A/N: This is a fluff filler of a chapter with a little badass Maggie. I hope you enjoy. Thank you for the reviews and follows and as thank you to Ayame2004 for all your support. Bethyl On!
Walk With An Angel
Chapter 21: Breaking Point
Beth looked weaker after her third treatment, weaker than Daryl could remember seeing her. Her small frame was limp in his arms as he carried her up the stairs.
Maggie stood in the doorway, watching him as he placed her in the bed and covered her up. "She'll sleep for a while."
He nodded back to Maggie, kissing the scarf that was wrapped around Beth's head. "Did ya cut her hair this morning?"
She nodded to him, pointing to the trash can in the bathroom. "She wanted it cut before she had her treatment. I told her she didn't have to cut it that short but she said she wanted to look like her big sis."
Maggie broke down in the hallway, slumping against the wall and sliding to the floor. Daryl rushed over to her, sitting down beside her and held her while she cried.
Glenn walked up the stairs, nodding to Daryl as he took Maggie in his arms. Maggie reached her hand out for Daryl and he took it. "Let her sleep. Come on down to the porch... there's some things I want to talk to you about."
The three of them made their way to the porch and Patricia came out with a coffee from them. Daryl thanked her as she handed him the cup. Patricia smiled back at him as she fought back her tears.
Maggie left Glenn's embrace and sat on the swing next to Daryl. "Beth and I had a long talk while I cut her hair this morning and I need to say a few things to you, and I need a few answers from you, too."
They both looked away when Zach walked on the porch with a bouquet of flowers. Maggie jumped to her feet, standing in front of the door. "Where the hell do you think you're going?"
"To see Beth." Maggie took the flowers out of his hand and tossed them off the porch. Zach clenched his hands into fists and Glenn and Daryl were by her side in a flash.
Zach stepped back, his eyes fixed on Maggie. "She's my friend and I know she'll want to see me."
Maggie placed her hand on Daryl's chest and pushed him back, her head shaking at him. She turned her hazel eyes back to Zach, her eyes narrowed and menacing. "She can't have flowers, they could make her sick. You haven't been to see her, not once so why now. Did Reverend Smith send his lap dog? We don't need his brand of religion and Daddy is holding a special meeting Wednesday, so he better pack his damn bags. Don't think I didn't hear what you said about Beth, either."
Daryl and Glenn both looked at her, Maggie's anger now a burning rage. Zach backed down to the steps, looking like he was ready to run.
"She does like me... I know it and if that redneck hadn't come into the picture she'd be with me. I can't believe you, her sister, would let white trash like him around her... kiss her. I guess you Greene's aren't as good as you pretend to be. Reverend Smith was right... your granddad was a drunk, your dad was a drunk, and mingling with the trash is nothing new for you." Zach gave Maggie a smug smile as he crossed his arms over his chest.
Glenn and Daryl stepped forward and Maggie pushed them back again. She wiped the angry tears that had fallen and swung her fist straight at his face. The crunch Daryl heard had him reaching up for Maggie and checking her hand. Blood started pouring from Zach's nose and Maggie was grimacing in pain.
Glenn grabbed Zach's broken nose, pinching it hard. "Get your fuckin' ass out of here and I better not see you on this farm again."
He walked Zach to his truck, tossed him in and slammed the door. Glenn wiped his bloody hand on his pants as he went to check on Maggie.
Daryl had her move her fingers, her knuckles blooded and swollen. "She's okay Glenn, but damn that was a killer right hook."
Glenn grinned up at Daryl as he kissed Maggie's forehead. Daryl patted him on the back as they walked back in the house. "You got some balls for a Chinaman."
Maggie let out a chuckle, Glenn staring back at Daryl. "I'm Korean."
"Whatever... that was still fuckin' ballsy." He looked up to see Hershel standing in the doorway and he stammered to apologize for his language.
Hershel patted him on the shoulder as he followed them inside. "I'm going to need you and Glenn to help out around here. I have Otis, but we can't do it by ourselves. I need my tractor and harvester ready; I think you can handle that. Daryl, I know you have a lot on your plate, the garage, Beth, your brother, but if I don't get the crops in and sell some of my cattle, I'm going to lose the farm."
They walked into the kitchen where Maggie is icing her hand. Glenn walked over towards Hershel, extending his hand. "Whatever you need, I'm in. Dale can move me to nights at the center so I can help here."
"I'll do what I can Hershel. I can come over after work and help out. I'm over here seeing Beth anyway and I can work all day Sunday." Daryl stiffened up when Hershel puts an arm around both him and Glenn.
"I've always held fast to this belief. If you want to know the character of man, look to the woman standing beside him. You two boys, you got character in spades." He hugged them both and walked away.
After Maggie iced down her hand and wrapped it up, she asked Daryl to join her in the parlor. They sat across from each other, Daryl not sure what Maggie wanted with him.
Maggie took a deep breath and looked him right in his eyes. "I know you love my little sisters, she even said you told her so, but I need to know where you see this going Daryl. She loves you, so much. She told me you're the one... the one she wants to give herself to. I don't mean to push you or even scare you but Beth still has a long road ahead of her and she needs you... she's head over heels in love with you."
Daryl chewed on his lip, his eyes looking away from Maggie. "Beth is my everythang and I don't see me ever leavin' her. She ain't got nothin' to worry about." He paused for a brief moment and looked back up at Maggie. "Do ya really think she wants me... fer the rest of her life?"
He stopped chewing his lip and started chewing his thumb, his eyes back on the floor. Maggie sat beside him, nudging him with her shoulder.
"Beth told me she's attempted to do more than kiss and you're always the gentlemen. We both know Beth is the type of girl to wait for marriage and you're not going to have her break the rule on you. I more than admire you for that. I want her to have it all, marriage, kids and a good man ... so two out of three ain't bad." Daryl turned to look at her, finally understanding what Maggie was getting at.
"You want me to ask Beth to marry me... don't ya?" He sat back, his body going numb.
"Not unless you don't want to... I mean when you're ready too. Beth is sure you're the only man for her and I'd have to agree." Maggie gave him his space and sat back in the chair.
Daryl looked up at her, his heart pounding so hard he was sure it will explode. "She don't want to marry a Dixon... she's better than that, Maggie."
"Beth doesn't care about that, Daryl... you're the only one looking at your last name as some curse. We... my family don't see you that way and I sure as hell don't believe the shit people say. You need to see yourself through Beth's eyes... see the man you truly are." With that she kissed his cheek and left him to think.
Daryl walked back up the stairs and sat down by Beth's bed, watching her sleep. The thought of losing her crossed his mind. The thought of her not being here and him living with more regrets than he could bear started to weigh heavy on him.
He bent towards her and kissed her cheek as he let one single tear fall down his face. "I want to be the man that deserves you. I want to see what you see in me. Yer just gonna have to be remindin' me."
Beth stirred awake beside him, letting her hand cradle his face. "You just need to stay who you are, that's who I feel in love with Daryl Dixon."
She closed her eyes and he knelt by the bed. He stroked her cheek with the back of his hand and promised himself that if she'd have him, he'd be hers, I do's and all.