Jesus wasn't even looking surprised, when Daryl and Beth were already waiting for him next morning. The first half hour of their drive to the Kingdom no one said a word. Daryl and Beth were sitting on the back seats, so Daryl could always make sure, that she was good.
Beth leaned herself against Daryl's side, while he was holding her close with his arm and watched the places running by over her head. They were both so damn tensed and nervous, even without telling the other. But they had to do this, to make sure, that everything was okay and that his girl will get the best examined.
Jesus tried to calm both of them down with telling them how great the Kingdom was and that they will be in good hands. Then it got silent again and after over two hours driving, they finally reached the gates of the Kingdom. Daryl could instantly feel how Beth began to shake in his arms, so he pulled her even closer and placed a warm kiss on her forehead, while he whispered "I got you sweetheart. Everything will be good."
Daryl and Beth were both looking with widened eyes and opened mouths around, after they had gotten out of the car. This place was really amazing. It was so big, structured, clean and everyone seemed to be happy. It was just a great place, Alexandria was also great, but this town was different.
Jesus already told them, that first they had to go to King Ezekil. He also explained them, that he was calling himself King, because this was the Kingdom, but he was a very nice guy. Jesus leaded them into an old looking building and finally they entered a big room, which Daryl finally got was a theater hall.
First he wasn't even seeing it, because his eyes were so focused on Beth in front of him. But when she gasped loudly, Daryl almost wanted to pull out his knife, when he finally saw the big tiger on the stage.
With an opened mouth they were both looking shocked at the wild animal. They even didn't see the king in his throne next to it and the man standing on the other side of the stage. Jesus only turned around to them, when he got it, that they weren't following him any more. Like it was nothing he said "Oh, sorry. I forget to tell you, that he has a .."
Jesus got silent, when he saw, that Beth was damn afraid and was hiding herself behind Daryl. "A tiger. Yeah, I can see it." Daryl muttered to Jesus. Beth and he almost got a heart attack, because Jesus hadn't told them about the King's nice, little pet.
After they both had calmed down, they stepped together in front of the King, Beth always close to Daryl's body, because she was still afraid about the tiger. Daryl also couldn't look away from the wild animal, while Jesus explained, why he was here and who Beth and Daryl were.
After Ezekil had told them nicely, that he always loved it to get to knew other survivors, he still asked why Daryl and Beth were here. Seconds of silence passed, till Jesus said, that he will leave now and get outside to out load his stuff. Daryl was thankfully for that, because two listener and a tiger were already enough for Beth, to tell her story.
When there were only Daryl, Ezikil and his right-hand man left, Beth began to speak with an unsure voice "I.. We.. I don't know, where to start.." She stammered and seeing her like that broke Daryl's heart, because he knew, that it still hurti her so bad to talk about what had happened.
Because of that Daryl asked her, if he should tell it, but she just shook her head and thanked him with a small smile. Before Beth went on, she took Daryl's hand to feel his support. "So many things happened and somehow I ended up against my will in a community, which was leaded by a man named Negan."
Daryl got goose bumps everywhere on his body, just when he heard that name and somehow it caught the King's attention, because he was leaning forward in his seat. "I was their prisoner and Negan.. he had.." Beth's voice failed then and she was looking embarrassed at her feet, but when Ezikil said, that he knew what she meant, Beth went on with a shaking voice.
"Daryl was also their prisoner and finally we thankfully got the chance to flee. We were just back to our family, when I got to know that I was pregnant.. from Negan." Unbelievable and compassionate Ezekil was looking at Beth, while she was getting even closer to Daryl.
"I was in my twentieth pregnancy week, when I.. when I lost the baby." Beth's last words, were only a whimper any more, before she buried her face into Daryl's chest and her small back began to tremble.
Daryl knew, that Beth wasn't able to go on any more, so he did it for her. "It wasn't our intention, but she is pregnant again and now we are afraid, that.." Daryl couldn't even end his sentence, when Ezekil sprang on his feet and said with a loud voice "Oh my God. Why haven't you said that earlier? Jerry, bring her something to drink and eat."
Quickly the King got downstairs from the stage, till he was standing in front of Daryl and Beth and finally leaded them to the next seats. Obviously he was very worried about the fact, that Beth was pregnant.
"My man will bring you something to drink and some fruits. I'm sorry, if I have known it before, that you are pregnant, I wouldn't have made this show. But it's just a funny habit from me. However, how are you feeling?" Ezekil asked Beth worried.
It was a much better situation to talk to the king, when he was sitting right next to them, instead of in his throne on the stage. Slowly Daryl and Beth told Ezekil their whole story, but they didn't mention Simon again, because Daryl knew, that Beth couldn't take it.
After Beth had drank some water and tasted one of the peaches the King leaded them to the Kingdom's doctor, after he had told the two of them, that he was the best doctor he ever got to know and that they were in very good hands. Daryl could feel how tensed Beth was again, after she had calmed down so well.
Ezekil probably got that and said, that they should wait in the first room, so he could speak with the doctor first, so they won't have to tell their story a second time. "Are you good sweetheart?" Daryl wanted to make sure, with lifting Beth's chin, so she was finally looking up at him.
It made him glad, when she nodded and said "Yeah, everything is okay. Are you also good my love?" Taking her in his arms, Daryl answered "You know, as long as you are good, I'm also good."
After a few more minutes Ezekil finally got to them again, the doctor followed. The King acquainted them to doctor Michael and said, that he will leave now and if they will need anything, they knew where they could find him.
The doctor was looking nice and somehow he remembered Daryl about Hershel. Obviously Beth was also feeling good about the older man, because her grip on Daryl wasn't so tensed any more, when they followed him inside.
With his calming voice the doctor told them some parts of his life. That he had a wife, Barbara, and a daughter named Lucy. They were living here in the Kingdom since the beginning and he was glad about his life every day and that he was able to help the people.
Because Beth was probably still as good relaxed as possible, she even answered all the doctor's question about her pregnancy, without getting nervous or tensed again. When doctor Michael finally said, that she should get on the examination chair, Beth hesitated for a few seconds, before she told him with a small voice about the scars she had. The doctor gave her the same sorry look like Ezekil, when she said, what Negan had done to her.
The whole time the doctor examited Beth, Daryl was standing right next to her and was holding her shaking hand, because he knew, that even when she liked Michael, she still had that fear inside herself, to show this part of her body to another man. But the doctor was very kind and carefully and after taking a close look at her, he finally said with a smile in his face, that she could get dressed again.
"You okay princess?" Daryl asked Beth, when she was full dressed again. "Yeah, I feel way better now." She answered him seriously, before Daryl pulled her in his arms and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. "You are so strong my girl." Daryl whispered, his lips still close to her skin.
The two of them finally followed into the room, doctor Michael had left and lowered themself on the chairs opposite his desk. The doctor still had that kind smile in his face, when he began to speak "I can calm the two of you down, your little baby is healthy. Beth is healthy too, everything is good so far."
Daryl and Beth began to breath then again, even when they hadn't known, that they had ever stopped. Lovingly Daryl was moving with his thumb over the back of Beth's hand on his lab and they both were smiling released at each other. Daryl almost couldn't believe the luck he had.
But then doctor Michael began to speak again and his voice sounded different this time. "But there is also something other I want to talk about with you. Being pregnant in a world like this isn't easy and after what have already happened to you Beth doesn't make it any easier for you. You have to be really careful, because I don't know why it happened, what the reason was for your body to repel the baby."
Understanding Beth nodded her head and Daryl waited tensed for what the doctor wanted to say them with that, when he finally went on. "I don't want to talk the two of you into something, but the King told me, that in your home town aren't such good medical supplies like here in the Kingdom. It would be better for you Beth to be close to here, not over two driving hours away, just in case something will happen."
"There is a free flat on the very top in this building. If you want you can live there, till the baby is here. It would be much saver for the baby and you Beth." For a few seconds doctor Michael was looking at Beth's worried expression and then into Daryl's nervous face. "You don't have to decide it right now, you have time." The doctor told them, to calm down their nerves.
Beth's eyes were searching for Daryl's then and in the second he caught them, he knew, that it would be the best to stay. The best for their baby and the best for his girl. Even when he also knew, that it won't be easy for them to leave their family, their home behind, but they had to do this, because it was their biggest chance. In Beth's eyes Daryl could read, that she was thinking the same and while they were nodding agreeing to each other, there was even playing a little smile on both of their lips. Yeah, they will do the right thing with that.
"Ok, we will make it." Daryl confirmed the doctor, who was smiling glad at the two of them. "Thank you so much doctor Michael." Beth added and Daryl could see the tears glistening in her eyes. "You don't have to thank me for anything, at least not now. I'm just happy to help such a sweet couple like the two of you."
Daryl could feel how his cheeks began to blush and Beth's voice was telling him inside his head 'there are still good people Daryl', which made him smile to himself. Yeah, his girl was right again.
"But there is also another thing I have to tell the two of you, the most important thing." Seriously the doctor was looking at them and Daryl began to worry again. He just couldn't think about something even more important, then the things they had already talked about.
"The two of you have to calm down your nerves. You are so tensed and worried the whole time, that isn't good for both of you and of course also not for the baby. I know why you are so scared, but it makes it even worse. Try to calm down, relax and be more happy, enjoy this special time. Maybe this is also the reason why you are feeling ill so often Beth. The two of you are only thinking about the bad things, which could happen. But you have to think more positive, everything will be good then ."
Getting it, Daryl and Beth were both nodding understanding to the doctor, who gave them a glad smile as response. "But that's enough for today. If you want I can show you the flat now, before you drive home again."
It was a nice, bright, little flat under the old roofs of the big doctor's house. Michael, his wife, daughter and son-in-law were also living in this house, so Daryl and Beth won't ever be alone. The doctor also told them, that he had already spoken with the King about his idea and of course he was also for it. Daryl and Beth had everything they will need here and it was safe, safe enough.
Before they said good bye and went to the car, where Jesus and the King were already waiting for them, they told the doctor, that they will drive on their own here tomorrow. Glad about their decision Michael was shaking their hands and told them, that it was the right way.
Also Ezekil was glad, that they will stay here and Jesus nodded happy his face, while Daryl and Beth were shaking the King's hand, before the three of them got into the car. The whole way home no one said a word, but this time it was a different kind of silence, because Daryl and Beth were both smiling, because they knew that everything will be good.