Chapter 28
Bed rest before the apocalypse sucked, bed rest after the apocalypse, with no TV, radio, internet or magazines to read, and Daryl Dixon restricting not only your movements but your visitors too? That was down right inhumane. To make sure Beth was resting Daryl only allowed visitors into the office, aside from Hershel, when Judith was awake? They had tried to separate the baby from Beth, but it was a lost cause. Judy wouldn't settle and whenever the door to the office opened, Beth could hear Judy's distressed cries and she'd start to cry too. Merle and Carl had taken over Daryl's watch duties, and Sasha had stepped up as well, meaning that aside from a few hours of hunting, Daryl had spent the last several days in the office making sure Beth didn't get out of bed, other then to go to the bathroom. He even brought her three meals a day and snacks to the bed. He had relented somewhat, and would let her sit in the rocking chair, but for no more than half an hour at a time. Michonne had brought back a few magazines from a run, but Beth had already read them cover to cover multiple times. Daryl wasn't talkative to begin with; the strides he had made conversationally with Beth went out the window. Scared Daryl just sat on the futon, making bolt after bolt watching her, flinching every time she moved slightly. He had surrounded her body with as many extra pillows as he could find, insuring that every part of her body was well supported, but at the same time making it feel like she was in a body cast. He'd stand up and stare out the window for hours on end, keeping watch from the prison, not entirely trusting whoever was on watch. He had tried to insist that Glenn and Maggie be separated from guard duty, questioning how vigilant they were, but was shot down. Beth tried to reassure him that she felt fine, but three days ago she had light spotting, which despite Hershel, Carol, Michonne and the baby books telling him was perfectly normal, he panicked. Despite Beth multiple attempts at intimacy, Daryl would touch her. She assured him that she felt no pain that she was sure it was safe, but he wouldn't relent. He'd sleep with his arm around her and that was as far as it went. Beth started to sit up in bed, trying to get comfortable against the pillows, Daryl had gone down stairs for some supper and to fill the thermos with warm water for Judy's bottles and Beth was determined to move as much as she could before he got back. He had placed Judy on the bed before he left, pacifier, diaper and toys all within reach. Judy was sucking contently on her soother, looking up at Beth, making sure she didn't get to faraway. Beth reached over and scooped up the baby before standing and making her way over to the rocking chair. She felt like a child sneaking snacks before dinner. Quickly sitting down and she started placed Judy on her lap and they both trained their eyes to the door waiting for Daryl to come back. Beth heard feet on the stairs and looked away from the door. Daryl came in with a tray of food and thermoses of water.
"Why'd you get out of bed?" He asked gruffly. "Baby fussing?" Beth shook her head.
"I just had to move. Thought I'd eat supper sitting down tonight." Beth reached over for the bottle, taking it from the tray. Judy spit her soother on the floor and greedily moved her mouth around trying to latch on to her bottle while settling back into Beth's arms. "I guess she's hungry."
"You not supposed to move without help for another few days. You dad said 2-3 weeks." Daryl stated placing the trays on the desk and squatting down in front of her, forcing her to look at him. "I know it sucks, but it is what it is." Daryl got up and moved over to the futon, grabbing a bowl of something. "Merle caught some pheasants, Carol's making fried bird tomorrow. She made homemade "bird" noodle soup for tonight though." Beth looked over at him sadly.
"But Maggie and I always make fried bird." Beth said softly. "Maybe tomorrow I could rest on the couch in the cafeteria and help from there?" She asked hopefully, shifting the baby against her shoulder and burping her. She adjusted her again to finish the bottle. "Go ask my dad, I'm sure he'll say it's ok." Daryl frowned; he wasn't used to have to constantly tell Beth no. "Daryl I am going crazy. It's been nine days. I want to go sit outside, I want to eat in the cafeteria, and I want to be able to go to the bathroom. I still want to go swimming. I know you're taking care of me, and I know you're scared but I'm ok." Beth switched the baby back up to her shoulder and started to stand up again.
"Sit your ass back down." Daryl said, getting up and taking the baby from Beth. He placed her in her basket and turned back towards Beth. "2-3 weeks. That is all I am asking for. You follow your dad's instructions for 2 to 3 weeks! You were slashed across your pregnant stomach! There was spotting and that can be a sign of miscarriage. Just fucking do as you're told for at least 5 more days." Daryl grumbled slamming out of the office. Beth sat still, too stunned to move. It wasn't so much that Daryl had yelled at her, but he had cussed her out. He had never done that before. Judy was fussing from her bed; Beth reached over with her foot and pulled the basket closer, scooping the baby out.
"Shhh baby, it's ok." Beth said bouncing the baby on her lap. There was a light knocking at the door, she looked up and Maggie was standing there. "You can come in you know."
"Yeah, I thought you might want to talk. Hurricane Dixon just swept through C block." Maggie answered laying on the futon. "He's trying you know."
"I know, but Maggie I am not going to break. I just wanted to go down and rest on the couch. You don't know how much of my day I'm spending alone."
"Daryl hasn't left you for more than a few hours." Maggie retorted back.
"He barely talks to me now. He won't touch me. It's like being locked in a cell with a stranger."
"Beth I can't imagine how terrified he was. I don't want to let you out of bed to pee and that's not my baby. Daryl was scared before when everything was going perfectly, now you've and your baby have been in a knife fight, we're at risk here and walkers are not the only threat."
"Maggie are you on my side or not?" Beth asked
"Daryl stormed through C muttering about you wanting to go swimming in your condition. Do you really think it's safe to go outside the walls in your condition? What are you going to do? Waddle away from walkers?"
"Maggie that was like the 6th thing I asked for! All I wanted was for him to let me rest on the couch in the cafeteria and help out making the fried bird tomorrow! To be able to take a short walk outside! And I do not waddle, and if I was allowed to move I'd show you I can still run." Beth said stubbornly.
"You try running and Daryl will tie you to that bed." Beth blushed fiercely. "Or I guess He'll tie you to that bed again."
"He never tied me to the bed Maggie!" Beth sputtered out.
"Oh so you tied him to the bed? Or you want to?" Maggie asked laughing. "Look at things from his side of the fence. Remember when he shot himself with his own bolt after getting thrown off a cliff by your horse? You didn't let him go hide in his tent, you made him stay with us in the house. And you weren't even living in sin then."
"Maggie just cause we aren't arguing over me stealing your make-up and who has to muck the stalls doesn't mean you need to take Daryl's side. Beth whined.
"All I'm saying is he's asking you for 14 days, give him 14 days. It's 5 more. You can do it."
"Fine. You have to come and see me more often though. I know you got stuff to do, and seeing me isn't a priority, but I don't care." Beth said getting up and walking with the baby over to the bed climbing in. "Happy? You'd think you'd allow me to be barefoot and in the kitchen." Maggie chuckled and started making the nighttime bottle up for the baby.
"Glenn did go out on a run today, and he did find a few things to make you pass the time faster." Maggie teased walking to the door and grabbing a bag. "These are really old, but you can catch up on what Veronica and Betty are fighting about. Carl wants to read'em when you're through." Maggie said tossing a bag with multiple Archie comics and magazines on the bed. "I got watch with Michonne, in a bit you need anything?" Maggie asked moving a sleeper, diapering supplies, water and a snack close to the bed.
"I'll be fine. I can't imagine Daryl is going to leave me to my own devices for that much longer anyway." Beth answered placing Judy against her chest and baby bump and leaning back against the pillows. She picked up the Archie comics and put them in order before opening the first one. "Veronica was such a slut. You know damn well that if Archie was a nighttime teen drama she'd have been banging everyone from Jughead to Moose."
"Oh Bethy, I'll tell Glenn you said thanks and that you love him." Maggie said laughing at her sweet baby sister calling a cartoon character a slut. "I'm going to have to make sure daddy is ready to perform an exorcism on you and the spawn you're carrying too." Maggie mumbled walking through the door.
Beth rubbed the baby's back with one hand while she read; she was actually enjoying the corny jokes and the vibrant pictures. Judy contently laid against her, sucking on her soother. Beth was glad she was holding off on her bottle hopefully she'd only want it in around an hour or two, and then sleep through the night.
Maggie made her way outside and walked up to the fence were Daryl was laying waste to a few walkers that had piled up there. He was mumbling insults to them and viciously forcing a lead pipe through their skulls.
"So, you feel better now?" Maggie asked keeping back a few feet, not wanting to be hit with walker mess that flew ever time Daryl withdrew the pipe. He grunted in response, quickly finishing with the remain few walkers.
"She still in the office?" Daryl asked wiping his face off with the bottom of his shirt.
"Yeah she was in bed when I left. I talked to her. You need to talk to her though. She feels like you're her jailer Daryl. She's lonely in there."
"She's safe in there." Daryl shot back walking towards the prison, a shower on his mind. He walked up to the office to grab his change of clothes and check on Beth. Maggie was right; she was in bed reading with the baby. Beth looked over and acknowledged that Daryl was in the room.
"5 more days. That's it." She said turning back to her book. "And don't you smirk at me Daryl Dixon." Beth shot back, catching the small smile on Daryl's lips.
"I'm sorry I yelled." Daryl said grabbing his clothes and making his way down to shower. Judy spit out her soother and started moving her mouth along Beth's shoulder, searching for her bottle. Beth put down her book and Grabbed the bottle from the table, quickly pouring in water from the warm thermos and expertly screwing the top back on with one hand before shaking it up. Raising her knees up she leaned the baby back against them and slid the bottle to her lips, Judy took the bottle and stared at Beth while she drank One good thing about being bed ridden was finally having time to read the baby books and magazines. One had said to try feeding the baby in this position for less cramps and gas. So far the results were varied, but Beth as willing to try anything for those few extra minutes of sleep. Daryl came back to the office just as the baby was falling asleep. Beth held her hand to her lips, shifting the baby back to her chest and rubbing her back till she burped. Slipping the soother back in her mouth, Beth laid back with the baby on her chest and picked her comic back up, smiling at Reggie agreeing to take Betty to the dance after Archie ditched her for Veronica. Daryl came over with the baby's basket and placed it in her crib that was right beside his side of the bed, Beth had also read that this would make the transition to crib easier. He slid in beside Beth and waited for her to hand the baby over. Tapping his hands against his chest. Beth finished her comic before slowly sliding Judy off her chest and onto Daryl's. She sat up in the bed and waited for Daryl to place the baby in bed, covering her lightly like Beth had shown him.
"Daryl I have to pee." Beth stated. Daryl walked over to her side of the bed helping her up and walking with her to the door, leaving it open. Walking past Merle's cell he let him know the baby was asleep and that they were just doing a bathroom run. Merle grunted sitting up and promising to stay awake incase the baby cried. "I might take a quick shower too if Daryl let's me." Beth added waddling slightly down the stairs, it was hard to hold the railing and keep her arm through Daryl's especially when he held her so close and tight. Daryl checked the bathroom then let Beth come in before sitting on the bench while she peed and brushed her teeth and hair, pulling it into a side braid.
"You want a quick shower go a head." Daryl said getting her body wash down from the shelf and handing and her loofa over to her. Beth smiled, pulling off her tank top and pants before turning on the shower and quickly getting wet and working the lather quickly over her body and rinsing. She added another layer of layer and quickly motioned for Daryl to turn around while she shaved her legs, under arms and bikini area. Daryl rolled his eyes before turning to face the door. His face had been pressed up against her pussy more times then he could count and she was shy about shaving in front of him? He heard the water turn off and turned around to see Beth quickly drying off before sitting down to pull her tank top and pants back on. "Ready?" He asked extending his hand and helping her up. Beth nodded her head, quickly pecking him on the lips before he could get distance between them. Daryl squeezed her hand leading her out to Rec area. Carl waved hello before disappearing into his cell to go to sleep. Walking to the office they noticed that Merle was vigilantly standing by the door with his head peering in.
"What? I can't tell if she's breathing from my cell dumbass." He said to Daryl as he pushed assed him back into his cell. It seemed all Dixon's had soft spots for babies. Daryl helped Beth into bed and climbed over her to get into his spot.
"I talked to your sister." Daryl said. "Rick and Carol too."
"About what?" Beth asked blowing out the candles around her bed.
"Well Maggie was just handing out advice. Rick and Carl were answering a few questions I had. I almost died of embarrassment asking them by the way. Don't want them all knowing about my sex life." Daryl said. "Seems like Lori had spotting with Carl and Ass Kicker, Carol had it with Sophia. Carol said that it was safe for some intimacy, Rick said he and I quote, "nailing Lori right up till Carl was born. I just don't want to hurt the baby."
"Daryl I'm not going to force you to have sex with me. You just shut down around me after what happened. Don't shut down on me." Beth sighed laying on her side, scooting back until she was pressed up against Daryl stomach and chest. Daryl slid his arms around Beth and absent-mindedly ran his fingers over the few sutures she still had on the cut, the cut that Hershel promised was healing perfectly.
"I know." Daryl said. He moved her leg over his, placing his knee between hers, sliding his hand into her pants. "You want to fool around a little bit?" Daryl asked siding his fingers over the skin she had just shaved. She grabbed his arm, pushing his hand down lower. Daryl moved two fingers along her pubic bone down to wards her clit before pulling his hand out and pulling off her pants entirely, sliding his fingers in his mouth to get them wet before re positioning her legs and resuming his light circles. Beth turned her head, kissing him deeply.
"What about you?" Beth asked panting and whining.
"I'm fine." Daryl said latching on to her neck.
"I can feel you against my back Daryl." Beth replied breathlessly. Reaching behind her she palmed him a few times, groaning as he applied a bit more presser. "Not's not fair if I come and you don't. You told me that." Beth said, closing her legs against his hand tightly, stopping his movements.
"You first. We'll talk about me later." Daryl said pulling his hand free and spreading her legs again. He moved down to his knees between her legs and moved his mouth towards her. "I'm not fucking you till 2 weeks are over though." Daryl added before moving his mouth against her, much softer and slower than he usually did. Beth moaned and started to move against his mouth. Daryl knew she was close, he moved away slightly, blowing against her moving up and latching on to her clit and sucking softly. He was rewarded with Beth quickly slamming both her knees into his ears as she came hard. Catching her breath and sitting up slightly she kissed both side of his head and ran her hands over his face before kissing him deeply. She moved a pillow to floor before kneeling down on it and motioning for Daryl to sit in front of her.
"I'm being still and comfortable." Beth said reaching for his pants, pulling them open and sliding him out. He quickly took him in her mouth, working her hand and mouth in tandem. Daryl had been rock hard when she puled him out; he hadn't even indulged in the shower while keeping his hands off Beth for 10 whole days. He reached down and pulled her tank top off and threw it towards the dirty laundry where her pants hand landed. Beth pressed him against his torso and took his balls softly in her mouth swirling her tongue around each one a few times before popping him back into her mouth as deeply as she could. Daryl's tapped her on the back of the head, but Beth just continued to bob up and down, Daryl came in her mouth suddenly, Beth swallowed around him and slid him out of her mouth before Daryl helped her back into bed. He walked over to the coat rack and grabbed her nightie and tossed it over to her while taking his pants off and hanging them up before crawling into bed in his undershirt and boxers. Beth snuggled up to him. "Why'd you tap the back of my head?" She asked innocently. Daryl chuckled, forgetting that there had been no one else besides him. He'd been the only one.
"Just something you do if you're a guy before you come. Kinda like a warning." Daryl said.
"I knew you were going to come, you were flexing your abs." Beth replied. "I didn't care if you came in my mouth though." Daryl kissed the side of her head and pulled her closer.
"It's a habit, I'll try not to do it anymore." Daryl said running his hand up and down her back. "Get some sleep. I still want you to rest." Daryl heard steady breathing and realized that Beth was already asleep against his chest, with his undershirt tightly fisted in her right hand. Daryl slide his left arm under his head and tried to follow his own advice.
