Daryl woke up next day, before the sun had even rose. He was still damn tired, while he rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and the first thing he thought about was Beth. Obviously she had slept well, because otherwise she would have come to his cell. On the one hand Daryl was glad, that she got her rest, but on the other hand he had wanted her to come to his cell. Maybe they could have cuddled some more, taking her in his arms and holding her close.
After Daryl had dressed himself, he went silently down the empty corridor, till he reached Beth's cell. He couldn't hear nothing from inside, she was probably still asleep, but still Daryl moved carefully her private curtain away and looked inside.
And there she was. Laying like a god damn sleeping angel in her bed, so damn beautiful. While Daryl leaned against the doorframe he suddenly got the need to get closer to Beth and pull the blanket over her bare shoulder, so she would have it as warm as possible. Her sweet nose she had buried deep inside her soft pillow, her mouth looked so relaxed and tender, so kissable right now.
Her long eyelashes were moving from time to time, but obviously Beth had a peacefully sleep and Daryl knew, that she needed it so damn bad. After he had watched her sleeping for minutes, he decided that whenever he will get the chance again, he will do it, because it was one of the most beautiful things he had ever seen in life.
Reluctantly Daryl finally repelled himself from the door frame, went downstairs and out of the building to the next a few feet away. When he finally reached his destination, Doctor S was almost sleeping in the chair next to Hershel, like he had promised Beth to stay last evening.
Only after seconds the doctor finally noticed him, before Daryl said simply "I will stay by him now." Thankfully and very tired doctor S left the room, so Daryl took place in the chair instead. With his elbows supported on his knees he watched Hershel.
He was looking much better than yesterday, but at the same time Daryl knew that it will be a long, hard way back to how it was. They needed to find some crutches, more bandages and medicine, something hr will get him as soon as possible. At least he could do that for Hershel, because Daryl owed him something.
While he kept on watching the old man, like Daryl had done with his daughter just minutes before, he thought about how much Beth needed her father and sister and of course visa verse. That was the kind of family he had always dreamed about, but too far away to reach for him or even dare to ask for.
When they were back at the farm Daryl always felt uncomfortable, when they hugged, told them how much they loved each other or just the kind, lovingly way they were acting as a real family. But finally Daryl got used to it and now he even formed a smile on his lips, when he watched the Greene family acting like that.
And didn't matter about what Daryl thought the last hours, just everything made himself feel even worse. Now he had to think about his brutal father, careless mother and stupid brother. About the fact that it was his fault, what had happened with Hershel, didn't matter how often Beth will tell him otherwise, he won't ever really believe her. And of course, that he had killed her mother and brother, her half family, the once she loved so much.
Trying to suppress the need to bunch himself, Daryl rubbed his still damn tired eyes and let his palms in front of his face for a few seconds. Feeling the ashamed way he did since weeks, before he pulled his hands away again, leaned forward and carefully he took Hershel's hand into his.
"I'm so sorry." Daryl whispered, hoping that the older man will hear it somehow, so he won't be that angry any more, when he will finally wake up. These words had of course never helped by his father, but like Beth had said, Hershel wasn't that kind of father and maybe he will really forgive him.
Embarrassed Daryl couldn't look at the man any more, instead he watched his shoes, still holding Hershel's hand, when the man suddenly began to move and pressed his hand. Quickly Daryl looked up and saw how Hershel slowly began to wake up.
Excited, glad and scared at the same time Daryl was looking at him, till the man's eyes finally met his and quickly he stammered "I.. I will take Doctor S." He just wanted to stand up and take the doctor, when Hershel didn't let go the grip on his hand.
"No. Not yet Daryl. First I have to do something more important." Hershel said weakly, before Daryl slowly sat down again, thinking about what could be more important right now, than getting the doctor to help him. When the older man knew, that he won't run away, he let his hand go from his.
Nervous Daryl was waiting, he exactly knew what will happen next. And he felt as fearfull and horrified like when he was kid. Hershel let his time, till he finally said with a more strong, but also soft voice "I owe you my life Daryl. You have saved me and I can't even tell you have thankfully I am." That really wasn't what he had expected. Embarrassed Daryl looked on the ground, playing with his fingers nervously, not knowing what to say, because obviously the man couldn't remember about anything any more.
Because Daryl kept quiet, Hershel finally placed his shaking hand under his chin to lift up his head, so he had to look him in the eyes. Hershel let his fingers where they were, probably afraid, that if he will pull them away, Daryl will look at his shoes instantly again.
"Before I woke up, you have said something Daryl. What was it?" Hershel asked curious, but Daryl knew that he had heard every single word. Still keeping his mouth closed, he was watching the older man, while some tears were already building up and burning in his eyes.
Only then Hershel let his hand go from under his chin and placed it instead on his shoulder, when he asked carefully "About what are you sorry for, my son?" Daryl tried it, he tried it so bad to hold them back, but still one tear break free from the corner of his eyes, latest when Hershel had called him his son.
"It was my fault, that you got bit, that you almost died." Daryl finally said with a small voice, still expecting loud, angry words or a hard beat on his cheek. "About what are you sorry for Daryl? That you couldn't change my mind, when I wanted to go with you? I think that no one will ever be able to change my old stubborn again anyway. That the walker came out of nowhere, and I was just too slowly to keep up with you young men? That you have done everything right, when you made the best decision in that situation and saved my life with cutting off my lower leg? That you brought me here in this bed and made sure that I will survive this?" Hershel asked with a smile on his lips, but Daryl still wasn't able to response it.
"I bet Bethy had told you already twenty times, that you shouldn't blame yourself, feeling guilty or being sorry about the things you have done, right? She is a clever, young girl Daryl, listen to her words, because she is right. You aren't a bad person, my son." Hershel secured him, before he tapped proudly on his shoulder a few times and only stopped staring at him, when Daryl finally nodded understanding, at least he was trying to understand.
"Are Bethy and Maggs being good?" Hershel finally asked Daryl after a few more seconds. "Yeah. They are both safe." He answered truthfully, like Hershel already knew how Beth had reacted about the accident. Daryl stayed next to Hershel almost one hour, till Doctor S heard them talking and began to examine the older man's wound.
Daryl used the time to go with quickly steps into the direction of Beth's cell, to tell her, that her father had finally woken up. She was still sleeping like an angel, when Daryl quietly entered her room. Carefully he lowered himself next to her on the bed and watched her for a few more seconds, when he gently pulled the golden locks away from her pretty face and made her so waking up.
"Good morning sweetheart. Are you feeling alright?" Daryl asked softly, while Beth showed him a sleepily smile. "Good morning Mr. Dixon. Yeah, I'm feeling pretty good and you?" She asked back, while she stretched herself and Daryl could see the soft skin of her belly button and a smirk got on his lips instantly.
"Yeah. And your father is also good. He has just woken up one hour ago." Daryl answered her happily, before Beth quickly threw overwhelmed her arms around his neck, being all glad that everything will be good again.
It was four days after Hershel had woken up, but still he had to lay in the bed, when Maggie, Glenn, T-Dog, Andrea and Michonne were on a longer run and so Beth could easily sneak away, when it got dark, to meet Daryl in the guard tower.
She had told him, after she had entered the tower, that she needed to think about something other, than the worries about her father. Abouth that she was still a little angry about her sister for giving up on her father so easily and the hard days, which will come. Understanding what she wanted him to do, Daryl made quick work with undress Beth from the sweet pyjama she was wearing and before she could even recognise what was happening, he already pressed her against the wall and made her come easily.
After he had carried her over to the mattress, to make her come a second time. Her legs supported by his strong arms, so Daryl could fill her even more and harder. And maybe it was this position or her high, pleasant screams, when he also couldn't hold it back any more and came hard inside the condom.
Because he knew, that Beth could handle his body weight on her for just a few seconds, he quickly rolled down, to lay right next to her. Something they were doing more and more the last time. Just laying next to each other, after everything was over. Enjoying the other presence, body heat and touches.
"You okay sweetheart?" Daryl asked the same question like always and he also got the same sweet, grateful smile from Beth as answer like every time. They both didn't want to get away from each other, to leave this situation, to end this relaxing moment.
Beth had got so easily into his waiting arms, so Daryl could pull her even close to his body, to warm her up. Soothing he was stroking through her golden locks, his lips so close to her forehead, he was taking in her delicious scent deep inside his lungs.
Like always she had wrapped her arm around his belly, like she wanted to make sure with that, that he won't be able to pull away. Something he would never do. Their breaths matched, while both of their eyes were closed, just enjoyed this quiet, peacefully moment. And without even knowing or wanting it, they both drifted off to sleep.
Daryl woke up in the middle of the night, because something moved and whimpered next to him. First he wanted to push himself away, thinking that it was a walker, when he finally got it that it was Beth. Obviously they had fallen asleep in each other arms without even noticing it.
"Don't hurt him. Please, don't. Take me, not him." Beth begged in her sleep, while her expression in the moonlight told Daryl, that she was very close to tears and that her nightmare hurt and terrified her badly.
"Beth." Daryl whispered, while he shook gently her upper arm, but she just began to move even more then, she even tried to beat him. "No, let me go. I need to help him." She whimpered painfully. "Beth, sweetheart. It's me, Daryl. Please, wake up." He begged her, while he held Beth's wrists hopefully not too tight, but otherwise she would start to beat against his chest again.
"No! Don't hurt him!" Beth screamed from the volume of her lungs right now and it didn't matter what Daryl was doing or saying, she just didn't wake up. It hurt himself so much to see her like that and not being able to do anything against her nightmare, till Daryl got an idea and without even thinking about it, he pressed his lips against Beth's.
First she tried to scream and hit him again, trying to get away from his grip, but slowly her body began to relax under Daryl's lips, her muscles stopped being that tensed, next to her expression and finally also her lips got that soft like Daryl was used to.
Only when Beth started to even response his kiss, pressing her lips so gently against his, Daryl opened his eyes a little, just to see, that her baby blue ones were already watching him shocked, confused and sad. Slowly he stopped their kiss and his lips were still so close to her warm ones, when he whispered "Beth. It's me."
Daryl could watch how her eyes began to swim in tears more and more with every second, till the first broke free from the corner of her eyes and with a shaking voice she whimpered "I'm so sorry Daryl." Taking her in his arms and pressing her gently against his chest, he held her as close as never before. "Don't be sorry baby girl. Everything is alright. It was just a nightmare."
Beth's shoulders were shaking badly, while she cried all the fear and shock out of her tiny body. "Shsh.. It's over now sweetheart. You are safe. I got you." Daryl tried to calm her down, while his left hand was holding her close and his other gently stroked her trembling head.
Somehow Daryl got the need to also break into tears, because he just couldn't handle it to see Beth that broken, but he had to be strong for both of them. She needed him in this moment and nothing could bring him away from her or at any other time. He also felt so damn guilty, because it was his fault, that she had such a bad nightmare like this. She had obviously dreamed about her father and that something bad had happened to him again.
It needed a half eternity, till Beth's body finally began to relax again and her sobs got quiet, but Daryl never stopped holding her close. It was probably the tenth time, when he leaned down and pressed a long, warm kiss on top of her head, stroked lovingly her cheek at the same time, when he whispering "Do you often have such nightmares sweetheart?"
After some seconds, Beth slowly lifted her head and looked, with red, still glassy eyes up at Daryl and instead of giving him an answer she just nodded her head. Getting his lips into a thin, worried line he whipped the last rest of her tears away, before he asked "Are they always that bad?" He already hated himself for not being there for Beth, when she had such terrible nightmares before.
"Not always. But tonight was the worst." Beth told him truthfully with a still broken, weak voice and best Daryl wanted to lean down and cover her lips with his again, to make her happy with his kisses, but he knew, that this was the wrong way, so he secured her instead "But it was just a nightmare baby girl. Your father is safe and he will make it. You don't have to worry about this any more. Everything will be good."
Understanding Beth nodded almost unnoticeable her head, but her expression told Daryl, that she was still scared. Her grip around his belly thightened one more time, when she craddled herself even closer to Daryl's side and whispered "But this time I haven't dreamed about my father."
Confused and also surprised about this, he looked down into her still so beautiful eyes and even without telling her, Beth got it, that Daryl didn't know what she meant, so of that she added "I have dreamed about you Daryl. That someone hurt, tortured you. That they wanted to kill you and I just couldn't do anything to help you."
Surprised Daryl looked with an opened mouth down at her. Beth had dreamed about him? That someone hurt him and that made her so scared and sad that she had broken down like that? Because of some stupid, old redneck like him? Such beautiful girl's dreams shouldn't be filled with someone like him. He just wasn't worth her dreams, worries or even tears.
Still overwhelmed, Daryl whispered unbelievable "You have dreamed about me sweetheart?" Beth nodded her head, still looking up at him like he was her hero. "I have really thought, that I will lose you." She whispered back and when her last words were finally just a whimper any more, Daryl quickly pulled Beth closer to his chest again.
"Oh baby girl. Please, don't worry about me. I'm fine and I'm not gonna leave you. I got you." Daryl told her, his nose and lips buried deep inside her golden locks. "You promise?" Beth asked worried, while she was looking with her big, angel eyes up at him. "I promise sweetheart." Daryl secured her, before he leaned slowly down and pressed a soft kiss on top of her sweet nose.
Giving him a little, thankfully smile as answer, Beth leaned her head finally on top of Daryl's chest, maybe to hear his heartbeat, to know that it was really him and that he was still alive. Relaxed Daryl stroked his rough fingertips over Beth's arm, leaving goose bumps behind, while he was holding her other hand and moved his thumb carefully over the back of her hand.
"I should probably go now. I'm already too long here." Beth finally said, and even without seeing her face, Daryl knew that she was sad about this and of course he also didn't want her to leave. "No. You don't have to leave baby girl. Especially not after his nightmare. I will stay awake and make sure, that no one will find us and I will wake you by sunrise so you can get to your cell without getting noticed." Daryl told Beth, before she lifted her head and looked with thankfully and glad eyes up at him.
"You are the best Mr. Dixon, you know that?" Beth said, before she stretched herself and placed a sweet kiss on his cheek. "I would do everything for you baby girl. And now get yourself some rest. I'm right here." With that Beth laid her head back on top of Daryl's chest, like he was her own, big pillow.
After a few moments she found a comfortable position, her arm tight around Daryl's belly, he could feel her upper body rise and fall against his body. Never stopping to slide his fingers through her golden locks, stroking her arm, holding her hand, making sure that she was all warm and pressing soft kisses on her forehead, Daryl was laying like that the whole rest of the night, till the sun began to rise up and he unfortunately had to wake Beth. But only after he had looked at her sweet, sleeping face in the warm light of the sunbeams for a half eternity.
