I do not own any of TWD characters.
First Night Home
Beth had just finished the apartment tour with the guest suite – which Noah thought looked more like a mini apartment than anything else. "What do you think Noah?" Beth smiled up at the young man. Noah had a big smile on his face.
"It's really beautiful Beth" Noah finally replied. He'd been paying particular attention to the guest suite. It had a separate entrance, a stackable washer/dryer combo in the bath, a small living room with a kitchenette. Most intriguing was what appeared to be a brand new bike tucked into a closet at the entry of the suite.
Beth still had a goofy smile on her face. "I'm really glad you like it" she giggled. Noah thought she was acting especially weird, even by Beth Dixon standards but he thought nothing else of it. Noah spied the wireless router up in the top of the closet where the bike was.
"Are you getting a nanny or something?" Noah asked. He was thinking this area would be perfect for something like that.
"Are you kidding me? A nanny?" Beth laughed. "Heck no. You know Daryl Dixon doesn't want just anybody tending to his little girl."
"Housekeeper?" Noah continued the guessing game.
"Seriously Noah?" Beth scoffed.
"Oh" Noah still just couldn't figure out why on earth they needed this separate living area. "Ms. Annette need a space when she comes to visit?" Noah thought he'd like to see little Annette Greene try and get up on that Schwinn bike.
Before Beth could respond to that, her phone buzzed. She glanced down at it and quickly accepted the call. "Hey Babe" she offered as a greeting. "You're never gonna believe who stopped by." Beth walked away, leaving Noah in the guest suite. It sounded as if she were opening some cabinets in the kitchen and Noah could hear Beth responding to Daryl's questions.
Noah finally left the apartment inside the apartment to go tell Beth goodbye – he had an exam to prepare for. His summer courses were kicking his butt for sure this go round. Stepping into the kitchen he found Beth rinsing Sam's bowl and filling it with cool water.
"I'm gonna get on back to campus Beth" Noah told her. "I've got an anatomy quiz in the morning – hadn't really had a lot of quiet time to prepare."
Beth fought hard to keep the smirk from her face.
"Not so fast Sweet Boy" Beth shook her head. "Daryl's on his way home, he's bringing supper, and he wants to talk to you."
Noah immediately began to worry. Had he done something to upset Mr. Dixon? Was he going to find someone else to take care of Sam? Had Noah been taking advantage of the Dixon's kindness and they were finally done with him?
"What's with the face Noah?" Beth questioned.
"Have I upset Mr. Dixon?" Noah stuttered.
"Why are you such a worry wart?" Beth teased. "You haven't done anything wrong – he just wants to run something by you."
"What?" Noah pressed. He just couldn't take the suspense nor any more stress in his life right now.
"I'm not sayin" Beth laughed. "You'll just have to wait and see." Conveniently, Emily woke from her nap and sounded as if she were being strangled alive. Beth, of course, knew that wasn't the case. It was Emily's I demand attention cry – now. Beth left Noah and Sam standing in the middle of the kitchen to wait for the arrival of supper. Noah's stomach growled and then Sam's did the same.
Noah laughed. "Dude, I feel ya" Noah rubbed Sam's head and looked around the kitchen for Sam's food.
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"That's just too much Mr. Dixon" Noah exclaimed. "As kind and as very, very generous as your offer is – I just cannot accept it."
Beth sat slack jawed. She thought for sure Noah would jump at the opportunity – her heart had been set on it. She and Daryl had planned for it and both Daryl and Negan had really pulled some strings with the construction foreman to get everything just the way Beth had envisioned it. Noah would have his own apartment right there with them. No rent and Beth would make sure Noah was well fed. He'd have super reliable wireless to complete assignment as well as a quiet place to study and unwind. They'd still have an extra set of hands to help with Sam and Beth wouldn't be home alone with the baby when Daryl had to work late or travel out of town – a recent development as a result of yet another promotion.
Daryl, on the other hand, was not surprised – not one bit. He knew what it meant to need help but still have too much pride to accept that help. Daryl had counted on a little bit of resistance.
"Noah" Daryl began in a calm voice. "This is not some kind of act of charity – don't look at it that way."
"It seems an awful like a hand out to me" Noah continued. "My grandparents would kill me. I am struggling right now, but they raised me to work for what I wanted" Noah began to explain. "I'm not able to continue with the work study hours since my classes are just insanely difficult and my roommate has flaked out on me. Fall classes are upon me and the textbooks alone for this next semester far exceed what I'm allotted for in the scholarship." Noah rubbed his face in frustration.
Beth just felt plain awful. She and Daryl knew that Noah had been having a hard time, but Noah didn't know that they knew. Noah and Dwight had tied one on one night out at the pool house by Negan's pool. Apparently, Noah is a little loose lipped when he drinks and had spilled his guts to Dwight. Dwight, being the tender hearted individual that he really is, confided in Beth. And there ya go.
Noah was embarrassed at his situation, but more than that he was scared to death that he was going to have to return home to Virginia without that degree he'd worked so hard for thus far. The stress was just about to do him in.
Emily had been really well behaved in her baby glider but Daryl felt the need to get up and retrieve his daughter – not so much because she needed comforting at the moment, but he did. He knew that deep down, this would be what was best for Noah. Noah's money was running out and he still had two more full semesters of undergrad to complete – and after that, at least four years of medical school to go after that. He also understood where Noah was coming from and remembered back to a time that he had to swallow some of that pride and grab the hand that was offering much needed support. Daryl was not going to allow Noah to refuse their help – he had become family to them and family was everything.
"Noah" Beth spoke softly. "Please don't be mad at me."
"Oh, Ms. Beth" Noah sighed. "I could never be mad at you."
"Uh, well. You say that now" Beth answered, but looked down at her half eaten sandwich. "I've already spoken with your grandparents."
"What?" Noah's whole demeanor changed. "You had no right to do that Ms. Beth. No right at all."
Daryl spun around to give Noah a warning look. "Don't raise your voice to my wife" Daryl stated. "Ever."
A very uncomfortable silence fell over the dining room.
"I'm sorry" Noah said to Beth.
"It's okay" Beth replied.
Daryl finally spoke. "No, she didn't have any right to do that" Daryl threw a look his wife's way that caused her to want to melt into the floor, "but I can assure you, Beth had only good intentions."
Beth managed to wipe the hurt look from her face and speak up to add something. "Your grandparents haven't heard from you in several months Noah. When I called, they were very worried about your wellbeing. Why aren't your checking in with them like you used to?"
Both Daryl and Beth's eyes were trained on the young man waiting to hear his response.
Finally Noah spoke up. "I didn't want to worry them. I knew I wouldn't be able to keep it from them – the fact about how hard classes have gotten, and the scholarship money getting so tight. Just thought it'd be better not to communicate at all until I could get everything under control."
"Noah, a man trying to make his way in the world wants to say that he did it all on his own" Daryl spoke calmly. "I get it – I do. But, ya know what's even better than that?"
Noah looked at Daryl, but didn't speak.
"Having friends and family, friends that are like family, to help ya out when ya need it" Daryl answered his own question to the boy. "Don't be a dumbass – it's a win win for everybody."
"I do not want to come across as unappreciative" Noah told the couple. "Because I am very appreciative. I'm also overwhelmed."
Neither Daryl nor Beth made any response as they sensed Noah wasn't finished talking.
"Are ya sure I'm not gonna be a burden?" Noah asked. "I'm gonna feel like a free loader guys."
"Man, if ya don't move in, Beth's gonna make me take up riding a bike again for exercise and I just don't think I have it in me" Daryl teased Noah. "Ya need Dwight to help ya get your stuff moved over here?"
Noah didn't respond right away, but eventually he nodded his head. "Yeh, I've got his number – I can text him."
"Good, it's settled" Daryl declared. He sat down with Emily draped across his shoulder as he finished off his Italian beef sandwich in two bites. Wiping his mouth on a brown paper napkin, he announced "I brought donuts home for dessert."
Beth rolled her eyes, but Noah's eyes lit up like a Christmas tree.
"Ah man" Noah gushed. "I could get used to this!"