I do not own any of the TWD characters.
Really Getting Settled
Or
Beth Has a List Too!
Daryl was coming out of the restroom when Beth had finished eating her supper and decided to go check on him. Beth could tell right away that he'd been crying – she walked straight to him and wrapped her arms around him. She'd only seen him upset enough to cry twice as long as she'd known Daryl Dixon. Once was when she was still in the hospital in Atlanta and he heard her screaming in pain while he stood out in the hallway and the other time after they had "parted ways" for a brief break-up. He pulled her in tight and sighed, kind of with that little hiccup thing kids do when they've been crying a lot.
"Can't believe I spanked Silas" Daryl whispered "I'm so sorry Beth."
Beth pulled away to look Daryl in the eyes. "Don't you dare apologize for doing what needed to be done" Beth told Daryl "he's been on the brink of needing one for a while now. I should've already done it."
They were silent a few more minutes. "I didn't spank him too hard, did I?" Daryl asked a few moments later.
"No, Daryl, he probably barely even felt it" Beth said. Then she started giggling.
"I don't think there's anythang to laugh 'bout right now" Daryl grumbled.
"I bet the little shit woulda left his clothes on if he knew he's gonna get his first butt spankin" Beth laughed "Guess he'll keep that in mind next time he has himself one of them Greene fits."
Daryl kind of groaned – he didn't want to even think about a next time. "I've seen a Greene fit." Daryl teased. "That seemed a little mild for a Greene fit."
"Stop it – that's not funny" Beth said. "Ya hungry?"
"Fuckin starvin" Daryl said "Don't 'member the last time I went to bed without supper – been 'fore I went to live with my Mamaw, I know that."
"Well, let's not break the streak then" Beth quipped trying to lighten the mood. "How 'bout I go fix ya a plate? I'll bring it in here, we can snuggle, watch a movie maybe?" Daryl nodded his head, but not before kissing Beth on those sweet, pouty lips of hers.
Beth returned about fifteen minutes later with not one, but two plates – Daryl fought the grin. She set the plates down on one of the bedside tables, and left the room again. She returned quickly this time with two large glasses of sweet tea. Daryl already had a movie going, he'd found Christmas Vacation playing on some random station.
Daryl and Beth spent the evening laughing at poor ole Clark W. Griswold and wondering how in the hell anybody could be so damn stupid. They really laughed when Daryl made the comment "oh look, Merle showed up" during the part of the movie when Cousin Eddie is standing there admiring the lights on Clark's house. Yeh, that right there was funny as shit. Speaking of shit – "Merry Christmas – shitter was full!" That never ceased to be funny to Daryl – Beth just thought it was gross.
Eventually, the both of them were feeling better about the whole spanking debacle and fell asleep – no hot sex that night, but lots of sweet cuddles with Beth still reassuring Daryl that he'd done the right thing.
Beth woke to the sound of some dishes rattling around in the kitchen. Beth rolled over to see that Daryl was no longer in the bed. That was no surprise since he usually was up before everyone else. She slipped her house shoes on before making her way down the hallway to see who was stirring – it wasn't even seven o'clock yet. She found her Daddy unloading the dishwasher and putting everything away looking like a cub scout trying to earn a badge or something.
"Mornin SweetPea" Hershel said "How's Daryl this mornin?"
"Not sure – he's not in the bed" Beth mumbled.
Annette came into the kitchen, fully dressed and carrying her overnight bag. "Daryl's upstairs in bed with Silas – got his arms wrapped around Si – precious I tell ya, just precious."
Beth wondered what time Daryl had gone upstairs. She also wondered why her momma and daddy appeared to be leaving at the butt crack of dawn.
"Where ya'll goin?" she asked them.
"We're headin on home, to get ready for church" Annette told her.
"Beth, normally, I'd remind ya'll to get your selves to church today, but I think I'd rather ya'll stay in today." Hershel said.
Beth was a little stunned, to say the least. She didn't ever recall a time when her father encouraged her to stay home from church.
"Well" Hershel went on to explain "Ya'll need to really settle in, Daryl needs time with Silas today – just one on one. Beth, ya got ya a fine man right there – gonna be a fine daddy, hell, he already is a fine daddy."
Hershel kissed Beth on the cheek and hugged her. Annette did the same. Beth walked them out to their car and the three of them briefly discussed the upcoming week – they were less than a week away from Christmas. Beth broke the news to her parents that they would not be seeing Daryl Christmas Eve or Day. Of course, they were both a little disappointed but they understood. Beth's parents told her that they would come spend a couple nights with Beth this week if she wanted them – that way she could get some last minute shopping done and whatever else she needed to do. Beth agreed that she would appreciate the help so they made plans to return Wednesday.
After her parents had left the driveway and were out of her sight, she realized just how peaceful and quiet it was out here. She turned to go back into the house and looked out over the lake – breathtaking summed it up. There was a light fog lifting off the water as the sunshine burned it away – no wonder Daryl had always dreamed of building out here. Beth stepped into the garage and decided that she needed to get her ass in gear. The first thing she was going to accomplish today was a good breakfast for her boys, and to get started on a decent supper. She was fairly sure she could find a bunch of other stuff to do as well.
Upstairs, Little Silas was starting to wake up from his slumber. He realized that he wasn't alone in the bed and somebody, somebody big and strong had him all wrapped up. Silas wiggled and wriggled around to see his Daddy. Silas wrapped his little arms around Daryl's neck and scooched up just as close to his daddy as he could get. Silas rubbed the beard on his Daddy's chin.
"Mornin Daddy" Silas said in a sleepy voice.
"Mmmmm" Daryl growled "Mornin Si Pat."
They laid there just like that for a few minutes.
"Ya mad at ya Daddy?" Daryl asked Silas.
"Yes" Silas said instantly.
"Well, 'm sorry you're mad" Daryl said "Not sorry I gave ya a spankin."
"Hmmmmph" Silas said.
"I can't have ya treatin ya momma like that" Daryl said "ya don't ever run and hide from ya Momma. And ya sure don't ever, ever yell at ya Momma like that."
Silas didn't say anything, but a little bitty tear slipped from the corner of his eye.
"Ya Momma does too much for ya for ya to treat her that way. Understand?" Daryl asked Silas.
"Yes sir" Silas finally answered. " m sorry Daddy."
"Ain't me ya need to 'pologize to. You're gonna 'poligize to ya Momma today." Daryl instructed the boy.
"Yes sir"
The boys finally decided to get up. Silas showed Daryl his bathroom – he was so proud to have his very own bathroom because only big boys like Carl had their own bathroom. Daryl had to admit, he'd been busy with so many details lately that he hadn't actually had time to look around upstairs much. It was pretty impressive if he said so himself, minus the hole in the nursery wall. Si's room was navy and gray with touches of what he'd call barn red – almost nautical, but not full-fledged. The guest room was in between Si's room and the nursery and Beth had it done in navy and buckwheat (the same soft golden color that the nursery was done in). The baby Baby Girl's room was done in buckwheat and gray. One might also find the occasional touch of periwinkle in there as well. Everything was soft and bold at the same time – it was so Daryl and Beth.
After Daryl and Silas both used the restroom – with Si reminding his Daddy not to "pee everywhere" (he'd gotten the speech before they moved in from his Momma), they rambled downstairs to see what was going on. Daryl heard that Beth had her Neal Diamond station on Pandora fired up and going strong. Damn Daryl thought she's in hippie mode already. Beth was at the stove keeping a careful eye on something.
"Mmmm, somethang smells good" Daryl said as he hugged her from behind.
"Is it me?" Beth laughed.
"Well, always, but I meant food. Somethang smells really good." Daryl told her.
Silas pulled his chair to the kitchen table and climbed up into it. Beth had prepared French Toast and bacon for their breakfast and she had beef stew in the crockpot for supper. Daryl had Silas ask the blessing before they ate, and then encouraged (prodded more like) to apologize to his Momma for his behavior the night before. They had a million things they could have done that day – lots and lots of chores. Instead, Daryl decided he wanted to take Silas to do something he never got to do as a child. Oh sure, his grandmother would have taken him to do this but by the time she'd gotten Daryl he was too old for it and too jaded at that point. Daryl and Beth went to the mall so that Silas could get his picture made with Santa. Yes, the Sunday before Christmas and here they stood in line to see Santa. It wasn't so bad though, they'd gotten there early enough that Silas was pretty close to the front of the line. When they left Santa's Workshop though, the line was stretching the length of the mall and then some.
"Poor sombitches" he mumbled under his breath as he saw all the other dads standing there as if they'd been sentenced to hang.
Daryl and Beth finished up some last minute shopping and even made their first Christmas decoration purchase – Christmas stockings. Beth insisted that they needed something pretty special to hang above their beautiful fireplace. Who was Daryl to deny Beth anything, so $75 later, they had three "pretty special" stockings – thank God they were on sale!
They grabbed a quick mid afternoon snack from the food court and popped into the restrooms before loading up to head home. Daryl was not a fan of the mall and he'd spent enough time here today to last him until next year. Next year, they'd have Silas and Sis to visit Santa – and they damn sure wouldn't wait until the Sunday before Christmas. Live and learn – live and learn.
Just as one might predict, Silas was out like a light before even pulling out of the mall parking lot, which was ridiculous by the way – they nearly had three accidents before they got back out onto the main highway. Silas was still clutching the candy cane that Santa had given him in his hand. He refused to eat it – said he was "keepin it forever". On their way home Daryl and Beth had some time to discuss house issues, Beth's job, and Christmas plans. Beth had been stewing a while herself. She realized Daryl had a lot on him, and they still had a lot to do around the house – not that there was any hurry. However, she knew Daryl well enough to know that he was stewing over all the details and she wanted to do something to help him out.
"Are you going to work tomorrow?" Beth asked Daryl.
"Naw, not goin in till Tuesday night since I'm pulling four days in a row. Plus all the holiday stuff" Daryl told her.
"Well, I've got to work tomorrow" Beth said.
Daryl nodded. "Silas and I'll be alright. We'll have supper ready for ya when ya get home."
Beth smiled at the thought of that because Daryl Dixon was a damn good cook.
"Well, the new girl, the one that'll be doin the patient load, well, she started last week. I have to check in on her, and I'm meeting with the tech guys." Beth explained.
"Tech guys?" Daryl asked.
"Yeh, the tech guys. The hospital is springing for all of my home office equipment – copier, scanner, fax, desktop, laptop – all that stuff. They want to make sure I'm not a complete idiot and won't tear anything up.
"All that's left to do in your office is to get the crown moldin put up" Daryl told her.
"That's it?" Beth asked. Daryl nodded. "Oh, guess what?"
"What?" Daryl asked.
"Hospital's gonna pay for our wireless" she said.
"Really?" Daryl said.
"Yeh, I'm thinking this working from home might not be half bad" Beth laughed. "Okay, got another question for ya. Where's all your meat?"
Daryl raised his eyebrows and smirked at Beth. "I'll show ya when we get home" he teased her.
"No – not that" Beth groaned "You're gross. No, all the venison and rabbits and doves. You know, all the innocent creatures you and your brother slaughter in the name of feeding your family.
"Aww, that meat. Well, why didn't ya say so? Merle and I rent meat locker storage – when the freezers get delivered, I'll stop and get it all. That'll be one less payment a month." Daryl told Beth.
Mentally, Beth added that to her list.
"Hey, on the subject of storage" Beth started.
"Yes" Daryl said knowing full well she didn't need any encouragement to continue.
"What about all your Mamaw's stuff you've got in storage?" Beth asked.
"Mmmm, yeh, guess we'll get 'round to that after the holidays – can't get to it right now." Daryl told her. "That'll be another monthly payment gone."
Beth added that to her list.
They pulled into the garage and Daryl grabbed Silas from the back while Beth got the few packages they had. Daryl took Silas up to his room and tucked him in to finish his nap out. When he came back down, Beth was checking on the stew.
"Smells good Babe" Daryl hollered as he went back out to the garage. When he returned he had some tools. "Come show me where ya want the stockins." As Daryl, under Beth's careful guidance, hung the stockings he made an addition to his list "get stocking stuffers for Beth and Silas." He wondered if he'd ever grow tired of thinking of ways to spoil his family – nope, he didn't think so.
Once they had the stockings hung, Daryl and Beth stood back to admire them.
"Yep, Babe" Daryl said "I believe that's the best hundred dollars I ever spent. Them's pretty special."
"Do you have to be such a smartass?" Beth asked.
"Naw, we coulda used some of my wool huntin socks" Daryl was teasing her now.
Daryl and Beth looked up to see Silas standing there – still holding that damn candy cane. He was rubbing his eyes.
"Momma, I'm hungry" the boy said.
"Well, it's a good thing supper's ready" Beth said and she ruffled his hair as she walked past him on her way to the kitchen.
Daryl went to follow Beth and stopped to pick Silas up. "See what I mean boy, ya Momma takes care of ya. Don't she?" Daryl asked Si.
Si just nodded his head up and down, still a little too sleepy to talk very much. After dinner, Daryl tried to take on Silas in a game of Chutes and Ladders, but he seemed to be getting his butt whupped. Beth sat in one of the recliners with her feet propped up.
"Whatcha workin on Babe?" Daryl asked her.
"Oh, I'm makin a list" Beth told him. Then she looked at Silas and added "and I'm checkin it twice."
Silas' eyes became big as saucers. "Guess ya heard that Little Man" Daryl told him.
Beth's To Do List
Because Beth's list would never be titled "Big Ole List of Shit"
Get apartment emptied completely, turn key in, get deposit back
Call about getting freezers delivered.
Get Merle to help me empty their meat locker – eliminate 1 monthly payment.
Empty Daryl's storage unit – eliminate 1 monthly payment.
Set up my home office.
Set up basement with Mamaw's furniture for Daryl.