A/N Almost 10,000 words! But I didn't want to break it up again. It's long. I'm sure it won't be a problem! This is how the story ends. Kind of. Because do they really ever end? There's always room for more. Ok.. please read and enjoy and remember when they sat on those barstools, completely oblivious to where the world intended to take them. Well, here they are.
Life's busy. It's chaotic and they're both focusing on new things. Beth got the job in the music department at the community college. And even though it's part-time and she's home before Daryl he's still hardly seen her. He's been staying late at the shop working with Caesar on the new addition, even going in on Saturday's. They come home and eat, fall into bed and sleep.
Daryl's tired of just sleeping.
They've always had an active sex life, like an almost every single night of the week sex life. After the accident, and dealing with the settlement and their jobs it's down to 3 sometimes 2 nights a week. But it's not even all about sex, he misses hanging out and being together, talking and playing. All the things he came to love most about falling in love with Beth. He misses her.
Things can't go on the way they have been. He wants his girlfriend back. He needs her and he's pretty sure she feels the same way. It's in her texts that she sends every day, sometimes they're downright dirty (which he loves) and other times they're just 'I love you' and 'I miss you' and these are the ones that make him ache right in the middle of his chest.
Things are gonna change. They're gonna talk and set some ground rules. Valentine's Day is this Saturday. He cleared his schedule, in fact, he cleared all weekends and evenings from now on. They've only got now. Another thing he's learning by loving Beth is that time is precious.
Thursday evening he pulls up in front of the cabin. It's chilly and grey smoke curls up from the chimney. She must have already got a fire going. Smiling to himself his heart swells a little, girl can do anything she sets her mind too. When he walks in she's in the kitchen at the stove, busy stirring something in a pot. When she looks at him over her shoulder, her smile is the best part of his day. Making his way over to her he wraps his arms around her.
"Chicken noodle soup?" he asks looking in the pot. Earlier that week she'd said she wanted to make it for him.
"Yep. I told you I was going to make it, just for you. It's cold out so it'll be good. Warm you right up!"
"We got any biscuits? I'll make 'em," he says opening the fridge. There's a can of the ready-made dough and he takes it out setting on the counter. Moving to the sink he washes his hands.
"How about a salad?" Beth asks. Humming in agreement he pulls out a cookie sheet and grabs the can of dough. She's in the process of taking salad fixings from the refrigerator and her hands are full. Daryl reaches out and grabs a tomato that rolls off everything she's holding. Moving over a little he makes room for her to do her thing right beside him. This is what he misses. The little things they do together, like cooking meals. A year ago he was fine eating a sandwich or a frozen dinner by himself and then heading out to the garage to work on his bike or make bolts. He liked being alone. Until Beth.
"Thank you, Daryl." That smile again and she's bumping him with her hip and giggling softly.
"Gotta make some changes Beth." The giggling stops and her hands still where they were unwrapping a head of lettuce. Her eyes are huge and fixed on him.
"Oh? What's going on Daryl?" The expression on her face is one of worry and a little bit of fear. Hell, he doesn't wanna scare her! Popping open the can of biscuits he starts laying the little circles on the cookie sheet.
"I miss this, us being together like this." Waving his hand over the food prep they have going on. He hears a soft sigh and when he glances over at her she looks relieved. Jesus what did she think he was going to say?
"Oh Daryl, I do too, I didn't want to say anything, I mean you're under enough stress with the new garage…" She's tugging at her braid now and that's tugging at his heart. She looks so sad all of a sudden.
"Girl," he growls, "ya gotta talk ta me! Ain't nothin' more important than you, than us." Wiping his hands on a towel he moves in closer to her and takes her hand from her hair. He rubs his thumb over the delicate bones.
"I figured it would get back to normal when things calmed down, but Daryl I miss-" she hesitates and then peeks up at him through her long lashes, eyes glittering. Fuck if she cries he's never going to leave the house again. "I know sex every night isn't-" she starts.
"It is," he interrupts. Her brow is furrowed as she continues to stare at him. "I mean, what?" He thinks he knew what she meant but then he realizes he doesn't. All he heard was 'sex every night' which sounds just about right to him.
"I was gonna say I know sex every night isn't gonna happen."
"It is. I mean it can. Do you want it to?" How is this conversation making him feel as awkward as a teenager trying to kiss his first girlfriend? Beth is blushing too, but she's beautiful when she blushes. He on the other hand probably looks like a complete dork.
"I do, all I can think about when I'm having a tough day is that I get to curl up in a warm bed with you and you know maybe… I don't care, I miss you, Daryl!" Sliding her small arms around his waist she hugs him with all the strength she has and he feels the breath squeezed from him. Chuckling he tilts her chin up and kisses her soft mouth.
"I miss ya too. Thas' why we gotta make some changes. Set some rules." She's resting her head on his chest and she sighs softly. "I ain't working late no more unless I absolutely gotta. And no more weekends. I'll hire help, whatever it takes. Hell, we don't need the money. But I need this, I need you."
"You've been thinking about this for a while haven't you?" she asks rubbing a hand over his chest.
"Maybe a little. Whaddya doin' this Saturday?" Holding her like this feels so good. It's really only been a little over a month that they've been 'busy', but it feels like a lot longer.
"Well, I'll be doing whatever you're doing Daryl." Tipping her head back she rests her blue eyes on him. "You said you'd show me how to use the crossbow, teach me to hunt. And it's gonna be warming up soon, we still have places on the map to go!" She's right, about all of it. But this Saturday is gonna be special.
"It Valentine's Day, I never had a Valentine before. Wanna be mine?" He leans down and kisses her again, tugging on her bottom lip with his teeth.
"Course I do. I already am," she breathes.
"Mmhmm, les' grab our packs and get on the bike and jus' go. No plan. Just ride." He kisses her cheek and down the side of her neck, his voice husky. She giggles as he rubs his scruffy cheek against her tender skin.
"That sounds perfect Daryl. And this, more of this too." He leans back and looks at her. She's waving her hand over the food as he did. "Cooking together." Shaking his head he gives her a smile and reaches for the cookie sheet.
"Yep." He agrees opens the warm oven and slides the biscuits in.
"And let's have a date night. Once a week. We can go out to eat or go for a walk in the woods…" He listens to her chatter away while they finish getting dinner ready and he smiles and nods adding his own ideas every once in a while, but mainly he's content to listen to her. She could recite their grocery list and he'd be fine with it. The two of them together is all that matters to him right now and it's gonna stay that way.
X X X
Saturday morning. Beth stretches under the warm blankets, a smile on her face as she yawns. Daryl's arm is wrapped around her waist and his face is buried in her hair at the back of her neck. Waking up like this with the sun just beginning to color the world and Daryl holding onto her like she's gonna disappear is perfect.
Last night he'd said the things she'd been thinking. She thought maybe it was just her, they weren't really drifting apart, it never felt like that. But everything else was taking away from what they'd made between each other and she's been afraid of losing it.
He's been worrying too, about the very same things. The best part of all of it is that he was the one to bring it up. He'd been so afraid of screwing up a relationship, of doing everything wrong, she remembered his nervousness and trepidation and she loves him even more for how far he's come.
Turning over, she scoots down so she can curl up against his chest, breathe him in and feel his heartbeat against her cheek. He rustles under the covers, her movements must have woke him up.
"Hey, baby." His voice is husky with sleep. Her favorite. That and the way he sounds when they're having sex. It's so raw, he's not holding back, he's completely open at these times.
"Happy Valentines Day Daryl," she whispers pressing kisses all over his chest and neck. He runs his hand down her back making her shiver.
"Happy Valentines Day ta you too, com'ere." Rolling her over on her back he hovers above her, sleepy, puffy eyes, messy hair, crooked smile and he's hers all hers. "Ya ready for today?" Kissing her, nipping at her neck, tonguing the hollow where her collarbones meet. And she's thinking maybe staying right here in bed is a good idea.
"Daryl…" she moans.
"Time ta get up, I got ya a present." He teases pushing himself off of her and leaving her feeling like she's gonna float away without him here holding her down. But presents…
"We said no presents!" Pushing the covers the rest of the way off of her body she follows him out of bed and into the bathroom where he's trying to pee.
"Dammit Beth,' he growls. He hates it when she comes in when he's trying to pee. It makes him self-conscious and nervous he says. But she loves to tease him. She spins around watching herself in the mirror.
"But I'm naked Daryl," she sings.
"Get outta here! And get yer clothes on!" Laughing she goes to their closet and finds something warm to go over something cooler. Layers. They're taking just what they need, what they can carry in their backpacks and she's giddy with excitement at the thought of another adventure with him. Pulling on jeans and a thermal, she tops it with a flannel. Thick socks and her cowboy boots on her feet. She's shoving another pair of jeans and some of her lacy underthings in her pack when Daryl comes in, toothbrush still in his mouth and a towel wrapped around his waist. He gives her a once over and if there isn't anything cuter than Daryl Dixon smiling with a mouth full of toothpaste foam and a toothbrush she doesn't know what it is.
"Hurry! Get dressed I wanna go!" She grabs her own toothbrush, stuffs it in her backpack and heads to the kitchen to make them a quick breakfast.
X X X
Before they pulled out of the drive Daryl tucked her gift into his backpack and she'd tried to be sneaky while she tucked one of her own into her pack.
"Thought ya said no gifts?!" He asks straddling the bike.
"Guess it didn't work did it? Where are we going?" Climbing up behind him she wraps her arms around his waist.
"Don't know. Yer choice. Jus' point me in the direction ya wanna go." Revving the engine he makes a left turn off the dirt road and onto the highway in the direction Beth's pointing. Every turn they have to make, every crossroad that needs to be navigated he looks to Beth and she leads the way.
It's a beautiful day, the sun is shining and there isn't a cloud in the wide blue sky. It's the kind of day that's perfect for riding and even better with his girl riding with him pressed up against his angel wings. The reality is she's the angel.
They stop in Acworth, about an hour and a half into their ride to grab lunch at a little Cajun restaurant. The waitress sets a spicy appetizer platter and two glasses of draft beer brewed on site on their table.
"The recipe is already pretty darn spicy, but if you prefer it hotter we've got a bottle of the good stuff right here at your table! Enjoy your meal!" She gives them a smile and heads over to her next customers.
"Oooh, I love spicy food!" Beth says eyeing the bottle of hot sauce.
"Girl I don't think you can handle it. Have ya ever eaten spicy Cajun?" Daryl teases her. She contemplates that for a minute and shakes her head.
"No I don't think so, but I do like spicy things." The salsa at the taqueria is mild compared to this, Daryl's sure of it.
"Go on then, I dare ya!" She takes the dare and Daryl, feeling a little guilty, joins her. Soon they're both coughing and laughing, their eyes watering.
"Okay, that's just a little too spicy!" She's dabbing at her eyes with a napkin. Both her beer and water glass are empty and she keeps stealing his water glass and taking big gulps.
"I'm sorry Beth! Shit, I didn't think it was gonna be this hot!" Her eyes are red-rimmed and she keeps sniffing, but she's happy.
"No, no! I'm fine, it's really good, just- what do they put in that stuff?" They've got an attentive waitress. She brings more water and a small glass of milk which she says will help with the heat. Beth drinks half and tries to share it with him but he shakes his head. She needs it more than he does.
After they finish the platter he wipes his hands on a napkin and digs in his pocket. He sets the little white box on the table. He'd tied a red bow around it but it's crooked and little smushed now.
"Wanna open yer present?" Her eyes light up and she leans over and kisses his cheek.
"Gimme just a second to grab yours!" And then she's out of the booth and hurrying out the front door of the restaurant. The waitress comes back over to the table carrying a small plate.
"We have complimentary heart-shaped raspberry truffle cheesecake for all of our Valentine's Day guests," she says. The small heart-shaped dessert is drizzled with raspberry sauce and garnished with mint leaves. Two spoons rest on the plate. It looks pretty fancy and he's sure Beth is gonna love it.
"Thanks," he says and watches as Beth makes her way back to their booth sliding in right next to him.
"Oh my gosh Daryl, this is so cute!" He was right. Something as simple and silly as a heart-shaped dessert amuses her. There's a long thin box in her hands and she lays it on the table in front of him, right next to his small box. "You first," she says as she scoots in next to him. She rests her elbows on the table and watches him, anticipation in her big blue eyes.
Being given a gift is something he's had to learn to be comfortable with. He wasn't given much as a child. But he's learning. He never realized he still had so much more to learn. When Beth gives him a gift it's almost as good as when she gets one herself. It's the giving, he gets that. And she's so damn good at it.
When he takes the lid off of the slim box he can't help but smile. It's a buck knife in a black leather sheath. The handle is dark wood and the steel blade ends in a clip. It's beautiful in its simplicity.
"I know you already have a whole bunch of knives Daryl, but you didn't have one from me. Now you do," she says quietly. He realizes he hasn't said anything, he's just staring at the knife and letting her comment soak in.
"I think this is gonna be my favorite." His voice is husky with emotion. It's more than the knife. It's the attention she paid to the detail. It's something he would have picked out for himself, just like the jacket. And she saw that, saw him. "Thank you, Beth." He glances up at her soft smile. She knows even without him making a big deal that the knife means something to him, something special.
"You're welcome, Daryl." He reaches between them and rests his hand on her knee, squeezing a little as they share a quiet moment. He pushes the little box over in front of her. Of course, her eyes immediately light up and the energy around her changes. Untying the ribbon she lifts the top of the box and Daryl hears the intake of her breath.
"Oh, Daryl! It's beautiful." A minute ago she was bouncing in her seat. Now she's still beside him. Gently holding the delicate silver bracelet in her hand she runs her finger over the ID plate. Her name is engraved there.
"Turn it over." He motions with his hand. A tiny smile turns up the corners of her mouth as she reads what's engraved there. 'Love Daryl'. She scoots over and he drapes an arm around her shoulders.
"It's perfect, I..." Pressing herself closer to him she rests her head on his chest and he hears her little sniffles.
"Wan' me ta put it on?" Holding out his hand for the bracelet he watches her swipe at her face with her sleeve. Nodding she pushes her sleeve back on her slim wrist. Fumbling with the tiny clasp he struggles to attach it.
"How the hell…" he mumbles and this elicits a giggle from her. Glancing up at her, his eyebrow arched she starts laughing even harder. "Girl ya wanna wear this or not?"
Once the bracelet is finally on and Beth's admiring it he remembers the cheesecake and takes a fork full. For being so fancy it tastes pretty good.
"How is it?" Beth asks. Nodding he holds out a spoonful for her. Locking her eyes on his she takes the spoon in her mouth.
"Mmmm." She licks raspberry sauce from her lips and without even thinking he leans in and kisses her. She's sweet like the raspberries. Licking his own lips he runs a thumb over hers.
"Tastes better like this," he whispers kissing her again, nudging his tongue between her lips. She gets a hand on his shoulder, pulling herself in closer. The mood is ruined when his cell phone starts ringing in his pocket. Frustrated he yanks it out and glances at the caller ID. "It's yer sister," Daryl says holding out the phone to her.
"Hello?" The way her face transforms makes his stomach knot up. She's nodding, not saying anything back, just listening. He can hear the voice on the other end and it's not Maggie, but he can't make out who it is. "Yeah, okay. It's gonna be a little while, we're out of town." She pauses and listens again. "I know Glenn. Okay. We're on our way." Her eyes flick to his and he sees a flash of anger. She hands the phone to him and sighs.
"Whas' goin' on?"
"Maggie's in labor." Okay. Is this really his girlfriend? The one who's been so excited to finally be an auntie and hold her nephew and smell his little baby smell? Which sounds really weird as far as Daryl is concerned. RIght now she looks anything but happy. Something is bothering her that's for sure.
"Beth, whas' a matter? Somethin' wrong with yer sister? The baby?" She just shakes her head. Leaning over, her elbows on the table she rests her chin in her hands.
"No," she says resignedly. "I feel horrible Daryl, but this is our weekend. I don't wanna go home yet. We had a plan…" She looks so defeated sitting there and he feels a little defensive. She's his girl and he'll do anything to keep the smile on her face, anything she wants. But he doesn't think she really knows what she wants. Cause this is not his Beth. She'd drop everything for her family.
"This is yer family girl, ya gotta be there. They need ya."
"You're my family too. This, us here, it's important too." He raises his arm so she can press herself against him. "I need you." It's the best thing he's heard all day. Family. She's his and he's hers.
So they'll do this together.
"Know what I think?" He brushes his lips against her hair, holds her just a little tighter.
"Hmm…"
"I think we gotta go back. Be there for Maggie, me and you." She's still pressed up against him, one arm wrapped around his waist.
"I know. You're gonna stay there with me?" Her voice sounds so damn hopeful, even if he wanted to say no he couldn't. But he doesn't want to. He wants to be right there with her. Always there.
"I'ma be wherever ya want me girl. Practically yer husband might as well get used ta ya bossing me around."
"Daryl! I don't-" He chuckles at the indignant tone in her voice."
"I'm just teasin' ya." Taking another bite of the cheesecake, he shares it with her. "Ya could if you was wearing only them boots." He licks the spoon she hands back. Her laughter fills him up. Everything about her makes him feel like he's in the right place.
"I love you, Daryl." It's soft and breathless and he knows it's time to go now.
"Love you too. Com'on, les' go."
X X X
The motorcycle comes to life underneath her. Daryl steers them out of the parking lot and onto the two-lane highway. Once they're moving he reaches down and wraps his hand around hers. The guilt kicks in and she feels terrible for her anger. Maggie's having a baby. Her nephew is coming into the world today and she's been almost as excited to meet him like his momma and daddy.
The wind rushes around them as they eat up the asphalt, the sun flickering over the bike from between the trees. Right now everything she wants is here in her arms. When she was a little girl the farm was her world. She couldn't imagine ever being anywhere else or putting anyone else before the people she loved most in the world. Leaving for college felt like a rite of passage. Everyone goes off to school to discover who they are. But Beth knew who she was and her heart led her right back to where she wanted to be.
She believes in destiny and fate, she wishes on falling stars and searches for a four-leaf clover, so it's no surprise that she feels like this man was meant to be, that they were meant to be. The paths they were on led them right to each other.
Her sister is having a baby, probably today. It hits her in a way it didn't earlier. And the anger is gone, there's just a little ache, because she did want this weekend with Daryl, but it hasn't changed anything between them. They're going back. Him and her. The idea of that, them makes her infinitely happy and laughing she squeezes Daryl. He must have heard her, certainly, he felt her.
"Ya okay?" His voice is muffled inside the helmet.
"Yeah, I'm good." She is. Now.
"Ya gettin' excited?" Her laughter and the way she's bouncing her feet on the pegs has to be answer enough.
X X X
It's a little after 2 when they pull into the parking lot at the hospital in Peachtree. The last time they were at this hospital things were different and when they walked out of there, Daryl's world was falling apart. Now everything is falling into place and he even finds himself a little excited at the prospect of a new baby. He likes kids, just never thinks much about them outside of Rick's kids. But Maggie and Glenn's baby represents something more, a future that he can actually imagine for himself. Maybe.
When the automatic doors open, the blast of air that surrounds him smells like a hospital and his body tenses up at the memories that it brings back. He focuses on breathing though and remembers that they are here for something good, something to celebrate. But hospitals and celebrations are foreign in Daryl's world.
"Third floor." Daryl hears the receptionist tell Beth. Taking his hand she leads him to the elevator and once they're enclosed in the small space she presses herself up against him. He opens his mouth to ask her just what she thinks she's doing but she takes his words and his breath as she slips her arms around his neck. Her mouth is warm and tastes spicy from their Cajun lunch earlier. And she feels so fucking good. His body is quick to react to what she's doing. Which could be a problem as he hears the little ding signaling the elevator's arrival at the third floor. Luckily there's no one waiting outside the doors as they slide silently open.
"Come on…" she says, just as breathless as he feels. He barely has a second to adjust himself before she's pulling on his arm again, leading him out into a hallway that looks and feels nothing like the rest of the hospital. The walls are bright yellow and there are black and white pictures of newborn babies. The hallway ends at a closed door. Beth leans on the counter of the nurses' station talking with another person. Through a long rectangle window on the door, Daryl sees Glenn coming down the hallway in their direction. Glenn has a shitty poker face. Daryl can see plain as day that the man is scared. He also looks a little overwhelmed. Opening the door he peeks his head out.
"Hey guys, come on back." Beth scurries in front of them both and Daryl has to smile at her elation. He knew it would only be a matter of time before she found it again.
"How ya holdin' up?" he asks Glenn. He does his best not to snicker at the expression on Glenn's face.
"It's hell man! This baby needs to get here. I need an ali." Glenn mumbles. They follow Beth into a room where Maggie is laying in bed with her feet up in stirrups and a doctor between her legs. Daryl isn't exactly sure what's going on but he knows he doesn't want to see.
"Whoa, yeah I'm gonna…" he waves towards the door and slips quickly out. He obviously knows where babies come from but he didn't really think about that fact until now. And the less he knows about Maggie and that part of the birthing process the better as far as he's concerned.
He leans awkwardly against the wall and watches the nurses and family members as they go up and down the hall. They're all smiling. This is something he's never experienced in a hospital. Happy people. Beth comes out about 15 minutes later a big smile on her face too.
"I'm sorry Daryl! I didn't have time to warn you." Slipping her hand in his she looks up at him. Her eyes are glittering and the energy around her is practically humming.
"Everything' okay though?" He's trying to concentrate on the situation but she's distracting him the way she's biting her bottom lip.
"Mmmhmm. It's going kinda slow, she's only at a 4 so…" What the hell kind of look is she giving him? And what's a 4 mean? She must read the confusion his face and she starts to explain, but all he sees is her lips. He can't focus on anything but the fact that she's turned herself towards him and she's got her hand on his hip, slipped up underneath his shirt and she's doing this squeezy thing that's not altogether bad even though it's driving him nuts.
"Daryl, are you listening?"
"What? Uh yeah, she ain't dilated, might be awhile…" At least that's what he thinks she was saying.
"Uh huh, so we can go home, get the truck cause it's supposed to rain. And maybe we…" She's pressing herself up against him and he definitely sees the suggestion in her eyes. That was what her look was all about. Fuck.
"We got time?" he asks huskily. She's nodding her head, those blue eyes of hers looking anything but innocent. "Com'on." This time he's the one leading the way, pulling her along and smirking at her laughter.
She was right about the rain. It starts pouring on them halfway home and by the time he steers the bike into the garage they're both soaked. Beth hops off the back and immediately starts stripping off her clothes.
"What the hell ya doing girl? 'S cold out here!" He's torn between picking her up and carrying her inside and just watching. Cause it's kind of sexy even though they're both shivering.
"You can keep me warm Daryl! Wet clothes are gonna end up out here anyway," she says as she tosses her shirt on the wet pile. Daryl groans as she unclasps her bra and it falls away leaving her torso bare. Her nipples are hard and he can see her soft skin is covered in goosebumps. She's shivering and giggling as she fumbles with her jeans. And since she's really doing it he might as well join her.
It isn't a race but he finishes before her and backs her up against the washing machine. She squeals when the cold metal comes into contact with her warm skin. Those squeals turn into moans when Daryl lifts her up onto the washer and lowers his mouth to her breast, covering a cold, hard nipple with the warmth of his mouth.
"Daryl…" He loves his name on her lips when she's squirming against him or underneath him. Her legs are wrapped around his waist and the heat of her pussy on his cock, as opposed to the cold metal his balls are resting on, is almost painful and he can sympathize with her. But the way she's sucking on his collarbone and the dirty things she's whispering in his ear, his cold balls are the last thing on his mind. Besides they won't be cold for long.
"Are you gonna fuck me right here Daryl?" Oh hell yes he is. Especially when she asks like that.
"Tha' what ya want?" He's already sliding her forward, right to the edge of the washer. Reaching between them she takes his hard cock in her hand. She squeezes it and rubs the precome all over the head, swirling her thumb around and around.
"Ya done playin'?" She's gonna push him over the edge is what she's gonna do! And he's gonna come all over the washer instead of inside of her where he wants to be.
Looking at him through lowered lashes, she nods and guides him to her center. The second he feels her warmth he buries himself in her pussy. Shuddering he wraps his arms around her rocking his hips forward as she tightens her legs around his middle. the washer is squeaking a little, thumping like it does when it's off balance.
Pushing away from him she leans back on her hands, bracing herself. His eyes never leave her as she looks down her body at where they're connected, something about that is so fucking hot it makes his knees weak- he holds onto her thighs never once breaking the rhythm.
"Daryl, I'm, I'm so close, use your hand, use... please, Daryl!" Begging, biting her lip, yeah she's so good. His hand hovers over her and he lowers it to her mound, slides two fingers between her slick lips and over her clit that's swollen and begging for attention. It's his turn to play. He circles his finger around her sex until her legs and arms are shaking and she can't hold herself up anymore.
"Com'on baby, yeah, fuck Beth!" He pulls her up against as his body as he comes, tilts her head up so he can kiss her and she can run her fingers through his hair, shivering as the cold air settles around them.
"We need to take a sh, shower. God, I hope the baby isn't born yet." A soft giggle lets him know she's really not all that worried. But honestly, they came all the way back here for this. That baby better wait! At least another hour!
Picking her up he heads in the house and back to the bathroom. She convinces him that one more time against the shower wall would be okay, it would be good, so good, in case they're stuck at the hospital all night. He really didn't need that much convincing and his body was definitely ready. It was harder forcing themselves out of the warm shower to get dressed and head back to the hospital.
X X X
Beth's phone buzzes on the seat and she glances over to see Glenn's name on the screen. Snatching it up she swipes the screen.
"Glenn? He's not here yet, is he? We got caught in the rain..." Daryl chuckles at her lame excuse. "Uh huh, okay. We're pulling in the parking lot right now. Okay. Yeah, we'll get you something and come up."
"No baby yet?" Daryl asks.
"No. And Glenn's hungry. We gotta grab him something from the cafeteria." Beth had hoped maybe things were progressing and her nephew would be here.
"Hey, he's gonna be here. Prolly kinda stubborn like his mama." Daryl says bumping her with his shoulder. This makes her laugh and she leans into him and kisses him softly. "Don' start that shit again dammit!" But he doesn't pull away, cups her cheek in his hand and kisses her back. She can't help herself, his lips are still swollen from all the sex they just had in a very short time. At least they got that. And once she's holding that baby missing the trip won't be such a bad thing at all.
"Let's go get the daddy to be some food. I'm kinda hungry too." She follows him out of the truck on his side and butterflies start low in her tummy when he pulls her in close to him and kisses her temple. She loves him so much.
"I could go for some food. Girl, you zapped all my energy," he says lowly. Beth leans into him and giggles.
"Yeah, but you loved every second of it!"
"Mmmhmm, I did. Always do. Gonna be that way forever." For some reason his comment overwhelms her, it makes her feel so much she can't even figure it all out in her own head. And maybe she really doesn't need to. She wraps both arms around his torso and squeezes as they awkwardly make their way into the hospital.
Oliver Hershel Rhee came into the world 2 hours and 17 minutes later.
X X X
Daryl's experience with babies and kids, in general, is limited to Judith and Carl. And he doesn't think that Judith was ever as tiny as this little guy. Beth's got him in her arms and the smile on her face is bigger than anything he's ever seen. Well except the smile she gives him. Nothing compares to that one in his opinion. But this one comes pretty darn close.
"He's perfect Maggie." She's fluffing the wild black hair that sticks out all over his head. His skin is ivory and Daryl can't get over his tiny fingernails. Everything about him is tiny. Leaning over him Daryl raises an eyebrow and gives a small chuckle.
"Tell me you are not laughing at my perfect baby boy Daryl!" He doesn't realize he'd laughed out loud. Glancing at Maggie and then over at Glenn,
"I was jus' thinking, kid looks like his dad. Lucky dude." Daryl chuckles again.
"Yeah? Well, I hope all your babies look like Beth!" Maggie replies with a huge smile on her face. Wait? All his babies, Daryl has let his mind wander there sometimes, but never completely and not for very long and now Beth is pushing little Oliver into his arms and looking up at him with her big doe eyes.
"Just hold him close and support his head. Like with Judy." Thankfully she's whispering these things to him so he doesn't seem like a complete schmuck. Anyone can hold a baby right? Okay, he's got this. Just a tiny warm bundle. And there is a smell. Sof and sweet. Baby. When the baby starts to squirm a little, Daryl looks over at Beth completely terrified.
"Whas' he doin'?"
"He's just moving around. Oh! Look! He's got his eyes open! He's looking at you, Daryl!" Beth is bouncing on her toes and laughing and sure enough, the little guy has his black eyes trained on Daryl's face.
"Great! The first thing he sees when he opens his eyes is your ugly mug!" Maggie laughs. But Daryl barely registers her comment. He's smiling at Oliver and whispering little nonsense words and Beth has her chin on his bicep watching it all with glittering eyes. Maybe he could do this. The idea of holding a baby in his arms that he and Beth created is a happiness he never thought he was deserving of. Not him. But he has Beth and he is happy. So.
They eventually give the baby back to his parents and after Maggie's lecture about getting on top of 'planning this darn wedding Bethy!', they head home. Beth is happily chattering on and on about Oliver and Daryl is thinking. He interjects an, 'mmhmm' every once in awhile so she knows he's at least paying attention. But he's thinking about babies and the future and all its possibilities.
X X X
They've bickered before, little arguments that worked themselves out even before they really became much of anything. They've never had what Daryl considers a fight. Until they did.
It's a few days after they'd spent the day babysitting month old Oliver. Beth did most of the actually babysitting, he'd just held and cuddled the little guy. His tiny coos, almost like a dove, and the sweet, powdery, baby smell, it did something to Daryl. And Beth had been in heaven having the tiny newborn at the cabin. They'd both missed him when Glenn and Maggie had picked him up.
Since then they'd both been off is all Daryl can describe it as. He's been slammed at work with motorcycle repairs. Being the only qualified mechanic that can deal with them he won't let anyone else touch them. Merle is taking classes and working with him part time because he does know his bikes. He just needs the certification. Sometimes he lets even lets Dwight do a thing or two. The guy is just as passionate about bikes as Daryl is. It's like all of a sudden everyone within a 50-mile radius needs something done to their two-wheeled vehicles.
Beth's been busy too. Besides planning for the wedding and the music lessons she gives, she's taken on a project at the community theater. She's writing music for a play, a score he thinks is what she called it. And that's what she's doing when he comes home that fateful day.
She has her sheet music spread out on the table in the living room and she's muttering to herself. He doesn't want to interrupt that conversation so he passes her by and heads into the kitchen for a beer. She follows after with a fist full of sheet music and she's going on about one of the other musicians and Daryl's been listening to complaints all day and it just rubs him to wrong way.
"I miss Oliver! I need my baby fix! He's so precious!" Her incessant chatter, specifically the baby comments, finally push the wrong button and before he can even take a minute to think about what he's about to do he just blurts out,
"Why don' ya take all that music and go on an stay at yer sister's if ya miss that baby so much!" His reaction is pathetic. And the fact that he yelled is even worse. He freezes for a minute waiting for her reaction. He doesn't have to wait long.
"That baby? Our nephew?" He can see the wounded look in her eyes and it's probably not even the words he used but more how he yelled it. He didn't mean to hurt her, but he's hurting too. He doesn't know how to express what he's feeling and he can't seem to just shut up. He's good at shutting down so why not now?
"Going on about him like ya can't live without him, may as well go over there," he grumbles. She doesn't say a word for a moment, but at least she looks a little-pissed off now. Pissed off is better than hurt. He can handle that. Suddenly he regrets how he's acting. This isn't her fault, how he's feeling. But he isn't sure how to take it all back.
"Maybe I will."
"Fine." He needs to get out of here before he makes it worse. This is all on him.
He heads out to the garage letting the door slam behind him. If he'd just go in there and sit down with her and tell her what's going on it would be about 99.9% better. But if seeing the hurt in her eyes from him yelling about kills him, he doesn't think he'll survive telling her he can't give her a baby.
Merle had shown up at the shop right when he was breaking for lunch. He'd asked Daryl to sit out in back of the shop with him. While Daryl ate his lunch Merle talked. He'd gone to the doctor a couple of weeks ago to get a vasectomy.
"Really man? On my lunch!" Leave it to Merle to ruin the perfectly good sub sandwich Beth had fixed up for him.
"Jus' listen ta me little bro, they had this big ole long questionnaire and when they found out that in all my years I ain't never had an oops moment even when I fergot ta wrap the old feller a time or ten, they wanted to run some tests. Turns out I got this genetic condition, um Klinefelter Syndrome. Means I'm infertile. I been shootin' blanks, an all these years I jus' thought I was lucky."
Daryl licks mayo off his finger his eyes on his brother. Beth makes him sandwiches all the time. He loves them and he loves that she crams them full of everything he likes. He even let her shove in some spinach leaves.
"Member old Uncle Lee, dad's brother? I think he musta had it. I member him talkin' 'bout something wrong with his man junk. Doc says ya might wanna get tested. Since yer my brother an all…"
Daryl had stopped listening after that. He felt a heavy weight settle in the pit of his stomach. All he could think about was Beth holding Oliver and the way she smiled. Last Saturday had been like a glimpse into his future. Beth and a baby. He wants it, maybe even more than Beth. His own family.
Figures he won't get that. He won't be able to give her that. What kind of husband will he be if he can't give her a baby? They haven't specifically talked about kids, but Beth is made to be a momma and he wanted to try his hand at being the daddy he never had.
But he doesn't want to go to the doctor, doesn't want to tell Beth, he's so fuckin' scared. And how does he deal with that? He acts like a dick and lashes out at Beth, hurting her. And tearing himself up in the process.
He tries to make some bolts, cleans up a few things around the garage, mainly puts off going back in the house. Beth never left. He would've heard her go if she had. His map catches his eye. Taking it down off the wall he looks closely at it and sees that she added a tiny heart beside Spring Mountain. He tears the map in half and then he hears the squeak of the back door.
"Daryl? Why-"
"Thought you were leavin?" he says it without much conviction because he never wanted her to go.
"I'm not gonna run off just because you're in a pissy mood." There's a moment of uncomfortable silence and she speaks again, "I'm not running away. Are you?"
Fuck. No. Daryl shakes his head looking down at his boots. Raising his thumb to his mouth he chews on the nail. She knows this nervous habit and maybe he did it on purpose, so she could see there was more to his pissy mood.
"Daryl, come in. You don't gotta talk if you don't want to. Just, please come in." She's always doing that, bringing him back. She's his rock.
He shoves his hands in his pockets and follows her back into the cabin.
And he does talk. He tells her everything Merle told him. She listens, never taking her eyes off of him and never once making him feel self-conscious. Once he's said all he needs to he waits for her reaction.
"That man, he was your daddy's brother right?"
Daryl just looks at her watching the wheels turn. She's probably looking for something positive, the bright side. That's how she works most of the time. He nods.
"So you don't even know for sure if you have the same thing going on Daryl. Your uncle had the condition, but your dad didn't. And just cause Merle has it doesn't mean you will. My momma always said don't borrow trouble." She rests her hand on his leg and he says the thing that hurts the most.
"I see ya with Oliver, Beth and I want that fer you, fer both of us." He's being brutally honest here and she's laughing.
"A baby? You want to have a baby with me?"
"Fuck Beth, I thought that's what ya wanted- always hugging on Oliver and, shit." His face is hot and he's ready to grab his whiskey and just get wasted. He didn't expect this.
"I do Daryl, oh… having your baby would be everything, it would…" She's brushing the tears that wet her cheeks. "But if that doesn't work out for us I'm still gonna want you, Daryl. You're the prize. A baby is a bonus."
Well okay then. She said it and Beth doesn't lie.
Before taking that big scary step, they wait.
They wait until after the wedding, a simple little barn wedding, she wore her cowboy boots and a beautiful white gown and he wore a suit like he said he was going to. He looked absolutely sexy, that's what she whispered in his ear when she pulled him behind the barn kissing him like she really wanted to.
They wait until after a sweet honeymoon on a private island in Fiji, where they lay on the beach and soak up the sun and eat in bed between making love and sleeping.
They wait one more week after the honeymoon before they visit the doctor. Daryl is a nervous wreck and he is 100% sure he wouldn't have gone through with it if Beth hadn't come with him. The visit isn't as bad as he had been imagining it would be, it's waiting for the results of the test that stresses him out.
They wait a little longer.
The call comes one afternoon the third week June. They'd been on a bike ride and stopped at a roadside burger place to eat. Daryl recognizes the number, it's seared into his brain, and answers immediately. Beth must sense that it's important because she sits quietly by, her blue eyes wide as she watches him. After he ends the call he glances over at her.
"Gotta go home girl."
"What's wrong Daryl?" He can see she's nervous and he can't string her along because right now he's feeling like he's on top of the world.
"Need ta start working on our baby making skills," he says with a little smirk on his lips. Beth shrieks and jumps into his lap and of course, she's crying. Happy tears. She kisses him all over his face and he'd cry too but he's trying to put the moves on his wife and tears aren't his style.
X X X
It didn't happen right away. In fact, it took a little longer than they'd expected and it was Beth who was starting to get worried. Daryl's doctor had given him the green light, said he was good to go. By the end of September Beth's frustrated and upset. She's laying on the couch reading, but she can't really concentrate. Daryl's cleaning up from dinner. She'd tried to help but like it always is between them, he senses her feelings and sends her to the couch.
"Lemme do it. You cooked, I'm cleanin'." She doesn't even argue, just curls up on the couch with the book that's now laying unread on the floor. She realizes that maybe this was how Daryl was feeling when he thought he might not be able to give Beth a baby. She'd been kind of snippy during dinner. She saw the look in his eyes when she did it too. The thought makes her heart hurt. When Daryl finishes and walks into the living room towards the recliner she holds out a hand,
"There's room over here for you if you wanna…" Please. I'm sorry. He comes to the couch and climbs behind her and wraps himself around her. His warm breath on the back of her neck makes her eyes tear up. "I'm sorry Daryl, I'm just worried. It's taking to long isn't it?" Now she's crying for real and Daryl pulls her back against him.
"Come on baby it's only been, what 3 months? Wanna call yer doc?" She feels his lips on her neck and it's like someone lit her on fire. A little whimper escapes her lips. They already wore each other out this morning, but she wants him again.
"We could try again maybe?" she whispers turning in his arms.
"Damn girl… why ya so fuckin' horny all the time? Yer using me and my boys!" Arching into him she just wants to feel him, but when he slides his hand up her ribs and cups a breast, pinching the hard nipple she yelps. It hurt. A lot. "Jesus Beth, I'm sorry! Didn' mean ta…."
Sitting up suddenly, she starts thinking. The crying jags, the moodiness, sore breasts an insatiable urge to fuck Daryl all the time. She stopped paying attention to her cycle two months ago out of frustration. She can't remember if she even had a period in September.
Her hands are shaking as she pushes herself to the edge of the couch. Daryl is trying to soothe her, pull her back against him. She jumps up and heads toward the bathroom.
"Hey Beth, wha', I said I was sorry! Fuck I didn't know you were sore.."
"Daryl com'ere. Now." He follows her and she holds out the stick in her hands. It's still wrapped. His eyes fall on it and then he raises them back up to hers. She sees the moment he gets it, realizes what's going on.
"Ya think?" She does and it's scary, all this hoping. But she does. "Well com'on then, take it!" They're in this together like everything they do now. Beth and Daryl. She's laughing and crying as she struggles to get the wrapper off and her pants down. She's standing there in front of the toilet with the test in her hands and he's watching.
"I can't pee while you watch Daryl!" Oh, how she loves this man.
"I ain't leavin'!" Crossing his arms he looks like a stubborn little boy. Her stubborn little boy.
"Just turn around then!" He does and she sits and awkwardly gets the test where it needs to be and blushes as she hears the tell-tale tinkle. This man has seen places on her body even she can't see but peeing in front of him makes her blush. "Ok. It's done." Daryl turns and takes the test gingerly placing it on the vanity as she pulls up her pants.
"How long?" he asks staring at the pink and white stick.
"Um, 3 minutes, I think. Don't watch Daryl!" For some reason watching to seems wrong. They can't look. Not yet.
"How come?" She pulls him away from the test and wraps her arms around him, buries her face in his chest.
"I'm scared," she whispers. She can tell him this. She can tell him everything.
" 'S ok. Ya got a right ta be. Want this so much…" he's whispering to and they're standing here clinging to one another in their bathroom and she's overwhelmed by it all. " 'S been 3 minutes," he says finally.
"I can't… you look, Daryl, please!" She lets him go and turns away and she can feel her heart pounding in her chest. Besides him, she's never wanted something so bad. Just a positive result, that's all. A little plus sign. The intake of his breath is barely perceptible, but she hears it.
"Wanna look?" His voice is rough with emotion and when she turns and meets his eyes there are tears on his cheeks. He's holding out the test to her and she takes it tentatively and drops her eyes to the little window. She sees it before her own tears blur her vision, a plus sign.
X X X
Once upon a time there was a man just going about the business of life. Thankful for the fact that it was better than it had been in the past. He didn't expect much, just wanted peace and quiet and the few good things he had. And that was how it went for a few years. Give or take the times Merle had livened things up.
Until her.
Beth Greene came into his life and peace and quiet went out the door. Everything he ever believed about himself and his life suddenly took a turn and he was forced to see things in a very different way. But then so was she. She was the light at the end of a tunnel he just got used to living in and he, well she says he was her knight on a white horse from the fairytales her mama read to her. He'd scoffed at that. He's hardly Prince Charming and though she agreed he wasn't that prince, he was hers.
This, this little bundle in his arms. This seals the deal. Tiny and pink, soft wisps of light brown hair, his baby girl just hours old looks like her momma and he's okay with that. Cause her mama is the most beautiful woman he's ever seen.
"You ever gonna put her down?" Beth's voice is thick with sleep. Twenty hours of labor, which she dealt with like a trooper, has her beat now. He's been sitting here alternating between watching her sleeping in the bed and his daughter sleeping in his arms.
"Nah. Only if she needs ta eat or have a diaper change." Beth's soft laughter and her hand his thigh finally takes his attention away from the baby.
"Lay with me, put her here." Beth scoots over making room for him and the baby. Daryl gently lays the tiny bundle between them and does his best to curl himself around the two of them. His girls.
"She needs a name," Beth whispers as she reaches over and brushes the hair from his forehead. Without even hesitating he says what he's been thinking.
"Emma." Beth's hand stills on his cheek.
"Your mama's name?" Nodding he looks over the little bundle between them and meets her eyes.
"She was the best girl in my life, 'til you. And her." Looking down he watches as the baby yawns, smacking her tiny pink lips. Her little eyes open blinking slowly.
"Hey baby, hi Emma. That's you. Daddy says so. Emma Annette Dixon. What do you think of that?" Daryl watches as the baby squirms around and makes those sweet little baby noises and he wonders how long it will be before she knows who he is and can call him daddy.
There's no happily ever after, there's just this and what comes next. And he thinks that might be the best thing of all.
fin
A/N Everything has to end, that's the hard part! I hope that you enjoyed it! I know I enjoyed writing it and before you start sending messages about the lack of a proper wedding, it's coming! Remember? I said I would! Keep your eyes peeled for that sweet little one shot. Oh, and did anyone happen to notice that I alluded to a certain fanfic I'm sure plenty of you all know and love? (It's one of my favorites!) About 37 paragraphs from the end.. see if you can figure it out and let me know in the reviews that I know you want to leave! Thank you ever so much for sticking with me on this journey! You rock!