Beth had been so hopeful. For two solid weeks she'd worked on her father, weakening his every argument. She was determined and relentless when she wanted something, and Beth Greene wanted Rick Grimes with every fiber of her being.
Everything about the man twisted her inside out. Made her wish and dream and scribble song lyrics in her journal. Made her forget about the horrors of the apocalypse and the losses she'd suffered. Made her feel more alive than ever before in her life.
From the first moment she'd met Rick, his selfless love of his son had stirred her heart. What had began as a crush only grew over the next two years. Never had she imagined anything would come of those feelings until those early mornings in his cell. When he'd finally seen her, Beth. Finally looked deep into her eyes and saw her.
She wondered if he realized how his eyes followed her even now. She doubted he did, he was so focused, so in control. So willing to let go of the feelings she knew she had stirred inside of him. But, she felt his eyes on her all the time, even when she didn't have their daughter, and especially when she trained. His eyes gave her the incentive she needed to learn each lesson the first time.
Though truthfully, Beth didn't need his approval, not in this area of her life. Both Maggie and Daryl had expressed, in different ways, pride at her progress, and Beth knew she was getting stronger, mastering new skills, and learning how to protect herself and those she loved. She was determined to do this for herself, but also because she knew Rick needed a worthy woman by his side, and that woman would be Beth.
This separation, this misery he'd imposed on them, had continued for close to three months now, and the knowledge that he missed her, even if he'd never admit it, had started to burn a hole of frustration inside of her. When she caught him looking at her, his face was always devoid of expression, but those eyes told a different story. Brooding, full of regret, and every once in a while, full of heat.
Back before the incident, during those early morning meetings, amusement and happiness had often crinkled the corners his eyes and bathed her in a vivid blue fixation.
Sometimes it was as though the three of them truly were a family, the way their eyes would meet in amusement over some sweetness of Judith's, the pride they would share as she reached another milestone. When the two of them loved and marveled over Judith, the bond was a tangible thing that lounged in the air between them, an undeniable connection. It was emotional, and Beth savored it, had thought it unbreakable.
But the heat had been different. The heat was more of a gradual build over their mornings together. As he would take Judith's bottle, turn and allow Beth's hands to soothe the muscles of his neck and shoulders, each day his eyes steadily grew hotter. They began to glow, began to burn with something more. His desire became a burning press against her flesh. And she knew he wanted to touch her. To make her his. The heat wanted her to throw herself at him, feel some of the pleasure she nightly gave herself. She knew it would be a thousand times more intense with him.
Her morning songs were chosen with care. Every night she wrote and planned in her journal, the song she'd sing, the meaning she wanted to share about how amazing she found him, so strong, such a good father. A fair and just leader. So incredibly good looking. She thought and planned her hidden messages with painstaking care.
Her journal also contained a detailed series of seductions. The first time she'd touched him in a planned fashion, she'd caressed his bicep. The look in his eyes, that flash of heat, had encouraged her to try her flirtatious line, "You should show your arms more."
Afterwards she'd worried for the 2 hours until she'd next seen him, but he just sent her a warm smile and walked down to the garden. She could spend hours just watching him walk. God, did she ever love to watch the man walk.
Day after day, she'd worked on him, song after song, flirtation after flirtation. And then the day came when the heat hadn't dimmed as Judy finished her bottle, when it had shown brighter than ever before and she had risked everything.
When she twined her arms around Rick's neck and pressed against the heated length of his body, her senses had been overwhelmed. His kiss, the perfection of their lips and tongues intertwining, had made her dizzy, and the pleasure flooding her body had her grasping at his neck for balance. When his kiss had changed, become harder and deeper, and his hands had cupped her breasts, she asked him to slow down because she was overwhelmed by the feelings, not fear or some virgin sensibilities. She thought she might come simply from his thumbs slowly circling of her nipples.
But Rick hadn't understood that. Rick, whose driving focus seemed her age and inexperience, had shoved her away. She'd thought her father was Rick's major block, but she should have known better. Rick was his own block. In his heart, she knew Rick thought he didn't deserve her, and it wasn't just her age.
Journal in hand, she scribbled furiously over the pages. Project Rick was at hand. It was time to hit the man with every idea she had. No more holding back. No more feeling embarrassed. And definitely no more succumbing to intimidation. Rick Grimes would be hers, even if he didn't know it just yet.
As her daddy had told her last night, when he came to kiss her goodnight, Beth was in for the fight of her life.
