Note: I'm sorry for taking this long to update! I've been very busy in school, but fortunately, I have one more exam on the 19th before Winter break starts and I've already started with chapter 5, which means that the next update will be up faster!
Thank you so much to everyone who has commented so far! I really appreciate it you guys and I really didn't want to come across as ungrateful last time. I love each and everyone of you and I just wanted to know if you guys thought that the story was going in a good direction or not, and I really didn't want anyone to think that I was greedy for reviews. Any kind of feedback is awesome though, so it's still very much appreciated! :)
The story is moving a little slowly, I know, and there is a lot of looking into the mind of Beth and Daryl and looking at their feelings and so on, but I promise that in a few more chapters (around ch. 7 or 8, I think) things will start happening! Have faith in me, please and I'm going to provide you guys with a story that I hope you'll enjoy! :)
A Sharp Intake Of Breath (And A Memory Forgotten)
Chapter 4
"How's the Lil' Lady doin'?" Morgan asked over the talkie-device. "Hope the two of you haven't been slacking."
Daryl almost snorted at the older man, but out of respect, he refrained from doing so. "Nah, we haven't been slackin'," he replied. "We're getting' closer to the border of North Carolina, but we figured we could stop at one more place before we try to find somewhere to hold up for the night."
"I'm guessin' that sleeping in the truck can't be very comfortable," Morgan mused and Daryl hummed in agreement.
They had been on the road for a few days now since they had talked about the funeral home. Things had become easy between them again and Daryl was glad that Beth had actually taken the step to tell him what had been on her mind. During the days that they had been heading toward North Carolina, they had also been stopping at the places that Eugene had marked out for them. There had been a couple of run-ins with a few walkers, but nothing that they hadn't been able to handle. After discussing things, they had decided to avoid the bigger stores, knowing that there were probably more dead ones in them than they would be able to take care of alone.
"Yeah, it can get a lil' cramped," Daryl told Morgan, answering the question about the truck not being very comfortable.
"Mhm… I'm sure you make it work," Morgan replied, once again sounding amused. Daryl couldn't believe that the man still enjoyed teasing him like this now that he and Beth were together. It had begun about a month after they had become official with subtle quips and teasing remarks. Beth usually brushed them off with a smile but Daryl had been uncomfortable in the beginning, expecting the man who saw Beth as a daughter to be more upset with him – a man almost twice her age – being with her. Morgan had made sure to let him know that he didn't mind the two of them together at all. In fact, it seemed like Morgan actually did mean all the things he had said to Daryl about believing that he was a good man. As time went on, Daryl learned to live with the teasing and Morgan was free to continue with the small comments.
"By the way, you never told me how our girl was doin'," Morgan pointed out. "Is she feelin' any better?"
"She's good now," Daryl said. Beth and Morgan had had a short conversation a couple of nights ago and Beth had told him about the headache that still lingered. Daryl knew that she still hurt sometimes early in the mornings, but he knew that there was no reason to worry Morgan since he couldn't exactly be there for her at the moment.
"The headache's gone?"
"Yeah," Daryl nodded, glancing toward Beth who was leaning against the truck, watching him speak to her adoptive father. Beth grimaced but nodded back at him. She had agreed that the best thing to do was not have Morgan worrying about her. Her headaches sometimes remained for a few days, so she hadn't actually thought it could be anything serious.
"Stay safe, you two," Morgan finally said. "Rick's comin' back from his run with Abraham and Michonne, so I gotta help 'em get the things they brought back unloaded. I'll fill him in on your location and you two make sure to stay in touch."
"Of course," Daryl said. "Tell Rick not to fill the place up with useless crap, 'cause Beth an' I are gonna be bringin' back some good shit."
Morgan chuckled, "Will do, my friend."
Daryl turned the radio off and put it back in the backpack before moving to stand in front of Beth. Sighing, he moved forward, standing with his feet slightly apart so that he could stand closer to her. Placing his hands on her hips, he leaned down, resting his forehead against hers. He closed his eyes and just breathed her in for a moment before opening them again and looking into her baby blues.
"You okay?" he asked.
Beth nudged his nose with her own before smiling lightly at him. "I'm doing better," she told him and she sounded like she was being honest about it too. "I'm just a little tired. From being on the road all the time," she then admitted.
Daryl pulled back for a moment and gave her a once over. He knew that she was tired because he was exhausted as well. Being on the road for so many days without actually resting properly was tearing them both down slowly and he knew that they probably needed a couple of days to rest.
"Maybe we should take a coupl'a days off?" Daryl suggested, leaning down again to rest his chin against Beth's shoulder. He turned his head and buried his nose in her neck and in that moment, he realized just how much he had missed being with her like that.
"What do you mean?" Beth wondered, her breath hitching when he pressed his lips against the side of her neck, nibbling the skin there softly. "Daryl, we're out in the open," she giggled then, her hands coming to rest on his shoulders.
"I know, Girl," Daryl smiled against her skin. "Just missed ya, s'all."
"Well, you should know that the feeling is mutual," Beth said, cupping his cheeks before bringing his lips down to hers.
They kissed slowly for a minute, just enjoying the taste and the feel of the other. Daryl groaned when Beth bit his lower lip gently. Opening his mouth, he allowed her to deepen the kiss and his grip on her hips tightened when she reached up and ran her fingers through his hair, tugging on the strands. Daryl was lightly rocking forward against her, but they didn't break apart until they both felt him reacting to her touch. This wasn't something they had time to get into, no matter how much both of them may have wanted it in that moment.
Beth cleared her throat and licked her lips, "What did you say about taking a couple of days off?"
"After we scavenge one more place, we can find us a place to stay and rest up for a few days," Daryl replied, pressing his lips against hers for another short kiss.
"Hmm…" Beth hummed against him. "Maybe we could use one of those days for some proper alone time?" Daryl smiled to himself when her grip on his shirt tightened as she pulled him back in for another kiss.
Damn. He had missed her.
"M'kay," he agreed. "Let's just get this last lil' store an' then we'll find a place," he told her.
"Yeah," Beth smiled, before bringing his head down to brush her lips against his, one more time.
-§-
Beth brushed her fingers against one of her knives in her thigh holster. She was already holding her hunting knife in one hand, but she needed to have quick access to her other knives in case more walkers appeared.
Since she and Daryl were alone, they had decided to go through a small convenience store, hoping to find some more baby supplies. Daryl had knocked on the front door so that any walkers that were still alive inside would be drawn out by the sound. It was a technique that Beth herself had often used with Morgan as well when she had been on the road with him, so she didn't question it. Three walkers had stumbled toward the entrance and they had disposed of them quickly and efficiently. Then Daryl had decided to take a walk around the store and see if there was a way to get in through the back and Beth had been left standing there on the parking lot, prepared to get them out of there if they needed a quick escape.
She knew that she needed to stay focused on the task, although Daryl had been gone for too long already and she was itching to just follow him to see where he had gone off to. A part of her was afraid that he might have gotten caught or something, but she knew that he could take care of himself and she figured that if he had been attacked she would have heard gunshots by now. Daryl was capable of staying alive better than anyone else. In her eyes, he had been built for this world and she had told him so several times when they had been laying in bed together after sex. He didn't like it very much when she complimented him like that, even though she only did so when he told her some stories from his past, from before the Outbreak.
Beth smiled to herself a little, remembering how good it felt to wake up in his arms. From time to time, she was actually the one embracing him and those days were usually spent with her teasing him about being the small spoon because he knew that she was stronger than him. Daryl didn't mind the joking, although later when they went to bed, he would always make sure to pin her down and ask her to clarify once more who was the stronger one as he made her squirm beneath him with nothing but his tongue.
Beth couldn't help but shudder, thinking back to the moment the two of them had shared earlier that day. It had been a while since they had kissed properly like that and she had missed it immensely. Daryl had made sure to tell her that he had missed being with her too and she was already looking forward to finding some place to stay for a couple of nights so that they could re-charge. Of course, she was looking forward to finally being able to relax a bit as well. Being intimate with Daryl was more than just being with him sexually. Sometimes, it was enough for him to just hold her hand and she would consider it an intimate touch, considering just how he made her feel.
That didn't mean that she didn't miss the sex though.
Beth lifted her head when she heard footsteps approaching and she turned her head in the direction of the sound. She raised her knife but lowered it again once she saw Daryl walking toward her, carrying a couple of bags with him. Frowning at him, she tilted her head to the side curiously as she took in the blood smeared on the front of his jacket.
"What happened?" Beth wondered. "What did you do?"
"Found a way in through the back," he told her.
"And you didn't come and get me?" Beth asked, shooting him a glare. "Daryl–"
"Didn't see no point in comin' all the way back to get ya when I could do the job myself," he explained. "'Sides, this way ya kept watch in case some other people came 'round."
"It would have been nice to have been filled in on my job," Beth said, still glaring at him. "And the blood?"
"One fucker jumped outta nowhere, but I took care of him."
"Daryl," Beth snapped. "This is not okay." She crossed her arms over her chest as she watched him put the bags in the trunk. He was looking toward her uncertainly and she could tell from the looks that he was sending her that he knew that he had made the wrong call to keep her out of the loop like this. They were supposed to be working together, not behind each others backs.
"'M sorry," he finally said, walking toward her. He placed his hands on her hips again but she just shook her head at him, keeping her arms crossed as she turned away. He caught her chin between his thumb and his forefinger, pulling her back around to face him. She met his eyes and her anger softened slightly when she took in his appearance again. "I shouldn't have done what I did," he quietly said. "I know that what I did was wrong and I should'a waited and gotten you."
"I get that we're alone, Daryl," Beth sighed, uncrossing her arms. "It might have been easier if we had been four or three instead, but we're not, so we only have each other to lean on in all of this. That means that I can't be worried that you're going to make the decision to just go into a store without me knowing, ever again."
She was tired of having the same argument all over again. That was what it felt like to her anyways. It was always him trying to protect her and keep her safe because he was scared of losing her. She understood that he loved her and that he knew that she actually could protect herself. Still, the fact that he had lost her twice before – once when she had been taken from him and the other time when she had been presumed dead because she had been shot in the head – made it more difficult for him not to act on his own when he had the chance. Beth understood where he was coming from, even though it didn't mean that she would just accept him putting himself in danger like that to protect her.
"I know, I'm sorry," Daryl whispered, his grip on her hips tightening slightly again.
"And you best remember that, or else I'll have to put a leash on you," Beth told him, trying to sound stern, but she knew that there was no way of going back and since he was actually fine, she figured they should be moving on now that they were on the same page.
"Hmm," Daryl hummed, "that sounds more like a promise." His tone was once again teasing.
Beth only smirked. "What did you find in there?" she asked, ignoring his remark.
"Some canned food and powdered milk," he told her, letting go of her hips long enough to zip up his jacked. "And this," he said, taking out a map. "Looked at it and there's a small road a couple of miles down. Should take us to a lake where we might find a cabin or something to stay in."
"Like a hunting cabin?"
"Yeah," he nodded.
Beth felt a smile cross her lips again. "Considering just how well you and I spend our time in cabins, I'm all for it."
-§-
The cabin they found reminded her a little about the cabin back home. It wasn't as big, but it was cozy in its own way and Beth was happy that there hadn't been any walkers that they needed to dispose of inside. It seemed as if there actually hadn't been anyone there for years though, so she knew that if they planned on staying there for a few nights, they would need to clean the place up a bit. Daryl had already shared his excitement for going out on a hunt in the morning and Beth had agreed to stay behind since she still wasn't feeling very well after her last memory episode.
The one thing that the cabin didn't have was a separate bedroom. Instead, there was a pullout-couch in the middle of the big room that served as both a kitchen and a living room. When Beth had pulled it out and seen some stains on it she hadn't been able to hide her distaste, but she knew that they couldn't exactly be picky with what they found. Luckily, though, it seemed like Daryl had thought of the possibility of the place they found not being very clean, so he had gotten some of the new sheets they had found in some other stores earlier that week out of the truck. He told her that it was better they use them to sleep on than risk getting some kind of infection from whatever was on the stained mattress.
Another thing they had been incredibly lucky with was that the cabin was located directly by the lake. It had probably been used as some kind of fishing cabin for people who had spent their weekends there and Daryl hadn't wasted any time getting some water from the lake to heat up and clean up with.
Beth had started heating up their food as he washed up in the small bathroom and she couldn't wait to get some time to clean up herself. She'd missed being with Daryl in another way than just sitting next to him in the car and either driving or chatting with him, and she had to admit that she was beginning to get a bit frustrated as well.
Back on the farm, she and Daryl never went longer than three days without sex. Sure, it wasn't exactly a life-or-death thing in their relationship, although Beth did enjoy it immensely and considering that Daryl did too, they hadn't exactly been holding back when it came to it. Not only was it a great way to pass time or exhaust themselves after long days of doing nothing in particular, but it was always special between the two of them. It seemed like even the times that they thought it would be a meaningless quickie to release tension or to just get pleasure from one another, it ended up becoming more for them. It was never just mindless fucking and that was something that made Beth love Daryl even more. Of course, she didn't have anything to compare it with, but she knew that whatever she may have had with Zach most likely hadn't been the same as what she shared with Daryl now.
"M'done if ya wanna wash up now," Daryl spoke behind her, making her jump a little. She turned around to face him and noticed that there was a small smirk playing on his lips. It was no surprise that he enjoyed whenever he was able to sneak up on her because Beth knew that she was the same way about him.
"Will you keep heatin' up the food then?" Beth asked him and he nodded. She smiled at him before pecking his cheek and hurrying over to the small bathroom. He had left her a whole bucket of water and by now it was lukewarm, which was absolutely perfect in her world after having gone days without a shower.
'No! No, no, no!'
Beth paused as she scrubbed her skin, looking at herself in the small mirror on the wall. There was a voice in her head again that sounded a bit distant and she swallowed thickly as she felt a wave of nausea come in along with a head ache. She closed her eyes and winced, putting her hand to her head; she hated when this happened to her.
There were sounds in her mind that she knew were not real; loud noises, such as gun shots and screams from people she couldn't remember. It happened sometimes and it had been happening a lot recently and Beth didn't understand why her brain was being triggered like this now when she needed to be the most alert. She was alone with Daryl and she couldn't risk their safety by not being ready for a fight. What was she supposed to do if she got a sudden head ache in the middle of a fight?
She shook her head, trying to clear the foggy feeling. As soon as it had come, it had gone away and Beth let out a shaky breath, glad that she wouldn't be getting another memory back tonight. She really needed some rest.
After finishing up with washing herself, Beth got changed into a pair of sweats and one of Daryl's shirts. There didn't seem to be any threats in the area, but they could never be careful enough. There was no way that they would be sleeping in clothes that would have them freezing if they needed to run and Beth quite enjoyed sleeping in Daryl's shirts anyway. It made her feel at home, which was why he allowed her free access to his closet. That, and the fact that he loved her.
Beth smiled to herself again when she stepped out of the bathroom, only to find Daryl on the floor, on top of a blanket.
"Figured ya wouldn't wanna get the clean sheets dirty," he shrugged, motioning to the two bowls of food that he had prepared for them. In the middle of the blanket, he had placed a couple of candles and a part of Beth wondered briefly if he had been trying to be romantic, or if it had actually just been a practical thing to do, considering that it was already dark outside and that they didn't have any electricity.
"Well, at least not yet," Beth couldn't help but joke and Daryl met her gaze immediately, his eyes darkening slightly before his expression softened.
"Don't know, lil' Bird," he told her, scratching his beard. "Kinda tired tonight."
Beth tilted her head, her lips twitching into a warm smile. He was just adorable sometimes. "Daryl, we don't have to. I'd love to just lay next to you all night long," she said. "I get that you're not up for it, because honestly? I'm a little tired myself."
"'Not up for it'…" Daryl shook his head and Beth couldn't help but giggle at her poor choice of words.
"You know what I mean," she smiled. "Just being with you here tonight and getting some actual sleep will be enough. We'll lock up tight and then go to bed after we eat."
Daryl visibly relaxed and Beth's heart felt just a little warmer at his next words.
"Love ya so damn much, lil' Bird."
-§-
The next morning Daryl woke up with his head on Beth's chest and his arms wrapped around her middle. She was still asleep – he could tell by her even breathing – and one of her hands rested on his bicep while her other was on top of his head, fingers buried in his hair. He let out a small breath, closing his eyes again and just took in her scent, giving himself a few more minutes to just be with her.
Last night the two of them had agreed that they would stay in the cabin for a few days, but Daryl had insisted on going out and checking the surrounding area. They'd agreed that he would go out on his own since he had been able to tell that Beth wasn't really feeling well and he had promised that he would be back as soon as he could. Still, it didn't change the fact that he wanted to give himself the chance to just enjoy that he had finally been able to wake up next to Beth in a bed.
After days of being on the road, he'd welcomed the squeaky pullout-couch as if it was the most comfortable king-sized bed in the country and he knew that Beth wasn't complaining either. The night before they had been too tired to make use of the bed in any other way than just sleeping in it, although they hadn't been able to keep their hands off of each other too much. A rather intense make-out session had left Daryl feeling like he was a teenager again – without all the awkwardness – but it hadn't progressed to anything beyond kissing and holding one another. He didn't mind it at all though, because he had been glad that they had even been able to do that considering how exhausted they had both been.
Daryl new that it was still early and he didn't really want to wake Beth up since he didn't know how she would be feeling today. Since the day that she had remembered some from their time in the funeral home, he knew that she had been getting headaches on and off. From experience Daryl was aware of the fact that there was nothing he could to to help her ease the pain, except for letting her get the rest she needed. Still, he didn't want to leave her without telling her that he was leaving and besides, considering that she was all wrapped around him, he couldn't exactly get out of bed without waking her.
He tightened his grip on her a little, turning his head so that he could look up at her face. Her lips were slightly parted and her face relaxed and he smiled to himself, thinking about just how beautiful she was. He managed to reach up and brush his thumb against the scar under her chin, which was visible from his angle and he pushed down the bad feeling he always got in his gut whenever he was reminded of how he had almost lost her. It was that feeling that drove him to act the way he did with her sometimes. He knew that they were supposed to be equals and that she was just as good at keeping them safe as he was, though a part of him still wanted to be the one to protect her. That was why he was usually so torn between doing what he wanted and doing what he knew was right. She had argued with him so many times about letting her take care of herself and he knew that he should be okay with her doing that because he knew that she was capable of it. She had proven herself time and time and again, and yet, he was still making stupid-ass decisions such as going into that store alone because he didn't want her to have to strain herself. He knew that she wasn't okay yet after having gotten that memory back and maybe he was using that as an excuse to justify his own behavior since they had started on this trip together. Still, there was no way that Beth was going to just keep forgiving him for doing things like that. Daryl saw her as a partner and he didn't want her to think that he didn't just because he did those things from time to time. It was just easier for him to do it because it was kind of the way he had always been before the world went to shit. He hadn't been lying when he had told her back at that moonshine shack that he had never needed to rely on anyone for anything. Sure, he had changed a lot since he had met Rick and the others, but at times it was easy to just slip back into that person that he used to be, at least when it came to doing things and getting things done. It was wrong and he wanted to get better at just being the person he had become because he simply couldn't afford slipping back into that darkness again.
Daryl knew that he needed to get up and face the day though. A couple of hours in the woods alone would probably do him some good and he would be able to figure out a way to just keep himself on track with this entire issue. He shifted a little on the bed and lifted his head before trying to push Beth away a little so that he would be able to get out of bed, however, his girl just tightened her grip on him, mumbling his name.
"Beth," he whispered back, seeing her eyelids begin to flutter. "I'm gonna need ya to let go of me so I can get dressed."
"Just a few more minutes," Beth mumbled, lowering her self a little on the bed so that she could place her head on his chest instead. Daryl sighed, wrapping his arms around her small form.
"I need to head out," he told her. "Wanna come back earlier so that we can..." he trailed off when he felt her drawing circles on his chest, fingers trailing downward. He swallowed thickly, immediately feeling the effect her touch had on him and just before Beth's fingers could brush against the button of his pants, he grabbed her wrist. "Nah, can't right now, lil' Bird," he said, even though it took everything in him to say it. He wanted her, so bad, but he couldn't do that right now.
"Later then," Beth smiled against his skin when she lifted her head enough to brush her lips against his jaw. "I love you."
"Love you," he said, bending to kiss her lightly before pulling away. "Ya should rest up. When I get back we can clean a little."
"As long as we get to finish this as well," Beth grinned.
"Yeah," Daryl nodded. "We'll do that." He kissed her again and brushed some loose strands away from her face before cupping her chin gently. "I'll be back in a coupl'a hours. 'Kay?"
Beth only smiled as she grabbed his shirt, pulling him close again and he allowed her, because who was he to deny the woman he loved to steal a kiss from him?
So he kissed her back and he smiled, because he had never felt more like himself.
-§-
Beth laid on her stomach, resting, just like Daryl had suggested she do. He was right when he had told her that she hadn't quite been herself since her memory of them at the funeral home had come back. She needed her rest and she needed to clear her head just as much as Daryl did. Beth wasn't naive to not know why he had gone out today. She knew that a part of her was still upset with him for once again making the decision to go in alone, even though they were supposed to be a team and she knew that he too was aware of the fact that he had been wrong to go about things that way. This was something they needed to work though together though, but until they could, Daryl needed to sort out his own thoughts just as much as Beth needed to sort out hers.
She needed her rest though, and she knew that. Yet, she couldn't help but feel antsy over something and she knew that she needed to get out of bed so that she too could get some fresh air. Ever since her brief memory flash the night before, when she had just heard herself repeating and screaming the word 'no' she had felt as if she had a fever coming on. Being alone with Daryl on the road was dangerous enough and Beth knew that she couldn't afford getting ill. She had been trying to rest all day long, but she just couldn't lay around in bed all day long because it would make her feel useless.
So she got up and decided to get a head-start on the cleaning.
It happened when she was halfway done with fixing the bed and Beth just knew that she should have listened to Daryl. A sudden dizziness washed over her and pain exploded in her head so suddenly that she was forced to hold on to the counter of the small kitchenette where she had been sorting through the cabinets. Her breaths came out in pants and she squeezed her eyes out and grit her teeth as images began flooding in.
She saw herself – a younger her – pushing someone away so that she could run to a body that was on the ground. She was sobbing as she took a hold of the woman that seemed to have been dead for quite some time and then, she felt the walker grab her hair as it tried to pull her neck closer to its mouth.
Beth let out a gasp, her eyes snapping open just in time with a gunshot going off inside her mind. She knew that it was a memory and she hated the fact that they still had such an effect on her whenever she remembered something.
Swallowing, Beth knew that she needed to get going. She couldn't just sit around all day long and let herself be consumed with thoughts of who the female walker that had grabbed her had been. She didn't want to think about it, but she knew that she needed to ask Daryl about it. There was no way that she would be making the same mistake of keeping a memory from him when she knew that he would most likely sense that something was up with her once again. As soon as he got back to the cabin, she would tell him what she had seen and if he knew what it was, he would tell her.
Beth began cleaning again and soon enough, she had dusted off everything that needed dusting inside the cabin. However, she was still feeling a little off so she decided that she should probably get some buckets of water from the lake. Daryl had left the two buckets they had used to wash up with in the bathroom, so she went and got those before walking out of the house. She made sure to have her knives and her gun with her, just in case, but from what she could hear, there didn't seem to be a living or undead thing in the woods surrounding her. After filling the buckets, she began to head back to the cabin again, when suddenly another pained flash seared through her head. Beth winced, stumbling over a root, but she caught herself just before she could fall. The buckets though, weren't as lucky, because she dropped them on the ground with such a force that they both spilled their contents and one of them fell on a bigger stone and cracked a little on the bottom. Beth didn't even have time to curse herself when another memory flashed in her mind.
This time, she remembered the sound of a motorcycle. She remembered herself working on a farm and then hearing the sound of an engine being revved. The young her looked up and saw a man driving up toward the farm and it took a moment for Beth to make sense of him until she recognized him as Daryl. She glanced to her side and saw another man, a young boy wearing a cowboy hat stopping his work as well as she turned to take in the man that had then been a stranger to her, as he drove up to her home.
Beth rubbed her eyes, as she began taking quick steps back to the cabin. She couldn't be out there in the open when her brain seemed to be acting up on her, letting her remember things that had been long forgotten. All these small bits and pieces of memories were taking their toll on her and she knew that if she didn't lay down, she would fall over for real.
She had just reached the steps of the cabin, though, when a shorter memory came back to her. She recalled holding on to a woman with blonde and curly hair, trying desperately to pull her with her into a car as the woman was ripped to shreds in front of her by walkers. Beth couldn't move any further and all she could do was sit herself down on the steps and try to calm her breathing. It was cold outside, but she felt as if her skin was burning and she could feel sweat beading on her forehead.
Daryl had been gone for a few hours and even though she knew that she should head inside, he was probably going to return soon. Slowly, she pealed away her jacked, trying to remove the restriction she was feeling over her chest. It felt like her entire body was cramping up and a wave of nausea hit her, but she tried to keep it all down and breathe through her nose. Daryl would be back soon and she would be okay. She would ask him about the memories and they would be stay in the cabin for a few days so that she could rest up. She was just tired; tired and exhausted. He would need the rest just as much as she did and hopefully, he wouldn't be mad at her for just waiting on him outside.
She needed to be there because with what she was feeling in her chest, she felt like if she took one more step, she would keel over and never be able to get up again.
-§-
Daryl made his way back toward the cabin. It was still quiet around him and he took a couple of more deep breaths, letting the cool air fill his lungs and relax him even further. He had had a lot to think about today and he had decided that he would try to be better at not just doing things without checking with Beth first. He had been foolish that day at the store when he had gone in without her, because he now understood that she would probably have had no way of knowing what had happened to him if he hadn't returned. She would have gone to look for him and what would she have found if he actually hadn't been able to take care of that walker when it had sneaked up on him? She would have found him dead and he just knew that that would have broken her. He had been though losing her before and back then he hadn't even acknowledged the fact that he had loved her. He could imagine the pain she would have gone through if something had happened to him because he knew that he too would have felt the same anguish if anything had happened to her.
He needed to apologize to her when he got back. Even though they had been fine last night and this morning, he knew that what had happened was gnawing at her just as much as it was messing with his head. He had been in the wrong and he knew that he had to just suck it up and apologize properly. He'd caught them a rabbit to cook later too, so hopefully, once they were both sated and fully made up, they could get back to the thing Beth had been about to start this morning.
Daryl had reluctantly left the bed, but he had promised her that they would get around to actually having some time alone like they had needed ever since they had left the farm. He would just need to check in with Rick and the others one more time before they ate and then, they would be free until the early morning and in the meantime, they would be able to do whatever they wanted.
As Daryl approached the cabin, he immediately noticed Beth. She was sitting on the steps, in nothing but a thin shirt and Daryl frowned, seeing instantly that something was off with her. Her jacket was next to her and her head was buried in her hands. Something was definitely up and Daryl felt a pang of worry flood him instantly. He picked up his steps, eyes set on her form.
"Beth," he called out softly, not wanting to alert anything that might be lurking in the woods, even though they seemed to be all alone and he hadn't come across a single walker on his hunt.
Beth looked up at him and he noticed how her eyes seemed glazed over. He recognized the signs and he could read them well enough to know what was happening to her. She was having one of those days where her brain had opened a gate and memories flooded in, not giving her a chance to take a single breath in-between. Those were the days where everything was bad for her and she would usually spend those days in bed, feeling sick all the time.
Her skin was paler than usual, but her lips looked almost blue. How long had she been out here in the cold? Daryl dropped the rabbit he was carrying and ran toward her just as she stood up and took a shaky step toward him. He reached her just as her eyes rolled back and she collapsed against him and Daryl dropped with her to the ground, cradling her in his arms as he mumbled her name over and over again, trying to shake her awake.
Note: Uh-oh. A little bit of drama in there too, among some (hopefully) sweet Bethyl moments! The next chapter is going to be a little shorter and I am shamelessly telling you guys that it's mostly just Bethyl fluff, along with some more seed-plantation for future chapters.
Oh, and before you leave! I've been playing around with the idea of a new Bethyl fic which plays out in ASZ three years after Team Family got there, with some alterations to the events that occur in the TV-show and Negan as a villain... Basically, it's my theory on how Beth could have survived Coda and then how she found Negan's group and joined the Saviors. I read the comics as well, so I'll be mixing them up with the show a little, but not too much. It's just how I think Beth's story could play out if she ends up being with that group, much as this one was about how she could have ended up with Morgan after Grady. So, what do you think about that idea? I'm plotting and planning, but I might be able to post the first chapter before the new year! Tell me if you'd be interested in reading it! ;)
Thank you so much for reading and supporting me, even though I've gotten REALLY bad at replying to reviews due to lack of time (I feel horrible!). I'm gonna get better at it again now that school's almost out and hopefully, if you feel like it, you can drop a tiny comment on this chapter, to tell me what you thought? Thank you so much and much love! :) xx
