AUTHOR'S NOTES: Thank you for reading and thank you to DarylDixon'sLover, Guest, angelicedg, vickig75, malzateb, WalkerHarley, Guest, Aeris Aimara Ciren, draegon-fire, NaughtyNicky and BethFan for your comments :)
WARNING: This chapter is seriously long, a little bit of angst but a lot of progress in relationships and a bit of goofy fun.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own the Walking Dead or its characters
Apologies in advance for any spelling and grammatical errors. Thoughts in Italics
The Journey
Chapter 48
Rick and Beth were sitting on the grass apply sunscreen to both Olly and Judith. Carl, Sophia, Meghan and James were being entertained by Aaron and Glenn with card tricks. New bestie, Bruno was sitting obediently just as engrossed as the children watching his master and former Part-time Children's Magician, The Amazing Glenn performing.
Every so often, Rick and Beth would look towards the gazebo to where Shane and Lilly were seated, talking and catching up on old times. Whenever Shane or Lilly looked up, Rick and Beth quickly averted their eyes, turned their heads away casually trying not to get caught watching. It was usually them the centre of attention, everyone's eyes watching them and waiting to see what was going on between them so it felt oddly strange to be on the other side, attention off of them and directed to someone else - they weren't complaining, it just felt nice.
As soon as Shane called out Lilly's name, a strange silence filled the air and as if on instinct, everyone turned towards Shane and Lilly's direction. They ignored everyone's curious eyes, walked towards each other and met in the middle of the grassed area. They just stood there staring not believing the other was standing there. Then their faces broke into smiles, they hugged and all everyone could hear was a muffled exchange between them.
Sinéad saw Lilly, was about to make her way over but stopped herself seeing Rick from the corner of her eyes standing there with Judith and Olly under each of his armpits staring at Lilly like he recognised her. She had looked over at Shane embracing the nurse who he secretly dated all those years go, remembered how mad she was still at him, took Baby Sadie from Norman and walked off. She reminded herself that she was there to support Beth not Rick and definitely not her brother Shane.
Beth and Carol were surprised and baffled. They knew Lilly from when Carol was in the ICU, one of the dedicated nurses who was looking after her. Beth and Lilly spent many long hours together whilst Carol was under sedation and then she looked after Carol once she was off the ventilation machine breathing on her own up until being discharged from hospital but kept in contact. They discovered, Sophia and Meghan were in the same class in school and arranged to spend the afternoon together and do a little exercise to get Carol back on form. Beth had called Carol inviting her and Lilly to their little gathering at Dale's place, there was so much food and she really wanted Carol and Sophia to be there with her and Olly.
Rick had made plans for the children and Beth but then Sinéad turned up after swearing a twenty month long silence and then Shane dropped the bomb that rocked them all to the core. It was all thanks to Dale noticing Rick and Beth's weekend wasn't going accordingly to plan, swooped in and took charge. Rick had wanted it to be a great weekend for them all to bond but he'd been walking around with the weight of the world on his shoulders with Beth trying to console him and reconnect him to little Judith, so that's how they all came to be there Saturday mid-morning.
Rick pulls Judith's little cardigan on, kisses her cheek and she kisses him back making Rick smile contentedly. He sets Judith down onto her feet and she points towards where Carl and the others were clapping and laughing wanting to join them.
"Go Princess, go to your brother." Rick says as he combs his fingers through Judith's soft hair.
Judith stops to think looking over at Carl and then Olly sitting in Beth's lap and looks at Rick confusedly and stares back at Olly. Carl had kept telling her Olly is their brother and she recognised that as Carl and now maybe Olly. Rick leans close rubbing his nose to Judith's cheek and whispers "Go to brother Carl, your brother Olly's going to stay here with me and Beth, go sweetheart go to Carl."
Judith's little lips turned up into a smile looking at Olly waving her floppy hat to him and she set off wobbly towards the laughter. Rick sits back next to Beth relieving Olly from her arms. He places Olly to stand on his thigh as he cuddles him into his side whilst Olly chews on his teething ring looking up into the sky watching birds fly past. Rick and Beth watch Judith and then she attempts to climb the little steps onto the patio. Carl sees Judith, runs over picking her up as he makes his way back to the little show with Judith settled on his hip.
"I was worried about Judith, she's only ever had to share me with Carl but she seems to be warming to Olly?" Rick says turning to face Beth and then looking at Olly "I'm not imagining this am I?" He asks for reassurance.
"No Rick, you not imagining it!" Beth smiles as she leans close to him tickling Olly's tummy.
"Kids need a little time to adjust, it's a lot to take in for big people, imagine what it's like for little people!" Beth muses at the thought remembering Judith's shocked little face when she saw Rick and Olly together for the first time.
It was just as she read in one of her maternity books when parents brought home a new baby. Judith reacted just how she had read and the book had said it was a phase that children can overcome if included around the baby, making them feel needed and apart of the baby and giving each child equal amounts of alone time.
"Little people are much more adaptable to change and much smarter than us bigger people!" Beth coos to Olly who flashes his little smile and Rick smiles agreeably turning to watch Judith and Carl.
"Carl's just as I imagined him, the way you described him but wiser than his years!" Beth smiles softly.
"He's great isn't he!" Rick boasts proudly.
Beth can see the pride swell in Rick's eyes, the way he spoke and his posture of a proud father, Carl always made this Rick appear and she loved seeing him like this, it reminds her of the man she first fell in love with.
"He most definitely is and I'm confident Olly and Judith will become good little friends and follow in Carl's footsteps, I just have a feeling everything's gonna be alright." Beth declares.
Rick takes in Beth's confidence and comforting words and he holds onto every word. It was early days but prayed she was right. He wished he had a crystal ball and could look into the near future. He wanted Carl, Judith and Olly together under one roof all the time. He never wanted his children to live apart only to see each other on scheduled timetables allocated by the Courts. He wanted to be with them when they went to sleep at night and when they woke up in the mornings.
Beth watches Carl taking care of Judith and smiles remembering Shawn, the way Shawn used to take care of her and Maggie. She wonders about them all the time and really misses them.
"Carl's a really good boy, he dotes on Judith,"
Beth admires the way Carl is tentative towards Judith and she had seen how tentative Carl was with Olly in such a short amount of time, he went out of his way to get to know Olly and introduce Judith who was wary at first but pushed that all away and the three spent time playing together and it was all she's ever wanted, Olly to know and be loved by his siblings not knowing whether that would happen but today it was, they were all connecting and forming relationships, she was a little sad that they only had today and tomorrow.
"Carl couldn't have made Olly feel more welcomed than he had, he was really caring and sweet and Olly was so happy!" Beth says getting all emotional thinking of the three of them playing and the thoughts of Shawn and Maggie, she was feeling that void.
Rick catches the change in Beth's voice, wraps his arm around Beth's shoulder and pulls her close to him, pressing his lips down into her hair knowing exactly who she was thinking about. He wondered whether he should broach the subject of Maggie. He had warned Maggie to stay away of fear of Beth running away and the thought of losing her again. But things between them were getting better, they were talking and confiding in each other, they promised that whatever happened, they would raise Olly together. Reconnecting with Maggie was something he needed to think long and hard about but at the end of day, it was Beth's decision. It was a tender subject and the moment needed to be right before opened up that can of worms. Where there was Maggie, there was Herschel Greene and the thought of Beth's careless father, makes his blood boil.
Olly moves towards Beth and presses himself to her sensing some sort of distress. Beth reaches up and takes hold of Olly allowing Rick to wrap both his arms around them. They sit there quietly and look over towards the gazebo. Beth can feel Rick's heart beating against her back, the warmth of his breathing hitting her as his lips grazes her hair, the warmth of his body warming her with his strong arms around her. She knows she should detach herself from Rick but she wanted to be held, held by him and Rick doesn't look like he wanted to let go so she rests there watching Shane and Lilly as Shane just leans forward upset. Lilly scoots close and comforts Shane as she looks over towards Beth sadly and they share a look of not knowing what to do. Beth realises, Shane has told Lilly everything.
"Rick?" Beth breaks the silence and he hums in reply.
He had his eyes shut, this being the first time he has felt some sort of peace. Before Beth knows it, she's opening her mouth.
"…I believe Shane when he says he can't recall what happened that night," Beth says watching Shane "Can you recall that night when you and she.." Beth asks trailing off not wanting to say it but she knew she didn't have to when Rick lets out a long heavy sigh.
Rick's peace lasted but a few minutes. He rubs his face with the palm of his hand not wanting to go back to that nightmare night that changed all their lives but he knew he was going to, Beth had brought up the conversation and he couldn't ignore her.
"No!" He says frustrated that after all this time, he doesn't remember having intercourse with Lori, he thought maybe it would come back to him in flashes but nothing, not that he wanted it to come back but drunken rendezvous, even when they were mistakes, they usually come back to people in snippets. He's had zero.
"Just waking tangled up with Lori is all I remember and the feeling of being sore that it happened and-" Rick says tight lipped looking down at the ground ashamed and disgusted that he found himself to be sticky and so was Lori and the bedding was covered in both their bodily fluids, he threw them in the trash when he ripped them off his bed.
Beth hated to hear it the first time round, they had only just started going out on dates when it happened, she believed Rick, she saw the honesty in his eyes and she saw the same in Shane's when he told her which fuels her sudden outburst.
"Shane remembers Lori turning up and he said he must have crashed out onto the couch because he woke up the next morning alone. He didn't wake up to being in the same state as you described!" Beth repeats what Shane had told her with a frown.
"I believe...if Shane was to have a lie detector test, it will show Shane's telling the truth! If it happened, then it happened whilst he was heavily intoxicated, without his consent and Lori couldn't have been intoxicated, she turned up at yours the same night in her car and she had Carl with her so she can't say she was out of her mind drunk!" Beth fumes running over Rick's version of events from when they first dated.
Beth pulls out of Rick's arms, she was working herself into a frenzy now driving herself mad with questions and theories and the only person who actually knew what happened on both incidents that night, was Lori.
Rick was listening and he pinches the bridge of his nose letting out an exasperated breath, thinking this is exactly what Lori wanted, ruining everything and even without being present. He wanted none of this and neither did Shane.
"We need to get that CD Lori showed Shane, the only evidence because it's her word against Shane's!" Beth states "You do believe Shane?" Beth turns to Rick.
Rick opens his eyes and looks at Beth.
"Me and Shane have made our peace, I believe him and even if it happened, I don't care anymore if Shane slept with Lori! Judith is all I'm concerned about and if she turns out not to be mine but Shanes, or..." Rick trails off now looking over at Shane clearly still upset after their conversation, not being able to remember was troubling him. Shane would be the first to admit, he was a player but he always knew who he had slept with and he knew his boundaries of certain people and where the line was.
"Judith's my daughter! No matter what anyone says!" Rick snaps thinking if they carried out the paternity test, then it would all mean it was real and if Judith turned out to be Shane's or the guy he caught Lori cheating with, then he didn't know what he was going to do and the decision to not find out when Judith was born was a slap across his face. Sinéad and Morgan had both begged him to find out but he locked himself away and buried his head in the sand once Beth left and didn't want to be found.
"Rick, I'm sorry! I'm so so sorry!" Beth apologises for bringing the topic up and seeing Rick's face "That was really insensitive of me, I just want you and Shane to make amends, he's hurting just like you are, he's over there and you're over here and I just wish there was something I could do to make all of this go away for you!" Beth reaches out placing her hand on his thigh staring sorrowfully at Rick conveying how sorry she is.
"It's okay!" Rick says covering her hand with his bringing the topic to a close "Let's forget this right now, let's just enjoy this weekend with our children!" He asks and Beth nods agreeing turning back to watch Judith and Carl picking cards and cheering when they win. She turns her hand around and entwines her fingers with Rick's leaning her head against his shoulder.
Beth finds Daryl up a ladder painting the ceiling. Dale had returned with a frown shaking his head to her. He couldn't persuade Daryl to join them saying he needed to get a base coat done so he could put the final colour up tomorrow on the walls, he had a schedule to stick to. Beth takes a look around the room, smiling at Daryl's handiwork. The lounge looks beautiful and it was practically nearly finished, there was just one more wall that needed a base coat to be painted.
Beth rolls up her sleeves, grabbing a roller, rolls it into the white base and begins to roll the roller up and down the wall. She rocks on her heels reaching higher up and sways her hips whilst humming a tune to herself knowing a little music will get her a long way quicker.
Daryl pulls out his earphones hearing singing. Looks down and his eyes widen to see Beth painting. He slides down the ladder and leaps over grabbing Beth's hand making her jump and she thrashes her arms out wildly making Daryl trip backwards hitting the ladder and tumbling down on the ground on top of it.
"Fuck!" Daryl groans sitting up holding his shoulder "What's wrong with ya woman?" He asks rubbing his shoulder blade.
"Geeze Daryl, ya scared the bejesus outta me!" Beth rushes down over to Daryl "I'm sorry!" Beth apologises repeatedly wiping her face and grabbing hold of her chest.
Daryl opens his eyes and sees Beth breathing in and out at a fast pace.
"Shit!" Daryl curses, he drops the rollers and scoots over next to Beth holding her shoulders.
"Easy girl, that's it, it's alright, look at me Beth!" Daryl says softly, he lifts her chin up and she looks up and meets his worried eyes.
Beth looks over at the mess she made on the floor and frowns.
"S'nothing!" Daryl reassures her when he follows her gaze and turns back "Ya okay?" He asks softly and Beth nods and then sees the large red bruise on his shoulder.
"I'm sorry!" She says reaching up, lightly touching it.
Daryl freezes on Beth's gentle touch, swallowing heavily and just stares at Beth and has to look away when her eyes come back to his.
"S'nothing!" He says pulling away.
He lets go of Beth's shoulder and helps her up making her sit on the stool whilst he picks up the ladder and tidies up the mess.
Beth had just sat there watching, feeling really embarrassed and guilty. She composes herself, getting up and picking up the roller.
"What'chu doin'?" Daryl asks seeing Beth from the corner of his eye.
He couldn't look Beth in the face, he shouldn't be feeling the things he was feeling and he was worried Beth would see straight through him and he was sorry for making her jump remembering her attack down the alleyway. He hadn't caught the son of a bitch, every clue he got from the homeless people led him to a dead end.
Beth's eyes dart over to the wall and to Daryl's back "Paintin'?" She answers hesitantly not knowing whether it was a trick question.
"Why?" Daryl asks.
"Two hands are better than one!" She tells him.
Daryl looks over his shoulder and just narrows his eyes at Beth not understanding.
"…I thought, I'd come and help and then you can join us!" Beth says getting up.
"Why?" Daryl questions.
"What d'ya mean why!" Beth lets out a little laugh and composes herself looking over at Daryl "Unless ya got plans?" Beth asks feeling like a fool for assuming he was free.
"I got plans!" Daryl says looking back at the wall.
He didn't have any plans, Dale had closed the restaurant for the afternoon for little gathering that was taking place in the backyard and he thought he would spend the morning and afternoon working at the building to get a head start, Rick would be moving into this apartment next week.
"We're gonna be here til late, so once you're done with your plans, then," Beth says hopefully.
"Can't, got the restaurant to open up in the evenin' and don't need Amy accusin' me of slackin'!" He says loudly and bluntly.
They both hear Rick's voice calling out for her and Daryl shakes his head laughing at himself.
"Ya bes get back to Officer Friendly!" Daryl says snappishly.
Before he could take it back, it was out. He hadn't of meant it to come out so harshly but knowing he's said enough, he grabs the roller and climbs back up the ladder, stuffs his earphones back into his ears, turning up the volume to the max and picks up from where he left off from - continuing to paint hoping Beth would just go.
"Daryl?" Beth calls out dejectedly.
Beth just stands there when Daryl doesn't answer or turn back to look at her. She decides to leave Daryl be, she knew him better enough to keep asking and bugging him. He didn't like when people lingered or badgered him, she thought that maybe with time, things would have settled but it hadn't. She sensed Daryl needed more time and she didn't want to have another disagreement about Rick. Rick was a topic that was off limits and personal.
Dale bumps into Beth on the stairwell and stops her.
"Honey, what's wrong?" He asks grabbing her shoulders.
"Daryl's got plans, has Amy been in contact?" Beth asks Dale, Amy hasn't returned any of her calls.
"Amy decided to take advantage of the afternoon off, she and Rosita have gone to get their hair and nails done, you know Amy!" Dale laughs trying to lighten the mood knowing Amy was feeling left out and second best with all of Beth's past appearing out of thin air and sensing the shift between Beth and Rick was making her feel miserable.
"T-Dog and Eugene should be here soon with the meat, get the BBQ started!" Hoping that would cheer Beth up.
Beth gives a half-hearted smile and makes her way back out the garden. Dale takes a seat looking up the stair and shakes his head.
Lilly makes her way over to the table to grab a drink.
"Hey Detective Super Hero!" Lilly greets Rick who turns his head to the side munching the chips he threw into his mouth. He smiles remembering Lilly from the hospital, the first time he met Olly, Olly was in Lilly's care.
"Hey!" Rick smiles back looking at Olly to see if he remembered Lilly.
Lilly covers her eyes and removes them "Peek a boo!" She coos and Olly lets out a "Haaaaaa!" holding Woody up and waving him. Rick smiles, he remembered Lilly.
"Sheriff Woody!" Lilly shakes Woody's hand and Olly squeals delighted reaching over to go to Lilly who practically steals Olly and cuddles him "Sorry!" She apologises to Rick for snatching his baby "Hey gorgeous, look at how handsome and big you're getting!" She tells Olly.
Rick stands there folding his arms across his chest happily watching. Olly tilts his head back, smiles a big open smile showing his new tooth.
"Wow look at those babies!" Lilly says holding Olly's chin down to take a peek in "You're must be munching your way through everything now with these bad boys!" She says.
"He loves Peanut Butter and Banana sandwiches!" Rick says proudly.
Lilly pulls a face "Doesn't it get caught up at the top of your mouth and in the gaps of your teeny tiny baby teeth?" Lilly asks Olly.
Olly open his mouth giving an Ahhhhhhh.
"We like leftovers don't we buddy!" Rick grins to Olly.
"Hmmmmm…yummmm!" Lilly mumbles rubbing her stomach sarcastically.
"Don't diss it until you've tried it!" Rick says cocking his head defending his Peanut Butter and Banana combo and Lilly puts up her hand in surrender laughing with Olly.
"This is weird!" Lilly says adjusting Olly onto her hip remembering how Rick and Olly were playing together back at the hospital, they were strangers, how she didn't put two and two together, she could see the resemblance between father and son now and how they instantly connected "I let him into your care and all that time, you were his father!" She says flabbergasted.
"Yeah, it's been a crazy time, a lot to take in but we're adjusting, more than adjusting!" Rick says taking Olly back once he reaches for him.
"I'm happy for you Rick!" She smiles tickling Olly's barefoot "It's been fifteen years since I last saw you and the beard you were rocking disguised you but I thought I recognised you and I'm pleased you've shaved it off!" She grins liking the hairless look.
Rick runs his hand over his slightly stubbled chin giving a sheepish smile. He's been getting the same reaction from everyone. He actually liked his beard but it did age him but now with it gone, it's knocked off the ten years it had given him.
"Your mother was a lovely lady, she spoke fondly of you, I'm glad to have met her." Lilly gives a sympathetic smile.
"I'm sorry to not have recognised you, back then I wasn't paying attention but I want to thank you for taking good care of my mom especially at the end!" Rick reaches over and squeezes Lilly's shoulder.
"It was my pleasure Rick, she was a wonderful lady!" Lilly replies it was nice reconnecting with her patient's families having gone through tough times together.
Rick observes Lilly, she was now a mother, she has a daughter the same age as Carl.
Rick breaks the silence "Shane was heartbroken when you left!" He tells Lilly and she snaps out of her thoughts looking up "Think you were probably the only girl he's ever come close to loving…old friendships, relationships and reconnecting, it's nice to reconnect after so many years and maybe…?" Rick trails off.
"And maybe what?" Lilly laughs hugging herself blushing looking over at Shane helping Dale move the benches out of the way.
"I'm just saying I haven't seen Shane so pleased to see anyone like he was when you walked through those gates," Rick says looking at Shane crouching down looking at what Meghan wanted to show him "If there's something still there, then you shouldn't let it get away, you'll spend so long regretting that what if's, you don't want to carry that with you for the rest of your life - regretting!" Rick says watching Beth handing Dale a glass of water, ordering him to sit down and take rest, he was over doing it.
Beth looks over to Rick and he understands he's needed handing Olly over to Lilly and sets off to Beth.
"Detective, you should take your own advice too!" Lilly calls after Rick.
He throws Lilly a small smile and takes the load out of Beth's hands once he reaches her.
"Olly, I have a feeling mommy and daddy will be reconnecting if not now but in the very near future!" Lilly beams to Olly making her way over to Shane.
"Hey, ya guys gonna stick around?" Shane asks hopefully.
"Oh mommy please!" Meghan clasps her hands together pleadingly standing next to Shane.
Lilly gives in quicker than she normally would have and nods.
"Yayyyy!" Meghan claps her hands, hugs Lilly and high-fives Shane's hand looking around wildly and then sets off.
"Sophiaaaa…we're staying!" Meghan screeches running and meeting Sophia and they do a little happy dance with Little James shakes his bottom.
"It's been a long time since she's been this happy!" Lilly says watching Meghan "I'm glad I accepted Beth's invitation!" Lilly says smiling up at Shane making her way to Carol to let her know she was sticking around until evening.
Shane beams, eyes scanning the huge garden, spotting Beth he makes his way over the grass and pulls her into a hug "Thank you!"
"Put her down!" Rick tells Shane detaching Beth from Shane's hold laughing knowing why Shane was so happy.
Shane sets Beth down and walks off with a spring in his step to see what else he could do. Judith was running towards Shane and he picks her up taking her with him.
"What was all that about?" Beth asks watching Shane.
"Guessing it has something to do with Lilly." Rick answers tearing his eyes off of Shane and Judith making his way back into the house.
"What about Lilly?" Beth asks following Rick wanting to know if her suspicions were right "I knew it!" Beth beams making her way back towards the French doors looking over at Lilly who was sneaking looks over at Shane.
Rick comes back, grabs Beth's hand and pulls her back to tell him what she needed doing before the games began.
Beth didn't know how this had happened. She hasn't done anything this silly and whacky in such a long time. One minute she was feeding Olly his milk, burping him and placing him into his pushchair to snuggle down with Woody and before she knew it - she was being flung up like a ragdoll and now looking down, she found herself laying tummy side down on a huge cushion positioned on top of a skateboard wearing a bright yellow helmet on her head with her arms stretched forward holding a laundry basket in her hands whilst Carol held both her ankles.
She looks around confusedly, she had been startled and oblivious but playing it all over in her mind, she recognised those distinctive Nikes that had been stomping beneath her after she was practically manhandled over a shoulder whilst her head was being squished into something constricting and her ponytail was being shoved in by a hurried impatient hand and not forgetting that laugh - she would never mistake that girly laugh for as long as she lived "Glennnnnn!" Beth groans loudly, no further investigations were necessary and she pouts laying there. This was so Glenn and she didn't see him coming, she had become rusty. They always tried to get one over the other and Glenn had gotten her good today.
"You okay down there honey?" Carol asks laughing down at Beth amused when she hears Beth and sees Beth's scrunched up fist smacking down on the newly tarmacked grounded area shaking her head in disbelief.
Carol and everyone had watched Glenn ambush Beth and take her by utter surprise. They heard her shriek thrashing out but nobody intervened, not even Rick because he was highly amused and knew first-hand from back in the days when they hung out, Beth and Glenn would tease each other relentlessly like siblings do and it was no use to try and stop the harmless fun and save Beth, Glenn was too fast for anyone to stop him and it was nice to see Beth and Glenn as they are like they were back in King County, he feels nostalgic but ever so grateful and happy for moments like this. To Carol, it was the most comical scene she's witnessed in such a long time, she lets go of an ankle and has to wipe beneath her eyes. She's heard many narratives of Glenn from Beth. The friend Beth met on the road, who didn't turn out to be a Backpacking Serial Killer like Shawn had feared Glenn could turn out to be when Beth told him on the phone those initial days but the guy who kept by her side and travelled the country with her when she left home to see what the world had to offer her away from the family farm.
"Yea, just peachy!" Beth responds sarcastically up over her shoulder putting a thumbs up to Carol "I felt like a milked cow just moment ago and now I'm a Hungry Hippo!" Beth says not knowing whether to be really embarrassed or just laugh out loud. She wanted to be an observer not a participant to the madness that Glenn, Shane and Carl had organised for them today. It looked like nobody was spared to sit and observe, everyone had to partake in the craziness.
Beth lifts her head up, looks past the hundreds of blown-up colourful balloons and sees Rick opposite her in the same position as herself on a skateboard with Glenn holding onto his ankles hopping from one foot to the other pumping himself up making whooping noises. She has to stifle her laugh as Rick had his face buried down into the skateboard shaking his head with a funky bright lime green helmet on his head feeling just as ridiculous as she did, not believing what Carl, Shane and Glenn was having them do – forcing them to do!
Rick looks up when he hears a scoff coming from opposite him and he knew that scoff better than any. Beth's a few feet away from him and the snort that follows confirms his sureness he was right! It was most defiantly Beth. His memory racing back to the first time he heard that cute noise coming out of the pretty girl from The Tea Room. All embarrassment he felt moments ago, disappeared in an instant when he sees the amused smile on Beth's face, the twinkle in her eyes that watched him amusedly, just like they had so long ago. Same face, same beautiful eyes dancing with a ray of sunshine staring back at him.
"This is not a laughing matter!" Rick protests with a twinkle in his own eyes ignoring Dale reading out the rules of the game.
"From where I'm laying it is!" Beth scoffs beneath her breathe stealing her eyes back and looking down chewing on her lower lip.
"Excuse me?" Rick answers having heard Beth mumble beneath her breathe, he begins to drag himself forward to make his way over.
"Dad!" Carl giggles standing beside Dale being the second referee watching Rick.
Beth looks back up and gives Rick a closed mouth wide smile and looks away desperately fighting the urge not to burst into a fit of laughter, it always ended up into a fit of snorting laughter. Before Rick opened his mouth as he was scooting closer using his hands like oars, Glenn pulls Rick back by his ankles which makes Beth bursts into laughter seeing Rick's face taken by surprise of the sudden movement of being yanked back throwing his head side to side.
Carl smacks his forehead watching his dad not believing how funny he was behaving. It's a side he hasn't seen in years and he had to admit, he quite liked this version of his dad, carefree and acting silly.
"Oh my god!" Beth buries her face onto the laundry basket in a fit of uncontrollable laughter and Carol joins in seeing the Brooding Moody Detective Grimes in a vulnerable position, he was used to control and authority and right now, Glenn was the one in control and being serious.
"Glenn!" Rick hisses back "What the hell?" He asks with a deep frown.
"Dude! You went past the line and that's cheating!" Glenn scolds Rick matter of fact and gives everyone a big smile flashing his teeth "There are kids watching!" Glenn reminds Rick as he waves over to Carl, Sophia, Meghan, James, Judith sitting on the little wall watching with Olly in his pushchair hugging Woody watching "Wave to the kiddies Daddio!" Glenn tells Rick in between gritted teeth.
Rick's frown deepens "Don't call me Daddio!" He warns threatening to get up.
"Geeze man, pray the wind don't blow!" Glenn teases "C'mon, set a good example!" Glenn demands gesturing towards the little people's eyes waiting and watching "Wave to the audience!"
Rick sighs, head hung, lifts up his hands and waves and the children wave back cheering and giggling.
"We're all good sports here, no spoil sports!" Glenn informs the children.
"I'm gonna kick your ass!" Rick says to Glenn between gritted teeth and an intimidating smile.
Beth snorts which doesn't escape Rick's ears. She covers her mouth, leaning down bright pink in the face.
"Excuse me Miss Piggy?" Rick enunciated each word slowly resulting in Beth throwing her head up offended and that was the effect Rick was looking for. He smirks in a teasing manner at Beth as they lay head-on staring at one another. Rick's blue eyes stand out from his lime green helmet and he continued looking at Beth unapologetically.
Where Beth would have come back at him with something witty, Rick's intense and the mischief dancing in his eyes, makes a blush creep up Beth's neck all the way to her face and suddenly she feels flustered.
Rick's smirk spreads wider and it reaches ear to ear. He takes a look over at Carl and Judith who was clapping her hands calling out Daddy! His eyes meets Carl who puts up his thumbs grinningly. Rick winks back unable to remove the smile off his face.
Rick turns to see Sinéad with her game face on as Norman holds onto her ankle fussing over her as Norman throws him a sorry smile. Rick nods back and tries to capture Sinéad's attention but she wouldn't look at him, she would be smiling over at Beth or the kids waving but when she turns his way, she ignores him which makes him frown. Shane tired many times and he received the same response. They look at one another and both let out heavy sighs.
"Honey, don't you think this is a bit too much, doctors said you should take it easy!" Norman fusses rubbing Sinéad's ankles.
He looks at Rick and Shane, glad he wasn't them right now knowing once the clapper went off, Sinéad would pounce and knock them out. He looks over at itty bitty Beth worried she was going to be turned into puree if she got caught in the crossfire. Norman jumps insistently.
"Baby, we should switch and you can go in the next game!" He asks tactfully knowing his wife was the most competitive woman he's known and she had a lot of anger bubbled up inside of her that she would let loose on Rick and Shane, the two guys responsible for her to be so hot and bothered.
"Norman!" Sinead snaps "Hold my ankles otherwise go sit with the kids!"
Norman's head slumps, he was given his orders, he was resigned to stand and hold Sinead's ankles and would pull her back if she tried to storm into Rick and Shane.
Dale stands beside them all with his fishing hat on his head, a line of sunblock running down his nose.
"Are y'all ready?" Dale asks.
"Yes!" They all answer.
"Get set?" Dale says looking around "Hippo!" he shakes his clapper and they all storm forward.
Like Norman had anticipated, he steers Sinead away dodging Shane, turns her around and squats down beside her.
"I love you and I know you love your brother, I understand that your mad at him, hell I'm mad at him for what he's done to Rick but you're a grown woman now, you're not kids anymore! You need to set an example to our kids, you want them acting like barbarians and go around beating other kids up because they're angry?" Norman asks and when Sinéad looks to protest, Norman cuts her up raising his hand to let him finish.
"Shane's feels terrible enough, he knows he's fucked up big time, this could mean the end of a lifelong friendship between him and Rick and the way you're behaving, it's like you want that to happen, to break them up and live separate lives and you know neither will happy, this could destroy lives, our kids will never see each other, they'll become strangers, do you honestly truly want that?" Norman asks holding Sinéad's chin in his hand to look at him.
"NO!" Sinead shakes her head with tears bubbling up in her eyes, she wipes it away on her sleeve "I wish everything could go back to the ways they were, everything's wrong!" She sobs "We were meant to stick together, the three of us and then Rick goes and does what he did to Beth and then Shane goes and does that to Rick! How can we go back to the way things were before all this!?" Sinéad asks shaking her head not seeing a way back to a time they were a big happy loving family "I HATE HER! I HATE LORI! I WISH SHE WOULD JUST DIE!"
"You don't mean that!" Norman hugs his wife.
Sinead Buries her face into Norman's chest and doesn't answer.
"Do you baby?" Norman asks and Sinéad still doesn't answer just bites down on her tongue not sure if Norman would like her real answer that she's imagined running Lori over with her jeep back and forth.
Norman pulls back to look at Sinéad raising a brow and she frowns scrunching her face.
"Okay maybe not the killing part, I want to be around to see my kids grow up, but I'd like to kick her ass back to high school so I could kick it good and proper back then and convince Rick to not marry Miss Hoity-Toity with a stick up her ass!" Sinéad mumbles.
Norman can't help but laugh and kisses her head "Just behave, I don't think I have the energy to look for Wife Number 2!" Norman teases which earns him a glare "Jus kidding!" He laughs leaning in a kissing Sinéad sweetly on her lips and then her neck "Keep all that aggression locked up for tonight and you take it out on me, have your way Mrs Murphy!" He nuzzles her jaw.
"Maybe I will, maybe I won't but most likely I will!" Sinéad says pouting and kissing Norman one last time before he turns her around, grabs her ankles and wheels her back over.
"Are ya finished?" Glenn asks pulling a face.
"I'm only warmed up!" Sinéad responds and gives Glenn a smirk.
Sinéad doesn't look at either Shane or Rick but decides to just play a fair game and without hurting the boys, she grins. She was still going to win. She sees Beth watching her, who looked anxious and she throws Beth a smile which makes Beth relax.
Dale shakes the clapper yelling out "Hippo!" for a second time and they were off zooming into the centre, throwing their laundry baskets over as many balloons as they could capture whilst the ankle holders pull them back to throw the balloons into their corner to be counted once the game was over.
Everyone had forgotten all their worries and were laughing and having fun, competitive fun as the kids together with Lilly and Dale cheer and clap for the three minutes the game was to last.
Douggie turns up with his son who runs over to meet Carl, they high-five each other. Bobby, Javeed and Clayton follow behind with food, drink and sweets for an army. Just as they set everything down to watch the craziness, Eric turns up with treats of his own being welcomed by Aaron and Bruno who introduces everyone to everyone.
"What is this?" Bobby laughs seeing Rick wearing a funky coloured helmet whilst engrossed in the game he was playing.
"Human Hungry Hippos!" The children sing.
"Well, I'm the champion of that game!" Bobby says rolling up his shirt sleeves "I'll show y'all how it's done!" He tells them looking smug.
"He is actually an Ancient Hippo!" Javeed whispers to the children whilst he snacks on popcorn "He follows us around, we just can't seem to shake him off!" He adds and the children all giggle.
"What did you say?" Bobby turns around not amused at Javeed who runs and hides behind Douggie.
"See what I have to put up with?" Douggie says shaking his head "You kids seem better behaved than my detectives!" He says taking a seat beside Lilly as they all watch Bobby chasing Javeed around the garden.
"He's fast for an old guy!" Carl says impressed.
"Yeah, he's about sixty!" Douggie's son answers making Douggie and Clayton laugh.
"Hey, don't be mean!" Lilly scolds Douggie.
"So, how's Tara?" Douggie turns his head to Lilly interestedly.
"She's doing excellently and you know that!" Lilly turns to meet Douggie's eyes "And No! You can't go on a date with her!" Lilly smiles at Douggie and turns back around clapping watching Shane.
"What do you have against me?" Douggie asks leaning close to Lilly.
"This, the smooth detective who makes all the girls turn to goo, Tara's not one of those girls, she doesn't fall for your kind!" Lilly states matter of fact running her eyes over Douggie sitting there looking handsome with a smirk knowing all the nurses just loved it when Detective Nash came into the ER with an injured person.
"What's wrong with me?" He asks looking down at himself.
Lilly pushes Douggie when he leans close laughing "Behave!" She tells him and he smirks leaning forward watching the game.
Dale shakes the clapper to confirm it was the end of the game. Rick, Shane, Sinead and Beth get up from their skateboard exhausted and glistening in their sweat. The children run over with plastic cups of orange juice and the participants down their drinks gratefully.
"And the winner is…drum rolls please!" Dale asks and they all stamp their feet and tap their hands onto a surface.
"The winner is Beth and Carol!" Carl announces proudly clapping his hands.
"What?" Sinéad and Shane say in disbelief looking back at their balloons counting them.
Beth and Carol throw their hands up in the air, jumping up and down hugging. Sophia and Meghan run over and Carol pulls them both into their group hug. Rick smiles taking off his helmet and placing it onto James's head as he walks past.
"Who turned the lights out?" James shrieks turning around.
James bumps into Shane who picks his nephew up to sit on top of his shoulders. He looks over at Sinéad who doesn't object but gives a small smile as Norman hugs her pressing a kiss to her cheek.
Rick walk slowly up to Beth as she turns around.
"Congratulations on your win!" Rick says reaching her.
"Thanks!" Beth beams looking directly up at Rick, not believing she had won watching everyone distracted playing with the balloons.
Rick smiles seeing Beth so happy, a strand of hair falls across her forehead. Rick unable to tear his eyes off of Beth, reaches out to tuck the errant strand of hair behind her ear. Beth looks up shyly and before he could stop himself, Rick leans down and presses a long lingering kiss to the corner of Beth's lip placing his hands on her shoulders and they wrap around her back and all Beth can do is hold onto Rick as she melts into his warm inviting embrace.
A/N:- The Human Hungry Hippo game is inspired from a Team Building Day I had with my work couple of months back (Yeah there is such a game!) and things are progressing with Rick and Beth. How long can Beth hold herself back from just giving into her feelings?
