I do not own any of the TWD characters.
Calling in the Big Guns
"Mmmm, Baby" Daryl breathed into the hollow of Beth's chest, "soooo fuckin good – been needin this all damn week." Beth laughed quietly as Daryl continued to slowly pump into her with long and deliberate strokes. Daryl moved his mouth from under Beth's chin to one of her breasts, being sure to place a tender wet kiss there as well. The moan that action elicited only prompted him to give the other mound of tender flesh the same treatment.
"I know – me too. Ohhhhh" Beth sighed as she tightened the grip her legs had around Daryl's waist. "You take such good care of me."
"Yeh" Daryl mumbled. "Always. Gonna take care of our baby too – love ya'll so much." With those last words, Daryl stilled while he unloaded everything he'd been holding back all week into Beth. Daryl flopped to the side of Beth. The both lay there for a few minutes in complete silence, trying to catch their breath.
"Well, if I weren't already with child, I'm pretty sure that would've done it" Beth teased Daryl and took his hand in hers, placing a sweet kiss on each of his knuckles. "Sorry we had to spend the evenin at the ER." Beth was smiling like some kind of deranged clown when Daryl glanced over at her.
"What?" he asked her, his smile just as wide as hers.
"We're havin a baby" she giggled.
Daryl nodded his head. "We're havin a baby" he agreed. Daryl rolled completely to his side so that he could face Beth, placing the palm of his hand over Beth's belly. "Can't believe there's a baby in here. Our baby." Daryl leaned over and kissed Beth gently. Next, he made his way down her torso so that he could nuzzle and kiss her fuzzy abdomen.
"Bet it's a girl" Daryl mumbled as he nibbled around Beth's belly button.
Beth tried her best not to wiggle out of Daryl's grasp – he knew how ticklish she was. "Oh, ya do, do ya?"
"Mmmhmmm" Daryl said quietly. "Just like her Momma – nothin but trouble from the get go." Beth playfully swatted at Daryl's forehead so he worked his way back up so that he and Beth could snuggle.
They woke the next morning, still in each other's arms. Daryl gently pulled away from Beth so that he could jump in the shower. He looked back at his wife in bed from the doorway leading into the restroom – she'd rooted around and was settling back down for some more sleep.
They'd talked half the night and Daryl was certain that Beth was exhausted. With their late night shenanigans, the week of company and cooking, and to top it off, the excitement of the ER visit still fresh – how could she not be exhausted. Daryl hoped she got at least a few more hours of sleep. They had a huge night ahead of them.
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All the ladies sat around the living room of Daryl and Beth's suite. Before leaving for work, Daryl had ordered breakfast to be delivered an hour before the spa activities were to begin. The mimosas were free flowing, fruit salad filled delicate glass dishes, and savory bacon and eggs rounded out the menu.
"Bethie" Maggie asked. "Want me to top of your mimosa?" Her older sister held the orange juice in one hand, a bottle of champagne in another.
"Uhm, no thanks" Beth replied smoothly. "Orange juice doesn't really agree with me sometimes. I think I'll just have water today."
"Suit yourself" Maggie said. Michonne and the others hadn't picked up on any of the sisters' conversation as they were busy themselves discussing the latest celebrities that they'd heard had had "work" done.
"All I know is, I think I'd just rather sag a little bit as to go through all that trouble" Annette stated.
"And for goodness sakes" Lucille added "they usually look like some kind of circus freak when all is said and done. I just think it's pointless."
"I worked with this lady once" Michonne was now adding her two cents "she mortgaged everything she had to get a boob job done. Afterwards, she couldn't even stand up straight the darn things were so big."
They all got a big jolt out of that – everyone laughing so hard. Lucille finally cleared her throat and the lady looked a bit sheepish.
"I have a confession" Lucille admitted.
"Oh" Michonne perked up. "Do tell."
"Well" Lucille began and looked around the room to make sure she had everyone's attention. "I have had some work done."
Annette gasped but not in a judgmental way, more like a "tell me more" way.
"Really?" Beth asked. "What did ya have done?"
"The first time I had cancer, it was breast cancer" Lucille began to explain.
"Oh my" Michonne commented. "Did you have reconstructive surgery?"
"I sure did" Lucille nodded. "And not so much for Negan, like most people would imagine. I did it for me. He told me he would always love me no matter what."
"Awwww" Maggie said. "Who knew he could be so sweet?"
"I did" Beth chirped in. Maggie rolled her eyes playfully at her baby sister.
"No, I did it for me" Lucille repeated. "And I've never regretted it."
"Can I see em?" Beth asked innocently and wide-eyed.
"Elizabeth" Annette exclaimed.
Lucille threw her head back in laughter. "Of course you can see them" she announced. "They're fabulous!"
All of them enjoyed their day so much – just relaxing and laughing and being pampered. Not only did Daryl send cheese fries for Beth, but he sent sandwiches and cheese fries for everyone's lunch that day. All agreed that he was pretty much the sweetest thing ever. Beth blushed as everyone went on and on about what a good man Daryl was and one of these days he was going to be the best daddy in the world. With that comment, Beth's felt as if her face were on fire. Beth hoped not because she and Daryl weren't quite ready to share their special secret just yet.
"Oh Annette" Lucille was beside herself. "I don't know what we'll do when that day comes. They'll both just be the perfect, doting Momma and Daddy."
"I hate to wish their life away, but I have to admit" Annette smiled "I wouldn't complain a bit. Babies are just the best."
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"What'ya think, huh?" Negan asked Rick. "Huh, pretty fucking impressive. Right?"
Rick scrubbed at his chin and took in all of the monitors in the darkened room. Yes, it was impressive. Very impressive. He could admit that. "Yeh, don't reckon I've ever seen anything like it."
"Sometimes" Negan began again "When I get tired of kicking everybody in the nut sack, I come down here to relax. Unwind. Just watch everybody fuck around and get paid for it." Negan laughed out loud at his own comment. He smacked Daryl in the back of the head. "Hell, everybody fucks around on the job except this asshole – works all the damn time. Boring as fuck to stalk."
Rick looked at Negan and then at one monitor in particular – one of the monitors assigned to the daycare center. "May I?" Rick asked.
Negan nodded and grinned. "Go right ahead" he said. Rick tapped a few buttons on the keyboard and it zoomed in to the baby room where Lila was getting a fresh diaper and some tender loving care from the child care provider. The monitor next to it displayed the room where Andre was playing with some new friends that he'd made that day.
"So, if ya don't mind my askin" Rick started. "This is just like the two armored vehicles – I'm not real sure why an architect would need all this. You on the up and up Negan, or is there something else ya do for a livin?"
Negan smiled but had an answer for Rick. "Rick, we work with a lot of different type clients. However, the majority of our contracts come from government projects."
Rick returned Negan's icy stare.
Negan continued his explanation. "And not just our government – countries from around the globe are patrons of our firm. Rich, affluent countries – war torn countries – it doesn't really matter the circumstances, everyone these days is on edge and security is a big fucking deal. Hell, I imagine you could run a pretzel stand and have to worry about who you've got coming through your business on a day to day basis."
Rick didn't respond right away, but Negan's explanation made a little bit of sense he supposed.
"Rick" Negan sighed "I've got people's kids under my watch" Negan pointed to the set of monitors displaying all of the angles from the day care. "When all is said and done, all we have is our family to show for surviving this shit hole we call life. My family comes first – don't get me wrong. It will always be my family over anyone else's."
Rick gave a brief nod, and a faint smile – maybe realizing that he and Negan were more alike than he'd ever imagined.
"But that doesn't mean I don't value all those around me. The people that work their ass's off to make this the best fucking architectural firm on the face of the goddamned planet. Hell yeh, I'm gonna take care of them and theirs" Negan concluded.
"I get it man" Rick affirmed. "I get it. And ya right – it's damn fuckin impressive."
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The ladies had enjoyed full body massages immediately after breakfast and after lunch they had mani/pedis and facials scheduled. Then before returning to their own rooms to get dressed for the evening they all had an appointment at the hotel's salon to get their hair and make-up done. It was certainly a day of pampering that was for sure.
"Beth" Annette murmured out from under the green glop coating her face. "I don't think I've ever enjoyed anything as much as that full body massage."
Beth giggled at her mother's strained voice trying to communicate without cracking her facial mask. She wanted to smile because her mother was so happy, but it hurt to smile at the moment. "I know Momma. I think a spa day is just about the best thing ever."
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"Welcome to Gene and Georgetti's" the young lady smiled at Daryl. "How many for lunch today?"
"Four" Daryl answered the hostess.
"Five" Negan corrected. Daryl glanced at Negan with questioning in his eyes. "Morgan's joining us." A crooked grin started to form on Daryl's face but he made no comment.
"Oh hello Mr. Negan" the hostess just beamed at the older man. "It's so good to see you again."
"You too Doll" Negan flashed that wolfish grin. "Becky? Right?"
"Yes sir" she confirmed. "Your usual spot Mr. Negan?" Negan nodded. "Follow me."
Rick followed Daryl with Glen closely behind him. Negan was in the lead right on Becky's heels. They wound their way through the bar area, up a set of skinny stairs to what appeared to be a private dining room.
"Menus today?" Becky asked Negan as they all found a chair at the only table in the small room.
"No" Negan told her. "Just send up the usual. Pick something off the wine list for me, would you Dear?"
"Be happy to Sir" Becky responded. "Anthony will be your server today and he'll be up shortly with the calamari and mushrooms."
"Sounds great Becky" Negan slipped a folded bill into the girl's hand before she turned to leave.
Rick sat across from Daryl, making sure to leave the spot at the head of the table for Negan. Needless to say, Rick was pretty surprised when Negan did not sit there. Negan choose the seat next to Daryl and across from Glen.
"So, Morgan" Glen looked to Negan. "Something big going on?"
"What?" Negan quipped. "You think he'd miss Daryl's wedding celebration? You know he loves that boy as much or more than I do." Negan snorted and shoved at Daryl.
"Fuck you" Daryl blushed.
"Who's this Morgan?" Rick had to ask. "Is he a big deal?"
The room got quiet for a split second. "Morgan Jones is my boss" Negan informed Rick. "He's the Senior Principal in the firm – nicest and calmest mother fucker you'll ever meet."
Daryl added, "If you were to bump into him out on the street, you'd think he's just an ordinary Joe. Man's a fuckin genius."
"Wow" Rick said. "Can't wait to meet him."
Rick didn't have to wait long. Morgan showed up about the same time Anthony did with their appetizers – with wine in hand. A very distinguished looking gentleman – dress slacks, button down shirt, black framed glasses, and with a touch of salt and pepper in his very neatly trimmed beard.
"What? They making you serve the wine around here now?" Glen teased the older guy.
"Guess it's better than having to wash the dishes – not sure I've got enough on me today to cover the bill" Morgan joked.
"Shit" Daryl teased. "Ya got more money than Quaker's got oats."
Morgan looked at all of the men at the table. Upon noticing a new face, the older gentleman smiled and set the wine bottles down. Next he extended his hand to Rick. "Morgan Jones" he said. "Nice to meet you."
Rick returned his firm handshake. "Good to meet you to Morgan – Rick Grimes. I'm a friend of Daryl's, but I've known his bride all of her life – I gave Beth away at their weddin."
"Well, well, well" Morgan exclaimed. "I can't wait to meet her – I've certainly heard a lot about her. And, she's Maggie's sister?" Morgan asked Glen with a look of confusion on his face.
"Half-sister" Glen admitted. "They're night and day."
"Mmmmm" Morgan said to no one in particular. "Who wants wine?"