Chapter 14
Beth POV
As the group finished eating they murmured their appreciations. Carol took Judith from Daryl when she started to stir, and sat next to me on the floor when Daryl got up to take the bowls in.
"She's been cranky lately, I think she's going to start teething again," Carol told me. "I know she missed you,"
"I missed her too," I stared at Judith, "We'll have to see about finding some Orajel next time someone goes on a run,"
"And formula. We have enough for a few more days," Carol added, and I nodded. "Why don't you keep Judith tonight, Bethy," Carol offered.
My eyes lit up, "I'd love to, but gotta check something before I tell ya yes," I looked around the room, catching sight of Daryl by the kitchen talking to Joe, eyes on me. "I'll let ya know, Carol." I got up and went into the kitchen. I gave my head a slight nod as I passed Daryl, indicating I wanted him to follow me. It took him a couple of minutes to finish his conversation with Joe, but he followed me into the breakfast nook.
"Carol asked me to keep Judith tonight," I explained. "Wanted to be sure it's ok with you,"
"'S your baby, why the hell wouldn't cha?" Daryl asked, and I felt my face go a little red.
"She's not my baby, Daryl," I chided, "'Side's you sleep with me, wouldn't be fair o' me to keep her without askin' ya,"
"Tha hell she ain't," Daryl replied, "Ya been takin' care o' that baby since she was born, more'n any one o' us. Din't she start callin' ya mama 'fore we lost the prison?"
I started to respond but Daryl cut me off, "Even her daddy was referrin' to ya as 'er mama,"
I leaned up and pressed a kiss to his cheek. "Thanks, Daryl." I murmured into his cheek. His arms snaked around my waist as I started to pull away. He leaned his head down to mine and kissed me. My legs felt wobbly from the force of his kiss. If his arms weren't around me I probably would have slid to the floor. He broke the kiss, pressing his forehead to mine. I kissed him once more. "I gotta baby to go take care of," I said, grinning at him. I pulled away from him and went back to the living room, Daryl a step behind me.
"Mama," Judith exclaimed, as I entered the room, as if she and Daryl were proving a point. I looked back at Daryl and saw his pointed smirk. Carol laughed as the baby reached her pudgy little arms out for me.
"Didn't I say she missed you?" Carol asked, still laughing and passed me the baby.
"Good thing, I missed her too," I hugged the baby close to me.
"Why's she callin' you mama?" Asked Luke, "She your kid?"
"I been raisin' her since she was born. Her mama died havin' her, her daddy, leader of our group, wasn't able to take much care of her. He wasn't the same after Lori, her mama, died," I explained.
"He didn't mind his baby callin' someone else mama?" Someone else asked. I looked for the face behind the voice, recognizing it as CJ.
"Me'n him talked 'bout it, the first time she called me it. He tole me that if it weren't Lori raisin' his little girl, he was proud ta say it was me. And accepted his baby callin' me mama," I said heatedly, my accent becoming more pronounced. I noticed Daryl starting to look agitated, next to me.
"Whoa, there Little Angel, I'm sure they don't mean any harm, just curious is all," Joe placated, "Right boys?" He asked, looking pointedly at CJ and Luke. Daryl visibly relaxed. Carol watched the exchange with narrow eyes, taking in everyone's expressions and body language. Her eyes focused on Daryl and I. I didn't realize it, but I had moved my body slightly behind Daryl's.
"No, sir, definitely didn't mean any harm," Luke quickly agreed.
"Beth, would ya sing fer us?" Jayne asked, changing the subject.
"Sure, got anything in mind?" I agreed thankful for the change.
"Know any Kenny Chesney?" He requested.
"Yup, I sure do. He's one of my favorites. Do ya know the song 'When the Sun Goes Down'?"
"Yes ma'am."
I grinned, "Know the lyrics well?"
"By heart," He replied, his green eyes sparkling.
"Uncle Kracker's yours." I told him, tapping the beat of the song with my foot.
"Sun tanned toes, tickling the sand
Cold drink chillin' in my right hand
Watchin' you sleep in the evening' light
Restin' up for a long, long night" I started off.
"When the sun goes down
We'll be groovin' when the sun goes down
Feelin' alright, when the sun sinks down
Over the water, everything is hotter when the sun goes down
Yeah." Jayne's voice joined mine for this verse.
"All day long, just takin' it easy
Layin' in a hammock, where it's nice and breezy
Sleepin' off the night before
'Cause when the sun goes down
We'll be back for more" Jayne's voice rang out, and I smiled at him, encouragingly.
"When the sun goes down
We'll be groovin' when the sun goes down
Feelin' alright, when the sun sinks down" We sang together.
"Over the water," Jayne sang.
"Everything is hotter when the sun goes down
Yeah." We sung together again. I continued tapping the beat with my foot. I leaned my body into Daryl's and his arm went around my waist.
"This old guitar, and my dark sunglasses" I sung.
"This sweet concoction is smooth as molasses," Jayne laughed,
"Nothin' to do but read all day, until the big moon rises and it's time to play,"
"When the sun goes down
We'll be groovin' when the sun goes down
Feelin' alright, when the sun sinks down
Over the water, everything is hotter when the sun goes down
When the sun goes down, when the sun goes down.
We'll be groovin' when the sun goes down.
Feelin' alright when the sun sinks down
Over the water, everything is hotter when the sun goes down
Yeah"
"When the sun goes down,
We'll be groovin' when the sun goes down,
We'll be feelin' alright," I sang, nodding to Jayne.
"When the sun sinks down, over the water,"
"Everything is hotter, when the sun goes down" We sang together.
"When the sun goes down, We'll be groovin'"
"When the sun goes down,
We'll be feelin' alright
When the sun sinks down, over the water
She thinks Krackers sexy when the sun goes down,"
"Mhhmmh. We'll be feelin' alright,"
"When the sun sinks down, over the water
Uncle Kenny's hotter when the sun goes down,
When the sun goes down, we'll be groovin'
When the sun goes down.
Hey Uncle Kenny, when the sun goes down."
"Over the water, everything is hotter when the sun goes down" I finished the song.
The group quietly applauded us, while Jayne and I laughed.
"Thanks for singin' with me,"
"Anytime, that was the most fun I've had since the world went to crap," Jayne said, smiling. "Sing something else for us?"
"Sure, let me think of something," I agreed easily. It took me a couple of moments before I settled on a song.
"I can feel your heart beat now
I can feel you really now
In your arms
I can still feel the way want me when you hold me
I can still hear the words you whispered when you told me
I can stay right here, forever in your arms
And there ain't no way
I'm letting you go now
And there ain't no way
And there ain't no how
Never see that day
Cause I'm keepin' you
Forever and for always
We will be together for all of our days
Wanna wake up every mornin' to your sweet face
Always
In your heart, I can still hear it beat for every time you kiss me
And when we're apart I know how much you miss me
I can feel your love for me in your heart
And there ain't no way
I'm letting you go now
And there ain't no way
And there ain't no how
Never see that day
Cause I'm keepin' you
Forever and for always
We will be together all of our days
Wanna wake up every mornin' to your sweet face
Always
Wanna wake up every mornin' with you
In your eyes I can still see the look of the one who really loves me
The one who wouldn't put anything else in the world above me
I can still see your love for me in your eyes
And there ain't no way
I'm letting you go now
And there ain't no way
And there ain't no how
Never see that day
Cause I'm keepin' you
Forever and for always
We will be together all of our days
Wanna wake up every mornin' to your sweet face
Always
I'm keepin' you
Forever and for always
We will be together all of our days
Wanna wake up every mornin' to your sweet face
Keepin' you
Forever and for always
Keepin' you forever, baby
Forever and ever
In your arms"
"Alright, got a long day ahead of us tomorrow. Lets turn in," Joe announced, after I finished singing.
A/N: The songs are "When The Sun Goes Down" Kenny Chesney, featuring Uncle Kracker and "Forever And Always," Shania Twain.