Walk With An Angel
Chapter 37: Till Death Do You Part
As he stood before the full length mirror in Rick's bathroom, he felt out of place and uncomfortable.
Rick strolled by with Judith in his arms, the sweet little girl looking like a cherub in her pale yellow dress and matching flower headband.
"Not bad, Dixon. I told you that suit would look good and you wear it well." Daryl's fingers dug into the collar as he tried to loosen the vise grip he felt around his throat.
"It's fer Beth, that's what I keep tellin' myself. Is Merle ready yet?" Rick looked down the hallway as Lori walked by.
"Let me help." She took the tie from Daryl and helped him adjust it around his neck.
Rick smiled back at him as the sounds of Carol yelling at Merle echoed up the hallway. "Don't worry about Merle, he's in good hands. Wow… you trimmed yer goatee and even combed yer hair. This must be a first, Daryl."
"Yer a regular comedian, Sheriff." Lori took Judy from Rick and picked up Carl's tie.
"You've smoked a pack of cigarettes since we left the campsite this mornin'. You need to talk or somethang?" Rick placed his hand on Daryl's shoulder as they walked down the hallway.
They walked out to the porch where Glenn and Bob were sitting, shooting the bull. Everyone was ready, wearing their black suits, canary yellow ties and vest and he stood out in his dark gray suit and yellow tie.
Glenn whistled as he walked out and Bob wiggled his eyebrows. Daryl took out yet another cigarette and Carol walked out and took it from him.
"Calm down. Take a deep breath. You love her and she loves you. The cabin is ready, Lori, Maggie and I put the finishing touches on it yesterday. When you guys get back from Memphis, it will be there waiting for you. You don't have anything to worry about, Daryl. She loves you and honestly… you two are perfect together." He knew she was right as he let out the slow breath.
When noon came, Daryl and Merle got in his truck and headed out to the little white church. Merle glanced at him a few times, grinning back at him.
"Just smile, say I do and slide the ring on her finger, Darlene. That's all you got to do today. Unless it's what's gonna happened tonight, that's got you sweatin' like a whore in church." Merle was too damn observant for Daryl's liking today and he knew he'd have to address the matter or hear about it all day.
"Yeah, I'm nervous and worried. Beth's not just some gurl… she's my gurl and dammit Merle she's had it rough. We've had a long road in the few months we've been together and getting' here seems like a dream. She's a virgin and that ain't somethang I'm ready to take from her. She's been in enough pain and I got to give her more." He rubbed his face with his hands and Merle pulled the truck off the road.
"Listen little brother, I've not been there for you when I should have but today I am. I've been with one virgin in my whole life and you might say I loved her. Let it happen then move on. I know that sounds cold, but it's what has to be done. Ya got a lifetime of fuckin' ahead of you, just jump this hurdle and its smooth sailin'." Merle's blunt nature was what Daryl needed today, but there was no way in hell he was going to tell him that.
The church parking lot was full of cars, some Daryl didn't even know. He was sure this small wedding was going to be the talk of the town for a week.
He greeted Reverend Stokes when he walked in, Gabriel ushering him off to his office. They sat down as the Reverend spoke in that soft, soothing voice of his and went over the ceremony with him.
"You and Beth don't have any special vows, just the straight forward, to have and to hold. She did say she wanted a moment to sing before after I do's so I've set up a microphone at the piano. Daryl, is there anything you especially want?" Gabriel was kind and good and Daryl liked him the moment he met him. For the first time all day, Daryl felt calm and felt as if this was going to be alright.
"Nah, just want to kiss my gurl and make her Mrs. Dixon." Then it hit him, something that Glenn had done at his and Maggie's wedding. "Do you have a picture of Beth's brother Shawn?"
Daryl came out of the office as Gabriel lined them all up. He hadn't seen any of Beth's family today, besides Glenn and he wondered how things were and what his angel looked like.
Merle held the ring box out, the small silver band shining inside. "Bet you can't believe I didn't lose it."
Daryl nodded as he looked down the row of men that were there to support him as he made Beth is wife. Not in a million years would he have thought he'd have these men as friends.
Caesar flashed his charming grin, Bob his serious but friendly smile, Glenn braying like a big goofy jackass and Merle, the brother he loved, gave him a thumbs up. Rick came by for one more check as he took his seat by Carl.
The church was dripping with white and yellow flowers, most of them lilies, gardenias and yellow carnations. He didn't care what the church looked like as long as his soon to be wife was happy.
With the small and tight quarters, the two rows of pews were bunted with candles and flowers at each end, a row of candles was lit on the stage and around the piano giving the church a very ethereal look.
When the piano started to play, Daryl felt his back go stiff and his heart hammer so hard he was sure he'd drop dead. Rick nodded to him as if to tell him it was going to be over soon.
The doors opened and Sasha walked in first. Daryl looked at Bob and the loving way he stared back at his wife. Love was truly in the air, love that Daryl never really counted on finding or having.
Caesar's wife Theresa was next, followed by Carol and then Maggie. They were all beautiful in their own right, each lady with their own particular flair. Merle leaned towards him, smiling like a teenager at his wife. "Those short yellow dresses are giving me a rise in my pants, little brother."
Carol blushed as Merle looked her over, her dress a little longer than the other girls. Daryl shrugged his shoulders and mouthed I'm sorry back at Carol, the moment causing both of them to smile.
The church erupted into a chorus of awes when Little Bobby came out in his little dark gray suit pulling a little red wagon with Judith Grimes inside. The little girl clapped her hands and smiled as they headed to the front of the church.
Lori quickly took her daughter as Little Bobby went to stand by his dad. Then the doors closed, the wedding march began and Daryl felt tears prick the back of his eyes.
The moment was here, the moment that God himself had orchestrated. When the doors opened again, Hershel stood at the back of the church in his gray suit, his white hair and beard making him look very dapper. It was the angel in white on his arm that finally made the tears that had stayed put finally fall down Daryl's face.
Heaven had smiled down on him and gave him not only an angel to love, but a heart to love her with. He was dead inside until he found her, dead and empty. The moment she smiled at him, he felt that spark, that thump in his chest, he was sure he'd never feel again.
Now she was his, loved him enough to carry his last name and in a few moments would be his wife.
The pure white gown fit her perfectly as the capped sleeves and soft material that fanned out to a floor length lacy dress. A beaded sash showed off her flat stomach and wrapped around her tiny waist. It was all set off by the one single braid from her forehead to the back of her head. The white gardenia that adorned her hair only accent the halo that shined over her.
She showed no tears or doubts, just that big beautiful smile that went all the way to her eyes.
Hershel walked her up towards him and he felt a pride in his chest that this man would trust him to care for and love his little girl. Hershel nodded to him and waited for his cue from Reverend Stokes.
"Who gives this woman to be married to this man?" Hershel smiled and said her mother and I do and placed Beth's hand in Daryl's.
She squeezed his hand and he felt that spark in his heart became an inferno. He wanted to kiss her so badly he was willing to forget about the ceremony.
They stepped forward and the Reverend started to speak. Daryl was lost in Beth's big blue eyes, her glossy pink lips, her soft creamy skin and the love that was shining back at him from her face.
Merle nudged him and he turned to face him. "The ring."
He took the ring and repeated after Gabriel, promising to love, honor and cherish her, forsaking all others till death do them part. She vowed the same thing and he placed the ring on her finger, knowing the tattoo on his would be the only symbol of their love.
Beth paused for a moment, then walked around the stage and took a seat at the piano. Her fingers gently stroked the keys as she sang her love for the man that was staring at her now.
"Don't go changing, to try and please me/ You never let me down before/ Don't imagine you're too familiar/ And I don't see you anymore/ I would not leave you in times of trouble/ We never could have come this far/ I took the good times, I'll take the bad times/ I'll take you just the way you are." The song was a favorite of his and he had told her that this song reminded him of her.
He couldn't stop the tears that now fell down his face as she continue to sing with her own tears glistening in her eyes. She finished the song and joined the man she promised to love. Daryl took both of her hands in his as he fought the tears and managed a smile.
Reverend Stokes walked up to them and everyone expected for him to tell Daryl that he could now kiss his bride. Instead, he handed Daryl a candle and a picture that everyone was wondering about.
He set the picture in an empty chair by the first pew, next to Hershel and Annette and set the candle in front of it. When he walked back, he saw Maggie and Beth were both in tears as they stared at the picture of Shawn smiling back at them.
"I just thought everyone that loved you should be here." Beth didn't wait for Reverend Stokes to tell her to kiss him as she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him so hard he blushed.
"Beth… I haven't got to that part yet." Gabriel cleared his throat and waited for her to release Daryl.
She wiped her tears and his as well, his hands taking hers. "I love ya, Mrs. Dixon."
"Right back at you… Mr. Dixon." Maggie laughed as Hershel handed Daryl his handkerchief.
"Thanks… dad." Hershel nodded as he sat back down with Annette.
"Alright then. Daryl you may now kiss your bride." Daryl placed his hand around the back of Beth's head, dipping his head down and slowly moving his lips over hers.
With the first and second kisses out of the way, Reverend Stokes pronounced them man and wife.
They laced their fingers and held on tight as they jogged down the aisle and out to the front of the church. Daryl scooped Beth up in his arms and kissed her again, holding her as the rest of the bridal party came out.
It was done, they were married and he was someone's husband. When he met his angel back in the spring, he would have never thought come late summer he'd be hers and she be his. The ring on her finger and the smile on his face was all he'd need till death do them part.
A/N: Thanks to thejennakayshow for the fashion advice. Now that they've tied the knot on to the reception and honeymoon. Bethyl on!