomach and was content, then she'd tell him the bad news.
But what happened was, her husband came in the back door took one look at her and asked, "Is sumthin' wrong Cream Puff?"
And that was all it took, she threw herself into his arms and for what must have been the tenth time that day she burst into tears. "What? What the hell Beth, someone die?"
He was worried and confused. He took her face in his hands, "Calm down girl, tell me what the fuck." And he drew her back into him, holding her tight. He was thinking maybe it was her Mama or Daddy had died. Shit, what else could it be to have her this upset?
She pulled away then, got in the refrigerator and handed him a beer. He was getting more confused. "Let's go sit girl, maybe ya can calm down enough ta talk."
She finally caught her breath and she told him how the day had gone. He was wondering why he had to hear about the grocery list and the menus and all that shit, but he wasn't interrupting, he just drank his beer and let her go on.
Then she told him about how Sally had come up to her in the parking lot of the market. "And Daryl I thought she was just congratulating me because we got married, but then she asked me, 'When is the baby due' and I told her there wasn't a baby. That we just wanted to get married and we did. And she laughed at me and said, 'oh don't you lie to me Beth, the only reason people elope is because the girl is pregnant. Everyone knows that.' Oh Daryl people think I did that with you without being married." And fuck if she didn't start bawling again.
So that was when Daryl Dixon got his first lesson on how different guys and gals really are. He'd heard that same shit from the guys at Dirty's all day long, in a far more crude way. He'd just told those boys to go fuck themselves. He didn't care what they thought, he knew the real deal. Well that and Merle had stepped in, "Y'all apparently ain't familiar with Little Brother's wife. Ain't no way that girl was givin' up the sweet stuff til the boy married her." And they'd all had a real good laugh on that.
"Beth, Cream Puff, now ya gotta think 'bout this. When ya ain't lookin' pregnant any time soon they're all gonna know they was wrong. Don't ya worry 'bout it now. Ya know the truth, I know the truth. Fuck them people." He thought that would be the end of it. And he was starving, he could smell that dinner and he wanted to get to it.
But fuck if she didn't burst into tears all over again, now what? "What is it girl, sumthin' else happen?"
She could barely choke the words out but she told him the story about the truck, the post and the bumper. He took a deep breath, "Alright, let's go have a look at it."
He checked the bumper, "Shit girl, that ain't nuthin', I'll get that all buffed out on Saturday. Then we'll take a little ride and I'll show ya some tips 'bout driving this ancient beast. It's my fault I shoulda done that a long time ago. Now ya look at me Beth," And again he took her face in his hands, "if ya wrecked the fuckin' thing I might miss it a lot, but as long as you was alright it'd all be okay. I ain't gonna get mean with ya cuz ya had a little accident. Shit, don't think a me like that, like I'm some kinda asshole that's gonna get mean with ya over everythin', k?"
And she moved to hug him, and she had her arms wrapped around him just as tight as they'd go. "Okay, thank you Daryl, I love you so much."
"I love you too Cream Puff. Can I eat my supper now? I'm starvin'." He wasn't used to coming home to anything more than a cold beer, definitely not all these tears and drama.
And finally she smiled when she saw the way her husband put that food right down. "This here might be the best supper I ever ate girl." And he smiled at her just before he shoveled in his next bite of mashed potatoes. He meant what he'd said but he'd already learned something real important, if it had been the worst fucking thing he ever ate he'd still tell her it was good, he'd endured just about all the crying a man could take for one evening.
"Now don't get all hurt or nuthin', just gonna let ya know sumthin', k?"
She took a deep breath, "Yes, okay."
"I usually like ta come home, drink a beer n then get a shower, then eat." He gave her that small crooked grin while he was munching on a chocolate chip cookie, and him teasing her? Well things in her world were so much better.
She was cleaning up the kitchen while he showered and she was a little surprised when he walked in wearing nothing but his shorts. He came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist and when he started kissing and sucking softly on her neck, she knew she wasn't going to be doing any more dishes that night.
xxxx
Friday morning he woke to the smell of sausage cooking and he smiled, she was spoiling him and he didn't mind at all. He was going to have to think of a way to spoil her back.
He got dressed and went to the kitchen, she was all dressed for the day and looking cute as a button. Her hair was up in that ponytail with the little scarf around it, she had on cute plaid skirt, a white blouse and those bobby sox and saddle shoes. And to top it all off, an apron. "Hey Cream Puff, yer lookin' real pretty this mornin'."
"Thank you, breakfast is almost ready, can I get you coffee?"
"Ya just keep on doing what yer doin' I can get it, I ain't as helpless as I look." And they shared a smile.
While they had their breakfast she asked him, "Can I ride in with you this morning? I'd like to talk to Mr. Ripley about Monday. I can just walk home after."
He was still having doubts about her working but he was willing to give it a try for her. "Yeah sure if that's what ya want. Ya know ya could take the truck Beth, just cuz it has a little dent don't mean ya can't drive it."
"Oh I'd rather not drive it again until you give me a lesson tomorrow, and I'm used to walking everywhere, I don't mind at all."
"K, we'll leave in 10. Thanks for breakfast Cream Puff its real good, I ain't use ta havin' someone doin' all this nice stuff for me. I'm likin' it." And when he smiled at her that way she was so happy she'd gotten up extra early to get herself ready and make him a good breakfast.
She walked in Ripley's and Mr. Ripley was standing behind the pharmacy counter, "Good morning Mr. Ripley, I just wanted you to know I'll be back to work first thing Monday morning."
"I was going to ask you about that Beth," He looked around then, making sure no one was in earshot, "I have to ask because I can't have you working if you're in the family way, are you Beth?"
She remembered what Daryl had said and she tried to be brave, "Oh no Mr. Ripley, I've only been married a few days. We don't have plans for children yet."
"Alright, I'm sorry Beth but I had to ask."
"I understand, and I'll see you Monday." She knew employers rarely kept a woman working who was pregnant, it was like it was something unnatural. But what she didn't understand was why everyone just assumed she and Daryl got married because they "had" to. Couldn't anyone just believe they loved each other?
She left Ripley's and walked across the street, she'd never been in Dirty's and she just planned to wave to him through the big bay door and be on her way home. But when she got to that door right away the men working in there started whistling and cat-calling. Daryl turned around and yelled to them, "Shut up ya dumb fuckin' assholes, she's my wife." And just like that they all got quiet and she heard several of them mumble, "Shit, sorry man."
His friends were certainly different than hers.
"Sorry Daryl, I just meant to wave to you."
"Don't be sorry, they're just bein' their dumbass selves. Everythin' go okay with Ripley?"
"Yes, I'll tell you all about it tonight." And she smiled broadly at him because she wasn't going to cry about that stuff anymore.
"Alright Cream Puff, see ya after while."
Saturday he took her out in the little truck and he gave her some handling tips. She was reluctant to get behind the wheel, but he'd coaxed her, "Ya gotta practice it or ya ain't ever gonna feel confident. Ain't nothin' bad gonna happen, k?"
"Okay Daryl, if you're sure." And he thought she did just fine.
"C'mon girl, you can drive us over ta Merle and Cassandra's place, show 'em what a hot rodder ya are."
"Golly Daryl really?" He was smiling big for her now, "Yeah really, get it in gear girl!"
That made her laugh and she did it, she drove right over to Merle's like she'd been driving that little pickup her whole life.
Sunday morning she told him she'd like to go to church. "I haven't been in a couple of weeks and I miss it."
"Well I'm happy ta take ya over there, wait for ya an all, but I ain't gonna go in with ya, k?"
"That's fine Daryl, I understand. Can we take the Bike? I've missed riding around on it with you."
"Heck yeah." Then his brow furrowed. "Don't ya think yer Daddy and Mama are gonna be there? Is that gonna bother ya?"
"No I'm going there to pray and see some of my friends and just be filled with the spirit."
But she wasn't being honest with her husband, she missed her parents and she was hoping that when they saw her there maybe, just maybe they'd all make up.
He was worried. He didn't want her hurt and he knew her Daddy and Mama could get mean, he'd seen them in action. He'd be close by and he didn't give a fuck if it was in a church or anywhere else, he wasn't letting anyone upset her.
She was snugged up to him on the back of that Bike and he just knew that was something he was never going to get tired of. She was in her Sunday dress and his coat was over her lap and he felt proud. Proud to be taking his pretty little wife wherever she wanted to go.
She was hanging on tight, not because she was on a motorcycle, but because she loved holding onto Daryl. She couldn't think of a single thing about him she didn't love, and holding onto him was definitely one of her favorite things to do.
They pulled up to the church and there was a group of people standing around out front, visiting before they went in. They all looked over toward the motorcycle and its rider and he felt that feeling straight away, that feeling of being judged.
He held an arm out to her to help her off the Bike, and as soon as she was safely off, he got off as well. He looked in her eyes, "Don't ya let no one be mean to ya Beth. I'ma be right out here readin' my magazine, ya come ta me if anyone bothers ya, hear?"
"Yes Daryl, it'll be fine." She gave him that million dollar smile and kissed him on the cheek, he smiled back but something in him, he didn't know why, he just felt trouble coming.
He was relaxing, leaning his butt on the Bike and reading an article about production changes Harley was making, and then another about a new style of handlebars and seats guys were going to be digging for their chopped rides. And the singing stopped suddenly and she came running out of the church right toward him, and he took her up in his arms and she was crying hard. He was holding her close, "The fuck Beth, what happened? Talk ta me girl!" And he took her face in his hands and he looked at her, he was mad someone would upset her like this, but he didn't know who he was mad at yet.
She was trying to talk but the words were having trouble coming out, that's when her Mama and Daddy came stomping out of the church and it seemed most of the remainder of the congregation was hot on their tail.
Instinctively he took his arm and moved her behind him. He stood straight and looked hard-eyed, he was ready for whatever came next. She was his wife and he aimed to stand up for her.
Her Daddy came up to him wagging a finger and yelling, "How dare you, you worthless animal! Stealing my sweet daughter and ruining her the way you have, getting her in trouble and forcing her to marry you! The whole town is talking about the shame you've visited on my family!"
She was close behind him and he could hear her continued crying. His hand still held her hand and he knew she was shaking. The things her Daddy said had stung him, but it was her he was worried about. "She was yer sweet girl but now she's my sweet wife, she ain't in any kind of trouble, an we married cuz we love each other. Ya wouldn't even talk ta me, wouldn't even bother ta get ta know me. I might be Biker Trash but I'm standin' before ya sayin' I'd never hurt this woman the way ya have. Maybe the whole town oughta be ashamed a theirselves for idle gossip, ain't that shit some kind a sin? Think on that. As for me an my wife we're leavin' now."
He turned around and she wrapped her arms around his waist he hugged her close and whispered to her, "C'mon now Cream Puff, lemme me take ya outta here." She nodded and they got on the Bike and rode off.
He took her on a nice long ride and eventually he drove them to their spot in the little stand of trees. They got off the Bike and he held her. "I know this week's been hard, been a lot ta deal with. I know people been hurtin' ya. Maybe I shouldn't a married ya, shoulda left ya be. But fuck Beth, for me I wouldn't change a thing. I love ya an I don't give a fuck what anyone says or thinks. As long as I'm with ya I'ma be happy."
"Saying yes to marrying you was the best thing I ever did Mister Dixon."
A/N Gee, maybe they should have just stayed in that bungalow, things were sure a lot easier. They seem to be doing well with each other, it's everyone else who's causing trouble, well and those darn bumpers and lamp posts. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, thank you so much for reading. I'd appreciate hearing your comments / reviews xo
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