His Light in the Dark

AN: No excuses. Meant to get this out long before now. I am still working on my other stories as well. Hope everyone enjoys the chapter!

Chapter 7

"Beth…who's the father?" Daryl asked, watching her face.

Beth looked at the man she loved. Here was her chance to tell him. To tell him he's the father. She wanted to tell him so badly. But how would he take it? He still didn't remember anything about them. Could she really spring a baby on him? This wasn't at all how she wanted him to find out.

Daryl felt her hand squeeze his. For some reason he couldn't explain, his heart started hammering in his chest. He didn't know why he needed his question answered so badly. He just knew that somehow it was important.

"Daryl…" Beth started but was surprised when he cut her off.

"Is it the asshole? The one that left ya?" Daryl asked.

Beth looked at him, her forehead crunching together. Then, she remembered the conversation they had a couple months ago. "He didn' leave me. And he's not an asshole."

Daryl sighed. "Is it his, though?"

Beth nodded. "It is."

Daryl felt his stomach clench. He didn't understand what he was feeling in the moment. He felt gutted. He didn't have any right to feel the way he did. He and Beth weren't a couple. This whole situation wasn't even his problem. So why did he feel like his whole world just fell out from underneath him?

Daryl stood up quickly, pulling his hand from hers. Beth looked at him, an expression of hurt crossing her face. Daryl felt a pang of guilt. He didn't want to hurt her any more than she clearly already had been. Besides, she was just his housekeeper anyways. Why did any of this matter to him really?

"Daryl…" Beth said, her voice soft, "Are ya okay?"

Daryl chuckled. "Shouldn't it be me askin' ya that? I ain' the one cartin' a baby 'round in ma belly."

"I mean…ya look like ya wanna make a mad dash fer the closes' road and keep on runnin'."

Daryl wondered again at just how easy Beth could read him. Their relationship confused him. He felt there was more to it than what he was being told. But, now knowing the delicate position that Beth was in, Daryl didn't want to put any more stress on her. He knew it wasn't good for her or her baby.

"Nah, ain' gonna run fer the hills. Jus' thinkin' 'bout stuff now is all."

Beth had a thoughtful expression on her face. "Like what?"

"Like if'in ya should still be cleaning my place or not. Don' wanna add more stress to ya." Daryl rubbed the back of his neck, his eyes downcast.

Beth reached for his hand again and pulled gently. Daryl let her pull him onto the side of the bed again. Her fingers gripped his tightly. "Doin' what I do fer ya isn' stressin' me out. I enjoy doin' all that. I like knowin' that I can help ya in some small way."

"Still don' understand why ya wanna? Ya don' do it fer no one else," Daryl said, feeling bewildered.

"I have ma reasons," Beth told him quietly. They sat next to each other, the silence surrounding them. Unconsciously, Daryl reached out his free hand, his fingers sweeping her hair back over her shoulder. His hand wrapped around the silky strands, and his fingers rubbed the blonde curls. Beth sat silently, watching the look on his face. He looked content.

What happened next caught them both by surprise. Daryl would later blame it on several different things. But right in that moment, he couldn't have stopped it even if a train crashed in front of them.

Beth gasped when Daryl leaned forward, his lips capturing hers. She felt his fingers tighten in her hair. Her own hands came up and plowed into his hair. He moved closer on the bed, his other arm wrapping around her back. She felt him pull her closer, and she pressed herself against him.

Beth was suddenly lifted from the bed, his strong arms pulling her into his lap. She felt his hard length pressed against her core and moaned against his mouth. Daryl responded by pushing his tongue against her lips, and Beth opened them willingly. Daryl growled deep in his throat. His tongue pushed into her mouth, and Beth moaned louder.

Suddenly, Daryl stiffed against Beth. He pulled back from kissing her, his breathing shaky. Beth watched him and watched as several different emotions flit across his face. Finally, Daryl lifted her from his lap, and placed her gently on the bed again. He stood up quickly, heading to the other side of the room.

"Shit Beth… I'm sorry. Shouldn' a done that. Don' know what I was thinkin'." His fingers plowed into his hair, and his whole body shook.

Beth stood up slowly, walking cautiously toward him. "Daryl…it's okay. Really it is." She reached out to him, but he sidestepped her.

"No, it ain'! That shouldn' a happened. I understand if ya wanna slap me or sumthin'. I deserve it. I'm older than ya. I should know better," he said frantically. Daryl began pacing in front of Beth, aggravated at himself.

"I'm not gonna slap ya. I wanted it as much as you!" Beth cried.

Daryl stopped pacing. His eyes looked wild. "Ya shouldn'. I can' remember you or anyone else who's supposed to be my "friend" here. I'm damaged more than ya know. I can' apologize enough to ya."

Beth again tried to reach out, but again he pulled away. "You don' gotta apologize to me. I don' want an apology."

Daryl exhaled sharply. "Besides, yer pregnant. I know ya ain' over the man that made ya that way. He's gonna know soon enough he's gonna be a father. If he's smart enough, he'll want ya and the baby forever. I might be having memory problems, but I know you well enough to know that you'll end up with him."

"Daryl… there's so much you don't know. So much I want to tell you. But I can't yet." Beth told him. You aren't ready yet…

"You don' need ta tell me anythin'. It's not my business. I promise ya that this won' happen again. Ya have ma word. I'm sorry." Daryl turned to walk out the door. "I didn' mean ta upset ya more. I'm gonna go now. Don' worry 'bout cleanin' my place anymore either. I'll take care of it maself from now on. Thank ya for everythin' ya did. Goodbye." Daryl ran out the door like fire was eating his heels.

Beth sat back on the bed, her hand rubbing her slight baby bump. "I'm sorry baby," she whispered. "That didn't go how I thought it would. I really screwed all this up. I should have told him from the beginning. I thought I was protecting him," she said. Sighing deeply, Beth wiped the tears that started leaking from her eyes. "Maybe what I was really trying to do was protect myself from getting hurt. Now everything just got more complicated."