I do not own any of the TWD characters.

Farm Living

Katie Raye and Hannah were in full on party planning mode. They'd made that phone call to Hannah's dads and they'd agreed to back the girls' project financially, but with the stipulation that everything had to be approved first. Hannah thought it would be a good idea to come up with several different plans just in case one plan didn't suit for some reason or the other. After checking with Beth to make sure she did indeed want a gender reveal celebration, the girls got to planning right away. Katie Raye suggested that they make a slideshow of their ideas and send it to Brad and Jeff.

"We're kinda on a time crunch" Katie told Hannah. "The way I see it, the quicker we get everything approved, the quicker we can start placing orders for the stuff we need."

Hannah nodded in agreement as each girl pulled up, you guessed it, Pinterest on their own laptops - cause no kid goes anywhere without some kind of device right? They also had given Beth the task of "tellin Daddy 'bout the party" and selecting a date. It had to be either on a Saturday or Sunday, obviously, so that Hannah could be there.

The girls pulled an all nighter that first night laughing and plotting and planning. Around three in the morning, they slipped downstairs to the kitchen in search of snacks. Usually, the Dixon household never lacked in the snack department. However, they were just coming off the holidays and the entire family had just returned from Atlanta, so the snack selection was severely limited. String cheese and some stale granola bars were all that Katie could round up. Since the girls had completely skipped supper, heating up leftovers was the next best option. Hannah and Katie Raye decided that the sloppy joes, boxed mac n cheese, and potato chips hit the spot - they were starving!

The sun was coming up while Hannah cleaned up their kitchen mess and Katie Raye wrapped up the slideshow. Then, they emailed the show to both of Hannah's dads - excited to hear back from them with the go ahead.

"I feel pretty good about our ideas" Katie Raye muttered sleepily.

Hannah, just almost drifting off whispered, "Yeh. Me too - especially the silly string. I think it's the sweetest thing EVER!"

The girls giggled for just a few seconds before sleep overtook them both.

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"Where is everybody?" Daryl asked while stirring a third spoon of sugar into his coffee. "Sure is quiet 'round here."

Beth pulled the pan off the flame. "I think the girls were up all night long - they're havin such a good time Daryl."

Daryl smiled at his wife. He liked it when Beth was happy. "I heard 'em couple times. What the hell do girls giggle and carry on 'bout all night long?"

"Who knows?" Beth shrugged and laughed quietly. "Boys, crazy parents and their crazy rules, clothes, make up - boys." Beth raised her eyebrows across the table at her husband and put a plate with two grilled ham, egg, and cheese sandwiches and a mixture of oven baked french fries and tator tots. Daryl smirked at his wife with a WTF look on his face.

"What?" Beth snickered. "I'm headin to the grocery in a few. You better be glad we've got that" Beth teased as she popped one of her own tator tots in her mouth.

Daryl grunted. "They're too damn young to be thinkin 'bout boys."

Beth now had her own plate and she sat down. "Katie Raye's just two years younger than I was when I first met you."

Daryl choked on a french fry. "God, Beth!"

"What?" Beth asked wide eyed. "It's true."

"Fuck - don't remind me" Daryl thought back to first meeting Beth.

He and Merle had been sent over to the Greene farm by Dale. Hershel was needing some help with getting all the hay cut and rolled before wet weather set in. As the Dixon brothers stood in the yard talking with Hershel, Beth stood behind her mom on the front young blonde stared Daryl up and down while Hershel talked to him and Merle about what all he needed done. Daryl remembered trying his damndest to concentrate on Hershel's instructions. His eyes, though, kept drifting back to the wrap around porch.

Daryl remembered thinking how young that girl was, but she sure was a sight. He spent the next several years fighting thoughts of the itty bitty blonde plaguing both his day and night time thoughts. About the time Beth turned 17, Daryl was actually having to physically fight her off. He just knew he's going to hell for sure. At one point Daryl finally told her that if she'd leave him alone, he'd take her out for her 18th birthday.

They went to a movie two counties over on her 18th birthday. Daryl was scared to death they were going to get caught and that Hershel would kill him. He remembered Rick covered for Beth that night. Hershel had wanted to know where Beth was and why she was out so late. Rick was hanging out with Maggie at the time and had just brought her home. Rick told Daryl later that it was the most scared he'd ever been - lying to Hershel Greene's face. Maggie had backed him though when Rick said "oh, I's supposed to let ya'll know - she went out with Amy and Jimmy. Oughta be back by eleven." Maggie nodded and then quickly walked Rick to the door before he passed out and/or Hershel could ask them any more questions.

Daryl shook his head thinking back to his teenage years and early twenties, offering up a quick prayer that his kids would exercise better judgement than he had. "Katie Raye ain't datin till she's at least twenty" Daryl declared.

"Daryl" Beth sighed. "You're bein silly."

Daryl snorted. "Ain't nothin silly 'bout it - that's just the way it's gonna be."

"Okay Daryl" Beth agreed "whatever you say."

Daryl could tell that Beth was being sarcastic but was trying to not sound sarcastic - that fake supportive shit she did when Beth thought he was being unreasonable.

"Where's the boys?" Daryl figured he'd change the subject.

"Feedin" Beth blew on her peppermint tea before taking a sip. "Think Merle's out with 'em. And George."

"Uhm, Daryl" Beth started again. "I need to talk to ya 'bout a few things I'm gonna take care of today. And tomorrow" She pulled out a notepad where she had a long list started.

That woman and her lists. "Mmmmmkay" Daryl refilled his coffee mug and then started the whole sugaring process again.

"We've got two teenage girls livin on the farm" she started.

"Yep" Daryl sat back down across from his wife. Good Lord thought Daryl. Where's this goin?

"They live in the same house, but they're not siblings I don't think.I think they're cousins - the Pancheco family I believe" Beth said.

Daryl nodded and sipped, sipped and nodded.

"Anyway, what would you think if I hired them to help me around the house? I'm sure they could use the spendin money. They could split the days between them - maybe a few hours each day? Whattya think?" Beth rushed the last words. She couldn't believe she was actually going to have someone help her with her housework - especially with the ridiculous scene she'd caused when Daryl wanted her to get Josepha to help around the house. Let's just say that Beth could admit when she was wrong - eventually anyway.

Daryl was quiet for a few seconds.

"I mean, I don't have to get them to come every week, maybe every other week" Beth was nervously babbling at this point. She didn't think Daryl would say no, but then again it wasn't like they were made of money either.

"I think that's a real good idea" Daryl answered his wife. "Just can't believe you've finally realized that ya need help - lotta house and a lotta chores to take care of 'round here. Throw a baby in the mix - gonna need all the help we can get."

"I mean I know I have Josepha" Beth said," but, she's more like a Grandma to the kids. She takes real good care of all of us and she can run and pick up Katie Raye when we need her to. But heck, she's got her own husband and household to tend to as well. Josepha doesn't have time to dust and vacuum and do the wash for us and we shouldn't expect her to."

"I think those girls are gonna jump at the chance to earn their own pocket money" Daryl said as he walked across the kitchen, placing his dirty plate into the sink. "What else ya got?" because Daryl knew that they had in no way made it through that list of hers.

Beth smiled up at him and crossed that item off. "I need to order a few things. None of my panties fit" Beth blushed. Why on earth was this woman blushing when she said the word panties? Damn, the things they did to each other in the bedroom still after twenty something years of marriage and she's blushing over the word panties. This woman perplexed the hell out of him. Beth continued, " I need some bras, and I want some cutesy mommy things to wear."

"Girl, you in charge of the books" Daryl laughed. "We got any money?"

Beth snorted. "Well, we're okay. Better than usual actually, especially just comin off Christmas"

"Just don't go crazy" Daryl cautioned. "Anything else?"

"One more thing" Beth looked at her list again. "I'm gonna hand the canned goods/beef distribution job over to Katie Raye."

"I thought we'd already decided the kids were gonna handle that - it's just once a month" Daryl stated. "They can handle it. What's to discuss 'bout that?"

"No, I mean I'm gonna turn it all over to Katie, she'll be the contact person" Beth clarified. "I'm gonna teach her how the inventory works and everything. I can't do it anymore Babe - and I really think she's more than capable. I won't just turn her loose - I'm gonna train her and of course, I'll always be available if she has trouble, but I think it's time for her to step up. Our kids are all very capable - they need to know what runnin this place entails - every single detail."

"I'm okay with that" Daryl agreed. "I still want the boys out there on distribution night though, helping load up boxes and just helpin out. They need to help out with that part of it."

"I agree" Beth said. "It's just one Friday night a month."

"I got a lot to do today - probably won't see ya 'gain till supper time. Ya need anything else 'fore I head out?"Daryl asked.

Beth shook her head. "No, I'm good. I'm gonna let the girls sleep in while I run to town - need to make a grocery run. I'm just gonna have a quiet day 'round here. Maybe do a little bit of laundry, get some supper goin? Anything special ya want tonight?"

"Nuh uh" Daryl stood and bent down to kiss Beth on the head. "Anything ya make will be good - don't overdo today though. Get them girls to help out if ya need em too."

"I won't overdo" Beth smiled up at her husband. He raised an eyebrow at her. "I promise" she said.

"If the boys come back to the house, let 'em know I need 'em today" Daryl hollered as he walked out the back door.

"Will do" Beth shouted back. "I'll bring lunch from town."

"Sounds good" Daryl yelled as he walked towards the shop.

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Beth: I'll be home in fifteen minutes. I need you and Hannah to help me in with groceries.

Katie Raye: Okay - we'll be watching for you. Do we need a wagon?

Beth: You both need a wagon - it's a haul. I picked up lunch too!

As promised, Katie Raye and Hannah stood at the end of the sidewalk and each girl had a garden wagon. Merle had bought four wagons several years back for Beth and Carol . It had really been one of the best purchases that man had ever made. The wagons were sturdy but not overly heavy or bulky to pull. It made the daily trip to the garden not such a hassle - you could fill it up with whatever was ready to be picked, stop by the water hose and spray it all off while it was still in the wagon, then pull it on to the house with all your garden goodies clean and ready to go. Since then, they'd started using the wagons for all kinds of chores. Getting the groceries to the back door in one trip, hauling bags of feed or bedding to one place or another, lots of things.

Beth smiled and waved at the girls before hopping out of the vehicle. "Morning Ladies" Beth greeted them. "If ya'll will get all of it to the kitchen, I'll take it from there." Katie Raye smiled because she knew no one could put the groceries away to suit her mom.

It actually took two trips with both wagons. Yes, it was that type of grocery haul. "I think that's all the bags from the truck" Hannah told Beth. "I've never seen so many groceries in my life!" Hannah's eyes were as big as saucers. "How long before you have to go back for more?"

"Well, this is a month's worth" Beth looked at the sea of bags littering the counters, the table, and the floor. "But, we'll still have to make a run every now and then, like for milk or chips or bread."

"Good grief" Hannah said under her breath.

"I know, right?" Katie Raye agreed. "It's crazy. These people 'round here eat like there's no tomorrow."

They all three laughed as Beth started emptying bags and lining like items up on a counter she'd cleared. "I've got one last thing I need you girls to do for me and then I'll leave ya alone for a while."

"What's that Momma?" Katie Raye asked.

"Lunch" Beth replied. "It's in the front seat and floorboard. Ya'll mind delivering lunch? Katie Raye, go get one of the Gators while I show Hannah how to pack the cooler with the drinks. I'm gonna give ya'll this duty this week. Kay?"

"Sure" Katie Raye bounced out the back door and down to the shop. Hannah looked so excited to be learning something else about the farm life - she'd never had so much fun in her life and this was just her first day here.