The Heart Won't Lie

Chapter 10

Daryl was sitting on the tailgate of his truck, waiting for Beth. She had asked him to meet her somewhere they could be alone because she had something important to tell him.

With her wedding just two weeks away, he had a feeling he knew what she wanted to tell him. He hoped he wasn't right, though he'd be happy for her no matter what she decided.

He hopped down with a smile when Beth pulled up.

That smile he had quickly disappeared when he saw the look on her face.

"Daryl...," she began.

"No, Beth. Jus' stop," he could feel an actual pain his chest because he knew what she was going to say. "I'm happy for you."

"Daryl, please let me explain..."

She was cut off by Daryl grabbing her face and pressing his lips to hers.

"I love ya, Bethie."

Those were the last words he said to her. She stood there cryin' as she watched him get in his truck and drive away.

This was it. All those years she spent waiting for him were all for nothing and it was her fault this time, not his.

He seemed to have disappeared again after that night.

"Where's daddy?" Beth asked as she wiped her tears away, smearing her makeup.

Her wedding was now three days away so she was staying at the farm with her family.

"He's with Glenn and Shawn," her mother said as she took a tray of cookies out of the oven.

"Can you ask him to come here? I really need to talk to him. Please Mama?"

Annette simply nodded and left the room to get Hershel.

"Maggie, am I makin' a mistake?" She asked as soon as her mom was out of the room.

"That's not for me to decide, Beth."

"Maggie, please tell me what I'm supposed to do," Beth turned to face her, "If you were me, who would you have chosen?"

"Beth, Phillip seems...he seems perfect and I know he loves you but Daryl, he's a good man and he loves you so much. He stepped aside just so you would be happy, Bethie. I haven't seen Phillip do that...ever."

"So I fucked up, huh?"

"No. I don't think you did. It's always been your choice."

"Maggie, can you give me and your sister a minute alone?" Hershel asked when he entered the room.

Maggie smiled and walked out, leaving Hershel and Beth alone in the kitchen.

"What's the matter, Bethie?"

"I don't really know, daddy. I feel like I'm makin' a mistake. I love Phillip and I want to be with him but at the same time, I don't want to lose Daryl again."

Hershel nodded. "I understand that, Bethie, but that doesn't mean you're making a mistake by marrying Phillip. If Daryl refuses to be a part of your life just because of who you're marrying, then there was no place for him in your life to begin with."

Beth sighed and blinked away her tears.

"But, it seems to me that you should try to talk to him again. That's the only advice I can give you, Bethie."

Beth had tried to find Daryl the day after she talked to her father. She didn't have any luck though. He was gone again.

But she couldn't worry about that now. She was getting married today, to a man she loves.

Standing in front of the full length mirror in the dressing room of the church, Beth smoothed her hands down the front of her dress.

She sighed as Maggie placed the veil on her head and smiled.

Daryl cleaned up, for what he wasn't sure, but he had on his best clothes.

He knew he hadn't been invited to Beth's wedding but what would it hurt for him to stop by and see the bride as she was leaving the church?

It would hurt him more, that's what it would hurt so he went to the bar with Merle instead.

Merle kept talking to him while they sat at the bar but he wasn't listening. He didn't pay any attention to the woman sitting beside him and running her hand up and down his arm and whispering in his ear. He didn't even hear the usual sounds in the bar. There was no loudness, no bottles breaking, glasses clinking together, people laughing, talking or fighting. All he could hear was the song on the jukebox.

"Today I thought about the moment I could have said I loved her And promised her forever, together

Today, today it really hit me That she don't really miss me She's found a new beginning

And I'm wishing I had one more chance God knows it's too late for that

Today is the happiest day of her life I should be happy for her today So tell me why are these tears in my eyes? I know I should be happy for her

But I've lost everything I've lost everything I've ever wanted today

Today is the happiest day of her life I should be happy for her But I've lost everything I've lost everything I've ever wanted

Today he told he that he loved her Put a ring around her finger"

Daryl didn't bother finishing his second beer before slamming his money down on the bar and leaving.

He parked across the street from the church Beth was getting married in and took out the only picture he had of her.

He took one last look at, put it back in his wallet and left it sitting on the seat when he got out.

He took a deep breath before opening the church doors.

Beth smiled at Phillip as she walked down the aisle with Hershel by her side.

"Dearly Beloved," the preacher began, "we are gathered here today on this happy and joyous occasion, to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony; which is an honourable estate, instituted of God and therefore is not by any to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly; but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, soberly, and in the fear of God. Into this holy estate these two persons present come now to be joined. If any person can show just cause why they may not be joined together, let them speak now or forever hold their peace."

Daryl sat in the back pew and held his breath to keep himself from objecting. He couldn't do that to her. He wanted to but he couldn't.

"Who gives this bride to this groom in marriage?"

"I do," Hershel said. He then kissed her cheek, placed her hand in Phillip's and took his seat beside her mother.

Daryl was torn as he listened to the preacher. He wanted to leave but he wanted to stay there and see her smile one last time.

The preacher turned to Phillip. "Phillip, repeat after me. I, Phillip, take you Elizabeth, to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, 'til death do us part: and together we will love and serve as Christ commands for as long as we both shall live."

Daryl clenched his fists at his sides as Phillip began repeating his vows.

"I, Phillip, take you Elizabeth, to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward..."

Daryl stood up, "...for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, 'til death do us part..."

Beth turned to look at him in shock. There were several gasps and muttering as Daryl took a few steps down the aisle, stopping before he got too close. All eyes were on him now.

Beth didn't move from her spot at the alter. "Daryl, what the hell are you doin'?"

"Language, Elizabeth!" Annette scolded but she knew it was useless.

"I'm sorry, Beth. I know yer happy an' everythin' but I cain't do this. I fucked up once an' let ya go, I ain't doin' it again. I love ya, Bethie. I may have been tha jackass that left ya but I ain't never stopped lovin' you."

Beth closed her eyes and shook her head. She didn't give herself a chance to give what she was doing a second thought.

Letting go of Phillip's hand, she ran towards Daryl, right into his arms.

"I love you too, Daryl," she whispered and kissed him.

Maggie smiled from her spot next to where Beth was supposed to be at the alter.

Hershel and Annette stood up and started walking towards Beth and Daryl.

Shawn busted out laughing when he saw the look on Phillip's face.

Before they knew what was happening, Phillip grabbed Beth's arm and pulled her away from Daryl.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" He asked.

"I..I'm sorry, Phillip, but I can't marry you. I love you, you've been a good friend to me but I was never in love with you. I've always been in love with Daryl and that won't change. Even if I did marry you."

His grip on her arm tightened. "Get your ass back up there, Elizabeth!"

"No." She tried to pull her arm away from him but ended up stumbling into the pew.

"Let go of 'er," Daryl growled through clenched teeth.

Daryl's fists clenched once again but before he could throw a punch, Phillip hit the floor.

"She said she doesn't want to marry you," Shawn said, wiping his bloody knuckles on his suit.

Beth and Daryl walked out of the church hand in hand.

Hershel and Annette stayed at the church to speak with the preacher and apologize to their guests for the inconvenience.

Most families would have found the incident to be an embarrassment but not the Greene's. They probably would have in any other circumstances but knowing Beth would be happy with the only man she had ever truly loved helped to soften the blow.

There was no doubt in their minds that word had already gotten around and people would be talking about it for a long time.

Back at the Greene farm, after Hershel and Annette returned, they all sat in the living room. No one dared to say a word.

Beth was sitting with her legs in Daryl's lap, his arm around her shoulders and her head on his. Neither could stop smiling even though they were both scared of what Hershel would say.

"Well," Hershel cleared his throat, "this has been an interesting day to say the least."

"Daddy," Beth began.

"No, no, Bethie. I can't say I'm happy about the way things turned out today. I'm actually quite disappointed in both of you, and the two of you as well," he said to Maggie and Shawn. "But, that being said, I can't say I'm surprised. The two of you were inseparable from day one. Y'all spent every day together as kids, up until Daryl had to leave but we knew that didn't stop either of you from continuing to love each other. It seems y'all were meant to spend your lives together and we're certainly not going to stop you. Beth, your mother and I had a few words with the preacher and he will be willing to marry you and Daryl whenever y'all decide it's time."

Beth squealed and jumped out of Daryl's lap. "Thank you, daddy!"

Later that night, Beth and Daryl laid beneath their tree, her head on his chest and his arms around her.

"Beth?"

"Yeah?" she said, raising her head up to look at him."

"Will ya marry me, Elizabeth Greene?"

She leaned up to kiss him and took his face in her hands.

"Of course I'll marry you, Daryl Dixon."

He smiled, pulled her left hand away from his face and slipped a ring on her finger.

She gasped and stared down at the ring he had given her years ago, "Where did...how did you get this?"

"Maggie gave it to me a few months ago."

Beth smiled and kissed him again, "I love you, Daryl."

"I love ya too, Bethie."

A/N: This is not the end. ;)

The song used in this chapter is "Today" by Gary Allan.