Holy Hell, was that mid-season finale or what?! :O

I don't want to give it away if you haven't watched it yet but maybe...just maybe our little hopes of a "Bethyl" romance might happen in the future? Possibly? *Fingers crossed* ;)

Thank you for all reviews, favorites and follows!

Chapter Fourteen: September Rain

"Why do we have to do this?" Beth whispered. "This isn't gonna fly with them."

"Maybe…maybe not." Daryl replied. "Either way…we'll have to respect their wishes, Beth. It's the only way this can go on 'tween us."

They walked side-by side, holding hands loosely, down the corridor to Hershel's cell. With each step, Beth felt her heart skip and the knot in her stomach twist. She put on a brave face for Daryl but on the inside she had never felt so apprehensive before in her life. She told herself she was being ridiculous, it was just Daddy after all.

He's not that scary…Beth thought. He's a big ole teddy bear…what's the worst he could say? No?

Beth realized yes, that was the worst Hershel could say: No. She wouldn't be able to take it if he forbid her to see Daryl anymore. He might as well tell her she couldn't breathe anymore.

Hershel was sitting at his desk highlighting scriptures from The Bible. He glanced up and smiled when he saw Beth enter first, followed behind Daryl.

"Beth, sweetie," Hershel said and he and Daryl exchanged a nod. Hershel motioned for them to have a seat on his cot. The gentle sound of rain falling outside made Beth want to take a nap. Rainy weather was always good sleeping weather. Hershel turned his body so he was facing Beth and Daryl.

"I was just catching up on some my reading," Hershel said, breaking the ice. His eyes wandered to the small barred window. "Nothing like a rainy day and the good book. Perfect."

Hershel looked at Beth.

"How are you doing, my sweet Beth-y?"

Beth shifted on the cot, her hands fidgeting together.

"I'm fine, Daddy," Beth answered, quietly. She looked from her father, cast a sideways glance at Daryl and then looked back to Hershel.

"Um…There's something Daryl and I wanted to talk to you about," Beth began, slowly giving Daryl's leg a subtle nudge with her knee hoping he would jump in any second.

Daryl took a deep breath and said:

"Hershel, I wanted to talk to you about me and Beth. We…uh…well,"

The sound of heavy boots clanked on the concrete floor outside the cell and soon Maggie appeared, breathing heavily as if she had been running.

"Sorry, Daddy," Maggie breathed. "I was trying to get here as fast as could. I was outside helping and…"

Maggie trailed off when she spotted Beth and Daryl sitting there. Her eyes darted back and forth between Beth and Daryl and finally on Hershel again.

"What's going on?" Maggie asked, cautiously. She carefully stepped inside the cell as if she might step on a landmine.

"Come on in, Maggie, dear," Hershel offering her the other chair by his desk. "Nothing's wrong. Just have a seat."

Maggie slowly sat down all the while keeping her eyes focused on Beth and Daryl.

"Daryl, when you told me you wanted talk to me today," Hershel explained. "I had an idea on what it was about. That's why I wanted Maggie to be here, too."

Hershel gestured for Daryl to continue.

"You were saying?"

"Oh yeah, right." Daryl said. "Well…as you know…" He acknowledged Maggie. "Both of you know…me and Beth. We've been spending some time together…and um…"

"All year." Maggie commented.

"'Cuse me?" Daryl asked her.

Maggie nodded. "All year." She repeated, firmly. She exchanged a look with Hershel and looked back to Daryl.

"You and Beth…been spending time together all year. We know…Y'all haven't been as sneaky as you think you've been."

Maggie's eyes wandered over to Beth and she felt the weight of her older sister's stare crush her and infuriate her.

"Like you've never snuck 'round with a guy before, Maggie." Beth muttered. "Or should I say…guys as in there's been several."

Maggie scoffed. "Oh, knock it off! This ain't bout me, little sis…"

"You knock it off!" Beth interjected.

"Both of you - knock it off!" Hershel exclaimed. The cell fell quiet. Hershel fidgeted with the collar on his button up shirt, cleared his throat and said:

"Maggie's right. We've known something's been going on between you two."

Before Beth or Daryl could speak, Hershel leaned forward and looked both of them square in the face.

"Look here," Hershel said. "I'm sixty-one years old. I'm an old man. I've got one leg now. I've got back pain daily. I'm a recovering alcoholic…a former veterinarian and farmer…devout Christian…a widower…a single father of the two most beautiful, strong daughters a man could ever have. I'm a lotta things, I know. But I'll tell you one thing…I ain't blind. Not much has been said about a father's intuition…but we have one same as a mother does."

Hershel paused and glanced over to Maggie.

"I went through it with Maggie…over a year ago…with Glenn." He turned back to Beth.

"A father knows…He knows when some other guy has come along and captured your little girl's heart. It makes a man happy. Happy to know my daughter has found love with someone… But I can't help it if I want to protect her from that someone…To keep her all to myself."

Hershel looked to Daryl then.

Daryl shifted a bit but he wouldn't be deterred.

"Hershel," Daryl said. "You know I think the world of you, right? I know I'm a pain the ass sometimes…but I'd never disrespect you, or Maggie…especially Beth."

Hershel held up his hand.

"I know that, Daryl," Hershel said. "I know what kind of man you are. On the outside you look like any other white trash…all attitude and no couth. But on your inside? You have an integrity like nobody else I've ever known."

He paused and chuckled.

"Hell, just you arranging for us to talk like this…That says a lot. Most guys wouldn't even think twice if they had the opportunity to have Beth. But you, Daryl? You honor me…you honor Maggie…and I know you honor, Beth."

Hershel looked to Maggie, who was being uncharacteristically quiet.

"Anything to add, Maggie, dear?"

Maggie glanced up from picking at her fingernails.

"I don't know what to say," Maggie answered. "You're right, Daddy." She looked to Daryl.

"I'll be honest with you, redneck. You ain't the guy I pictured for Beth. If the world hadn't gone to hell in a hand basket the way it did…I would have kicked your hillbilly ass already…what are you laughing at? It's true! You don't think I could, do ya?"

"Naw…" Daryl snickered. "I believe ya…Trust me, Maggie. I know you would."

"Beth?" Hershel said. "Honey, you haven't said a word. What's going through your mind?"

Beth was sitting there patiently listening to everybody's opinions, twiddling her thumbs together. She felt Daryl wrap one of his strong arms around her and pull her close. She leaned into his embrace not caring what Hershel or Maggie thought.

"Please, Daddy…" Beth said. "Don't say no. I…I want to be with Daryl. I…I…" She found herself gazing up into his blue eyes.

"I love him."

Daryl's mouth parted in surprise and Beth slowly nodded her head and mouthed the words: "It's true," to him. He wrapped both arms around her and kissed the top of her forehead.

Hershel and Maggie exchanged glances.

"Well?" Hershel quietly asked Maggie.

Maggie hesitated for a minute. She looked to her sister, locked in an embrace with the guy she loves, an embrace similar to the ones she and Glenn shared so often.

Maggie turned back to Hershel and nodded her head.

She stood and said,

"Take care of her, Daryl. Or I'll shoot ya dead."

Maggie smiled, shot Beth a wink and left.

Beth and Daryl looked to Hershel. The rain had picked up a bit outside, the fat drops splattering off the steel bars on the window. Hershel rubbed his neck as he gazed out the window. After what seemed like an eternity, Hershel finally said:

"Daryl? I'll tell you what I told Glenn. There is no guy out there that is ever good enough for your little girl."

Beth felt her heart skip a beat. Please, please, please…Don't say no Daddy, please don't do this!

Hershel's eyes wandered back the two of them and a warm smile spread across his face.

"Until there is one that is."

Beth was so excited she could hardly contain herself. She stood up and embraced her father so tightly she could hear him struggle to breathe.

"Oh, thank you! Thank you, Daddy…Oh…I love you so much…thank you."

Daryl shook Hershel's hand and he and Beth left together. Hershel sat there watching them walk down the corridor hand in hand and he kept staring long after they had disappeared. The rain kept pelting away outside as Hershel turned back to his Bible all the while smiling to himself.