I Didn't Mean To Hurt You
Daryl slammed his way into the house and cursed. He was so distracted lately, and while it wasn't directly Beth's fault, he sure was taking it out on her. She'd just smile at him and apologize too, because of course she knew he was nervous and worried and anxious and that just made him even more furious. Just once he wanted her to lose her cool too. Even when they fought and he made her cry she never got hysterical, she'd just cry silently and barely raise her voice to, still politely express her feelings. She looked over her shoulder from the sink and smiled at him before turning back to whatever she was doing so Daryl made his way into the half bath and laundry room to wash up. One more month and everything will fall into place he thought as he flipped the tap on with his arm to wet his hands. He reached for the soap and frowned. There wasn't a bar of soap by the sink, instead Beth had put out little rose shaped soaps the size of marbles. Daryl grabbed one and started scrubbing, frowning when he realized that the pale pink soaps were now dirty. He rinsed them under the water and tossed them beside the sink cursing a bit more.
"Jesus Christ, do you have to put your girly shit all over the fucking house? I ruined those fucking soaps." He said slamming his way to the table and sitting down.
"They're soap Daryl, they're supposed to get dirty. I'll make sure to put a bar in the for tonight." Beth said placing a plate of something in front of him and kissing the side of his mouth softly. "Maggie gave them as a shower gift. I just wanted to use." She added as she slid a plate for herself down beside him before sitting down and grabbing his hand to say Grace. "Do you think you'll have to work late tonight?" Beth asked as she took a bite.
"I don't fucking know!" Daryl said raising his voice. "Doesn't depend on me, depends on the other guys and how much they get done. I tell you that every fucking time you ask." Daryl angrily pointed out. Beth looked down at her lap and bit her lip. Daryl rubbed a hand across his face and picked up his fork. "It's not like we got anything planned right?" He added softly. "Doesn't matter if I'm late or not." Beth forced a little smile with a trembling lip and nodded her head. "Everything's all planned out for the wedding, not like you need me for that."
"No, we finished everything." Beth said taking another bite. "I just wanted to spend some time with you tonight."
"You spend time with me every night." Daryl pointed out finishing whatever deliciousness Beth had made for him. God he loved coming home to see her, even if he didn't show it. Beth finished and took their plates to the sink to rinse them.
"You have to head right back? Or do you have time for dessert?" Beth asked reaching for the freezer. "I have ice cream bars."
"I can stay a bit longer." Daryl said leaning back. "Will that tide you over? For time together?" Beth handed him the ice cream treat and nodded sitting beside him. Fuck Daryl felt like a dick. Getting engaged had been his idea, setting a date, her staying home, everything all his ideas. Not like Beth pressured him either, she just went along with what he wanted. As much as he loved her, she had to love him even more to put up with him. He constantly thought if he was a better man he'd let her go, let her find someone who didn't yell at her when they were stressed or worried. Who wasn't afraid to show her he was afraid. To be vulnerable.
"It's always nice to see you at lunch." Beth said leaning over and kissing him again. Daryl grabbed her by the back of the neck and took control of the kiss, deepening it for a minute before pushing her away gently. Jesus Christ he thought as he opened his dessert. Can't even let her kiss me and be in control. He's dominance didn't seem to bother Beth, she hummed softly beside him and smiled when he held out the bar for her to have a bite. He thought back to the night before, how out of control he had felt with Maggie going on and on about what they were doing to get the farm ready their wedding. By the time they had left and they had crawled into bed he had all but flipped Beth over on her stomach and pulled her nightgown her hips and pushed her panties to the side, sliding into her and pressing her into the bed so she couldn't move. He remembered holding down her left arm and sliding his right arm around her neck, holding on to her left shoulder and kissing and nipping at her neck if she squirmed too much. He had just wanted to fuck the frustration and nerves out of himself. He wasn't too rough and Beth had moaned and whimpered, urging him on the whole time, but he still felt bad about fucking her in such an animalistic way. Hell even when she was on top he never let her have full control, he doubted she cared either.
"I got to go. See you around later." He said suddenly leaving the table and taking his treat with him. He waved over his shoulder, not bothering to turn around when she called out her goodbyes.
Beth's mind was a blur. Did Daryl actually forget that today was not only her birthday, but their anniversary too? Well the anniversary of them having sex. It was a big birthday too, she was turning 21. She'd finally be allowed to drink. Daryl liked to tease her about how much of a good girl she was, the only "rule" she broke was sleeping with him and living with him before marriage. He had promised her he'd take care of her first real drink. She had tried to make these coming months as stress free as she could, but tiny little things were setting him off or putting him on edge. She was glad she had been able to convince him she wasn't settling for a small wedding with just 10 guests on the farm, she really didn't care or want a huge church wedding, she just wanted to marry him. She'd even said she'd wait till Merle got out of prison if he wanted but he had told her he wouldn't make her wait that long. The only people Daryl had invited were Rick Grimes and Carol. He hadn't even invited Abe. Beth had already said it was alright with her if Carl and Judith came so Lori would be able to come along bringing the total up to 10, not including the minister. Oh well, she could handle getting her own first drink, she could take the truck and head out to the liquor store and buy a few things and wait for Daryl.
Daryl arrived back to work and surveyed what had gotten done while he was gone. He was pleased that most of the framing had been finished and started in on the bathroom, making sure to measure for the bathroom kit. Abe smiled and walked up to him with a pink envelope and tucked it into his tool belt.
"The fuck is that?" Daryl asked as he used a nail gun on the drywall.
"Card for Beth." Abe said as he went back to work across the room from Daryl. "Got a gift card in there for her too, your gonna have to suit up and take her to dinner." Daryl swore and started berating himself. "You fucking forgot didn't you?" Abe said with a hearty laugh. "You must be fucking Magic Mike between the sheets the amount of shit that girl puts up with." Daryl set his jaw in a firm line and started to work faster. "Hey man, you shot a nail through your hand you're really going to ruin her day." Daryl slowed a bit and stewed over the fact that he had not only forgot her 21 birthday, but he had also made her cry, was mean to her and didn't even have a present. He couldn't get mad at her for not reminding him either, the calendar that hung in the garage by his work bench was marked with all the birthdays and anniversaries for everyone they knew and she had included their birth year or date. He knew it was Maggie and Glenn's 8th anniversary and that Hershel was going to be 71. Merle was going on 47 and Rick had turned 40. Fuck she even bought Rick his gift and card.
"I got to head home early." Daryl said as he stood up and helped Abe place the shower and tub unit into place and secure it.
"No problem, you can leave as soon as we got the caulking done." Abe said as he continued to chuckle. "Rosie told me to remind you, I said no way he forgets her birthday. It's not like it's your anniversary. You guys met at my Memorial Day party."
"First and only blind date." Daryl said as he worked away. Fuck he remembered the first birthday of hers they had spent together. He'd taken her to the lake on a Wednesday, sure they'd be alone and they were. He remembered how water made her skin shine and she had tanned to a golden goddess, her hair seemed even blonder and how he'd barely been able to get her back to his back porch before ripping her bottoms off and taking her right there on the floor with the screen door slamming behind him. "I'll see you later." Daryl said dropping the caulking gun once he had finished and taking off towards his bike.
Beth placed her paper sack on the table and started lining up all the sample bottles she had bought. A rum, a vodka, whiskey, peach and peppermint schnapps, southern comfort to name a few and a few wine coolers. The clerk had smiled when she walked in, immediately asking to see her ID. When she explained that she was planning her first ever drink he had shown her the sample bottles and given her a few recipe cards then had and suggested the coolers. He had given her a free little bottle and wine opener and said he hoped she enjoyed her first drink. Beth had blushed the entire time and had quickly came home. She was looking over the recipe cards he had given her when the door to the garage opened again and Daryl came in with flowers and their picnic stuff.
"Girl I am sorry." He mumbled dropping the bundle from his arms on the table and pulling her to his chest. "Go get your bathing suit on, we're going to the lake." Daryl said finally noticing the bottles on the table. Beth flinched, sure he was going to get mad and tell her he had said he'd handle it. "I'll pack those up. You don't like what I got I'll mix you something." He said following her to the bedroom and grabbing an old blanket from their closet and his rarely used swim shorts and a concert t-shirt he'd ripped the sleeves off. He eyed her and knew she'd changed into his favorite dress just from him too. It looked exactly like one of his sleeveless plaid shirts only around the arms it wasn't all frayed, and the hemline was even. It was a pale pink too, but whenever she wore it Daryl always thought of the mornings she just wore one of his shirts off the floor and sat on the porch with him, sipping coffee.
"You hate the lake on Fridays." Beth said pulling off her dress and hanging off the doorknob to the closet.
"Don't matter, love you and that's where we were 2 years ago." Daryl said turning into the bathroom for some towels. Beth quickly tied on her bikini and met him back in the kitchen. She tried to help him pack drinks into the basket but he pushed her gently into a chair. "Got surprises in there for you." He said adding the ice packs she kept in the freezer to keep the bottles of lemonade, beer and soda cold. "Come on. We got to get there before school let's out if we want a good spot on the dock." Daryl said grabbing her and leading her out the patio doors. He lifted her over their fence and told the dogs to stay before climbing over himself and stopping her from trying to carry the basket and their linen he had just thrown over. "You keep that up and I'll try to carry you too." Daryl said leading the way down the trail. They could hear a few laughs and screeches coming from the lake, they were too late, some kids must have been skipping school.
"My birthday usually always fell on senior skip day." Beth said tugging on his arm. "Come on." She said leading him to a little spot in the woods where they sometimes stopped for a picnic when the lake was busy. There was a pretty big tree stump they could use as a table. "We can eat here and then go for a swim." Beth said taking the blanket room his shoulder and spreading it close to the stump.
"This is one of my favorite spots." Daryl said setting the basket down and dropping down to sit with her. It was far enough off the trail that hardly anyone ever walked up or into him here. He had stumbled across it tracking a deer once.
"Nice and quiet." Beth said smiling as he pulled out store made rolls and deli chicken salad. "My favorite." She said reaching out for the top of the lid to their basket for the plates and utensils.
"Wasn't going to be even more of a dick and make you try and eat my cooking." Daryl said looking away. "You'd come to your senses and run off on me." He said handing her one of the wineglasses.
Beth looked up and knew it wasn't the time to remind him that she had run track and cross-country. She reached over and stroked his stubbly cheek. "You look at me Daryl Dixon." Beth said softly. "I love you, even when you're cranky and stressed." Beth added. "Just like you love me when I get pouty and whiney."
"I'm a dick all the time. You're almost never pouty or whiney." Daryl reminded her. Beth smiled and took her hand away to rip open the rolls.
"You're all bark." Beth said. "You kiss me on the cheek every night, you think I'm sleeping but I'm not." Beth said as she spooned the chicken salad into the rolls. "You play with my hair in the morning after you hit the snooze, trail your fingers over my hands softly. I know you're a great big softy. Doesn't matter how tough or mean you try to act. I know the truth. You remember my favorites, and even if you hate them, like picnics by the lake or girly movies and take out salads—"
"They cost more than all the seed packets you bought for the garden!" Daryl said. "More than a 9 piece bucket of chicken!"
"You still treat me to my favorites." Beth finished handing him two rolls. "Now what'd you get me to drink?" Beth asked smiling. Daryl pulled a mason jar from the basket and poured some on a cup. "Is that moonshine?"
"Yeah, that there is a real first drink." Daryl said taking a pull from the jar and holding out the glass he poured from Beth. Beth sniffed the liquid and looked up at Daryl. "What's wrong?"
"Daddy said moonshine could make you go blind." Beth said waiting a few more seconds before taking a small sip. "Oh God that's rough." She said coughing.
"Did you wait to see if I went blind? "Daryl asked laughing as he took another drink. Beth nodded and took another sip.
"It's not too bad the second time around." She said draining the glass. "I think I'll stick to one though. I already feel giddy." Daryl screwed the lid back on and placed the moonshine back in the basket. Beth leaned down and laid her head in his lap. "Did it make you sleepy too?"
"Nah, you're just a lightweight." Daryl said twisting the top off a bottle of water and draining half. "You drink the rest, keep the hang over away." Daryl said helping her up so she was resting against him. Beth drank the water and snuggled in. "Come on, lets go for our swim." Daryl said.
"We don't have to do everything we did on the first of my birthday we spent together." Beth said letting Daryl help her up so they were both standing. "We can skip to the last thing we did."
"Was that your favorite thing that day?" Daryl asked letting her turn on the trail away from the lake and back towards their house.
"Maybe." Beth said over her shoulder. "Had a few favorite things if I remember clearly. Besides you hate swimming. I know that now. We can go on Monday night when no one'll be there."
"Girl why are you so good to me?" Daryl asked, stopping her from hoisting herself over the fence and rubbing his thumbs along her hips before lifting her.
"You know why." Beth said petting the dogs as they ran over to greet her. They waited, almost wagging their tails so hard they almost lost their footing while Daryl climbed over with basket, blanket and towels.
"Yeah, I do. Still like hearing you say it though." Daryl said following her to the porch. She quickly tossed out some chew sticks to the dogs to keep them busy. She coyly untied her bathing suit and tossed it at him, backing away from him into the house.
"Make me say it." She said turning and running down the hall. Daryl grinned as e left the porch door unlatched, there was just something about listening to it bang in the wind.