Ch. 20

"How's Maggie?" Beth asked as they walked through the woods.

"She was upset," he said quietly. "I don't know nothin' about havin' babies. I guess she was okay. I imagine that Carol'll be able to take care of her. Your daddy taught her a lot when Lori was pregnant."

Beth hummed in agreement but didn't respond. He had a feeling things would be awkward when they got back, but he hoped it would clear up fast. Despite how she was acting, Carol was a good person. She was just shocked is all, he imagined, and probably a little jealous. He'd never say that out loud, though, but he figured having someone turn ya down a few times and then shack up with a much younger woman would piss anyone off—even a calm person like Carol—for a little while.

They continued on in silence as Daryl thought about what he'd just told Beth. He promised her he'd try talking more, and now seemed like a good time to start. He wondered what to talk about and decided something that didn't have to do with his family would be easier.

"I didn't finish high school."

Beth took his hand at his confession. "Neither did I."

He looked over at her and smirked. "I hated everythin' about school. The people, the teachers, feelin' like I was in a cage. I did better outdoors, so one day, I just stopped goin'. No one gave me any hell about it. They didn't care all that much about me.

"I don't even think my old man knew how old I was, so when I was home durin' the day, he didn't question it. When Merle got outta jail after I quit, I started followin' him around more."

He paused. An easy story had turned into a hard story real fast.

"How old were ya? How much older was Merle than ya?"

And with little effort, she steered it back to safety.

"I was sixteen and Merle is—was—five years older than me."

"Wow, so he was twenty-one and could get ya drunk." She laughed and squeezed his hand.

"Got drunk long before that. That was the old man's specialty."

Back to unsafe territory.

"Tell me somethin' crazy ya and Merle did."

Daryl sighed and shook his head. "Then or when we was older?"

Beth shrugged. "Whichever."

He thought about it as they kept on through the woods. Nearly every story that involved Merle had some type of crime or shady shit involved. It was kind of what his brother specialized in.

"Uhhh, when I was seventeen, we went to this bar. It was a real hole in the wall, and they didn't card ya. I was havin' a beer, and he was shootin' whiskey like it was his job. I knew somethin' bad was gonna happen, but I wasn't sure what exactly. I knew he was on probation and he'd get three to five if he went back before the end of the year, so I tried to keep him outta most trouble.

"This waitress he'd had his eye on for awhile kinda brushed up against him and whispered in his ear. He was a lost cause after that. I watched 'em walk to the back and figured, what the fuck, let 'em have some fun.

"Next thing ya know, all I hear is yellin' and shit fallin' over in the back. I run back there, thinkin' I'm gonna find some asshole beatin' on my brother, but he'd been off his ass drunk, and all that movin' around..." He cleared his throat and tried to think of the right way to elaborate. "Ya know"—he wiggled his eyebrows—"made his stomach get a little upset. Puked all down the front of that bitch's top.

"I was laughin', and Merle had passed out. Had to pull up his damn pants and haul his ass outta there."

Beth's face was priceless. He wasn't sure if she was going to laugh or her eyes were going to pop out of their sockets.

"Next day, figured out he'd been too wasted to remember anythin', so I told 'im that he nailed her good. Could hear her screamin' his name from the bar. He nearly killed me when he came back that night after tryin' hook up with her again. I took that beatin', laughin' the whole fuckin' time. Ain't never seen Merle more fuckin' embarrassed in my life."

Finally she started laughing, and once she started, she couldn't seem to stop. Soon, he was leaning up against a tree, laughing, too, and watching her eyes shine as she looked up at him.

Talking to her wasn't so bad.

It was a couple of hours before they made it back to his bike, and he was dragging. After their laughing fit, Beth had told him some stories about growing up, but they were all pretty tame compared to his.

He already had another one he was going to tell when they got a free minute. This one was just as humiliating, but it was about him, and he figured she should know it. Daryl would need to gather up his courage for that story, though.

Once he was on the bike, she swung her leg over and joined him, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist.

"I wish I knew how to drive this thing or that ya'd brought the truck. Ya look like you're about to drop."

"I'll be all right. Might have to take a nap when I get back to the cabin, though."

Beth squeezed him in a hug and he started the bike.

"I hope Maggie and the baby are okay," she yelled over the noise, causing him to flinch.

"Me, too."

She loved riding on the bike. If she closed her eyes, she felt like she was flying, and for a little while, it was just her and Daryl and peace.

The drive back to the cabin was over far too quickly, and a sense of sadness settled over her as they walked through the woods. It wasn't just about the ride being over, either. She was positive that sometime last night, Maggie had given birth, and she felt like she'd missed out since she hadn't been around to bring this new life into the world.

It was silly, and she needed to get over it. As long as they were both alive and okay, she would be a proud aunt.

Beth thought of what Daryl had said earlier about how this baby was a part of Glenn and she smiled. This would be a bittersweet experience for all of them, and she hoped the baby looked like Glenn, even just a little.

Daryl propped the bike next to the truck and walked with her over to the fence. He reached out and tugged on her arm as she leaned down to slide under the fence.

She looked up at him, watching as his eyes shifted over her face and he took a slow breath.

"I love ya," he whispered.

Her heart skipped, and she touched his hand. "Ya don't have to tell—"

"I said it 'cause I meant it." Daryl kissed her quickly and moved to go under the fence. She watched him for a moment and then slid under, too.

Once they were walking to the cabin, she laced her fingers with his and said quietly, "I love ya, too."

Inside the cabin was quiet.

Rick and Carl were asleep on their cots with Judith sitting up between them, playing with a stuffed giraffe.

"Hey," Carol whispered, waving them over, carefully rocking a little bundle.

Beth moved to the side of the bed quickly, smiling wide the whole time. She saw that her sister was asleep and was thankful for that. She'd have been a crying mess otherwise.

"She was born a little before sunrise."

"A girl?" Beth bit her lip to stop her excited squeal of happiness. "I'm gonna find ya all the pink frilly things I can, baby girl."

Carol held her out to Beth with a smile. "She's so precious."

Beth swayed from side to side, looking down at the sleeping newborn. "Thank ya, Carol," she whispered without looking up. "For bein' there for her when I couldn't and takin' such good care of 'em."

That seemed to take her by surprise, and she shook her head and backed away. She might have caused a scene yesterday, but for now, Beth was calling a truce. They'd have a discussion—that was certain—but it wouldn't be now.

"You're welcome. Your daddy made sure I knew everythin' he did, so it's really him we should be thankin'."

Beth nodded. "He would have loved you, angel." Then she twisted her lips to the side. "He does love you. He's gonna watch over ya."

They stood there for a minute, just watching the baby sleep, then Beth looked back over at Carol and asked, "What'd she name 'er?"

That made Carol laugh softly. "I promised I wouldn't tell ya. She wants to."

"Makes me think she wants to see my face," Beth said warily. "If it's somethin' terrible, I'll just call ya somethin' else."

Carol took that moment to slip away. "Michonne went to the creek to wash some of the towels and sheets; I'll go help her. Carl and Rick were up all night killin' stragglers. Judith slept like a rock." She smiled and ruffled Judith's hair as she passed her. It seemed like she was going to say something to Daryl, but she just nodded at him as she walked out the door.

"Come here, Daryl. Meet my niece." She turned from the door and caught him staring at her while holding Judith and the giraffe. "Ya look good holdin' babies."

He snorted and shook his head. "You're crazy."

They met in the center of the room and she turned the baby toward him.

"Holy shit, it's a little Asian baby."

"Daryl Dixon!" She whisper-yelled at him. "Ya cain't say that!"

"What? Looks like Glenn. Damn." He laughed and touched the baby's cheek. She wriggled and grunted but stayed asleep. "She's cute."

"She really is." Beth tugged up the cap she was wearing and saw a head full of black hair. "Oh, good gracious! I need bows, Daryl. Lots of bows."

He shook his head. "Woman, ya need to calm down. Maggie might not want all that girlie shit."

"Whatever." She shrugged and ran her fingers lightly through the downy hair as Daryl watched on.

"I was cotton-headed as a boy," Daryl mumbled, tickling Judith with the giraffe.

"Really?"

"Yeah, all rednecks start out that way," he joked.

"You're such a dork."

He grinned at her and then put Judith back down on the toddler mattress. "Gimme that baby."

Beth carefully handed her over, and he started walking around the small room, whispering to her quietly. She bent down and picked up a smiling Judith, cuddling her to her chest.

"I missed ya so much," she whispered against her hair.

"Beth?" Maggie's voice was scratchy, and Beth turned toward her immediately, rushing to her side.

Daryl moved to the bed, too. After Maggie eyed him up and down, she sighed and shook her head. "Ain't even gonna get into this with y'all. Just treat her right, ya hear me?" Daryl nodded. "Now, lemme see my girl."

He carefully placed the baby in Maggie's arms and then backed up against the wall, crossing his arms. Beth gave him Judith before sitting down next to Maggie on the side of the bed.

"What did ya name her?"

Maggie bit her bottom lip and scrunched her eyebrows. "Don't be mad, all right? It just fits."

"Just tell me!" She clapped her hands together.

"Maisie."

Beth's jaw dropped and she huffed. "Maggie, I told ya that in secret! Ya promised me."

"I know. I'm so sorry! I just looked at her, and it fit. If it helps, her middle name is Elizabeth."

Beth wiped her eyes and sighed. "If I wasn't so happy that you and Maisie were all right, I'd be really upset right now."

Maisie woke up then, screeching, and Maggie started to push down the neck of her tank top.

"Well, that's my cue to go check the fence." Maggie stopped and looked up at him, confused. Daryl gently put Judith down beside Beth on the bed. "She's beautiful. A mini Glenn. Congrats." He turned and hurried to the door.

"Thank you," Maggie replied, but he was already gone.

Beth shrugged. "He ducks out pretty quick when he's uncomfortable, and you were about to flash the girls."

"Ain't like he hasn't seen boobs before, and I was gonna nurse her not flash him for beads."

She snorted and shook her head. "She really is gorgeous."

Maggie nodded, looking down at the baby as she latched on to her breast. "It hurts," she whispered.

Beth leaned over and bit her lip. "We can find a book on breastfeedin' maybe, or Carol might've nursed Sophia."

"Not that," she said. "Well, it does hurt a little, but I think I'll get used to it." She swallowed hard. "I miss Glenn."

Beth took her sister's hand and squeezed it gently. "I'm sorry he's not here."

"Me, too. He was so excited about the baby. His hand was always on my stomach, feelin' her kick, and he went out as soon as we found out about her and got a baby book and was readin' it." Her tears were falling fast. "He would have been so proud of her. He joked all the time that he had the dominate genes and that it wouldn't even look like I had anythin' to do with her, and he was right. Do ya think this is his way of tellin' me that it's goin' to be okay? That he's watchin' over us?"

Beth wrapped her arms around her sister and tried to keep her own tears at bay but failed. "Absolutely, Maggie Mae. I don't doubt it for a minute."

"I'm really happy you found her." Carol's voice came from behind him, and he sighed. "I acted kinda crazy, I'll admit."

"Yeah."

"You don't gotta make this easy, but it would be nice if you'd look at me."

Daryl turned around and crossed his arms. "Whatcha want?"

"I'm sorry, Daryl."

"Me, too. I guess it's pretty shitty that I started this with Beth when I told ya I didn't want to get with anyone that way."

Carol shook her head. "You couldn't control it. I just really thought you'd come around, but it was wrong of me to come into your home and treat her that way. To treat you that way. You're my friend above everything else, and I promise you that I won't cross that line again."

"I promise I won't be an asshole much."

She held her hand out and he took it, shaking on their promises.

"That wasn't so hard, was it?" She asked, picking up the basket of towels on the ground that he hadn't noticed before.

"Naw, but I'm a forgivin' person. It's Beth ya gotta worry about."

She had the decency to look ashamed. "She's a good person. I knew that a long time ago, and for a few days, I forgot that I was like a mom to her back at the prison. I just saw her as this woman standin' between us. I was so caught up in it that I didn't realize at the time that we had put you in the middle. I'm sorry for puttin' ya in that position."

"It'll be okay." He shrugged, trying to think of a way to end the conversation.

"Hey," Beth said as she stepped around the side of the cabin. Daryl realized at that moment they were in the same place as yesterday. "This is a lot better than before," she snipped and pursed her lips.

"I'm sorry, Beth," Carol said sincerely. "It's settled, and I'm not going to act how I was. I was emotional and crazy for a few days. It was just a shock." Beth stared at her, unmoved by her apology. "I hope things can get back to how they were."

"I'm sure things will work themselves out—eventually. Right now, I just want to slap ya." Beth's hands were at her sides, clenched into fists. "I won't, but it's gonna take some time for that feelin' to go away. If I see ya look at him in a more-than-friendly way, I might act on the urge."

Carol nodded and looked away. "It's so strange to see how much you've come outta your shell. Both of you." She cleared her throat. "I gotta hang these up and get the rest from Michonne."

After Carol left, Beth and Daryl stared at each other for minute before she asked, "What'd she say?"

"She's sorry. Ain't gonna happen again. Wants us to mend fences and keep our friendship."

"What'd ya say?"

"I said I wanted the same thing." Beth narrowed her eyes. "Easy, killer. Things ain't gonna be that friendly."

She took a deep breath and walked toward him. "I know we're movin' slow, but does that mean you're not gonna sleep beside me?"

He wrapped her up in a hug and shook his head. "Ain't a chance in hell we're movin' that slow." Daryl pulled back and kissed her softly. "Ain't even sure I was in my right mind when I said that."

She laughed against his chest, and after a few seconds, he stepped back. "So what's the deal with Maisie?"

"I told Maggie that if I ever had a girl, I wanted to name her that. I loved the name and thought it was just beautiful. She took it, though, so I guess I'll have to find a new one that I like."

"Huh."

She smirked. "Huh, what?"

Daryl shrugged. He'd never thought about naming kids. Didn't even know if there was a name is was really fond of. "It's a nice name. You'll figure out somethin' else. Why Elizabeth?"

"My name's just Beth; I always wished that my parents had gone with somethin' a bit fancier. I went through a stage where I made everyone call me Elizabeth. Maggie promised me that if she had a baby girl, she'd call her that."

"That's fucked up. She took your name and still used the other one."

Beth laughed. "Yeah, she's sorta selfish, but I'll let her get away with it this time." She gasped. "What's your middle name?"

"What?"

"Daryl, I've known ya for years, I'm kinda sorta your maybe wife, and I don't know your middle name."

He bristled at her wording and spoke quickly. "Ain't no kinda sorta maybe about it. I meant what I said then, and I mean it now. Just 'cause I'm socially retarded doesn't mean that I don't know what I'm doin'." He cleared his throat. "My middle name is Ray."

He loved the grin that covered her face and almost kissed it away, but she started talking.

"Daryl Ray Dixon." She tapped her bottom lip. "And your brother?"

He closed his eyes. "Ray."

"Really?"

"Momma wasn't all that creative, I don't guess." He shrugged, looking down.

"Your momma's name?"

"Sarah."

"Your daddy?" Daryl cocked an eyebrow and tilted his head in her direction. With a laugh, Beth ran over him and hugged him close. "Your daddy's name was Ray!"

"Yeah, even named after that bastard."

Beth kissed him, sliding her tongue over his bottom lip, and he let her lead. She was so fucking happy she was smiling against his lips, and it made him smile, too.

"I don't wanna freak ya out, but when we get there, we're breakin' that tradition."

"No shit."

She hooked her arm into his and led him back to the front of the cabin. "I'm pretty sure Maggie's put her boobs away, so it's safe again." He felt his ears heat up, and Beth kissed his cheek. "You're precious."

He rolled his eyes but smiled. He was ready to go to sleep, and as soon as Beth left him go to visit with Maggie and Maisie, he lay down on their pallet and fell straight to sleep.