Chapter 33

Beth was glad to finally be in Daryl's overly large shirt that she had worn to bed each night since becoming Mrs Daryl Dixon. Whilst her bump was still very small and unnoticeable under her dress, she was beginning to feel the material becoming more and more restrictive throughout the day.

She hadn't missed the way Maggie's eyes had grown wide when she entered the parlour after Daryl had excused himself for the night. However, instead of drawing attention to the fact that she wore a man's shirt to bed instead of a nightgown, she simply smiled and offered to find Maggie something comfortable to sleep in.

Both women sat in their nightclothes, watching the flames dance in the fire; each wondering where to begin. Turning in her seat, Beth faced her sister, "Maggie, why didn't y' ever come back?"

Maggie sighed and looked down at her hands that laid on her lap, fiddling with a stray thread that had become loose, "I guess I just didn't know how" she began, "I was young! Naïve that I would be better off in a world where her daddy didn't live in the bottom of a bottle"

Beth looked at her sister knowing there was more she wanted to say, "you didn't see him the first time when my momma passed" Maggie explained. She looked to Beth expecting to see judgment but saw none, "he wasn't the same man, not until Annette brought him back to the land of the living. She gave us hope and a future, and then she gave us you" Maggie smiled as she squeezed Beth's hand.

"When Annette passed and he started drinking again, I just…I couldn't help but see the same man from before" looking away from her sister, Maggie stood and walked to the window, looking out into the dark night sky, "I was selfish" she declared after a few minutes before turning to face her sister, "I left him! I left you!"

"Don't! Don't you do that Maggie" Beth started as she rose from her own seat.

"You were just a child!" Maggie cried and looked at her sister with regret, "if I had just stayed…"

Beth could see the struggle that her sister was having with herself but felt the need to put her at ease "You did what y' thought was right" Maggie opened her mouth to interrupt but Beth carried on; effectively cutting her off, "Daddy always said things happen for a reason and I have ta believe that's true else I would never have met Daryl, you would never have met Glenn or had little Hershel."

At the mention of her son, Maggie smiled, "Don't ya see, all this" Beth explained as she waved a hand around them towards the room that they stood in "everything that happened led us here; to each other".

"You really believe that?" Maggie questioned.

Beth smiled, "of course I do"

Maggie moved away from the window as Beth retook her seat on the sofa. As they had once done when they were younger, Beth laid her head in Maggie's lap as soon as she sat down; immediately her fingers threaded into Beth's blonde locks as she began to play with her hair.

"Y' know" Beth began as she twisted to look up at her sister, "Daddy used to recite a verse from the bible each night after y' left. He didn't think I heard, but I could hear him movin' around and would lay on the floor to hear him in the room below"

Beth didn't wait for Maggie to reply to her confession, she simply began to recite the passage she had once heard her father repeating to himself each night before he drank himself to sleep.

"Do not persuade me to leave y' or go back and not follow you. For wherever y' go, I will go, and wherever y' live, I will live; your people will be my people, and your god will be my god. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Punish me and do so severely, if anything but death separates you and me."

Tears filled Maggie's eyes as Beth finished. Capturing Maggie's hand, Beth threaded their fingers, "at the time I didn't know why he focused so much on it, but now that I think about it, I can see he was talking about us; his family and that no matter where we were he would always be there should we ever need him, even in death".

"Do y' think he ever forgave me for leavin?"

Beth smiled at her older sister before confirming, "I know he did the very moment you left".

Turning her head towards the fire, Beth recalled the night before her father lost his leg. He had frequented the tavern for the fifth time in a row and had come home stumbling around in the darkness.

When he had slumped in the chair in the small kitchen, Beth had left her hiding place in the doorway to check him. She had removed his shoes and jacket before placing a pillow under his head that rested on the table. She had grabbed a thick blanket that lined her bed before returning to cover him so he didn't catch a chill. It was as the blanket settled on him that she had heard him whisper Maggie's name before mumbling "do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven".

…

Daryl laid in the bed staring at the ceiling. It was nearing the early hours and he hadn't slept at all since leaving Beth and Maggie in the parlour. It wasn't that he was worried about leaving Beth with her sister, it was simply that he missed having her next to him. It was the first time since he had brought her home that she hadn't laid next to him in their bed.

Stretching, he reached up and laid his hands behind his head as he counted the knots in the wood above him for the third time. In the hours since he had retired for the night, he had heard the murmured voices from below where the sisters sat in the parlour talking before the occasional tinkle of laughter would travel through the floorboards.

As he counted the final knot, he realised that it had been a while since he had heard any noise come from downstairs. Slipping from the bed, he grabbed his shirt before heading down the stairs.

Entering the parlour he noticed Beth laying on the sofa fast asleep and Maggie eyes closed, in the chair closest to the fire. Stepping quietly towards where Beth lay, he stood over her for a minute watching as her chest rose and fell softly with each breath. Taking in her face, he noticed that the wound that once graced her cheek was now a thin line and the bruises that once marred her jaw were now completely gone.

Running one of his rough fingers down her cheek, he jolted slightly when Maggie's voice spoke behind him, "You really love her don't you?"

Daryl looked back down towards his wife before looking over his shoulder to Maggie, "more than life itself" he began and watched as she nodded in understanding, "She took me as I am, din't try ta change me…she looked past the ugly and saw me, the real me…reckon I'd die for her if I had ta".

"I'm sorry…that the Governor…she told me about him" Maggie offered as she jutted her chin towards her sister, "about what he did".

She hadn't meant to upset the man that was now family, but she distinctly heard the grumbles coming from him at the mention of the man that had almost killed her sister.

"Thank you" Maggie whispered as Daryl bent to lift Beth from the sofa.

Daryl hadn't expected the words that Maggie whispered. What the hell did she thank him for? Letting that monster take Beth? Surprised at the woman's words Daryl stood straight and spun round, "fer what?"

"For keeping her safe" Maggie explained as she looked past him to Beth's sleeping form.

"Pfft" Daryl muttered as thoughts of the night the Governor had taken Beth flew to the front of his mind, only to be replaced by a vision of her when they caught up with them at the Patrick's cabin.

Seeing her brother-in-law struggle with her gratitude, she knew he likely blamed himself for Beth being abducted.

As Beth had done with her only a few hours ago, Maggie decided to be honest "No, you did" Maggie began, "you kept her safe. The Governor…that wasn't on you! Can you imagine if you hadn't agreed for her to come here, to marry her…you were there for her when I wasn't, when daddy couldn't be…you've looked after her in more ways than I can ever repay"

Daryl was surprised at the words Maggie was speaking. Only Beth had ever told him such things and he wasn't sure how to react, so instead he stood with his long hair falling into his eyes as Maggie continued to speak, "You're a good man Daryl Dixon and I'm honoured to have you as family".

…

"Jesus Rick, what the hell did you think I'd do if I found a strange man in my bed?" Andrea snapped as Rick sat behind his desk, a grin on his face.

"Probably wouldn't be the first time" he muttered to himself in response but began coughing when he noticed the woman that Andrea had brought with her to his office look at him strangely.

Andrea stood with her hands on her hips as she glared at him. Sighing, he shook his head before standing up, placing both hands on his desk, "I wrote to you several weeks ago" he began but held a hand up when he noticed Andrea open her mouth to interrupt, "we didn't know how long y' were gonna be visiting Amy and Shane needed a place ta stay that was close to the office".

"Didn't get no damn letter Rick" Andrea sighed as she resigned herself to the situation at hand.

Behind them, in the cells they could hear Shane snoring gently, a clear sign he was still alive at least. Although he would sporting one hell of a black eye for a while.

Coming round his desk, he could see how tired his friend was, gripping her arms slightly, he pulled her in for a hug. Andrea had been Lori's best friend when they were kids, which is why he rented her the small cottage in the first place, "listen Andrea, I'm sorry…I am. I'll pop by with the kids later and clean up, it's the least I can do" he offered.

Andrea smiled at her friend before laying a hand on his stubble covered cheek. Frowning slightly, she noticed just how tired the man in front of her seemed, "you don't need to do that Rick. Me and Michonne will sort it" she told him as she gestured to her friend that stood behind him.

"What's been goin' on?" Andrea quizzed, pulling his gaze from the woman behind him.

Sighing slightly, he hung his head from weeks of work, paperwork and children before gesturing for both women to sit so he could inform them of everything that had happened in their small town whilst Andrea had been gone.

Occasionally, Andrea had slipped in the odd, "he took her", "oh my god" and "so, this Maggie is her sister?" before Rick explained about Shane, "his sister was the first?" she enquired as her gaze moved to the man that still slept.

Andrea was unsure why she felt so affected by the words Rick had told her, but for some reason she couldn't help but feel bad for the man she had knocked unconscious only hours earlier.

"You think he'll be okay?" she asked absently over her shoulder.

"He'll be fine" Rick offered as he reached a familiar hand to squeeze her shoulder reassuringly, "apart from a nice bruise, I would say his head is gonna be hurtin' more from all the whiskey he's been drowin' in lately"

Andrea nodded and turned back to the man she had known all her life. "So, how's Amy?" he quizzed changing the subject.

Smiling, Andrea filled him in on how Amy was excelling at motherhood and how much she had enjoyed helping out with her niece.

"So, how'd you two meet?" Rick asked as he went to sit behind his desk. There was still more paperwork to file before he could finish for the day. Sighing he moved a couple of pieces here and there, hoping Sasha would bring the kids by early so they could ride out to Daryl and Beth's for supper.

"Michonne saved my life" Andrea stated causing Rick to snap his head up at her words.

Seeing that Rick was waiting for Andrea to explain, she sighed before leaning back against the chair, "I'd been taking a walk, needed to clear my head some after being in the house all day. Was nearly back at Amy's when these two jackasses came out of nowhere. If it hadn't of been for her" Andrea gestured to the quiet woman who still sat quietly in her chair, "I wouldn't be standing here. She damn near scared the hell out of me when she pulled this sword thing from out of nowhere"

"A sword?" Rick questioned as his head flicked between the two women.

Andrea nodded and smiled at the look on his face, "I fix metal" Michonne spoke for the first time, "I was on my way to deliver it to a customer that had commissioned it" she explained.

Rick could only nod with his mouth agape. He could see the woman swinging a sword; she just had this fierce look about her.

For the first time since Lori's death, Andrea thought she saw something in Rick that she hadn't thought she would see again. Before she could voice her thoughts, the door opened and Sasha entered with Carl at her side and Judith in her arms.

"Andrea? I thought I saw you walk over here earlier" Sasha offered as she hugged the woman with one arm, careful not to squash the baby in her arms in the process.

"Hey Sasha" Andrea replied before looking down at the children, "look at you" she marvelled upon seeing Carl, "must have grown three inches since I last saw you" Carl laughed and brushed her hands away as she tried to pull him in for a hug, "and this cutey, she's grown so much" she continued as she reached for Judith.

Rick stood smiling widely as Andrea marvelled over his children and how much they had grown since she had been out of town. Noticing Sasha moving to place Judith's things on his desk, he turned when she stood waiting, "Same time tomorrow okay?" he asked.

"Actually Rick" she started as she fidgeted with the small stuffed elephant Beth had sewn for his daughter, "Tyreese and I have a lot of orders to get done and…"

Rick waved her off, he had been grateful for her help these last several weeks since Beth had not been in the best condition to watch the children, "Hey" he told her honestly, "it's fine. I got this"

Sasha offered a curt nod before turning to say her goodbyes to everyone. Michonne stood watching the whole encounter and before she could stop herself, she felt herself moving forwards, "I can watch the children if y' want?"

Rick jumped slightly, shocked at her offer. Looking to Carl, who shrugged, he looked to Andrea with an eyebrow raised, as if asking if she could be trusted. Seeing her nod slightly, Rick rubbed a hand down his tired face.

"I don't know" he started but Andrea interrupted, "Michonne can have the children at mine until your ready" Michonne was already nodding at the suggestion. She would expect nothing less seeing as the man didn't really know anything about her. "I'll be there too, gotta get the house tidied up remember?" Andrea added.

Looking carefully at the woman to his right, he smiled a genuine smile and nodded, "I'd appreciate it but only as long as you're sure?"

"I'm sure" Michonne replied without missing a beat.

…

"Andrea's back?" Beth gushed at Rick's news. She had missed the woman she had met back on the day she had arrived in Westray.

Rick nodded before placing the basket of bread rolls that Maggie passed him onto the table.

Glenn was sat at the table next to Daryl, having ridden out after closing the store so that he could have supper with his wife before they both returned to town. Judith sat on his lap and Rick couldn't help but smile at how easily the small family fit in with Daryl's growing one.

Footsteps thudded on the porch as Carl chased young Hershel into the kitchen, from where they had been stroking the horses and feeding the chickens.

"Hershel Rhee!" Maggie scolded, "you go on and get over here and wash them hands of yours".

Rick watched as Carl tried to slink to his seat, "you too Carl" he told him and watched as Daryl snickered behind the boys back.

Beth turned with a pot roast in her hands and smiled at the people that filled the kitchen. Carl was pulling faces at Hershel who couldn't stop laughing and Judith was cooing from where Rick bounced her on his knee as he spoke with Daryl and Glenn over the table.

Feeling Maggie's arm wrap around her shoulders, Beth turned her head towards her sister and saw the same look reflecting back at her.

"Who's hungry?" Beth called as she stepped forward to place the large dish on the table. A chorus of voices rang out as Beth stepped back, before cutlery clanged as each person took food from the dishes that were covering the table.

Seeing no other chair free, Beth looked to Daryl who wore a small smile just for her. Opening his arms he patted his lap in invitation for her to sit. Shaking her head at his antics, she stepped towards him before situating herself in the seat he had offered. When she finally got comfortable, she felt one of his arms circle her waist, as if clamping her to him and she turned to see him watching her.

"What?" she questioned shyly before blushing at the look he gave her.

Lowering his voice, he leant forward so his lips were next to her ear, "jus' wondered when I got so lucky is all".

Maggie watched her sister and brother-in-law, and smiled when Daryl pulled away from whispering in Beth's ear. She could clearly see the love the man had for her sister. As if sensing her gaze, Daryl glanced her way and offered her a simple nod.

"Mama" Hershel called catching her attention, "I wan' more peas" he told her. Pinching his cheek gently she reached over and scooped some more on to his plate before leaning back against her husband.

"I love you Glenn" she whispered as she hooked her head back towards him. He lent forward and gently kissed her lips, "I love you too Maggie".

…

Beth laid in bed, her whole body ached from where she had fell asleep on the sofa in the parlour the night before. She was grateful that Daryl had come down and carried her up to their bed or her back would be a lot worse than it is.

Seeing Daryl come from the bathroom, Beth smiled and lifted up the covers for him to join her. As soon as his back hit the mattress Beth shifted to lay her head on his chest, enjoying the steady thump under her ear.

"It was nice tonight" she told him as he pulled the covers up over her shoulder to keep her warm.

"Yeah" Daryl replied, "gonna need a bigger kitchen though" he stated and Beth was unsure if he was joking or not.

"Daryl?" she whispered a few minutes later.

Feeling sleep taking over him as Beth spoke, all Daryl could offer was "mmm" as he fought to stay awake.

"I was wonderin' if it would be okay to have the women round?" Beth asked, it was something Rick had said at dinner about Andrea's new friend Michonne. Since Andrea had returned with a new friend and Maggie, along with Carol were relatively new to town, Beth thought it would be nice to have them all round to get to know one another.

Daryl's eyes opened at his wife's question, "Beth, ya don't need ta ask. This is your house too remember" he reminded her gently.

"I know" she began, "I just thought I'd run it past you?"

Thinking about it, Daryl recalled Rick telling himself and Glenn at dinner how he hoped to try and organise a card night sometime soon. Turning Beth in his arms so that they both now laid on their side, his hand moved straight to her stomach, "why don't ya invite them over Saturday night? Rick was gonna have the guys over for cards anyhow so you'd have the house ta yourselves for a while".

Beth smiled and covered his hand with her own, "okay, I'll speak t' Carol tomorrow when we pop by and we can let everyone else know on the way through town"

It didn't take long after their short conversation for Daryl's breathing to even out, signalling that he had fell asleep. Beth stroked his hand as their baby kicked softly beneath his palm, she noticed how tired he seemed the last few days as well as how much he was out of the house completing chores, and knew a night off with the boys was just what he needed.

"Girls night" she whispered, feeling giddy at the thought, before allowing sleep to pull her under its spell.