A/N: Wow! 200 reviews – that's amazing (here's your shout out Momo for being my 200th review). Thank you everyone that takes the time to make my day that much brighter. I'm sorry, but once again the site isn't allowing me to respond to many of the reviews nor can you see all of them Beyond that frustration – here's some answers to some of the question – yes it's nice the Greene family is more accepting of him, no there will be no baby making in the next chapter, yes I'm happy this story will be longer also… I have so many more stories to write about this little universe, it's really exploded into a realm of its own and I'm enjoying it, and finally, no… we haven't seen the last of Merle. He'll be coming around shortly again. We can't get rid of him that easily. Now, I won't hold you up any longer, here's the chapter everyone has been waiting for. Enjoy!
{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}
Chapter 21
Three hours later and the party was still going strong. The bachelorette party had warmly welcomed a few more guests and more than one of the men from Daryl's group at the bar had been happy to join. There were enough beads, boas and crowns to go around for all. Tiny, unfortunately for him, had to go before he got in trouble. His wife wouldn't be pleased if he knew he was at a bar, let alone with a bachelorette party. Shane, Oscar, and Axel were more than happy to enjoy the company of the celebrating women at the three pushed together tables.
Despite joining the group, Daryl hadn't talked much, but rather he settled back and took it all in. He was currently nursing his third beer of the night, one that had gone flat an hour before. Daryl didn't trust himself if he drank more than that, he wasn't about to let his inhibitions run wild tonight with so much other alcohol running rampant.
It was late, but despite the hour the bar was still currently more than half full. It was dangerously close to closing time, but the bachelorette group seemed hell bent on continuing their fun until the end; more laughter and hoots coming as one of their own stepped down after singing the latest Katy Perry single.
Beth had strangely seemed to be spending most of the night at the other end their tables, away from him. Daryl wasn't sure what that meant. She, along with Maggie and the other women, had invited them over, more than pleased with Daryl and the others who had joined the group in celebration. From time to time, they'd catch each other's eyes, but there had no real contact beyond a few fleeting smiles exchanged. Daryl couldn't seem to stop from watching her; at least he tried to hide by using his peripheral vision. Beth seemed to be having a great time along with everyone else; it was just when she looked at him, her expression seemed to change. It was unreadable to Daryl, almost pained yet nostalgic perhaps…whatever it was, it was confusing the hell out of him.
There was more hooting and hollering as a few seemed to try to urge Daryl onto the stage. He flipped the loudest of them a finger in good humor. There was no way in hell he was ever setting foot up there. He wasn't a singer… or a dancer and nor did he do the limbo. During the night, Daryl had only earned himself one set of bright blue beads by buying a round of shots for the rowdy gals. Shane, on the other hand, had a multitude of beads, a crown and some sort of sash proclaiming him Queen Bitch. Hell, even Axel was comically sporting flashy pink sunglasses and a green feather boa.
After Daryl bowed out, Beth pushed back from the table and wandered up to the stage. She made her song selection carefully, looking slyly over to him for a moment before stepping up to the microphone. There was something about when that woman was on stage that he couldn't even pretend to not be staring; his eyes never left her while she was up there. It wasn't just her voice either even though Beth owned that stage once up there.
Despite the young woman's obvious inebriation, when the music started and Beth began to sing, there was little slurring or stumbling.
"I've been a rock and I've got my fences
I never let them down
When it comes to love, I keep my senses
So I don't get kicked around
I shivered once, you broke into my soul
The damage is done now, I'm out of control"
Beth found Daryl in the crowd, her lidded eyes focused on him. She placed both hands on the microphone in front of her as she belted out the chorus with a slight smile.
"How did you get to me
No one else on Earth
Could ever hurt me
Break my heart the way that you do
No one else one Earth
Was ever worth it
No one could touch me like
No one could love me like you"
Daryl couldn't help the shiver that ran down his spine as Beth sung those words. The song was hitting too close to home for him… was it for Beth also?
"You can make me want you anytime you want to
You're burnin' me alive
I can't deny you even when I catch you
Weaving a weak alibi
Cause when the night falls, you make me forget
Your love is killin' me, and it ain't over yet"
Someone bumped into him, knocking him to the side, but Daryl never broke eye contact with Beth. Her crystal blue eyes remained trained on him, even as she traversed the stage. There wasn't a damn thing Daryl could do but stare and listen to her. Her smile had fallen away, a look of seriousness coming onto her pale face. She had to know what she was doing to him, as she nipped at her lower lip for a brief moment before continuing her song.
"How did you get to me
No one else on Earth
Could ever hurt me
Break my heart the way that you do
No one else on Earth
Was ever worth it
No one could touch me like
No one could love me like you"
The last note hung there for a moment before the group erupted in applause. Beth sung well, but that performance had been amazing even to her friends and family. For Daryl, once the song was done, he finally felt he could breath, drawing in a giant lung full of stale bar air. What the hell had just happened? He was sure that something had just happened. The evidence could be seen in the pink twinge of Beth's cheeks as she hastily escaped the stage and avoided his eyes suddenly. She exited towards the rear, heading down a long hallway that led to the restrooms.
Daryl was on his feet instantly to follow her. He wasn't sure why or what he was planning to do once he found her, he just knew he had to. He made his through the congested crowd, not so gently moving a few out of his way. Daryl was almost free when a large arm suddenly blocked his way. Shane grabbed Daryl by the elbow, shoving him over to the side and away from the group.
"What the fuck, Dixon?" asked Shane, keeping Daryl back when he made and effort to pull away.
Daryl growled in frustration, Beth was completely gone now. He wasn't going to be able to catch her now. He turned his glaring eyes back to Shane. "What?" Daryl barked.
"That's what I asked," returned Shane sharply, but then quieted his tone has he pulled closer to Daryl, "Man, I mean, what the hell is goin' on with you two? Both of you been eye fuckin' each other all eye night long. This is Maggie's thing and you two seem like shit's about to start… I thought… People said you two ain't together."
"Fuck," Daryl grounded out. "I… we ain't… I don't… FUCK." What the hell was he supposed to say? Daryl had been so busy trying to deny the attraction and then the possibility; he never let his mind wander to what he wanted beyond a touch, a kiss or a smile. Together… that was never even an option in his mind.
Shane raised an eye at Daryl. "You guys got a side thing going on? I know she's your baby mama – "
Daryl turned back on Shane, and the look Daryl gave Shane made the other man shut his mouth instantly.
"No," Daryl growled his response. The word was simple but the tone held all the meaning, enough to make Shane pull a half a step away.
"Okay, man, okay," said Shane evenly. "It's just that she ran that way and not towards you… seems like maybe you shouldn't be chasin' her, man. Especially if'n you ain't sure why you are? Or if you even should?" Shane paused to adjust his crown before continuing, "Just sayin', man."
Daryl raked an aggressive hand over his face and through his hair. He knew Shane wasn't just being an ass to be an ass; the man actually probably just saved Daryl from making a big mistake. It wasn't like he actually knew what the hell he wanted. He wanted Beth, a fact he'd never doubted in his life. But it was more than that… he wanted something he'd never had before, something better than he deserved with her. He needed to get his shit under control again before he majorly fucked up everything he'd created with Hope and Beth.
Pinching the space between his eyes and nose, Daryl nodded his agreement to Shane. He needed to listen to the advice he'd just been given. With a deep sigh, Daryl turned back around to the table where the group was gathered. Shane gave him a hearty pat to his shoulder before he turned his attention to the blonde named Andrea at the other end.
Just as Daryl lowered himself back to his previous seat, Maggie bumped into him and hung an arm around his neck. "Sings real good, don't she?" Maggie slurred with a giant smile, her eyes heavily lidded.
Daryl coughed and nudged her gently to sit back up. "Yeah," he mumbled in return.
"So good in high school, choir, and at the coffee shop. She 'ad dreams of makin' it big, ya know, like beyond just talent shows. Runnin' off to Nashville, maybe… promised mama she'd at least try college," Maggie explained, rolling her body back off Daryl.
"Then mama and Shawn died. And Beth did too… a little. No singin', no smilin', no nothin' for such a long time." The melancholy tone hit him hard, forcing him to look at Beth's sister. Her smile had faded into a frown, her chin trembling. "She was so lost…"
Then as suddenly as the sadness appeared, it bounded away. "And then Hope came an' she sang again," announced Maggie cheerfully as she grabbed Daryl, hugging his arm. "Fuckin' A she did! And she had her heart again. Ya gave her that, Daryl… Thank you, oh, thank you!"
Did Maggie just thank him for banging her little sister? Daryl couldn't help but snort a laugh at that.
"I shouldn't tell you this… but I see –" Maggie hiccupped and leaned further into him, the alcohol was strong on her breath. "I shouldn't say 'cause I don't really know… but when Beth looks at ya… She says that it's not – it's not…" She hooked her arm in his, leaning into him again to steady herself.
Daryl was left hanging on the earnestness of what she was trying to say. He was bursting to know what Maggie was trying to tell him. What about Beth? What did Maggie know?
Maggie's eyes grew large as she squeezed his arm tightly. "Oh my God, Daryl! Yer arm is so… so fuckin' fine! Sasha! Sasha!" Maggie snapped her fingers at her closest friend. "Sasha, oh, ya've got to feel 'is arm! So many muscles…"
Sasha, the designated driver, sipped her water and rolled her eyes. "Maggie, ya gotta drink some more water, hon. Leave that man alone."
Maggie squeezed Daryl's bicep again. "Oh my God, I love muscles. I love 'em. I – I love Glenn. Where's Glenn?" Maggie rose slowly and unsteadily to wander off, but Sasha snatched her and ushered Maggie to a seat where a glass of water was waiting for her.
Daryl was pretty sure he couldn't be more confused. He had no idea what Maggie had meant to tell him, adding to his growing headache. He'd never understand women. Beth had looked at him during that song with such intensity only to run in the opposite direction afterwards. She would smile at him even though he knew he could never possibly ever have a chance after he'd fucked up so bad. Maye it was just damn time to go home… alone.
Apparently everyone, including the bar, thought it was a great idea too. The tabs were all paid while purses and feathered boas were rounded up. Beth had appeared again with a woman named Tara, the veterinary technician who worked for the Greene family and was often around the farm so he'd met her before. The two women had slammed down the last of the alcohol left for them on the table with gusto.
Sasha was the sober cab and was working at getting all the women out the door safely. She was going to need more than one trip to bring them all home, cabs had mistakenly not been called for a few.
"I'm sure I can be of assistance to some of these damsels in distress," offered Shane as he put his arms over the shoulders of Lori and Andrea with a grin. Shane, like Daryl, had a few drinks earlier on, but nothing excessive that would be hinder his inability to escort them home.
Lori groaned loudly and shucked out from under his touch; she was already starting to sober up. "Ugh… really, Shane?"
Shane grinned back at her. "Ah, Lori, I might not have gotten any dirt on you, but I sure gonna get somethin' better."
"Oh, and what's that," asked Andrea coyly as she smiled at the handsome man.
"Pretty sure it's gonna be your number," Shane responded with a wink.
Lori groaned louder and slapped her face. "Don't do it, Andrea, don't do it."
But it was too late; the blonde was already laughing at his joke and heading with him toward his car. Lori reluctantly followed, bringing another woman with her that apparently lived close by to her.
While Sasha looked grateful at the assistance, there were still wasn't enough room in her Prius for the rest of the group. She briefly looked over to Axel but dismissed him quickly as the man stumbled off the curb. Axel only lived a few blocks away and would be walking home in the cool early morning air of September. He gave a dramatic wave to the women and bowed, almost tipping over, before ambling easily down the street. Oscar followed behind him, deciding it was in his best interest to follow his friend home for a place to crash; he was also too many beers in to get into his vehicle.
Sasha turned and gave Daryl a pained look; the two knew each other from daycare. Sasha owned and ran the center and was often there when he would pick up his daughter on Friday afternoons.
Daryl nodded to her. "Yeah, who ya need me to take?"
Sasha looked back to Beth and Maggie, the sisters doing a decent job of holding each other up right at the moment. "You got a bucket in that truck of yours? You might need it," she laughed, but then thanked him for his help.
Daryl took a deep breath, he could do this. He dug deep into his pocket for his keys as he used his head to motion for the sister to follow him. Maggie lurched forward, but Beth looked strangely panicked but followed her staggering sister after a moment. Sure as shit there was something wrong, Daryl knew it. Just as he knew somehow, someway, it was his damn fault. He'd fucked up in some way, messing up this good path he'd been on with Beth… and maybe Hope now.
His inner critic that told him wasn't worthy most of the time had been growing increasingly quieter and had been less frequent. Still, it would rear its ugly head from time to time. Shithead. Loser. Total fuck up. It was everything Daryl had always been called by people, his father, his family, just about everyone he'd ever known. It had been just a normal part of him for such a long time. He had been all those things. Daryl had been… that was the point. He'd changed. He was trying. Why couldn't that damn voice just leave him the hell alone? His shoulders sagged a little, knowing despite his efforts to change, he still didn't know if it would ever really matter. He was still the same person to most people; Leopards don't change their spots.
Daryl opened the door for Beth and Maggie before going around to his side. The two sisters carefully navigated their way into the truck. When he reached his side, Daryl was surprised to find Beth in the middle seat, pulling her sister into an upright position next to her.
As if Beth could tell what he was thinking, she offered an explanation. "Trust me… we want 'er next t' the window."
Once the door was closed, Beth rolled the window down and buckled her sister in. Maggie leaned her head against the door, her eyes closing instantly. Beth swayed a little and leaned back stiffly, attempting to keep her body from touching Daryl as he slid in next to her. The cab wasn't large and he wasn't a small man so there was no way he could help her in avoiding touching him as their arms and legs briefly bumped into one another.
Daryl started the truck and pulled out behind Sasha's very full Prius. There was a pair of bared asses hanging out the side windows as the small car turned in the other direction, fully mooning the passengers of the truck. Daryl snorted a laugh. Most of those women would be severely hurting in the morning, and he wouldn't trade places with any of them.
Okay, well maybe one… but just to know what the hell was going through her head. Daryl gave Beth a sly glance. She seemed strangely alert despite her obvious drunkenness unlike her sister who was already snoring. Daryl could feel his heart rate spike with his indecision to the problem next to him. Should he just ignore whatever it was that was so suddenly and obviously wrong? Or should he just plow ahead into uncharted territory and asked what the fuck was wrong?
He didn't have to agonize long because it was Beth who suddenly and loudly declared, "I'm so pissed at you, Daryl Dixon."
Daryl whipped his head to look at the beautiful blonde next to him, causing him to steer slightly off the road. He had to pull the truck back onto the correct path. He was shocked she'd spoken to him at all after a night of almost complete avoidance, and then to say that. He was at a loss.
"Why?" He really didn't understand why so he might as well ask.
Beth glared angrily at him as if she couldn't believe he really didn't understand. Or maybe how dare he not know? Apparently Beth really had no idea of what kind of an idiot Daryl really was.
"Really, Beth… I don't know why."
Beth released a deep sigh and relaxed back against the seat. "Of course ya don't… Do ya have any idea of what ya did t' me all those years ago?"
He swallowed hard. "Yeah, Beth, I was an asshole, a jerk. I'm sor –"
"No, no, no." She waved him off dramatically, her arm whacking against his at the steering wheel. "I don't mean what you did t' me, I mean what you did t' me."
Okay because that completely cleared it up for him. He had nothing but complete and utter confusion on his face.
"I was in love with you, Daryl, when we… we made Hope, I was in love with you."
Daryl instantly wished he wasn't driving down a highway. He could only throw Beth an astounded side glance as she set his whole reality into a tailspin. What the hell was she talking about? They had about twenty-four hours together on that fateful day years before. The experience had been amazing; changing both of their lives forever, but Daryl seriously doubted he was that good to have elicited that kind of reaction from the young woman that day.
"Don't look at me like that," Beth snipped at him. She sat herself up and glared at him while wagging an accusing finger at him. "I'm not some stupid girl. We… somethin' happened between us… I know… I thought you felt it to… that's why I… we…" She couldn't find the words.
Beth released a frustrated huff of air and sat back again when Daryl continued to look dumfounded. "I guess it was just me. I loved you, Daryl. I fell in love with ya over the course of a couple of hours… I know it was fast and so reckless but I did. What can I say? I was young and stupid and careless." Another drunken and dramatic sigh escaped Beth.
What the hell had he thrown away four years ago? And now here was where Beth finally told him to fuck off, to forget ever considering them getting back together. His stomach clenched with the anticipation of what he guessed wasn't going to be an easy let down with the state Beth currently was in.
Rather than the angry voice Daryl was expecting, Beth softly stated, "Then… it took me months to get over it wasn't the same for you… You'd think the way ya treated me would have been enough, but no my darn heart thought otherwise. Shoulda learned my lesson 'bout bein' freewheelin' with my heart."
As she drew in a deep breath, Beth briefly flicked her eyes up to him. "It was okay. I was okay again by the time I saw ya again… when ya showed up that night, that first time… or at least I thought I was okay."
Beth groaned dismally and rubbed at her face. "Ya still looked so damn good," she moaned as her face flushed pink under her fingers. "It was so hard to see ya again."
Daryl could not believe what he was hearing. Beth peeked out from behind her hands and saw him staring open mouthed at her. She dropped her hands in frustration.
"Don't give me that look either," she snapped at him. "Ya know what all the women say about you!"
Daryl had to jerk his gaze back to the road. It was dark and dangerous so why the hell was this woman saying this to him… now of all times.
"The hell you say," Daryl retorted. When had women ever looked at him before?
Beth shoved at his shoulder. "Daryl, yer damn eye candy and ya know it. Those beautiful eyes and oh gosh, those arms… those arms alone are enough to get me..," she returned, biting at her lower lip as she seemed to lose herself in thought.
Daryl felt the blood rush to his face along with another part of his body at her admiration. This conversation was still so utterly surreal to him, but apparently it was happening.
She shook the distracting thought from her mind. "And then ya come back and ya were a still a jerk. It was okay, that was better. I was able t' be around ya then. You were such a jerk."
"I was," Daryl agreed lamely. He'd been one for such a long time to both his daughter and Beth, even when he thought he was trying. He deserved to be called one by her; she'd never said that to him before but he knew she'd been thinking it before.
"You were," Beth said nodding dramatically in agreement with him. "And then you weren't. You're not now… you're different, you're good and here and trying and you're fuckin' me up." She slapped her hands over her mouth. "Oops! I don't talk like that… You talk like that."
Daryl couldn't help the chuckle that escaped him at Beth Greene swearing at him. "Must be my bad influence."
The trip wasn't long, and suddenly they were at the Greene driveway. Daryl carefully pulled down the long path. Maggie stirred against the door as they hit the bumps on the dirt drive and popped her eyes open. Daryl cursed silently in his head, knowing the conversation was going to completely stop now that the slumped Maggie had awoken. There was no way he wanted to continue talking with big sister ears listening. Beth seemed to be on the same page she looked woefully at him and helped her sister sit up as he parked the truck directly in front of the porch.
"Home! Thanks, Daryl," Maggie slurred as she and Beth exited the truck.
Daryl got out and walked around to see if the two sisters needed help up the stairs, but amazingly Maggie climbed the steps quickly and all on her own, perhaps only a little unsteady. She threw open the door to the house and disappeared inside, completely determined in her destination.
Beth stayed on the lower step, hesitant to move further. She turned and looked over to Daryl. He felt drawn to her and walked over, hoping the conversation would continue.
A little, cool breeze drifted by them, making Beth shiver. Daryl had to stop himself from wrapping his arms around her. She had just explained how over him she was, that he was a jerk. Instead, Daryl stood just a few feet from her and couldn't help but notice how absolutely beautiful she looked in the pale light of a mostly full moon. Her curls were mostly played out, her hair partially pulled from a few pins and the strands were starting to frame her face. She looked tried and maybe a little sad, but that didn't damper how incredibly amazing she always looked to him. Messed up hair, smeared eye shadow, it didn't matter. Beth Greene would always be the most beautiful woman he'd ever had the blessing to see, let alone touch.
"I'm really drunk," she stated matter-of-factly as she swayed a little.
"Not as bad as Maggie, but yeah," he replied with a smirk.
"I ain't gonna remember none of this so I might as well keep goin'," she said with consideration as she wrapped her arms around herself, hugging herself against another cool breeze drifting over them.
Beth leaned closer to him slowly. "You are messin' me up again, Daryl," she said pointedly, her striking blue eyes locking with his. "I don't know if I can take it again. It's not yer fault. It's mine. I know ya don't want me like that; you made that abundantly clear all those year before. I don't know why ya don't and it's killin' me that ya don't."
She had leaned too far, she started to topple forward. Daryl grabbed her arms at her elbows to keep her from falling. Her body touched his as she turned her face up to look at him once she was steady again.
"I'm fallin' in love with ya again, I know I am. And you'll crush me again. I don't know if'n I can survive that again. How the hell do I get over you, Daryl Dixon?" she whispered to him, her eyes pinched with strain.
Daryl was staggered by her honest yet drunken admission. Were these really her words? Or was it the tequila talking to him right now?
Beth blinked a few times at him while waiting for a response that wasn't going to come; shock was holding him in place. "Well… if I ain't gonna remember any of this I might as well…" Beth pushed up on her tiptoes, not much due to the boots she had on, and pressed her lips softly to his.
Daryl couldn't help himself. He knew it was wrong, Beth was drunk and she couldn't know what she was doing. Despite knowing that, it didn't stop him from kissing her back, relishing in the feel of her caressing lips, partially open, and pressing against his. Daryl allowed the kiss to go on for a moment, then two and when he felt her tongue slide along his lower lip he knew he'd let it go too far.
Reluctantly, Daryl pulled back from her, pushing her back up and steady on the lower step. It was exactly what he wanted, but it wasn't the way he knew he should get it. This world was constantly against him.
"Beth," he breathed hoarsely.
She flicked her head back, her eyes wide with the realization of what'd she just done. A pink flush popped to her cheeks as she leaned back from him. "Good night, Daryl," she whispered as she looked away.
Beth turned on her heel and hurried up the steps. She faltered to the side once just enough that Daryl almost jumped to her aid. Gratefully, she righted herself quickly, throwing him a bashful look before disappearing inside the house. It was best he didn't have to touch her again. Daryl didn't know if he would have been able to release her again so easily if he touch her some more. His lips were still tingling from her kiss.
Daryl stood unmoving for a moment in the moonlight. He wasn't sure what the fuck had just happened. Beth Greene wanted him. He'd been thinking about her for so long and thinking he had no right… and now, well, everything he thought he knew had just been thrown out the window.
Daryl leaned his head back and stared up at the stars that blanketed the night sky. A smile grew slowly on his face. For the first time, Daryl allowed himself the notion that he might actually get to kiss Beth Greene again. It might actually happen.
A/N: Maybe it wasn't what everyone was hoping for? Maybe it was enough?
No One Else on Earth – Wyonna Judd, Songwriters – Jill Colucci, Sam Lorber, Stewart Harris