Bittersweet

"Y'all will never guess what we found!" Maggie hollered, jumping out of the truck as everyone approached. It was not hard to guess- they could see the creature right there plain as day, her black and white hide crusted brown and baking in the midday sun. Beth had her out in moments.

"No way," the blond grinned, looking more excited than she had in weeks, "ya found us a cow?!" She had only been outside for a few minutes to check on Daryl and make sure he was getting enough food, just as he had taken it on himself to do for her. She was not too skinny anymore, finally eating her fair portion.

Rick chuckled as he and Glenn exited the vehicle, arms laden with stock from the run, "Well, it's Glenn's cow- he went through all the trouble of lurin' her here."

Maggie leaned in conspiratorially, "She likes his hair." As if on cue, the creature craned its neck over to where Glenn was reaching for some of their haul and attempted to take a mouthful of short black hair. He dodged at the last second to the sounds of laughter from his comrades.

"Yeah yeah, laugh it up- but remember who you have to thank when you're drinking delicious fresh milk." Rick laughed again.

"Well while you revel in the spoils of your victory, I'll be takin' the rest up to Hershel; got some things to discuss with him. Try not to waste too much time."

As he walked off, the blond strolled closer, her fingers curled in her belt loops. "So whacha gonna name her?"

"Big Mama." Glenn answered, dead serious.

"Seriously? That's what you're goin' with?" Beth deadpanned.

Daryl snorted, "I ain't callin' her that."

"Me neither," she agreed. Glenn stuck his tongue out at everyone.

"Hey, you heard Rick- my cow, my rules. Anyway, Maggie said I wasn't allowed to name her Beef or Steak… or Bessie."

"Your creativity astounds."

Beth placed a hand on his arm, "Seriously though, Glenn, this is great. We should be able to have milk around here, which will be amazing. And the kids could seriously use something that healthy- I'm worried 'bout them growin' right for their age." He rubbed the back of his neck.

"Eh, it wasn't anything… I didn't really do much, she pretty much just hunted my hair all the way here. On a related note, I'm fairly certain human hair is not part of a cow's natural diet, but that is just one of many aspects of bovine care I have no freaking clue about." That earned him a good laugh from his sister-in-law.

"Don't worry 'bout that," Maggie grinned, snuggling up to him, "me, daddy, n' Beth grew up on a farm; I think we can handle a cow."

"Then consider Big Mama my gift to you- provided the name stays."

"My my, isn't my husband generous? I guess I better check her out sooner rather'n later, make sure she's healthy n' all." Her tone of voice made it obvious that was not her first choice of activities for the day.

"Nah," Beth waved her away, "you guys are probably tired from the run- you left early this morning. I can handle checkin' on her and all that."

"Ya sure? What about the kids?"

"Oh they're bothering Tyreese right now- you know how they love climbing all over him like a jungle-gym." Maggie looked relieved, and it did not take a mind-reader to know what she was looking forward to doing with this newfound free-time.

"Thanks. There should be a tin bucket in the back seat, too."

"Great, I'll clean it out." As the couple walked off, Beth leaned into the back of the truck to fetch the bucket. Without watching them leave, Daryl returned to his work. The two took care of their responsibilities in companionable silence. The only sounds were his hands working and the scrubbing of the bucket with some fresh wash water. He would never admit it, but he was comfortable.

It sounded cheesy, but the more time Daryl spent with her over the passing months since the wedding, the more he learned about how dynamic she was. There were so many sides to her. She could be thoughtful and insightful, analyzing anything from an issue to a person. People were a natural talent for her, and they seemed to have a natural inclination to protecting and catering to help her.

Just her mothering side itself was dynamic. She could be sweet and mothering when caring for Judith or if one of the kids scraped his knee. Or she could be the stern parent, expertly diffusing a tantrum as the authority figure. He had seen her put a kid over her knee once. He bristled at the idea of it, expected it to upset him, but she had just delivered a couple solid pats and put him in the corner for a time-out. Afterward she sat with him, discussed what he did wrong and why he was punished the way he was. She was firm when she needed to be but never cruel. She cried privately afterward, almost as much as the child, and he felt inclined to hold her in pity, though he resisted. She was made to be the good parent, really, not the punisher. She would make a good mother someday, especially with a father who was stern enough to handle disciplinary decisions on his own. When he thought that while catching himself staring at Beth, he had decided not to ruminate on her motherly side anymore; it gave him ideas a man his age had no business thinking, and he had no desire to ruin a good thing with impure thoughts, especially not about one of the only people whose playfulness could make him smile.

If he was being honest, Daryl's favorite side of Beth was her playful side anyway. A sunny grin split her face, a wicked gleam in her eye, and her laughter could fill a room. Or, in this case, a prison yard, because she was decidedly in a playful mood that day. The arrival of 'Big Mama' seemed to bring out the best in her. He could hear her occasionally murmuring to the animal, calming her as she stroked her side and checked for bugs, infection, or whatever it was that might make the cow too unhealthy to remain with them. Occasionally she would look over and watch him work. It was a little distracting, but he was mostly able to ignore it. Carol used to watch him too, he told himself, this should not be any different. Somehow, though, with Beth, it was. He thought about how sweet and soft that voice was, and he would be lying if he said he did not fall asleep some nights imagining it in his ear. It was a bad habit, one that made him twitchy, but she had the voice of an angel, like the prison's own songbird.

"Well," she said final, "she seems all fine to me, so the milk's probably good."

"Good, we could use some'n like that 'round here." He panted slightly from exertion, using the back of a dirty forearm to wipe the sweat from his brow. The blond looked him over and jerked her head.

"C'mon, you been workin' all day. You're probably thirsty."

He raised an eyebrow, "Y'know how to milk that thing too?" In response, she dropped to her knees with the bucket and skillfully set about filling it, coaxing out the milk with gentle tugs. He was kind of surprised the cow did not seem to mind it at all, but then again, he figured it shouldn't- if she had that soothing effect on people, then why not on creatures? He dropped gracelessly to his ass on the ground beside her, and she passed him the bucket.

"Thanks." He said, before taking a grateful gulp, "It's good." Truly it tasted divine, the best thing he'd had in a long while

"Here, you should take some. Ain't fair I should have all the first good milk we got in a while." She took it back from him but did not drink, instead setting it back down and continuing to fill it.

"Nah, we still don't know if it's safe. I figure if you grow breasts, we'll know if she was treated with steroids."

He rolled his eyes, "I liked you better when you was intimidated by me, y'know that?"

"What was that?" She grinned at him, "Did you say you wanted more?" She pulled the utter again, this time tiling it slightly so it shot Daryl in the face. He sputtered indignantly and wiped at his face, and causing Beth to let out a throaty laugh. She never thought she would see the day where Daryl Dixon was cute, but there it was. Only a week or two ago had she admitted to herself she had a crush on the brash redneck, but she forced herself to remain normal- though sometimes the flirting was just a bit too difficult to resist. She doubted he noticed, though, and even if he did, it did not matter. It was foolish to risk a good friendship with the only person who did not treat her like a useless child by allowing her whims to be governed by a childish crush. Anyway, it was not as though she had a chance with a real, salt of the earth man like Daryl.

But sometimes, she wondered if he wasn't flirting back at her.

"You little rat! Don't think I ain't gettin' you for that later. Sleep with one eye open." He swatted a hand weakly at her, catching her thigh in a soft pinch. Her chest tingled, and Beth knew it was one of those times she had to removed herself from the situation, so she threw him one over her most winning smiles.

"I look forward to it, sir." She stood, "Well, I better see if I can't get some of this into Judith and the other kids. I'll see you later… And Daryl," she took a big sip and winked at him, "you're right; it is good."

Without another word, she walked away, listening distantly to him tell the cow (Mama, she thought she would call it) about how women were 'all goddamn insane as a jitterbug in June.'