A/N Thanks so much! Once Daryl finally talked to Beth he learned a little more about the kind of person she is. The air is cleared on that topic. Or is it? Beth has one more big and very important question. She also makes a statement that could change both their lives.
Enjoy!
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He had the flowers clutched in his hand and as he pushed his front door open Beth was the first thing he saw. Just the sight of her resting in the big chair had his heart beating a little faster and a warm feeling rushing through his veins.
She looked so pretty and she appeared to be doing much better than she had in days. Once again there was color in her cheeks and her eyes had a little sparkle to them. Even the bruises seemed to finally be fading.
There was a bed pillow tucked in behind her and a thin blanket covered her legs and lap, but it didn't cover enough of her that he failed to notice her nightgown. He'd never seen her in the blue cotton gown and he liked what he saw. It was covered in a pattern of little yellow flowers and it was sweet and modest, just like her.
When she smiled at him and said, "Hey you," he realized he'd been standing there like his shoes were nailed to the floor.
He began walking toward her, smiling all the way and as he handed her a bouquet of the flowers. He bent to kiss the top of her head and quietly responded, "Hey yourself. How ya feelin'?"
She held the flowers to her nose for a moment before admitting to him, "I feel trapped, but I can't complain too much. I'm being spoiled rotten." She touched his hand adding, "I love my flowers, thank you."
It made him happy to know he'd pleased her. He grinned when he showed her the little bouquet in his other hand and said, "Had ta get Mick some too." Then he held her hand to his lips, gave it a soft kiss and admitted, "Til you came around she was the only girl I ever picked flowers for."
She mimicked his move, lifting his hand to her lips and kissing it. She whispered, "You have a way of making me feel special Daryl Dixon."
"That's cuz ya are." Something she said hit him then and he asked, "Whaddya mean, trapped?"
"Yes trapped. Maggie's much tougher than you. She barely lets me get up to use the bathroom. She and Mick have been hovering over me like a couple of old mother hens all morning. The only reason I'm getting a little break from their fussing right now is, they're in the kitchen fixing lunch."
He was biting his lip as he tried not to laugh. "Guess I should have called her ta come take care of ya sooner."
"You're not funny Mister Dixon."
He grinned and shrugged at first, but suddenly got a lot more serious as he dropped to his knees beside her chair. She was going to hear the news and he wanted to be the one to tell her. He took her hand in his and spoke quietly so Mick wouldn't hear him, "Sumthin' happened today Beth."
Her look changed too and there was concern in her voice when she asked, "Oh no, please tell me it's not something bad."
"Nah. Well I don't think it's bad. Rick come by the garage a little bit ago cuz he knew you n me would wanna know about it. Anyway, the fella who hurt ya? That Len guy? I guess they planned ta move him to Atlanta today. Before they could he died."
She was stunned by the news, "He died? What in the world happened Daryl?"
"Rick thinks he got ahold a poison. He said that's what it looked like ta him. The guy was unconscious when they got ta his cell and Rick said the place stunk like bitter almonds. That made him think it was cyanide."
"Cyanide? That's terrible but how would he have gotten it?" Then it struck her, "Oh my gosh Daryl, did someone kill him?"
"Nah, Rick don't think so. He thinks maybe the guy had it with him when they arrested him and they either missed it or he had it hid. He told us that some fellas just can't deal with the idea a goin' ta prison, they'd rather die."
"But where would he have been able to hide it? Don't they do some kind of search when people go to jail?"
Before he gave it any thought he'd already begun answering her question, it was too late to call it back. "Well some guys they wrap things up and they hide 'em…places."
"What does that mean? How? What places?"
There was no way he could bring himself to tell her how exactly it could be done. He only said, "Um, well they hide things inside theirselves." Even he turned red when he told her, "They don't do cavity checks here at King County jail. I guess after this deal they'll hafta start."
It took her a moment to realize what he was saying. When she did her hand covered her mouth and her body shivered slightly, "Oh my gosh, ew, that's the most disgusting thing I've ever heard."
Daryl had no doubt she was telling the truth. Thank God Maggie chose that moment to walk in the room and announce, "Lunch is ready. Beth, are you well enough to sit at the table?"
"Yes! If I have to sit in this chair another minute I'll go crazy." Maggie just smiled as she walked back to the kitchen.
Daryl was grateful to be off the subject and he smiled as he stood and took hold of Beth's hand, "Here, lemme help ya up."
She smiled too, at first. Then her look turned serious again and she asked, "What's going to happen now?"
"He's gone Beth. Ya never have ta worry about him again. Ya also ain't gotta go ta court and testify. It's done."
"Oh thank God, I'm so grateful for that, but…well…I'll say a prayer for him."
He gave her a long look before remarking, "Only you would pray for that SOB Darlin'."
They walked in the kitchen and Mick was already waiting for them at the table. He handed the little girl her flowers and she very dramatically held them to her nose and breathed in deeply. "Thank you Daddy, I love my flowers and they smell delicious." She looked at Beth and said, "You're up! Guess what?"
"I can't imagine Mick, what?"
"Aunt Maggie needed me ta help her make lunch an it's gonna be real delicious. It's mac n cheese an it didn't even come outta the box. We made it from scratched." She was smiling proudly when she added, "An just look, I even set the table just like ya showed me Beth."
Beth and Daryl raised their eyebrows at Mick's use of "aunt" but neither one made a comment on it. Beth simply smiled at the little girl and exclaimed, "Oh my you've done a wonderful job and I'm sure Maggie appreciates all of your help."
Maggie agreed, and as she put Mick's and Beth's flowers in jelly jars filled with water she watched the man her sister was so crazy over. The rough-looking Daryl Dixon picked flowers for his ladies and held her sister's chair while Beth got seated. Apparently gentlemanly things came disguised in rough packaging.
Beth looked at the table Mick had set and the big casserole dish in the center and commented, "This looks so good, thank you both. I love mac n cheese."
Daryl was just about to agree when he heard the loud vehicle approaching and he was pretty sure he knew who it was. "S'cuse me ladies, I'll catch the door. Go on ahead and start without me."
He could swear he'd had more visitor's since she arrived than he'd had in all the years before, but he found he didn't mind the change quite as much as he'd always thought he would. It felt like family and that was something he'd missed out on in his life. He didn't want Mick to miss out on having a family too.
That didn't stop him from also thinking it would be swell, just as long as they didn't come by too often or stay too long.
He opened the door just as Abraham began to knock. The big red-head looked straight in his eyes, nodded and said, "Ding dong the son of a dick is dead."
Daryl agreed, "Yep, the sheriff said the asshole done it ta himself."
"Yeah? Well as long as the deed is done I don't give a monkey's left nut how it happened."
The guy was loud and said some of the screwiest stuff, but Daryl kind of liked him, "C'mon in man, food's on the table."
When they walked in the kitchen Maggie looked at Abraham and simply asked, "Well?"
He answered, "It's done Hurricane. Not by me though, someone beat me to it."
She nodded, "As long as it's done. Now sit and eat."
The big man just smiled and said, "Yes ma'am."
Beth was confused but too afraid they'd embarrass her if she asked what the heck they were talking about.
Daryl picked up on exactly what was being said, and now he knew why Abraham Ford wanted to see Len dead. Maggie Greene wanted the SOB dead and Abraham Ford wanted Maggie Greene happy.
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Later that afternoon when he got home from work Beth was still in the chair, and still looking just as pretty as she had earlier that day. He walked over to her and gently cradled the back of her head in his hand, "Hey Darlin', how ya feelin'?"
"I'm much better Daryl, honest. I've slept so much and I haven't done one thing." Then she crooked her finger, wiggling it so he'd get closer. She whispered in his ear, "Please. I love Maggie, and Mick loves her too, but if I promise you that I won't do anything at all tomorrow. Nothing. Can I just take care of myself? Or even come to the garage and stay in the apartment with Mick? Anything. PLEASE?"
He was fighting a laugh when he told her, "Ya sound like me when it comes ta Merle. Too much of a good but a real loud thing, ain't it?" Then he gently grazed the backs of his fingers along her bruised but still so soft cheek and promised, "I'll work it out."
He was just about to kiss her when Maggie walked in the room. She had a cold bottle of beer in her hand, and she seemed to be giving him instructions when she handed it to him, "Go on and sit down on the couch Daryl, you've been working all day. Have a beer and catch up with Beth. Dinner will be on in half an hour."
He gladly took the icy bottle from her hand but told her, "Thanks Maggie, but I'ma run in and get a bath before dinner. I'll take it with me."
She shrugged and headed back to the kitchen and he leaned in to kiss Beth's neck and whisper, "Yeah, I'll take care of it."
He was just leaving the bathroom, his hair still soaking wet and the empty bottle in his hand when Abraham arrived for dinner. It reinforced his desire for a little more privacy. All the togetherness was real nice and all, but he was ready to spend his time with just Mick and Beth.
It was as they finished dinner that he let her sister know, "I appreciate ya helpin' us out today Maggie, it really means a lot and Beth's much better. I think we got it from here. I know ya got your own home and family ta care for."
Maggie was about to protest when Abraham piped in, "Yeah Hurricane, we need ta get home pretty quick anyway. I got some evenin' plans for ya."
Maggie giggled, Beth turned red and Daryl hoped to God he wouldn't have to hear any more about Abraham's plans.
As soon as Maggie and Abe left, Daryl took care of Mick's bath and getting her ready for bed. As he did he thought to himself, "finally we get ta sit together like…like what? Like a family?" Nah, maybe someday they would be that, but probably not yet.
For now it was just a couple hands of Go Fish in the living room with his daughter and their guest. Guest? That didn't sound right. Beth was so much more than a guest.
Fuck it all, he needed to talk with her about all this stuff. He needed to get honest. He needed to tell her how he felt.
As they'd been doing they had story time in Daryl's bed, and as happened most nights Mick fell asleep mid-way through the story. He shared a look with Beth as he picked the little girl up and whispered, "Be right back."
She wanted to be sure she was awake when he returned so she sat straight up. She was also silently rehearsing how she would ask him another big question on her mind.
It took him a bit by surprise when he returned to the room, and it wasn't just because of how sweet and pretty she looked. Usually by the time he was back from tucking in Mick, Beth was fighting sleep. But not this night. She was sitting up like she'd been waiting for him. It made him a little nervous but he was also happy about how much better and more rested she looked.
He walked to the bed, sat on the edge and took her hand, "What's the matter, you're not sleepy?"
She shrugged and answered, "Oh I don't know, it seems I'm always sleepy since…well..."
"Yeah, I know. It's cuz that's what ya need, sleep." He slid his finger slowly and gently along the line of her jaw when he added, "I know Maggie got ta be a little much for ya, but I think she was what ya needed. Ya didn't get ta do nuthin' else so ya slept. Now ya just gotta keep your promise ta me that you'll keep that up. If ya do, by the time ya go see the Doc Friday you'll be good as new."
As soon as the words were out of his mouth a question hit them both hard. Then what? Neither of them wanted her to leave but they were both afraid to mention the solution.
Should she simply stay?
Maybe it was fear of rejection. Maybe it was fear of the unknown. Maybe it was fear of such a big commitment so soon. And in Beth's case there was something more to worry about.
He hadn't pushed anything too intimate with her. He'd been a gentleman. She'd been badly injured and he was treating her carefully. Still, even though she'd never been with a man she was sure he wanted more. She didn't need experience to see the look in his eyes or feel it in the heat of his kisses and the tenderness of his touch.
That he would have physical desire didn't surprise her. What surprised her was how much she wanted something more intimate with him.
These yearnings presented a whole new problem. If she moved in with him permanently it was only a matter of time, undoubtedly a short time, before they began that sort of a relationship. She'd be trading what she was comfortable with for what she wanted in the moment. She'd be going against many of the values she'd always believed in, like waiting for marriage.
And what about Mick? If she and Daryl were in that sort of relationship it would be the same as telling the little girl it was perfectly alright. And maybe it was perfectly alright, for some people. Maggie seemed content with that lifestyle. But Beth didn't feel comfortable with it and she didn't feel comfortable with letting Mick think she was.
The answer to the problem seemed simple on the surface. Marriage. But marriage was a huge step and it was way, way too soon to take that step. Wasn't it? They hardly knew each other.
Except they did know each other.
They'd been living under the same roof, spending hours and hours together and sleeping in the same bed. Something else, he'd been completely trusting of her with Mick. She knew how careful he was with his daughter and that made the fact he trusted her a very big deal.
Of course she had no firsthand knowledge of what made a happy marriage but she thought she knew what the most important ingredients might be. There were three she was sure of, love, respect and honesty.
She'd realized early on she was in love with Daryl and her respect for him grew every day. He was a hard worker, a loving father and so loving and gentle with her. As for honesty, he couldn't have been more open and honest than when he told her about Mick and her Mother.
Still, the BIG question was, did he love her like she loved him?
What if he did? Would he be interested in marriage at some point? Maybe not now, it would be crazy to get married so soon. But would he want marriage eventually?
What if he never wanted to marry? She knew Merle and Karen had been together six or seven years and they weren't married. Maybe Dixons didn't get married.
She had so, so many questions but she didn't feel quite ready to bring them up. Not yet. There was another question though, one she also wanted to ask.
"Daryl can I ask you something?"
He shrugged, "Yeah, sure. What?"
"What about Mick's brother? Do you know what became of him, you know, after?"
He had nothing to hide, he was simply stunned she asked. It was so unexpected but he wasn't going keep anything from her, he just needed a minute to get his thoughts in order. When he began nervously chewing at the side of his thumb she quickly tried to backtrack, "You don't have to tell me if you'd rather not. It's fine, it doesn't matter right now."
"Yeah, it matters. It matters ta me. I screwed up bad and waited too long." He shrugged again as he began to answer her question, "I kept thinkin' I should look for Mick's grandparents and most of all for her big brother. Hell, I was even crazy enough ta think maybe his grandparents would let me take him with me. They're brother and sister and I could raise em together."
His lips were pursed and he swallowed hard as he nodded his head, "Merle tried ta talk me out of it, he said Mick's grandparents might try ta lay claim on Mick. Karen said they couldn't. I had the paperwork. I had custody. So I took my chances."
"Mick was about a year old when I started lookin'." He squeezed her hand and went on, "That was the first thing I had ta do, find em. I tried lookin' usin' her last name. I hit a dead-end there. After that I decided ta try goin' by her old place. I thought someone there might know sumthin' and someone did, the landlord."
"He said he had there address on the rental agreement but he acted like he couldn't tell me nuthin'. I was sure he just wanted me ta pay him for the information. I didn't pay but I did get a good hold of the front of his shirt and I promised ta beat the fuck outta him if he didn't tell me."
He saw the look on her face and quickly apologized, "Shit, sorry for the language but that's the way it happened." He shrugged, took another breath and continued, "So anyway, long story short they'd co-signed for her ta rent the joint and he had their name and address. I paid them a call that day."
The thumb chewing started again and he looked so distraught when he said, "I was way too late, they turned him over ta the county the day after their daughter died. Lookin' at em I understood why. They was old, Mick's mom musta been what they call a late in life baby. Anyway they said they just wasn't able ta care for a little fella like him."
He still looked sad when he said, "The good news is they told me some family adopted him. They said the county lady promised them he went to real good folks who couldn't have a child of their own. That's all the county would tell em and it's all I know."
She had no idea what to say, her only comment was, "I'm sorry Daryl."
"Yeah, well I thought maybe when Mick gets older, and if I decide ta tell her everythin'. If she decides she wants ta try'n find him I'd try'n help her do that. For now, I just gotta believe he's with folks who are happy ta have him and they're treatin' him good."
She was overwhelmed not just by the story, but by the fact that once again he'd shown her what a good man he was. She hadn't planned to tell him, she was waiting, hoping he'd say the words to her first. But those words came so naturally, "I love you Daryl."
He thought he couldn't possibly have heard her correctly. He looked at her and asked, "What?"
She squeezed his hand and smiled as she repeated the words, "I said I love you Daryl."
He just kept looking at her as he stood, flipped off the light, lifted the covers and slipped in the bed with her. He took her in his arms, kissed her with so much passion she felt her toes begin to curl. When he finally stopped long enough to breathe he whispered, "I love ya too Beth."
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A/N Wozer. Well we all knew they were in love, heck even they knew. It just took them a while to say it out loud :) Please leave a comment and let me know what you think. We'll pick up right there next Friday and I hope you'll be back for more of It Matters to Me. It's that time of year again, time for the Moonshine Awards for Bethyl writers. If you've been enjoying this story and some of my other Bethyl fics please consider voting. You can find the ballot on Ultimatebethylficlist. Oh, and check out the chap photo on my tumblr blogs. They're so pretty :) Thanks for reading along and I hope to see you back next week. In the meantime remember, I love ya large! xo gneebee