A/N: Well, I was originally going to update this on Christmas day itself so that this could be like my Christmas present to you guys. But I figured that it would be almost impossible for most of you to read it because it's Christmas day and we all know how family gatherings on that day gets. So nevertheless, here it is a few days early... Merry Christmas to those who celebrate it and for others that don't, then well, happy holidays :)
Also, I'm quite doubtful that I'll be able to update this anytime during the next two weeks because Christmas/New Years and everything else in between so stay safe these holidays everyone and I hope you all have an awesome Christmas and New Years Eve!
He feels the curl of her hand around the back of his neck and he feels her pulling him to her. He kisses her all soft and gentle and there's a thousand things he wants to say to her. But she's already moving and he's following her lead and he knows exactly where this is going. He has half a mind to stop and to pull back and tell her how incredibly risky this is; the kid could come knocking at any time or Rick could call for them. But she's breathing all heavily and she's kissing him sweetly and that's all he knows now.
He breathes her in and everything about her pulls on his attention; she holds him right there and there's nowhere else he wants to be right now. She's kissing him down his neck and for the briefest of moments he opens his eyes and sees the stick still sitting there on that shelf staring at them with that little plus sign right and centre. He feels himself smiling and then feels the touch of her hand sliding into his shirt and pressing palm against his lower back.
He closes his eyes when he feels her fingertips tracing the waistband of the back of his pants and he warms considerably when she pulls him even more into her. He takes the lead from here on out and shifts to trail kisses down the side of her neck. He hears her moan ever so softly into his ear and it drives him completely over the edge. But he holds himself together and he turns them around and presses her back very slowly into the door of the backroom.
His lips are at the point where her neck and shoulder meets when he begins to feel her reaching around and down for his belt. He runs a hand down the side of her body and slides it under her shirt and curls it around the arch of her lower back. She arches so perfectly into him and he moans at the movement.
He's all at once very aware of every inch of her body that's pressing into him. He smells her and smells himself on her and really that's all he needs. He feels her hand that was at his neck sliding down his side and feels her as they curl around his waist and slide to finally come together at his front. He feels her hands on the buckle and he hears it as she loosens it and removes it. Her fingertips curl lightly into the waistband of his pants and he feels them touching his skin.
He moves a little more now too and reaches down with a single hand to unbutton her jeans. He hears as she unzips his pants and moves to push them down as he pushes hers down too. He leaves her jeans and underwear at her ankles and steps over it until her jeans and her body completely circle him. She braces and he lifts her easily and swiftly and presses her into the door again. Her arms are on his shoulders now and her hands are in his hair and she kisses him as he slides into her. He swallows her moan and kisses her back with equal love and warmth and everything about her now surrounds him.
He feels her walls adjusting around him and he takes a moment to keep completely still. He pulls back just slightly to look up at her and the warmth and glow and softness in her eyes hit him right to his core. Everything just stops then and this moment could last forever and he would be perfectly fine with that.
"Beth," he whispers her name and sees her smile so perfectly right there.
"I know," she murmurs back to him and leans in now to kiss him.
He starts to move when she does that and when he moves she moans very softly into his mouth. Every sound she makes he takes and holds onto and returns with equal measure and pleasure. He moves so achingly slow and with every time he buries in her he feels like he's more than just a man; more than just her universe. He hears her breathe and feels her cling to him and he won't last long and he knows she won't either.
He draws every breath from her and closes his eyes finally as he kisses her. It's like every kiss he ever shares with her he finds the courage to put to rest the horrors of his memories and sees instead new rainbow like ones unfolding before him. He feels it the moment it starts to bubble in the very pit of his stomach and he feels her reaching that point as well. He presses kisses into her neck now and her fingers are in his hair and she's holding him so dearly to her.
She finds it first and when she clenches he buckles beneath her and he hopes to god the door isn't rattling and that everyone isn't just standing there staring at it. Her long and steady but soft moan and heavy breathing in his ear sends him over the edge and he follows a second after her. He releases into her and with every wave his emotions and everything becomes so clear.
He feels her all around him and there is no chance in this entire world that he will ever let her go. He breathes heavily against her and he feels her chest and heartbeat racing as well. But the way she curls that arm around his neck now and the way she presses her lips into his forehead keeps him there at his high.
"Daryl," she whispers softly in his ear and he knows what she is about to say.
"I know," he murmurs back to her as he turns his face into her neck.
"We're goin' t'have a baby," she whispers again breathlessly and he chuckles against her skin.
"Yes," he whispers against her neck. He pulls back slightly to peer up at her and murmur finally, "Yes we are."
It takes them a while to fully compose themselves but when they do he walks out of that backroom feeling completely warm and tingly. She disappears through to one of the other aisles, having murmured to him that she was going to share the news with Maggie even though the woman already knew. But at least now they had that stick and that little plus sign.
He walks through the store and sees Rick standing by the door still with Abraham looking flustered and listening intently. But just before he takes another step he hears Maggie's squeal and Beth's hush whispers and he can't help but smirk and briefly stop to turn around. He sees both women standing there with heads together and smiles on their faces.
He sees Maggie look to him and for just this once he lets his lip curl and he directs the two of them a genuine smile. Glenn is standing there with them too with a hand on Maggie's shoulder and even the man looks smugly at him. The kid pulls his attention away from them though when he feels those little fingers tugging on the corner of his loose hanging shirt.
"Where did y'go?" the kid asks him all serious and a little scared too.
"Needed t'talk t'Beth for a bit," he tells the kid because it's partly the truth anyway.
"Oh," the kid nods.
"C'mon," he mutters and scoops the kid up in his arms.
The group gathers near the front of the store not too long later and it takes all of him to keep the expression on his face flat and still. Rick talks over their plans and he's really trying to listen and focus. But he sees Beth looking at him all warm and eyes glowing and he knows she's still living in her high after that confirmation and quiet celebration in the backroom earlier. He feels it too fluttering in his chest with every heartbeat.
Thankfully Rick finishes not too long later and within seconds everyone had agreed with the new plan. They discussed who would be scouting around and who would be staying here.
He opted to watch over the fortifying of the store and it was decided that Rick, Michonne, Abraham and Glenn would scout around for the rest of the day. He left Beth and Carol to count inventory and rounded up Tara, Carl and the scientist to start checking the boards over the windows by the front of the store. He left Tyrese to keep watch with little Judith sleeping the entire morning away in the man's arms.
He's by the back of the store now holding a board up for Maggie to hammer in and he knows the woman has words for him. He's known it since he and Beth took that step but somehow or another it was always about Beth. It didn't matter what anyone else thought and Maggie always seemed to be okay with it since the beginning anyway. But he thinks he owes her some words now because she's Beth's sister and that makes them a real family.
He struggles to think about what to say though or how to even begin. But as he steps back to look over their handy work the woman turns to look at him.
"Think I owe you a formal congratulations," Maggie starts off.
"That so?" he questions and feels the corner of his lip curl.
"Beth showed me the stick earlier," Maggie tells him and he nods and turns to grab hold of another board.
"She's real somethin' y'sister," he murmurs and moves to hold the board up for her.
"That she is," Maggie says and hums in agreement.
Maggie keeps silent for a second more and the way she looks at him makes him feel a little bit nervous.
"Y'okay with it all?" he asks slowly.
She doesn't answer straight away but looks away instead and bends to pull a nail from the bag. He watches as she stands a moment later and turns to look at him and regard him for a full second.
"'d be lyin' if I said that I always knew y'd be the one for her," Maggie starts and he looks to the floor for a moment before peering up at her through his bangs.
He hums before he says anything and then as if after a second thought he decides to add lowly, "Can't disagree with y'there."
"But y'make her happy," Maggie continues, "Happier than I've ever seen her 'n that counts for something."
He nods slowly and looks away and to the board in front of him. He lets Maggie's words sink in and he processes them because everything about this is new to him. This isn't like how it is when he talks feelings and things like this with Beth. This is Maggie and this woman is the closest he will ever get to speaking with Hershel. He wants to do this right because he loves Beth something fierce and he wants to do everything proper by her.
He may not have the words or the ability to understand all these things. But he had a heart now to try and with that in mind he musters the courage he finally has and he looks to the woman and starts, "Ain' ever gonna feel like 'm good 'nough for her," he pauses for a moment, "But I know I'll always love her."
He sees the corner of Maggie's lip curl but before the woman has a chance to speak he continues.
"Can't understand why she loves me back," he tells Maggie softly, "She's tried t'tell me a couple o'times now…but I'll never get it."
"You are good enough for her, Daryl," Maggie tells him simply, "Everyone here sees it and knows it too."
"Y'think that?"
"I know that," Maggie says shortly, "'n daddy would'a been proud t'call you his son."
Maggie's words hit him right to his soul. No one has ever said that to him before; no one has ever told him they'd be proud to have him in their family. His father never said anything of that kind and his mother wasn't even sober for long enough to tell him so. Merle was a lost cause and he never expected that from his brother anyway.
But this, this is new and he can't help but shake the feeling that Hershel is here with them somehow; that the old man is standing right there beside Maggie. He can almost hear the older man speaking through Maggie's words too.
"Y'givin' me y'blessin'?" he asks softly.
Maggie smiles and that's all he needs to know.