A/N I so appreciate all of your kind words, and I thank you for the follows and faves, you caught me by surprise. I hope you'll continue to enjoy.

He had no idea why he was in church on Sunday morning. Wait, that wasn't true at all, he knew exactly why he was here. Beth Greene had looked at him with those big baby blues sparkling and said, "Would you come to church with me in the morning, and then have Sunday dinner with us?"

And all he really cared about was she'd invited him to spend time with her, so of course he said, "I'd be honored."

Now here he sat on a hard wooden pew, wearing a necktie on his day off, and he didn't mind a bit because she was playing the piano and singing and he'd never heard the old hymns sound better.

xxxx

Her father met him at the door, "I think she's ready Rick, she's just upstairs talking to her sister. Let me call her down."

She came down the stairs and he was starting to think that off center ponytail was the sexiest hairstyle he'd ever seen. She looked quite a bit different for church than she had last night, well of course she would. She was wearing almost no make-up, but she looked even more beautiful to him, almost glowing. She had on a floral sundress, sleeveless, but the neckline was high and modest, it had a tight waist and a full skirt and he was sure there wasn't a prettier girl in the world. "Hey Beth, you look very nice, are you ready to go?" His head was tilted slightly to the side and he smiled that smile and his eyes seemed to twinkle, and all of it made her smile right back.

"Hi Rick, you look very nice yourself, thank you so much for taking me to church today. I like that you would do that for me, I don't really think it's the way you usually spend your Sunday mornings," She still had a smile on her face.

But then she frowned, "Oh no, I didn't make you do something you don't want to, did I? Oh that would be just awful. I'm so sorry."

"Relax Beth, its fine, if I didn't want to be here, I wouldn't be here. I told you I'd be honored to take you to church, and I am. Shall we?" He held his arm out for her to take.

It fascinated him the way she worried about everyone's feelings, but he'd been reminded, it was part of that innocence her family worried so much about. It was endearing for sure, but he didn't like thinking of her worrying over nothing.

He opened the car door for her, but before helping her in he put his arm lightly around her waist and said, "Thank you for inviting me Beth. I'm looking forward to hearing you sing, and I'm looking forward to Sunday dinner with you and your family." He smiled and gave her a soft kiss on the cheek. She blushed a pretty shade of pink and he could feel himself smile broadly.

xxxx

As he sat there in that uncomfortable pew, he was wondering how dinner would go. He didn't see the Dixon boys here in church, but then he hadn't really expected to. He was just hoping Daryl would get over thinking he intended to just use Beth. Damn, Daryl was his best friend, you'd think he'd at least give him the benefit of the doubt. Although, Rick had been kind of a jerk about women since the divorce, and Daryl knew all about that. So maybe he'd better be the one to approach Daryl and assure him his intentions regarding Beth were all good.

Her father's preaching was as she'd said, more love and less fire than most he'd heard as a kid. In fact, the last time he could remember being in a church his mother and dad had dragged him practically kicking and screaming when he was 16. They quit making him go after that.

Beth ended the church service with "The Unclouded Day" and she had the congregation on their feet singing with her.

Outside he noticed the congregants kept a respectful distance from her, waiting until she approached and greeted them. It was obvious they knew her well. He stayed close to her side and she held tightly to his hand. He knew most of these folks too, and he didn't fail to note that he was getting a lot of curious glances.

It fascinated him the way she was around large groups of people. She seemed to love people, enjoyed chatting and was always quick to smile, but she seemed to only be able to handle them in very small groups that didn't get too close. Yet she wanted him close. That was fine with him, he'd stay as close as she wanted.

He followed her lead, when she was ready to go he helped her in the car and drove toward the farm. "I sure enjoyed listening to you sing today. If I had to choose a hymn to listen to it would be Precious Memories, and I've never heard it sound as beautiful as it did today when you sang it Beth."

"Oh Rick, that's the nicest thing, thank you so much for telling me that. It's one of my favorites too. I'm so happy you came with me today, it's so special to me. And I guess you realize how nice it is for me to have you there when the people are around. I truly love them all, I just start to feel a little, well I guess you could say tense, when too many people get too close to me." And she put her hand on his arm and said in the sweetest voice he'd ever heard, "But I enjoy having you close, I want you close to me Rick."

Damn. And when she said things like that, it didn't come across as some kind of hot and bothered come on, it came across as just a sweetly stated fact.

And he wasn't just blowing smoke when he said right back to her, "There's nothing I can remember that ever felt any better than being close to you Beth."

They arrived back at the farm and he saw Daryl over by the barn smoking a cigarette. He asked her, "Would you mind if I went over and had a talk with Daryl? I'll be back shortly."

She smiled at him, "Not at all, I'm just going to help Mama finish up the meal."

He helped her from the car, smiled and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, "I'll see you in a few minutes." Then he strode over to where Daryl stood squinting his eyes at him.

Rick nodded, "Daryl, how are you today?"

"I'm good Rick, just wondering what the fuck yer up to. Ya wanna explain this shit ta me?"

"I can't explain it Daryl, I don't really understand it myself. I just met Beth yesterday morning, at the laundromat of all places. I know this sounds corny, but it was like I was completely taken in the minute that I saw her, there's just something there Daryl, something I never felt before, ever, not even with Lori. I can't tell you what it is, but it happened in an instant. I can't fucking believe it myself, it's like she owns my ass already and I don't mind. I swear to you brother, I have no intention of hurting her in any way."

"Yeah, well I s'pose ya know by now Beth ain't like no one else. She's the smartest person yer ever gonna meet, every time I'm around her she amazes me with something she knows all about. But Beth ain't good with a lotta stuff everyone else in the world don't even bother ta think about. And I never seen anyone get so confounded and frustrated by the most simple things. Ya might think it all ain't no big deal right now, ya probably think it's just kinda cute, but believe me when I tell ya, it takes a lotta people ta keep that little gal tagether. I love Beth, she's my girl, I'd do anything for her, but I tell ya, ya hook up with her yer gonna have ta be patient, yer gonna have ta be a lotta things Rick. If it turns out she loves ya, then ya ain't gotta worry about the shit ya had ta worry about with Lori, but yer gonna be havin' ta care for her in a different kinda way, try ta keep her from suffering, cuz she does suffer, the world's a mean fuckin' place and Beth is way too goddamn sweet ta live in it. Could be the best thing that ever happened for ya if yer man enough ta take it on, but if ya ain't, get out now. Me n Merle, we'll clean up yer mess, get her through it. Yer my brother Rick but she's my baby sister."

Rick looked at Daryl hard in the eye. He had more than one set of feelings about what Daryl had said. He knew it was true, he could see the handwriting on the wall, being with Beth could feel like a full time job if a person wasn't all in, but he happened to think it could be the best thing that ever happened for him. He also couldn't deny that he was a little jealous of Daryl, not because he thought his friend had any sort of romantic connection with Beth, but the fact that they shared a certain intimacy he'd never have with her. But mostly he felt enormous gratitude that Daryl had been there for Beth, saved her life, and that they had indeed developed that close bond, it had obviously impacted them both beyond measure. "I don't blame you for worrying Daryl, you've seen me. Since Lori left with Carl I haven't been a good man with women, but I've been honest with them, told them what I was all about, but it still ain't right and I know that. But this with Beth, this is different. I've barely known the woman 24 hours Daryl, that seems almost impossible to me because, damn, my feelings are intense already. I told you, I can't explain it because I don't understand it; but I can make you this promise, I have nothing but the best of intentions when it comes to Beth. And I thank you Daryl, and Merle too, for looking out for her."

He extended his hand to Daryl, and was relieved when Daryl shook his hand.

Sunday dinner at the Greene farm was not like Sunday dinner at his folks' home had been. Hershel lead them in a blessing, nothing unusual about that, but the food, he'd never seen a spread quite like it. It was Sunday, so no one had cooked, but they'd obviously had a busy Saturday of it. There was cold fried chicken, sliced ham, potato salad, bean salad, deviled eggs, two Jello salads, homemade rolls and banana bread. There was home churned butter and fresh preserves for the rolls. He would have been happy with just that.

Then they went around the table, one by one, each had to tell something they were grateful for this past week, something they'd accomplished, and something they'd done that they enjoyed. Even Daryl and Merle were in on it. Daryl told about a renovation job he'd completed for his accomplishment, he was grateful the guys check cleared the bank (that got a laugh), and he'd enjoyed a little fishing yesterday. Rick was wracking his brain trying to think what he was going to say when it was his turn, thank goodness he would be last.

Beth was seated to his right, next to him, when her turn came he couldn't believe what she said, "I'm grateful to have met Rick Grimes, I enjoyed him taking me on my first date, and my accomplishment was getting him to kiss me." There was about five seconds of silence, and then everyone started laughing.

Rick didn't think he'd ever blushed in his life, but in that moment he was sure his face was the color of a tomato. Beth didn't understand what was funny, all she did was tell the truth. Rick could see her tense up.

Maggie was seated on the other side of Beth and placed an arm around her shoulder, Rick heard her whisper to her sister, "It's okay Bethie, everyone just loves your honestly, you know we do, you didn't make any mistakes."

That's when he hurried and spoke, trying to shift the attention away from Beth, "I'm grateful to have met Beth Greene, my accomplishment was getting her to agree to a date, what I really enjoyed was when she let me kiss her." He took Beth's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.

Hershel looked at him, nodded his head, and said, "Well done, Rick."

Then Merle made an announcement that had Rick glad he was sitting down, "Miz Annette, that was a Sunday dinner for the books, I think it's the best I ever had. I'ma do all the dishes, it's the least I can do."

And Beth's Mama just smiled and said, "Merle you say that every time you come for Sunday dinner."

"That's cuz it's true every time I come for Sunday dinner, and Beth taught me I got ta always tell the truth." That made Beth smile.

Beth wanted to go for a walk and that sounded perfect to him. She went upstairs to change and she was gone for what seemed to him an unusually long amount of time. He sat on the bottom stair and waited for her. Her Daddy and Mama were sitting in their rockers on the porch, Maggie and Glenn were helping Daryl and Merle in the kitchen, and Shawn had gone to feed the stock, even though the family didn't believe in work on Sunday, the animals still needed to be cared for.

He heard her on the stairs behind him and turned to look. He was on his feet immediately when he saw the tears in her eyes. He ran up the stairs and put his arms around her, "What's wrong sweetheart, what happened?"

She didn't say anything, just took his hand and lead him to her room. He was amazed. It was like no one had ever been in it, perfectly organized, exceptionally clean. She could have passed a military inspection.

She had a twin bed, nightstand and dresser, but what took up the bulk of the room was a huge table she used as a desk. Sitting atop it were two desktop computers, a Mac and a PC, and he saw a MacBook Air and a Samsung laptop. There was other equipment that he had no idea what it was, it was an impressive set-up.

She looked and said, "It's this, I can't get it fixed, I've been trying since last week. I wanted so much to be able to do it myself, but I just can't, it keeps getting worse and worse. I just wanted my phone charger, that was all. I don't even know what happened." He'd started rubbing her back because he could see she was becoming more and more emotional, and then she slid open the bottom drawer of the dresser. It was surprising to say the least. He couldn't even imagine how many cords might be in there. But it was all one big hugely tangled mess, you couldn't even tell where one started and another stopped.

He tried very hard to keep a calm look on his face, "I'll tell you what sweetie, do you have a backpack or large sack we could put these in, and do you have rubber bands?"

She sniffled, "Yes."

"Well why don't we get the cords, and the rubber bands and we'll walk down by the pond. I'll get these untangled for you, I'll roll each one up and secure it with a rubber band. Then they won't get so easily tangled next time. How does that sound?" He touched her cheek with an open hand.

"That sounds so good, thank you Rick, thank you," and she leaned up and kissed his cheek.

It was tough at first, but once he'd gotten the first two or three out of the mess, untangled them and neatly rolled and banded them, it went a little easier. They talked as he worked, about his job, about her computer programs, and suddenly she said, "If you don't want to see me anymore Rick, I understand."

What? Now he was confused. "Why would you say that Beth? Of course I want to continue to see you." He was looking at her, but she was looking down.

"I know I'm different Rick, I know people think I'm strange. I know a lot of people think it's very difficult to spend much time around me. I've lived with it my whole life. I don't want to be a burden to you Rick, I care about you too much."

He put the tangled mess down, reached for her and held her tight. "Beth you're the sweetest, most gentle person I've ever met. Yes, you're different, but not in a bad way. I wouldn't change a thing about you. You're just you, and I've fallen for you hook, line and sinker just the way you are."

A/N Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed it, please review xo