I do not own any of the TWD characters.
Making an Entrance
Beth had buttered herself several of the crackers sent up from room service. They'd sent an entire basket of individually wrapped crackers, along with a dozen pats of butter and a six pack of soda. Daryl was dressed and adjusting his bowtie but was becoming increasingly distracted by Beth standing over the bathroom sink nibbling away on the snacks so as not to get crumbs on her dress. Her boobs appeared to be on the brink of falling out of her dress.
Beth could feel Daryl's eyes upon her. "What?" she asked.
"I'm lookin at your boobs" Daryl admitted.
"Ya like what ya see?" Beth teased and stuffed a cracker in her mouth at the same time.
"Uh huh" Daryl answered. "Hope I can keep my hands off em tonight. Ya 'bout ready?" He glanced at his watch for what seemed like the hundredth time. "We're really pushin it on time."
"I know, I know" Beth said as she took another sip of the clear liquid. "Just let me brush my teeth one more time."
Finally, Daryl and Beth found themselves on the elevator headed downstairs to the ballroom. Daryl was still staring, "Ya look beautiful Beth" Daryl pulled Beth's hand to his mouth and placed a kiss on it.
"Thank you" she blushed as if this were a first date and not their very much delayed wedding reception. "I'm the luckiest woman in the world" she whispered. "I have an amazing husband, and a baby on the way."
Daryl returned her smile and ran his hand over her still flat belly. "Ya feelin okay? Ya gonna be able to eat?"
"Yeh, I'm good" Beth answered. "Actually, I'm really hungry."
The pair stepped from the elevator into the elegant lobby and then made their way to the even more decked out ballroom. Beth could hear the music before they even made it to the doorway, Ain't Love a Kick in the Head by Dean Martin. Beth was unable to contain her smile – she simply loved the music from that era. As the couple entered the ballroom, they both thought that perhaps there'd been some sort of time warp. It appeared as if they'd stepped into 1960s Vegas.
A small gasp escaped from Beth. They both took in the room – it was all glitter, glitz, and glam. An eighteen piece band was fully engaged in entertaining the guests. There were dozens upon dozens of round tables decked out, not a seat to be had as far as Daryl could tell. There were wait staff weaving and winding through the tables serving drinks and appetizers. Daryl and Beth stood there at the entrance just taking in the entire scene.
"Holy Shit" Daryl mumbled under his breath.
"Oh, Daryl" Beth whispered. "It's beautiful. Just beautiful. It's so"
Daryl finished her statement, "Lucille. It's so Lucille. She's really outdone herself this time."
"There you two are" Lucille appeared out of nowhere looking every bit the Vegas socialite. "We were going to send out a search party if you didn't show soon." Lucille kissed Daryl and gave Beth a hug. "Come on, I'll show you to our table."
As if on cue, a man on stage – he appeared to be playing the role of Frank this evening- made an announcement to the entire ballroom. "Here they are folks" he stated, "the couple of the evening, Mr. and Mrs. Daryl Dixon." Everyone stood and began to clap as they followed Lucille to their table up front. Before they even made it to their destination, the band began playing the next song, Love and Marriage – the singer crooning away accompanied by the horn section.
Negan was standing by their table anxiously waiting for them. When he laid eyes on Beth and she smiled shyly at him, he just couldn't contain himself anymore. "Look at my boy and his girl!" he shouted for everyone to hear. "Just look at em – fucking beautiful, the both of them." Negan grabbed Daryl by the head with both of his hands before pulling him in for a hug. Next, Negan scooped Beth up into his arms and twirled her around. "You look amazing Princess" he whispered into her ear.
"Thank you Negan" Beth told him. "Everything is just" she paused. "I just can't believe it – it's fantastic."
"You've got Lucille to thank for it" Negan smiled. "She lives for this shit. I just carry the checkbook."
"Well" Beth giggled. "Thank you for carrying the checkbook."
Beth walked around the table and hugged both Maggie and Glen before setting her sights on Rick. "Hey Bubby" she kissed his cheek. "You look so handsome."
"Thank you Bug" Rick hugged her. "You are breathtaking."
Beth looked to the three empty chairs next to Rick. With a concerned look she asked, "Where's Momma and Michonne?"
Rick grimaced. "There was a bit of a blowout on Lila's part right before we left our room."
"Oh" Beth smiled with a knowing smirk.
"Chonne didn't want to leave that mess with the sitter. They should be here anytime" Rick told Beth.
By this time, Morgan had returned from speaking with some men at another table and was standing beside Negan.
"Morgan" Daryl spoke to the man. "I'd like you to meet my wife. This is Beth." Beth looked at the gentleman standing before her and held out her hand to shake his hand. "Beth, this is Morgan Jones – one of the best men I've ever known."
"Mr. Jones, it's so nice to meet you" Beth said.
Morgan took Beth's hand, but not to shake it, he placed a delicate kiss on it. "The pleasure is all mine young lady. I see now just exactly why Daryl finally threw in the towel at single life."
Beth smiled. Everyone took a seat at the table. Beth tried not to drool as shrimp cocktail was placed in front of her. "Oh my God" Beth nudged Daryl in the elbow and spoke in a hushed tone. "These shrimp are huge." Just as Beth began to take a bite out of the first one panic struck Daryl.
"Beth" he whispered. "Beth" he had to whisper again. "Don't eat too fast – please don't make yourself sick. Gonna be hard to explain if you get green around the gills again – don't think we're ready to tell yet. Are we?"
Beth stared at Daryl with a mouth full of shrimp. Shaking her head and swallowing, "No" she whispered back. "Not yet." A server came around to get drink orders of those he'd missed on the first several trips. It was pretty obvious the Negan hadn't been missed – he was already several drinks in.
"I think we're both fine actually" Daryl told the waiter. "We're going to stick with water for the time being." Beth nodded and smiled at the waiter. Negan thought it unusual that neither of them were drinking but didn't think much of it – the night was still young, perhaps they were pacing themselves. Something he probably should have considered.
Beth polished off her shrimp cocktail pretty quickly and was sneaking one of Daryl's shrimps when his head was turned talking to Glen. She almost missed Michonne and her mom arriving. Rick stood to greet his wife, and all of the men at the table followed suit.
"Here's the rest of our party" Lucille announced happily. "Michonne" Lucille laughed. "Did you get our little Lila squared away?"
Michonne smiled and laughed a bit herself. "Yes, I'm telling you, that was not for the faint hearted, that's for sure."
"Oh, I've seen worse" Annette teased. "Why, Rick was the world's worst"
Rick blushed and cut the older lady off fairly quickly. "Oh, let's not get into all that" he joked.
"Oh, shit" Negan stated. "Where are my manners?" Everyone at the table looked at him. Because, that's exactly what Negan wanted – everyone's attention. "Morgan, this lovely lady is Rick's wife, Michonne."
Michonne nodded politely and shook Morgan's hand. "Hello" Michonne said.
"So nice to meet you" Morgan replied.
"Thank you" she answered. "You too."
"And this" Negan continued as he took Annette's arm gently, "Is Annette Greene." Annette and Morgan stood there in silence for a few seconds – not very long but it seemed as if it were forever. The two fave each other the once over, not yet realizing that this was indeed, a set up. "Annette, my Dear, this is Morgan Jones. He's your plus one tonight."
No one spoke. Even Lucille had been shocked into silence in a mortified, but not surprised kind of way. Daryl tried to form words, but he really couldn't think of any at the moment, so instead he just stood there with his mouth gaping open. Glen snickered until he caught an elbow in the ribs. With all the attention on someone else, Beth took advantage of the situation to finish off the shrimp cocktail to her left – she wasn't completely sure who it belonged to.
Finally, Annette spoke up. "I don't remember including a plus one on my RSVP" her eyes darted in between Negan and Lucille – a small flash of anger, not much, but it was there. Lucille looked on helplessly, hoping to convey to her newest friend that she had absolutely no idea that Negan had this in the works. At this point, it had turned just plain awkward. Negan still stood there with a shit eating grin on his face.
Annette spoke again, "But, I must say, you are most definitely a very handsome plus one."
Morgan smiled at Annette and kissed her hand just as he had Beth's earlier. "Ms. Annette, it's my pleasure to spend the evening with you. If you would allow me to do so, that is."
"Of course" Annette relaxed a bit. "But only if you can dance. You do dance Mr. Jones? It's been forever since I danced. I'm hoping you can help me out with that."
"I know a few steps" Morgan said.