AUTHOR'S NOTES: Thanks to the readers following this fic! angelicedg, Guest, brinxb, Ameliya86, malzateb, BethFan and meg27 – Thank you guys for your comments on the last chapter!
Sorry guys for the long wait for an update. I haven't had much free time to spare helping my brother and sister-in-law strip wallpaper in their new house (-_-) Yuck - I hate DIY so I made a right mess..result...they said I could go home and well here I am! And then when I've had time, I've been really engrossed with writing for The Rookie and The Deputy, there's a lot going to be happening in that fic and I had to get it down before I forgot! Back to this complicated Brick universe…
DISCLAIMER: I do not own the Walking Dead or its characters
Apologies in advance for any spelling and grammatical errors.
The Journey
Chapter 29
Beth rushes into the staffroom chucking her bag into her locker, taking a quick look in the mirror to fix her windswept hair panting from the ten minute run from Rick's apartment. She blinks down to take a look at her face, she frowns profoundly. She'd forgotten to put on makeup and the dark circles around her eyes were notably evident. She didn't know when she was not going to see those circles, she was exhausted and she needed a break but she'd asked for more shifts, she needed the money and it was an endless circle. She wished she could just curl up in front of the TV with Olly watching one of his favourite DVDs, Shrek would do and then getting an early night sounded heavenly.
Beth rifles through her locker looking for her makeup bag frantically.
Amy walks in seeing Beth at her locker with her back to her.
"Hey, I thought I told you, you didn't have to work today, we can manage!" Amy says sitting down at the table taking five minutes before they opened the restaurant. It wasn't as busy as the previous night but all the tables were near enough booked, they'd be able to manage.
"Daryl's still away and you need as many free hands available as possible! Didn't realise the amount of extra work Daryl does himself!" Beth states turning looking over her shoulder at Amy.
Amy didn't want to agree but reluctantly did with a slight bob of her head. The gruff redneck did do the work of three and she was starting to realise he was the driving force of the workers and the main reason why the restaurant was ticking along like a well-oiled machine and making so much money and that of course because of T-Dog's menu and his magic hands and his little army of chefs. Whatever Daryl was doing, coordinating everyone, he was doing right and she couldn't fault him. When it came to work, he was a professional and when it came to socialising, he was a complete miserable party-poop, he kept to himself and didn't socialise, the restaurant was his life which was sad. She wondered where Daryl was and what he was doing right at this very moment?
She's been doing his job for less than a week and she couldn't wait to take a step back from all the responsibility. Amy looks down at her once perfect manicured nails and sighs deeply. They really needed attention and so did her hair. She needed a trim, a deep wash and condition and a powerful blow-dry! She was missing her salon, she was missing Kiki and her hot chocolates and their gossiping whilst she did her magic on her grooming.
"Right, let's get this show on the road!" Beth says trying to be enthusiastic.
Amy looks up noting the half-heartedness in Beth's tone. She was always happy unless there was something or someone on her mind and she didn't need to guess who - god damn him!
When Beth turns around, Amy drops her energy bar.
"Beth!" Amy jumps "You've gotta start looking after yourself, not only are you gonna waste away but you look like you've not slept in a month, sit down!" Amy says pushing Beth and making her take her seat.
"Amy, I'm fine, Rosita's gonna open the doors in a minute, I've got to be on front of house with her!" Beth pleads getting up.
Amy grabs her makeup bag from her locker and orders Beth back down into her seat and Beth too scared to argue, does as she's told.
"The others can manage for ten minutes, doesn't take a genius to seat people and take their drink orders, just hush and relax for a moment!" Amy orders Beth.
"Yes mom!" Beth smiles actually thankful for a breather.
She could actually do with ten minutes of just sitting there whilst Amy fixed her face so she'd be presentable to the diners. She was having a hard enough time with her body recently. After having Olly she was finding it hard to adjust to the changes, being tired all the time whilst her colleague's all looked healthy and stunning, she was feeling ugly.
Amy started applying primer around Beth's eyes, nice and gently.
"That feels so good!" Beth mumbles, she could just fall asleep, she lets out a small moan and Amy giggles.
"Beth, you have beautiful young skin, I'd die to have skin like yours but you're starting to neglect yourself!" Amy frowns seeing tired lines on Beth's face.
Beth cracks open an eye.
"I've been so rushed off my feet with Daryl gone, Carol's on bed rest and needs help with Sophia, Olly is teething and now my apartment has flooded, can you blame me for not looking super model glam like you!" Beth laughs, she wished she could just be pampered like Amy or even look like her old self but that was never going to happen.
"I know, I'm sorry but I just wish you'd think of you for once, your always mommying us, let us help you more!" Amy requests "I'm always up for Olly/Amy time!" She offers sincerely "Wait! Hold up! Did you just say your apartment flooded?!" Amy asks in alarm pulling Beth's head back.
Beth opens both her eyes now and sees Amy hovering above her looking worried and upset.
"Yeah, the kitchen sink finally had enough and the pipe sprang a leak and then Rick tried to fix it but it was already too late, the darn thing broke and my apartment is now uninhabitable and my Landlord has gone awol but then again, he always is unless it's rent day!" Beth says sadly.
The leak was added stress and she didn't know how long this stress would last. She had thought about finding a new place to lease but everywhere was too expensive or far away and she wanted her holding deposit back that her Landlord was holding, he'd never give it back if she handed in her notice. She just wanted somewhere clean and safe, it didn't have to be big and fancy, just habitable and safe for Olly. She spent so much money fixing up the apartment and it all had gone to waste.
"Rick was there?" Amy asks almost in a whisper.
Beth looks down at the table and sighs. She knew what Amy's reaction and thoughts would be and she honestly didn't have the strength to explain not that she needed to explain. She understood Amy's qualms but she honestly didn't have to worry, nothing was going to happen.
"Rick was upset that Carl and Judith were leaving today and I didn't want him to be on his own so…I suggested he look after Olly. It was arranged that Rick would stay with Olly at my apartment,everything that he needs is there but when he turned up this afternoon, he walked into the chaos and well if he wasn't there, I don't know what I would have done or what would have happened and-" Beth stops to think of how to break the news to Amy.
"And?" Amy asks, her brows furrowed together not liking where this was going.
"Rick saw how distressed I was and he offered for me and Olly to stay at his apartment." Beth finally reveals.
She had dreaded telling Amy and Dale this, both would have offered her a place to stay without a second thought and maybe she should have called them and refused Rick? she now thinks. What would Lori say and do if she found out, she didn't even think!
Amy stares at Beth opened mouthed not believing what she was hearing. She closes her eyes and shakes her head trying to process this and Beth sits there quietly beginning the countdown, one, two, three…Beth shrinks into her seat.
"You're, you're," Amy stutters "You're going to be living with him, in HIS APARTMENT?!" She finishes her sentence a little too high pitched to Beth's liking and she sighs rubbing her forehead.
"Yes," Beth whispers "Only until my apartment has been sorted." Beth clarifies softly.
"Why didn't you ask me?" Amy asks hurt "I have the space, you know you and Olly are always welcome at my place, you have keys - we're practically family!" Amy says trying to hide the tears that were threatening to come out taking a seat.
Beth sees Amy's lips tremble. She reaches over and takes Amy's hand and covers it with her other and caresses her friend's hand, she didn't mean to make her upset, she didn't mean for any of this and Rick was just being Rick, helpful, caring and thoughtful.
"We are family Amy! Always are and always will be and Rick is Olly's and I didn't even think but looking back, I couldn't refuse him, he looked so hopeful, I didn't have the heart to say no. Rick needs this time with Olly and Olly needs this time with Rick, his father! They need to connect, they're a part of one another, I've kept them apart for so long, they've missed each other for eleven months and I'll never be able to give that time back to either of them but I can give them this, it's only a few weeks, we'll hardly see each other, Rick's hours are unpredictable and this is more for Olly than anyone!"
Amy sniffs, she really had hoped that if Beth and Olly ever needed anyone, then she thought Beth would turn to her, she always thought it would be either her or Dale but Rick was back in the picture, he was making his way back into Beth's life after nearly destroying her and she could see where this could lead to and then she'd lose the two most important people in the world to her. She draws in a breathe and brushes the silly tear that's just sneaked out of the bottom of her eyelid and it runs down her cheek.
"And if things don't work out then…then we'll be knocking on your door and taking over your show house clean apartment getting peanut butter and crumbs everywhere, you'll be walking around with antiseptic wipes and that ridiculous hand vacuum after us which is pretty annoying and Olly will be sticking everything that he can, into the fridge! He's found a way to open our one at home, he may figure out yours too! You may find shoes and socks in there!" Beth grips Amy's hand a little tighter in hers, leaning forward giving a small smile.
"If he tries anything or hurts you or Olly, then I won't hesitate to set Daryl on him again! I mean it, Daryl won't take no shit so Officer Friendly better just remain friendly! T-Dog has just had a supply of very sharp knives delivered that I'd like to try out and I won't hesitate to use them on Detective Rick Grimes!" Amy promises.
"Amy!" Beth frowns.
"OK! But I'll just use them as scare tactics!" Amy says turning her face away from Beth, she wasn't going to promise she wouldn't.
"Now that's all sorted…can you make me look non-zombie-like looking?" Beth asks lifting the hand mirror up taking a look at her face.
"When I'm finished, all the guys out there are going to be wanting your number, not that they wouldn't! You have many male admirers but you won't give them the time of day!" Amy smiles jumping up and grabs the concealer and sets to work.
"Subtle Amy, I've got to serve people hot food, I don't want to be melting over them!" Beth yells laughing seeing Amy reach for the bronzer.
Rick lifts Olly up from the bed freshly bathed and dressed in a cute pair of denim dungarees and grey sweater with a red car logo at the front Olly had picked himself and Rick agreed it was pretty cool. Olly had also picked Rick's thin plain v-neck sweater, the same colour, they were matching. They both looked at their reflection in the mirror posing and admiring themselves from side to side and straight ahead. Rick presses tiny kisses over Olly's face lifting him and down repeatedly, he'd never tire of that.
"You really love your baths don't ya buddy?" Rick asks and Olly who reaches out clenching his fingers open and closed blabbering looking at Rick as they stroll into the lounge.
"Woody?" Rick asks seeing the doll sitting on the sofa and Olly continues his struggle to reach his friend.
"You know how this guy came to be here?" Rick asks Olly handing Woody over and Olly squeezes his friend into his chest yapping away enthusiastically.
Rick begins the story of his and Beth's first date, how Beth had challenged him to a shoot-out, how he'd won a prize, she picked none other than Woody, his first ever gift to her.
"You see, it was a joint win!" Rick tells Olly the detailed story as he removes his clothes from the drawers from Beth and Olly's bedroom and puts them into the master bedroom where he would now be occupying and places all of Olly's bits and bobs in the bedroom, unpacking the tiny clothes and putting them into the drawers and places all his toys in the toy basket in the corner. He smiles at the onesies and the cute PJs, he was used to seeing pink and purple so seeing blues, greens and yellows and some funky bright colours was different and nice.
He misses Judy seeing the onesies wondering what she was doing and Carl, he was back to school tomorrow, would he be alright that he wouldn't be dropping him off at the school gates, Shane had promised to do that for him and Rick was so grateful to Shane, he didn't know what he'd do if Shane wasn't about, he didn't trust anyone else with his kids and Lori wasn't reliable to be able to take care of everything herself. He looked forward to speaking to them all tomorrow once the Skype was set up.
Rick looks over at Beth's bags, reaches for them but then stops. A long time ago, he wouldn't have faltered, he'd have unpacked her clothes away for her. They used to wash and iron each other's clothing. When they went away on their mini weekend getaways, he used to let Beth take her glorious bubble baths whilst he unpacked before he joined her in that bubbly water but it wasn't like that anymore. He places the bags down on the table out of the floor space, Beth would get in late, he didn't want her to trip and hurt herself, she was the clumsiest person he knew.
Rick's phone rings and he answers it.
"Ya want to see where dad works?" Rick asks and Olly smiles "I better call up your momma first."
Beth places the last of the deserts on the desert cart and hands it over to one of the waiters who wheels it away. She feels her phone vibrate in her pocket.
"Rick?" She whispers seeing his name.
"Is everything ok?" Beth answers worried, it was only an hour since she left.
"Everything's fine!" Rick reassures her "I need to go down to the station to sign some papers, I was just checkin' with you to see if it was ok, if not I'll get them couriered here?" He asks.
Beth smiles, he didn't need permission but she was still happy that he had called and asked.
"You don't need to ask me Rick, I trust you with Olly!" She answers back.
Rick looks at Olly holding up his thumb and Olly was making happy noises.
"He sounds happy!" Beth smiles into the phone.
"I think he may be one of the smartest babies I've met!" Rick says explaining "I put up my thumb and he's bouncing up and down happily like he knows what I'm saying!" Rick says impressed.
"Ahhh...we've been learning simple sign language and he understands that sign, it's only gotta be good." She advises Rick. He can hear the smile in Beth's voice.
"Sign language huh? Clever Oliver!" Rick says watching Olly getting to his feet and walking across the couch a little wobbly holding onto the side, putting one foot in front of the other, he drops to his bottom but then pulls himself back up and continues determinedly. When he reaches the end, Olly turns around and makes his way back to Woody holding the headrest smiling over at him sucking his hand. Rick puts his thumb up at Olly which results in another outburst of bouncing up and down on his feet letting out a long squeal, he drops to his bottom again, the noise hitting Rick's ear instantly and Beth's.
Beth grins broadly, she can sense Olly was having fun and she was happy hearing Rick's chuckles, Olly was distracting Rick of missing Carl and Judith even if it was only for a little while, Olly was working his magic of making Rick feel good.
Rick had a feeling Olly would be taking his first steps unaided soon and he hoped he would be there to witness that milestone. He was hoping Olly and Beth would stay with him for good but this was enough for now.
"Table 15's Order's up!" Comes T-Dog's voice pinging the bell. Beth nods to T-Dog.
"I gotta go!" Beth answers into the phone "Can you make sure you put on Olly's hat, it's chilly out now, he is prone to catching colds quick!" She informs Rick before she puts the phone down.
"Will do," He says and after a pause "What time will you be home?...I didn't give you the alarm code." He adds and there's silence at both ends of the phone.
Rick maybe shouldn't have said 'home' he realises and Beth hadn't heard him say that to her in a long time.
"I finish at mid-night, I'll be there around half twelve." Beth replies.
"Ok, I'll let you go, it sounds busy, we'll be home in an hour, I'll text you to let you know."
"Ok, bye!" Beth says and cuts the line staring at her cell and remembering the plates, she grabs them and makes her way over to her table of waiting hungry diners. They all oww and ahh when she arrives and she smiles at the table full of happy customers.
"Chow down guys and enjoy and if the little people finish everything on their plates, the chef has said the children get free deserts and that cart is busting with goodness, I checked it out myself and the Triple Chocolate Rocky Road Cheesecake looks extremely gooooood!" Beth tells her regulars and the kids eyes pop out their little sockets and tuck into their dinners.
"Thanks Beth!" The children's mother says happily.
"Your very welcome, please enjoy!" Beth flashes her winning smile as she leaves them to it.
It was satisfying seeing them enjoying their experience at restaurant. She hoped Daryl would be pleased that things were running fine. She did the books with Dale and they have done exceedingly well and Dale has kept a separate wad of cash for Daryl being the extra tips earned, he earned it for his hard preparation for his absence.
Beth hoped Daryl was ok, she hasn't heard from him since his text to say he was back home and nothing since.
Rick walks towards the station from his parked SUV with Olly strapped to his chest, his tiny legs dangling down happily watching the new environment. He enjoyed the ride in the backseat with the music playing, he was swaying happily looking out the windows. Rick had never seen such a well behaved baby, Olly hasn't had a tantrum yet.
Olly's eyes open widely, he leans forward seeing a whole line of squad cars and he stares as Tara and Tyreese and two other uniform officers run to their cars, jump in and rush off with their lights flashing and siren's blaring. Olly grabs his bunny ear out of his face to watch as he points as each car zooms past in amazement. Rick looks down at Olly surprised, most babies cry, Judith hated the noisy sirens and would always burst into fits of tears and it would take a lot of cuddling and kissing to calm her down, one of the reasons he'd never take her to the station back in King County when he had to take care of her when Lori had appointments she couldn't take Judith along to.
Tara waves to Rick and the window goes down.
"Who's the little cutie?" She calls out the window seeing Olly, she winks to him and Olly blinks trying to wink making Tara laugh. Tyreese nods to Rick and he nods back mirroring Tyreese's smile who waves to Olly, he loved kids.
"My son!" Rick answers back taking hold of Olly's hand within his.
"Awwwwww, hey Carl! finally nice to meet ya!" Tara says "Detective Grimes, I thought you said your kid was a baseball champ...what age does baseball start from nowadays - he's tiny?" Tara hollers and then she's turning around the corner and out of sight.
"Don't worry, everyone will soon know who you are, don't be disheartened Olly!" Rick says leaning down nuzzling Olly's cheek and kissing his head. He rubs Olly's stomach as he makes his way to the station.
Rick walks in through the electric glass doors. Betty looks up from her paperwork and her eyes rise seeing a baby strapped to Rick's chest, she stands up as he makes his way over.
"Detective, you're not on today?" She says greeting him, she takes a look at his beard-free face lost for words and eyes the baby staring up at her with big blue eyes.
Olly pulls his hat off and waves it in the air and Betty's eyes dart down from Olly and then up to Rick and she sees the resemblance.
"Who'd have thought, there lived a baby face underneath all that hair just yesterday!" She asks marvelled at this new look of Rick giving him a grin, eyeing him.
This is what he looked like in his picture in the article over two years ago, shaving off the hair, she thought. It was like seeing the same man only with slightly longer wavy hair but it suited him fine. She had to admit, Rick was going to give Douggie a run for his money in the 'Sexy Detective Title' that the female officers have given the leader of The Dream Team.
"Move over Douggie Nash, enter Rick Grimes!" A female officer whispers to her colleague and they giggle.
Rick suddenly felt uncomfortable and out of his comfort zone. The older woman always usually barks and scowls at him but today, she was being nice? This felt oddly wrong, he wished she'd just roll her eyes and give him the cold shoulder like she has done since he's arrived here.
"I thought you had a baby girl?" She asks looking back down at the piercing blue eyes staring up at her.
There you are you! Ricks sighs with relief giving a rare smile, he sees the look on Betty's stoney face.
"I do and this here is Olly, my son!" Rick smiles down holding Olly's hand.
Betty narrows her eyes at Rick, she knew he had a ten year old boy and a one year old girl, this here was a baby boy and he looked younger than a year old and then she puts it together. The young sweet thing that came in last week, there was a lot of tension, there was no complaint or case to be filed, it was a personal meeting and she had a feeling the blonde was someone to Rick, he came out the interview room looking lost and longingly out the window and Douggie of all people told her not to start on Rick and she heard that Rick had a thing on the side with a younger woman.
She must be the baby's mother, Betty realises. She then remembers Rick's lunatic wife who'd call fifty times a day, wondering why Rick was with the Nut-Job and not Little Boo Peep. Did Rick have an affair with Little Boo Peep and that is the reason why Lori Grimes was acting possessive, obsessive and neurotic?
"Oh," Is all Betty says and she reaches into her drawer and pulls out a packet of chocolate buttons and holds it up to Olly, the baby wasn't to blame, he was the innocent party to the mess.
Betty takes a quick look over at Rick and he just shrugs. Olly looks at the purple packet and looks up at Rick as well.
"You want the chocolates?" Rick asks and Olly points at the packet and then hides his face behind his hat.
"Take it, we've got this greasy 1940's gangster looking wannabe goes by the name Bobby and he'll only come looking for these and he's not allowed any! I'd rather you take em, go on!" Betty urges Olly and she leans forward and places it into Olly's hand and he latches on looking at the treat.
"Thank you!" Rick says to Betty.
"S'nothing, just chocolate!" The lady shrugs.
When Rick makes his way to buzz in, Olly smiles at Betty and Betty cracks a smile back. As soon as the smile appeared, it was gone as Officers file out.
"You're a very interestin' and complicated man Detective Grimes!" Betty says watching Rick climbing the stair talking to Olly.
Rick sees Javeed and calls out to him as he approaches their team room.
"Hey Rick, what are you doin' here, it's your day off?" Javeed asks and when he sees Olly, his face breaks into a massive smile and he's already peering down making the normal goo goo gaga noises people make when they see a baby.
"Who is this?" Javeed asks gesturing to Olly.
"This here is Olly, my son!" Rick smiles down holding Olly's hand.
Javeed's head snaps up.
"Come again?" He asks and goes into thought "You and Lori have Carl and Judith, I don't remember a third? He questions scratching his head unless Judith had a twin brother, who looked to be the smaller one.
"Olly is my son with Beth." He confirms.
"Come again?" Javeed asks standing up looking Rick in the eyes.
"It's a long story," Rick sighs rubbing his brow.
Javeed got a rundown of Rick's history from Douggie and the other details of the other woman being Beth, he got from Bobby but he never knew the exact details of what had happened, just something about a split, Rick met Beth and then he went back to Lori, it was all just hearsay. He didn't know there was another baby and that with Beth.
Boy, I wanna know this story, two babies by two separate women! I'd have liked to have been a fly on that wall when that got revealed! Javeed says to himself.
"All you need to know is Olly is my son and he's mine and Beth's!" Rick reiterates Kissing Olly's head knowing the questions running through his young colleague's mind. Rick didn't want to discuss or need to justify Olly or his past relationship with Beth to anyone. Olly was his and nothing else mattered or anyone's opinion.
"I didn't mean to upset you!" Javeed says seeing Rick's face.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap," Rick apologies and Javeed waves it off.
"I need you to track someone down for me." Rick asks getting back on track.
Javeed steps closer as Rick passes a piece of paper over with details.
"Anything particular you want me to check out?" Javeed asks.
"He's a Landlord who's absconded, disappeared and I want him tracked down and brought to the station. He's stealing money from his tenants and not honouring his contracts. One of his building is uninhabitable and it's one that Beth and my son lives in and today a pipe burst and flooded the place. This was something that could have been avoidable if he'd done his job properly. I have a plumbers written report which clearly states that the whole plumbing in the building needs to be replaced and Beth has written to him, sent him messages and called to no avail. I want him here and I want to speak to him, nobody else, me!" Rick instructs "And I want to know how many more properties he's leasing out!"
"Sure Rick, as you say!" Javeed nods knowing not to ask any further questions and to do exactly as requested.
Rick unclips the baby carrier and puts Olly down. He looked tiny in his big leather chair with Woody. Rick takes out his phone and takes a picture. He looks at it smiling and finds the files on Douggie's desk and begins to flick through them.
Javeed comes back into the room and seeing Olly, he walks over and kneels down and begins to play with him. After another ten minutes, Rick looks over from Douggie's desk to see Olly not in the chair. Panicked, Rick jumps up and frantically runs over and stops when he sees Javeed on his hands and knees crawling on the floor with Olly sitting on his back giggling.
Javeed was making horse sounds "Neihhhhhh!" Rick is laughing at the sight.
Javeed makes his way out of the corner and comes up to some legs, both he and Olly look up.
"Oh, we were just playing!" Javeed explains embarrassed being caught by Rick.
Olly reaches up to Rick and he takes a hold of him and places him on his hip.
"It's alright, I thought he may have gotten down and crawled away but I'm glad he was playing donkeys with you!" Rick says in relief and joking "All done, let's go home!" Rick informs Olly grabbing their stuff "I'll see you tomorrow!" Rick leaves.
"Horses!" Javeed calls out to Rick "We were playing horses...Neihhhhh!"
Jumping off the Train, Glenn reads the directions on his Iphone sent to him by Shane.
He runs over the road nearly getting hit by an oncoming car, he stops frozen and continues on his way.
"FREAK!" The driver yells out of his window.
Glenn ignores the driver, grabbing his cape and so he doesn't trip over it. He looks up at the big posh sign of the hotel and looking to the side, he sees the restaurant. Glenn rushes over and presses his face and hands onto the window, his eyes frantically peering in and searching.
"Hey weirdo, move away before I have to kick your ass!" Rosita says trying to shoo him away.
"Holy shit, it is her!" Glenn squeaks pulling his face and hands off shocked and happy at the same time.
He sets off towards the entrance. Rosita gets ready to slam him down if need be. The doorman had just popped to the men's room. She was going to have to deal with this herself. She's learnt a few new moves in her amateur wrestling class.
Glenn doesn't see it coming, he was happy! After all this time, he finally found Beth, he hadn't given up hope, he knew he'd find her one day and today was the day he'd be reunited with his BFF and he could reunite Beth with Rick, bring Rick back from the living dead and just bring Beth back, he missed her too much. He doesn't hear the warning or the grunted noise coming towards him as Rosita charges for him and does a back head slam. Glenn instantly drops to the floor just in front of the door and Rosita grasps him and holds him by the neck but doesn't twist.
"What the hell!" Glenn moans out in the pain.
"I warned you! Hobo's are not allowed in, how many times will I have to do this until you realise, the leftovers will be at the shelter later tonight!" She tells him.
"Ahhhhhhhhhh!" He screams when Rosita grips him tighter and then security race over.
"BETHHHHHHHHHH!" Glenn screams.
"Grab his legs boys!" The security man says to Zach and another waiter.
"BEEEEETTTTHHHHHHHHHH!" He squeals turning red and beginning to crawl into the restaurant and drags Rosita along with him.
All the diners turn around to see the commotion at the revolving doors, a scuffle had broken loose. Glenn somehow manages to wriggle out of Rosita's grip and makes it into one of the compartments of the revolving door and begins to run pushing.
Rosita, Zach and the Security man squish into one and try and push the reverse way to push Glenn out back into the street.
"BETH!" Glenn bangs on the window seeing her at the bar serving drinks.
"Hey Beth!" Winston a local man sitting at the bar calls to her.
"Wassup Winston?" Beth asks "Ya want another, I just gave ya a cool one!"
"I think someone desperately wants to talk to ya real bad and Rosita and the others ain't letting him in!" He nods towards the door talking a sip of his beer watching the scene at the doors.
Beth wipes her hair out of her face looking over and she drops the pump spray in her hand and begins to run towards the revolving door.
"GLENN!" Beth calls from beyond the glass with tears of joy resting her hand on the glass.
"BETH!" Glenn calls back placing his hand on the other side and looking over his shoulders at the threat, he turns back around with tears in his eyes "BETH THEY'RE TYING TO KILL ME…HELP!"
Beth rushes over to the side of the revolving door and bangs.
"Hey, Hey, Hey, guys stop!" She yells "Let him in, he's a friend!" Beth clarifies.
Rosita, Zach and the Security Man all look to Beth and Glenn takes the opportunity to push his way through making the others stumble to fall flat on top of one another as the revolving doors move and Glenn falls to the floor crawling out. Beth rushes over and Glenn jumps to his feet and they hug.
"Beth, I knew I would find you, I knew it!" Glenn picks Beth up and squeezes her in the air.
"Oh Glenn, it's so good to see you, I've missed you so much!" Beth embraces Glenn tighter.
"Beth, who is Indiana Jone's sidekick?" Amy asks once she rushed over to see what the commotion was ready to kick ass if need be.
"Amy, this is my best friend, Glenn Rhee!" Beth turns to look at Amy and then turns back around not believing he was actually stood in front of her.
"We met when I was eighteen at my first festival and we stuck together for two years, touring the whole of the US together, me singing and Glenn with his stand-up comedy and we spent many nights having to share a tent because we couldn't afford a motel room!" Beth has flashbacks to good memories "We had so much fun, the best years of my teenage years, I'll always remember and the things we used to get up to!" Beth says running her eyes over her long lost friend.
"Oh my god, what are you dressed as?" Beth asks covering her mouth covering her laugh wiping her tears away, taking a step back.
"It's Mia's birthday party and when Shane called and told me you're in Atlanta, I had to leave her party, I was her magician, Wendy roped me in when the magician she booked didn't turn up!" Glenn reveals taking off his fake moustache and wiping off the blusher from his cheekbones.
"Oh Glenn, Mia's probably crushed!" Beth says grabbing hold of his black magician's cape flapping it about taking a good look.
"To the contrary, those kids were whooping and cheering once I said I had to dash, so I don't think she's crushed at all but my big sis looked like her face was going to combust and my bro-in-law will probably beat my ass when I go home for having to have to listen to her bitch all night…he likes a quiet life and he chose the wrong woman to marry!" He scoffs and Beth swats his arm for being mean, Wendy just liked things done certain ways, there was nothing wrong with that.
"Who's Mia?" Amy asks taking in new names and new faces, first it was Shane, now Glenn, who will it be next?
"My niece!" Glenn replies and Beth answers "Glenn's niece!" at the same time. They look at each other,
"She's real cute but a madam and pain in the backside at times!" They both say simultaneously and burst into laughter, they were always doing that.
"Jinx!" They both fire at each other and laugh once again and hug.
"Oh my god Beth!" Glenn pulls Beth back "Ri…Rick was searching for you once he found out you left, he got a lead and when he went to the Station in Savannah, he was told you didn't want to be found and you weren't a missing person," Glenn reveals and his smile turns into sorrow.
Beth remembers that day, she had asked Dale to take her there just in case someone was trying to find her, she didn't want to see anyone, she was cut out from their lives and she decided to do the same, she was hurting badly.
"He went into a depression, he was unrecognisable! He stopped all contact and would only respond by text and it was only a couple of words." Glenn remembers how hard he and Shane tried to get Rick out the house but he'd become stubborn and ignored their requests and chose to lock himself away once he got home from work.
"When he finds out your alive and here…he'll be over the moon!" Glenn says grabbing his cell.
Beth reaches over and grabs his phone and Glenn looks up knowing Beth still didn't want to be found but it's been long enough and the last time he saw Rick, he was still in the same state.
"Rick knows I'm here, he's in Atlanta too, we've seen each other and he's with…Olly!" Beth reveals now sober, Glenn didn't know about Olly.
"Who's Olly?" Glenn asks bewildered.
"My son…mine and Rick's eleven month old son!"
Glenn stares at Beth for the longest moment, looking confused.
"Yours and Rick's eleven month old son!" Glenn repeats quietly.
It doesn't take any longer when he steps forward and pulls Beth into his chest and strokes her hair.
"You silly moo! I'd have taken care of you both, had I known!" Glenn whispers into her ear and Beth drapes her arm around Glenn's neck and around his back whispering sorry.
Amy stands back watching feeling she was slowly losing Beth, she turns around and leaves Beth and Glenn to have their reunion.
"C'mon people, back to work!" She orders everyone and goes back to attending to the diners putting on her big hostesses smile but inside, her heart was breaking. Everything was changing.
To be continued...
