This is a shorter chapter, mainly just a happy little filler. It is actually disgusting how happy this chapter is, but I'm still trying to figure out where I want this story to go. I've also begun work on another story, so be on the look out for that. Also, a huge thank you to all of you for reading this, I never imagined so many people would read something I wrote!
I own nothing.
Chapter Eighteen
The next night everyone was gathered around in Rick's backyard, they decided to have a big cookout, enjoying the last bit of warm weather. It would probably start icing over soon, and they all wanted to enjoy the little warmth they had left. They had made a small fire pit, and were roasting venison. Carl was running around chasing Judith, who would fall every five steps she took, but would bounce right back up. Abraham was sitting next to the fire, with Rosita in his lap. He was happy, because on the last run they made, they had stumbled across a bar, and cleared the whole place out. They had enough beer and liquor to last a decade. Eugene and Tara were sitting next to them, Eugene enthusiastically trying to explain something to her, but she seemed to only be half paying attention. It was becoming obvious to the group that something was going on between them, but nobody was going to say anything about it.
Then there was Rick and Michonne, neither one trying to hide what was going on between them anymore. They were sitting off to the side, talking with Tyreese and Sasha. Gabriel was standing a ways back from everyone else, still not comfortable with everyone in the group. Beth, Maggie, and Carol were in the house, finishing up all the other food.
Daryl could see them from the kitchen window, and smiled slightly at the sight of Beth laughing with Carol and Maggie. He, Glenn, and Noah were finishing up the meat. Daryl had really begun to like Noah, the more time he spent with him, the more he realized he was a good kid. Noah was smart too, and was helping Rick and Daryl with plans to reinforce the walls, and help Eugene make sure the solar panels worked properly.
Everyone but Beth and Carl were drinking, for once they all felt relaxed enough to enjoy themselves. Though, Carl had practically been begging Rick to let him have a beer, but Rick wasn't relenting at all. Carl had asked almost everyone if they'd let him try one, but none of them were willing to face the wrath of Rick. Carl was trying so hard to grow up too fast, but they were all trying to get him to enjoy being young for a while.
Glenn and Noah were talking about video games they used to play before the whole world going to shit thing happened, and Daryl was zoned out in his own world. He was almost so out of it that he almost didn't notice Beth coming over to him,
"Deer about done?"
"Mhmm," Daryl hummed in response.
Beth came up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist, and nuzzled her head into his back,
"This is nice…almost as if we're all back in some suburban neighborhood, having a weekly cookout."
"Cept' there are walkers beyond the walls," he said, with a slight smirk on his face.
Beth sighed, and moved to stand in front of him,
"Everythin' else is done, so we're just waitin' on y'all."
"Be done in about five minutes."
Beth nodded her head,
"I'll go get Maggie and Carol, we'll start bringing everythin' else out," and with that she walked back inside.
Daryl frowned slightly, he didn't want Beth carrying anything, so he shot Glenn and Noah a look, encouraging them to go help the women out. Daryl glanced over at Abraham, and decided he looked far too comfortable and lazy. So Daryl crumbled up his beer can, and threw it at the back of Abraham's head,
"What the fuck?" Abraham grumbled.
Rosita practically fell of his lap laughing, everyone else was chuckling as well.
Daryl simply smirked,
"Get yer' ass up and go help them bring out the stuff from the kitchen."
Abraham gave Daryl a look, conveying that he'd pay for that one later, as he headed inside the house.
Daryl, Rick, and Tyreese began pulling the venison from over the fire, and placing it on a big dish they had found. Everyone gathered around the tables and chairs they had put out earlier that afternoon. Once all the food was arranged on the table, everyone sat down, but before they could dig in, Beth requested that they bless the food, and asked Gabriel to do it. He seemed hesitant at first, but eventually began,
"Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for the shelter you have provided us. The food you have blessed us with. The protection that you have given us, and our health. We would be nowhere without you, and it is in your holy name we pray, Amen."
After that they all dug in. They enjoyed humorous stories of their lives before and after their world went to hell. Maggie and Beth each telling embarrassing stories about the other, Tyreese and Sasha doing the same. Rick made sure he embarrassed Carl, no way was he not gonna take the opportunity to talk about some of the crazy things he did.
Everyone was laughing and enjoying the food, and it wasn't long before everyone was stuffed. After everyone helped to clean up the dishes and put away the leftover food, they set out blankets all around the fire. Daryl had Beth sitting with her back up against his chest, Rick was sitting with his arm around Michonne's waist, Glenn and Maggie were sitting similarly to them, Rosita was back in Abraham's lap, while Eugene and Tara seemed to be getting closer to one another. Noah and Carl were sitting next to one another, while Carol held Judith, sitting with Tyreese and Sasha. Gabriel had gone home, saying he was ready to turn in for the night.
They were continuing with their stories from dinner, enjoying the warmth of the fire.
"Beth you remember the first time they asked you to do a solo at church? I don't think I have ever seen you turn so red before" Maggie got in between howls of laughter.
Beth blushed at her sister's story,
"You remember mama's face the first time she caught you sneaking back in?" Beth countered, with a huge smirk on her face.
That got Maggie to stop laughing, and got all the others to crack up at Maggie's mortified expression. Even Daryl had been laughing at everyone's stories, especially the ones about Beth.
Suddenly Carl spoke up,
"Hey Beth, you play guitar right?"
"Yup, since I was six."
"Ya think you could teach me? I found one in one of the other houses the other day."
Beth looked delighted at playing a guitar again,
"I'd love to Carl!"
Carl broke out into a huge grin, before sprinting into the house. He came out a few minutes later, carrying a brand new acoustic guitar. Beth marveled at how good of a condition it was in. She wiggled out of Daryl's arms, so she could check out the guitar. Daryl was slightly upset that she had moved, but didn't mind too much, cause he knew how happy Beth was to have a guitar in her hands again.
She spent a few minutes strumming on the strings, retuning it.
"This is a really good guitar Carl," she smiled over at him.
He looked like his face might split in two,
"Will ya play something? Please?" he begged her.
Beth simply smiled, before beginning to play,
"Seems like I was walking in the wrong direction
I barely recognize my own reflection, no
Scared of love but scared of life alone
Seems I've been playing on the safe side baby
Building walls around my heart to save me, oh
But it's time for me to let it go
Yeah, I'm ready to feel now
No longer am I afraid of the fall down
It must be time to move on now
Without the fear of how it might end
I guess I'm ready to love again
Just when we think that love will never find you
You runaway but still it's right behind you, oh
It's just something that you can't control
Yeah, I'm ready to feel now
No longer am I afraid of the fall down
It must be time to move on now
Without the fear of how it might end
I guess I'm ready to love again
So come and find me
I'll be waiting up for you
I'll be holding out for you tonight
Yeah, I'm ready to feel now
No longer am I afraid of the fall down
It must be time to move on now
Without the fear of how it might end
I guess I'm ready, I'm ready to love again."
They all began to applaud as Beth finished, and Daryl simply nuzzled his head into her neck. He would never get tired of hearing her sing.
"Beth that was amazing," Carl told her, looking mesmerized by her performance.
Daryl didn't know if it was all that he had to drink, or if he simply felt comfortable enough around all of them, but he grabbed the guitar from Beth. Everyone looked at him like he was crazy, until he started playing.
"In my truck flying down a dirt road
Pickin' you up, feelin' kinda crazy
I think I'm in luck cause I know my baby
She slaps my knee says: "boy why you smiling?"
Doing my best so hard to hide it
I know what's up, so I just shoot her a wink
Cause when the sun goes down it'll get a little hotter
Make an old boy's heart beat a little harder
I know I can't lose cause it's going down smooth tonight, baby
One ain't enough man may I have another Sitting 'round the fire gettin' drunk on each other
Every day I pray I thank God I got her She's the moon in my shine, the whiskey in my water
When we're past Flint Bridge, we'll break out the bottle
Drop it down low, crank up the throttle I'm good to go, cause I've got you tonight baby
Cause when the sun goes down it'll get a little hotter
Make an old boy's heart beat a little harder
I know I can't lose cause it's going down smooth tonight, baby
One ain't enough man may I have another Sitting 'round the fire gettin' drunk on each other
Every day I pray I thank God I got her She's the moon in my shine, the whiskey in my water
Sitting on this hill with her
Looking in them baby blues
Wishing that the sky would change
I've been thinking about it all damn day
I can hardly wait
Cause when the sun goes down it'll get a little hotter
Make an old boy's heart beat a little harder
I know I can't lose cause it's going down smooth tonight baby
One ain't enough man may I have another Sitting 'round the fire gettin' drunk on each other
Every day I pray I thank God I got her She's the moon in my shine, the whiskey in my water
Whiskey in my water
Whiskey in my water yeah yeah yeah."
They all sat stunned, staring at Daryl, including Beth.
"What?" he huffed out.
"Daryl, I had no idea you could sing or play guitar," Beth managed to get out.
He began to blush a scarlet red,
"Merle had a guitar, never played it, so I took it. Taught myself, was just somethin' to do."
They all nodded, not pressing him for more details, still in shock that Daryl was being this open. He just figured why hide it, not like he was telling them about the beatings he used to get daily, plus he had a sneaking feeling that Abraham had spiked one or two of his drinks.
"Play another song Daryl," Carl asked him with a look Daryl couldn't say no to.
It seemed like Carl was asking on behalf of everyone else, Daryl just shrugged his shoulders and started another song.
"Rollin' down a backwoods, Tennessee by-way,
One arm on the wheel.
Holdin' my lover with the other,
A sweet, soft, southern thrill.
Worked hard all week; got a little jingle,
On a Tennessee Saturday night.
Couldn't feel better, I'm together,
With my Dixieland Delight.
Spend my dollar, parked in a holler,
'Neath the mountain moonlight.
Hold her up tight,
Make a little lovin',
A little turtle dovin'.
On a Mason-Dixon night.
Fits my life, oh so right,
My Dixieland Delight.
White-tail buck deer, munchin' on clover,
Red-tail hawk sittin' on a limb.
A chubby old groundhog, croakin' bullfrog,
Free as the feelin' in the wind.
Home grown country girl, gonna give me a whirl,
On a Tennessee Saturday night.
Lucky as a seven, livin' in heaven,
With my Dixieland Delight.
Spend my dollar, parked in a holler,
'Neath the mountain moonlight.
Hold her up tight, make a little lovin',
A little turtle dovin'.
On a Mason-Dixon night.
Fits my life, oh so right,
My Dixieland Delight.
Spend my dollar, parked in a holler,
'Neath the mountain moonlight.
Hold her up tight, make a little lovin',
A little turtle dovin'.
On a Mason-Dixon night.
Fits my life, oh so right,
My Dixieland Delight.
Rollin' down a backwoods Tennessee by way,
One arm on the wheel.
Holdin' my lover..."
Daryl hadn't even realized, but halfway through the song everyone had started singing along with him. The song was a country classic, and one of his favorites. They all told him again how good he was, but he simply hid his face in Beth's hair.
It wasn't long after that the yawning began, and they began to pack up their evening. They all said goodnight, before heading their separate ways, Daryl ended up carrying Beth home. She was exhausted, she had been working hard all afternoon. Daryl smiled down at her in his arms, still amazed that she was his.
He carried her up the stairs and gently sat her down on the bed. She was in leggings and one of his flannels, so all he did was slip off her boots. He quickly stripped down to his boxers, before sliding into bed next to her.
She turned over next to him, and flashed him a small grin,
"Why didn't you tell me you could sing?"
He sighed slightly before answering,
"I don't know, never came up I guess…never told anyone before…Merle didn't know."
She nodded her head in understanding, he was never going to be an open book, and she loved that about him.
"Well, Mr. Dixon, you're gonna have to sing for me and bubba more often…that voice of yours is far too sexy for you to keep to yourself," she flashed him a devilish smirk.
Daryl chuckled slightly at that,
"Yes ma'am."
He pulled her into a searing kiss, that didn't seem to ever end. Beth had looked like she could sleep for days ten minutes ago, but as soon as she started straddling him, Daryl knew it would be awhile before either of them slept that night.
I hope y'all enjoyed this chapter. The song Beth sung is "Ready to Love Again," by Lady Antebellum. The first song Daryl sings is "Whiskey in My Water," by Tyler Farr. I picked that song, because to me it just fits Bethyl so well, especially the line "She's the moon in my shine," because of the whole moonshine scene with them. The second song, is a really popular song in the south, especially at my school, and my friends and I always sing it when we have bonfires. The song is "Dixieland Delight," by Alabama. As I said earlier, still trying to figure out where I'm going with this story, I'd love to hear any suggestions that y'all have.