A/N- sorry for the delay on this update everyone. I was honestly stuck on where to go next. Right now, my plan is to make this fic a little shorter than I originally intended, maybe add 5 or 6 more chapters. But I promise updates will be more regular. I am going to go work on the next chapter now! I hope you enjoy, please review!
Since their first meeting, Daryl had returned to the Greene house every afternoon, like clockwork, after finishing his ASZ orientation and job training. The time with Beth came back naturally, automatically. They touched, stole kisses in the hallway, and most frequently just stared at each other in wonder and gratitude. The time with Ella, however, took more effort. The first few play dates, as Beth had aptly named them, had been full of awkward pauses and flustered responses, all on Daryl's part. However, though he clearly had no idea what he was doing, Ella didn't seem to mind. She kept the conversations moving, switching between traditional 5-year-old questions, like what Daryl's favorite color was (green), to whispered inquiries about his experience with walkers outside the fence. And Beth always remained close, providing comments and redirection as needed but doing her best not to intrude.
Daryl stacked the faded blocks carefully, making sure that each block was balanced precariously on each other but would stay up for the time being.
"Now, blow." He instructed firmly, looking up just in time to see Ella suck in her breath and close her eyes before releasing a big huff of air. As she did, Daryl tapped the bottom block with his pinky, causing the tower to topple to the floor and the small girl to emit a high-pitched giggle.
"Again, again!" She laughed as Daryl began stacking the blocks for what felt like the millionth time. Daryl made a mental note to thank Glenn for teaching him this trick. He never would have guessed repeatedly knocking down 10 wooden blocks could amuse a kid for so long.
"You try this time!" Ella demanded, her wide smile revealing her missing bottom tooth. Beth had mentioned earlier that it had been lost when Ella decided to venture down the town's slide headfirst.
Daryl made a show of inflating his chest and attempting to blow the tower down, but directed the stream of air to the side of the building.
"Guess I'm not strong enough?" He questioned, feigning self-doubt.
Occasionally, Daryl would catch the right view of Ella and shivers would burst up his spine and send chills down his arms. This was one of those moments. Ella looked so much like Beth as her lips twitched, attempting to hold back a laugh at Daryl's failure. Beth always had the same expression whenever she tried to keep a straight face when teasing Daryl.
Beth suddenly laughed from the kitchen doorway, quickly wiping something from her eye as both Daryl and Ella looked up to see her.
"Mama, mama! Watch!" Ella once again went to blow over the tower. This time Daryl let her try once, leaving the tower standing. Daryl felt a surge of pride as Ella glued a look of determination on her face rather than disappointment.
"I needed a bigger breath." She explained earnestly to her mother before refocusing her attention.
Ella took another deep breath, squeezing her eyes shut and blowing. This time Daryl knocked the tower over with his entire hand, sending some blocks flying into his crossbow leaning against the wall of the living room.
"Dang, yer gonna set that thing off!" He accused jokingly, trying to suppress his smile.
Ella giggled before pointing to the bow, "Can I shoot it?" she inquired, putting on her best imitation of an angelic face.
"No." Her mother answered quicker than Daryl could respond, finally stepping into the living room, two glasses of water in her hands.
Daryl winked at Ella and spoke to her in a hushed tone, "One day, kid. You should see yer mom with that bow, she's a pro. I'm sure you'll be great too."
Ella's face lit up as she looked over at her mother, "Mama?! You shooted with the bow!?"
Beth laughed, "I haven't touched a bow in years, sweetie. Bet I couldn't hit a tree from 5 feet away now. Your fa-" Beth stuttered, catching herself, "Daryl is a much better shot than I will ever be. He'll teach you one day." Beth's cheeks erupted in red as she covered up her mistake. As Ella and Daryl became closer over the last few days, it had become increasingly difficult for both her and Daryl to keep his connection to the family secret. Though they had discussed the best way of telling Ella the truth, they struggled with the risk of ruining Ella and Daryl's budding relationship.
"When I'm six?" Ella suggested, raising an eyebrow.
"10." Daryl countered quickly, before turning back to Beth. "Long as it's okay with yer mom."
Beth smiled, handing Daryl the glass of cool water. "Long as I get some lessons first."
Daryl observed Beth, moving closer and repositioning her hold of the bow slightly as she lined up her aim, looking toward the roughly painted bulls eye on the tree trunk. They had come out for Beth's crossbow lesson, finding a quiet clearing in the small wooded area on the inside of the ASZ gate. Beth had mentioned it was the same place she always took Ella for picnics. Sometimes she missed the woods, even if she didn't miss the walkers.
Daryl couldn't help but think back to the first time he taught Beth to aim his crossbow. It was back when he had convinced himself that he only wrapped his arms around her while she aimed to make sure she held the crossbow safely. When he had convinced himself that he had only tapped her thigh with his hand to make sure she had a steady stance so she wouldn't fall back. Sure, he knew he enjoyed the contact, but he tried to believe the resulting high was from helping that defenseless girl to learn new survival skills, not because he was developing deeper feelings for her.
"Got it." She said confidently, giving Daryl the signal to step back. He had barely made it a few steps before Beth released her first arrow, landing only 2 thin rings away from the center of the target.
"Ain't bad for a girl." Daryl teased, taking a moment to run his eyes up Beth's body as she placed a hand on her hip to examine her shot. If anything, the years and food supply had done her figure some good. She was still tiny but finally had some healthy meat on her bones.
"Not bad for a boring old mom." Beth replied automatically, a response she had clearly used before.
Daryl paused, at a loss for what to say. Eventually Beth turned back face him, a question in her eyes but her mouth shut.
"Damn, sometimes I can't get over that." Daryl finally admitted, dipping his head forward to scratch nervously at the back of his neck.
"That I can shoot? I'm much better with a handgun. I still train with one here." Beth joked, trying to lighten the mood.
Daryl continued scratching the back of his neck, staring down at his well-worn boots. "Nah. That you're a mom. That I missed all that. Sometimes I just can't put it together, can't believe it's real. As many times as I dreamt that you were alive somewhere... I never imagined that. You think I'd have had some idea. Some feelin. But I had nothin. I come here, you're still alive, but… I don't know. Just worried I don't fit into this picture I guess."
Beth placed the bow down, resting it against a stump before moving closer to Daryl, taking his hand in hers. "I had almost 9 months to get use to the idea of bein a mom. Hell, even with the 9 months I'm not sure I was totally prepared; I was a mess the first month or two. You're doin great Daryl. You're tryin so hard with her. And I'm still me. Yeah, I'm a mom. And I'm sure that's changed me. Just like bein a dad will change you too. But that's not a bad thing. I'm still me. You're still you. And without a doubt in my mind, Ella is the best of us. We're all gonna be okay Daryl. I know it."
Daryl didn't bother to look around him before he pulled Beth into him. The moment their lips connected, he felt the familiar rush race through his body. A combination of heat and excitement, yet a tranquility that spread to every inch of him. Beth didn't hold back either, digging both hands firmly in his hair, pulling him closer with a sudden urgency. Sometimes she looked so tiny, Daryl forgot how strong she was. But now, even if he wanted to, Daryl wasn't sure he would be able to pull away from her hold.
Daryl could feel his whole body erupting with heat, he had already begun to sweat and his heart was racing to break out of his chest. In that moment, he wanted nothing more than to pull his clothes off, but he knew the area was too public. That was one of the few disadvantages of living in a town, too little privacy.
"How bout we go back to my place? They set me up with a nice bed." He suggested, his voice barely audible and his question punctuated by heavy breaths.
Before Beth could reply, both she and Daryl heard something drop behind them. Just on the edge of the clearing, Ella stood frozen, a small picnic basket rolled onto its side at her feet.
"Hey, baby." Beth ventured softly, taking a step back from Daryl, her arms hanging limply at her side. "Aunt Maggie send you over with dinner?"
Ella didn't reply. Rather she knit her eyebrows together, looking to her mother with a mix of betrayal and confusion.
"Ella?" Beth tried again, taking a tentative step toward her daughter.
Ella ignored her mother's words and moved her gaze to Daryl, meeting his eyes only momentarily before turning on her heel and moving quickly back toward the center of town, kicking up dirt in her wake and leaving the basket on the ground behind her.
