Your love echoes

Rated M

Warnings; course language, mentions of past violence, past abuse and flash backs mentions of under -age drinking.

My beta Spitfire47 is helping with editing of chapters.

Chapter 12; do you see me?

After Hershel and Maggie got Beth back into the house Maggie asked Patricia to help with Beth taking her to her room. They helped Beth undress, Patricia was not the one to pry or ask questions about her past or scars, which is why Maggie ask her to help. Their dad would have busted in and demanded answers with out of her, her scars didn't shock or became a surprise to Maggie, gently washing the dirt away with a cloth.

Checking her for any injuries, there seemed to be none except some small cuts to her hands, from what Maggie would have guessed what was from the stick she held in her hand or maybe from stabbing walkers? With some force would have caused the cutting to Beth's hands Maggie carefully pulled out the splinters from Beth's hands and dressed and bandaged the worst of her cuts. It had to be walkers because the cuts on her hands didn't cause that much bleeding.

Beth shut down every time Maggie asked what happened, and wouldn't talk. Just kept on saying she can't remember how she got there, or anything else, Maggie stopped pushing Beth hoping she would open up to her but it didn't happen that way. After a little while Beth slept, Maggie sighing and left the room.

xxxx

Patricia had left the room after helping Maggie with Beth after she left the two sisters alone, and was waiting with Hershel . What Maggie didn't expect was Rick and the group to be there as well. Hershel rose as to see Beth for his self and Maggie stopped him.

''Dad, no not now, it wasn't her blood. Beth is ok she had some small cuts on her hands, but apart from that she's fine. She exhausted, she is sleeping right now.''

Maggie didn't take her eyes off her father . He looked like he would burst into Beth room moment and demanded answers. He missing the concern look on rick's face, his need to know she ok, Lori watching her husband in a curiously as if she to work out what he was thinking, starting see something there but wasn't sure and scoffs from Shane.

Hershel tried again and Maggie stopped him. ''Let her sleep, you won't get anything from her, not tonight at least, she is saying she can't remember. Don't push her dad. Remember what happened with Jimmy's friend Lucas?"

Hershel sighed still wanted to hit that kid at the memory of him and what he tried to do with his Beth. Maggie saw the look of the memory forgetting the group still there. She moved forward trying to calm her father, taking her father's hands in hers.

''Dad you can't always protect Beth, she is strong, and maybe as stubborn minded as you . But you know she doesn't like talking about her feelings.''

Looking pointedly at her father as if to make a point before continuing.

''But if anyone can pull through and see the light out of darkness it's Beth... she will open up and tell us when she is ready. We have to patient with her dad you know that.'' Hershel sighes, maggie held her ground holding her fathes hand in hers.

''Your right as always, I just wish Beth would open up to us more. She's been through a lot in the last 3 years I wish she would just talk to us, realise she doesn't have protect us from her memories, and past. I know there more to it more she is not telling us.'' Hershel pressed his palm to his eldest daughter check

Maggie bit her lip she never knew how much it affected her father. How Beth opened up to her, telling little things about Liam and not telling their father anything.

Before Maggie could reply to her father they had been pulled out of it by the group. Or mostly by Shane scoffing at Hershel and Maggie's father and daughter moment.

''So we dealing with more walkers or what? I haven't got all day, and we have better things to do like do another pointless search for Sophia who's probably already dead. I'm sorry Carol, I'm not the only one thinking, I'm just the only one saying it.''

Carol went for Shane only to be held back by Daryl, before Lori moving forward and gently guided an upset Carol towards door with help from Daryl but not before she turned to Shane

''Do you ever get sick of being an intensive ass hole?'' Then led an upset Carol out of the house followed by Daryl.

Not long after Lori, Carol and Daryl left the house, Hershel asked Shane to Leave.

xxxx

Beth moved away for the door, again felt grateful again to Maggie. Chuckling at the comment about her being as stubborn as her father, in a lot of ways she was. Though Beth wasn't the one for eavesdropping sometimes the house was not only old but it sometimes had a weird way of carrying raised voices and noises through the house.

Looking at the bottle, Beth had on her side table, the bitter taste still on her lips.

Was it really Liam she killed? It didn't seem real. It was a walker but it looked so much like Liam. Beth was already trying to recover from the grave marker, the reality of it she had been holding to it... to him, for so long, 6 months of loss, still so fresh in her memory, the loss, and he was so little.

xxxx flash back xxx

Then the walker who looked exactly like Liam smashed through the window like it was nothing. A place of her mothers, and her shelter was the only place she felt safe and the only place Beth could remember her mother. Looking down at her shaking hands with tears in her eyes why? Why was she acting like this? The ass hole put her through 2 years of hell. Beth couldn't stop shaking or the tears.

The walker...Liam came through the window and attacked her pushing her hard against the wall before pushing Beth backwards, Beth creaking her head against the edge of the book case, Beth fought back using the only thing she could think of, pushing it of her, pushing her hand and jamming her fingers into Liam 's throat. Jeez he was dead it had no effect on him.

Beth managing to push him back just enough so when Liam tried to attack her again, Beth took the sharp stick and rammed it into Liam's head with both hands. Pain went through her as she felt the wood cut into her palms. Before she could run it though his head, she stabbed it through his chest 5 times - in the chest too? It became all a blur, seeing it, him, all pain, hurt, anger all came back at once. Beth yelled and screamed at him, hitting him over and over.

xxxx present xxxx

Letting out a sob, Beth fell against the wall, sliding down . The grave, her little angel, tripping over and over in the creek, running, the cold, Liam and her confusing feelings she was developing for Rick it became too much for her. Her chest, tightening hugging her knees, her quiet sobs travel down the stairs.

xxxx

Downstairs Rick and Hershel were talking about Carl's health, Hershel was grateful for the momentary change of subject . He knew his Bethany would come to him when she was ready but he hated waiting. Waiting was the worst part but he also knew if he pushed Beth she would shut down completely.

''He is hell bent on going on the search tomorrow, he is scaring Lori,'' Rick said as they sat down together.

''Have you got anything, any light work you could give him? Take his mind off things? It would put Lori's mind at ease, knowing his not in any danger. He may also think he is healed but it takes longer he thinks.''

Rick rubbed his own side remembering himself, in the same position, not 2 months ago. It took a while after his coma to get back fully on his feet and knew the risk his son had of injuring himself again.

Hershel was about to answer, but both suddenly stopped when Beth sobs came down the stairs.

Rick closed his eyes, his breath hitched. He admitted if only to his self, he ached to be near her, hold her, to help her. But he made a promise and he was going to keep it, waiting for Beth to come to him.

About half an hour later the crying stopped and the house went quiet again.

xxxx

Beth rose late the next morning, surprisingly her father and sister let her sleep as long as she did. They didn't wake her sooner. When Beth did come around, she looked at the clock, it was past 10 am in the morning. Beth tried to sit up only to slowly lie back down, her head throbbed, and a strong feeling of sickness came over her. Beth groaned her throat was sore and her lips dry. She was more exhausted than she thought letting out a whimper at the memory of yesterday's events, some more tears escaped as she rolled over trying to hid face from the light and sooth her head with a pillow she wasn't ready to face any anyone not just yet.

xxxx

The tension between Hershel and Maggie in the morning was felt in the Greene household. Hershel and Maggie avoided the subject of Beth. The eldest sister felt if they approached the subject Hershel would storm in there and demand that Beth tell them what happened, bring up painful memories and will cause Beth to shut down.

Beth told Maggie little things of Liam how they met, and a little about the abuse, but still stayed tight lipped around her father. Damn her father was so stubborn, but his over protectiveness does more harm than good. But he was trying, he was, but he was also running out of patience. Maggie played a buffer between her father and sister so her sister felt safe and also feeling protective of Beth.

It also made her feel torn her between her father and sister, because even though Maggie understands Beth's hesitation, to tell her father, when it seemed there was a lot more than what she is telling her. Maggie also feels their father as a right to know what's going on with his daughters though it may not take the pain away. Maybe with time they can help Beth slowly heal and maybe have some closer little steps right?

Maggie heart also ached and broke for sister, with what Beth already told her she saw the pain and heartbreak in Beth eyes. The plea not to tell their father and she didn't want to betray that trust, she will wait and they we go to their father together, when Beth was ready. Maggie owed her sister that much and promised her, she would be there for her when her sister finally told their father, in Beth's own time.

The echoes of Beth crying last night still broke her heart.

Little did Maggie know the kindness of one person will change everything.

xxxx

Lori and Rick were with Carl while Hershel was doing a final check over before letting Carl out of bed.

''Carl is healing well, his wound is closing, his pulse, breathing and blood pressure is normal, he seems in perfect health,'' Hershel said as he turned to Rick and Lori

''But I do want Carl to take it easy for a while, maybe a week or two give the wound the time to close fully and heal.'' Then Hershel turned his attention to Carl

''You may find yourself getting tired easily, and aching, that's normal, but no doing anything that will risk tearing your wound open again. If your feel any pain or feeling dizzy you need to either tell parents or myself. '' Carl looked between Hershel and his parents hesitated if just for a moment then nodded.

''Your welcome to come and rest here other than that your free to move around,'' Hershel concluded.

As Hershel was leaving he turned to the family. '' If you want to help around the farm, there are some light chores you can do if you're interested? Feeding the chickens and collecting eggs a few other things, Beth isn't feeling her best at the moment… so if you want to help, Maggie can show you.''

With that said Hershel left the room.

xxxx

While Hershel was talking, Rick found himself else where all he could picture was Beth. The want to know if she was all right, it took all his will not to go charging in to her room father present or not and just hold her . Her crying still echoing in his head, he could still hear the pain. He wants to kiss all her pain way, he froze if not for a moment – did he really wanted that? The answer was yes he did. He wanted that, he wanted to be there for her friend and or a lover. To be everything for her, to show her she can be loved, that it is possible. That he could teach her, he can be the one to love her, to teach her how to love again, no matter how bad it had gotten.

The guilt was still there however. He still wandered how it would affect Lori and Carl, and there were things he and Lori needed to talk about before he could go there with Beth. The questions of if he should or shouldn't, the age difference, it was all still there but when he thought of Beth none of that seem to matter anymore. All Rick wanted to know was how Beth felt about him, how she felt - that was all he wanted to know. All that mattered now, and if it was want she wanted. He would be anything and everything for her.

If not he would still help as a friend and willing to let the rest go he felt he owed her that much. It may not change the past but he wanted to show her she wasn't alone, someone did care and maybe in time it would help her slowly heal and move forward.

xxxx

Unknowingly to both, Beth was having the same thoughts about Rick, after the events yesterday she couldn't stop thinking about Rick the possibilities. Beth needed something to hold on to and for her it was Rick. All Beth wanted to know was how Rick felt about her, Beth needed some hope that there was a possibility. Someone like Rick felt the same, the guilt the age difference. It wasn't just Lori and Carl she had guilt for or the effect on or the cost for them, but her father and sister's reaction and how it will affect them as well? Will they think Rick is taking advantage of her because of the age difference? Will it affect how they think and react to him?

It felt more out of reach now, she felt she may have read a little too much into things with his concern, and his touches. Beth could be making a fool of herself, but she did actually think of being with someone like Rick maybe one day. Someone with experience, who knew their way around a woman's body, who was loving, and kind, what real kisses felt like, slow passionate and loving kisses. Beth blushed a little at the thought, Beth had never really had a real kiss with someone, or really knew what it was like to make love to someone, or to be loved by someone that way.

With Nathan and Liam there wasn't love or passionate, they just wanted her body. That was what she was to them. Their daily satisfaction, a slut, a whore, and Beth had being with them so long she started to believe that was all she was. Beth has never felt or experienced love or knows what love or passion or any of those things feels like, any more, nor remember it not even from her own family.

She needed to know Rick, to know how he felt, that she wasn't alone. Then Beth realised she was open to both possibilities, lover or friend. The feelings she felt for him…even though she isn't sure what they are yet, but had a feeling that was not going to go away soon. But just being with Rick, maybe was all Beth needed to heal slowly and maybe in time let go and move on. Both possibilities of Rick as a lover or friend were welcoming and finally letting go of the past and move on sent shivers down her spine.

Then a soft smile came to her lips, she may have thought of a way to slowly let Rick in, talk to him. To finally see if felt the same way and see if she could trust him all in one game she use to play with Shawn and Maggie when she was younger. Starting with little things off the topic of what you want to talk about, eventually it comes in full circle, that was how Shawn and Maggie got things out of her and caught in the act.

The one thing Beth use to hate may be the only way to connect with someone she admitted to herself she wanted to connect to.

xxxx

Later that day Beth was on her way to her favourite tree to read for the day. But she also had something else in mind - to let know Rick she want to talk to him with none of the others around . Hoping he just seeing her walk past would be enough to get his attention without anyone else knowing . Walking slowing past the camp-site, trying not met anyone's eye at the camp, walking towards the tree with a book sat down to read.

Not long after she saw Rick approaching where she was sitting.

''I thought you might want to talk'' said Rick as he approached her.

Beth smiled bit her lip a little, and nodded. '' I want to try something, have you ever played a game called You Tell Me, I'll Tell You?'' asked Beth.

Rick gave a questioning look tilted his head slightly to the side.

Beth continued, '' you tell something about yourself, I tell you something about me, or the other way round . It could be anything, embarrassing moments, feelings, little things, off topic of what we really want to know then we go from there . It's how my brother Shawn and Maggie caught me out on a lot of things. I want to talk to you Rick, this is the way I know how because… I want to let you in."

Beth said as she closed her book.

Rick bit his lip momentary dragging his teeth along the bottom lip. Beth saw it as a habit, not long after smiled and nodded as he came and sat down beside Beth. Rick noticed as Beth hesitated.

''I will go first, if you want if, that will make more comfortable, anything... right? What about we start with little things... embarrassing moments? And work our way from there,'' Rick said trying to calm Beth's nerves.

He didn't want to rush her, they would take time to get to know each other, Beth looked shying up at him and nodded.

A/n; what do you think, what embarrassing moments will Rick and Beth reveal, what else will come out during their game? Stayed tuned to find out, till next time lovely readers. Reviews welcome deadlove ox.