AUTHOR'S NOTES: Thanks to the readers following this fic and the comments on the previous chapter from Zombielibrarian, malzateb, DarylDixon'sLover, angelicedg, Guest,brinxb, Guest, megs27, Guest, Guest, BethFan and Ameliya86! (",) It's a longish chapter...

DISCLAIMER: I do not own the Walking Dead or its characters

Apologies in advance for any spelling and grammatical errors.

The Journey

Chapter 25

Amy rushes into the kitchen practically hyperventilating, she sees the bottle of wine and jumps at it trying to pull the cork off.

"Get OFFFFFFF!" She screeches putting the bottle in between her knees trying the yank it off.

A hand reaches out to her with a cork screw, she snatches it and sticks it in and pulls the cork off with a pop. She takes a desperate swig and slams the bottle back down on the counter and slumps back against the fridge, she wipes her mouth on her bare arm exhaling out.

"Ya lucky Daryl ain't here, drinkin' on the job…uhummmm!" T-Dogs shakes his head.

Amy Stares over at T-Dog frowning hearing Daryl's name.

"This is because of him!" Amy moans annoyed taking another mouthful.

"He'd grab ya between his knees and pour the whole damn bottle down!" T-Dog advises sticking his head over the pot of bubbling water to check, he lifts a live lobster up, covers the eyes and drops it into the pot and slams the lid down. "I hate doin' that!" He pulls a face.

Amy rushes over and grabs another lobster, opens the lid and drops it in.

"O.M.G! Every table is booked and we have that unexpected dinner party and it's for none other than Bethy's ex!" Amy swallows hard "Detective Rick Grimes!" She says his name and begins biting her perfectly manicured nails thinking of the last two times the man came into the restaurant. Drama followed the man, she prayed the bonkers wife wasn't part of the party dining tonight - that would completely crush Beth to smithereens and Daryl wasn't here if Rick starting grabbing Beth like last time.

"No way!" Rosita rushes over shaking her head and then looks down at her outfit "Is Detective Nash goin' to be here?" She asks realising that if Rick Grimes was going to be here, then so would sexy Douggie Nash!

Amy slowly turns her head around to look at her friend and throws daggers and they all hear a low growl coming from Amy's mouth.

"Eeeekkk!" Rosita manages, grabbing the baskets full of garlic bread and rushes out.

"I can't believe I'm sayin' this…I actually miss Daryl!" Rosita says beneath her breathe pushing the swinging door with her back trying not to look Amy in the eyes as she escapes.

"T! How am I goin' to tell Beth, she's wasn't supposed to be on tonight but Dale added her to the roster!" Amy paces up and down grabbing a chocolate éclair and munches on it. When she was stressed, she ate.

"Amy, aren't ya on a diet?" T-Dogs asks, Amy had been strict for the past month trying to fit in to her sexy little dress which was still hung up over her wardrobe.

Amy looks down at her hands and looks back up and just stuffs the rest into her mouth.

"What does it matter, I'm dis-functioning, I never dis-function!" She mumbles through munching "It's that or I light up!" She suggests and rushes over and reaches up on the top shelves running her hand across, she finds Daryl's secret pack she once spied him keep hidden just in case he desperately needed one.

Amy opens the pack, sticks a cigarette into her mouth and looks around for a match or a lighter.

"What ya doin' Amy?" T-Dog asks as Amy reaches for the blow torch.

"You can't smoke in here, this is a kitchen!" T-Dog says running over trying to grab the blow torch and Amy is turning around in circles, she trips and presses the button and sets a towel on fire.

"OH! OH! OH!" Amy yells and so does T-Dog who runs over smacking the flame with his apron.

The other Chefs stand there watching, mouths agape in horror. If they didn't get it out, the fire alarm would go offer, so would the sprinklers and the Fire Department would be making their way down and Daryl would be notified and he'd be back in a shot with his hunting knife to all their skulls pissed off.

"Daryl's been gone a few days and we're goin' to burn down the restaurant!" T-Dog screeches smacking the flame jumping around it "Damn thing won't go out!" T-Dog panics and Amy looks around and grabs the tiniest glass of water and chucks it and it hits T-Dog's face.

"Amy, the flames!…not me!" T-Dog yells now with water in his eyes.

They are suddenly clouded with white gas and they turn around to see Beth holding the mini fire extinguisher spraying it at the towel which is now out and shrivelled to black ashes.

"What's goin' on?" Beth demands to know and then she sees Amy with a cigarrete in between her lips and she narrows her eyes and looks back up to Amy for an explanation.

Amy's mouth falls open but the cigarette is stuck to her lips, she shake her head but it won't let go. Beth reaches over and pulls it off and holds it front of Amy.

"Well?" Beth asks.

"Beth, it's mega busy out there and I just needed a smoke, I know I don't smoke but my heads all over the place and I don't know if I can do this, it's the busiest night of the week and I can't believe I'm saying this but Daryl's right, I ain't cut out for this, I just blag, I've blagged my way through life, through everythin'…I'm a failure! I'm a big fat.."

And before Amy can finish her sentence, Beth slaps Amy hard across the face.

T-Dog lift his towel to his mouth, wide eyed not knowing what to do or say to diffuse this, he hated confrontations, he looks between the two women. The other Chefs pretend they didn't see and get back to chopping and stirring.

Amy turns her face finally with nothing to say looking at Beth completely shocked.

Beth pushes the fire extinguisher into Zach's hands as he walks past and Beth grabs Daryl's cigarette pack and chucks them into the waste bin and walks over to Amy and grabs her by the shoulder.

"Amy, you are NOT a failure…now get out there and show us all what your made of…and if all fails, bluff your way through like it's a show, you're the hostess now go and hostess and we'll all back you up…you do not need to panic…we've all got ya back!" Beth reassures her best friend squeezing her shoulders.

Amy nods her head, colour coming back to her cheeks.

"Take a deep breath and breathe out and let's get this show on the road!" Beth gives her pep talk knowing how to get Amy to relax.

"Oh Beth!" Amy throws her arms around Beth's neck "I'm sorry…but I have to tell you something!" Amy says looking at T-Dog and then back at Beth who encourages her to speak.

"Commissioner Attwell has the VIP section of the restaurant booked for twenty of his men and…and Rick is amongst them, it's a congratulatory dinner for him and I didn't know you had a shift today and I had hoped that you wouldn't have to see him, I'm sorry Bethy!" Amy says looking deeply sorry and upset.

Beth takes this new information in, she knew Rick would be back in the restaurant soon but this was sooner than she thought. The Commissioner and his detectives were almost here twice a week and Rick was now one of them and there was nothing she could do, he was here to eat, a customer and she was here to wait on them, she is a waitress, it's her job.

"Then we make sure he gets The Brassiere experience that we're famous for!" Beth replies "Dale and Daryl are counting on us to upkeep our name and the stars, that's what we're goin' to do tonight, they'll wine and dine and we'll give silver service with a smile, then they'll leave and then we do the same thing tomorrow and the night after!" Beth says focused, there was no hurt or rejection in her voice.

"You're definitely ok…if you want to switch with any of the other's I can make it happen!" Amy suggests.

"No, I have to face up to my past and he's goin' to be here for a while yet and he is a reasonable man. Rick won't be a problem, I promise!" Beth advises Amy that she and Rosita can handle the VIP guests.

"Ok, it's your call!" Amy nods.

"Yeah it is, now let's get this show on the road!" Beth says smiling putting her arm around Amy's waist.

With the fire out, Amy no longer stressing, they both put on their biggest brightest smiles and walk out the kitchen and then through the double doors into the restaurant, the place was heaving with music, clatter and chatter and they give each other one last look ready for the night, they head off in opposite directions.

Amy rushes towards the front desk to receive the next diners who have just been checked in to be shown to their seats, it's Dog Man from the park with hand on his husband's lower back, they both wave towards Beth and she waves back. Amy pouts showing them to their special table, she shakes her head to Beth and Beth gives her an apologetic smile.

Beth gathering herself together, takes a deep breathe picks up the tray from the bar and walks towards the VIP section which has been decorated with banners and balloons. She sees Rosita and one of the other waitresses handing out the freshly baked garlic bread and extra garlic butter to the men.

Beth's eyes meet with Douggie's across the table, he gives a small smile and a courteous nod and she returns the smile as her eyes quickly scan the seats, she doesn't see Rick. Douggie catches Beth looking nervous and she feels his gaze on her, she begins to hand out the flutes of champagne. She smiles to each of the officers as she places a flute in front of them. Then there's a sudden uproar of cheering and clapping. Beth looks up to see everyone with big smiles and grins on their faces facing towards her. She quickly looks down to check her blouse hadn't come undone, she had just about been able to button up the blouse, her breasts aren't as small as they once were and she sighs with relief they weren't staring at her and she wasn't exposed in anyway, the thought made her feel sick, embarrassing things happen to her especially when she's nervous. Beth now knew that the cheers were not for her, they'd only been here a little while and weren't drunk enough yet to shamelessly flirt.

Beth straighten up to look behind her as she sees Commissioner Attwell walking in with a triumph smile on his face, he lifts his hand up and punches the air and everyone cheers again. He nods a hello to Beth and then when he moves his big frame out the way. Beth's eyes land on the familiar pair of blue eyes staring right at her, the similar eyes as Olly. Rick walks slowly towards Beth, his gaze doesn't falter from hers and when he reaches Beth, his eyes lock down to her as she holds the tray against her chest looking up at him.

They are so close in proximity. Once upon a time, Rick would have pulled her into his arms by now and leaned down and kissed her ever so gently on the lips and run his hand lovingly across her cheek and into her hair holding her whilst he gave her lips the attention they required.

Beth for the life of her can't stop staring up at Rick, it was like they'd just gone back in time, gone was the scruff on his face, his hair was trimmed but still had more length than his usual short cut with a little sprinkling of greying on the sides which she knows is the results from stress but she can see his beautiful face and she can see his strong jawline, freshly shaved, his cheeks, the lines of his dimples as one side of his lips now turn up slightly, clearly happy to see her and happy to see her reaction and pleased that he'd gone to the trouble of shaving for this evening.

Beth swallows as she sees his lips part to speak to her, she waits in anticipation for what was to come out of his beautiful lips but before he can say a word, Bobby is already up and draping his arm around Rick's shoulder but Rick doesn't move his eyes off of Beth, his eyes are watchful and observant, he had all the time just to stand there and wait for her to speak to him.

"The Poster Boy is here!" Bobby announces loudly "Owww…you shouldn't have…you shaved for me!" Bobby coos running his hand down Rick's cheek and cheekily presses a kiss on Rick's cheek "Soft as a baby's bottom!" He laughs and Rick still hasn't moved since he got there, if he wasn't so spellbound, he'd have pushed Bobby and wiped his cheek, Beth tries not to laugh as she presses her lips together looking down at the tray in her hands. Rick's new friends were very interesting, she still missed Shane though.

Bobby scoffs watching Rick and what he is so focused on.

"Jav, come and have a good feel of Rick, I'm sure he's trying to impress someone!" He winks nodding towards Beth.

Rick now shrugs Bobby off and everyone can see the blush rising up from Rick's neck to his cheeks and they all whistle with Rick rubbing the back of his neck embarrassed, he looks down at Beth, she was blushing looking away shyly and practically rushes off saying "Excuse me!"

Rick turns around to go after her, he didn't mean for the guys to embarrass her but Bobby is pulling Rick.

"Dinner first…Desert later!" Bobby wiggles his brow at Rick and nodding towards Beth retreating form in her uniform.

"I've always appreciated a woman in a uniform especially a woman with a nice ass!" He grins looking at Beth's skirt but was saying this more to get a reaction out of Rick, he looks sideways to the brooding man next to him.

"You're such an ass, you know that!" Rick laughs understanding what Bobby was doing, the man had a dry sense of humour and thought he was always funny.

"Don't we all know it!" Javeed says next to Rick putting a hand on Rick's shoulder.

"Good to see you Rick!" Javeed beams truly glad to see Rick, he was the first out of all the team to welcome Rick openly and Rick truly appreciated the offered friendship, he reminded him of Glenn in many ways.

"As you're here now, can we eat? I'm famished!" Javeed says rubbing his empty stomach.

Yep, definitely like Glenn! Rick smiles remembering his friend, who doesn't know he's found Beth and Rick realises he has to call Glenn and let him know. Glenn still searches for Beth even now, hoping to bump into her at a venue but hasn't had any luck. Glenn will be overjoyed and relieved, his best friend has been found after two years of disappearance. Rick notes to make the call tomorrow once Carl and Judith go home.

"Yeah, we better get tiny tim fed, wined, diapered and off to bed, it's nearly bed time soon!" Bobby pulls Javeed's cheeks and bursts out laughing and everyone joins him.

"How much has he had?" Rick asks Javeed and Jav just shrugs.

"Can we just go get a kebab or something!" Jav asks Rick, once Bobby started, there was no stopping him and he was in a good mood so the insults would keep coming!

"Rick! Over here!" Douggie beckons him over to the spare seat beside him.

"We'll get a kebab another time, let's get through tonight!" Rick smiles to Javeed and they take their seats.

Rick sits beside Douggie, he hands him his flute of champagne and the Commission is standing up.

"Good to see you made it!" Douggies says to Rick.

"Well I had no choice, Commissioner practically dragged me here and Carl pushed me into the shower!" Rick responds scratching his non-existent beard, he had to remember, his friend was gone.

"You know I love to give my long speeches but Rick has made us wait long enough, I've forgotten what I was goin' to say!" Commissioner Attwell says shaking his head looking at Rick.

"What I will say is…Rick, welcome to the family, let's hope we can all work together and get the great results we are getting of late and if I can steal you away from my friend from King County, then I'm goin' to try my damn hardest to keep you here amongst new friends, new family!" Commissioner Attwell informs the table.

"Here, here!" The officers all say.

"To Rick and to an everlasting relationship with Atlanta PD…Here's to the Dream Team!"

"To Atlanta PD and The Dream Team!" Everyone repeat lifting their flutes up in the air facing Rick.

"Now let's get this shindig started!" Bobby pipes up "Girls, bring on the food and lots and lots of booze, the Commissioner is payin' and there's no limitations tonight!" Bobby cheers and everyone is clinking glasses laughing and stuffing their faces with hot garlic bread and buttered rolls.

"You're blushing!" Douggie informs Rick leaning beside him watching the table and lifting his glass up to The Commissioner and they both smirk to each other.

"Ya think?" Rick asks sarcastically running his hand down the side of his face.

"You're nervous…just chill...finally enjoy yourself!" Douggie tells Rick drinking his champagne and gesturing to the Rosita for a refill.

Rick lifts his flute up and swallows the whole glass in one go and Rosita is filling Rick's glass to the top.

Rick's jaw was aching from the laughing and smiling, he hasn't felt this good in a long time and he feels guilty for actually liking the way he feels to be appreciated by his fellow colleagues and to be where he wants to be right now, in this place in this time and then Beth appears with appetisers out of nowhere, everyone cheers and Beth giggles never had such a reception for the tiny canapés and prawn cocktails. Here with Beth even if it's just a few moments of just watching her moving gracefully around the room, he felt like his insides were slowly healing and softening, he forgot what this felt like and he didn't want to give it up, the fuzzy feeling or it could be the champagne hitting him in the right spot, no he thinks, whilst he takes another sip looking back up at Beth, she places his plate in front of him and without realising as she walks past, her hand brushes past his back, Rick's head turns watching Beth's hand leave him and she places a plate in front of Douggie.

All the while, they were eating, drinking, swapping tales, Rick's eyes watch Beth as she worked, he hoped he didn't appear creepy or obsessed but he couldn't stop, he tries to listen to the stories but his ears were picking up Beth's voice of asking if anyone wanted anything else and then she was off and then Rick was getting up from his seat and making his way out and following behind Beth, he wanted to have one moment with her but before he can reach Beth, an old acquaintance pops up and then a mini reunion is taking place. Rick was his charming self, answering questions and asks a question to show he was glad to chat, the usual chit chat you do with acquaintances catching up on old times and old friends.

Beth looks over seeing one of her regulars talking to Rick and he listens nodding, when Rick looks up and over, Beth looks away or turns around putting orders up on the ticket line and checking to see if any orders are up and when they are, she hands them over to the waiting staff. Rick and Beth do this for five minutes until Rick excuses himself making the excuse he needed to use the restroom.

It was like, This Is Your Life, he bumps into an old High School Teacher who begins to tell him how proud he is of him becoming a Deputy and now a big time Detective in Atlanta and he asks whether he still hangs around with Shane Walsh, the guy who made him lose half his hair. When Rick tells him that Shane is godparent to his children and they are Partners back in King County, the man had to grab hold of Rick's arm in shock not believing Walsh had accomplished something with his life and when Rick told him that Shane is one of the senior deputies, Mr Flopolopolaus needed a drink, Shane was a law enforcer of a county! Rick smile remembering the nickname Shane had given the man trying to wrack his brains around this news, Mr Hippopotamus. Rick beckons a waiter and he asks for a brandy for Mr Flopolopolaus.

Rick looks over and Beth is no longer at the station where she was, he turns to see Beth, Rosita and Amy bringing out their main courses and he knew he couldn't interrupt, Beth was hard at work. He goes to the wash room since he was up. He waits in line, the restaurant was definitely busy. Once he's done, he goes to dry his hands but there's a man standing there holding a towel out to him and now Rick realises how swanky this restaurant is. He's always heard about places like this back home when visitors passing by his county would talk about Atlanta. He realises Beth left King County, a small Tea Room and was now working for one of the plushest restaurants in Georgia, there was a waiting list for reservations here from what Javeed has said this being his favourite restaurant and could only afford to eat here if The Commissioner was buying them all dinner. Even with all this, Rick knew Beth must miss her Tea Room, she took pride in that little shop and the people loved her and he knows they missed her, her replacements weren't anything in comparison, fewer people went there now.

When Rick walks out the restroom, he sees Beth co-ordinating a few of the waiters and waitresses and they all seemed to respect her and follow her orders as she rushes to greet more diners and then he sees a man bending down and kissing Beth on either side of her cheeks and she gestures to him and his party to follow her to their waiting table, she looked happy and cheerful and the diners seemed to love her once she had them seated and she was talking to them and giggling when the elderly man holds out a little flower from his top pocket and Beth happily accept squeezing the old man's shoulder and places the flower into her belt, they seemed to be on first name basis, the teenagers with them seem to like her, the teenage boy seems to blush when Beth asks him a question and Rick smiles.

He watches Beth happily, if out of all this mess, Beth found a life of her own, he was happy, he was glad of it but he wanted to able to be a part of this new life. He knew he had to work hard to get that trust back from Beth to let him back into her life and he was more determined than anything, he was determined to win Beth back and if that means staying in Atlanta, then so be it, wherever Beth wanted to stay, that's where he would stay. He just prayed that he could get custody of Carl and Judith because he needed them with him as well, he couldn't function without either, the past two years is confirmation of that. Just being in Beth's atmosphere, he feels like himself again and he knows deep down Beth felt the same way but wasn't allowing herself to believe it or allow it. He would change her mind, he wouldn't force her but he'll be waiting for her as long as it took. What was it someone said; Time and patience, all good things come to those who wait.

Making his way back to his table, Beth rushes over when she turns around, she slips on the water Rosita had just dropped as she went and Rick seeing this catches Beth. Beth's arm grabs his shoulder and neck and he holds her up against him, his arms around her waist. Beth shakes her hair back out of her face and looks up to see Rick staring into her eyes. His eyes move over her face, he lifts his hand and moves the piece of hair flicking by her cheek. He looks at the strand, the strand that forever annoyed her, he has a secret smile on his lips whilst he puts it behind her ear. Beth's eye lids fall down and her lips tremble, they listen to the Singer and the Band just standing there, the lyrics of lost love. Feeling Rick's heartbeat against her own, her head comes down and without realising they're slowly moving to the music.

Clayton gets up to go to the restroom and stops, he wouldn't be able to pass without having to tap Rick's shoulder to ask him to move himself and Beth aside, he knew he couldn't interrupt this moment they were having, he sits down and waits, bouncing his knee to distract the need for him to go to the toilet. Javeed happily follows and Clayton jumps up and pulls him back by the collar.

"Hey, Clay! What are ya doin'?" Javeed screeches.

Clayton points at Rick and Javeed gives an "O" and sit down next to him and he crosses his legs rocking back and forth holding the seat.

When the song comes to an end, Rick opens his eyes. Beth slowly lifts her head up, last time they danced was at Shane's cousins wedding, that was the first night Rick had confessed he had taken dance lessons from Shane so he could twirl her around the dance floor, that was one of their greatest nights and being able to just move along to the music was reliving a small moment from that night and Beth was sure that was probably the night Olly was conceived, that night they were lost in each other.

Beth tried hard not to let the tears to come out, she's been strong so far, she wants to be able to get through this and she holds them back but thinks it would be so easy just to lean up to him and recapture something from that time.

It was like Rick could read her mind. Rick leans towards Beth, she blinks, he blinks, she lifts her face up and he towers over her. Rick moves his feet a step into her, his arm moves around, she feels his fingers on the back of her skirt, his hand was moving slowly, Beth breathes heavily.

"Waitress!"

Beth's head snaps towards her table and her hands move to his elbow trying to compose herself as she tries to detach herself. Rick looks down and after a second, he lets go and Beth walks to the woman waving at her. Rick watches her as he makes his way back to his table a deep sigh, it could be so easy but it wasn't.

Rick walks straight past Clayton and Javeed who look up as he walks past.

"You reckon I'll have any luck with Beth's friend, Rick seems to be having some luck?" Javeed asks.

"I doubt it…and they have history!" Clayton replies standing up and making his way to the restroom and Javeed follows and then slips and Rosita catches him.

"You ok tiger?" She asks.

Javeed looks up and he is stumped, here is the friend and all he can manage is to nod his head up and down. Rosita smiles and notes the water on the floor. She rushes off to get the mop and a warning cone indicating the floor is wet.

"Bye!" Javeed waves as Rosita rushes off into the kitchen and groans at not trying harder.

It's midnight and Beth runs to the staff room and grabs her purse from her locker. She rushes to the kitchen to say her goodbyes to T-Dog, the other Chefs, finds Amy sitting on the stool with a small glass of champagne.

"Here Beth, we're celebrating a successful night!" Amy jumps up and hands her a flute with a small amount of Champagne.

Beth wasn't sure but realised she had expressed enough milk, she could have a tiny drink and they all toast and drink their champagne.

"Well done, I knew you could do it!" Beth hugs Amy.

"Thanks but I couldn't have done it without you, we make a great team!" Amy smiles hugging Beth tighter "If you hold on for ten minutes, I'll get Zach to walk you home!

"Amy, it's alright, I can get home, there's tons of people still walking about, I'll be fine!" Beth detaches herself and rushes giving a wave.

Amy puts her flute down and runs after Beth outside the restaurant.

"Beth! wait, I'll walk home with you!" Amy tells her.

"And who'll walk back with you…ha?" Beth asks back turning around to face her over protected friend.

Amy frowns, she didn't want Beth walking home this late and then if by magic, Rick and Douggie appear.

"Beth?" Rick calls and Beth turns around "I'll walk you home!" He suggests.

"No, it's ok, it's not far, I'll be fine!" Beth says and makes to leave.

Rick steps in front of Beth.

"I'll walk you home!" Rick insists he doesn't want to argue, he didn't want Beth walking the dark streets on her own, it was a ten minute walk to her apartment.

"I walk home alone all the time!" Beth argues.

"Please!" Is all Rick says and Beth nods.

"I'll see ya!" Douggie tells Rick and they shake hands, he takes his leave from the ladies and makes his way down the street.

Amy looks at Rick not happy and Beth gives a small smile to her friend and turns around leading the way home. Amy watches as Beth and Rick make it down the street and turn round the corner.

Beth and Rick walk side by side, Beth hugs herself, Rick sees this and takes off his jacket and drapes it over Beth's shoulder. Beth looks at the jacket around her and then looks up at Rick, he moves his hand.

They're quiet, Beth pulls the jacket tightly around her. Rick takes a glance at Beth and smiles, she looked like she was drowning in his jacket but she was warm, that's all that mattered.

"How's Olly?" Rick asks starting up a conversation.

"Yeah, he's doin' good!" Beth replies smiling.

"I saw you in the park today, he seemed happy," Rick smiles remembering how happy Olly was playing with Bruno.

"You should have come over and said hi, he would have liked it!" Beth looks at Rick, she didn't see him.

"I had Judith and Carl with me and I didn't want to interrupt you and your friends." He shrugs.

"You wouldn't have been interrupting." Beth answers.

They walks in silence again.

Judith and Carl! Beth thinks, they don't know about Olly yet.

"They go home tomorrow, Shane's coming to collect them!" Rick says sadly.

Beth looks over at Rick, he looked miserable, he had his hands in his pockets looking up ahead at nothing. Beth knew Rick would miss Carl and Judith. She remembers when they were together, how much Rick wished he could have had Carl with him more than he had access to and now there was Judith, she was still a baby, how would he live without seeing that little angel every day. Beth knew she couldn't live a day without seeing Olly.

"I'm sorry...you could skype them every day, I know it's not the same but it's something?" Beth suggests hopefully.

Rick turns his head to look at Beth, he never thought of that and he smiles and will ask Shane to set it up on the home computer and then he could show Carl how to use it.

"I was just thinking, maybe Shane could show Carl how to skype, Carl already knows how to work every gadget, he'll probably have to show Shane, he hates technology!" Rick now laughs.

"You remember he got his digital camera and he tried to upload the pictures onto his laptop and he somehow sent them off to all his contacts, I remember receiving that questionable picture and it looked like his rear end!" Beth laughs remembering she and Rick kept turning the picture around and when they got it the right way round it was a picture of Shane's ass.

"I'm glad that's all it was, anything else!" Rick pulls a face and they both burst out laughing.

They were talking and laughing, it was a start Rick thought.

"I was hoping, if it's ok with you, maybe I could spend some time with Olly, whenever is good for you!" Rick adds quickly, this was all on Beth's terms but he really wanted some one on one time with Olly. If Beth wanted to come along, then he'd love that also.

Beth walks and thinks. This was it, it was time to share Olly, split between her and Rick and she knew she's had Olly to herself all this time since he's been born and Rick was losing his children tomorrow, she didn't want him to hurt more than she knows he has and will do.

"Tomorrow afternoon, he has a sitter but I'm sure I can rearrange, if that fits in with you?" Beth suggests.

"That would be perfect!" Rick beams happily, he thought Beth might say, she'll have to think about it but she didn't.

"I'll have Olly packed and ready for two o'clock, I'll give you a list of important information that I give to his sitters." Beth tells Rick.

"Does he have any allergies?" Rick asks.

Beth shakes her head.

"He does have one thing that he can't live without so you'll have to make sure it's always with Olly or you have it with you some place safe!" Beth informs Rick.

"What is it?" He asks interested.

Beth looks up at him quite shy, she bites her bottom lip and then reveals Olly most prized item, it was like a safety blanket.

"Woody!" Beth utters.

Rick turns and looks at Beth and he has mini flashbacks. Woody was the doll he had won for Beth on their first date at the fair, the first time they had kissed, the start of their relationship.

"Woody!" Rick whispers.

They stop outside Beth's apartment and they look up and then at each other.

"Me and Olly will see you tomorrow." Beth looks up at Rick.

Rick just nods, that ten minute walk was not long enough, he wanted to keep walking with Beth just to talk but it was late and Olly was expecting his mom and knowing that was more important, Rick takes a step back.

"I'll wait once I see your light turn on!" Rick informs Beth as he reluctantly walks across the street, sadly there would be no kiss good night.

Beth opens the door, she enters and turns around looking at Rick standing under the bright street lamp.

Beth knocks on Mrs Gupta's door and she hands a sleepy Olly over.

Beth carries Olly up the stairs and unlocks the door, she steps in locks it behind her and then turns on the lamp. She walks over to the window, Rick was still standing there and she was holding Olly in her arms, she beings to pull back the curtain and before she closes the last half, Rick lifts his hand up signalling his departure and Beth lifts her hand up saying bye. She watches Rick walk down the street and before he turns, he takes one last look up the street towards her window and then he disappears.

Beth makes her way to her bedroom and places Olly in her bed and when she takes a seat to undress, she realises she still has Rick's jacket on. She pulls the jacket around her and inhales his scent, she closes her eyes, it smelled like Rick was wrapped around her. Beth feels something in the pocket, she puts her hand in and pulls out a wallet. She stares at it and with trembling hands. She opens it up and there in the picture compartments were pictures of Carl and Judith and there right, there was a picture of them, her sitting in Rick's lap, him looking up at her smiling, the same picture that Lori had torn up. Rick still kept the picture and when she looks behind that picture, there were other pictures of her and them together. Rick still keeps her pictures and then she wonders if he still kept all the pictures on his cell.

Beth kicks off her shoes and crawls under the covers still in her uniform with Rick's jacket around her and she snuggles up to Olly. She closes her eyes and dreams about the good days.

"I still love you Rick!" Beth mumbles in her sleep and Olly grabs hold of Beth's ear and squeezes it.

Rick unlocks the door and makes his way through the hall and into the lounge. The light switches on. Lori is sitting in the chair looking to be waiting for him and they just stare at one another. Rick makes his way to his room.

"Rick!" Lori calls.

"No Lori, not tonight, tonight I just want to sleep, I want to sleep with good thoughts in my mind, tomorrow you take my children with you back to King County, I don't want to be depressed, I want to go to bed without feeling any pain and I want to wake up with no pain!" Rick pleads with Lori, he didn't want to ruin a good day.

And Lori for once does not fight Rick, Rick opens his bedroom door and slips in quietly relieved and shuts the door with a sigh. He sees Carl is asleep half dangling off the bed. He walks over and lift him back into the bed and cover him up. He wipes his hair and kisses his head.

Rick undresses and climbs into his bed and lays there looking up at the ceiling with his arms crossed underneath his head and he smiles before closing his eyes.

"Dad?" Carl calls out half asleep, he yawns.

"Yes son?" Rick asks.

"Did you ask Beth about my baby brother?" Carl asks facing Rick cracking an eye open.

Rick turns fully to his side facing his son and smiles at Carl, he liked that he calls Olly his baby brother.

"Yeah he's good and the next time you and Judy come down to visit, I'm goin' to introduce you to your baby brother!" Rick says with a smile for that day, he couldn't wait to have all three of his children playing and finally all together.

"Will Beth like me and Judith?" Carl asks.

"She loves you both, there's no question whether she likes you!" Rick informs Carl reaching over and running his hand over his face.

"Dad, I still love mom, can I love Beth too?" Carl asks.

Rick sighs heavily "Yes, you can love your mom and you can love Beth, Beth will never take your mom's place, your mom is very important to you. But you can give a tiny place in your heart to Olly and Beth if you want to," Rick suggests.

"There's plenty space in my heart and in Judy's!" Carl says yawning and then tiny snores come out.

Every night, they'd have these little conversations and Rick will miss them, Carl was wiser beyond his years and right now Rick could not be prouder.

Watching Carl, Rick finally closes his eyes and he joins Carl snoring.

To be continued...