I do not own any of the TWD characters.

A Down Home Christmas

Part 1

"Beth!" Daryl hollered from the living room. He was standing at the dining room table looking over the wrapped gifts lying in neat stacks. Sam was walking laps around the table. "Beth!" he yelled again. Sam stopped his pacing long enough to glance up at Daryl – he tilted his head as if to say "stop yelling at my Beth."

Beth, hearing that she was being summonsed, crawled up out of the bed. She felt like death, honestly, and just wanted to curl up in a ball and die – it was still dark out for goodness sakes. On the third bark of her name, however, Beth figured she may as well get up and see what Daryl was going on about.

Upon hearing Beth stumble into the same room with him, Daryl immediately started the rapid fire of questions. "Do all of these presents go to Georgia with us? Should we pack these in a suitcase, or just throw them in shopping bags? Where's all the MOM GIFTS?" That last question he used air quotes when he whispered the words mom gifts.

Beth opened her mouth to answer, but nothing came out. Not unless you count the raspy, scratchy whisper she was barely able to produce as words. Daryl's head snapped over to look at Beth standing in the doorway.

"What's wrong?" Daryl was at her side in a second, hand on her forehead. "Ya sick?"

Beth only shrugged her shoulders before failing to stifle a cough and then wiping her nose with the sleeve of her gown, the later causing Daryl to grimace. The dark circles under her eyes were a clue as well that Beth was definitely not feeling well.

"I'm callin the doctor" Daryl pulled his phone from the back pocket of his jeans.

"No" Beth managed to rasp out. "It's Christmas Eve Daryl – don't bother that man."

Daryl looked at his wife as if she'd lost her mind. "Bother? Mother fucker's on my dime for the next seven months – I'll damn well call him whenever the fuck I want. My baby's sick – both of em." Daryl pulled Beth in for a kiss to her forehead. "You're warm Beth."

Sam continued his pacing. "Daryl" Beth questioned. "Has Sam gone out this mornin?"

"Naw" Daryl told her as he listened and waited for someone to answer his call. "Was gonna take him out when I got these gifts tended to." Apparently, someone answered, and Daryl's attention went to the phone call. Daryl attempted to be pleasant and professional, but of course, at one point became very direct with wanting to get in to see the doctor – immediately. Finishing his phone call, he turned to Beth. "I'm takin Sam out" he stated. "Be dressed when I get back – we're runnin to the ER over at the women's center. Doc said he'd meet us there, get ya feelin better for the holiday."

Beth stood just staring at her husband while he got the leash on Sam and put his coat on. "Hurry up now – we're leavin to meet the doctor just as soon as I get back in here."

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"Beth, come here Baby Girl" Lucille reached for the younger lady. "I feel like I haven't seen you in forever. I need a hug." Sam muzzled up against Lucille's leg.

Beth smiled all over herself. She sure did miss her moma, but Beth had to admit that having Lucille dote on her was a blessing. Lucille wrapped her arms around Beth while Negan waited impatiently for his turn. When his wife finally let go of Beth, Negan grinning like an idiot, lifted Beth off the ground and held her tightly.

"Ready for a down home Christmas Princess?" Negan asked as he rubbed behind Sam's ears.

"Yes" Beth answered. "Can't believe how much I've missed everybody – it's just been a month since we saw them all last."

"I kinda miss em too" Negan laughed. "Can't wait for Andre to see what I got him." Beth rolled her eyes hoping that whatever it was that Negan had gotten the boy didn't upstage what his own parents or, God forbid, what Santa was bringing him.

It was then that Negan looked into Beth's eyes. "Baby Girl?" he asked. "You feeling okay?"

"I've got a cold" Beth looked over to Daryl before continuing. "Just your common, every day cold that everybody gets from time to time."

Daryl, who'd been wrestling suitcases and packages from the trunk and cursing under his breath looked at Beth and snapped. "Ain't common and every day when you're" and just as quickly he stopped talking after he remembered that they weren't alone. "Do we really need this much fuckin shit for two nights at your Moma's?"

"What on earth is wrong with you Daryl Dixon?" Lucille questioned. "So grumpy – and on Christmas to boot. Come here – let me pinch your cheeks or give you a hug or something." Daryl grumbled but beat Lucille to the punch by wrapping her up in a bear hug.

"Sorry" he mumbled. "Just worried 'bout Beth flyin with that stuffy nose. And her ears. Doc said she had an ear infection too – probably gonna hurt like hell when we take off."

Lucille observed Daryl with her own brand of worry. Daryl had always been a worrier and a protector, especially when it came to matters that involved Beth, but this seemed a little overkill even for him. "She's a tough girl Daryl" Lucille smiled at the grown man in front of her. "Don't ever underestimate what a woman can tolerate."

In the meantime, Negan was busy playing Daryl for the time being. "You don't feel warm" he said.

"I'm fine Negan" Beth told him. "I got a shot at the ER this mornin and Dr. Elliott checked me out real good – got some medicine for me that I could tolerate and would be safe…" Beth realized she was about to say too much. She and Daryl only had to wait a few more hours before they let everyone in on their secret. It had nearly killed them to keep it to themselves as long as they had, but she sure as hell wasn't going to ruin it now.

Negan didn't say anything, only smiled that devilish grin of his. Finally, he spoke "Well, better safe than sorry I always say."

Beth looked stupefied. For the life of her she couldn't recall ever hearing those words or anything remotely like them come out of Negan's mouth. God, Beth thought to herself, Negan is so fuckin weird sometimes.

Once on the plane, they all buckled in – Daryl checking Beth's seatbelt several times before she finally swatted him away. When Daryl realized he couldn't fuss over Beth anymore he turned his attention to the dog in his crate. The flight, thankfully, was uneventful and in no time they were arriving at their destination. The first thing Beth noticed when stepping from the plane was that there was no bitter wind biting at her face and it had to be at least forty degrees warmer here. Until that moment, Beth had not realized the extent of her home sickness.

Morgan was there to meet them and get them transported out to the farm. He had one little surprise though – well, not so little, but it definitely was a surprise. There, right beside Morgan, stood Shane Walsh.

As soon as Daryl and Beth spotted him, they both had a simultaneous reaction. Beth gasped and grabbed Daryl's hand while Daryl grumbled expletives under his breath.

"Fuck" Negan mumbled. Lucille didn't understand any of their reactions at all. She kind of liked seeing Shane Walsh standing there. He was most agreeable with the eyes as hers roamed all over the hulk of a man. Lucille resisted the urge to lick her lips so instead she smiled at Shane and waved as she started walking towards him.

"Hey there Shane Walsh" Lucille called out. "Long time, no see."

Daryl, Beth, and Negan held back a bit. Negan finally spoke, "Remember, Lucille has no idea what he did" Negan said out of the side of his mouth.

"Morgan does though" Daryl ground out. Beth's mouth dropped open at that statement in shock. "Why the hell would he bring him here?"

"Why does Morgan know?" Beth sounded panicked and she looked mortified.

"He's up to something" Negan reasoned with Daryl. "There's always a method to his madness."

The three eventually caught up to Lucille who still had Shane in an embrace. Negan stared into Shane's eyes conveying a message something like I can kill you with my bare fuckin hands asshole.

"Good flight?" Morgan asked stiffly?

"Yes" Daryl answered just as stiffly.

"Lucille" Morgan began, "You and the dog are going to ride on out to the farm with Carl." Carl waved from the car he was standing beside. "Shane and I are going to stick behind, get all the luggage – tell Annie we'll be on home in a bit."

Lucille didn't try to hide her disappointment but then asked, "Well, I think Beth should come on too – she needs to rest a bit before all the holiday festivities begin."

"Beth'll be with us" Morgan stated and then repeated, "We'll all be on home in a bit."

Negan looked sternly at Lucille. "Go with Carl" he told her. "We'll talk when I get there."

"Oh" Lucille replied. It wasn't often that Negan put her in her place, but that's just what had happened and Lucille was smart enough to know not to buck him when he did. "Okay." Lucille turned and walked toward Carl, Sam following closely behind. Carl opened the door for Lucille and made sure she was comfortable before taking off.

The five of them stood there silently for a few minutes. Daryl and Negan quickly loaded the luggage and other items that an airport employee delivered out to the parking lot. Shane got into the passenger side of the SUV without speaking to anyone. Beth had fury in her eyes when they snapped to Morgan.

"What on earth is he doin here?" Beth asked suspiciously. "I've done all I can to avoid even talkin to him."

"First of all, you're mother has no idea what this sleezy bastard did to her little girl and I'd like to keep it that way" Morgan began.

"How chivalrous of you" Beth commented.

Trying not to smirk too much at Beth's feisty nature, Morgan continued. "So, naturally, she invited him to Christmas Eve dinner as she always does."

Beth groaned, realizing that of course, Shane would be there. And Lori! God, Beth just wasn't up for this.

"I thought we should clear the air before we get back to the farm" Morgan added. "No need to ruin your Moma's holiday. She's been so happy knowing that her girl was coming home." Morgan turned and began to walk to the driver's side. Beth followed, but Negan was there to open the door for her while Daryl made sure they had everything loaded into the back. Beth scooched to the middle of the seat knowing that she would need to make room for both her husband and Negan back there too.

Negan closed the door behind Beth and it was then that she noticed that she and Shane were the only two people in the vehicle. Beth looked around in a panic – Daryl was pissed, but Morgan was talking to him in soothing tones.

Shane finally cleared his throat. "Beth" he said quietly. "Beth" he repeated when she didn't look at him. "Beth, I've been trying to call you, but you won't answer my calls."

"Catch on quick, don't ya?" Beth asked.

"Come on Beth" Shane sighed. "I even came up to Chicago once to talk to you, but I chickened out at the last minute."

Beth remembered the night she became lost in the city following a man she was certain was Shane. "Why?" Beth asked.

"Huh?" Shane responded.

"Why would you do that?" Beth asked. "What did you want Shane?"

"I wanted to talk Beth. I wanted to tell ya how very sorry I am for what I did to you. What I've done to the family dynamics – it'll never be the same. I attacked ya, tried to take advantage when ya were at your lowest. Shoulda been protectin ya, but instead I was stalkin ya – plottin when I could get ya alone – have my way with ya." Shane looked down at his feet.

A tear fell down Beth's face.

"I never wanted to hurt ya. Not you. Not ever. I love ya Beth" Shane continued his babbling. "I've always loved ya, always will. Realize now, I can never have ya. I just wanted to apologize for hurtin ya so. Please forgive me. Please Beth. Please forgive me. I just can't go on if ya don't forgive me."

Beth didn't respond and it was at that point three of the doors on the vehicle opened and all three men got into the car. Beth realized when they took a different route after turning from the airport parking lot that they weren't heading to the farm directly. Soon enough the SUV pulled into the driveway of Beth's house in town. Rick stood on the front porch smoking a cigarette looking as if he'd lost his best friend. He really already had – years ago when he fucked his wife behind his back. Today though, today, they were all going to bid Shane Walsh farewell.