If working inside had been tiring, tending to the lawn outside was pure torture. Relief from the heat couldn't be found even under the shadiest of trees and God knew Shane had tried. The fans in the main house that had days before felt like not nearly enough suddenly became a welcome respite. Lunch breaks still included a sandwich but with conversation thrown in. At least, when they weren't too exhausted to speak. Shane weed-eated until his arms were vibrating even after putting the device down and Beth's legs were always covered in blades of grass from the mower. When either of them got tired, they'd switch.

Everyday they prayed for rain and each time they were disappointed. Sunday was no different, dawning scorching hot and miserable but dry as a bone. Suddenly the dinner Shane had been dreading didn't seem so terrible. Sleeping in was a luxury but he couldn't remember what he used to with idle hands. Waking up with no plans and no one to bullshit with until 2PM resulted in him just focusing on how hot he was, even with the fan whirling above his head.

Finally, after waiting the proper amount of time to be fashionably late, Shane took a quick shower, dressed, and headed towards the main house.

"I was starting to think you were gonna stand us up."

Beth was in the grass, on her knees, trying to screw the hose onto a sprinkler. There were two little girls Shane had never seen with her, waiting on her to finish.

"I thought about it," Shane lied.

"Liar."

It was the first time Shane had ever seen Beth in anything other than her typical tank tops and the sun dress didn't go unnoticed. There was nothing fancy about it, but it caught Shane's eye when she stood up. He decided looking at her feet was probably best.

"Nice shoes."

"Gee...thanks," she replied.

Her shoes were the same pair of beat up Converse she wore everyday, grass stains and all.

"I actually meant it. Women and their shoes, acting like they need a pair for every outfit. Trust me when I say, no man cares about what's on your feet."

"Don't flatter yourself, we don't all dress for men," Beth said, lowering her voice because of the little girls around. "Plus, some dudes are into that."

"Yeah well, not this one, lady."

"Ooh, I'm a lady now, am I?"

Shane knew the banter could've gone back and forth for quite a while but there were two little kids there and he was trying to be on his best behavior. Beth also seemed to remember their guests, finally introducing them as Patricia's granddaughters. He hadn't expected kids to be there and hadn't been around a kid since Carl Grimes. The memory was like a punch to the gut, especially since he knew he'd been a damn good friend to the boy. Maybe he could even be a decent father to a little girl, not that he'd ever know.

"You need help in there with anything?" Shane asked, praying for a distraction.

"No, I wouldn't want you to hurt yourself doing women's work. But there is one thing you could do for me?"

Beth could've asked Shane to go mow the lawn again and he would've readily agreed.

"Can you fix this for the girls? I wanna see how Patricia's doing inside and I can't get the hose on the nozzle."

"Sure," he agreed, even though that wasn't quite what he'd had in mind.

But he couldn't say no, he'd never had it in him. Beth walked back inside, Shane refused to watch, and instead bent down with the two kids hovering over him. They were cute little things, two matching blondes, and Shane had already gotten their names mixed up. He wasn't sure which was Lizzie and which was Mika just that the oldest one talked twice as much as the youngest.

"Are you Beth's boyfriend?" The older girl asked, her voice swooning with the words.

"Nope," he answered.

"You seem like her boyfriend."

"And what would a young lady such as yourself know about boyfriends?"

"Lizzie has a boyfriend."

That time it was the smallest one that spoke and Shane was cursing the rusty sprinkler.

"Ain't you a little young for a boyfriend? Does your grandma know?"

Lizzie never answered and Shane thanked his lucky stars he'd never had a baby girl. And as soon as the thought had time to process he realized it was a lie, twice over.

"Do you think she's pretty?" Lizzie asked instead.

"Who?"

"Beth."

That time it was Shane's turn to play mute. With a bit of a struggle he finally got their sprinkler running and stood up, ignoring the interrogation.

"Listen here, don't worry about boys just yet. At your age they're all as dumb as rocks. Wait a few years alright?"

"How many years?"

Shane couldn't help but laugh at her eagerness.

"Seventy," he answered with a straight face and it took them both a few moments to realize he was kidding.

But finally they smiled up at him and Shane was reminded once again how good it could feel to have a few kids around. They were always eager to make friends with anyone and Patricia's grandbabies were no different. Shane knew the moment they were finished in the water they'd be inside, talking his ear off, or any ear that was eager to listen. He always assumed it was because after a while, parents got tired of listening to the same questions over and over but other adults were fair game. He just wasn't sure if he would've been that type of parent or not. It was too late to know.

Back inside, Beth and Patricia worked in the kitchen and Shane was finally introduced to Denise's girlfriend although no introductions were necessary.

Tara Chambler had been a rookie when he and Rick had still been friends and had even ridden along with them a few times. Shane didn't talk to her much but he didn't talk to anyone at work much. Or anyone, period.

"You still working the day shift, right?" Tara asked.

"Yes ma'am."

They sat at the table, sipping beers, waiting on the food that was supposedly done. Somewhere behind him Beth and Patricia were in the kitchen, listening to Gabriel spread gossip about his flock. Shane had never been religious but he was starting to think he was missing out by not going to church.

"They've stuck with me nights," Tara frowned. "I guess it's better than nothing though."

"You'll get there," Shane told her. "I've been on the force for twenty years now and sometimes they still want me to switch to nights."

"What do you tell them?"

"To go fuck themselves."

"Yeah, I don't think I can get away with that just yet," Tara added, unbothered by Shane's mouth. "Sheriff Blake hates me."

"That man hates everybody. But who knows, maybe a spot on the day shift will open up. Cops get shot all the time."

As soon as the words left his lips, Shane shut up, realizing what he'd just said. He expected Tara to clam up, cops stuck together, and she'd known Rick just as well as she knew Shane. Instead she just shook her head at his unintentional ruthlessness and forged ahead.

"Exactly. See...you are down a partner."

And no quicker than that, Shane realized what she was getting at.

"Why the hell would I want a rookie for a partner?" Shane asked, knowing he had to rough her up a bit.

"Because it's better than no partner?"

He could admit his days did feel longer without Rick riding next to him. Shane hadn't just lost his best friend but the person who'd had his back on a tough call, someone who was always there when back-up was pussy footing around. Also, someone to wake him up when he dozed off on the dull days.

"C'mon," Tara went on, seeing that she was wearing him down. "It's not like I have to worry about you sleeping with my wife."

"It's true - you don't," Denise piped in from the kitchen.

Shane couldn't help but laugh. They all laughed, even the pastor, and Shane was positive every last person in that house was going straight to hell. He caught Beth's eyes for a quick second when she brought them more beers, her smile just as wide as his. It was hard to find people who didn't judge him for his evil deeds, much less people who could find the humor in it.

"Fine, I'll talk to Blake. But I ain't making any promises."

"Good enough for me," Tara agreed.

When she offered him a fist bump, Shane just rolled with it.

Eventually Patricia and Gabriel moved outside to watch the girls play and Shane made himself at home in the kitchen with Beth. Their bodies were used to dancing around each other while at work, and while Shane didn't fancy himself a cook he knew enough to get the job done. There wasn't a roll he couldn't butter.

Dinner consisted of him sitting beside Beth, across from Lizzie and Mika, the two girls having a giggling fit every time he or Beth spoke a single word to each other. The loud conversation around them afforded them a few private moments, none of which went unnoticed by Lizzie. He was thankful for a warm meal, but he was just as thankful when it was over. The kid might've been young but Shane was positive that at any moment she was going to call him out for being a hound dog and Shane didn't want anyone's good mood to be spoiled. Nor did he want to get outed by a middle schooler.

After every last plate had been cleaned and the post-meal sleepiness kicked in, Denise excused herself to check on Hershel one last time with Beth and Tara trudging up the stairs with her. The kids begged for one last round in the sprinkler before they had to go home and Shane gladly volunteered to clean up the mess.. He wasn't used to a loud house anymore and while it'd been good while it'd lasted, Shane also craved the quiet hours he'd spent with Beth as they tore the place apart and put it back together.

Shane started the dishes as Gabriel brought them all from the table and Shane had expected the man to excuse him afterwards. He'd wanted Gabriel to, at least. But instead Shane found himself scrubbing plates while the pastor took up a spot beside him.

"I can rinse and dry, the job will go faster," Gabriel volunteered.

Shane said nothing in response. He wasn't quite terrible enough to be rude to a pastor but striking up a conversation hadn't been on his agenda for the day. Perhaps he'd get lucky and Gabriel would be a quiet worker.

"You know, I haven't seen you in church since Lori and Rick got married."

Taking out his frustrations on the dirty pan in the sink, Shane finally responded.

"And you probably won't see me again until I get married."

It had been meant as a joke but the man seemed to have no sense of humor.

"I'm glad to hear you've changed your mind about marriage."

"That's not what I meant."

"Ah, but the thought crossed your mind and that alone is improvement."

Shane went back to scrubbing off grease. He hoped the other man had talked himself out but of course that wasn't the case.

"It's good to see that things are on the mend around here." Gabriel said and Shane looked over just in time to see him smile.

Shane wasn't proud of his next thought. He might not have been religious but he'd been raised to have a certain amount of respect for men of faith. But Shane was sure that Gabriel didn't have any damn sense rolling around that little bald head of his.

"Pastor-"

"Please, call me Gabriel. Or Gabe. We don't have to be so technical with each other. Especially since you don't even go to church," Gabe said with a nervous smile.

"Okay, Gabe. But you do realize there's a dying man upstairs, right?"

"Absolutely, I pray with him every Sunday and pray for him every other day."

Shane stopped what he was doing, sudsy hands and all.

"Then what gives?" Shane asked, struggling to see why Gabe was so jolly.

"The farm felt alive today," Gabe finally answered. "Kids playing, food cooking, it was a nice change compared to the other weeks I've been here since the stroke. Just because bad things happen doesn't mean good can't come from it. Beth might be losing her father but I think she might be gaining a few things too."

"She's selling the farm," Shane told him.

Shane had refused to mention keeping it to her since their conversation at the bar and he wasn't planning on saying it again. Beth was a grown adult and whatever decision she came to needed to be hers and hers alone. He'd rather walk himself into traffic then give her something to blame him for.

"Time will tell," Gabe went on as they both returned to the dishes. "But in the meantime you're both doing great work, Hershel would be happy."

"I guess."

They both went back to scrubbing and drying but Shane had a funny feeling Gabriel wasn't finished yet. Finally, Shane had nothing left to clean except the silverware, his least favorite part, when Gabe started in again. And even though Shane had known it was coming it was still enough to make him freeze for a moment.

"I see Rick and Lori at service sometimes. They're moving soon though."

"I know," Shane grunted, feeling even less like chatting than before.

"She told me her pregnancy is going well and it's a girl."

Shane knew that too but decided it would be best not to share.

"They're going to name the baby Judith. Carl seems thrilled to be a big brother...despite the um, circumstances. He actually picked the name."

Those details were new to him and suddenly the forks needed more elbow grease than the pans ever had so Shane could digest Gabriel's words. He hadn't known the baby's name, nor would he have ever picked Judith himself. But knowing Carl had picked her name made it ring a little better. Hell, just knowing Carl had accepted this new baby was like music to his ears. There was no way the kid didn't know the truth about his baby sister's paternity and Shane could rest a little easier after learning that Carl would accept her as his sister.

Shane finished his last spoon and handed it to Gabe, finally taking a look at the man. He was thin, with a broad smile and the most mischievous eyes Shane had ever seen on a pastor.

"I also might have asked for some pictures, once the baby is born," he confessed to Shane. "Afterall, I'd hate for none of us to get to see her after they move away since she's family. I imagine I won't be the only one curious."

Once again his eyes had that sneaky glint and Shane couldn't help but smile.

"You know, you ain't too bad for a Christian."

"Thank you, I think."

"You got anymore gossip I should know about?" Shane asked, tossing a dish rag in the sink. "Rick and Lori? How are they?"

He didn't know why he bothered to ask and Shane wasn't sure Gabriel would answer. Sneaking him secrets about the baby, his baby, was far different than gossiping about the friend Shane had wronged. But he shouldn't have been surprised when Gabe answered. The man had loose lips and was entrusted with the community's most sacred of secrets - a recipe for disaster.

"I think they'll be okay...in time. I think everyone will," Gabriel answered, confirming Shane's suspicions that Lori and Rick were still struggling.

They'd always struggled. Shane could just imagine Rick sitting next to his wife, stiff as a board, holding her hand in one of Gabriel's pews because that's what good husbands did. They stayed with their wives, they went to church, they raised other men's babies. The couple hadn't been truly happy in years and for the first time, Shane really wished them the best in their big move. Rick deserved to be happy, as did Lori, despite her flaws, and the kids especially. It was a marriage glued together by duty and Shane couldn't imagine marrying anyone short of a best friend.

For the first time in a long time he felt pity for his ex-partner. Shane had fucked up, but it'd been an already fucked up marriage in the first place. The responsibility over what had happened didn't rest squarely on his shoulders.

Shane wanted to thank the man standing next to him for the small gifts he'd brought but the opportunity had passed. Denise and Tara had come back downstairs, ready to say their goodbyes, and when Gabriel dismissed himself too Shane was left alone with nothing but his thoughts. It wasn't the worst place to be but it wasn't quite what he had in mind. If everyone else was about to leave, he could at least say a goodnight to her, even if it was far earlier than they usually parted. After giving the counters one last wipe down with a Lysol wipe, Shane went upstairs, to the same room Denise and Tara had just left.

It had been a good day, Beth couldn't deny that. Their house had been far too quiet for far too long, but it was hard to forget why. She sat by her father's bed, watching him breath, and wishing he could've been there, really there, to see it. Instead he stayed as unmoving as always. His condition hadn't completely spoiled the afternoon but Beth knew it would've been better with him around. He would've been proud of her, and proud of his farm, and that was all Beth really wanted anyway.

The knock on the door frame was a bit startling, Beth had been lost in her thoughts, but she couldn't help but smile at the face that greeted her. They'd been together all day, like every other day, but the difference was that this time she'd been forced to share his company. It wasn't something she wasn't used to and she'd missed his unfiltered commentary.

"How is he?" Shane asked, coming to plop his large frame in the chair next to hers.

Beth noticed the way he sighed the moment he sat down, his head leaning back in relaxation.

"The same," she answered. "Always the same. He looks more pale though."

"Doesn't have to mean anything, he's inside all the time."

She glanced his way and matched his smile, even though they both knew it was a lie.

"Thanks," Beth whispered. "Even if you are full of shit."

"It's what I'm here for."

It was the first time Beth had ever seen him in her dad's room. She had a funny feeling Shane didn't much like to think about Hershel being so weak and neither did she.

"I guess I just wish he could've been around today," Beth admitted into the silence.

"I know," Shane told her. "I'm sorry."

"Thank you."

That time Beth actually meant her words of thanks. With a calm hand she reached across the space between them and touched his forearm, giving Shane a rub before she was really even aware of doing it. She watched him relax under her fingers, his eyelids growing heavy, and another sigh escaping his lips.

"Your back still hurt?" Beth asked.

"I'm not sure it ever stopped."

"C'mon," she urged, standing up. "I can't help him but I can help you."

"Where?"

"Just come on."

When he finally stood, Beth led him to her bedroom. It was one of the few rooms he'd never been in before, not that she was aware of, and she knew his eyes were drinking in every last detail. Not that there was much to see. She'd been away at school and in the meantime, her room had stayed the same. Beth had meant to breathe some life back into it but things changed. Unlike Maggie, she'd never invited a boy into her room at the farm, though Shane was far from a boy. Usually there was some discomfort involved anytime she invited a stranger into her space, but while Shane's eyes were clearly curious, he wasn't nervous. Men weren't nervous.

Beth walked him over to the nightstand, not caring if he saw the mess of paper and pens on the table, and grabbed a tube of Icyhot out of the top drawer.

"Take your shirt off," she told him, laughing at his next words.

"What? You aren't gonna buy me dinner first?" Shane asked.

Their banter was back, but subdued. They were both tired and it was starting to show. Beth's windows were open, allowing everyone else's lively goodbyes to leak inside, but Beth's next words were much more quiet.

"Just do it and sit down."

"Yes ma'am."

She tried not to watch him lift his shirt over his head and toss it on the bed, but it was futile. His body had been pressed against hers while they'd danced and in person it was more fit than she'd even imagined. Beth knew she'd never touched a man with such well defined abs, and while muscles had never really been her thing, Shane's had grown on her. He was wide and tone and unlike her, his skin didn't turn fifty shades of pink under the sun.

The old mattress squeaked under his weight and objected even more when Beth crawled in behind him.

"What have you got back there?" Shane asked.

"Just some Icyhot. Not a permanent fix but it'll help relieve some of the tension."

"I doubt it."

Beth wasn't oblivious to his innuendos but she forged ahead.

"Where does it hurt?"

"Everywhere."

"Upper back? Lower back?"

"Everywhere."

She took one more look at his back, his muscles stretching as he rearranged his body, getting more comfortable, and took a deep breath. Finally, with a large squirt of the cream in her palm, Beth's hand met Shane's skin, starting with his shoulders. Almost immediately his body sagged a little under her fingers and Beth knew the Icyhot wasn't working quite that fast. It was just her massaging that seemed to do him in, a few sighs and grunts escaping his lips as she worked.

"So is this how you keep it up?" Shane finally asked, rolling his shoulders as the cream started to work.

"How I keep what up?"

"Working all the time. You're wearin' me out. Is it cuz you have a stash of Icyhot in your nightstand drawer?"

Beth smiled, even though Shane couldn't see it. Her hands were still busying working over his flesh, the menthol mixing in the air with what Beth knew was the scent of rain. The screens in her windows protected them from the storm she knew was coming, but the humidity was closing in quickly.

"That's not all I have in my nightstand."

"Hmm, I bet it's not."

His voice was low and Beth could tell her hands were calming him down. Their conversations were usually so quick, so snappy, and this change wasn't bad. Nor was the feeling of working over his shoulder blades, down his spine, until finally Beth's fingers were dancing over his lower back. Beth knew she was inching into dangerous waters. The Icyhot was well applied, but she continued to rub it into his skin, even coming back up to his shoulders to run a steady hand over the nape of his neck.

"Does it feel better?" She asked.

"It's startin' to."

They both knew Beth had no more reason to keep massaging over his sides but neither moved. Instead she let her fingertips explore his freckles and tan lines, committing them to memory for when the shirt was put back on. There was no real reason for it except that it'd been a busy day and some part of Beth had missed the one on one time.

"What'd you think of dinner?" She asked.

"It was alright. Better than I expected. You should do it again."

"Next week?"

"I work."

Beth bit her tongue to stop a snarky reply from coming out. She was enjoying the calm but a small part of her wanted to ask since when had he suddenly wanted to be a part of such things.

"The week after that, then."

The warmth of the cream finally started to kick in and Beth let him go, wiping her hands on her quilt even though there was nothing left on them.

"Feel good?" She asked.

Shane didn't answer. Not with his words. Instead Beth watched him yawn and stretch, probably the most relaxed she'd ever seen him. The voices outside were still lingering, southerners loved a long goodbye, but Beth knew they wouldn't hang around much longer when she heard that beautiful roll of thunder, finally coming to bring them all some relief. Shane would probably say bye next but Beth wasn't quite ready for him to leave. They typically spent all day together and she felt short changed.

"I feel like I could fall asleep right here," Shane said, turning back towards her.

Maybe the cool breeze was to blame, maybe the warm meal, but suddenly sleeping didn't sound so bad, not even if the sun hadn't gone down yet. Beth kicked her shoes off, the ones he'd made fun of, and laid back on her bed. It didn't feel time for him to leave yet and Beth blamed that for patting the empty spot next to her.

"Then sleep," she said, pulling down the blanket. "Or rest, at least."

Beth wasn't sure what she'd expected. For him to say no, for him to hem and haw, for him to have some witty reply - all would've been appropriate. But instead he kicked off his boots and when his body sank down next to hers Beth was sure she'd never felt anything more comforting than his large frame taking up all the empty space next to her.

"I had a talk with Gabriel," Shane finally said.

"That must've been amusing, I'm sorry I missed it."

Shane smiled and Beth realized - just like his muscles, his grin had grown on her too. His features were large, a bit out of proportion, his nose had taken a few too many punches but he made it work.

"It wasn't that bad, actually. I guess he's gonna sneak me some pictures."

"Of what?"

"The uh, the baby."

"Oh."

When had she turned to face him? Better yet, when had Shane turned to face her? It was easy for Beth to forget his problems sometimes, especially with so many of her own. And while she'd been worried about her dad, he'd been worried about this baby, his baby. Picturing him with a baby wasn't as hard as Beth would've thought but she'd never asked how he felt about it, not really. It'd seemed intrusive but it was hard to feel that way when they were laying in bed next to each other, face to face, and her hand had outstretched to rub his shoulder...again.

"Do you think they'll ever let you..."

"Meet her?" Shane asked. "Doubtful. They're moving and it is what it is. I just get to deal."

Beth's nature was to argue with him but she also knew Shane was more aware of the situation than her. It wasn't the time or the place. If Shane wanted to handle it in his own way, she'd let him. And if he wanted to wrap an arm around her waist, she'd let him do that too.

"So what's on the agenda for tomorrow?" He asked, changing the topic. "The cabinets?"

They both smiled though Beth's didn't meet her eyes. She'd been thinking about those damn cabinets, all the improvements, and wondering if it was worth the trouble. The suggestion to keep the farm was still bouncing around in the back of her mind, but only just there, in the back. Time was running out and denying and it was pointless. The more they finished, the closer they were to selling the farm. But if they accomplished less it meant time had run out. Neither option was appealing.

"What's wrong?" He asked, picking up on her silence.

"Nothing."

She felt him search her eyes, looking for a truth that she had no problem spilling.

"It's just...sometimes it feels pointless. He's going to die no matter what, you know?"

"Do you want your cabinets or not?"

"I do."

"Then tomorrow, we'll do the cabinets. We can even give this room a facelift - it needs it."

"We?" Beth asked, refusing to be insulted by his suggestion about her bedroom. It was true.

"Yeah, we. Is that a problem?"

She didn't answer. Instead Beth scooted a little closer after pulling up her blanket, covering them both from the breeze that had finally started to come in. The thunder kept on but so far, the rain was holding out. Beth's eyelids were growing heavy, her limbs relaxing as they wrapped around him, her leg claiming his waist like it belonged to her. A part of her expected him to tense up, like during the dance, but instead Shane nudged in tighter too. The sun was just starting to go down when he whispered a quiet goodnight.