Chapter 13- Something Good
Two Years Later
Now I'm laughing at my boredom
And my string of failed attempts
cause you think it's important
and I welcome the sentiments
and we'll talk on the phone at night
until it's daylight and I feel clever
Then I hear a slow in your speech
yeah your half asleep
say good night
The baby's eyes drooped close, a half smile still spread across its face as Beth placed it carefully inside of the crib. She pushed a stray strand of hair from the baby's face, her finger lingering a moment to caress it's cheek as she smiled down at her. The little red headed baby brought a smile to Beth's lips as she continued staring at the child. Her own hand sliding up to her stomach, unconsciously resting there as she thought about having her own child.
Of how it would be in her home with a small bundle curled on Daryl's chest as he sat in front of the TV, soothing the child to sleep while she sipped on a cup of tea on the couch next to him. The smile spread wider as the image became clear. The thought of that happening so soon made something good bubble inside her, making her heart swell and her thumb instinctively stroke her stomach.
"You're good with them," a woman said from behind her, cutting into Beth's thoughts and making her jump. She didn't realize how absorbed she was with her own daydream until she turned to see Ms. Cooper – or as the older lady like to be called, Daniella- smiling at her from the door.
"I didn't realize anyone was there," Beth said, smiling at the woman as she glanced at the child one more time; ensuring that she didn't wake from the sudden sound. The child slept soundly, her hands curled up into little fists next to her head.
"Sorry, I was just listening to you sing," Daniella explained coming to stand next to her. "You've really got a talent there."
Beth mumbled a quick "thank you" to the woman before turning toward the mess on the floor. The children in the day care really like their play time, and didn't hesitate to pull out every piece toy that in the building. Bending over, Beth quickly picked up the toys off the floor, depositing them into the toy bin before turning toward the tables where crayons and markers were spread across the table along with their little arts of work.
The others were already gone, having been picked up not too long ago. The baby in the crib was the only one left and her mother usually didn't show up until well after closing time. Putting the crayons away, she heard the unmistakable sound of the truck's motor pulling up into the small parking lot and she poked her head out the window, smiling as she spotted Daryl in the driver's seat taking the last few puffs of his cigarette. Two years officially together and she could swear the butterflies still erupted in her stomach whenever she saw him. A feeling she hoped would never leave her.
"You should go on," Daniella said, nodding toward the man in the truck. Beth looked back at her and then the baby in the crib.
"You sure?"
"Yeah," the woman said, almost laughing at the younger woman's concern. "I think I can handle one sleeping child on my own."
Beth chuckled at the statement, shaking her head at herself as she mumbled another thank you and grabbed her bag from the hook hanging next to the door. "See you tomorrow?" she asked, looking toward Daniella
"Same time," the woman replied back, not really looking at her as she set about organizing the bookcase. Beth nodded, heading out the door and around the corner where Daryl waited on her. Spotting her, he jumped out of the car and threw the cigarette on the ground before greeting her.
"Hey," Beth smiled, wrapping her arms around his neck so that she could lean in close for a kiss. Daryl didn't disappoint as he leaned down to give her a small peck on the lips.
"Mmm," Beth hummed, her smile growing as she looked up at him. "How was your day?"
Daryl shrugged. "The usual," he replied, smiling down at her. "Cranky dumbasses blaming me cause they can't take care of their own vehicles."
Beth giggled, pinching him on the chest for his language as she pulled away and headed toward the truck. Climbing in, she slid into the middle seat and waited for Daryl to climb in the driver's side so that she could lean against him. Inhaling the scent of cigarette smoke and motor oil. She loved the smell, loved the way he looked in his dark blue button up shirt and long hair.
"So, what's the big surprise?" she asked, looking around the cab of the truck in case there was a package waiting for her. Wouldn't be the first time Daryl did something like that for her. Instead, all she found was one of his bandanas folded up, lying across the dash. She looked at him with a quirked eyebrow.
"You'll have to wait and see," he replied, grabbing the bandana and holding it up for her. Beth squinted at him, her nose scrunching up in the process, but she turned and allowed him to blindfold her. When the thing was snug against her face, she felt his lips press against her forehead seconds before the car moved into reverse and Beth was left having to guess where they were going.
The small town wasn't anything special. It had one diner, a gas station that doubled as the garage that Daryl worked at, and a line of shops that ranged from a small boutique store to a privately owned bookstore. They turned left, peeking Beth's interest even more as that led away from their home. From the town in general and then a few minutes later they turned right. The drive grew bumpier from there, jarring her entire body until Daryl placed his arm across her lap, effectively holding her down until he made another turn and came to a stop.
Beth cocked her head to the side, trying to hear something that would indicate where they were. She could hear birds in the distance, but that was not a great indicator and she turned in the direction she knew Daryl to be.
"Where are we?" she asked, tilting her head up. She couldn't see him, but after being with him for so long she knew the angle she had to look to meet his gaze.
"You'll see," he replied, pulling her hand toward the car exit. Beth followed along, smiling when Daryl grabbed both of her arms to help her out of the truck before pulling her forward. She could feel the leaves crunching beneath her feet. Telling her there was no cement path here, and she could hear trees rustling in the wind, letting her know they were surrounded by the woods. A smile slipped across her lips as Daryl paused to say, "watch your step."
She inched forward, feeling the toe of her boot hitting something hard and she lifted her foot up to the first step and then another until she didn't feel anything else stopping her movements. She did hear the creak of wood as they took a few steps across what she assumed to be a porch before stopping.
The sound of a door being unlocked caught her attention and her smile widened as she realized where they were standing. Daryl led her inside, pulling her further into the house before slipping the bandana off.
Beth gasped, her eyes taking in the white washed walls and wooden floorboards. There was a small fireplace, sitting catacorner in the room with a wooden banister that Beth could just imagine filled with photos. When she spun around, she noticed Daryl leaning on the back wall, a smirk on his face as he nodded toward a doorway just to his side. Beth followed his lead, looking at the medium sized kitchen with the black and white back-splash and wooden counter tops. The dining room seemed to be attached to it with a built in china cabinet. Her smile widened as she made her way past the kitchen to the hallway. Peeking in at first the bathroom and then the first bedroom. Further down the hall there was a second bedroom that she stepped into and spun around.
Her eyes lighting up as she imagined the possibilities inside this room. Daryl leaned in the doorway, his smirk a full blown smile now as she watched her take in the space.
"Don't know what we would need a second bedroom for, but figured we could stick a bed in here. Keep it cozy for when Merle decided to come crash here." He shrugged as his eyes darted around the room. The grim line on his face told her he didn't care too much for the idea, but he was just throwing it out there.
Beth smiled, her gaze darting around the room once more before sliding up to Daryl. "Or," she said, emphasizing the word as she wrapped her arms around his neck. He narrowed his gaze at her even as his arms automatically wrapped around her, securing her to him as she continued. "It could be really nice with a crib, and maybe a dresser and some toys spread about." The smile on Beth's lips widened as Daryl's eyes grew wide.
Licking his lips, he leaned his forehead against hers. "You tryin to tell me somethin?"
Beth nodded, her eyes practically glittering with delight. "I'd say we'd have about eight, maybe seven months to get all that ready."
"You serious?" he asked, pulling back to get a better look at her. Beth bit her lip, smiling as she nodded her head. Leaning forward, she placed a kiss on his lips, letting it linger for a moment before pulling back. He placed both hands on either side of her face, his eye shifting across her face looking for that hint of a lie. When he didn't find anything but joy spread across Beth's face, he leaned down and kissed her again. This time harder, his arms wrapping around her that much tighter as he practically lifted her off the ground.
When he pulled back again, he was still searching her gaze. "Beth," he muttered, almost in awe. "I-" his voice trailed off as he bent down to kiss her again. This time heat pooled in her stomach as his mouth locked across hers. With his fingers digging into her hips, he dragged her closer until every inch was pressed against him. Beth rocked her hips against his at the same moment her tongue snaked out to lick across his lower lip.
He pulled back a third time, staring at her with a grin on his face. "You really wanna start that here?" he asked, his voice dropping lower, sending a shiver down her spine.
Beth nodded her head, pushing up on her tip toes to leave another lingering kiss across his lips before pulling back again to whisper, "why not?" He narrowed his gaze at her, his head cocking to the side even as his arms tightened around her. "We could christian this whole damn house as we move in," she said, rocking her hips again. She could feel his arousal stirring, and she pulled herself closer so that she could run her lips across his again.
"Hell yeah," Daryl muttered, lowering them to the floor with Beth giggling in his arms.
8 Months Later
Beth woke to the sound of something crashing down in the living room. Looking at the clock next to her to see that the blurred numbers glowed two a.m. Irritation flew through her as she sat up in the bed, her brows furrowing as again she heard something else fall down in the living room. Moving off the bed, a hand came to rest on her arm and she turned to see Daryl placing his hand to his lips before rising up himself.
A string of silent curses came from the living room, and Beth cursed herself as she shook her head, standing so that she could grab the shotgun inside their closet.
"Beth," Daryl all but hissed, standing on the other side of the bed, glaring at her. He pointed toward the bed, cocking his head in a challenge and then they both heard a thud like something hitting against the wall. Beth shook her head, raising the gun up so that she could easily aim and fire as she marched out of the room.
"Beth," Daryl repeated, this time sounding exasperated as he marched after her.
Beth gave him one last glare before moving into the hallway and taking the few steps up into the living room, her feet silent going across the floorboards. Out of habit she'd memorized every creak that came out of them, and now she and Daryl both strolled silently through the house until a shadow loomed over their coffee table, his shoulders were slumped over as he dug through one of their drawers, and he didn't hear the two new people approaching him from behind.
"Asshole," she shouted, turning the shotgun around and swinging the butt end of it at the man's head. The man turned to see who was hollering, throwing Beth's aim off as the shotgun landed on his shoulder and he crashed to the ground. The man continued to curse as he clutched at his shoulder, letting out every swear word known to man while attempting to find his footing. Beth loaded the gun, letting the sound echo in the dark room and held the gun to the man's head. The intruder froze, his head rising up to meet her's as he asked, "what the fuck?"
Beth eyebrows furrowed together as she recognized the voice. "Merle?" she asked, shoving the barrel of the gun into his chest. The lights flickered on and Daryl came strolling into the room, still rubbing at his eye as he took in the scene before him.
"What the hell?" Merle all but shouted, shoving the gun away from his chest as he glared up at her. "Why the fuck do you always have a gun to my head?"
"Why are you always breaking into your brother's place? Can't you knock?"
"It's my brother's place," Merle shot back, rolling over so that he clamber back to his feet.
"Exactly," Beth shot back, slapping him in the back of his head before he could fully straighten up to his full height. Merle rubbed at the spot as he turned to glare at her. His lips turned up in a sneer, ready to lunge when Daryl stepped between him and Beth.
"Merle, stop," he said, holding his hands up to push his brother back. "It was a mistake," he continued, looking from Beth to Merle so they both would get the hint and back off. Beth took a step back, unloading the gun and tossing it onto the couch before stomping back into the room. It was then that Merle got a good look at her figure, and glanced back just in time to see him pointing at her.
"What the hell is that?" he asked. Beth scoffed, rolling her eyes back as she made her way into the kitchen.
"What the hell does it look like," Daryl shot back, waving his arms at the man. Beth rounded the counter where she could get into the cookie jar resting there and watched as Merle swung his arms out at her.
"Looks like a damn..." he looked from Daryl to Beth and back again with his mouth gaping open. "Holy shit, little brother. You gonna be a daddy?"
Daryl nodded, a slight smirk spreading across his face as he turned to look at Beth. She returned the smile for a brief second before taking a bite of another cookie.
"Supposed to be already, but the baby's overdue," he explained, his smile turning to a frown as he looked toward Merle. "It's why she's on edge and exactly why you should have fuckin knocked." He slapped his brother in the arm as he went into the kitchen and grabbed a couple of beers from the fridge. He turned around, stopping long enough to leave a small kiss on Beth's exposed shoulder, then moving back to the living room
Merle took the beer, a funny sort of smile on his face as he looked from his brother to Beth. "Uncle Merle. Kinda like the sound of that."
Beth rolled her eyes at the statement, still smiling as she grabbed a couple more cookies and made her way back to the bedroom, intent on leaving the brother's alone for a while. Merle had been gone almost a year now, and she knew that Daryl wouldn't mind spending some alone time with the man. She placed the cookies on the nightstand and turned toward the bathroom, feeling the urge come on her quickly as she rushed in there. Just as she walked into the small space, she felt warm liquid rushing down her leg and onto the floor. The sight of red mixing with the clear water, made her eyes bulge and before she could think about anything she hollered, "Daryl!"
Both men came rushing in, taking in her wide eyes and the pink liquid on the floor as Beth held her arms out, disgusted and scared of the sight all at once. A dull pain started at the bottom of her stomach and made its way toward her back, increasing in intensity and her arms shot around her stomach as she focused her attention on Daryl.
"I think something's wrong," she said, meeting Daryl's gaze. He nodded his head, and shoved Merle back so that he could grab the truck keys.
"Get the bag out of the bedroom closet, Merle," he shouted, wrapping an arm around Beth to help her outside. Beth didn't say anything as she squeezed his arms. Fear boiling over as she felt another wave of pain slowly increase. Beth took in a deep breath, letting the breaths out and prayed – not for the first time- there was was something to indicate that this was going to be a normal delivery. She never recalled someone saying there could be blood when the water broke, she guessed it was a possibility. She doubted it, but she hoped. That's all she had was hope as they raced down the highway. Street signs indicating they were reaching the next town faster than planned, and when she looked over the steering wheel, she was thankful for Daryl going twenty plus over the speed limit. Even if his knuckles were turning white on the steering wheel, and it was Merle's carefully chosen words that reminded her she had to breath. In and out, short breaths that helped her keep the calm.
The sight of the blood flow growing heavier made her heart race, and it was Merle that reached for one of his brother's shirts to staunch the flow. She wasn't sure if that was right, if they would be blocking anything, but she didn't say a word. Just gave a carefully guarded look to Daryl who shook his head and pressed a little harder on the gas petal. The little yellow lines on the road blurring together as Beth focused on something that wasn't too concerned faces reflecting her own fear.
When they pulled into the emergency room, Daryl barely placed the truck in park before he was throwing himself out the car and running inside to grab a wheelchair. Beth could see him, hurriedly speaking to a nurse through a glass window and when he grabbed the chair, she followed along.
Merle opened the passenger side, allowing Beth to slide toward the exit until the nurse took in her pale features and the blood between her legs She froze for just an instant before she was waving her arms for Beth to climb out and she grabbed the wheelchair from Daryl so that she could push her straight back to the ER.
It wasn't long before Beth found herself in an operating room, the doctor looming over her as they prepared to perform an emergency c-section. Things blurred from there, she remembered them giving her the morphine several minutes before opening her up. She could see Daryl loomed over her, focusing solely on her as the doctor and nurses worked on saving her baby.
She vaguely remembered the pain filled eyes of the nurses as they pulled the baby out, even as the doctor attempted to revive the baby while another stitched her up, and kept her from loosing any more blood. Beth focused on the man with her baby, the way his lips tightened to white lines as he failed to bring the baby back and the shake of his head as he let out a heavy sigh and turned toward them with "I'm sorry."
"No," Beth mouthed, tears already falling down her face as she felt Daryl's grip tighten around hers. His head came down to rest across her chest, and Beth cradled him to her as she stared blankly at the doctor and the small bundle that they were steadily wrapping up. "It wasn't supposed to be-" she started to say, shaking her head even as she her mind whirled.
The moments bled together with the feel of the small bundle in her arms, Daryl brushed its hair back even as he gripped her hand tight. Doing his best not to cry as the nurse returned sometime later to take the baby. Beth held on a little tighter, the tears running freely down her cheeks and onto the baby's blue face. Her eyes were closed, almost looked like she could have been sleeping and Beth closed her eyes to the sight, wondering why. Why her? Why them? Reluctantly, she relinquished the baby to the nurse and Beth curled into a ball after that. Her mind blanking out on her until she couldn't remember how she got home. When she got home.
Just remembered the sound of something crashing bringing her out of her stupor. Enough to make her recognize the familiar bed in the her home. The feel of an extra large shirt brushed her skin and she recognized Daryl's R.E.M shirt that he refused to be rid of.
Following the sound, she found herself walking into the nursery. Her footsteps faltering even as she looked down at the man sitting on the floor. His head rested in his lap, silent sobs sounding throughout the room as he sat in the destruction of once was the crib. The pain in the room broke through her numb demeanor and she back tracked, going back into her bedroom to dig through the storage tubs in the closet until she came across what she'd hid there a couple of years ago.
Walking back to the room, she silently slipped down the wall next to him, catching his attention for the first time as she attempted to smile. It was a poor one, she knew that. She didn't have it in her to actually smile. The hollowness still consumed her, but she couldn't take the redness in the man's eyes. Couldn't take seeing him consumed with as much grief as she felt, so she unfurled the map. Holding it out, until Daryl wrapped an arm around her shoulder, and she was able to lay it across the both their laps.
"What's this?" he asked, smoothing out the creases until his hand brushed across where her fingers rested on a small circled spot. "That's my farm," she said, caressing her fingers across the area. Trying to think of how old she would be about now. -Eleven? Maybe? - What she would be doing. -It was summer, she would be spending her days at the creek with some friends, or in the barn with the horses- What her family would be doing. - Dad working, mom cooking, and Shawn and Maggie off somewhere with their high school buddies.
"Okay," Daryl said, the word extending out as he looked to Beth for an explanation.
"We lost this one," she said, not able to say the name that she wrote down on the paper at the hospital. Not able to think about their child lying in the ground. She looked up to see Daryl's mouth tightening up. His eyes going hard as he dared her to continue. "But we don't have to lose others."
Daryl nodded, his jaw tightening even more as he looked away. "We can try again if you want," he said, not able to meet her stare. Beth shook her head, closing her eyes as she thought about going through all that again.
"No, I mean in my past, your future. There's other children that you save."
Daryl looked back at her, his brows furrowing together as he stared at her. "A little girl got lost in the woods, about here," she said, directing his attention to the map. He found her pointing down a familiar highway, one that he knew was surrounded by woods with a creek not far off. Even showed it on the map.
"Here's the creek where you lost her trail," she said, pointing toward the creek and following her finger up. "And here's where Otis found her."
She glanced at Daryl, her eyes still sad as she remembered that day. Remembered all of them freezing, and Carol's screams as the little girl came shuffling out of that barn. How it seemed to break all of them just a little. "If Otis finds her, it's too late," she said, doing her best to express how serious she was about this situation. She knew there were times when he doubted her words. Knew that he didn't totally buy into the delusion, but one day he would see and he would have this information to help the girl. To help Sophia, and himself.
"What happens when Otis finds her?" he asked, his voice cracked at the end. Beth felt her eyes tear up again and she had to the ceiling to keep them from falling,
"If Otis finds her first, she'll be gone. There won't be a little girl left to find." She didn't know how else to say it. How she could explain what it was like seeing a loved one walking, but not alive. Not who they use to be, but only a mindless eater. It wasn't something easy to explain other then they were just gone. "It'd be better if she didn't get lost at all, but then I don't think you'd come to the farm," she said, closing her eyes at the thought of never seeing any of them again. "You wouldn't have reason to come to the farm." She let her voice trail off, her eyes searching over the map. Thinking about what she'd just done. Of course, if she could save any of them, that would be great. If she could change anything that happened, that would make it all the better. Then the fear set in. Did she just ensure they never met on the farm. Would her father and sister and she remain on that farm until it was overrun. Oblivious to the real danger as the others walked on by.
She couldn't think about the what if's. The damage was done, the idea already stuck in Daryl's head and she could only hope that something would still lead them to her home. Closing her eyes, she rested her head against Daryl's shoulder. Letting the silence fall over them once again until Daryl turned toward her. "What about the others?"
Beth looked at him, confused for a moment. "You said I saved other children."
Beth smiled, remembering Judith. How small she was. How she felt in her arms as she rocked her back and forth. "Another little girl. One that easily wraps you around her finger, and makes the dark days a little brighter. You save her automatically. There's no question the moment we see her that she needs to be saved and she is."
The first hint of a smile spread across Daryl's face as he laid his arms across her legs, squeezing her knee as he rested his head on top of hers. "You put far too much faith in me," he muttered, making Beth smile as she stared off at the distant wall.
"I have plenty of reasons too," she replied, squeezing his hand back.
Three years later
Beth stared up at the young woman standing at the front of the church. Her smile as wide as she'd ever seen on one person as she stared at Merle. His own smile spreading across his face. It wasn't a leering one either. This one was genuine as he stared at the woman holding his hands. Her name's Miranda, and she showed up with Merle one day, saying she met him at the local AA meeting. Yet, another one of Daryl's attempts to help his brother. Beth wondered if he would ever stop. Knowing full well that Merle will do what he wants.
Still, something good came out of it. He met Miranda, and the girl managed to keep him out of trouble. Within the first month Merle brought her over for dinner. A barbeque where Daryl was grilling up some deer that he managed to hunt down. She seemed shy at first, smiling politely and talking about how Merle managed to charm her off of her feet.
Beth didn't see it. Even Daryl raised an eyebrow at her words, but here the woman stood. Looking as smitten as ever to be standing next to the oldest Dixon brother. Six months later, Daryl and Beth found themselves in the front pews of an empty church while Merle and Miranda swapped vows.
Something nudged her arm, and she looked over to see Daryl staring at her, chewing on the inside of his lip as he pulled her hand into his lap and placed something small and cold onto her palm. Beth looked at him, uncertainty staring back at her as she wrapped her hand around the small metal thing before looking down.
A small ring of gold lay in her hand, not adornments or special words carved inside or out. Just a small golden band that Daryl hastily picked up and slipped onto her ring finger. His hand trembled as he did so, and Beth looked back up at him to see there was still a hint of fear in his eyes. After all this time. After everything they'd been through, he was still scared that she would reject him.
Smiling, she leaned over to place a chaste kiss on his lips, vaguely aware that the minister up front was saying "And you may now kiss the bride."
She smirked at that. At their god awful timing. Still, her lips lingered on his until he pulled back and muttered, "sorry, it took my brother having the idea first before it dawned on me."
Beth shook her head, her own grin spreading across her face as she said, "don't be. I've always been yours."
He grinned back at her and leaned in for another kiss. This one slow and sweet until Merle hollered out, "WooWee, lil' brother, looks like we both need a drink"
This earned him a nudge in the side from Miranda, who stood there slightly glaring, slightly amused. Merle held up one finger and said, "One." When Miranda's glower deepened, he brought two fingers slightly apart and said, "A small one."
She rolled her eyes, leaving Beth and Daryl in a state of hysterics as Merle chased after her. They followed soon after and held dinner at a small bar and grill. Merle and Daryl got their one drink and the girls were able to chat away the evening. Neither one of them able to stop smiling as they glanced constantly toward their men. When the food was finished, and Miranda leaned across the table to whisper something to Merle, Daryl took Beth's hand. The one with the ring on it, running his finger back and forth in thought for a moment. Beth just watched him, waiting for him to say whatever it was he wanted to.
"We could make it official. Sign some papers, stand in front of a pastor and all that," he said, not really looking at her. "I know it's what you would want."
Beth shook her head, catching his attention as she leaned closer. "What I want is you, and anything beyond that. Well..." She let her sentence hang as she stared him. His eyes lit up and before she knew it, he was leaving another one of his slow lingering kiss on her lips. Burning her slowly as she leaned closer until he broke the kiss and looked toward his brother who was grinning at him.
I know some of ya'll are looking forward to killing me. *hides from the knives.* Don't please. I cried at the hospital scene, it's sad to think about that I know, but anyways. I did try to put more happy moments in it, and yes the whole have a baby and then get married thing seems a bit backwards, but it happens that way sometimes and I could kind of see Beth and Daryl taking a less traditional route. Anyways hope you enjoyed and thanks in for reading and reviewing. Again always appreciated.
The song is actually by Emily Kinney Called Be Good
