Chapter 25

Daryl POV

Pissed me off more than I'd like to admit to hear Maggie say she didn't think Beth made it out of the Prison. I saw the flash of hurt across Beth's face, and wished there was something I could do to take that pain away. I wanted to punch someone when she started crying more.

The little girl in my arms, and Beth's hand in mine are probably the only things that kept me from doing so. "Mama," Ass Kicker said, and I leaned my upper body closer to Beth's so she can grab her one handed. I knew the moment that Maggie saw our hands together she'd pitch a fit. Her eyes widened, and I felt Beth's body tense next to mine. Hell, mine tensed up too, ready for the wrath of Maggie. Maggie's temper is damned close to as explosive as mine.

"What the hell's going on here?" Maggie questioned, her voice low. "What're you doin' with my baby sister, Dixon? He take advantage of ya, Bethy?"

"It's not like that, Maggs," Beth said, voice just as low as her sisters. "I'm not the girl that I was back at the prison."

"Gonna say anything, Dixon?" Maggie asked, turning towards me.

"Ain't never taken 'vantage of 'er. Ain't like that. She's grown up. Ain't the kid she was 'fore. Hell, ain't none of us the same's 'fore the prison," I answered.

Maggie turned her face back towards Beth, "What would Daddy say bout ya'll?" Her words were meant to hurt, and I saw the pain flicker across Beth's face as the words registered.

"Daddy's dead. And if he were here, Maggie, he'd be happy that I'm happy. He always liked Daryl, treated him like family. Daryl ain't never hurt me, and Daddy would approve. He knew Daryl's a good man," Beth said, her voice cold, sending shivers down my back. "He'd be damned proud I fell in love with as good a man as Daryl Dixon,"

My heart felt fit to burst at Beth's statement about how her Daddy would feel about us if he were still alive. I felt everyone's eyes on me and I took my eyes away from Beth's face, looking at all of the faces of the group gathered around me. My eyes lingered on Glenn's. His brown eyes looked back at me with a look of sympathy, and he took a step forward, putting his hand on Maggie's shoulder.

"Maggie, you need to calm down and take a minute. Don't start fighting as soon as we get you and Glenn back. Take some time to calm down, get to know our group, and to have a real conversation with Beth and Daryl. Things may surprise ya," Carol said, stepping away from Joe's side.

Maggie eyed me, Beth and then Carol, finally turning and looking at Glenn. He nodded and she visibly relaxed. "We can catch up later, Maggie," Beth said, "For now, lets get ya settled in, and unpack from that run,"

"Alright," She agreed, nodding. I let out a silent breath I didn't realize I was holding.

"Ya wanna take her for awhile while I get 'em set up?" Beth asked, nodding towards Ass Kicker.

"Find 'er a snack or somethin'," I agreed, pulling my hand from Beth's and reaching for Judith. She leaned up and kissed my cheek.

Damn semi took hours to unload. But, we got everything we needed for the fences and defenses, clothes for everyone, food to last us at least six months comfortably, with out me having to hunt daily. There's enough medicine and medical supplies to supply a clinic in the old world. If I didn't know better I'd think they raided a hospital. Beth, Maggie and Carol stayed mostly in the house to organize and put things where they belonged, while the rest of us trooped back and forth. Each time I took something in the house I looked around making sure Maggie didn't go and kill Beth cause of how mad she was. My last trip inside I looked around, not seeing either Beth or Maggie, but Carol was sitting right there in the kitchen. "Where'd they go?" I questioned.

"To talk, relax. Nothing's going to happen," Carol answered, smiling at me. "I got what you asked for,"

"Ya did?"

"Yep. Joe helped. We got you an engagement ring too. Just in case. And wedding rings, even if ya'll don't want to wait 'bout being engaged and just be married,"

I was surprised at all the thought she and Joe put into it, "Any trouble getting' it?" I asked, hoping they hadn't had trouble.

"Nope, nice and easy. Me and Joe slipped off at Wal-Mart and visited the jewelry section. No more trouble than it already was to clear out the store," She pulled two rings out of her pockets. One is plain sterling silver, with a black band in the middle. Made it look like one of those spinner rings, except this doesn't spin. The other ring is silver, too, but the ring has diamonds set into the metal, all the way around it. Carol reached into her other pocket, handing me two more rings. These two match, both black with a silver swirl going all the way around.

I looked up from studying the rings, looking into Carol's icy blue eyes. "Thank ya," I said, simply. She stepped over to me and hugged me. It took me half a second to hug her back.

"Let's talk," Maggie said, walking into kitchen with Beth right behind her.

"Inna second, gotta talk ta Beth first," I said, motioning for Beth to follow me. Carol already told me she'd keep Ass Kicker for us for a while. I took Beth upstairs to our room, and shut the door behind us. I pulled the four rings out of my pockets. I held out the two engagement rings. "Engagement rings, or weddin' rings. Don't matter none ta me which ya want. We can have a weddin' if ya want, or just go 'bout 's if we are," I murmured.

"Let's have a wedding," She said, "Let all of our loved ones celebrate us too," I put the two wedding rings back in my pocket, and held her engagement ring in my fingers. She held out her hand for me, and I put the ring on her finger, my hand shaking. Soon as it was on her finger she reached for the other ring, grabbing my hand to put it on. When we both had our rings on she kissed me. Her kiss was possessive. I broke off the kiss after a bit.

"C'mon, 'fore your sister kills me," I joked.

Her eyes narrowed and she grabbed the front of my shirt, pulling my face down close to hers. "Careful wat'cha say, Dixon. Maggie's got a temper worse'n yours," I ducked my face down kissing her again.

"I know, baby," I said taking her hand and walking with her back to the kitchen.

Maggie and I went outside and walked a couple hundred yards from the house. When we stopped she turned to face me. I waited for her to say what was on her mind. "You love her?"

"Ya,"

"Ya gonna marry her?" She nodded towards the ring on my finger.

"Yes ma'am," Figured respect would be the way to go. "She's tha most important thing in this world ta me. Her'n Ass Kicker. Want ta be a real family," I said, looking Maggie right in the eyes, I wasn't even fidgeting with my crossbow.

"Beth said yer gonna be Judith's daddy?" She asked, and I nodded again. She nodded back at me. I knew she wasn't done talking, and I waited for her. "Beth's right. Daddy woulda been proud of 'er, and ya. He liked ya, loved ya even. And Beth ain't a kid anymore. But she's still my little sister. Ya hurt her and yer gonna be inna world o' trouble, Dixon. That goes for Judy too,"

"Ya ain't the only one ta kick my ass if I fuck anythang up," I agreed.

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