A/N: Here is the final chapter to this story. I apologize for how long it has taken me to post this but after months of writing and rewriting this chapter over and over, I am finally happy with the finished product and I hope y'all are too.

Enjoy!

The Heart Won't Lie

Chapter 11

The whole town was buzzing with the news of Beth leaving Philip at the altar for "that Dixon boy."

Hershel and Annette did their best to keep things hush hush but in a small town, that posed a difficult task.

They were by no means disappointed or ashamed of what Beth had done, they were actually very proud of her and how she followed her heart.

A few days after her almost wedding, Beth sat down with her lawyer, Andrea Harrison. Daryl and her mama and daddy were by her side.

They had papers scattered across the kitchen table in her family's home.

"Okay, Beth," Andrea said, "here are the papers. All you have to do is sign these and you will be free and clear. Your name will be taken off of Philip's bank account, any of your funds will be transferred over to your own account aand your share in the house will be transferred over to him completely with your name taken off the deed."

Beth smiled as she finished signing the papers and leaned back in her seat.

"I am so ready for this to be over with," she groaned.

Andrea smiled and reached across the table to pat Beth's hand. "Don't worry about a thing. Philip is an ass and so is his lawyer but they can't do anything. You weren't married yet."

"Is there anythin' else we can do to make the situation less complicated?" Annette asked Andrea.

"Well, there's a few things but you don't have to do any of them."

"What are they?" Hershel asked.

Andrea looked at him then his wife then to Beth and Daryl and sighed. "Philip as asked that Beth return her engagement ring and that he be reimbursed for the honeymoon tickets."

"Done." Hershel declared before anyone else had a chance to speak up.

"Can yo give him back the ring?" Beth asked, "I mean I could do it but I don't want to see him or really be anywhere near him."

Andrea nodded, "I understand. I can give it to his lawyer. And Hershel, I wouldn't recommend that you reimburse him for both tickets, just for Beth's. I have it on good authority that he still plans on using his ticket. He and his family are quite embarrassed and outraged over Beth leaving him at the altar. Another thing that can be done is, you can make sure that everything is paid for as far as the wedding goes."

"We'll do whatever it takes," Annette assured. She, as well as her husband and Beth and Daryl, knew there was no way Philip was going to let Beth go as easily as they had hoped. But they were going to make damn sure he didn't come between Beth and Daryl.

One night, three months after leaving Phillip, Beth was standing in an aisle at the store, trying to decide which box she needed when someone walked up beside her. She didn't pay any attention to who it was until they spoke up.

"I knew you were going to ruin your life because of Dixon," the familiar voice startled her.

Beth turned her head slightly and glared at Phillip.

"What Daryl and I do is none of your concern. We're happy and we want this."

Phillip started laughing. "He's going to keep you barefoot and pregnant and in debt. But hey, you chose that. I would've given you everything, Beth."

"Ya know, Phillip, you're right about that. You would've given me everything except happiness. I'd rather be happy and poor with him than rich and miserable with you."

With that, Beth turned back to the shelf, took two boxes and left Phillip standing there.

When she arrived back at the farm, where she and Daryl had been staying in a travel trailer, she went inside, took the tests and laid down on the couch to wait until Daryl came in to look at the results.

Beth sat up quickly when Daryl opened the door and stepped inside.

"What tha hell ya doin' on tha couch?" He asked.

Beth shrugged and rubbed her eyes but didn't say anything as Daryl moved to kneel in front of her.

"Bethie? What's wrong?"

"I took two pregnancy tests but I haven't looked at them. I was waitin' on you to come in."

Daryl rubbed Beth's arms and stood up, pulling her with him.

"Where are they?"

"On the counter in the bathroom," she said as she took the few steps into the bathroom with Daryl following her.

As they stepped up to the sink, Daryl wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his chin on her shoulder.

"Pick 'em up," he whispered.

Beth slapped her hand over her mouth and choked back a sob as they stared at the tests.

Pregnant.

One simple word had her crying within seconds of seeing it.

"What ya cryin' for?" Daryl asked while he held her against him.

Beth shook her head. "This everythin' I wanted and I couldn't be happier that it's with you." She turned in his arms and put her own around hi neck. "You've given me the world, Daryl Dixon."

Daryl smiled and leaned in to kiss her. When he pulled away he took her hand and led her into the bedroom.

Once they were both laying on the bed, Daryl leaned over Beth and raised her shirt. She began to laugh when Daryl started kissing her stomach.

He pulled her as close to him as he could as he brought his hand up to her stomach and gently began rubbing it.

"I never thought we'd get this," he mumbled. "I was stupid fer leavin' ya tha way I did, Bethie. I love you an' I'm sorry for all tha hell I put ya through."

She ran her fingers through his hair and smiled down at him. "You have nothin' to be sorry for," she said. "I never doubted that you loved me, no matter how much I tried to tell myself you didn't. Everythin' worked out just the way it was supposed to. We're strong than we were back then and our relationship is stronger."

She lightly tugged on his fair until they were face to face.

"I love you, Daryl, and if you ever try to leave me again, I'll hunt you down and kick your ass."

He chuckled and placed a kiss on her lips. "I love you, too, Beth, an' I ain't ever leavin' ya again. Neither one of ya."

Beth fell asleep that night wrapped up in Daryl's arms with a smile on her face. But no matter how long he laid there with her in his arms, Daryl couldn't sleep.

He was thrilled to find out he and Beth were having a baby but he was also terrified but not about being a father. He was terrified of telling Beth's father.

Hershel was surely going to kill him.

Sometime around three in the morning, Daryl found himself walkin' the short distance across the yard to stand on the front porch of the house. He paced back and forth and raised his hand to knock several times. After a few minutes, he raised his hand for the last time and knocked in the front door.

Shortly after knocking, he heard Hershel's footsteps inside, then the door opened.

"Is everythin' alright?" Hershel immediately asked.

"Uh...yeah. I...I think. I'm not sure," Daryl stammered.

"C'mon in," Hershel said as he stepped away from the door and walked into the living room.

Daryl followed him inside and stood nervously in the doorway.

"Well, son, have a seat."

Daryl nodded and and quickly moved to the couch, sitting as far away from where Hershel was seated as possible.

Hershel waited for Daryl to speak. He knew the younger man sometimes had trouble saying what was bothering but the way he was acting tonight had him a little scared.

Daryl stared at the floor until he couldn't hold it in anymore. He had to get it over with and tell him.

"Beth...she's...she's pregnant," he said, looking Hershel in the eye as he said it.

He watched as Hershel stared at him before laughing.

"Son, that's wonderful news."

Daryl's eyes widened as Hershel stood and made his way over to him. Standing up, Daryl let out a deep breath and took Hershel's outstretched hand.

"Congratulations," Hershel said and patted him on the back.

"I'm gonna marry her, sir," Daryl blurted out.

Hershel chuckled. "I never had any doubt that you would."

"I...I jus' wanted ya ta know that jus' 'cause..."

"Now," Hershel interrupted. "I never expected her to have a child out of wedlock but I know how much the two of you love one another so I can't say that I'm upset at all about the news. But I know you'll do right by them."

"Yes sir," Daryl said with a smile and shook the mans hand once again.

On the way out the door, Hershel stopped him.

"Don't worry so much, son. You've always been a part of this family."

Being six months along didn't stop her from proceeding with the wedding.

She and Daryl had agreed to have a small wedding with just their family and a few friends in attendance.

Beth had been in town with Maggie and her mother for the final fitting of her wedding dress when Annette suddenly collapsed.

She was taken by ambulance to the hospital where everyone gathered shortly after.

Beth sat next to her mother's hospital bed several days later, holding her hand as the doctor came in.

"It's the cancer, isn't it?" Annette asked, shocking her family.

"Mama?" Maggie, Shawn and Beth all screeched at the same time.

"What are my chances?" She asked, ignoring her children's stares.

"Well, we can't tell you when you will die," the doctor said, "but your chances of survival are slim. The cancer has spread rapidly. The only thing I can advise at this point is radiation or chemotherapy."

Daryl had to help Beth out of the room when she began to cry.

"We have to cancel the wedding," Beth whispered into Daryl's chest outside her mother's room.

"Whatever ya want, baby."

"Bethie," Maggie said almost hysterically as she stepped outside the room. "Get in there and talk some sense into Mama! She's refusing any treatment."

Beth's eyes filled with tears as the three of them stepped back into the room.

"Mama," Beth cried, "please listen to the doctor. We all want you to get better."

Annette smiled and motioned for Beth to join her on the bed.

"Sweetie, don't cry. Everythin' will be okay. This is God's will and if he says it's my time, well then who am I to argue with him."

"Mama, please don't be like this," Beth pleaded. "You have grandbabies who need you. What about daddy?"

Annette took Beth's hand in her own. "Your father has had plenty of time to come to terms with my condition. We didn't want to upset you kids so we've been dealing with this on our own. He'll be fine. And the grandkids, I expect you to let them know that I love them. Especially this little one," she said, nodding to Beth's stomach. "Don't get me wrong, I love them all but this baby is special because you and Daryl had such a long road to get to this point but through everythin', y'all have continued to love each other. I'm thankful you have him and he has you. Now, all we need to do is get you married off."

Beth smiled as everyone in the room chuckled lightly.

"So I guess the wedding's back on?" Daryl asked.

Annette looked up at him and frowned. "The wedding was never off. I assure you that I'm going to make sure I see y'all get married. I've seen Maggie and Shawn both marry wonderful people, now it's your turn."

True to her word, Annette pushed Beth and Daryl to continue with the wedding. She helped make sure everything was as perfect as it could be so when the day finally arrived, two weeks later, she couldn't stop smiling and Beth couldn't stop crying.

The wedding was set up in the field with the altar underneath the tree where Daryl had first proposed to Beth.

Maggie was the matron of honor, Sasha and Tara were the bridesmaids. Merle was the best man, Glenn and Shawn were groomsmen.

As Hershel walked Beth down the aisle, she kept her eyes on Daryl. She saw the way his eyes shined and his lips pulled into a smile and couldn't help but tear up at finally seeing him standing in front of her as her soon to be husband.

When Hershel took his seat next to Annette, the preacher began.

"We are gathered here today to finally join this man and this woman in holy matrimony. Instead of the traditional vows, they have each prepared their own vows to one another," he turned to Daryl, "Would you like to begin?"

Daryl nodded and pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket.

"I...uh...I had some help writing this but I mean every word," Daryl said before clearing his throat and looking into Beth's eyes. "Beth, our love is wise, not as juvenile as when we were 16, not as mature as it will be years from now. So my decision to share my life with you is one I make willingly an' with complete faith in tha love that brought us together again; a love that is strong an' relentless. An' although many years were lost to us, you should know I am in love with you as much today as when I let you go. I vowed when I found you I would never be separated from you again. I intend to keep that vow because I realize it has always been our destiny to be one in heart, mind, body and soul. I appreciate that you are the one true love God chose for me.

On this long awaited day, I promise to be with you, in sickness an' in health, in joy an' in sorrow, as well as through tha good times an' tha bad. I promise to love you without hesitation, comfort you in times of need, encourage you to be your best, laugh with you, cry with you, an' grow older with you. I promise to always be open an' honest with you, an' to cherish you through whatever life may bring us."

"Elizabeth?" The preacher spoke.

Beth choked back tears and unfolded her own piece of paper.

"From...," she began to cry, "from the moment that we were born, to this moment, looking into your eyes and seeing you now, not only as a man but a father too, I have always loved you. I promise to love you, laugh with you, cry with you and embrace every chapter that our future holds. My first love, you're every breath that I take and I want to share all my love with you. You are the father to my child, my childhood and high school sweetheart, the love of my life, my best friend and the man of my dreams.

Because of this baby, we will always be a family and because of who you are, Daryl Dixon, is the reason why I'm completed.

Look how far we have come now, our love is fate. Our love is destiny, our love is everlasting. You make me smile when I'm sad, you make me laugh when you're in trouble. You kiss me when I'm cranky, and you were there with me, when I needed someone to hold on to. No words can express how much I love you, not only because you are the love of my life, but my hero too.

So take me as I am, take my life, and I will give it all to you. We have shared many adventures, overcame so much, so look into my eyes and feel my heart beat now. Know in your heart, when we kiss each other goodnight each night and watch our children sleep and dream,that we are meant to be together. I love you."

"I love you, too." Daryl whispered.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife," the preacher said. "You may now kiss your bride."

Everyone cheered when Daryl leaned forward and Beth wrapped her arms around his neck as they kissed for the first time as husband and wife.

It wasn't but a week after the wedding that Annette passed.

The day she was laid to rest was the day Daryl and Beth moved their things out of the travel trailer they had been living in and into the house.

With his wife gone now and Maggie and Shawn having moved away and started their own families, Hershel didn't object to his youngest child and her husband moving into the house permanently.

"Daddy," Beth stood in front of her father with her hands on her hips. "Don't you dare think about movin' that on your own. Daryl will be shortly. He can move it in then."

"Bethie," Hershel looked up at his daughter standing in the doorway of the basement. "This is your crib. I moved it down here on my own, I can move it back upstairs just the same."

Beth huffed and crossed her arms over her chest. "Daddy, that was over twenty years ago. Daryl can move it."

Hershel shook his head. "This is still my house, Elizabeth. If I want to do somethin' on my own then I will damn sure do it."

"Fine," Beth said, turning around to head back upstairs to her old room that they were now turning into a nursery.

While in the basement, Hershel began looking through old boxes.

He hadn't had the heart to pack up Annette's things just yet but there were still memories in the boxes they had stored down there.

He didn't dare let Beth see him cry during or after her mothers funeral, she was already emotionally fragile as it was so while he looked through the boxes of photographs of his family, he allowed himself to cry.

He was thankful for all of the wonderful memories he was able to share with both Maggie's mother and Beth's. And though they would be missing out on some of the happiest moments in their children's lives, he knew they were both looking out for all of them.

He rummaged around for awhile before he came across something he had been looking for for awhile.

Later that night, when Daryl came in from tending to the animals, he found Hershel sitting in the dining room with his Bible open and his head bowed.

Not wanting to interrupt his father-in-law during prayer, he stood there until Hershel lifted his head and looked at him.

"Have a seat, son."

Daryl took a seat across from Hershel.

"I know I've told you before that you're a part of this family and always have been," Hershel started, "but there are a few things I need to discuss with you." Hershel watched his son-in-law furrow his brows in confusion before continuing. "I'm getting older. I'm not fool enough to believe I will be around forever but at least, when it's my time to go, I can go knowing that Bethie has you. Now, I want you to understand, this will always be Shawn and Maggie's home no matter what but I have already discussed this with them and they have made it clear that they do not want to stay here and run the farm. You're like a son to me Daryl and I want this farm to stay in the family so I'm askin' you if you'd continue livin' here with Bethie and however many children the good Lord bless y'all with."

"Yes sir," Daryl quickly replied. He didn't have to think about what as being asked of him. Beth had already made it clear that this would always be her home and she wanted their children to grow up there just like they had.

Hershel smiled and pushed a box across the table to Daryl.

"Go on. Open it," he urged him. "I gave Glenn my pocket watch whenever he married Maggie and when Shawn got married, I gave him my grandfather's Bible. I've been thinkin' about what to give you and this is what I think suits you best."

"I...I don't...," Daryl stumbled over his words when he opened the box.

"Beth's mother gave me that on our first anniversary. You wouldn't know it now by lookin' at me but I was a big hunter back then and this knife came in handy."

Daryl chuckled lightly then smiled up at Hershel. "Beth gave me a knife for our sixteenth birthday."

"She's a lot like her mother," Hershel smiled fondly. "Now get up and help me move that damn crib upstairs before Beth wakes up."

Hershel and Daryl looked up when Beth walked into the kitchen.

"It's time," Beth said calmly and with a smile.

Hershel quickly stood and helped his daughter out to the car while Daryl grabbed her bags.

Daryl never left Beth's side the whole fifteen hours she was in labor.

After their baby was bundled up and cradled in Beth's arms, Daryl went out to the waiting room to call their entire family into the room.

"Oh my God!" Maggie squealed with joy when she saw the baby.

Merle smiled and clapped Daryl on the back then drew him in for a hug. "Ya did good, baby brother."

"So, do I have a grandson or grand daughter?" Hershel asked.

Beth smiled up at Daryl and he gently took the baby from her arms.

"Hershel," Daryl said, beaming with pride, "meet your granddaughter, Ruthie Annette Dixon."

A/N: I know there wasn't a whole lot of dialogue in this final chapter but I hope y'all enjoyed it. Thank y'all so much for sticking with this story and all of the favorites, follows and reviews. Y'all are the best!

Please review! :)