Logan hadn't touched, spoken or even dared to just look into Beth's direction, since Daryl had punched him in her cell weeks ago. And every time Daryl walked past the boy, got near him or even just entered the same room, he winced together, which caused Daryl to smile amused to himself. And Daryl knew, that Logan as sure as hell won't ever try to molest Beth again, which made Daryl sleeping better somehow.
So everything got their normal routine again. Beth and Daryl still met as often as they could, no one had noticed anything about their little secret and everyone was just fine. But if Daryl was serious two things had changed, about which he had to smile to himself every time he thought about it.
Before, when Daryl had got on a run, Beth had always wished him good luck and that they should all come safe back home, but she was just wishing him so, when she had seen him by coincidence. But since weeks Beth came, every time Daryl left for a run, the whole way down to the gates, just to wish him her kind words and even when the other were standing next to them, Beth got on her tiptoes and placed an almost shy kiss on his cheek.
Daryl had to admin, that he liked this change, even much. The first time she was doing this, he couldn't even process what had just happened. Daryl just realised it, when Beth was already back by the prison again and everyone around him was looking surprised and confused at him. The men also seemed a little bit jelous, if he was serious. And again for Daryl, Beth was just the cutest girl on the whole world.
And every time he got home from a run, Beth doctored carefully his wounds. He had told her more than once, that she didn't have to do this. But when Beth gave him the answer, that she liked it to take care of him, Daryl just had to smirk to himself. Daryl adored it how carefully she was cleaning his wounds, how soft her fingers were and how cute she was, when she was worried about him.
No one ever had really cared about him in his life before. It was a new feeling for Daryl, but somehow he had to admin, that he already liked it in the very first second. How his neck and back got warm, when Beth told him, that she liked it to take care of him. How Daryl's whole body began to tingle, when she almost stroked with her warm, soft fingertips over his rough skin. For the first time in his life, Daryl allowed himself to believe, that someone cared about him. That sweet Beth Greene cared about him.
Since that day, she had told him about Logan and his intention, he was calling her baby girl, every time they were intimate. He didn't know why, but he liked it so damn much to call her like that, because it just fitted her. With her big, baby blue eyes, her sweet nose with those freckles, the cute rosy cheeks and with her thin, little body Beth was just a baby girl.
And since that day, Daryl had saved her from the dumbass' horny hands, he was calling her sweetheart from time to time, just because Daryl liked the tickling on his tongue, when he was calling Beth like that. Of course, only when they were alone and it was safe that nobody could hear them, but Daryl always got a bright smile from her as response, which was enough for him to say it again next time. And next to baby girl, sweetheart was also just fitting to this pretty, young girl.
It was a normal day, Daryl just wanted to make with Rick the plan for the run they wanted to do in a few days, when Beth and Carl come outside from one of the oldest, uninhabited parts of the prison. By the first look Daryl hadn't even noticed anything wrong, but the second he looked away again his brain got it, that Beth was holding something in her arms.
Something, which was wrapped in the light blue vest, the clothe she had worn at breakfast this morning. But now the vest wasn't just blue any more, there were blood spots everywhere. Daryl's eyes finally caught Beth's face and his heart began to hurt instantly, when he saw her shocked, broken expression. Her eyes wide opened in horror, glistening from the tears swiming inside and red from the one, which had already fallen down her cheeks. Her arms, hands and upper body were full of blood.
Carl next to her wasn't looking any better, but the kid's rigid, traumatized look told him, that their all lives had changed right now, even when still now Daryl didn't know what had happened. No one said a word, while Beth and Carl came to the two men.
Getting closer and closer Daryl could tell, that Beth's lips were trembling bad, while her eyes were looking at the man to his left. Daryl just got it, that he should ask them what had happened, instead of just standing there, staring and waiting for them to come closer, when suddenly the air was filled with high baby screams.
"Rick." Beth whimpered helpless, almost begged the sherif. With a shocked face Rick was looking at Beth, before he managed to ask with a broken, almost inaudible voice "Where is she? Where is.. where is Lori?" But the man didn't get an answer, because Carl and Beth weren't able to say even one word. The blond girl with the newborn baby in her arms just shook slowly her head, while she began to cry even more.
"I'm sorry." Beth finally whimpered and before Daryl could even process this or could react to what he had just heard, Rick began to scream hysterical next to him. First he was just stepping forth and back, his hands deep in his hair, he was screaming, so everyone near came closer to see what had happened.
Protective Beth placed her free arm around Carl's shoulder and pulled him closer to her side, also the newborn she was pressing closer to her chest, while they were all watching their leader break down. Also Daryl was just standing helpless there, not knowing what to do.
But suddenly Rick's eyes found the baby in Beth's arm and determined he started to go into their direction, with still that hysterical look in his face. "No! Don't hurt it Rick!" Beth screamed and now she was pressing the newborn with both of her hands against her chest, after she had shoved Carl protective behind her.
And that was the moment, when Daryl's limbs finally got some life again. "Rick!" Daryl yelled, while he got closer to his friend and made him stop with his whole power. "Come on man, calm down. Calm down Rick." Finally Daryl could prevent Rick to get any closer to the three of them and without saying anything the man left into the building, from which Beth and Carl had come, with still the same hysterical look in his face.
Worried Daryl turned around again, just to see that Hershel was already standing next to Beth's side and tried to calm her down. Just seconds later Carol came to them and took Carl protective in her arms, before she leaded him away to the next chair.
After Beth had calmed down a little, Hershel also leaded his daughter, still with the little baby in her arms, to Carl and Carol. Without even thinking about it Daryl followed them, even when his brain still didn't realise what had just happened.
"Give it to me Bethy." Hershel commented soothing and after a few seconds she finally handled the little baby into her father's arms, like she didn't want to give the little bunch of life away. The second Beth's arms were empty she hugged herself desperately instead, the tears still running down her sad face.
Hershel laid the baby carefully on the table in front of them and after a few seconds looking at it he said "It's healthy, but only for now. It needs formula, soon. Or it won't make it." And that was the moment Daryl's whole body got to complete life and his brain finally began to work again. "No. We won't lose another life. I will get the formula, I know where I can find one." Daryl said determined, before he turned around and already ran to his bike.
He just wanted to start it, when he could hear a familiar voice, which still had that broken part. "Daryl!" Beth screamed, while she came running into his direction. Breathless she stopped in front of him, her eyes still red and swollen and her hand was shaking, when she placed her palm on his lower arm. "I will come with you. I want to help." Beth told him, but that wasn't an opinion for Daryl.
"No, Beth. You won't." He said to her and Daryl could tell, that she just wanted to ask him why, when he suddenly got a good reason, why she shouldn't come with him and bring herself in danger. "The baby needs you Beth. I will be back soon, you have to be there for the baby and Carl."
Beth knew, that he was right, so she finally nodded her head, even when Daryl could tell, that she still wanted to come with him. "Stay safe Daryl." She almost begged him with some new tears glistening in her eyes. "You too girl." Daryl said, before he really started his bike and rode to the gates.
Five hours later Daryl finally got back with a back pack full of formula. It was already dark, when he entered the prison and followed the high baby screams. The second Daryl entered the room, his eyes were searching for Beth's and she easily caught his. Maybe he was just imagined it, but for one quick second her eyes had lighted up, when she saw him being finally back and safe. Beth came quickly to his side then, when Daryl placed the back on the table and she began instantly to make the formula.
With big, still wet and red eyes Beth was looking at Daryl to make sure he was really okay. Giving her little node, so she knew he was alright, Daryl finally turned around, after Beth had nodded relieved back at him, she had even tried to give him a little smile.
The baby still cried bitterly, while Carl was holding the little something clueless in his arms. It was probably instinct, which made Daryl finally go over the so heartbreaking crying newborn, take it from its brother's arms into his and carefully like never before in his life, Daryl held the little bunch in his so big looking arms and tried to soothe it with cradling it gently.
"Shsh.. It's okay. Everything is alright. In a few seconds you will get something to eat. Shsh.." Daryl whispered, while his eyes took in the first newborn he had ever seen so close in his life. The baby's face was red, because it was crying so bad, the tears were running down the little cheeks like rivers and it was so damn light and tiny, like Daryl wasn't even holding anything in his arms.
After a few more soothing tries to make the baby stop to cry, its face finally began to loose, while Daryl was still cradling it in his so big looking arms. "Yeah, that's right. You don't have a reason to cry any more little ass kicker." Daryl whispered and the second his voice found the baby's little ears, it began to blinke and finally its dark brown eyes were looking up at him.
And even when this was telling Daryl, that this newborn in his arms, wasn't Rick's little kid, like they had all always believed, it didn't change anything about the fact, that this was the cutest baby Daryl had ever seen. Even when he had never really liked its real father.
"Daryl, here." Beth's excited voice took Daryl away from his thoughts, while he was still watching the baby in his arms. Without even wanting it, Daryl suddenly had the baby bottle with the fomula in his hand and he just wanted to tell Beth, that he had never fet a newborn before, when he caught her so proud looking face.
Beth Greene was proud about him, Daryl Dixon, and he sure as hell had to try, at least for her. Carefully he brought the baby in a better position, before he leaded the bottle with a shaking hand to the baby's little mouth.
"That's good sweetheart. It's for you. C'mon on, take it." Daryl tried to encourage the baby with its big eyes and his heart made a jump inside his chest, when the newborn finally took it urgently into his little mouth and began to suck.
Relieved and proud Daryl was watching the baby for a few seconds, before he lifted his head and the first thing he saw was Beth's so happy and proud looking eyes and latest then Daryl knew, that he had done something right for the very first time in his life.
But not only the two of them, everyone in the room was smiling with tears in their eyes at Daryl and the baby, and only then he noticed, that Rick wasn't here. Daryl watched how Maggie got closer to her sister and give her a hug from the bottom of her heart. He always admired the connection the two sisters had, something Daryl never had with Merle.
After their hug Beth got over to Carl, who was just standing there clueless and overwhelmed. Like Maggie before, Beth took the boy in her arms, even kissed the top of his head and because they were so close, Daryl could hear her say "Everything will be good Carl. Daryl has found a whole pack with formula. Everything will be good, I promise you."
Suddenly everyone began to talk, said kind, encouraging words to each other, but Daryl could tell, that the baby got distracted by the many voices and stopped drinking. "Hey sweetheart. Don't care about them. You have to keep going." Daryl said to the newborn, while he got with it to the chair in the corner of the room.
Daryl wasn't sitting there that long, when suddenly Beth stood in front of him and looked so relieved down at the baby in his arms and before she got herself quietly a chair next to Daryl, she stroked carefully over the newborn's tiny head.
After Beth had lowered herself, she gave Daryl a thankfully, happy smile, which he response instantly. They were both watching the baby drink still urgently for minutes, just enjoying the first peacefully minutes, since Beth and Carl had got out of the prison.
Daryl's eyes were still spellbound to the newborn's little, so clear looking ones, when Beth suddenly asked out of no where "Did you have children before?" Her question made him speechless, almost shocked. Unbelievable he was looking at her, because he just couldn't imagine, that Beth was really thinking he was a father before the apocalypse.
"No." He answered her simply, shaking his head and thinking about all the reasons he never wanted to become a father and the biggest was, that he had the fear to become like his old man. Brutal and irresponsible.
Beth probably got his discomfort and maybe also his sad thoughts about his childhood, because with her sweet voice she told him "I have just asked, because you are doing very well with the baby. Like you have done it before."
"No, I have never held a baby before. Maybe I'm just not the type of guy, who people like to give their babies." Daryl muttered and he was really surprised when Beth began to giggle next to him. "I'm sorry Daryl. It's funny, because look at where you are now. You are holding a baby, you have calmed it down, after it has cried since hours and you are feeding it. Today everyone would give you their babies with pleasure."
Daryl rolled his eyes in response, feeling damn uncomfortable about the compliment he had just got. Only then he remembered about the other things he had found in that one house. "In the pack are some clothes I could find in the hurry. There are still many other things, I will pick up tomorrow."
"You are amazing Mr. Dixon." Beth told him all happy, before she placed a shy kiss on his cheek, stood up and went over the pack to look inside. Daryl's whole face began to blush, while he could still feel her soft lips on top of his skin. Hell this girl will make him crazy one day.
Just the movements from the baby in his arms stopped Daryl from keeping on staring at Beth from behind, when he noticed, that the bottle was finally empty. "Oh, you have finished little.. Yeah, what are you even?" Daryl asked the newborn, before he placed the bottle on the table next to him and carefully he took the blanket away from the baby's body.
"Oh, well. Another girl." Daryl smirked down at the baby, already hoping, that he will get the chance to see her growing up. With a smile on her lips Beth came closer to the two of them again, a white cloth in her hand. "Her name is Judith." She told him, after she had lowered herself on the chair.
"Sounds well, fits to her. Has Carl chosen it?" Daryl asked, stroking carefully with his so big looking index finger over the little girl's cheek. "Yes. He said, that she still needs a name after everything.." Beth's voice broke then and Daryl could tell she was trying to suppress her tears, which were already burning in her eyes.
But maybe talking about it will help her, Daryl thought and so he finally asked "What happened in there?" Most of the time Beth was just watching her fingers, trying not to start to cry again, when she told him, that Carl wanted to show them something when suddenly Lori got into labor and started to bleed.
They were too far away to get some help and Beth needed Carl to be by her side, otherwise the baby wouldn't have made it. Beth had to let Lori die to safe the baby, it was Lori's last will. After everything was over, Beth had placed the newborn into Carl's arms and it broke her heart when she had to shove him out of the room, away from his mother, so she could make sure, that Lori won't come back. Even when Beth's arms were also shaking, she took the newborn from its brother's arms into her's before they got outside, because the boy was just too traumatized and would have probably dropped it unwanted.
Finally a few tears were rolling down Beth's cheeks, when she was finished and the fact, that Beth didn't want to cry any more, but she was still crying tears for someone other than herself, made Daryl admire her even more. "Hey." He said softly, while he placed his free hand on top of her trembling, small hands. Beth's eyes were still swimming in her tears, when she was finally looking up at him. "You have done everything right girl. You couldn't safe both, but you did save the baby."
Trying to give Daryl a little smile, Beth failed pitifully, before she quickly whipped her tears away, placed the white cloth on his shoulder and said "Here. You have to lay Judy with her chest by your shoulder and gently tap her back, so she can burp."
Unsure and not knowing how she meant it, Daryl placed the baby instead carefully into Beth's arms and said "I don't know how this works. Do you better make it." The second the newborn was laying in Beth's arms she began to smile up at the Beth, which made Daryl also smirk.
"Come here little sunshine." Beth whispered, while she placed Judith just right to make her burp, after Daryl had placed the white cloth on her small shoulder. Soothing and lovingly Beth was moving her hand above the little baby's back, tapping it softly sometimes, while they were both watching their family in front of them.
"Where is Rick?" Daryl finally asked, already afraid about the answer. "I don't know. Since he has left, we haven't seen him again. He probably just needs time to process everything. Like time could ever heal wounds like these." Beth answered him truthfully and Daryl could just node his head, feeling sorry for his friend.
Daryl knew, that Beth and also himself could never really like Lori, but something like this, you didn't even wish your enemy. It wasn't fair after everything they had been through, they deserved to be a family, but someone had other plans and now here they were. Only trying to make the best of it, even when in this moment nobody knew what the best was.
After he had breathed deep inside his lungs, Daryl asked curious "So where does little ass kicker sleep tonight?" Obviously Beth was also deep in her thoughts, when it needed some seconds, till she finally answered "She will sleep at my place. Carol will stay by Carl, he needs someone this night, because I don't think Rick will come back anytime soon."
"Tomorrow I will get you the other baby stuff from the house, I have also seen a crip there. I will leave early in the morning so you will have the things as soon as possible. Or better I will even go right now." Daryl said with an already determined voice, but Beth quickly stopped him with holding him back by his arm and telling him "No Daryl. Please stay for tonight. Little Judy is good now, she has everything she needs for tonight. Please Daryl, don't leave already yet again."
After looking into her worried eyes for seconds, he made himself a note to learn to say no to these beautiful eyes, even when he already knew now, that it won't ever work. "Okay. Good, I will stay." Daryl told Beth and just seeing her relieved smile as response was enough for him.
Suddenly they could hear Judith burpe and their attention got to the newborn again. Carefully Beth whipped everything away from her mouth and after, she said with a shooting voice "Are you ready for going to bed baby girl?" Even when the little girl was just looking up at her with clueless eyes, Beth began to smile and said dreamily to Daryl "Isn't she cute?"
"Yeah, she totally is." Daryl answered and for one quick second he didn't know, if he had meant little Judith or Beth with his answer. "I will take her to bed now. Maybe you can help me to take the back with the clothes to my cell? I still have to get her into one of these."
"Yeah, of course." Daryl said, before they both stood up, went over to their family to wish them good night and take the back pack with the baby stuff. Before they left into the direction of Beth's cell, she got over to Carl one more time, took him lovingly in her arms, as good as possible with Judith between them, and with his shaking hand Carl stroked carefully over the little baby's head and also wished her good night.
Finally in her cell Beth laid the already asleep newborn on top of her bed and tried to find fitting clothes in the pack. Daryl watched Beth the whole time, while he was leaning against the door frame. How bright she was smiling, when she had found one light pink pyjama and carefully dressed it the baby, like it was some doll.
After she was finished with her work, Beth stretched herself and was looking up at him with a sweet smile. "Thank you Daryl, for everything you have done today. And please stay safe tomorrow on the run." Beth told him with begging eyes and somehow Daryl just couldn't understand it how he deserved her worries.
"I will try my best girl." He told her with a smirk playing on his lips. "Not only trying Daryl. Promise it me. You will come back again." Now Beth was really begging him, while she closed the distance between the two of them more and more. Exaggerated he was rolling his eyes, but still he told her "I promise girl."
Even when they have done it already so many times, Daryl's heart still made a jump inside his chest and his whole face began to blush, when Beth got on ther tiptoes to place a tender kiss on his cheek. "Fine. Good night then Mr. Dixon."
"Good night girls." Daryl whised both of them and finally left Beth's cell. Instead of going to the guard tower, like almost every evening, he went directly to his cell today, because Daryl just got it how damn tired and exhausted he was after everything. It didn't even need more than thirty second, till he drifted off into sleep.
