AUTHOR'S NOTES: Thanks so much for the views and the comments from electrickpanda(I'm jealous Shannon Leto hugged you!) brinxb, megs27, vifly, Guest, DarylDixon'sLover, WalkerHarley, Guest, castlefan83, Ameliya86 and BethFan (",) Thanks a million guys for reviewing!

This chapter is a short chapter with Rick's thoughts and feelings. Beth's presence bringing out the more affectionate side of Rick, she's snuck her way through his guarded exterior and latched onto his heart. The Then and the Now. There is a family moment between Rick, Beth and Liv - a tiny glimpse of happiness for Brick.

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

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

The Rookie and The Deputy

Chapter 35

Rick wakes up in his childhood bed stretching out his limbs and twists his body letting out a satisfied yawn. He looks up and adjusts his eyes to the room and lets out a breath. He turns onto his side burying his face into the cushiony pillow and cuddles the other pillow in his arms taking in the freshly washed floral fragrance. The fragrance transports him back in time to his youth and early adulthood.

How time had flown by in the blink of an eye he lays there thinking, doesn't remember where the time went. He remembers turning twenty-one and his father telling him that once you reached that milestone, life just unexplainably went zooming into the fast lane and his father was right, he was a divorced father of two whose thirty-fifth birthday was looming around the corner.

He thinks about all the stuff he missed out on in his early adult life. He was too focused with work and paying the bills, trying to maintain a lifestyle that Lori was used to. She went from her father's house to his and she tried to be a housewife whilst he brought home to pay cheque and resentment had fallen in place years later when they weren't living the life. The expectations of married life turned out to be completely different to what either had imagined it to be. Rick loved King County, his job and they everyday people but Lori craved more and then they clashed.

Somewhere along the way, Rick knows he lost himself - his wants, his needs and dreams. Maybe being young, you make rash and hasty decisions. You just want to grow up too quick, wanting to make people proud whether or not you yourself were. But now, he wishes time would slow down so he can enjoy life. Make up for lost time and do the things he put on the back-burner and luckily enough for him, he can see himself possibly doing all of those things in the near future.

Communication has become easier given credit to the right person. Beth has a certain way to her that was different to Lori and any woman he knows. It would be extremely hard to ignore Beth, become mute with her and boy he tried and found out it was impossible on the many occasions he tried and the end result, he exploded and expressed his feelings strongly. He was never so forthcoming to anyone but Beth aroused all these feelings that were bubbling up inside of him that he just couldn't keep it in any longer and he thanks god that it worked out right. He had never overpowered anyone like that in his life and kissed them until his lips bruised and bled, it could have backfired on him and if it had, he could be facing sexual harassment charges by a colleague. Thankfully it was not the case as feelings were mutual.

Beth herself was shy, yet bold when the time called for it. She was laid back and easy going, sometimes over energetic but smart. He begins to envision brighter times ahead. The prospects of his life don't seem bleak any more, they were beginning to bloom and branch out into a new way that he was ready for. It was going to be different and he was ready for different. Beth is so different to anyone he knows, a little unconventional to his conventional and maybe that's who he needs, they'd balance each other out perfectly.

He knows there's a slight age difference and people will gossip to begin with when they find out but he's found Beth with common interests as himself, that age now doesn't factor into this any more, he doesn't care any more. It had worried him to an extent but Beth wasn't troubled and neither was he now. The next twenty-so-year old guy who comes along and tries his luck out on Beth, he won't feel a threat any more, he'll just sit back and watch Beth knock the guy down and make her way over into his arms. And he feels childish for of how he reacted to the attentions from Fireman Chris and Ex-Jimmy to Beth - he feels ridiculously embarrassed of the jealously that rocketed through him.

Rick lays there going over the last few months and just thinks about Beth. He loves her nature, her bubbliness, she was extremely kind and sweet even when going through so much hurt and trauma in her past - she made a life altering decision and kept on going not giving up on life like most other victims in that same position would have. She never fails to amaze him, the more he gets to know her. She was stronger than anyone gave her credit for. Being tiny and blonde, people misconstrue her, she is the element of surprise and is one of bravest women he has ever known to date and what made her even more special was, she knew how to reach out to anyone in need and help them even if it was just a little but the little she's done to the few people's lives he has witnessed, has been life altering to those and he wonders whether Beth knows how much she impacts on those people's lives? The fact that she doesn't realise it, makes him adore her even more. The Chief was right, Beth will one day make a commendable Officer of the Law.

Feeling his jaw aching, he realises he's smiling broadly to himself, he rubs it a bit embarrassed. She's doing this to him he thinks, waking up with a smile on his face to the thoughts of her. She knows how to make him laugh with or without trying and her reaction of pouncing on him had him on Cloud Nine that she'd reciprocated his advances but that slap she gave him round his face and her explanation of a one moment in life thing, has him in a spontaneous fit of laughter now. Liv had asked him a few times last night what was so funny, to share and what was the reason he had that goofy smile on his face that she's not seen in years. He had looked towards Beth wiping down the table after dinner and when their eyes connected, they shared a secret smile, the reason only they knew. And that smile she gives, that one smile from her on the rough days, it was the medication he required, she was a sight for sore eyes, she was like the sun shining and breaking through the dark cloud that had hung over him for so many years, she made the hardest days bearable and he looks forward to the Beth-filled days to come.

Rick grabs his watch on the nightstand and seeing the time, he falls out of bed with a thud. He was supposed to be up by 7:00am to begin sorting out the garage. He had hoped once that was done, he and Beth could spend a little time together before she went to visit her mom. His watch reads 9:00am. He gets on his knees and now grabs the alarm clock on the shelf and looks at it, it read 9:01am. He stares at it in disbelief, he had set the alarm before he climbed into bed to go off at 7:00am, he must have slept right through the alarm which hasn't happened in years - he was a light sleeper. His giddiness must have made him sleep soundly all through the night.

Rick throws the pillow back onto the bed and gets to his feet and pulls on his jeans. He quickly runs his fingers through his unruly hair and makes to exit his room but taking a glance at his reflection in the mirror, he sees his five o'clock shadow and runs his hands over it. It was prickly and he remembers Liv's comment about 'beard burn' He does a U-turn walking into his en-suite to shave and shower.

Rick makes his way to the Guest room and stops outside the door. He had carried Beth up the stairs and tucked her into bed when she fell asleep on the couch. He taps on the door. There was no answer but the door falls open slowly and he sees that Beth wasn't there. The bed was already made up and the curtains pulled back neatly. He looks around the room and then makes his way to check if she was downstairs, he hoped she hadn't left already not without saying goodbye. He knew he'd see her tomorrow at work but he's had his heart set on spending the day with her.

Rick walks towards Liv's room and hears laughter coming from within and when he reaches Liv's room, Rick sees the door wide open. He leans up against the doorframe looking in.

Beth was lying next to Liv in her bed and they were both laughing hysterically.

"I love this part!" Beth points.

"What's happening?!" Liv asks, eyes focused on the TV.

"It's coming out of me like lava!" Beth squeals repeating the line snorting into Liv's shoulder and Liv covers her mouth and looks to Beth.

"Keep watching!" Beth stutters grabbing Liv's face and refocusing her gaze back at the TV and then they both burst out laughing.

"Oh my god! Oh my god! She's doing it in the street! She's actually poohing in the street!" Liv repeats hysterically pointing at the TV.

Beth and Liv fall back onto their pillows giggling like piglets.

Rick turns his gaze towards the TV screen on the wall and realises they're watching Bridesmaid. He shakes his head looking down at the floor holding in his laughter not believing what his mom was watching.

"Ri…Ri…Rickkkkkkkkkkkk!" Liv laughs trying to get up "Come and watch this, it's so funny!" Liv pats the bed for him to come join them.

"It's 9:30am and you're both still in bed and watching movies?" Rick says lifting his wrist up and looking at his watch.

He looks up and catches Beth staring at him wiping her tears from her eyes. He raises his brow and taps at his watch.

"I think we're in troubleee!" Beth whispers to Liv.

"We're watching a comedy and having fun!" Liv answers back to Rick "We're guilty as charged!" Liv adds and she looks at Beth whose still giggling.

"You want the neighbours bangin' on the door to keep it down, your cackling fun is goin' to land you with a noise violation notice or an order!" Rick says walking towards the window and pulling open the curtains.

"And we'll take you down with us Deputy Grimes! Isn't that right Beth!" Liv nudges Beth who's clutching her stomach of the laughing stitch that had formed and she suddenly slips and falls out of the bed. She tries to get up but she grabs the silky cover and falls back down with it.

Rick rolls his eyes making his way over. He throws the cover back up on to the bed, picks Beth up and she wraps her arms around his neck.

"You ok?" Rick asks standing there looking Beth in the face with her still in his arms.

"Never been better!" Beth beams looking at Rick and as Liv can't see, she quickly sneaks a light kiss on his cheek and rubs her nose against him inhaling his shower gel giving out a tiny sigh of appreciation of the manly aroma filling her nostrils "I can get used to this!" She says seductively straightening out a crease on his T-Shirt, her fingers run over him feeling his toned chest "All of this!" She whispers.

Rick places Beth back down on the bed and looks at her with a grin, his eyes shine down on her giving her that Rick stare that makes her insides knot in a good way. Rick feels like he's won the lottery or hit gold with Beth. She wasn't shy right now and he likes the bold Beth sitting before him. Beth shakes her head no when she sees arousal in Rick's eyes and gestures with her own eyes to Liv. His mom is very special to him and Beth seemed to enjoy spending time with her, it wasn't fake, her fondness were genuine. His heart swells seeing how well Beth gets on with his mom, they share their own special bond.

"I take it, it's goin' to be breakfast in bed?" Rick asks staring at Beth leaning over her still.

Feeling Liv's gaze on him, Rick backs up and grabs the lazy table and carries it over and places it in front of Liv.

Liv sits there smiling like an idiot watching Rick and Beth wondering when Rick was going to introduce Beth as his special someone that he is ready to pursue. Unknowingly, Rick was pleasing his mom without even realising it, this thing that they have started is what she has been praying for and to see Rick finally allowing himself to love someone again and that someone being someone as sweet and loving as Beth, makes her ever so happy and less sad. She never wants Rick to feel that emptiness in his heart of a loved one and she sees a better future for her son with Beth in the picture. Beth is also the reason why she gets to see Judith and Carl more. Beth's friendship she has made with Lori has soften the County's Ice-Maiden and has instead of getting strangers to take care of her grand-kids, Lori has been checking to see if she wanted to babysit which Liv would never say no to.

"I'm such a lucky mother, my ever so wonderful son takes such good care of me! The girl that lands on my Rick's arm, will be one lucky woman!" Liv confesses looking over at Beth and then back at Rick with pride abruptly pulling him down and kissing his cheek "Owww and you've shaved darling!" She coos in approval feeling Rick's cheek, knowing he shaved for Beth.

Rick's face turns pink as he looks over to Beth apologising for his mom's display of her mommy love in front of her again. Beth smiles lovingly watching them, Liv clearly loved Rick and wasn't afraid to show it and that is how it should always be, she didn't mind this display. It was nice watching them, she loved a family who could express themselves so freely.

"Okay!" Rick finally says having let his mom hold on to him for a little longer blushing and taking her hands, placing them on the lazy table and caressing them gently to show he understood. She'd been upset yesterday and he wanted her to forget this mishap that had happened. If anything, he wanted to thank her - he and Beth got a moment to themselves and he was glad of the un-interruption, he liked his private life kept private and he was sure Beth felt the same way too.

He overheard Liv and Shane's conversation, they knew about him and Beth and he wasn't going to wait too long to tell them that he and Beth are now an item. He just wanted some time alone with Beth before they claimed their stakes on her as a family member. First, he and Beth needed to get better acquainted with one another which meant a lot of alone time, just them - one on one.

"You ladies continue cackling, I'll make some breakfast," Rick says walking past the bed "Egg McMuffins?" He asks walking out of the room.

"Yes please!" Both Beth and Liv say simultaneously, their tummies were growling.

"Two Egg McMuffins comin' up!" Rick says over his shoulder but then stops.

"I set my alarm for 7:00am, does anyone know why it didn't go off?" He asks turning around.

Beth pulls the covers up to her mouth hiding her smile. She reset the alarm to go off at 10:00am wanting Rick to catch up on his sleep but knowing he wanted get a start and sort out the garage.

Liv sinks down under her covers hiding her face knowing Rick would catch her out,. She had caught Beth altering the time and then they decided to switch the alarm clock off completely wanting him to sleep until noon and not go into the station like he sometimes would to catch up on paperwork that could wait until Monday. They both agreed to do it and they did.

Rick watches the pair holding his hips.

Beth slowly takes a look and Liv peers from beneath the cover. Rick's eyes narrow on one to the other and he can read them both like books.

"Already conspiring against me together!" He mumbles to himself but smiles turning around down the hall to go to the kitchen to make two of his favourite women breakfast.

Now he just needed Judith here and that'll be his three women plus Carl and he'd be overjoyed.

A/N:- I have A LOT of Brick fluff in the pipeline but I don't want to overdose you all too much. A little bit in moderation is good and healthy, let's see if I can stick to the diet or will my Brick heart decide to overdose!

I'll be posting a chapter on The Journey soon!

Take Care and have a great evening! xoxo