I do not own any of TWD characters.

Farmer's Market

Emily had developed a little runny nose later in the evening of the "Big Poop" disaster as it was now being referred to. Of course, Daryl and Beth being first time parents, they took their baby girl in for a checkup first thing the next morning.

When the nurse had asked about bowel movements, nursing habits, and that type thing Beth absolutely had to share the trauma they'd all suffered just the day before. Daryl felt queasy just listening to the details. Beth was a great story teller, always had been, but Emily was providing brand new material for her momma. With Beth imitating Noah's antics of running around the house with Emily held out at arm's length, the entire staff at the doctor's office was in stitches, so much so that when Dr. Smith came out of another exam room he had to ask what in the world was so funny.

The man seemed to side with Daryl on this one – even though he was a doctor and had seen some pretty disgusting stuff, messy poops had always done a number on him as well. The doctor put a knowing hand gently on his good shoulder, "I'm so sorry Dad. Those blowouts can be rough."

"Man, you ain't kiddin" Daryl laughed good heartedly at himself and Beth's plight.

Emily was very healthy, only being diagnosed with her very first cold. After much reassurance from the doctor and nursing staff, instructions on how to handle the runny/stuffy nose, and a list of some natural home remedies to try (at Beth's request) the Dixon's made their way back home. Margaret, the receptionist, had also provided Beth with the name of a very reliable cleaning service that could take care of getting those poop stains out of the brand new carpet throughout their apartment.

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Daryl or Beth neither one thought he'd ever get out of that arm contraption but he did. Following up with daily physical therapy appointments, Daryl was soon back to his normal self. It had certainly been quite the ordeal that's for sure and it was amazing to Daryl how quickly he had become so dependent on Beth doing for him. Stepping into the shower one evening before supper, Daryl immediately hollered for Beth.

Entering the bathroom with a spatula in her hand and a panicked look on her face, "You okay?" she blurted out.

Daryl realized that he didn't need a bit of help. He didn't have any idea what he was hollering for. He'd just gotten so used to depending on her he figured that he'd yelled for help out of habit.

"Yeh" he smiled, really Daryl was embarrassed. "I'm good."

Beth laughed. "What on earth are you shouting about?"

Daryl laughed in return. "I have no fuckin idea."

"Well, get in the shower" Beth swatted his bare bottom. "Supper's just 'bout ready."

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"This chili is amazin Beth" Daryl dove into his second bowl. "Didn't realize how much I missed chili – hadn't had any since last winter."

"Well, there was a little nip in the air today and I just thought it would be real good for supper tonight" Beth replied.

Daryl mumbled his agreement with a mouth full of food.

"So, Em and I found a farmer's market today" Beth sounded excited.

"Yeh?" Daryl took a big swig of his tea.

"Yeh" Beth answered. "She was a little cranky after her morning nap, so we went for a walk. Apparently, there's a farmer's market each Tuesday afternoon over by the park." Beth blew on the spoonful of chili before swallowing it – she wasn't going to scald the lining of her mouth like someone else at the table was. "Em and I took Sam for a walk. It was a beautiful day. She loved being out and about and Sam loves showing her off."

"Cool" Daryl told his wife. He then looked to his daughter sitting in her bumbo seat. "You have a good time today Baby Girl?" Emily just smiled up at her Daddy.

"I just wish I'd found it sooner though" Beth stated. Daryl had already forgotten what they were talking about he'd gotten so caught up in having a conversation with Em.

"Huh?" Daryl asked. "Found what sooner?

Beth gently rolled her eyes. "The farmer's market – today was the last one for the season. But, I'll be ready for next season."

A lull of silence – Daryl had taken to blowing on his chili now.

"They had some green tomatoes there" Beth rattled on. "Bought us a few, thought we might have fried green tomatoes tomorrow night. I make this killer sauce to go with."

"Did something happen while ya'll were out?" Daryl finally asked Beth. She was rambling a bit, even by Beth's standards.

"Uh, well" Beth looked down at the napkin in her lap.

"Beth?" Daryl questioned.

"Well, we ran into, uhm" Beth was sputtering.

"You ran into?" Daryl was waiting. "I swear to God Beth, if you say you ran into Shane Walsh, I'm gonna flip my shit."

Beth jumped at the growl in Daryl's voice. "No, no. Uhm, Spencer Monroe was there" Beth finally managed to get it out.

Woah. That came out of nowhere. Daryl hadn't even given that piece of shit a second thought. He honestly thought maybe Dwight and Simon had finished him off that night. The man had not been at work – hell, his office was vacant. He wasn't going to come out and ask anyone about him though.

"Are ya kiddin me?" Daryl dropped his spoon onto the table. "He say anything to ya?"

Beth shook her head no.

"Ya say anything to him?"

"He looked over the table of tomatoes at me and then he looked down at Emily. Next thing I know, he's leaving. Well, as fast a man can leave using a cane."

Daryl didn't make any response for a minute.

"He looked to be in pretty bad shape Daryl" Beth offered. "He was using a cane and it appeared he doesn't have the use of his left arm – ya know kinda like a stroke victim or something. There was a guy with him."

"Whatya mean a guy?" Daryl questioned.

"Well, and I'm just guessing here, but this guy appeared to maybe be a nurse or health aide" Beth told Daryl. Her husband raised an eyebrow at her. Beth continued, "I mean, he wasn't in scrubs or anything, but I could just tell by their conversation and it was like the guy was encouraging him to pick up the produce himself, you know kinda like your OT and PT made you do stuff on your own."

Again, it grew very quiet.

"Wow" was all Daryl could say.

"It looked like it required a great deal of effort on Spencer's part just to be upright and moving on his own" Beth threw in as an afterthought.

"Daryl?" Beth asked timidly. "What did you do to Spencer?"

"I intended to kill him" Daryl answered his wife quickly. "Didn't get to finish him off – I really figured Dwight or Simon one had done it for me."

Beth looked truly horrified. Daryl didn't know what to say at that point.

"Well, he looked pitiful" Beth added. "Just pitiful."

The house was very quiet for the rest of the night. Daryl even took a pass on the blackberry cobbler Beth had made. Neither knew what to say to the other. Daryl honestly believed that Spencer Monroe had died that night and hadn't given him another thought. Daryl had been so insanely angry that night that he didn't give a rat's ass. It really hadn't bothered him either. The look his wife gave him though had him looking at it from a more grounded perspective. What kind of man didn't give a shit if someone finished off another person that he'd nearly beat to death? Will Dixon was that kind of man. Daryl's blood ran cold – he was his father's son after all.