I think my grammar and spelling and coherency might disappear half way down, I took my glasses off and it's just a white blur hahah so umm yh sorry….walking dead was good right guys, freaking love Michonne atm. xxx
He sighed in the door way, taking a longing look to keep with him for next time he was lonely. He wanted to stare longer, but knew best to just go down stairs. She was exhausted and needed the rest. Small red grazes along her arm and shoulder were still healing alongside the ankle, from when the herd attacked. And now she only had to have been tortured a day later by some sadistic bastard. And then he realised she had killed that man, all by herself. She didn't need him, and he felt guilty for not realising sooner. Beth was an independent woman, she could do it all without him, should she choose. And the freedom she gained from the heartbreak, shackled him in incomprehensible fear of her impending flight. And he would lose her. If he hadn't yet.
He stayed up late, staying downstairs after dinner. Judith had been fussy so Kenneth had taken her for a while. When it past twelve and she still wouldn't settle longer than half an hour, Daryl took over, letting the yawning man head to his bed. He wasn't paying attention to anything, just knowing he couldn't rest yet. Taking every few minutes as it came, until the little hands on the mantle clock pointed at 3 am, and the hammer noiselessly hit pieces of cloth.
''You shouldn't be walkin' lil' girl.'' Daryl's voice was distant and rough, he was illuminated only by the lit end of a cigarette and some soft candles. She jumped at him voice, looking over to the corner where he was sat on the windowsill, tipping ash onto the poor shrubbery. His icy gaze seemed to be the only source of light in that corner, but she didn't mind. She limped slowly over toward him, hands finding anything to give her extra support.
''Couldn't sleep?'' Her voice was light, she leant against the edge of the window, less than a metre away from hm. But she could have been a million miles away, and it couldn't make any difference to him right now. He was drowning in thoughts, pulling up every memory of her sweet southern voice. The first time he had heard it, she was screaming. Over a dead mother and brother. He knew that voice crashed into his life screaming, and it would leave screaming too. No matter how hard he tried.
''Ass-kicker's been cryin', you not sleepin', Beth?'' Her name jarred in his throat, feeling a subtle change between them. The word 'princess' fading into the conscious unsaid between them. The way she looked at him, he knew she sensed it too. Of course she did, she was Beth. The sad look she gave him was only enhanced by the slow shake of her head.
''Slept all day.'' He wanted to say 'I know'. But he couldn't, and he selfishly didn't want to tarnish that memory by mixing it with any sadness. He was wary, always had been, he grew up that way. His hands could wrap into her soft hair, her lips only a beat away from finding his, if he sat up and let it happen. But Judith saved the worry.
Beth held her arms out for a tearful, fussy Judith. Daryl quietly handed her over, having got to the basket and back to save Beth the journey. She grateful smiled at him, and gave the child a concerned look. It could be any number of things; tiredness, upset tummy, teething. But they had no way of knowing so she swaddled her tighter in the blankets how she did when Judy was younger, and bounced her gently side to side. The ugly lines on her stomach protested but held fast, slowly pulling out a light rhythm.
Sing me to sleep, sing me to sleep, Judith's small whimpering cries got softer, she lifted her own little hands to wipe away irritated tears from her rosy cheeks. Sniffling and snotting still, Beth had that look of adoration on her face. The one that made Daryl feel like he was intruding and needed to be closer, all at the same time. I'm tired and I, I want to go to bed. The exhaustion was hitting Daryl, the soft lullaby making his own eyes heavy, he could nearly forget everything he had to tell her and go to a final sleep. But he couldn't close them. Not when she was lit up by the moon from the open curtains, and the suffocating vanilla candles on the shelf.
This little girl who was born for so much more than bloodshed and death, sing me to sleep, sing me to sleep, she was all she never would have had to have been. A teenage mother, a murderer and an orphan. But zombie land makes those things achievements, not some social cliché to avoid. And then leave me alone. And she deserved the world, but all he had to give was what he had right now. That might never be enough, and one day at his increasingly inevitable end, she would be as good as gone. Don't try to wake me in the morning, 'cause I will be gone Separated from her on earth was nothing to what it would be like seeing her reach the cosmos heavens, as he lay down in hell.
Judith snuffled slightly, falling back off into reluctant sleep, Beth still willingly bouncing and singing.
Don't feel bad for me, she was perfect. Wispy blonde hair pulled back in a rushed plait, strands falling round her face where they escaped reluctant confinement. Eyes downcast, he could see the shadow off he lashes on her cheeks. I want you to know, deep in the cell of my heart I will feel so glad to go. Did anyone else see her? How anyone had missed the presence of an angel confused him, struck him down to the core. Somehow the beauty and the sadness slipped under everyone's radar, but never his. I don't want to wake up on my own anymore. He slipped up near her. Unable to stop his feet from standing behind her, or his arms from wrapping round her stomach lightly. His cheek rested on her shoulder leaning to her cheek.
If he shocked her she made no move or fault to acknowledge it. From here he could see ass kicker was pretty much gone, cheeks still red from fury at whatever woke her. Sing me to sleep, sing me to sleep. Beth turned slowly, placing the baby in his arms to lie down again. The soft precious weight gave a pressure he guessed fathers got every time they saw their baby. But Beth only smiled, trusting him. There is another world
There is a better world
Well, there must be.
He stepped away, feeling the pull back, but deciding he had to learn to live without it. After all this could never work between them, no matter what he angel voice made him think. The silence offered respite from her hypnotic perfection so he could think clearly. He had to get out. Turning his back on her to talk away.
''You're trying to pull away, aren't you?'' Her voice wasn't sad, nor was it accusatory. Still she wrapped an empty arm around her stomach. The gentle tone was at odds with her singing only moments ago. He was stood in the doorway, ready to leave. His fists clenched in resolve, not even really looking back, he muttered a half-hearted excuse.
''Your sister-'' his voice started resigned and exhausted, reminding him of the early hour.
''Maggie won't care.'' Her voice was quick, a sharper tone to it now. She hadn't spoken loudly, but raised her voice confidently above a whisper. He whipped round to look at her. Her face was blank and she stood up straight, feet planted.
''You don't know-'' once again he felt himself get cut off, and frankly it pissed him off a bit.
''Stop hiding, you said you love me.'' Maybe it was her emotionless voice, tinted with an emotion he rarely got to hear. She caught his gaze, and he looked down to the floor, rubbing the back of his neck with a heavy sigh. But she wasn't having it, she was getting an answer. This time her voice wavered a bit in doubtful anger, still only talking level but it may as well have been shouting. ''well, you did, didn't you?'' he could see her chest puff out, as she tried to calm herself down. Angry tears were on the verge of spilling, but he forced himself to look at her face.
Her eyebrows were knitted together, top teeth slightly biting the bottom lip. She was waiting for an answer he wouldn't give. He wanted to run, unable to watch her shaking hands tug on the hem of her t-shirt anymore.
''And now you're leaving because I didn't say it back?'' she sighed again, voice small and shaking, her entire control fading slowly to oblivion. She was getting soft and hurt, he could see it through the fact she was steeling herself, pretending she could take this.
''E-exactly,'' he looked into her eyes, hoping he was trained enough to not break down the wall. He couldn't let her past that anymore, it just wouldn't work. Her she was with his alibi, handing to him so he could walk away and keep her safe from a distance.
''No.'' She met his gaze just as confidently, and like a punch that one word delivered.
''No?'' he tilted his head at her, as she would do when she knew she was missing something.
''You're pulling back because you got too close.'' She somehow managed to step gracefully closer, even with a bad ankle he didn't see her falter her voice was soft gain, back to the whispers. ''and if I said- if I said it back, you'd want to run.'' she looked up at him, faces only inches apart. He felt trapped in the closeness of their stance, but knew breaking out was the last thing he wanted to do.
Her slim arms wrapped around him, holding him in a one-sided embrace. And instantly he was back at the prison when that boy died, and she came over to comfort him. And he opened his heart to Beth Greene for the first time, not knowing it wouldn't be the last. He should've known when he saw the look in her eyes, when she said she didn't cry anymore. The same blue eyes looked at him not, scared and desperate, grabbing at his own for longing understanding.
''I love you, Daryl.''
Her voice broke, and the tears began to cascade down her cheeks. He could see her physically shaking, but still holding onto him, resting her head on his shoulder. But he didn't move. He just let her cry, because someone she had broken at those words the same way he had. Him saying it could be passed as a mistake, something to brush over in a few months once their wounds had healed. But confirmation form her put them both in concrete water. She sobbed against him, and gradually his ears started to move. He held her frail frame against his, one hand on the back of her head keeping her close and the other rubbing circles on her back.
Once she slowed her crying, he gently held her by the shoulders and pulled he back to look at her face. She looked so young and vulnerable, as he placed a chaste kiss on her forehead.
''I ain't gonna run, but I can't promise I ain't gonna screw up sometimes.'' His sounded unsure, his raspy voice whispering. But it was he sweetest thing she'd ever heard, she leant up and caught his mouth. He held her gently like a piece of damn china, acting like they'd never done this before. Her entire body felt spread of wildfire and tingling to his touch like ice. She knew she wanted more, so she pressed for it, and he pressed back.
He scooped her up gently with no real effort on his part. Keeping his arm close enough to him as to only momentarily break the kiss. And when she was lay down on the sofa, they stopped playing cute and coupley to give into the heightened emotions flying around earlier. His shirt was swiftly removed, her soft hands uncaringly stroking the rough scars of his past, soothing them with expert hands. Now he could do the same for her. His cold hands on the fresh warmth of her stomach made her jolt slightly, so he paused thumbs slowly tracing the hideous lines. She had to know he didn't care. But to make sure he uncaringly pulled her top off, flinging it across the room. His wet lips kissed tenderly down her abdomen, she gasped at the sweet sting. Wanting to cry again, because she knew what he was doing.
He gazed back at her lit up face, a sweet smile toying ghost like on her lips, eyes closed and quivering. Then he realised she was topless for the first time in front of him. Her gentle paleness stretched from a flush neck to the gentle, small curves, into angry red lines. He could only imagine what the continuation of flawless skin would've been like, but he didn't care. He got to see warrior Beth, the one with a bit of fight in her. Enough fight to fight for the man no one wanted for the last 30 years. He kissed and nipped every perfection he saw, admiring the crazy beauty and working his way back up to her sugary taste.
Her back arched and little mewls escaped her, making him hold her down against him, so she knew what she did. Their lips met again, hungry and fervent. The proof of everything that they said, and a way to sign the contract. He pulled her up closer, relishing everything about her, murmuring nothings into her ear. His cheeks flushed red and heart twice the size. He had Beth wrapped around him, a family upstairs and a place to call home. It may be zombie land but he finally felt some semblance of peace.
If only it would have stayed so safe.
This was fun to write, I did a little role-playing to see how lines would be delivered, it was fun! xxx