AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thanks to those who are reading. Thank you to Guest and malzateb for commenting, made me happy to receive a notification an hour ago and so here's the next chapter!

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

pologies in advance for any spelling and grammatical errors. Thoughts in Italics


Loved Back to Life

Chapter 28


The atmosphere of the farm was still buzzing as the sun begins to draw down slowly over the horizon. Carl and his friends were having fun going around on the Go-Carts for the dozenth time. They had bounced on the bouncy castles more times than could be counted, some children were still bouncing. They'd eaten their lunch, had sweet treats and snacks when they got hungry having burnt it all off with all the running around and having fun they were doing.

They had a tour around the farm, with Herschel guiding, narrating and giving them all a history lesson of the 200 year old legacy of The Greene Family's ancestral home and farmland, the story of a young Irish Man - Connor Herschel Greene travelling from the old country when he had a premonition one night, there were better prospects for his young family across oceans and oceans of water thousands of miles away. He sold all his belongings, packed a couple of suitcases, bid farewell to his family and took his wife and twin sons to the land of dreams where he worked hard and settled putting down new roots on the very farm they were standing on. The history, peaked an interest with the parents as the tour went on. They were asking question after question and they were just soaking in the information and Herschel seemed to be in his element. There was entertainment for everybody, young and old.

Rick was amongst the first group with Carl, Duane, Shane, Daryl and Jenny looked down the bricked Water Well that Connor Greene had dug up and built with his own two hands. Rick silently thanks the man for getting that premonition that night. Taking the gamble and getting on that ship on a cold misty morning, travelling oceans and oceans to reach America and settling down to start afresh. If he hadn't, he never would have met Beth 200 years later, Beth may never have been born come think of it and all Rick could do was say thank you over and over to the pioneer who'd laid the foundation for a whole community of people to follow, join him and live peacefully in the countryside to thrive and continue his legacy. Beth a descendant of Connor Herschel Greene, once mentioned to her students when they attempted to make their own Family Trees - that one day, she'd like her own children to grow up and experience her family's heritage and looking around, Rick could see why. He planned to make sure all their children would know exactly where their mother came from and standing there with his arms draped around Carl's shoulders, Rick smiles – Carl was wide eyes and captivated and looked like he had been transported back in time and was there as Herschel continued the story.

As the afternoon went by, children and adults watched and petted the animals, had ridden on the horses; watched Beth race on her horse against a few of the locals from the neighbouring farms, her cousins from over a couple of farms away had been invited along. Shawn, Jimmy and Lacey one of the trainers who is Beth's first cousin had entertained everyone with a good old fashioned rodeo horse bucking show with the horses that had overabundance of energy and playfulness when seeing they had an audience. Rick even had a try after so many years persuaded by Shane. Sadly, he was thrown off before he could get control of the reigns and said he'd leave it to the professionals. Everyone clapped, whooped and cheered for his attempt but he proved he was a good in the saddle when he was able to trot and ride off on Beth's horse who'd taken a fancy to him, most probably getting the vibes Rick was his mistress's partner reading their body language when close together.

There was a bubble machine going off with children jumping up and down trying to catch bubbles and the music was still playing out of the speakers as some danced on the temporary dancefloor which would slowly be moved into the barn once the sky darkened and night finally fell.

"I feel my Annette all around!" Herschel closes his eyes feeling the cool breeze kiss his skin "This all reminds me of Annette when she used to throw a real shindig for Shawn, Maggie and Beth on their birthdays!" He smiles opening his eyes, sitting on the porch swing with Otis by his side, both watching the crowd physically exhausted but happily exhausted with iced-teas in their hands.

"That it does!" Otis agrees casting a look past the front lawn and all around remembering the old days. The scene reminded him of happy times when children ran around all day until the sun came down.

Herschel watches Beth crouched down tying up Carl's laces. He had kicked off his cowboy boots and changed into his trainers so he could run around and have more fun. Beth was concentrating making the knots tight enough so they stayed tied up asking a question. Carl replies animatedly and by throwing his hands up in the air shaking them making Beth laugh.

"He's a good kid, real shame his mama just upped and left him like she did!" Otis says dejectedly interrupting Herschel's concentration on Beth and Carl.

Otis not able to have a child of his own, didn't understand the decision Lori Grimes had made to abandon her child. There was him and Patricia who have craved a child all their lives, especially Patricia a woman wanting nothing more than to bear a child of her own and raise it and there was Lori Grimes, she had a child and abandoned him. Otis shakes his head, letting out a slow shaky breath wondering how those who don't want children, have them and those who want them, can't.

Herschel looks at Otis, watching his friend knowing exactly what was running through his mind. He reaches out and squeezes Otis's shoulder nodding in understanding and returns to watching Beth and Carl interacting with one another.

"I cannot even attempt to try and comprehend what's been goin' through that boy's mind!" Otis says taking a look over at Carl "It's a real shame he's had to go through that and miss his mama's love and care!"

"It is a real shame but whatever Carl was missing, he's finding and receiving it all from Beth," The older man answers "My Bethy may not have given birth to Carl but she's slowly but surely nurturing him and mothering him like he were her own!" He says matter-of-factly "When she and Rick have children of their own, I know she won't differentiate between them and Carl."

"I have ta agree, Carl seems to follow Beth round like a little chick following it's mama and Beth, Beth besotted with the little boy and am sure she wouldn't hesitate to lay the smack down when the need called for her protect him!" Otis grins having witnessed this since the first time Carl landed on the farm.

Herschel and Otis bark out a hearty round of laughter. Beth did inherit Herschel's fighting spirit as well as her mother's serene.

Herschel simmers down taking a mouthful of his iced-tea.

"Beth's maternal instincts have kicked in, they've always been there but they've fully awakened since she's taken to Carl in a special way, I don't think she'll ever let him go!" Herschel says as he watches Carl giving Beth a hug and she squeezes him back whispering something, Carl nodding before running off with Duane and Patrick to annoy Daryl who was standing and supervising the bubble machine much to his displeasure.

"Uncle Daryl, POP! POP! POP!" Carl, Duane and Patrick sing dancing around Daryl clapping their hands. Daryl just groans when a bubble pops in his face making Carl and Duane giggle and blow a ton more at him.

"Sorry Mr Dixon!" Patrick apologizes backing away and running for the bouncy castle.

"Yea, ya betta run boy!" Daryl yells after Patrick never seen the boy run so fast "Oh man!" He grumbles beneath his breath when hundreds of bubbles come at him, bounce off his face and some pop and soak him, he frowns watching Carl and Duane doing the rain dance around him.

Herschel catches Beth smiling adoringly watching Carl jumping up trying to smack a bubble between his hands and then her smile becomes shy when she looks towards the barn. Herschel followed Beth's gaze to find Rick appearing with Shane. He doesn't miss the deputy looking through the crowds of people, locating Beth and smiling back at her in such a way, Beth blushes crimson pink and looks like she would at any moment swoon. He could see Rick grin and wink to Beth whilst listening to Shane but his focus was solely on Beth. Herschel should be mad to see a grown man flirting with his little girl but he wasn't. He knew Rick was a good loyal man and would be that to Beth, she was lucky to have found him and he to have found her.

"I believe god sent Rick and Beth into each other's lives when they needed someone and I know my Beth needed Rick and Rick, he needed Beth! Nobody else would have fit the bill. Love works in mysterious ways but I'm glad of it, I couldn't have asked for a better man for my little girl and a surprise grandson!" Herschel states gratified with destiny.

"Here! Here!" Otis agrees holding out his glass and Herschel clinks his against it and they take a drink.

Herschel leans back thinking "But, I'm afraid I could have possibly shifted in my daughter's heart's line of affections!" Herschel chuckles realising he'll have to fight Rick and Carl for Beth's attention and Otis can't help but join him and laugh along.

"I never thought I would see the day, god does like to make things interesting!" Otis claps Herschel's shoulder.

Herschel was always Beth's number one guy and nobody came close to taking the number one spot, until possibly now. Rick and Carl are all Beth thinks about and the past month has proven so.

"I'm feelin' a little neglected!" Herschel jokes.

"There's no need for you to be!" Otis interjects "The order has changed a little but everyone has their places in Beth's heart. You'll always have yours, Rick will have his and Carl will have his too. You'll always be her father, she your daughter and I don't think Rick and Carl could ever come in between your relationship! Rick's a good man, knowledgeable and clued up - I just have a good feeling about him and about the future!" Otis pats Herschel's shoulder with a knowing smile, reassuring his friend he wasn't being foolish to be so trusting in Rick.

"I have a good feeling too!" Herschel smiles broadly agreeing.

Beth's happiness was all that really mattered and if Rick could make her the happiest girl in the world, protect and love her unconditionally, keep her safe and provided for, then so be it. The ranking didn't matter, he knew Beth had a lot of love to give and share to everyone and he was proud to say, she is his daughter.

A jeep comes round the corner, taking the hard turn and beeps coming up the path towards the house.

"It's military!" Otis says squinting placing his glass down.

"It's Josh!" Herschel say getting up and climbing down the steps.

"Did Shawn give Bethy that letter?" Otis asks following pursuit.

"I have a feelin' Shawn didn't and that's why Josh is here to ask Beth personally?"

Herschel sighs remembering Beth's promise to return to Afghanistan to continue her humanitarian work when they needed her, a condition with her school agreeing for her to do so when the call came and seeing the Lieutenant in uniform jumping out and making his way towards him with his Privates standing beside the jeep watching, gave him a stomach turning feeling guessing the reason Zach's older brother has shown up unannounced and looking confused to see a fair going on around him.

"Josh!" Herschel greets the young man with a friendly hug, he was still family.

"Mr Greene, it's so good to see you." Josh greets back and they exchange pleasantries.

Josh updates Herschel of his parents and them finally stepping out into society and attending gatherings and Church again. Beth's frequent visits had decreased with everything going on in her life, she hadn't visited them in over a month but did keep in contact with exchanges of text messages.

"Josh, why are you here?" Herschel finally asks outright not able to wait any longer.

"There's a mission, we're rebuilding a village and the Organization are re-recruiting aid workers. We need builders, doctors, nurses, and teachers and they want Beth and Amy to go back as they did an impressive job the last time on the tour and I've been sent here to enlist them!" Josh confirms seeing the colour drain from both Herschel and Otis's face.

"The other thing is, my folks are making a big donation. They're paying for a hospital to be build in memory of Zach and the Organisation are thrilled and my parent's one condition is, they want Beth to be the one to place the first brick down and make the first blessing." He confirmed, both Herschel and Otis are pleased to hear this and sad at the same time.

"I'm here for Beth to ask her to come back to Afghanistan with me!" Josh states looking around for his former sister-in-law.

"NO!" Shawn says stepping in front of Herschel and face to face with Josh "Turn around, get back in that jeep and ride on, Beth's not be goin', she's settled, got a teaching job and she's probably goin' to be settling down soon!" Shane informs and regrets the outburst seeing the look of confusion spread across Josh's face and wishes he could take the last part back but it was too late.

"Settling down?" Josh repeats quietly looking Shawn in the eyes and then over at Herschel.

Shawn steps forward and places a hand on Josh's shoulder, his face softens as he gently breaks it to him about Rick entering Beth's life. She was committed to Rick and wouldn't just leave without discussing it with him. She had Rick to consider and he knows Rick wasn't thrilled the first time Beth left for Afghanistan.


Rick steps back and takes a long hard look at himself in the full length mirror not knowing how he finds himself to be in this position, how he got talked into doing this. Never in his wildest dreams had he predicted or imagined, he'd ever be dressed up as Captain America in his adulthood - dressed up as anyone to be precise! He's Senior Deputy Rick Grimes of King County's Sheriff's Office, he wore a real Officer's uniform, a real legitimate badge and could fire his weapon when the need called for him to. But here he is, in a replica Captain America Super Suit, fake pistol sheathed in his holster and a plastic round shield clipped to his back. All rented from - he picks up the paper from the bed.

"Nerds 'R' Us." Rick reads off the invoice rolling his eyes and drops it trying to remember he must have been twelve years old the last time he dressed up and keeps asking himself - how on earth had this happened.

There's movement at the door, it slowly swings open.

"Well, hello there Cap!" Comes Beth's grinningly pleased voice.

Rick didn't need to think further when the very same exact voice which had told him a month ago, he would be doing this suddenly comes flashing back to him. He was following orders of his 'woman' as Shane puts it. He wondered when he had become so under the spell of Beth Greene, that he was willing to dress up for her and on her command. No woman has ever had him do this, this is the first. Rick was discovering a little persistence and dominance in Beth and he had to admit, he quite liked it.

Before he could get lost in his most intimate thoughts like he has been recently, Rick's eyes move to the side of the mirror to see Beth's eyes raking over his body, from top to bottom in the Captain America's suit. She was hugging the doorframe, biting down on her bottom lip, a million different thoughts racing through her mind he could see and some weren't all innocent, he knew for sure when she gives a look and he gives a similar look back. When their eyes connect, he could see the desire burning behind those bright, sparkling and alive eyes. He can feel the heat in the room was rising or it could just be him as a couple of thoughts run through his mind of what he would like to do to Beth if the farm wasn't filled with people, Carl and her family. He had shut himself off to these types of feelings long ago but Beth had awakened him and these feelings - they were coming out in floods.

He had been so restraint in acting on his desires. He wasn't sure how much longer he could keep it up, he knew he was losing a losing battle restraining himself from allowing his thoughts to becoming a reality. He's found himself at a certain point more than he can count and it was getting painfully frustrating not being able to just act and go for it. Rick didn't know how much longer he could hold off before he took matters into his own hands and just ravished Beth right there in the guest bedroom on the enormous four poster bed with the ridiculous amounts of fluffy pillows piled on top of one another. He could easily just pick Beth up, drop her down, climb on top and have his way with her like he knew Beth wants him to.

He wants to kick himself for being the gentleman and suggesting they wait for the right time, how could he now turn around and tell her, let's not wait. All he knows is, he wants Beth more than he wants anything or anyone. Now he feels the blood rushing south staring at Beth who was staring provokingly at him. He knew she was doing this on purpose and loving every moment of it, riling him up. Having enough, Rick pulls off his headgear and chucks it onto the bed, steps forward and stops suddenly when he hears people entering the house and walking past the room realising, nothing was going to happen under Herschel's roof. It'll be disrespectful to the man whose accepted him into his family, he was traditional and he wanted to stay accepted in the family. He chews his inner lip stepping back and tries to think of anything other than Beth laying beneath him as he makes her squirm and buck up into him.

Oh God! He says to himself, he grabs the invoice as a distraction.

"Beth, honestly – Nerds 'R' Us?" Rick asks after he cleared his throat.

"It was last minute and it had to be the perfect suit out of all of Captain America's suits and this one is it!" Beth confirms with a smile.

Rick raises his brow.

"…It had to be the one where the material sticks to my body…to my ass?!" He questions twisting the side of his body to show Beth exactly what he means.

"Oh yea, it's perfect!" Beth grins satisfactorily, corner of her lips creeping up as she tilts her head to the side to get a good look "Perfect!" She repeats with a hum nodding her head.

"There will be a lot of women in the crowd gaping at me and my," Rick thinks for a moment "at my assets!" He reminds Beth looking down at his crotchal region and looking behind his back to his backside where the material stretches and snuggles over his bottom.

Beth steps forward and circles around Rick admiring him as she trails her finger over his chest, to his back and back around to his chest again liking the feeling and the look.

Rick stands there fidgeting, the suit was riding up and he didn't want to attempt to pull at it. He folds his arms over his chest like he normally does and stands there inhaling heavily not knowing what was going to happen. He was wondering now if he could try and climb out the window, down the pipe and make a run for it. It was finally dawning on him, the reality he would have to go out there in front of all those children, parents who he would pass every day on the streets and not forgetting Beth's family and his.

Crap! He frowns.

"Well," Beth sighs "they can look but they can't touch!" She says and smacks Rick hard on his buttocks.

The slapping noise echoes and confirms Rick must be commando beneath the suit or it was clearly snug and tight. Beth gives his right cheek a good squeeze before she leaves the room "I only I get to do that!" She says over her shoulder with a smug grin plastered over her face that she actually did it, always imagined doing it but afraid to - wondering what Rick would think of her but she just went for it and she was glad she did as she throws a wink at Rick as she leaves. She practically runs away with red cheeks.

Rick is left standing there staring at the door, silence surrounds him as his body temperature shoots up and reaches another level of he needs to take a cold shower. He was wondering whether that actually happened, he hadn't just imagined it – Beth had just spanked and squeezed him and ran off. He begins pulling at the material trying to get rid of the wedgie from behind and not exactly sure about how he was going to conceal the front. He needed to take a walk, Beth was going to be the death of him if she continued to torture him like she was. He was thinking, he was going to have to take her away for a night so there would be no distractions.

"Rick!" Shane comes rushing into the room interrupting his idea "Look what Daryl's done!" He complains almost in a cry.

"Do I look like your mother?" Rick huffs and looks up taking a deep breath, his look of pent up frustration is replaced with a look of utter confusion as his eyes run over Shane standing before him.

"Why do you look like a smurf?" Rick asks holding his hips.

"DARYLLLLLLL!" Shane hisses vehemently.

"I leave you both for ten minutes!" Rick smacks his hand on his face and runs it down with a groan, Shane was meant to be The Incredible Hulk and is the wrong colour.

"Imma kick Daryl's ass til it's blue!" Shane promises flexing his blue body, taking a good look at himself in the mirror in just a pair of purple three quarter length trousers, tattered and ripped at the hems of each leg.

"No you won't!" Rick warns him and goes off on lecture, Shane just stands there listening as he flexes "Comprende?" Rick asks giving Shane the cold stink eye.

Shane just grumbles taking a seat on the bed and slumps forward holding his face "Jeeze Captain America, I feel so blue!"

Rick takes a seat beside Shane and pats his back.

"Jus' suck it up and go out there!" Rick orders and slumps next to Shane holding his face just as Shane was "At least your costume doesn't stick to your body and reveal everything you've tried to keep under wraps so the whole world don't see and now they will!" Rick gestures down at his outfit "And, it's a size too small!"

Shane just smirks giving a side glance at Rick knowing Beth must have picked this outfit for her own personal amusement.

"Miss Greene maybe all sweet and butter wouldn't melt in the classroom and in front of her daddy, but I bet she's one freaky little minx in the bedroom, the quiet and sweet ones always are!" Shane says from experience giving a dirty little laugh nudging Rick who gives him a look to shut up before he socks him in the face as he scrunches up his fist.

Shane holds up his hands in a peaceful gesture.

"Aight!" Daryl says poking his head into the room, stepping in and leaning up against the wall with a tiny smirk over his face at his handiwork.

He had sent Beth and Amy away not wanting to subject them to Shane's flirtatious moves and sent two of the older and less attractive moms to rub body paint over Shane's skin. Shane had closed his eyes and fallen asleep whilst he sat getting smeared in the body paint.

Shane looks at Daryl dressed in his everyday clothes holding his crossbow.

"Ain't ya supposed ta be Hawkeye?" Shane asks with furrowed brows.

Daryl just shrugs whilst chewing his thumb nail trying not to laugh.

"How come he doesn't have to dress up!" Shane frowns to Rick staring at his body covered in blue and then over at Daryl all comfy in his combats and vest done up.

Daryl fails, he beings to quietly chuckle to himself, running his eye beneath his bangs over Shane's body.

"That's it, it's on!" Shane groans between gritted teeth and flies at Daryl, Rick tries to intercept but gets caught in between the crossfire and goes down yelling his costume's going to rip.

"Shane! Daryl!" Rick yells as they start pulling at each other's faces and kneeing one another, getting him in the face in the process.

Patricia walks in with fresh towels to put into the en-suite. She freezes and gasps at the scene on the bed and runs out the room screaming the house down.

Maggie was stepping out of the kitchen to see Patricia, she stops her.

"What is it Patricia?" Maggie asks seeing a flustered Patricia trying to catch her breath and breathe, red faced unable to get a word out "Spit it out Patty!" Maggie demands shaking Patricia's shoulders.

"Maggie!" She finally finds her voice "They're, they're!" She stammers gasping covering her mouth shocked and covering her eyes with her hands unable to take away what she saw.

"Shit it out woman!" Maggie tries to shake out whatever it is Patricia is trying to say.

"Maggie, they're havin' a three way in there!" Patricia points to the guest bedroom closing her eyes, practically screaming as she runs away "What has Bethy got herself mixed up into!"

"What!" Maggie almost spits not expecting to hear that, waddles towards the guest room to see for herself. She kicks the door open to find all three men bucking and bouncing up and down on the bed.

"Oh my days!" She says slowly unbelievably, witnessing the most unmanly fight going on.

Shane and Daryl had hold of each other's hair and Rick's face was poking out between them yelling he thinks he heard something tear.

"Say you're sorry!" Shane demands laying on his back, now holding Daryl in a choke hold with his legs wrapped around the front of Daryl's body.

"Ain't sorry Smurfette!" Daryl growls back elbowing Shane in the stomach to get off.

"Say you're sorry!" Shane shakes their body, the headboard banging against the wall.

Maggie was laughing so much, holding her stomach, she feels something gush down her legs and she stops. She looks down to see a huge puddle of water around her feet and soaking into her pumps.

"Oh man!" Maggie complains turning around and walking out the door.

"Ain't ever gonna happen Walsh!" Daryl shouts back reaching down, grabbing Shane's bulge between his legs and twisting it making Shane growl.

Rick finally free, gets onto his knees on the mattress and grabs both their ears and twists them.

"Shit Rick!" Shane and Daryl both grunt getting down on to their hands and knees.

"We got a show to put on for Carl, now stop fuckin' about and get your asses out there before I do some crazy shit to ya both!" Rick threatens into their ears.

"You don't gotta spit Rick!" Shane dares to speak which earns him another set of stink eyes from Rick whose clearly not amused.

"Beth's worked hard on this, don't either of you dare let her down, otherwise I'll put you both down, kapeesh?" He says shoving his face into their faces.

"Aight!" Shane and Daryl mumble in unison.

Rick lets go, grabs his mask and thunders out the room leaving Shane and Daryl sitting there like little kids but before he leaves, he slips, legs going up in the air as he lands flat on his back.

"Fuck!" He moans seeing fuzzy dots dancing when he opens his eyes.

He touches the floor feeling water all around him "Great!" Rick groans getting up, back all wet and now on the search for a hairdryer as he limps out the room to search for painkillers once he finds a hairdryer.

"You think the fall broke that stick up his ass?" Daryl scoffs pushing Shane's leg off of his lap.

"What he needs is, ta get his leg over, that's what!" Shane answers rubbing his ear.

Daryl throws a displeased face at Shane as he leaves the room, picking up his crossbow bypassing Maggie's puddle on the floor.

"What?" Shane questions that look running after Daryl only to slip "Ouch!"


A/N:- The next chapter will be the wrap up of Carl's birthday and ALOT of things happen!