Disclaimer: I do not own The Walking Dead comic book or TV series, nor do I own the characters...I wish I did, but I don't!
Summary: Betty was far from the typical refined southern heritage. Having drifted from her family at a young age, she never saw or heard from then again.
So when a apocalypse hits, she doesn't really care. That is until she meets her brother again.
"Sorry brother"
Bang.
Daryl sombrely sat on top of Dale's RV, eyes casted downwards while he clenched the binoculars tight in his hand. It had been five hours since he had shot Dale, five hours since the older man had been attacked by a lone walker. He had watched Rick come forward, ready to take on the burden of killing off Dale. Daryl had taken the gun from Rick, believing that the sheriff should no longer take all the responsibility.
He had looked Dale square in the eyes and taken his shot, farewelling the moral compass of the group forever. It hadn't been easy, especially not on the people Dale was close to. Andrea was the worse of them all, she had run off after Dale stopped moving, a fresh wound in the base of his skull. After that, Daryl had lifted Dale's body with the help of Rick, and they had taken him down to Sofia's grave.
They were going to give him a proper funeral, as well as respect his final wishes of Randall's future.
Daryl didn't see the point, but Rick was the boss and he wasn't going to fight it. He had bigger problems anyway, his biggest being Betty's absence. He had been secretly watching her, following her out into the woods where she would absently sit in complete silence. Since the night of their fight, she didn't really bother to come back to her tent, instead opting for night watches and sleeping through the day.
But this time, Daryl had taken it from her. He couldn't sleep with Dale's death on his mind, he had told her and she simply shrugged and went on her way, not even second glancing his way. He would be lying if he said it didn't hurt, he had spent every waking hour with her, and for Betty not to acknowledge him properly stung. He glanced over at their tents, a dim hue of light shining from a distance.
He heaved a sigh, feeling even more guilty now that he was thinking about it.
His head snapped to the side when the RV shook, he frowned, there wasn't anyone inside that night. Everyone had gone into the farmhouse, excluding Betty of course, she chose to stay outside. Daryl watched as Johnny's head appeared before his body lifted him onto the RV roof.
"I'm 'ere ta relieve ye" Johnny huffed, he sauntered over to Daryl.
Daryl rose from his seat, the one Dale use to sit in all the time. He looked down at it sadly, before he looked back at Johnny. He was sure he saw a hint of sympathy in the man's eyes, before Johnny looked down.
They awkwardly moved past one another, their shoulders brushing while their mouths kept silence. Abruptly, Johnny's hand lashed out and grabbed Daryl's forearm tightly. He spun Daryl back, forcing the shyer redneck to stare into his eyes.
"Wha' ever is going on between you and Betty. Ah want you to fix it" Johnny ordered, "Because yer both ain't actin' tha same 'n ah ain't been 'round a more boring person than how Betty's been actin' lately"
Daryl nodded and Johnny released him from his steel grip. They awkwardly exchanged eye contact before Daryl clambered off the RV and made his way back to his tent, aware of Johnny's eyes boring into his back.
#
Betty paced in front of the tool shed, she had been put on this shift after Dale's funeral. Rick had decided to spare Randall's life, and now she was protecting him from any threatening group members, which everyone knew was Shane Walsh himself.
She was bored out of her mind, sitting on a old wooden barrel outside the crap tool shed while she swung her pickaxe back and forth. She didn't really want to think about Dale's death, it was something she didn't want to think about in a long time. It had affected her, he had been so good to her in his last weeks, offering advice even when she didn't need it.
She had watched Daryl shoot him from afar, slightly proud of the youngest Dixon stepping up finally. He had come over to talk to her, their first contact since their argument two weeks ago. She had lightened up because of it, and she knew that Daryl had expected more from her. The next morning, when she had woken up, Daryl had even greeted her with a shy nod.
"Liz"
Betty looked to the side quickly, heart racing when Rick was right next to her. "Where tha hell did ya come from?" She snapped, a quick breath escaping her lips. Rick cracked a smile at her, but his gaze was more intent.
"I know I have no right asking this from you, but you're my sister and you've always been brutally honest" Rick admitted, Betty coaxed him to talk more by tilting her head to the side. "What are your thoughts on Shane honestly?"
"He's nuts Rick, he's going insane" She revealed. She thought back to the erratic actions of Shane, lately he had been getting more wilder and destructive, and Betty knew it was because he was losing control and this new world was ruining him.
Rick scratched the back of his neck awkwardly, "Yeah I know. I've been getting a lot of that lately"
"Then wha' are ye gunna do 'bout it?" She asked.
Rick looked at her with earnest eyes. "I don't know Liz, I really don't know" He admitted. "Lori tells me he should be put down, Valerie's telling me to abandon him. Johnny says 'fuck him'. I don't know anymore"
Betty looked at him seriously, "Valerie said that?" She gasped.
Rick nodded quickly, "She wants nothing to do with Shane anymore, says his nothing but trash" Rick revealed, "And I'm starting to think negatively myself" Betty grunted, and Rick gazed at her intensely. "Johnny says I should know something about you and Shane. Something about Juvi" He added seriously.
Betty's gaze fell and Rick's hand reached out for her.
"Please tell me" He begged.
"Ask Shane yerself" She answered coldly, in which Rick removed his hand from her. She slipped off her seat and looked at him seriously. "Ye better figure it out Rick. 'cause that man is on a road of destruction" She murmured before slipping away.
Rick grabbed her arm once more, and she looked back at him questionably. "You're talking to me normally" He whispered, as if it was the most wonderful thing in the world. The corners of his mouth jumped slightly.
She bit her trembling lip and glanced away, "Don't" She mumbled.
Rick dropped her arm, "Forgive me" He begged.
"I'm getting there" She replied honestly.
#
Betty walked past Dale's grave, placing a flower on the small mound of dirt covering him. She sighed, patting the wooden cross placed in the ground at the head of the grave. It seemed so surreal, she couldn't believe he was gone. She sunk to her knees and muttered beneath her breath, a pray that her mother had once taught her. She stayed by Dale's grave for a long time, before giving the cross a final pat and departing from him.
She casually walked up the long gravel path to the farmhouse, she had to talk to Johnny about talking to Rick. It wasn't his place to tell her estranged brother, nor was it his right. She was going to give him an earful alright.
She had just made it to the front porch, when Daryl pulled up in his old pickup truck. He veered to a stop, beeping his horn and sliding out of the drivers seat. He was staring straight at her, as he came rushing up to the front steps.
"Git in tha car" He ordered, no greetings, no apologises, no nothing. Betty crushed her eyebrows together, unimpressed and ready to protest. "Ah said git in it now" He added more firmly.
Betty huffed, she pushed past him and made her way to the truck. He beat her to it, opening up the passenger door for her while she jumped in. She rolled her eyes as his ran around the truck and slid back into the drivers seat.
"Wha' tha hell do ye wan'?" She asked rudely.
Unfazed by her behaviour, Daryl shoved the vehicle into gear and sped down the driveway.
There was a tense silence between the two as Daryl kept driving, Betty stared out the window, failing to reply to any of Daryl's unnecessary comments. She knew she was being harsh, but Daryl had said some particularly nasty things to her. Just when she thought she was going to scream at him, he pulled over onto the side of the road, putting the truck into park and staring at her expectantly.
"Is tis where ya wanted ta take me?" She snipped, gesturing around to the barren highway.
"Naw, ah jus' wanna settle tis awkwardness between us" He drawled.
Betty pulled a face, but remained silent. Daryl nervously regarded her, fumbling over his words as he tried to get a proper sentence out. He took a deep breath as Betty rolled her eyes for the fourth time, trying to find some courage.
"Look, Ah wanna apologise fer tha nasty thangs ah said. Ma momma woulda been ashamed of wha' ah said ta ya, 'n lord knows ah didn't mean it" Daryl apologised, he looked over at Betty's cold facade. "Ah dun expect ya ta forgive me, buh' ah jus' wan' ye ta know. Okay?"
"Ye made me feel like shit" She snapped, her face was now turned to him and her eyes were alight with anger.
"Ah know, 'n I'm sorry. Ah didn't mean wha' ah said 'bout ye jus' being a fuck. Yer not, yer more than that...way more than that" Daryl admitted, "Ye understand more than tha others"
"Doesn't give ye tha right ta lash out at me, 'n say nasty thangs" She mumbled.
"Ah know, so I'm making it up ta ya" Daryl said as he restarted the vehicle. Betty didn't miss the straining of his voice.
"Where are ye takin' me?" She asked softly.
"You'll see"
They drove along together, a more comfortable silence enveloping them. Daryl didn't stop driving, until it pulled into a side road that Betty had not seen and he drove her into a small town. Betty frowned, the town seemed so strangely familiar and yet she had never been here. It dawned on her when Daryl pulled up to a church, they had been looking for Sofia in this area.
This was the church they thought she had been in.
She looked over at Daryl in confusion, but he kept quiet. He got out of his seat, came around the truck and opened her passenger door. She slid out, letting him lead her to the steps of the church. When she refused to go up them, he turned to her.
"Go in"
"A-a-ah can't" She whispered, her torso shaking violently. She moved back but Daryl gripped her shoulders tightly.
"Ah heard" He said softly, "That day ye were talkin' ta Rick on tha roof of tha RV. 'bout ye fear of churches. Ah wan' ta help ya confront it" He reassured, he got onto the first step but she didn't budge. "Lemme help ye" He added.
He saw uncertainty in her eyes as she looked up at him, but nevertheless, she gripped his hand tightly and let him lead her slowly up the stairs. He checked in the church, making sure no walkers were inside, before he hesitantly led her in. The moment she stepped over the threshold, her body quaked and her eyes slammed shut. She wouldn't budge, and Daryl awkwardly tensed as her hand squeezed his.
"Come on" He urged.
"Ah can't Daryl" She hissed, she looked at him, her eyes welling with tears. "Its jus' bringin' back memories" She added wistfully.
"So let 'em go" Daryl pressed.
At Daryl's words, Betty seemed to instantly relax. Daryl led her to a seat right in front of the altar, where she sat down as her eyes danced around the church. Memories flooded into her mind, both bad and good, each one stinging her severely.
Daryl let her stay by herself, before taking a seat beside her.
"So ye heard huh?" She mumbled.
Daryl nodded shyly, "Uh yeah, sorry 'bout that. Ah was coming ta talk ta ya, buh' ye 'n Rick were talkin'" He explained.
"Ye dun 'ave ta explain Daryl, no one else woulda done tis fer me" She admitted, gesturing around to the church. "It kinda feels good ta be back in one, ya know?" She looked over at Daryl, although there was slight fear in her eyes, she seemed genuinely alright.
"Ye said ye were pushed into yer grandmother's casket.." Daryl trailed off, expectantly looking at her. He hoped this would help her get over it. Betty nodded in agreement, before sighing deeply.
"Ma mother pushed me" She muttered. Daryl stared at her in shock but she shook her head, "Ah dun thank she meant fer me ta fall into tha casket, buh just simply ta shove me. Anyway, ah ended up in the casket before it crashed ta tha ground 'n ah fell out wit ma grandmother on top of me"
"Shit" Daryl cursed.
Betty nodded again, "Ma father wanted nuthin' ta do wit me afta that, called me an embarrassment 'n was ashamed of me. Ma mother naturally enjoyed it, she always hated me that woman" She hissed.
"She didn't hate ya" Daryl mumbled.
"Na, she did. She told me everyday, buh ah always had Rick. Ma father dun like me too much either, especially after tha funeral. He started ta smack me 'round a bit after that" Betty confessed, she felt her cheeks reddened when Daryl stared at her. "It ain't as bad as it sounds, just little smacks over tha end every now 'n then"
Daryl nodded, "Do ye feel better at least?"
Betty shrugged, "Ah dun thank tha memories will fade, buh at least ah can sit in one. Thanks ta ye" Betty said, she looked over at Daryl gently. "Yer an ass fer sayin' wha' ye did ta me, buh ah forgive ye 'n thank ya fer takin' me here" She added.
"Do ye thank we'll git back ta where we was?" He asked her, this time more shyly.
Betty watched him carefully, "Maybe" She mumbled.
Daryl nodded, seemingly in higher spirits than before. They sat together in silence for a long time, and Daryl could see Betty becoming more comfortable each passing moment. Although she wouldn't admit it verbally, she knew that what happened to her as a child had always played at the back of her mind. This was her first time re-entering a church, and did it not only relieve her, she felt a huge weight lift from her shoulders.
She was grateful for Daryl's consideration, and she felt her heart swell.
"Ma dad"
Daryl broke the silence and Betty stared at him, slightly startled.
"Wha'?"
"Ma dad gave me 'em scars" Daryl clarified. He gestured to his chest and back, "Tha ones ye were askin' 'bout"
A look of horror flashed across her face and she scooted closer to him, "I'm so sorry Daryl" She muttered, her arm snaked around his waist where she gave him a firm side hug. He tensed but relaxed quickly, enjoying the feeling of her warm body next to his. She laid her head on his shoulder. "Wha' a horrible man"
"Good thang he's dead" Daryl muttered. Betty gave him a questioning look, and he shrugged. "He got himself shit faced drunk 'n crashed his car"
Betty watched his jaw clench and unclench. "Thank ye fer tellin' me Daryl" She whispered, before her lips pressed against his cheek softly. "'N fer takin' me here" She added. Her grip tightened on him and Daryl felt oddly at home.
"It ain't nuthin'" He mumbled.
"Buh its everythang ta me" She said softly.