I do not own any of the TWD characters.

Let's Go Home

Daryl walked back into the ballroom to find his wife dancing with another man. Now, normally that probably would have sent him over the edge. However, this man had been in Beth's life just a little bit longer than he had – it was Silas. The youngster had his arms wrapped around his momma's neck and his legs around her waist. They were dancing to some slow song and Daryl immediately worried about Beth packing Silas for that length of time. Daryl quickly made his way to the dance floor and took Si from Beth and they all three danced together. Daryl whispered something to Beth, kissed her gently on the lips, and then brushed his hand over her tummy. It didn't go unnoticed by Hershel Greene. A person didn't make it to be Hershel's age by not being able to pay attention to the things going on around them. Hershel nudged Annette and whispered something into her ear. Annette broke out into a smile.

"I leave ya for five minutes and ya already dancin with another man" Daryl growled in her ear.

Beth giggled and scooched in closer to Daryl as he took Si from her and held the both of them close. "You don't ever gotta worry 'bout that Mr. Dixon" Beth sighed.

"Better not Mrs. Dixon" he said. Beth could feel the smirk on his lips as he kissed her on the lips. "Whattya think Si Pat?" Daryl said to the little boy "Don't ya think your momma is 'bout the prettiest thing ya ever seen?"

"Mmmhmmm" Silas said "she's real pretty." Both Daryl and Beth could tell that Silas was getting sleepy. The crowd was starting to thin out some and Daryl was wondering how much longer Beth was going to be able to hold out.

"You gettin sleepy hon?" Daryl asked Beth.

"Does it show?" Beth offered a weak smile.

"Little bit" he said. "Ya ready to make our exit?" Beth nodded at that question. Silas had now gone to sleep and was drooling on Daryl's once crisp shirt. "He goin home with your parents or Rick and Lori?"

Beth's head shot up to look at Daryl in the eyes. "Momma and Daddy" she whispered.

"Ya want to take him home with us, don't ya?" Daryl asked. Beth didn't answer with words but a gentle, timid smile crossed her lips. "Yeh, me too – I missed the little shit last night" Daryl admitted. Beth began to snicker. "Stop it – can't help it. Hell, we ain't gonna see him for five days."

"I know" Beth said reassuringly "it's just so sweet Daryl. Who woulda thought we'd take a toddler home with us on our wedding night?"

"Hell, don't care what anybody else thinks – ain't none of their business" Daryl grumbled, trying to justify what appears to have been him turning into some kind of softie. "We ain't flyin out till tomorrow night anyway – we have to wait for Abe to sober up."

Beth laughed. "Definitely want him to sober up. We can all three sleep in – I'll fix pancakes whenever we decide to get up."

"That right there sounds like a plan" Daryl said.

Daryl returned to Rick and Lori's table lugging a now completely passed out Silas, little arms and legs sprawled out all over Daryl. Daryl plopped into the closest chair he could find. Beth went to find Carol and tell her that she and Daryl AND Silas were getting ready to leave for the night. She knew that Carol wanted to organize a "goodbye" of sorts.

"Beth and I are just gonna take Silas on home with us tonight" Daryl told Rick and Lori. Rick just stared at Daryl like he'd sprouted wings.

"Ya fuckin serious?" Rick snorted.

"What tha hell's that mean?" Daryl said.

"Nothin man – just figured you'd want to go home alone – didn't mean nothin" Rick put up his hands in surrender.

"Little Man is passed out already anyway – and shit man – I don't know if I can go five days without seein him" Daryl told Rick.

"Awwwwww" Lori said and she started sniffing and wiping at her eyes.

"What tha fuck's wrong with you?" Daryl laughed at Lori.

"Nothing" she snapped.

"Awe, hell! She gets to cryin when she's drunk" Rick laughed.

Lori swatted at Rick and mumbled something incoherent. Neither man could tell if she was saying that she wasn't drunk, or if she wasn't crying or what. Hell, they both figured she'd be the next one to conk out. Beth joined them at the table and took Daryl by the hand. Kissing the top of his hand she then looked to her husband.

"Ya ready?" she asked "I think everyone's gonna see us off."

"I am ready" Daryl stood up with Silas.

"There's a limo here for us Daryl!" Beth squealed.

"No shit?" Daryl asked.

"I think your brother is responsible." Beth walked over to Lori and kissed her on the cheek. Rick then stood and pulled Beth to him and just hugged her like he'd never see her again, placing a sweet kiss to her forehead.

"I love ya girl" he said gruffly "don't ya ever forget it."

"I know – I love you too Rick. Thank you for everything." Beth said. "You and Lori come on – we'll go for a spin around town in this limo before we drop you at home."

"Woohoo!" shouted Lori, quickly followed by a hiccup. Lori snickered, "Excuse me" she said.

The diehard party people gathered on the front porch of the club where the white lime was waiting. Daryl shook hands and Beth hugged or kissed everyone. Silas was being carried by his Uncle Rick now and Beth had her arm around Lori, trying to keep her upright. Annette and Hershel couldn't get over the fact that Silas would not be going home with them, but instead they had Judith in their care tonight. It seemed that Rick or Lori would not be able to care for a small child tonight. Maggie and Glen just shook their heads thinking what a fool Daryl Dixon was for that little boy. Merle slapped his baby brother on the back and said something super stupid – something to the effect of do we need to have a talk for ya go home with that girl? Carol rolled her eyes at Merle and squeezed his arm.

Lori and Rick had arranged for all of the gifts that had been brought to the wedding reception to be delivered to Hershel and Annette's. Lori had mentioned that she didn't think that it was a good idea to have all of those gifts sitting in an empty apartment while Daryl and Beth were out of town. Rick was pretty impressed with Lori's thinking process on that deal – he figured he was starting to rub off on her. Earlier in the evening, Daniel had packed some leftovers from the buffet and cocktail hour for Daryl and Beth to have at the apartment. That way the newlyweds would have nourishment and not have to leave the apartment before they flew out for their honeymoon. Carol and Merle had managed to slip away and take the goodies on over to the apartment – everything neatly stored in the refrigerator or in the pantry.

Rick had talked Daryl into slipping a handle of Maker's Mark from the bar at the country club before they left and was insisting that he now drink it with him while they were being chauffeured around their small town. Lori herself had snagged another bottle of wine and Beth just wanted to get off of her feet. The driver had helped Daryl get Silas arranged in the back, and then they both got Beth and her dress into the car. Rick shoved Lori – not so gracefully- into the back and then he climbed in, pulling the door closed behind him. The crowd left standing at the club waved and continued to throw bird seed. Hershel shook his head and hoped that Rick wouldn't get Daryl too drunk before they made it home for the night.

Beth sat on the bench seat across from Daryl with Silas asleep beside her, his sweet little head in her lap. Daryl had pulled Beth's feet into his lap and taken her heels off so that he could rub her feet. Lori sat in between Rick and Daryl but she was leaning heavily toward Daryl –he kept trying to shove her back towards Rick. Rick began pouring up the tumblers of bourbon and Lori simply drank from her bottle. After one complete trip around town Rick finally spoke up.

"I really do love ya Daryl" Rick said.

"I know ya do man" Daryl was trying his best not to laugh at Rick who was obviously three sheets to the wind, and wasn't planning on sobering up anytime soon.

"I mean I really, really do" Rick said.

Beth looked at Daryl and just giggled at the spectacle unfolding in front of her. Her eyes were getting heavier with each passing second.

"I love you too Daryl" Lori added "Rick's not the only one who loves you." Lori was snickering and then she hiccupped.

"I love ya too Lori" Daryl added. He sure didn't want to set her crying spell loose again.

The "I love you man" conversation continued for a few more trips around town. Lori throwing in the occasional hiccup and Rick's words becoming more slurred with each swig. Daryl finally took the bottle from him as if he were going to pour himself another drink, but he just never gave it back to Rick. The driver looked to Daryl in the rearview mirror and Daryl smiled and winked at him. With that signal, the driver turned onto the street where Rick and Lori's house was located to deliver them home. As the pulled up out front, Daryl told the driver he wouldn't be but a minute and he walked the two drunkards up to their porch and deposited them there. Whether they ever made it in or not he couldn't be sure because his wife and child were in the car and he wanted to get the both of them home and tucked in. They were both exhausted and Daryl wasn't too far behind them.

Once they arrived at their apartment building, the driver put the car in park and got out of the car to open up the back door for Daryl.

"Ya want I should carry the boy up for ya?" asked the older man.

"Ah, naw" Daryl answered "I couldn't ask ya to do that."

"Don't mind – still carry my grandson in for my daughter sometimes – ain't that damn decrepit yet" the driver mumbled.

Daryl thought it over a minute. He really didn't want to leave either one of them down there while he packed the other one upstairs so he finally agreed to allow the older man to pack Silas up for him. Both Silas and Beth were snoring now. It was fairly comical as they were both dressed in their finest and snoring to beat the band. Daryl managed to get the front door unlocked, and he motioned for the driver to enter first.

"His bedroom's on the right – just toss him on the bed" Daryl said.

"Will do" the man huffed out. Daryl hoped the older gentleman wasn't going to collapse on him or something. Daryl quickly put Beth on their bed and went back out to catch the driver before he left the apartment. He was pretty sure the old guy had earned a pretty fat tip – what with the extra driving around town in Saturday night "cruising" traffic and packing a conked out toddler up a flight of stairs. Daryl tipped the driver and thanked him. The driver dryly told Daryl "congratulations" and to enjoy his "weddin festivities" as he chuckled and walked back down the stairs.

Daryl locked up and walked back to Si's room to get the little boy out of his mini monkey suit. Daryl had to admit that Si could rock the dress clothes – he could see how Beth's tab at The Goose and Gander had gotten into three digits. She was no slob either, and hell, lately Daryl had been dressing pretty spiffy too. He just didn't realize Hershel'd been footing that bill. After he got Silas undressed, and redressed into some pjs, he decided that it was time to try and get Beth dressed for bed.

Daryl quickly realized that he was completely out of his element when he couldn't even figure out how to get the damn dress unzipped. He finally had to jostle Beth awake.

"Hey Baby" he said as he gently shook her to wake her up.

"Yeh" she said sleepily. Ah yes, there was his princess.

"I'ma need ya to get up and help me get this dress off of ya – and ya probably need to use the restroom" Daryl told her. He was trying not to laugh but hell, it was like trying to get a hibernating grizzly bear to cooperate.

"Mmmkay" she agreed as she flopped over to her belly.

"Beth" Daryl chuckled "'m serious. We need to get ya ready for bed."

Beth hopped up quickly like she been jabbed with a cattle prod. "Okay, okay" she said as if she were really super alert. "I'm up! Let's get this honeymoon going!" she said just a little too enthusiastically.

"Settle down girl" Daryl laughed "we all gonna take us a little nap first." Beth stood up and leaned against Daryl's chest. He reached around her and pulled the zipper of her dress down carefully because he certainly didn't want to be the one to ruin this dress. Even though it had already served the intended purpose, he was certain that no good could come to the person that damaged it in anyway. With the garment unzipped, he pulled it from her shoulders making sure to kiss each one as he did. Beth stepped out of the dress and Daryl tossed it over to the chair in the corner of their bedroom. Beth stood there in nothing but a naughty lacy slip and Daryl couldn't help but think that she was the prettiest damn thing he'd ever seen.

"Come here" he said as he reached out for her hand. Beth walked into Daryl's embrace and they just stood stationary, hugging each other tightly. Daryl breathed Beth in – he swore he'd never tire of her fresh scent. She always smelt like summer time – flowers and sunshine or some crazy shit like that. "I love you so much Beth Dixon" Daryl whispered to her.

"I love you Daryl" Beth said as she sucked on his earlobes. Beth began unbuttoning Daryl's shirt – he'd long ago lost the jacket. Hell, he wasn't even sure where it ended up. The bow tie was hanging, completely undone, around his neck. Beth pulled each end of the bow tie to capture Daryl's lips. Daryl growled into Beth's mouth. "I believe you are the most handsome man alive" Beth told him. She pulled his shirt off, it fell to the floor. Now she was making quick work of the zipper on his pants.

Daryl had fully intended for them to take a nap before proceeding with any wedding night shenanigans because he knew that Beth was exhausted. Neither one could wait until after a nap apparently. They made love, sweet and slow. It didn't even matter that Silas was in the next room on their wedding night. They had each other, they had their little boy, they had the new life in Beth's belly – Daryl and Beth had everything they needed right now.