Parallel Lives Chapter 34
Beth crossed her arms and gave directions to the cab driver. Davey was buckled in beside her and he was sound asleep, oblivious to his mother's mood. Beth couldn't believe that Merle had tried to drive her to her 6-week checkup after "a few" drinks. She saw Daryl waiting outside the doctors office and knew that he hadn't figured out she was in the cab when he ignored them when they pulled up to the door.
"Hey." Beth said opening the door and bending over to unfasten the car seat. "Don't ask." She said as she struggled to dig money out of her pocket and pay the driver. Daryl started over and took the car seat and diaper bag from her and shut the cab door.
"Where's Merle?" Daryl asked following Beth into the building.
"He was in no condition to drive us." Beth said walking over to the nurse's desk and letting her know they were there.
"I'm sorry. I should have come to get you." Daryl said setting the car seat down on his knees and looking at the baby.
"Don't apologize for your brother. It wasn't terrible taking a cab." Beth said leaning her head against his shoulder. "He better not say the baby is getting fat." Beth said. Merle teased her all morning about how Davey was a chubby little hippo. "I mean babies are supposed to get bigger."
"Don't be worried about the baby. He's fine. More worried he's going to say you ain't healing right. You're not resting enough."
"If he knows what's good for him he'll say everything is fine and I can resume all previous activities." Beth said. "And I'm fine Daryl. I could run to Alabama and back if I had the times." Daryl grunted. "I could!" Beth argued.
"You can come on back." The nurse said from the desk. Beth smiled and followed the nurse. Daryl shook his head and picked up the car seat and followed closely behind.
"You're momma's crazy ain't she?" Daryl whispered.
"I can hear you Daryl." Beth said sitting on the exam table and pulling off her clothes and putting on the gown. "Don't you try and turn him against me."
"Couldn't even if I tried. You're his favorite by mile." Daryl said.
"Hello folks, how are we doing today?" Beth's doctor asked as he walked into the room. "Alright hop on the scale." Beth grimaced and walked over and the scale, kicking off her shoes first. "111, 9 pounds away from your pre baby weight. Hop back up on the table." The doctor did a quick internal exam. "Any issues? I see your incision is still healing nicely." He stood up and carefully examined her breasts. "You're breastfeeding right? Any discharge? Chapping or chaffing?"
"A bit of chaffing. No discharge. They're pretty sore though." Beth admitted.
"There are no lumps that I can tell. That's a good sign, means not clogged milk ducts." The doctor said as he felt around her stomach pressing down. "The breastfeeding has already shrunk your uterus down, almost to normal. Are you thinking of engaging in sexual intercourse soon?"
"Yes, as soon as you tell me I can." Beth said holding up a hand to silence Daryl.
"You're good to go when ever you're both ready." The doctor said. "Same rules as before, if it hurts stop. Your cervix is healed, the incision is looking great. You might find some discomfort with weight on your stomach area, you might not. Now you don't want to get pregnant right away, especially with the delivering early and the placental abruption you had. I'm assuming you want to continue to breast feed?" Beth nodded her head. "I can write you a prescription for progesterone only birth control, fit you for a diaphragm or you can stock up on condoms."
"The birth control." Beth said. "I never had issues with taking the pill before. How long do I have to wait before I can have my next baby?"
"You should wait about a year before you start trying. You didn't have any issues getting pregnant did you?"
"Not at all. I went off the pill and I got pregnant within a month and a half."
"If you want to try again, wait a year. You shouldn't have any issues." The doctor said as he looked over at Davey. "I'll see him in 2 weeks at his 2 month check up. He's looking like he's grown since I saw him last though. Nothing to worry about." He said. "Any other questions?"
"I don't need to make another appointment for myself unless I'm having issues right?" Beth asked. The doctor nodded and left to give them some privacy while Beth dressed.
"Do you really need to let the doctor know how horny you are?" Daryl asked rocking the car seat with his foot while Beth turned her back to him and dressed. "Every time we see him you're asking about sex."
"It's been over 2 months Daryl. As soon as we get home and I get him feed I'm pushing you down on the nearest flat surface and riding you like a mechanical bull." Beth said slipping her panties back on and bending to pull her jeans on next. "I better feed you first too."
"You heard him, you got to get back on the pill. Can't risk you getting pregnant again."
"We still have condoms left." Beth said picking up her prescription and slipping her flats back on. "You don't want to?" She asked taking the car seat from him and walking out of the office.
"I didn't say that." Daryl said swinging the diaper bag and Beth's purse on his shoulder while he signed the insurance papers and shoved their card back in his wallet. He gripped the handle to the car seat again and let Beth open the door and lead the way back to the truck. "I just don't want you to rush into anything."
"I'm not rushing. He said I might not like weight on me, so I'm going to sit on you're cock." Beth said getting in the passenger side while Daryl buckled the baby in. he handed her the diaper bag and purse and looked around the parking lot making sure no one was listening to them. "Daryl if you don't find me attractive anymore we can wait till you do." Beth said looking down at her hands. "I know my stomach isn't flat yet and my ass is a bit fatter, but they will be back to normal soon. He said I can start taking walks with the baby and light workouts."
"I don't give a fuck about your stomach or ass." Daryl said pulling out of the parking lot. "I can't wait to grab two handfuls of your ass as you bounce on top of me. I just don't want you to rush. You're exhausted and still having nightmares when you can sleep."
"Well we can go slow if you want." Beth said sadly. "I nap every morning when the baby sleeps from 10am to noon."
"And Merle says you wake up panting and panicking. You run to the basinet and check on the baby."
"You know Dr. Monroe said getting back to normal will help me. Us being together, that's normal." Beth argued. Daryl pulled into the garage and turned off the truck. "Come on Daryl, you must miss it too."
"Of course I do." Daryl said opening the back and smiling at Davey when he opened his eyes. The baby scrunched up his face and let out some squawking. "He wants his favorite person." Daryl said as he set the car seat on the kitchen table and unstrapped the baby. Beth walked in and locked up behind her before taking him from Daryl.
"Poor little man. He doesn't like his car seat much." Beth said setting him against her shoulder and humming. The baby smiled into Beth's neck. "See? He's happy again." She said handing him back. "Go see Daddy. Mommy has to cook supper." Davey settled against Daryl and let Beth slid his soother back into his mouth. Beth scooped food into Ollie's dish and called him in from outside.
"Come on Dave, let's go change you into your pajamas." Daryl said walking off towards the nursery while Beth put on supper. "I'll let you spend some time in your massage chair with Ollie later." Davey strained his head towards the hallway, trying to see Beth, he could still hear singing away in the kitchen. Daryl chuckled and quickly changed the baby's diaper and wrestled him into a sleeper. He picked him back up and snuggled the baby into his side in the crook of his arm and grabbed his little chair with the other hand. "Let's go see what your mom's doing." Daryl said walking to the kitchen and setting the bouncy chair on the table.
"Is he being fussy?" Beth asked from the stove as she fried some chicken. "I'm just making some green beans and mashed potatoes to go with the chicken. Is that ok?"
"Of course. I could have gone and bought supper too." Beth shook her head. "I know you want to get back to normal." Daryl said flicking the chair on so it vibrated. "He's smiling again. We're going to have to buy one of those massage chairs for when he's older." Beth quickly finished flipping the chicken and covered it before pulling out her phone and snapping more pictures of the baby to send to her dad and Maggie.
"Look at how happy he is." Beth said placing her phone on the counter so she could finish the chicken and get started on the gravy and instant potatoes. She stirred the green beans and started setting the table around the baby. "Are you going to talk to Merle?" Daryl nodded his head and grabbed the pitcher of water and carton of milk from the fridge. "Don't be too hard on him. Just let him know that we can't be getting in the car with him if he's been drinking. I mean it doesn't matter much anymore I can drive now. Just I don't want him to be mad I took a cab."
"Don't worry about it." Daryl said walking up behind her and kissing the back of her neck. "I wouldn't have got in the truck with him with the baby either. He's just still stressed the inmates having been found yet."
"That bothers me too." Beth said looking out the window. "I'm glad they only made you go down for a statement about what happened though. I didn't want to relive it again."
"Yeah, Rick talked to the DA, explained that you had just given birth and needed to stay home. Didn't really need more witnesses considering he had broken out of jail. It wasn't a lie. It's best you got to move on." He said taking the dish of beans and platter of chicken to the table. Beth finished up the gravy and potatoes and followed him. "Milk?" Daryl asked. Beth nodded and Daryl poured them a glass each, along with a glass of water. Beth served up their plates and placed her hand on Davey's stomach before taking a bite. Daryl pulled his plate closer and dug in. "This is a lot better than drive thru." He said between bites.
"I don't know I'm kinda craving cheese fries." Beth said picking up a chicken leg and biting into it. "And Jacqui's breakfasts."
"We can go tomorrow." Daryl said. "I still think the cheese fries you make are better than any we've ever bought though." Daryl said pilling more food on his plate. Beth ate the last of her beans and chugged her milk.
"I'll make them tomorrow for supper." She said picking the baby up and walking towards their bedroom. "Just leave the dishes. I'll do them after I get him down." Beth placed the baby down in his basinet and got the baby bath into their tub and started to get it ready. "Daryl are you almost done? Can you bring me the baby?" Beth called from the bathroom as she knelt over the tub to turn the water off. She spread a fluffy towel on the floor before laying out his baby towel and arranging his washcloth, soap and shampoo within her reach. Daryl came into the room and handed her the baby who had stripped down to his diaper.
"I left his sleeper on our bed." Daryl said as he handed the baby to Beth. "I'll go get a diaper for you to put on him." Daryl said leaving the room. Beth pulled the diaper off and tossed it in the trash before cradling the baby to her chest and lowering him into his tub. He whimpered a little until his body warmed up and Beth started singing to him as she washed him up. Daryl came back in and watched over her shoulder as the baby stared up at Beth and smiled as she washed his hair. Beth picked him up and carefully leaned him back so she could rinse the soap from his head. "Here." Daryl said dropping the diaper down and leaning against the counter as Beth diapered him and wrapped him up in his warm towels. "Go on and get him feed and settled. I'll clean up here." Beth smiled and slid past him into the bedroom. Daryl listened to her hum as he drained the baby bath and left it upside down in their tub to drain. He cleaned up the rest of the baby bath products and moved through their bedroom towards her voice. She had dried and dressed the baby and wrapped him in blankets and moved to the swing outside their bedroom door to rock him while she nursed.
"We like watching the sunset." Beth said looking up while the baby nursed. Daryl ran a hand over his little hat before making his way back to the kitchen and cleaning up. He was scrubbing the pots and frying pan in the sink when he heard her walking up behind him. "I told you could leave it. Thanks for cleaning up though." Beth said sliding up behind him and hugging him while he finished up. Daryl placed his hand over her hands and stayed still so she could hug him.
"Come here." Daryl said pulling her around his body so they were chest to chest. He set his chin on top of her head and continued the hug. "Baby down?" Beth nodded her head and Daryl caught a whiff of the scent of her shampoo. "In our room or his?"
"In the basinet at the foot of our bed." Beth said. "I'm not ready for him to sleep in his crib yet." Beth said as she hung on to his waist. Daryl backed her up towards the counter.
"You'll tell me if it hurts?" He asked tilting her head up. Beth nodded eagerly and stood on her toes to kiss him. "Go get a condom." Beth walked quickly towards the bathroom and Daryl could hear her rooting around in the drawers and medicine cabinet. Beth came back with a few condoms and dropped them on the counter. "You think I'm going to be able to go more than once?"
"I'm worried I'll tear right through the condom trying to get it open." Beth said as he lifted her to sit on the cabinet. "I miss the island we had at the old place Beth said putting her hands down, lifting her hips so Daryl could pull off her jeans and panties. He tugged her over to the end counter and pulled her legs over his shoulders. Beth eagerly spread her legs wider so they slipped to his biceps.
"We don't need an island, we got enough counter space." He said moving his hands to the shirt she was wearing. Beth caught his hands and shook her head. "I want to put my mouth on all of you." Daryl said kissing her neck. Beth let go of his hands and lifted her arms so he could pull off the t-shirt she was wearing. Her bra barely fit and she breathed an audible sound of relief as Daryl pulled the cups down. "Why are you wearing something so tiny? It left little indentations all over you." Daryl said softly rubbing her breasts. Beth ran her fingers through his hair. "You don't like my hair cut much do you?"
"I liked it longer. I liked pulling it." Beth said grabbing a handful and trying to pull his mouth to her chest. "I can't get a good grip now."
"Neither can the baby." Daryl said letting her guide his mouth between her breast where he kissed her and reached around to unclasp her bra. Beth let go of his head so he could pull her bra off. He lowered himself down to his knees and pulled her closer to his mouth. Beth moaned against him and moved her arms across her stomach to try and hide the small belly she still had. Daryl reached up and placed his hands over hers and moved his mouth to her and softly kissed and licked at her. Beth tried pulling him closer with her legs and sighed contently as he ran his tongue up and down her slit. Beth picked up one of his hands moved it towards his mouth.
"More." She whined letting go of his hand and arching along with the movements of his tongue. She wrapped her arms around her middle again. Daryl spread her open and sucked her clit into her mouth. Beth let out a small cry before quickly covering her mouth.
"Got to be quiet now." Daryl said kissing her stomach and up her body. Beth grabbed ahold of his head and pushed him back to between her legs. He chuckled against her and lapped lazily at her.
"Don't laugh at me." Beth whined pitifully and brought his hand to her mouth, sucking three of his fingers in and laving them with her tongue. "Make me come Daryl." Beth purred letting go of his hand. Daryl ran his finger over her nipples and let them drag slowly down her body as he sucked her clit back into mouth as he teased her entrance with his fingers. Beth moved her hips forward and moaned as his fingers slipped easily into her. Daryl moved them in and out of her and let her move against them and his tongue as she hummed contently.
"When do you want to move to the bedroom?" Daryl asked lifting his mouth and sliding his thumb in circles over her as his fingers moved inside of her.
"Couch. I want to ride you on the couch." Beth said clenching around his fingers slightly. "I'll wake the baby if we move in there." Beth said as he pressed her legs further apart with his free hand. Beth leaned back and let her eyes roll to the back of her head as Daryl twirled his tongue around her clit. Beth's breath started to quicken so Daryl eased up with his fingers and let Beth pull him up to her mouth he gripped around her waist and lifted her so her legs were wrapped around his waist. He grabbed one of the condoms off the counter and shoved it in his pocket as he walked through the kitchen towards the living room. Beth roughly pulled his shirt off and dropped it to the floor.
Daryl sat on the couch and arranged her in his lap. Beth reached between them and clumsily worked on his belt, trying to get it open. Daryl placed his hands on hers and stilled them so he could work his belt and zipper down. Beth stood on her knees so he could pull his pants down. He kicked them off and lowered her back on his thighs. He reached around her and pulled his jeans up so he could get the condom from his pocket and groaned when Beth wrapped her little hand around him and squeezed while she worked it up and down. Daryl tore the condom open and handed it to her so she could slip it on. Beth let him guide her up and then down onto him. She laid her head against his shoulder and moved her hips up and down following the pace that Daryl set with his hands on her bottom.
"I told you couldn't wait to get my hands full." Daryl said titling her head back so he could kiss and suck on her neck. Beth moaned against him and started to grind down against him. Daryl moved his hand between them and lightly traced over her clit. Beth whimpered and pressed forward against his hand. "Alright, alright." Daryl teased circling her harder. Beth leaned back and braced her hands against his knees as she roughly moved her hips against him till she tightened around him and let him pull her towards him and rested her head against him again as he moved he quickly up and down until he filled the condom. Beth whined as he lifted her up and placed her on the couch nest to him.
"I was comfortable." She said pulling her self up to her feet to follow him to the bedroom. Daryl pulled her to his chest and kissed her. Beth let him guide her towards the bathroom.
"You're allowed to take baths again." Daryl said pulling the whale tub out of their tub before pulling it and turning on the taps. "The temperature good?" Beth stuck her hand in and nodded. Daryl helped her into the tub and kissed her on the head before walking off towards the kitchen.
"Where are you going?" Beth asked as she added some oil to the tub. Daryl came back to the bathroom and handed her a tall glass of Diet Coke with ice. Beth smiled at him as he turned the faucet off and climbed in behind her.
"I hide this behind all the cans of beer. I remember you saying you missed this the most while you were pregnant." Beth leaned back against him and sipped her drink.
"Are you going to teach me how to shoot a shotgun now?" Beth asked. "Don't have to worry about the recoil."
"You got to get better at the handgun first." Daryl said kissing the back of her head. "Don't worry, you'll get there."