Chapter Twenty-One: Whatever Happens

Beth awoke the next morning still in complete euphoria. Sometime during the night, Daryl had pulled himself from her and now they were both lying on their sides. Daryl was spooning Beth and she nuzzled her back further into his chest as she laced their hands together. She let out a contented sigh being comfortable to just lie there until Daryl awoke too. A small smile spread across her face. How did she get so lucky? Her mind drifted back to those dire times at the farm when everything had seemed so hopeless. She shuddered at the thought of what she had tried to do to herself. Andrea's words still rang in her head to this day. "The pain doesn't go away...you just make room for it." is what she had told Beth before leaving her to make her own choice. Andrea was right and Beth was thankful that she'd chosen to live. The pain of loosing her family was still there. However she was also happy because of the family she'd gained through that tragedy. These people weren't blood relatives, with the exception of Maggie, but they were still her family.

Now she also had a husband who had become the entire world to her. She knew it was selfish, but the whole damn world could be crumbling around her but as long as she had Daryl by her side, she knew she'd be okay. She smirked to herself. It was unfathomable for her to think that she'd ever lived her life without him. She loved him more than anything. As if on cue, she felt Daryl grunt as he slowly stirred awake. She rolled onto her back but Daryl remained on his side with his arms still draped around her. She looked over at him as his eyes sleepily opened. The minute he focused on her, his face lit up and Beth dreamily returned his smile. "Hey." he gruffly rasped out. "Hey yourself." Daryl released a small chuckle as he stroked her arm with his hand. "Are ya sore?" Daryl asked her trying to hide his concern. Beth had felt an ache between her thighs when she awoke but it was a good ache. It was a small reminder that last night hadn't been a dream. It was real and she relished in that little twinge of soreness that now served as a reminder of Daryl being inside her last night. "Yeah...but it's a good sore. I like it." she sighed out contentedly. Daryl chuckled as he stroked her hair and kissed her temple.

Neither of them said anything. They were both just happy lying there in each other's arms. Beth was actually anxious to have sex again. She smiled to herself as she thought about the irony that "good girl" Beth Greene could love sex so much. She couldn't imagine it got any better than feeling Daryl inside of her and feeling his body violently tremble as he spilled his release into her core. Wait! They hadn't used any protection! She'd never took a birth control pill and Daryl hadn't used a condom. A small gasp escaped her lips when she realized their mistake. "What's wrong?" Daryl inquired worriedly. Beth shook her head trying to calm herself. "Last night...we didn't...we didn't use any protection." she said. Daryl's face remained stoic for a moment before he exhaled. "Hey. Whatever happens...we'll deal with it. We got walls, food, and protection now. If it happens...I'll do whatever I have to do to keep ya safe sweetheart." he said as his hand moved down to rub her flat stomach which may or may not now harbor a child. Beth's eyes filled with tears. "We had all that stuff at the prison too. And then The Governor..." Beth sucked in a sharp breath before continuing. "You know what happened with Lori..." she tried to finish but Daryl cut her off. "Stop!" he said gruffly with his voice breaking. "Ya ain't gonna be like that. I ain't gonna let ya. I'll keep ya safe Beth. Everything will be just fine." he told her with conviction. She knew he'd do anything for her but some things were beyond his control. Daryl couldn't stop Beth from dying in childbirth anymore than Maggie could stop Lori. Despite the advances they had here in Alexandria, Beth knew that a pregnancy was still a dangerous plight to undergo. "Alright. Whatever happens..." she said with hesitation. "I mean it girl. We don't even know if ya are yet. Surely to goodness I ain't gonna knock ya up on your first time." he joked trying to lighten the mood. His joke did receive a small smile but Beth was still worried.

It's not that she didn't want a baby with Daryl because she did. The idea that she could be carrying his child inside of her right now thrilled her. However the world was a dangerous place and after what happened with Lori...how could she do that to Daryl? She knew it'd destroy him plus he probably didn't want a baby anyways. "Whatcha thinking about?" he asked interrupting her thoughts. She looked at him only to find that he was staring at her with a look of child-like curiosity which melted her heart. He was always so attentive. She couldn't keep anything from him. "If I were to turn out pregnant...would you want it? I mean...do you want a baby? I don't want you to feel like you're obligated to it." For a moment, Daryl looked slightly mad but then he exhaled again now looking slightly amused. "Sweetheart I love ya. If ya get pregnant...Hell yeah I want the kid. I want a life with ya...and if ya think I ain't gonna want our own kid...you're wrong." he answered honestly while trying to hide his smile. His hand was still rubbing her belly and Beth was surprised when he scooted himself down in the bed to kiss it. He then laid his head down on her stomach and looked up at her with tears in his eyes. No one would believe that the indomitable Daryl Dixon could be like this. "It'd make me the happiest man in the world." he whispered to her. Beth ran her hands through his hair as she fondly gazed down at him. "It'd make me happy too." she said softly as he nuzzled his head into her belly. "But I'm so scared Daryl...pregnancy was scary before but now..." she began crying. Daryl looked up again. "Don't do this to yourself. We don't even know if ya are. It's gonna be alright sweetheart. I'll take care of everything." he said as he moved from her stomach up to her side again. He wrapped his arms around her and held her as she buried her face in his neck. He was ecstatic at the possibility of Beth being pregnant. This whole life he shared with her was the greatest thing he'd ever done. However his heart was in turmoil. Beth had voiced his worst nightmare which was her dying. He knew the dangerous times they were living in, he knew what had happened to Lori, and he also knew what kind of Father his old man had been. What if Beth died? What if the baby died? What if he turned into a monster like his bastard of a Father? Daryl squeezed his eyes shut as he willed himself not to cry. He cradled Beth, who had fallen back asleep, closer to his chest. There was no way in Hell he was letting ANY of that stuff happen. Beth and his child were going to be just fine. He also swore to himself that he would NEVER raise a hand to either of them. No one was going to hurt his wife or unborn child. He'd die before he let that happen.