Chapter 36

"Who is that guy? I tried to ask him questions but he doesn't seem like he is gonna answer any of them. It's quite a shock to come home to surprise ya and then have a cop drive up on a motorcycle and open the door for us. Especially with how rough around the edges he looks. Is he even a good guy to be around? Maybe you shouldn't have some random guy here with you." Maggie whispered to Beth. Beth shook her head. She had a feeling that her sister wouldn't take too well to the situation.

"Kinda like how you just brought home someone? Ya never mentioned having a boyfriend. So it's kinda shocking that ya now are engaged to be married. And last time I checked, I can have whoever I want stay at my house with me." Beth countered. She knew that her sister was always worried about her but she needed to realize that Beth wasn't a little girl anymore.

"When did you become my keeper? I don't remember. And I should have some say in who stays with ya, I am your older sister." Maggie spat back at her. Beth could feel the frustration pouring out of her.

"I could ask you the same question. And older does not mean wiser. I grew up a long time ago and have been working hard to get to where I am. Where were you when pa was sick and I took care of him? Where were you when I needed help? Ah, wait, I've been my own keeper for a long enough time now. I don't need you coming here and questioning me about my life. Cuz that's the thing, it's my life." Beth could feel her voice shaking. She had anger seeping through her and knew that she shouldn't get mad at Maggie, she was just trying to make sure she was safe.

"When did you get this vocal? You never used to spit back at me when I talked to you." Maggie asked as she looked at Beth. Beth shrugged her shoulders, looking towards the kitchen where Daryl was sitting.

"I learned from the best. I am not afraid to stick up for myself anymore. Not everyone may like to hear what I have to say but I won't be silent just to make everyone else happy." Beth smiled as she walked towards the kitchen. Daryl and Glenn were sitting at the table, drinking beers and making small talk.

"Hi, you must be Glenn, I'm Beth. It's nice to meet ya. Ya both have already met Daryl and I'm guessing Bo by the way he is comfortable at your feet. It's nice of you guys to stop in for a bit." Beth extended her hand to Glenn and laughed when he almost knocked his drink over trying to shake her hand. She saw the look of confusion on his face and saw him look over to Maggie.

"Ya didn't tell her did ya? We were hoping to talk to you about using some of the land for the wedding. We are getting married in about two months. She was hoping that she could have it at her childhood home." Glenn said as Maggie walked up to hold his hand.

"That's fine. As long as you guys take care of the preparations and don't go too crazy. I don't wanna have to cleanup a glittery mess." Beth smiled as they nodded back at her. Ever since Maggie was younger, she always had wanted to have her wedding at the farm. She wouldn't deny her sister her dream wedding. "How long are you guys gonna be able to stay?"

"We can stay till Saturday, then we both have to be back in town." Maggie replied. Beth thought about what she had said and knew that today was Wednesday giving her a few days with them.

"Well, I will need to head to the store. We were running low on food and going to go tonight anyways." Beth said as she sat down and began writing a list. She heard Maggie come up behind her and sit next to her.

"That's fine, I'll go with ya. I've missed my little sister and it will give the guys some time to get to know each other. Plus we have a lot of catching up to do." Maggie had a determined look on her face and Beth knew arguing was going to be fruitless.

"I know that look on her face and I know better than to argue with it. So I'll stay here." Glenn piped up as he took another sip of his beer. Beth smiled at him and nodded. She looked over to Daryl, who had been quiet this whole time, and saw that he was nodding also. She gave him a quick peck on the cheek and grabbed her list. She hated shopping to begin with and she knew that it was just another ploy for Maggie to interrogate her.

"So how long have you known Daryl for? How did ya meet? Why is he living with ya? Do ya even know him? He seems a little rough around the edges for you. I just don't understand what you could want from a guy like him. He is older than you." Maggie began the minute they got to the store. Beth had the music cranked up while she was driving to drown out her voice. When they got out into the open, she couldn't drown her out anymore. She groaned as she grabbed a cart and started throwing things into it.

"I didn't let you come with me to have you give me the third degree. I should have known better. Ya can't let anything go can ya?" Beth asked as she walked into the produce section. She saw the look of surprise on her sister's face and couldn't help but smile.

"He's changed ya. You used to be so quiet and soft spoken. Now ya talk back and speak ya mind. It's unnerving to say the least." Maggie said as she placed a few things into the cart.

"It's not a bad thing. I won't let anyone run me over. And it's not like he's changed me, I've just learned a lot about myself since I met him. If he has done anything, it is helping me become the person I need to be. I've grown a lot." Beth huffed and began walking away from her. She heard her footsteps quickening to catch up with her.

"You don't have to take offense to everything I say. Sheesh you're acting funny."

"I'm taking offense to what you say 'cuz of your inflection. If you were more positive and didn't sound like you're accusing him of something then it would be different. How would you like it if I started bombarding you with questions about Glenn?" Beth countered as she grabbed some meat to put in the cart.

"I wouldn't care because I ain't got nothing to hide." Maggie bit back with a triumphant grin on her face.

"Think what ya want Mags, I'm done with this conversation. You can either chose to accept my relationship with Daryl or you can choose to ignore it. Either way it doesn't bother me. It's my life and my choice not yours." Beth said as she walked away from her sister. She was done shopping and by the looks of all the random stuff she had placed in her cart, they should be set with food for awhile. She walked up to the checkout and began placing her items on the conveyor belt. Maggie wordlessly joined her and began putting items on the belt also. After they paid, they walked back out to car. Beth popped the trunk and began placing bags in it. She felt Maggie grab ahold of her hand and turn her wrist. Beth cursed as she saw her sister staring at the pink line down her wrist. She knew she would get the wrong impression.

"Beth, what the hell is this? Did you try to hurt yourself?" Her sister stuttered out as she ran her finger across the line. Beth took in a sharp breath as the memories flooded through her head at the questions. She shook her head and quickly finished putting the groceries in the car. After getting rid of the cart, she jumped into the drivers seat and waited for Maggie. She could feel her eyes burning into her as she started driving.

"Did he do that to you?" Beth pulled the car to the side of the road and slammed on the breaks after she asked that questioned. She turned to Maggie and saw the confusion on her face.

"Get out! If you are going to judge someone so harshly when you don't know them nor have you taken the time to, I don't want you in my car or my house. Daryl saved my life and even though that doesn't mean shit to you it means the world to me. He has been there for me more in the time that I have known him than some people have been there for me my whole life!" Beth knew that of she was a cartoon then she would have smoke pouring out of her ears. She was fed up with her sister and the attitude she had towards a man she didn't know. Hypocrisy wasn't one of her favorite things to deal with.

"I didn't know that would upset you that much. I'm sorry I said anything. You're my little sister and I wanna make sure you are making the best choices in your life." Maggie replied and Beth could see the tears brimming in her eyes.

"Well you shouldn't be so harsh on someone that you don't know. You know that old saying about assuming." Beth started the car and began driving back towards the house.

The silence at the house was awkward for Beth. Daryl didn't talk very much with the addition of Glenn and Maggie. He just watched and waited. Beth pulled him into the kitchen to have him help her make supper. She had decided on spaghetti. As she got the pasta out of the cabinet, he pulled out the meat and sauce. She filled up a pan with water and he started cooking the meat. Beth smiled at how they easily moved around each other and how at ease she felt with him.

"What's the smile for?"Daryl asked, looking up from the meat he was cooking, and looking at her with a weird look on his face. Beth leaned forward and gave him a chaste peck on his lips.

"Can't a girl just be happy? Or do I have to have a reason?" Beth asked and watched as he slowly leaned forward and pecked her on the cheek.

"I guess ya can be happy if ya want. Better than ya being mopey again. Makes ya look like someone told ya Santa Claus isn't real." Daryl smirked and Beth dropped her smile. She placed her hands on her hips and gave him a hard look.

"Daryl Dixon, you take that back! I am not mopey and I've known for a long time about Santa!" Beth grabbed the spoon and began stirring the pasta into the boiling water. She began waving the spoon at him when he chuckled. "I think you are having way too much fun making fun of me."

"Naw, I ain't having too much fun yet." Daryl said. Beth cocked her head at him and got an idea. She walked over to the cabinet and pulled a container out. She waited until he was completely involved in stirring the meat and the pounced. She threw flour at him and then began giggling. When Daryl turned around with a mischievous glint in his eye, she began backing up.

"Ya really shouldn't have done that."

Author's note : hey guys :) thanks for all the awesome reviews yet again. You guys make me smile so big. I think that there will be two or three more chapters before I start the next one. I'm excited and a bit nervous for it. There will be a newer addition to this one. Any guesses for the bad guy?