I do not own any of the TWD characters.

Rattle Rattle

"Need some help Sweetheart?" Lucy cautiously asked a very frustrated and perspiring Beth. Beth blew the hair out of her eyes before looking up at Lucy. The older lady could see the tears forming in her eyes. "Beth, honey, what's wrong?"

"I'm scared Lucille" Beth whispered and the tears began to fall in earnest now. "I'm scared I can't do this. I'm scared I won't be a good mother. I'm scared something will be wrong with the baby."

Lucille crossed the room quickly where Beth had been struggling with getting her last shoe on – she sat down beside the panicked mom to be and pulled her into a hug. "Beth" she sighed. "You can't let thoughts and fears like that occupy your mind. Everything's going to be just fine. You've been seeing the best doctors in Chicago – Daryl has seen to that. You've taken incredible care of yourself – Negan has seen to that." Lucille and Beth both laughed at that comment, "And I can't just imagine you not being the world's most perfect mother."

Beth hiccupped a bit. "And, Daryl" Lucille smoothed Beth's curls "is going to be an incredible Daddy. I just know it."

"I know he will, but he's scared too" Beth admitted. "I mean, you know how he grew up. He practically had to raise himself."

"I know" Lucy smiled warmly. "That man has certainly had a lot to overcome. And he has. And will continue to do so. Now let me help you with that other shoe. Dwight will be here any minute. He's going to take us to the office."

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The ride into the city was quiet. Dwight was always too nervous to say much to Lucille other than Yes Mam and No Mam. If it had just been he and Beth, they would have had quite the conversation going by now. They talked about everything from sports, to crazy little hole in the wall places to eat, and the latest romantic comedy movies. Beth had insisted, to everyone, that Dwight call her Beth. It had taken some convincing on Negan's part – he didn't like Beth getting chummy with the employees at all. Dwight, himself was uncomfortable with just "Beth", so they compromised on "Ms. Beth." Daryl teased Beth about it saying that it made her sound like Dwight's babysitter or preschool teacher.

"That's not very nice Daryl" Beth fussed at Daryl when he'd started that up.

"Ain't tryin to be mean" Daryl smirked "just sounds like he's a little kid and you're watching him for the day."

"Hmmmmmpphhh" Beth snorted. "More like he's watchin me." Daryl cut his eyes at his wife. "Ya know it's true – you and Negan always send him over to check on me, make sure I've eaten, or to keep me entertained. I'm not stupid you know. I'm pretty sure there are more important things he should be attending to."

"Yeh, well, somebody's gotta keep you under control" Daryl had continued the teasing. "I sure as hell can't do nothin with ya."

"We're here" Dwight's voice pulled Beth back to the present. "You ladies want to wait out here for the misters or I can go in after them or I can call them?"

"You feel like going in Beth?" Lucille asked Beth and rubbed her arm. "I'd sure like to show you and your sweet belly off a little bit more – won't be long and I'll have something else to show off."

"Sure, we can go in" Beth answered. That was Dwight's cue to find a parking spot as close to the elevator as possible. Dwight quickly exited the vehicle so that he could open the door for Lucille and then he opened the door for Beth, making sure to assist her down and out of the vehicle.

The three of them made their way to the elevator in the parking garage that would take them up to the office. It was the end of May and it was a beautiful spring day with a wonderful breeze blowing. Beth, however, felt as if she could melt into a puddle of goo right there into the asphalt.

"Here" Dwight mumbled as he handed her a bottle of water.

"Isn't this yours?" Beth asked the man.

"I hadn't opened it yet" Dwight laughed.

"I don't wanta take your water away from you" Beth realized that Dwight must have thought that she thought he expected her to drink after him.

"I think you need it more than I do right now" Dwight twisted the plastic top breaking the seal and then handed the bottle to Beth.

"Thank you Dwight" Beth said softly, trying to hold back the sniffles. "You're just so kind."

Dwight was obviously uncomfortable at the sweet thank you and so he looked away quickly from Beth only to see Lucille smiling at him as well like he'd just saved the whole world. What is it with these women Dwight thought to himself? The elevator door opened and the trio stepped out and walked over to the reception desk where a yuppie type sat pecking away on a keyboard. She quickly looked up though at sensing someone's arrival and greeted them immediately.

"Good morning" she chirped. "How is everyone today?"

"We're doing very well thank you" Lucille offered. "We're just here to pick up Negan and Daryl."

"Yes Mam" the girl continued smiling at all three of them. "Mr. Negan told me to be expecting you. I'll just let him know that you're here." Dwight had already taken a seat on one of the sofas and was flipping through a copy of Architectural Digest. The receptionist replaced the phone back on the hook. "Mr. Negan wants you all to come on back if Mrs. Dixon's up to it."

"Ok" Lucille smiled at the younger lady before turning to Dwight. "You just want to wait for us out here Dwight?"

"Yes Mam" Dwight stood to answer Lucille. "I'll be right here whenever you all get ready to go."

"Alright Dear" Lucille told him causing Dwight to squirm a bit. "We won't be long."

Beth whispered to Lucille, "We better hurry and get back there." Lucille must have looked curious because Beth answered her with "I've got to tinkle."

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"Rattle, rattle" Beth heard the unmistakable snarky tone of Kelly, her frenemy.

"If you finish that statement with here come the cattle" Beth warned before even turning around "I will throat punch you."

Kelly just threw his head back and cackled. "Beth, you are absolutely glowing! Glowing I say" Kelly pulled her in for a hug. "And not just because you're sweating profusely, but you really do just have a halo of light all around your body. All. Around. Your. Body." Kelly pointed his finger at her in an exaggerated motion making a big circle.

"Thank you" Beth laughed. "I think."

"You been feeling okay?" Kelly continued with the small talk. "Because I'm going to be honest, Daryl's been a little bit of a fuss bucket."

"Don't you have work to do" Daryl scolded his assistant who'd been unaware of his boss's approach. "I'm pretty sure you don't have time to stand around and shoot the breeze."

"Yes your majesty" Kelly deadpanned. Before scurrying off though he pulled Beth in for another hug, "Let me know if you need anything. Anything at all."

The ruckus that Kelly had started in the hallway drew all sorts of people out of their hiding places. Everyone shouted greetings and well wishes as well as inquiries as to how much longer or holding up okay and Daryl taking good care of you. Beth smiled politely and nodded at everyone. And then the real ruckus appeared. Lucille rounded the corner with her husband trailing right along behind her.

"There's my Baby Girl!" Negan's voice boomed throughout the entire floor. That sent people back into their hiding places.

"My God Beth, you look flushed – you okay? Have you been staying hydrated today?" Beth, Lucille, and even Daryl tried to hide their eye rolling from Negan. He meant well, they all knew he did, but Beth was not the only person that Negan was about to push over the edge with all of his good intentions.

Instead of growling at Negan, like she may have done at Daryl, Beth took a second before responding and told Negan that thanks to Dwight, she had managed to stay hydrated. Negan made some kind of snide comment that at least ole Dwighty boy was good for something. Then he took a few minutes to stand there and rub Beth's belly and talk to it. Daryl had quit becoming embarrassed over Negan's insane fascination with Beth's stomach several months ago. Beth had filled him in on Baby Emily's story and both had agreed that if Negan and Lucille wanted to act like fools that they would just stand back and let them.

Daryl looked at his watch and tapped it alerting everyone to the fact that he thought they should get going. "Traffic's probably gonna be a bitch" he added as a verbal cue.

"Yeh" Negan agreed. "Let's roll. Sure you don't mind us going Doll?" he looked at Beth for reassurance.

"I'm positive" Beth smiled back at Negan. "This might be the last peek we get at her before she decides to make her grand entrance."

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Lucille rode up front with Dwight, Daryl and Beth sat in the middle, and Negan sat in the back. He insisted that he wanted to talk to Daryl and Beth about the apartment renovations. Lucille couldn't help but think that he fit perfectly back there all the way in the back. She couldn't help but reminisce and think that he reminded her a bit of one of her little brothers riding in the back of the station wagon when they were kids.

"We can have it move in ready before the baby gets here, but it's really going to be pushing it" Negan explained to Beth.
Beth and Daryl had already had this discussion the night before and they'd both agreed to what she was getting ready to tell Negan. "Neg" she began. Well, he was all ears especially when she started out with Neg. "Daryl and I would rather everything be done correctly instead of rushing it" Beth said. "If that means we have to bring the baby home to your place for a while, we're okay with that." Just as Daryl and Beth expected, Negan couldn't contain the smile on his face.

"We don't want to impose" Daryl interjected for good measure.

"Are you fuckin kiddin me?" Negan barked out. "We've got plenty of room and we love having ya'll. Having our newest princess there too" Negan got all misty eyed. "I just don't know what could make me any happier."

That's what the sneaky pair wanted. They knew their apartment could be ready, but there was no sense in driving everyone insane and increasing stress levels unnecessarily.

"Now, ya know Momma's gonna want to stay for a while" Beth began. "Would that be okay?"

"Beth" Lucille interjected at that point. "After the hospitality your mother has shown us every single time we show our faces? It's more than okay."

"Hell, I got a feeling if Little Princess is half as much trouble as her momma it'll take all of us to take care of her" Negan teased.