I do not own any of the TWD characters.
Date Night
Fall was once again upon the great city of Chicago and the young Dixon family had worked themselves into a comfortable routine. Daryl went into the office most days, Beth and Emily stayed home but often went out to explore their neighborhood. On the days that Beth and Em did go out they usually had an escort in the form of Dwight. Daryl was a lot more relaxed since he'd been seeing a therapist, but not to the point that he was comfortable with his wife and child out and about by themselves.
Daryl had indeed gotten himself one of those "headshrinkers" and for six weeks he met with his therapist weekly. Now, though, he was going in for a monthly appointment. Beth could definitely tell the difference in Daryl - he was genuinely more relaxed than she'd ever known him to be. The night before his appointments he was always super quiet and introspective, excusing himself early to work in his office at home. Beth knew that Daryl was keeping a journal and he would use this time alone to read what he had written and to make note of things he wanted to discuss at his upcoming appointment. Beth never really pushed for Daryl to share anything from his appointments, but occasionally Daryl would volunteer some information.
One morning over breakfast Daryl had told Beth not to fix anything for supper.
"Hey Babe" Daryl began. "Why don't ya see if Noah can sit with Em for a little while tonight?"
"Oh, have I forgotten a work event?" Beth started to panic.
"No, no" Daryl laughed. "Just thought you and I might run over to our little spot on the beach 'fore they close up for the season - take Sam for a lamb burger. Want to?"
Beth broke out in a smile. "I'd love to - kinda like a date?"
Daryl stood and took his plate to the sink. "Yep - like a date - just you and me. And, well, Sam."
Beth stood on her tiptoes to give Daryl a peck on the lips. "I can't wait!"
"Make sure ya dress warm" Daryl hugged Beth to him just as close as he could. Em looked on at her parents taking full advantage of their temporary lack of supervision to smear pureed peaches all over her face and in her hair. Next, she squished it through all of her fingers thoroughly enjoying the splatting noise it made.
Daryl and Beth kissed and hugged for just a few more seconds. "I gotta go Babe - Negan and I got a pow wow first thing this mornin." Upon turning around to give his daughter a kiss on top of her head, Daryl did a double take. "Good Lord Em, what have you done?"
Beth looked to her daughter. "Oh Emily, you're not supposed to wear your fruit." Emily laughed and scrunched her nose up at both of her parents as if to say, "I know, but I'm so stinkin cute, right?"
Daryl kissed the end of his pointer finger and placed it on the end of Em's nose - the cleanest spot the girl currently had anywhere on her body. "Be good for Momma Em" Daryl reminded his daughter. "Ya'll goin out today?" Daryl asked Beth as they both walked to the front door.
"Might run to Bockwinkle's for some produce - I've got a few baby food recipes I wanta try out" Beth reported. "Do I have to"
"Yes" Daryl cut her off with the answer she knew he'd give. Yes, she had to take someone, either Dwight or Noah, with her to the store. Daryl still was not comfortable with the thought of Beth out on her own, but he refused to allow Beth and Em out on their own.
"Okay" Beth sighed. "Have a good day!" she called down the hall to her husband.
"You too Babe - love ya!" Daryl yelled back as he stepped into the elevator.
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"She's already had her bath" Beth rattled off to Noah. "And she's had her supper" Beth continued. Noah was very sweet and just kept nodding each time Beth told him something that she felt was super necessary.
"Beth, we'll be fifteen minutes away. Relax Baby" Daryl teased. "Noah's got this." Daryl glanced at Noah. "Ya got this, right?"
"Of course" Noah assured both parents. "We're gonna read a couple stories, play with some of those puppets I've been eyeing, take a bottle and go to bed. Easy peasy."
"See Beth" Daryl smiled at his wife who was pulling her Chicago Cubs hoodie over her head. "Easy peasy."
Beth snorted. Daryl grabbed Beth's hand and Sam's leash, then pulled the both of them out of the out on the street, they both breathed in the cool night air and began their walk over to the little bistro/cafe on the Ohio Street Beach. The sun had already set and there was a definite chill in the air. Once Sam figured out where they were headed it was all they could do to keep up with the dog. It was like he could already smell his lamb burger.
"What's the blanket for" Daryl asked Beth.
"Well, you told me to dress warm" Beth began and then she pulled up her shirt and sweatshirt to show Daryl that she was wearing thermal underwear as well.
"Good girl" Daryl praised his wife. "Glad to see ya finally payin attention to me."
"Pffft, please" Beth sighed. "Anyways, I brought the blanket for Sam to lay on. I don't want him layng on the cold ground. Have you noticed him having trouble getting up out of the floor sometimes?"
Daryl rubbed at his chin as if he were thinking. "Yeh" he sighed sadly. "I's hopin I's just imagin it. Guess not, huh?"
"No, I'm afraid not" Beth said. "Bless his heart. I'm thinking the cold weather might be just as hard on him this year as it has been on me."
"Ya probably right 'bout that" Daryl sadly agreed.
By this time, they'd arrived at the little lakeside restaurant. Most of the tables were full as the loyal and faithful patrons were savoring the last few nights of the season for the eatery. Daryl and Beth were seated immediately in a cabana.
"Daryl" Beth smiled at her husband. "This is so neat. I would've been fine at a table."
"Well, thought this would give us some privacy, be a little warmer too, out of the wind" Daryl stated. Beth noticed that there were plush throws already in the cabana and that a fire pit had already been lit and was warming the area nicely.
Beth kind of gave the little couch in the cabana a test bounce as if she were a kid jumping on a hotel bed. "Oh, how sweet and thoughtful! I guess I'll keep you."
"Gosh, I hope so" Daryl laughed.
"I bet Sam would like a burger" the young waiter suggested. "Am I right?"
"You are correct" Beth answered. "Make it two please - he likes the lamb burgers" Beth smiled at the young guy. He nodded and returned the smile.
"What about you Mrs. Dixon? What are you having tonight?" he asked Beth.
"Oh gosh, I don't know" she laughed. "I know I want to start with an Electric Lemonade. Daryl, why don't you just order a bunch of stuff for us - everything is good."
"Alright" Daryl looked over the menu, not that he really needed to. "I'll have a Blue Moon. On tap, right?" Daryl asked.
"Yes sir" the young man answered.
"Okay, yeh, a Blue Moon and keep em coming" Daryl took one last glance at the menu. "We want a pound of steamed mussels, the crab cakes and fried calamari. Oh, and the Bang Bang shrimp. That should do us."
"Daryl" Beth suggested "we need a vegetable for goodness sake."
Without rolling his eyes or snorting Daryl added "and the charred brussel sprouts - extra bacon on those."
"Keep the lemonades coming too" Beth added.
The waiter left the cabana and Daryl looked at Beth seriously. "Can ya handle more than one of them lemonades? Been a while since ya had much of anything to drink."
"I know!" Beth agreed. "Your daughter has just 'bout worn me out the past couple of weeks."
"How come when she acts up she's my daughter" Daryl wondered aloud.
"Cause that's how it works" Beth laughed.
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Daryl and Beth ate and ate and they drank and drank and they talked and talked. They had also checked in with Noah several times over, each time Noah assuring them that both he and Emily were doing just fine. The last time Beth facetimed Noah, Emily was snoozing away in her bed and Noah was studying.
"I don't think I can walk back home" Beth giggled.
"Damn, girl" Daryl laughed. "You're gonna have to cause I sure as hell ain't in no shape to carry ya." Daryl went to stand and that's when he realized just how unable he was to walk home also. "Fuck" he sat back down.
"How we gonna get home" Beth was still snickering. "Can Sam get us home?"
"Hell naw, that dog can't get the both of us home" Daryl snorted. Daryl pulled out his phone and called Dwight. "Hey Dwight" Daryl yelled into the phone. "Dwight" he yelled again. "Where are ya man?"
"Dwighty" Beth yelled. "Dwight, come get us!"
"Yeh, me and Beth need a ride. And Sam. Me and Beth and Sam need a ride" Daryl restated. "I'll send ya my location. Alright. Naw, man I ain't gonna vomit in your vehicle - Beth might, I ain't."
Within fifteen minutes, Dwight had shown up to save the day. Dwight simply shook his head at the state of the couple - he figured that Daryl had been under a lot of pressure at work and Beth was probably worn to a frazzle with Emily. Heck, everybody deserved a night out to cut loose. Their secret was safe with him.