His Light in the Dark

AN: Well, I first have to say that I'm sorry for taking so long to come back to this fic. Had to get some inspiration. Had a guest review on the last chapter that made me stop this fic for a bit. If you don't like it, no one is forcing you to read it- plain and simple. Hope everyone else enjoys this new chapter. Please leave me a review. If you are also reading my other two WD stories – The Wedding Date and Burned into Your Soul- know that I am still working on them as well! This chapter is going to be the Segway for the final few chapters that I have had prewritten for months. Enjoy!

Chapter 9

Every day, Rick watched Daryl with concern. It had been two weeks since the day Beth had run back inside the house and Daryl had run after her. After they had disappeared inside, Maggie had told them that Beth's morning sickness was particularly bad. There were days that she wasn't even sure that Beth was even eating because of it. They all knew that Beth was also under a great deal of stress because of the whole situation with Daryl's memory loss. This pregnancy was harder on her than she would admit to any of them.

After Maggie had walked back inside to check on Beth, Rick had hung around outside, assuming that Daryl would soon be exiting the house. When Daryl came running out of the house a while later, Rick had watched him from a short distance. Daryl was practically vibrating, and Rick started walking toward the other man, concerned. Suddenly, Daryl stopped and seemed to fall in on himself. He stared straight ahead, and then his knees gave out and he collapsed onto the pavement. Rick had moved forward, ready to help the other man, when Daryl had stood back up a minute later and walked to his apartment.

Daryl had barely said a word to anyone since…

Two weeks…

She had given him two weeks…

Then she had finally had enough…

This is a stupid idea! He already told ya he didn' want ya comin' here anymore. He's just gonna scream at ya.

Beth stood on Daryl's doorstep, calling herself all kinds of stupid. She cradled the small swell of her belly. I need to talk to him. Even if he hates me now, we need to get things out in the open. Beth raised her hand and knocked on the door.

She heard the lock disengage, and then the door swung open slightly. Daryl stared at her. "Wadda ya wan'?" he asked, practically growlin', his eyes dropping to her belly.

Beth sighed. "Can I come in?" Daryl eyed her warily. "Please? I won' stay long. I just wanna talk to ya."

Daryl stared at her for a minute, indecision on his face. Finally, he stepped back, opening the door wider. He gestured for her to come inside. Beth walked in, and Daryl closed the door behind her. She walked into the Living Room, sitting on the couch. Daryl followed her, but stood by the window, his arms crossed in front of him.

They stared at each other, the air in the room almost suffocating. Finally, Daryl shifted his eyes away, looking behind her instead. "So? Talk…" he told her.

"I don't regret you kissin' me that day. I tol' ya it was alright. Why are ya shuttin' me out? All of us? You've barely spoke to anyone since that day."

Daryl scoffed. "Thought I tol' ya before I'm a' asshole. Shouldn' surprise ya none."

"It doesn' surprise me. But this isn' you. Not the Daryl I know…"

Daryl shook his head, his breath coming out in a huff. "Yeah…well… didn' we already establish I ain' the Daryl anyone knows? Least o' all myself. I got an empty space of five fucking years in ma head! I don' remember one goddamn thing an' no one- not ONE fucking person- wants ta fill in all the fuckin' blanks!" he railed at her. "So 'cuse me if I finally have had enough! As fer the kissin', I told ya before it shouldn' a happened. No matter how drawn I am to ya, it shouldn' a happened. Ya got that baby ta think about."

Beth dropped her head. This is all on me. It's my fault. I shoulda tol' him from the beginnin'. "What do ya wanna know?" she asked him. He's drawn to me? Maybe it isn' too late…

Daryl took in a shuddering breath. "Everythin'. But I doubt I'll ever get all the answers."

"I know all about ya, Daryl Dixon. Better than anyone else. There's a lot a things ya shoulda been told from the start." Beth told him, her voice cracking.

"Why wasn' I? It's my goddamn life! I gotta right ta know!" he bellowed.

"Yer right. When ya woke up, and didn' remember nothin', it almost broke me. Ya don' know how important ya are ta me," Beth told him.

"That why ya let me kiss ya? Cause a how important I am to ya?" Daryl eyed her, tryin' to keep from yellin' at her.

"YES! I wanted ya ta kiss me! It's all I've wanted for months!" Beth's voice rose, her anger at herself coloring her responses.

Daryl deflated. He backed into the window before sitting on the floor underneath it. He grabbed his head in his hands. His head lowered, but not before Beth caught the tears in his eyes. "I'm so fuckin' sorry," he said, his voice quivering.

Beth walked over to him. She sat in front of him and pulled him toward her. His arms wrapped around her waist, as his head came to rest against her shoulder. His sobs rocked her body, and she ran her fingers through his hair. He continued to cry against her for several minutes, and she continued to hold him against her.

When Daryl finally looked up moments later, his eyes red and swollen, Beth brushed the remaining tears away. Daryl took her hands in his. He kissed her fingertips, before looking into her eyes again.

"What are we, Beth? I feel closer to ya than anyone else. I feel this…pull when I'm around ya. I can' explain it. I just…wanna know. Are we somethin'?" Daryl asked her. "Please tell me…"

Beth blew out a breath. "We were something. I don' know what we are now. There's so much ya don' know. I wanna tell ya, but…I really wanted ya ta remember it on yer own. I don' want ya ta…" Beth's words drifted off.

"I'm sorry I don' remember any of it. I wish I did," Daryl told her. "Fer both our sakes…"

"I know," she told him. "It's not yer fault."

"Can we just…start over right now? Start completely over?" Daryl asked her, his voice low. "You feel like the only thing that makes any sense ta me. We could just…forget all this…and go back to before. I'll respect whatever ya say. I know I hurt ya. "

Instead of answering him, Beth leaned forward. Her lips pushed against his. Daryl took that as a good sign and kissed her back. A moment later, Beth pulled back, and breathed out against his lips, "One day at a time."