A/N Thank you all again, so much. I'm so happy you're enjoying this story. Let's check in with Beth and Rick...
Rick would be going back to work in a week and Lori had just called. She said she needed Rick to keep Carl for a few days, and she'd explain more when she saw him. Rick was thrilled, he'd get to spend time with Carl before he went back on duty.
Usually they each drove halfway, met in a small café, and did what Rick thought of as the child hand-off. But she'd said no, this time she'd bring Carl right to Rick's house. He knew something was up, but who knew what that might be? He'd never figure that woman out, and it really didn't matter anymore, Beth was the only woman he was trying to make happy.
And Carl was coming, Rick couldn't be more thrilled about that. He missed having Carl with him, he missed that more than he'd ever missed Lori. Yeah, the divorce hurt, especially the circumstances, but it had been a long time coming. Nothing hurt him deeper than losing that regular contact with his son. Phone calls, texts and emails just weren't the same thing. But he knew he had to be happy with whatever time he did have.
And Beth was thrilled. He loved how excited she got about things she knew would make him happy.
She'd been cooking like they were expecting a small army to visit. She'd started baking yesterday and they now had jars full of cookies, plus she'd made fudge and buckeyes, and she had all the meals planned out for the time Carl was with them. They anticipated three days.
He'd tried to tell her, "Beth, Sweetheart, you know you don't have to cook all these treats and meals, we can go out to eat." She'd looked at him like he'd lost his mind.
"I want to cook for you and Carl, it's a privilege, this is so special, your son is coming, and I love Carl too, he's a part of you, and he and I had an instant connection." And then she got quiet, and she looked so concerned, he instinctively reached out, moved his hand to the back of her head and drew her close to his chest. He wrapped his arms around her and she spoke just above a whisper, "I'm so sorry Rick, I've put myself in the way, Carl is your son, you want to spend time with him, I should just go to the farm while he's here, please forgive me."
And as baffling as Beth and her feelings and her insights could be to him, he understood what she was talking about and he and whispered in her ear, "Sweetheart, I hadn't even considered that. Of course I want you here. I want us to be a family. Carl is my son, you're the woman I love, I'm happy, relieved and grateful that you two bonded, it's everything I could hope for."
"Rick, I don't think you're telling me everything. I'm getting a definite feeling of sadness, mixed with a little anger. I can't seem to pick up exactly what it is, but I know it's something."
He moved away from her enough to look in her eyes, "My God Beth, you know, I get a little scared when you do this stuff."
And before he could say more, she told him, "When you quit being scared, and you become more receptive to it, I think you'll see we have a deeper closeness than you've thought. So tell me Rick, why are you angry and sad?"
He smiled at her, gave her a small kiss, and then he told her. He told her about his resentment that Lori had moved so far away, taken Carl with her, he didn't think it was fair, how could she just take his son like that? Didn't he have a say so? He missed him, he wanted to watch him grow up, and he was angry that wasn't the way it was.
Beth hugged him tightly, "I don't know why I feel this way, and I don't know what's going to happen, but I feel calmness, like everything will correct itself. I hope my senses are right."
"I don't know if they are Sweetheart, but I do know you've made me feel better," And he smiled at her and this time when he kissed her, it was slower and deeper.
xxxx
She was going to the farm for the day to visit her family and help her Mama can applesauce, he had a plan of his own.
He went to that little jewelry store downtown.
He liked the idea of a Claddagh ring, her family name was Irish, and the ring was a traditional Irish ring with a lot of symbolism, he thought that would be special to her. And Rick felt the symbolism was perfect for a married couple; the hands representing friendship, the heart representing love, and the crown representing loyalty. He thought they were such beautiful rings, and yet nothing too ostentatious, that just wouldn't be Beth. And he didn't really care for the idea of an engagement ring, just a wedding ring.
The jeweler gave him a lesson on that, it's all in how the ring is worn. On the left hand with the point of the heart toward the fingertips, the wearer is engaged, on the left hand with the point of the heart toward the wrist, the wearer is married.
It really was the perfect ring.
Since there would be no engagement ring, he felt like he wanted to give her a little something more when he proposed. He asked the jeweler if he could make a simple gold bracelet with a heart, the same heart as on the Claddagh.
The jeweler thought he could have everything in two weeks.
Then it dawned on him, Beth would know he'd done something for her the minute she saw him, she may even guess he'd bought her something. He still didn't really understand how she'd know, he just knew she would. It wasn't easy hiding anything from Beth, and if she asked him, and he told a white lie, she'd know right away, and he didn't want her to think he'd lie to her. The answer seemed to be, buy her one more thing he'd give her now, so he did, a pair of small heart shape gold earrings.
Just getting to the point of being engaged to Beth Greene wasn't cheap, he smiled to himself.
He wasn't ready to ask her quite yet, but he was definitely preparing. He knew he was going to ask her, and he thought she'd say yes, and he just hoped he was right.
He'd be talking to Hershel first anyway, he knew the man was traditional, and Rick was too. He liked the idea of acknowledging the importance of Hershel in her life, and honoring the man who'd raised her.
He was already back at the house when she walked in the door, they smiled at each other and he put his arm around her waist, "I'm sure glad you're home, it's too quiet around here when you're gone."
She smiled back and said, "Are you implying that I'm noisy?"
"I'm not answering that on grounds I may incriminate myself. How did the applesauce canning go?" And he kissed the top of her head.
"It went great, I brought some back. Do you have something Rick, something you want to give me?" She asked.
Well that could be taken a couple of ways, but he wouldn't mention that, instead he said, "I'll never understand how you do that Beth."
And she shrugged and said, "I never will either. Is it something good, I hope?" And he could tell by her smile she knew it was.
"You know, you're very hard to surprise, but I'm at least going to make you wait until after dinner, and I'm cooking so you go relax and I'll let you know when it's ready."
"Are you sure you want me to wait Rick, because, you know, I'm not the most patient person when it comes to secrets," She smiled again.
"Don't try to soften me up with that smile Sweetheart, it won't work. Now go play or go do your work, I'm running this kitchen now," He tried to sound tough, but he couldn't help smiling at her.
He'd fixed baked salmon, jasmine rice, and fresh asparagus. For dessert he'd bought ice cream because he knew there was no way he could come close to her baking skills.
She was impressed, "You know Rick, I enjoy cooking for you so much, it really makes me happy, but this is absolutely wonderful."
And then she caught him completely off guard. "Carl comes tomorrow, and then next week you go back to work. I was thinking, now that you're all healed, I should probably go home to the farm when you go back to work."
"What? Why Beth? I thought you were happy here."
"Oh I'm very happy here, but it's your home, maybe you'd like to have it back," She smiled, but it wasn't a happy smile.
"Beth, you make this place a home, I don't want you going anywhere unless it's what you want, and then I still won't want it, I'll just accept it. You're usually so intuitive, why would you think I want you to leave?" He was puzzled.
"Well, I didn't really feel it, but Daddy said something about it, that maybe you'd like to have your home back."
Rick was thinking he needed to have that talk with Hershel soon, he figured he'd do that after Carl's visit.
xxxx
Lori called at 8am and told him they were leaving and she expected to be there by 11am. Now he was getting really excited.
When they heard the car pull in the driveway they smiled at one another and Rick went right to the door, just as Carl opened the car door and ran toward him, "Dad!" Beth's heart was full as she watched them hug.
Lori got out of the car and they could see she had a very serious expression on her face. She looked to Rick, "Could we talk privately?"
Beth quickly said, "Carl, let's you and I go in the back, I want to show you my beautiful garden, and wait until you see what your Dad's done."
When they were out of earshot Rick asked her, "What's going on Lori?"
"I want Carl to move in with you. Having a teenage boy is just more than Shane can handle. I've brought his things."
Rick was dumbfounded, he wanted to say to her, "You chose that asshole over your child?" But he wasn't going to fuck this up, he was so happy his son would be with him. So instead he said, "No problem Lori, you know I've wanted Carl here all along. He has a bedroom here, it'll work out just fine."
She tried to get a little tart, "What about your young girlfriend, is she going to accept Carl living here?"
Rick responded immediately, "Beth will be thrilled, she's crazy about Carl." But that made him think, could Beth have a problem with this set up?
"You've told Carl haven't you Lori?"
She answered quickly and spoke fast, "No, I'm going to let you tell him, now why don't you help me get his things out of the trunk." Rick was stunned, but he still wasn't going to risk it. He wanted Carl with him. Between him and Lori, it was just two trips to get Carl's things in his bedroom.
Then she shocked him again, "I'm going now, tell Carl I said goodbye and I'll call him."
Rick just couldn't let that go by, "Really Lori, you don't want to say goodbye to your son?"
And she practically hissed, "Don't judge me Rick." And she turned on her heel, got in her car and drove away.
He stood there a moment, trying to gather his thoughts. He was going to have to tell Carl right away. How could this not hurt deeply, having your mother just drop you off, for good, and not even say goodbye?
He was still trying to wrap his own head around what had happened when Beth and Carl came in from the backyard, and Carl asked, "Where's Mom?"
"Let's all sit in the front room and talk for just a minute," Rick had a smile on his face when he said it, but Beth could feel the tension coming off him, and an odd combination of very happy and very sad.
He wished he could have had a chance to talk to Beth about all of this first, he could tell by the way she was looking at him she knew something was up.
He thought about how Beth always said telling the truth was vital, but he wanted to put a good spin on the truth, so he sent up a quick prayer this would help, "You know how much I've wanted to have you with me Carl, and the good news is your mom is going to let you stay here." Rick smiled, but Carl wasn't fooled.
"It's that son of a bitch Shane, isn't it?" Carl didn't sound particularly sad, more like he'd expected it.
Neither Rick nor Beth reacted to the cussing. Rick would address that later, instead he replied, "Carl, I've wanted so much for you to be here with me I'm selfish enough not to care how it happened, as long as it happened."
"I'm glad about it too Dad, honest, I was going crazy living with them. Mom hasn't been like herself since she left you. I asked her a million times to let me come here with you. I'm glad she finally did. I can't believe she didn't bother to say goodbye, but I figure she probably felt too guilty."
Rick was amazed, how could a 14 year old be so insightful?
Beth wasn't sure what her place was in all this, but what she did know was she loved Rick, she wanted to be supportive, for him and for his son. "Carl I'm so happy you're going to be here with us. I think it's going to be wonderful."
Carl looked at her, and only half-jokingly said, "You sure you're not gonna get sick of me and want my Dad all to yourself?"
Rick tried to intervene then, but Beth stopped him, "I'm very sure. Your Dad's happiness means everything to me, and having you here makes your Dad happy. That makes me happy. What I wish for more than anything, is that you'll decide to be happy."
After a quick lunch, Rick took Carl over to the school and got him registered for classes. He was coming in mid semester, but the counselor didn't expect it to be a problem.
Carl was excited he'd be seeing many of his old buddies, he'd missed this town, it was home. Sure, his feelings were deeply hurt, but he was happy to be here.
They stopped by the small office supply store in town and got a few things Carl would need for school, and then started back home. Carl teased Rick about becoming a farmer, "I always thought you were kind of a country bumpkin, I guess I was right."
Rick couldn't help but laugh, "Beth has had a lot of influence on me, the farm girl has turned me into to farmer."
"I like her Dad, she's really nice, she knows everything about computers, and she makes the best cookies I've ever tasted. Plus, she's not all old like you and Mom." And he laughed.
"Watch it kid, or you'll be pulling all the weeds in that garden and doing all the dishes," Rick just smiled back at him and added, "Of course, there's a pretty good chance you'll be doing those chores anyway."
Beth had made a great dinner, and he was so pleased to see her and Carl interact like old friends.
It was after the meal and the clean-up that he got in full Dad mode. He made sure Carl had everything organized for school the next day, and he laid out the rules.
Rick felt like except for the concern he had about Carl's feelings, it had been a perfect day.
Later that evening he and Beth lay in bed holding hands and he said what was on his mind, "Sweetheart, this has been a helluva day, even you didn't see anything like this coming. I know when we got together, and when you agreed to stay here with me, you never counted on having to help care for a teenage boy. You didn't sign on for all the work and worry that involves. So, I just want to say, if you've changed your mind, if you want to go back to the farm, I get it. I won't be happy about it, but I'll understand, it's your decision."
He hadn't expected the reaction he got, she immediately started crying, hard, but she also had an angry tone to her voice when she said, "I can't believe that's all you think of me Rick Grimes. After everything we've been through in our short relationship, you just assume that I'll want to up and run because your son has come to live with us? I knew about Carl all along, I never had any negative feelings about that, and I haven't said anything except that I love you, I love him, and I'm happy. And I certainly feel that I showed that with my actions. You have just hurt me so deeply Rick. I thought you knew me so much better. I thought you believed in me. I thought you loved me."
At first he didn't know what to say, he quickly took her in his arms and he was holding her tightly to him. Then the words came to him, "Oh my God Beth, I don't think that came out how I meant it. You know I love you Sweetheart, damn, I love you so much it hurts. I never want to make you cry, ever, and I know how good you are, how pure of heart you are, and I've never believed in anyone more, or trusted anyone more. I love you so much Beth, I want you with me every day of my life. Please, please don't be hurt and please don't be angry with me, or disappointed in me. I'm so sorry."
"I know you mean that Rick, but I do feel hurt, I can't help that, it's me. Still, I'm not going anywhere, I can't leave you, I love you too deeply, and you're the missing piece of my puzzle." She was still crying softly, but she held onto him tightly.
A/N All kinds of drama, all kinds of love. I hope you enjoyed it. Thank you for reading, please review xo