Ch. 24

A few evenings later, Daryl pulled a chair out onto the porch and took a seat while Beth stood between his legs and cut his hair. Everyone else seemed to gather around them, talking and laughing while Carol left the door open so she could make dinner and still be included. Things seemed normal for a little while.

They all watched Rick hold Judith's hands as she walked across the wooden floor to be outside with them and then clapped and told her what a good job she was doing. She was over a year, but she hadn't had a lot of opportunity to practice walking until they'd found the cabin. Now she was moving, and it wouldn't be long before she was running. That was another reason they needed to find a new place.

After Rick helped Judith turn around, Beth started trimming him up. He didn't even bother to keep his hands to himself. She was wearing those damn black shorts again, so he rested his hands on the back of her thighs, rubbing his thumbs up and down.

"You're bein' bad," she whispered.

"Always," he answered with a smirk.

Beth smiled at him and leaned down for a quick kiss. It surprised him, but he liked it.

They hadn't been together since his birthday, and their nightly talks had been tame. They spent most every night talking about looking for another place to live and how things would change. He was ready to be someplace bigger, and so was she, but they both worried. That was natural, he guessed.

On top of that, Carl seemed to be pushing his luck. Since the day he'd talked to him, he'd seen him around Beth a lot more. Normally, that wouldn't have bothered him; they were friends and had been since the farm. Now, though, he was trying to touch her more. Little things like flippin' her ponytail, poking her ribs when he passed, or standing really close behind her and looking over her shoulder.

The more Daryl watched, the more he noticed that Carl was moving and touching her the way he himself did when he was trying to be affectionate but mindful of everyone else. Nobody else would question what Carl was doing, but Daryl did. He knew those moves. They were his fucking moves.

Still, he kept his mouth shut. Beth didn't say anything about it, so he didn't think it bothered her and she wasn't encouraging him. She probably didn't even realize what he thought Carl was doing.

He felt bad for Carl—a little. He was lonely. He wanted a friend or something. Daryl knew he wasn't exactly innocent in his motivations, but he still had a hard time thinking about Carl wanting someone like that. He'd known him when he was just twelve and more concerned about Daryl finding Pop Tarts on a run than if he ever saw a girl naked.

He needed to stop worrying about it. Carl was harmless. But if Beth told Daryl that he was bothering her, he was going straight to Michonne and Rick. Hell, he might even talk to Michonne about it when they went scouting soon.

He let Beth's motions relax him and decided to bring up the trip. "Thinkin' maybe we'll head out in a coupla days and get to lookin' for places. Especially since y'all are gettin' close to bein' done with cannin'."

His eyes were closed, so he didn't see anyone's reaction, but Rick agreed with him pretty fast. "That works for me. Ya got some locations picked out, so I imagine you'll just go down the list?"

"Yeah. I was thinkin' that we'd split up and cover more ground, but it might be best if we stick together. That way if we find a spot, we'll have more than one opinion on it."

"Daryl, are you saying you value my opinion?" Michonne smarted off and laughed when he took his right hand away from Beth's leg and flipped her off. Or he thought it was at least in her direction.

"All done, babe." Beth dusted off his shoulders, and he stood up. He was a head taller than she was, and he liked that. She was so tiny and feminine. He was tempted to pick her up, throw over his shoulder, and take her back to that car, but Rick's voice got his attention.

"Ya mind cuttin' my hair, Beth?"

Daryl knew it was stupid, but that was their thing. He almost said as much when Beth shook her head and pointed to the chair. "Sure. Ya want it as short as Daryl's or a little longer?"

"Just as short. Ya might not believe it, but before all this, I was usually pretty clean-cut."

Beth smiled, going behind the chair as she started on the back of his head and working her way around. Daryl stood there, annoyed and chewing on his thumbnail as he watched.

"Anythin' in your snares earlier," Maggie asked, drawing his attention away from Beth.

"Naw. I'm gonna move 'em soon. Try and see if there's anythin' on the other side of the creek."

Maggie stood, holding out Maisie. "I wanna clean up. Can ya hold her, Uncle Daryl?"

He flushed and nodded. "Ain't gotta call me that," he muttered.

Holding the baby helped take his mind off Beth, and soon, he and Michonne were making faces at the baby, causing her to make a gurgling noise.

"That's a fuckin' laugh," he said, proud of what he'd done.

"Uh-huh." Michonne smiled at him. "Sure it is."

Daryl glanced to his left and saw Rick standing there holding Judith. "Didn't even know ya were done."

"Yeah, well, I need to thank Maggie for distractin' ya because ya were starin' a hole through my damn head," he said quietly while raising an eyebrow at Daryl.

"Didn't do no such thing." He held out Maisie to Michonne and turned to Beth when he saw that she was cutting Carl's hair, too.

"Leave it a little longer than theirs," he said, smiling up at her.

Carl met his eyes and his smiled dimmed, but didn't disappear entirely. When Beth walked around to the front and stood between his legs, his hands moved casually from his knees to hang between them, brushing the front of her thighs.

Daryl bit the inside of his cheek, and knowing everyone else was watching him, he didn't say anything.

Beth backed up a little and kept cutting.

"I might knock his teeth out, though," Daryl mumbled, looking away.

"Ya say somethin'?" Rick asked, looking up from Judith.

"Naw."

Carl's fingers touched her leg again, staying a whole lot longer than before, and he sighed heavily. That boy was testing him.

"I think your hands are wanderin', sir." Beth laughed and stepped to the side.

Daryl saw Rick glanced up then, and they both noticed Carl blush and tug on Beth's shirt, causing it to slip off her shoulder. Daryl rolled his neck and looked away again. She was handling things, he told himself.

"Ya can't keep 'em to yourself, I can't cut ya hair anymore," she said, trying to sound like she was playing, but Daryl knew she wasn't.

She was almost done, and Rick and Michonne were watching Carl carefully out of the corner of their eyes while they played with the babies. Daryl had moved and was leaning against the railing, watching Beth, his arms crossed over his chest.

As she started to step back, Carl's hand slid up high under the back of her shorts and grazed her ass. "Whoa there, chief!" she said, swatting his hand away.

Daryl pushed off the rail, unsnapping his knife. He had Beth out of the way and Carl's hand on the railing with the edge of his blade against the base of his fingers. Daryl could see the line of blood forming but didn't press deeper.

"Ya fuckin' deaf? Done talked to ya about this before."

"Daryl!" Beth reached for his knife, but he blocked her hand.

Rick was at his side a split second later. "Get your hands off 'im."

"He brought this on himself," Daryl muttered and pushed the blade down just a little harder.

"I'm tellin' ya right now to let him go, Daryl." Beth's voice was frantic. "He didn't mean anythin' by it."

Daryl gritted his teeth so hard his jaw ached, but he put his knife away and backed up. Carl had turned pale as a fucking ghost, his hand cradled to his chest.

"Ya touch him again, Daryl, and you and me are gonna have a problem. He's just a kid," Rick said as he looked at Carl's hand. "Beth had it under control."

"Are ya serious with me right now? That little mothafucker was watchin' us the other day when we went off together. He knows what he's doin'."

Beth flushed red and palmed her cheeks. "I'm just gonna go inside."

She moved past Carol, who'd come out because of all the noise, and shut the door behind her. Carol looked over everyone and just ducked back into the cabin, probably going to talk to Beth. When she was gone, that left him, Rick, and Michonne staring down at Carl.

"Why would you do that to her?" Michonne asked, looking down at him with concern. "It's not like you to treat someone with so much disrespect."

"Carl, ya know we don't stand for that," Rick said quietly. "Ya ain't ever seen that kinda stuff done before."

"God, I wasn't gonna do anythin' else," Carl said, wiggling his hand.

"But you did it again after she said to stop," Michonne said, kneeling down to look him in the eye.

"Ya know what?" Daryl said, frustrated by all the talking and lack of action that was happening. "Y'all deal with his shit." He looked Carl in the eye and pointed his finger at him. "It happens again and not even your daddy's gonna be able to save your ass from a beatin'."

Daryl went inside and watched as Beth fidgeted with some canning supplies, looking away quickly when she caught his eye.

"Were ya gonna tell me?"

"No," he answered honestly.

Carol pretended to ignore them as she set about putting food in bowls.

"Why not?" Beth asked quietly. "That's so embarrassin', Daryl."

Moving closer, he leaned down to whisper against her cheek. "'Cause I didn't want ya to feel what you're feelin' now. I thought I handled it, but I guess I was wrong."

Beth gasped and slapped a hand over her mouth. "Oh my God, that's why ya moved me from—"

"Yeah." Daryl cut her off before she could finish, and Carol laughed uncomfortably.

"I don't think I can even look him in the eye anymore. He didn't see anythin', did he?"

Daryl shook his head. "Naw."

She nodded and backed away from him, walking over to Carol. "I'm gonna try and forget this happened. Do you need any help at all, Carol?"

"Why don't you stir for me while I clean out this pot?"

"Thank you," Beth whispered and went to work.

A few minutes later, the others came inside with the babies, and Maggie came back from cleaning up. He imagined that Beth would fill her in later, especially since dinner was tense as hell.

After everyone finished eating, and Maggie started on the dishes with some water from the creek, Rick stood up from the table and motioned for Carl to follow him. "Daryl, ya come, too."

Beth grabbed his arm before he could stand up and whispered into his ear, "Don't do anythin' ya might regret."

"I wouldn't regret a damn thing," he said, meeting her eyes. Beth sighed and let him go. Maybe he was overreacting, but he'd never had something of his own before, and he wasn't about to let her get felt up just because Carl was a horny teenager and that's just what boys did. Fuck that shit.

Rick stalked toward the back of the cabin, and Daryl took off behind him with Carl lagging behind.

"We're gonna sort this shit out," Rick said quietly. "Ain't gonna worry about ya kickin' the shit outta Carl for him bein' a teenage boy."

Daryl stood toe-to-toe with his friend. "Ain't apologizin' for shit that has to do with Beth."

"You're gonna calm your ass down is what you're gonna do," he said quickly. "Ya listen up; she can handle herself, ya let her. I'll take care of my kid. He ain't gonna do this again. Do ya trust me enough to do that?"

Daryl ground his teeth but nodded after a few seconds.

"Good. Ya ain't gonna have to worry about this again."

Carl stood with his back to the wall, looking every bit the surly teenager. Rick walked toward him and pushed him forward.

"Sorry. Won't happen again," he muttered and looked away.

"He'll apologize to Beth, too," Rick added, clearly disappointed in how his son had just acted.

Daryl nodded then spoke quietly. "I taught her all the shit I know, Carl. Ya try and fuck with her, and she'll cut your damn balls off."

Rick sighed and shook his head. Daryl just held his hands up. "What? Ya said Beth could handle herself. Just makin' sure he knows what he's dealin' with 'cause he sure as shit ain't sorry. He's just sorry he got fuckin' caught." Daryl snorted and started back toward the porch. "Been there, too, Carl."

Two days later, he and Michonne loaded into the truck with the atlas and set out to find a new home. Daryl didn't really want to leave, but she knew he didn't have a choice.

Beth kissed him good-bye and told him to be safe. He told her he would, and then he was gone.

She sat on the porch for a while, looking down the path they'd driven. She prayed they'd find someplace and that they'd be back soon. Judging by the look on Daryl's face as he got in the car, he wanted the exact same thing.

Beth knew she'd pass the days by staying as busy as possible. She'd take care of the babies, can their garden, cook—anything to keep her mind off where Daryl was and what he was doing or what he was running from.

It had taken less than a year for him to become the biggest, best part of her life.

Maggie sat down beside her and took her hand.

"He's a survivor. Ain't nothin' keepin' him from gettin' back here."

"I know. It's just impossible not to worry." Beth squeezed Maggie's hand. "I hope they find somethin', too. Not that I don't like sharing a room with ya again, but a little privacy would be nice."

"Yeah, I can't imagine the backseat of a car, with no air conditioning, in this heat makes ya wanna get busy too often."

Beth made a noise in her throat and shook her head. "That was one time. You're like a dog with a bone."

"I could make a completely terrible joke about Daryl's bone, but I'll save it for later." Maggie laughed as Beth pushed her shoulder. "What? I didn't say anything yet!"

"But you're thinkin' it," Beth said and stood up. "If you'll excuse me, I gotta go take care of our food supply."

"While thinking about what Daryl can supply ya!"

"Good Lord," Beth muttered and blushed. "You're as bad as he is sometimes."

At that, Maggie leaned against the rail and giggled until Beth couldn't hear her anymore. She lived with a bunch of adults who became teenagers when anything sexual was mentioned. She was guilty, too, but she preferred to be on the giving end of the statements instead of the blushing end.

She and Carol had one more row of tomatoes to go before they were all done, and she was so happy about that. Next year, they'd have Maggie helping and hopefully a more secure place, so it would easier, but right now, gardening and canning were on her "never again" list.

At least an hour had passed with her picking ripe tomatoes and pulling weeds that refused to die when a shadow fell over her. She looked over her shoulder and saw Carl standing behind her with his hands in his pockets.

"Ya need help?"

It was the first time he'd talked to her since she cut his hair. She wasn't too sure what he was up to but figured it would be worth a shot to make things easier between everyone.

"Sure. Just pull out these." She held up a weed. "We still have some tomatoes that aren't ripe, but we'll just eat those instead of cannin' 'em."

He nodded and went to work beside her. It took him several minutes before he started talking, but when he did, it was like a dam had burst.

"I'm sorry. I never wanted to make ya uncomfortable, and I shoulda backed off when ya were givin' me a haircut. That was just wrong of me, and I was thinkin' that I was gonna go through this world and I'd never be with a girl. It's stupid, and I ain't tellin' ya so ya feel sorry for me—not that ya would or that ya'd feel like ya had to help me out with that—but so ya know what I was thinkin'."

Beth raised a brow and pursed her lips. "Thank ya for sayin' that. I'm glad to know ya don't expect me to jump ya now that I know your thoughts."

Carl groaned and shook his head. "I just meant I shoulda been more considerate. Ya told me to stop, and I kept goin'. I was bein' a bit of an asshole."

"Ya were, but I'm fine. As much as ya don't like to hear it or don't think it's the truth, I can handle ya."

Carl just nodded and went to pulling weeds. After a few minutes of silence, he asked, "So, you and Daryl are pretty serious?"

"Yeah, we are," she said without looking up. "Ya still haven't apologized for peepin' on us."

He paused in picking and froze. "It was an accident," he whispered. "The car hadn't been there before. I just went to look and see if we could use anythin'."

"Then ya stayed for the show?" she asked, facing him fully.

He had the decency to look ashamed and turned away. "I'm sorry. That was a private moment, I guess."

Beth laughed. "Ya think? I'm not into people watchin', Carl," she said jokingly, but he just looked more and more embarrassed. She had to remember that she couldn't talk to him like she talked to Daryl—not that she wanted to, but sometimes things just came out. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that." She cleared her throat and held out her hand. "I accept your apology. I think we can move on from here as long as ya don't try anythin' else. I make no promises for what Daryl will do to ya otherwise."

Carl took her hand and shook. "Deal." He stood up and dusted off his jeans. "Thank ya for the haircut, by the way. I really needed it."

She smiled. "Anytime, Carl."

He waved awkwardly and went back around to the front of the cabin. She'd made her peace with him, but she knew Daryl would be a harder sell. For a moment, she laughed at the silliness of the whole situation. She'd had a run-in with Carol because of Daryl, and then he'd almost cut off Carl's fingers because of her.

Who would have thought they'd have so much competition when they met the person they were meant for?

Beth finished with the garden and looked around at the empty space that she and Carol had cleared and felt proud. She might not have many fighting skills, but she could sure feed her people.

As she went into the cabin that night for the first time in a long time without Daryl and watched Rick go out and checked the fence, she had to wipe away a tear.

Things were going to be okay. She just had to wait it out.