Beth woke from what she knew had been a stressful dream, but she could not remember it. From what she could tell, it was early morning, as the light that was filtering in through the netting was a dim grey. She sat herself up, gazing out across to the window before the bed, a light frown across her pale features as she tried to chase the remnants of her dream.
The was a deep pain in the lower left side of her stomach, not quite a cramp, but bad enough to have woken her, for as she pressed the palm of her hand against the area, she knew that was what had roused her. Whether the dream had been influenced by the pain, she wasn't sure, but she was awake now, and she was hot.
Beth kicked the blanket from her bare legs and leant back against the headboard behind her, still pressing her hands to her stomach in an attempt to quell the pain. Her belly was slowly swelling, and her breasts felt heavier too – pretty soon she wouldn't be able to hide her state. She had already taken to wearing Daryl's t-shirts to bed, and she wondered how much longer she would get away with wearing her own clothing in public. Maybe she could get Maggie to go on a run with her, pick up a few bits. Who knew, maybe she could even find a maternity bra somewhere out there.
Beth winced, the pain in her side resilient. She fidgeted lightly against the bed, trying to find a comfortable position for herself. There was, of course, a niggling worry in the back of her mind. She knew both pain and discomfort were common, especially during early pregnancy as the body changed and adjusted, but she was still unable to stop from worrying.
She bit her bottom lip, looking down at her hand against her flesh in the dim light. Until now, she had paid no attention to the lump in the covers beside her, her mind so occupied with herself, but now the lump moved.
Daryl, who had been sleeping on his side, facing away from Beth, rolled over onto his back and opened his eyes. He spotted Beth sitting up, and was instantly sitting himself, as though he had never been asleep.
'What's wrong?' he asked, his voice rough and deep from sleep; his blue eyes were focussed on Beth, but they had swept the room with a thorough intensity before they settled on her face.
'It's just – I have a pain,' Beth said.
Daryl looked at her, his mind ticking over behind his eyes, seeming to assess the situation.
'Is it the baby?' he asked, and Beth picked up on the lightly diffident way in which he spoke; he was still uncomfortable and unsure about the whole thing.
'I think so,' Beth said quietly, her voice soft and breathy in the dim room.
Daryl swallowed.
'Y'want me t'get someone? Rick – yer sister?' Daryl asked.
Beth shook her head.
'I don't think so,' she said, 'it's not so bad, just uncomfortable.'
Daryl nodded, then slowly pushed himself up and out of the bed, allowing Beth a full view of his tanned body as she moved across the room in just a pair of sweat pants he had picked up somewhere. The relaxed look did something to her, and if she hadn't been in a state of pain and worry, she would have definitely pulled him back down into the bed.
Daryl, ignorant of Beth's thoughts, headed to their ensuite bathroom, where he disappeared into the darkness and began to run the tap. He reappeared after a moment or so with a glass of water, which he handed to Beth as he sat himself back down on the edge of the bed beside her.
Beth took it from him with shaky hands.
'I'm sorry,' Daryl said after Beth had taken several deep swigs and one heavy breath.
She frowned at him; he was looking at her so intently, with such feeling, that it sent a swell of butterflies through her.
'For what?' she asked.
'For this, f'puttin' ya in this situation,' he said.
'You mean for getting me pregnant?' Beth asked.
Daryl blushed, the colour appearing rapidly in his cheeks as he bowed his head.
Beth giggled.
'It takes two to tango, right?' she said. 'It isn't your fault, it just is. So maybe we were stupid, and a little reckless, but its not either one of our faults. Not really. Besides, I love you, and you love me, right?'
Without looking up, Daryl nodded.
'We make it work, right?' Beth asked.
Daryl looked up then, his eyes locking with hers.
'Yeah,' he gruffed; he kept his eyes on her whilst she drank some more, his face serious.
Beth sighed deeply, passing the glass back to Daryl, who took it silently and put it on the table beside him. Closing her eyes, Beth leant her head back against the wall, feeling weariness wash over her.
'Y'feelin' any better?' Daryl asked.
Beth nodded lightly.
'Yeah,' she breathed. 'A little.'
'Y'wanna get s'more sleep?' Daryl asked.
Beth sighed; she was tired, but she felt too wired to sleep. The pain was fading, but it was still there, and the niggling worry it was causing her was only going to give a fitful sleep.
'I think I'm going to get up,' she said.
Daryl nodded; Beth looked across at him as he sat close to her, his hair dark and dirty, contrasting drastically within the very white room they now shared.
'You ever going to wash your hair?' Beth teased him with a smile.
Daryl huffed.
'Maybe,' he sighed. 'F'you.'
Beth laughed and patted her stomach.
'For us,' she said.
Daryl shook his head, but he was smiling.
'C'mon then,' he sighed, 'while it's early.'
'Huh?' Beth frowned.
'The shower in the main bathroom,' Daryl smirked, 'it's huge.'
Beth blinked at him, then realisation fell into place. She grinned.
Her hand still to her belly, she climbed out and off of the bed, following Daryl towards the bedroom door, which he opened slowly and quietly; the rest of the house was deathly silent. Maggie and Glen occupied the bedroom opposite their own, whilst Tara slept in the one just down the hall, and both rooms exuded an air of slumber. The two of them walked side by side through the corridor, careful not to wake the rest of the house as they stepped lightly across the carpeted floor.
The main bathroom was at least twice the size of the en-suite in Beth and Daryl's bedroom, and this one boasted a large, frameless glass shower instead of just a head over a bath. Beth hung back, her bare feet cold against the marble flooring, as Daryl headed to the shower and began to run it.
'C'm'ere,' Daryl said softly.
Beth swallowed; as Daryl stood before her, in front of the running shower, she suddenly felt nervous. Her eyes fell over the expanse of his chest, lingering over the tattoos she could see. As he stood before her, his pants slung low, Beth suddenly felt very young.
'Hey,' Daryl said, cocking his head slightly, 'you okay?'
Beth took a deep breath, her hands going to her stomach.
'Yeah,' she said, feeling foolish. 'I'm fine.'
Daryl stepped across the room, reaching her quickly.
'Are you tired?' he frowned. 'Go back to bed, get some more sleep.''
Beth smiled, reaching out to stroke her fingers across the ink work on his chest.
'No,' she said softly, 'you're not wriggling out of washing.'
Daryl smiled at her then, the concern fading from his face.
Beth lowered her hand to take his, then led him over to the shower, which was beginning to fill the room with steam. Her eyes on Daryl, Beth pulled her shirt off over her head and let it fall to the floor, then kicked her underwear off. She saw Daryl swallow.
'We're going to have a baby together,' she said softly, stepping close to him and thumbing the waist band of his sweats. 'We need to stop being so nervous with each other.'
Daryl smiled down at her, then gently moved her hair back from her shoulders.
'Let's get you clean,' Beth smiled.
She pulled the man into the jet of the water, hot and high pressure. Daryl allowed himself to be pulled under, furrowing his face under the water as it hit him, making Beth laugh. She reached up to push his hair out from his face, pushing it back. He grinned and backed away from her, but Beth pulled him back under.
Daryl watched her through squinted eyes as she lathered up and rubbed the suds into his hair. It was nice to be close to him, in such an intimate scenario, silent and warm beneath the safety of the water whilst the rest of the house slept on, the soap suds falling down between their bodies, soothing and softening.
Daryl picked up the shampoo himself and squirted it into his hands before rubbing it into Beth's own blonde curls. She giggled and squirmed away, but allowed him to run his hands through, until she took over herself – Daryl was obviously not used to such long hair.
Once they had rinsed the soap off, they found their hands moved to each others bodies, silently at first as they took in the curves and smoothness of each other.
Daryl ran his hands down to Beth's stomach.
'Yer getting' fat,' he murmured through the sound of water.
Beth grinned.
'Who's fault is that,' she said.
Daryl grinned back, leaning in to plant a wet kiss on her neck, sending shivers down her spine.
'It suits ya,' he said, his breath tickling her neck.
'More to hold on to,' Beth grinned, reaching up and wrapping her arms around his neck.
There was something specifically intimate about holding one another beneath the warm water; it softened the skin, making it smooth and slick, enticing to touch.
They moved together, their wet lips connecting, engaging in a way they had not been able to for some time. The water poured down over them as they kissed, their teeth clashing from time to time, water interrupting their tongues and making them laugh. But it was good, it was all good, the lightness and the laughter.
Eventually, they drew apart, forced apart by the inability to breathe properly beneath the jet of water.
Daryl looked at her, his eyes lidded, and Beth could read his thoughts. She grinned, and turned off the taps, pulling him out of the cubicle.
She grabbed up the white fluffy towel and drew it around herself, then wrapped one over Daryl's head, scuffing up his wet hair.
'Let's get warm and dry,' she said.
'I can warm ya,' Daryl said, taking the towel in his own hands and letting it drop to his shoulders; he wrapped his hands tightly around her waist and pulled her close, pressing his lips to her neck once more. Beth grinned, tilting her head back to expose her neck, breathing deeply. She reached around to his back, running her nails down his wet back, feeling the skin ripple and erupt into goose-flesh beneath her touch. She felt him moan beneath her.
Gently, Daryl pushed her backwards until her lower back hit the sink; with her hands on him, her own towel fell away from her still damp body, pooling to the floor. Daryl's hand found its way down to her thigh, which he drew up and over his hip, their wet skin touching.
Beth pushed her self closer to him, her fingers digging down into his flesh as he moved his hand from her thigh to inbetween her legs, feeling his way to her, making her squirm and slowly begin to moan.
'Don't wake t'house up girl,' he murmured in her ear as he used the rough pad of his thumb to draw her out.
'I'll try,' Beth groaned back, her voice catching in her throat.
Daryl pushed his lips to hers, his whiskers rough against her skin as he kissed her aggressively.
Beth scraped her fingers up his back and into his hair, tugging on it and squeezing out the water.
With a grunt, Daryl grabbed her hips, his fingers digging deeply into the flesh, and hoisted her up on to the sink, grabbing her legs and pulling them around her. Controlling his breath, he steadied himself, his eyes on her.
Beth nodded at him, her bottom lip firmly lodged between her teeth.
Daryl kept his eyes on her for a moment, then drew in a breath and glanced down as he pushed himself into her.
Beth gasped, then groaned.
Daryl paused, steadying himself again, then slowly began to build up a rhythm. Beth tried to keep her lips together, but the pleasure Daryl was able to build within her steadily became too much, and she began to moan.
Daryl, chuckling lightly under his breath, placed one of his hands on her face.
'Shush,' he grinned.
'Sorry,' Beth gasped, 'you shouldn't be so good at this.'
Daryl laughed, shaking his head, little droplets of water hitting Beth's face. She pushed herself as close to him as she could, grinding her hips against him, letting out little moans of 'oh' every now and then.
Daryl, wrapped up in his own clear pleasure, rubbed circles across her cheek bone with his thumb. Beth, her heart pounding in her chest, leant her head back, groaning. She moved her head to the side, kissing the strong fingers against her face.
'Damn I missed you,' Daryl groaned as Beth wrapped her legs tightly around his hips, drawing her in and out of him.
'Missed you too,' Beth breathed; she kissed at his fingers again, then drew them into her mouth, sucking tightly on them. Daryl groaned loudly.
Beth grinned across at him around his own fingers.
Beth closed her eyes and let the feelings wash over her, moaning around Daryl's fingers as he buried his head into her neck, sweat building in the spaces between them.
Beth let Daryl's finger's slip from her mouth as she began to moan louder, the pleasure building within her.
'Daryl,' she gasped, 'I'm gonna-'
Daryl just nodded against her, his breath coming quick and stunted.
Beth rolled her head back and let herself go, unravelling around him, her body tensing then growing limp.
Daryl groaned into her himself, rocking back and forth for a moment longer, before he too let himself go.
They stayed locked together for some time, panting in the cooling room as the sun began to rise beyond.
'Damn,' he groaned, as he moved away from her, disengaging. He passed her one of the damp towels.
'Guess tha' don't make no difference now,' he said, nodding to Beth's inner thighs, down which the remnants of their session was beginning to trickle.
Beth, somewhere between grossed out and amused, pressed the towel to the apex of her legs and just shook her head.
'Wanna take another shower?' she asked.
Daryl shrugged.
–
Clean, dry and satisfied, both Beth and Daryl made their way down into the kitchen, where they set about making breakfast. Beth was still feeling a little tender with an ache in her lower back and hips, but she felt much happier than she had an hour or so before. She sung lightly as she pottered about the kitchen, still finding it strange how there was so much food on hand now – fresh juices, fruits, home-made bread. Daryl was even brewing his own mug of coffee, which he took over to one of the kitchen stools as Beth made herself some toast.
Having buttered her toast and poured herself a glass of juice, Beth wandered over to Daryl, leaning onto his shoulder.
'What're you doing today?' she asked him.
'I gotta see Rick about some stuff,' he said, draping an arm around her and pulling her closer to him.
Beth nodded; she was still feeling a little sick, and she was tired, too. It felt like now the baby was known about, it was doing its best to make sure Beth couldn't forget.
Daryl moved her hair out of her face, glancing down at her lips before moving in to kiss her. Beth smiled against him, enjoying the scratch of his greying beard and even the taste of the coffee on his breath.
'Get a room,' Maggie said as she came into the kitchen, tying back her growing hair as she walked.
'We've got one thanks,' Beth said, pulling away from the man before her and looking across to her sister as she walked in to the kitchen.
'Use it then,' Maggie scoffed.
'Tha' aint a bad idea,' Daryl said, running his hand up Beth's back with a smirk.
Beth grinned up at him as Maggie scowled.
'Watch it Dixon,' she warned. 'That's still my little sister.'
'It's alright,' Beth laughed, pushing herself up and off of Daryl – regrettably. 'I've got work any way.'
Daryl groaned dramatically and leant his head back.
'I'll come back,' Beth laughed, leaning in and pushing her hands against his chest. Daryl lifted his head and grabbed her wrists, trapping her against him.
'Y'better,' he growled, as Beth gave a breathy laugh. She leant in and closed the gap between them, pressing her lips to his. 'You're insatiable,' she grinned.
Maggie cleared her throat.
'Alright,' Beth laughed, standing up as Daryl let go of her wrists. 'I'll see you later.'
Daryl leant back and looked across to Maggie, who was leaning against the island and scowling at the two of them. Daryl couldn't help but smile at her.
'Have some class,' Maggie said, but both Beth and Daryl knew she was only joking. Mostly.
'Don't get jealous' Daryl said roughly, propping his hands behind his head. 'There's plenty o'me to go round.'
'Urgh,' Maggie shook her head as Beth laughed her way to the front door. 'I'm good thanks.'
–
The day outside was sunny and warm, and it only fuelled Beth's good mood. On the lawn opposite was a woman Beth recognised but did not know. She was busy watering the flowers out front, but she waved across to Beth as she stepped out and pulled aside one of the posts so she could pass the new perimeter defence.
'Hi there!' she called. 'What's with the new decorations?'
'My boyfriend is a redneck!' Beth waved back, then bit back laughter as the woman stared after her, her fake smile failing as her face betrayed her confusion.
Beth reached the infirmary before Pete, so she waited out by the lake for him to arrive, enjoying the warmth of the sun on her skin, watching the way its reflection glimmered over across the water. Her body still felt a little painful, but her mind was mostly at ease.
Pete arrived later than he usually would, at which point Beth had been waiting for twenty minutes. He called to her as he headed for the door, and Beth turned to see him fumbling with his keys. She made her way over to him as he forced the door open.
'Sorry to keep you,' he grumbled as they entered the room.
'That's okay,' Beth said; she looked him over as he set about putting his papers down onto his desk. His sandy hair was ruffled, his skin pale and his eyes bloodshot. Beth bit her lip.
'Late night?' she risked asking.
Pete looked at her for a moment, then smiled.
'Yeah,' Pete said, 'bit of a to do at home.'
'Oh,' Beth said, not wanting to pry.
Pete just smiled at her again, then turned to his own papers.
'So,' Beth ventured after a little while, 'is there anything you want from me?'
Pete turned to look at her; he folded his arms across his chest, crinkling up the light pink shirt he was wearing, that Beth noticed was already slightly creased. He smiled, then lightly shook his head.
'Can you go through that cabinet and write down all the names of the medicines we currently have,' he said.
Beth nodded.
Pete settled himself at his desk and Beth took a notepad and pen over to the cabinet to start working; the infirmary grew quiet then, save for the scratching of pens and the clink of bottles.
'I do miss radio,' Pete sighed from his desk.
'I miss music in general,' Beth sighed.
'Are you musical?' Pete asked.
Beth shrugged.
'I sing,' she said.
'I have some CDs back at the house you can borrow,' Pete said. 'Most of the houses have a player.'
'That would be nice,' Beth smiled across at him. 'Thanks.'
'Then maybe you can sing to me,' Pete smiled.
Beth smiled back, but she wasn't entirely comfortable with the way Pete was looking at her with those blood shot eyes.
Pete nodded then, and Beth returned to her work.
She had fallen into an almost trance-like state as she worked, turning the bottles to face her, writing down the name, double checking the spelling, moving on, when suddenly Pete slammed his hands down onto the table of his desk with a loud growl.
Beth jumped, almost dropping the bottle she had been holding. She turned around.
Pete, his eyes lowered and on the papers, was shaking his head.
Beth swallowed; she did not want to ask him what was wrong – he was frightening her a little today.
'How you coming along?' Pete asked Beth, almost making her jump again.
She turned to face him.
'Fine,' she nodded, 'nearly at the bottom shelf.'
'Good.' Pete nodded. 'Good. You do a better job than Jessie. That woman is useless.'
Beth smiled, but she wasn't so sure he was joking.
'That's one of the things about the end of the world,' Pete said, his voice low. 'You can't just get away from it all.'
Beth raised her brows.
'Maybe you could look in to starting a radio broadcast,' Pete said, 'and I could open a bar.'
'You think that's what we need here?' Beth asked. 'A bar?'
Pete shrugged.
'I imagine it wouldn't hurt,' he said.
'I don't know,' Beth smiled, 'drinking can definitely hurt.'
Pete cocked his head, watching her.
'My daddy drank,' Beth shrugged with a smile, 'back in the day.'
'Ah,' Pete leant back in his chair. 'I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be insensitive.'
'Oh no it's fine,' she smiled.
Pete nodded.
'You know, it's good to have some young people around here with some sense,' Pete smiled.
Beth frowned.
'My oldest son is around your age,' Pete said.
'Ron,' Beth nodded. 'I've met him.'
Pete nodded slowly.
'And his girlfriend, Enid, another one with an attitude problem.'
Beth smiled uncomfortably.
'But you -' Pete pointed to her with a wry smile, 'you're smarter than that.'
'Hm,' Beth smiled.
Feeling a little unsure of herself, a little unsure of Pete, Beth turned back to the cabinet to finish up what she had been doing. Pete allowed her to do so in silence, as he too carried on with his own work, which came as as welcome relief to Beth.
Beth reached the final bottle a little later; she double checked her pad, then took it over to Pete's desk.
'Here,' she said; Pete reached up and took it from her with a smile.
'Thank you, Beth,' he said. 'Take a lunch break. I'll see you back in a few.'
Beth nodded.
She walked the short distance back to her house where she made herself up a lunch with the home made bread and cheese. The sun had looked so beautiful glistening down on the lake that she felt the need to sit out and eat by it.
And so eat by it she did, sat upon the grass, looking out over the water. It was surreal, to be sat in such peace and tranquillity, to be looking out over such a pristine scene, when only feet away, behind those walls, clawed death.
Beth rubbed her hands together to rid herself of the crumbs and then placed her hands to her stomach. If this tranquil place with its clear water and glistening sun was all she was bringing her baby in to, she wouldn't mind at all. But that clawing death could never truly be that far from her mind, and so she could never truly be secure in her future.
Beth returned to work after her hour, where she found Pete still sat at his desk. Although as she stepped inside, Beth noticed the difference right away; the smell of alcohol was clear in the air. Beth, smiling weakly around the knot of worry in her stomach, said her hello's. Pete waved her on in.
'Clean the back room for me will you, Beth,' he said.
Beth nodded, and set to work; she was pleased to be situated in a different room from Pete, whom she could see was slowly unravelling. Every now and then she glanced up and across at him, only to see him take what he supposed was a sneaky swig from a can.
Beth also liked that she was left alone for it allowed her time to stop and take a breath whenever the pain in her stomach returned – which it did, at a much lower decibel, throughout the afternoon. Perhaps it was the bleach she was using to clean with, but she was also feeling a little faint.
Pete cleared his throat.
Beth, who had been kneeling on the floor, looked up.
'A pretty picture,' Pete said; Beth frowned, confused.
'What're you doing this evening, Beth?' he asked.
Beth shrugged, wiping her hands down on the thighs of her jeans.
'What say you and I get out of here, find that bar we talked about?' Pete smiled.
Beth frowned – from her point of view, any talk of a bar had been negative.
'I think it would probably be best if we both just went home,' Beth smiled.
'Together?' Pete suggested.
Beth blushed.
'No,' she said, 'no, to our own homes.'
Pete smacked his fist against the frame of the door, making Beth jump.
'Back to that bitch,' Pete spat.
Beth pushed herself up from the floor.
'I'm going to go home now, Pete,' she said sternly. 'I think you should too.'
Pete stood for a moment in the doorway, then he stepped aside to let her pass. Beth breathed out a sigh of relief once she was in the main room, having half expected him to prevent her from leaving. She headed for the doorway, still expecting to be stopped, but made it out onto the street beyond. She glanced back to see Pete still stood in the doorway.
Feeling a little shaken, Beth quick stepped her way back to her own house, her heart beating fast in her chest. She was tired and her head was hurting – she needed to lay down and sleep.
'Beth!'
Beth's stomach lurched.
Slowly, she stopped, and turned to see Pete hurrying after her. She glanced over her shoulder; her house was in sight.
'Beth, I'm sorry – I didn't mean to frighten you off like that – I'm sorry,' he panted.
'It's okay,' Beth said, 'I'm just going to head home. Go get some sleep.'
Beth turned her back on him, aiming to get home, when he reached out and grabbed her arm.
'Hey!' she cried, trying to pull away, but his grip was strong.
'Pete,' she pleaded, 'come on.'
'I'm not a bad person,' Pete said, his breath hot and full of beer.
'No,' Beth said, 'I know, I -'
'Hey!'
Beth had never been so relived to hear Daryl's voice in all her life. She turned in time to see him hurrying over, his crossbow slung across his back.
Pete looked at him.
'Take yer hands off'a her,' Daryl growled, grabbing up his crossbow and levelling it at the man.
Pete, his eyes wide and bloodshot, looked at Daryl, his mouth hanging open, then dropped Beth's arm. Beth took several quick steps back.
'Wha'the hell y'doing goin' round grabbin' women?' Daryl spat, his eyes hyper focussed on the man in the cross hairs of his bow.
'Easy, friend,' Pete said with a smile, raising his own hands, 'we were just talking.'
'Y'can talk without touching,' Daryl said.
Pete grinned.
'I reckon she kinda wants to be touched,' Pete shrugged, 'I think she's been eyeing me.'
Daryl's narrowed eyes flicked across to Beth for a second, taking stock of the incredulous shock on her face, then returned to Pete.
'Tha' wha' you think?' he growled.
Pete laughed, and the sound made Beth uneasy.
'Women, they're all the same,' Pete spat. 'Only good for one damn thing. Come on – you know that.'
'What about yer wife,' Daryl said, his voice low and supposedly calm, but Beth knew what was brewing beyond it.
Pete laughed again.
'Now that is a woman who is good for nothing.'
Daryl nodded, lowering his crossbow.
'Y'wan' a piece o'somethin' new, somethin' different,' he said.
Pete grinned.
'I'd take a piece, sure,' Pete said. 'Just go ahead and take it.'
Daryl lowered his bow and then dropped it to the floor. Beth saw what was about to happen before it did, but she could not have stopped it. Almost in slow motion, the crossbow hit the floor, bounced, then landed, and at the same time Daryl pounced forward, hit fist connecting with Pete's jaw. Pete, who had been grinning, was knocked sideways, the spittle falling from his lips along with the grin. Beth gasped as Daryl hit him again, and then suddenly everything sped up.
Pete was on the floor, spluttering, and Daryl was atop him, his fist connecting with the other man's face again and again and again.
Beth was screaming, but she wasn't even certain it was her own voice. Her heart was pounding away in her own chest, heavy and frantic, and her breath felt like it was shortening. As she tried to understand what was happening around her, which man was which, she felt her head swim and her vision blur.
She tried to gulp down some breaths, steady her heart, but her knees buckled, and then she was on them, aware of a stinging pain in them as they hit the ground. The sight of Daryl on Pete suddenly slanted until both men were vertical, and Beth felt the ground come up to hit the side of her face.
Then she blacked out.