A/N: The final chapter- I hope its everything you're expecting, and more importantly- I hope it's what you're not. As always, please read and review.
She had to admit when she was surprised when it was Rick who took a seat across from her. She had expected perhaps her father first or Maggie. She most certainly didnt expect them to send their leader in and it made her feel uncomfortable in a way she hadnt before in regards to Rick- her arm instinctively wrapping around her mid section.
Rick smiled before asking almost casually "So how does it feel to be bearing a Dixon?"
"Daryl tell you?" Beth said cautiously surprised at how the conversation had started- She had expected it to be a bit harsher than how it was going so far.
"No." Rick said, shaking his head amused. "Just figured it had to be Merle's. Glen wouldnt cheat on Maggie, and Daryl seems to have eyes for Carol despite his inability to express em'. That leaves me, and I know I didnt, so... Merle."
Beth nodded slowly. "You would be correct then."
"Well. Congratulations and...I know it doesnt mean much coming from me, but Im sorry for your loss."
The words mean so much more to her than she's able to express to him, and with tears in her eyes she wraps her arms around his neck and hugs him close. He closes his eyes and allows her to hug him until her tears have stopped.
X
The rest of the conversations werent as pleasant but all as heartfelt. Carol talked to her about birth and Sophia- a conversation that left her feeling broken inside. Maggie talked to her about stories of when Beth had kept her secrets and how she didnt ever have to hide anything from her. Daryl came in and just sat with her for a while, not saying a word- just giving her company and offering no words.
She decided she liked his visit the best.
The last person to seek her out was her father and the words he had to say were none to kind and somehow each harsh word was coated with his love and concern for her. It was hard to see, but it was something that despite everything she could feel. Her father had taught her so much, even Merle had admitted to liking the man- and even if the sentiment wasnt so much returned anymore- she leans in and presses a tentative kiss on her father's cheek.
"The loyalty Merle had for his brother..." Beth says certainly, her blue eyes unwavering. "I believe he had for me. We did not take any sacred oath in front of god or our families- I bare no ring on my finger only a child in my womb. Our oath was in actions, not words. Even in his death, my heart still resides with him, and god knows that and thats okay with me. One day, I hope it will be okay for you."
X
When its all out in the open she finds herself more at ease with her growing stomach. Shes in the watch tower with Daryl when she gasps. His eyes nearly bug out of his head as he stares to her, her hand hovering over her stomach. She's certain he's getting ready to panick afraid that she's going to fall to the floor and go into labor right now with only him at hand- but it takes her a minute to find the words to come down from the amazement of life that she carries.
"He kicked me." she whispers in a hushed tone of surprise. "Daryl he kicked me. Hard."
He closes the space between them with more force than intended his hand covering the front of her large belly, his eyes wide.
"Thats my nephew." he breathes, as he feels the bundle roll beneathe his hand. His blue eyes shining as he stares down at her an emotion that she cant quite put her fingers on, his other hand coming up to grasp her shoulder.
"He would be...so proud of you."
Shes not sure if its the hormones, but she digs her canines into her bottom lip in hopes to stop the tears.
"I know."
The wind rustles their hair and for a short moment, its just the two of them- and the only remainder of Merle Dixon left in the world.
X
It's Carol who seeks her out one night that surprises her the most, they were usually together with the housekeeping tasks and tending to Judith- but tonight was different. She had come into her cell holding a white sock in her hand- she was even more surprised to recognize it as one of hers.
"I've gone and thrown its mate away." Beth says as she see's the pink sock. "I lost that thing forever ago."
Carol smiled softly before taking a seat at the foot of her bed. "Actually, you didnt lose it at all."
Beth raised her eyebrow curiously as she waited for Carol to continue.
"Rick and I were talking not to long ago, a couple days maybe- about Merle. Neither of us had known what he was going to do in regards to Michone and...the governor. We arent even sure if you knew. Rick and I stayed up late- just remembering Merle and the little we know about him. Rick told me once he was ripping up mattress's around here looking for drugs, he said- the best stuff he ever he had was in a mattress."
Carol paused than taking a deep breath, "It was that comment that made me think, he wasnt really looking for a stash. He was hiding something- something for you." She lay the sock in Beth's lap carefully, her eyes studying the young girls.
"It took a lot for me to give this to you. I was afraid it might upset you enough to...to have something awful happen to you and the baby. But I can see it- when you talk to Daryl how strong you stand. How firm your voice is- how much you loved him. I hope whatever you find in that sock, brings you some peace."
Carol rose to a stand as Beth's hands skimmed the pink material of something that was once hers and somehow through his own way of love had become Merle's.
"Carol." Beth said rising to a stand, setting the sock on the bed for just a moment longer. "Thank you."
It takes all she has to wait for Carol to exit her cell before she settles herself onto the bed with the sock and whatever trinket lay inside for her. There was a part of her- a young part- she realized, that wanted nothing more than to tear the sock to shreds for just a piece of him, a moment of him- something that was more tangible then her memory. And another part that wondered if perhaps his goodbye was cruel and mocking rather it was unintentional or not.
She turns her sock upside down with a shaky hand and stares down to the silver ring in her lap and with careful examination she realizes its a spoon. A crudely drawn note lay crumpled along with it, and as she unfolded it- she found herself becoming increasingly anxious at what it may or may not say. What this ring, did or did not mean.
Well he gave her a dime store watch
and a ring made from a spoon
Everyones lookin for someone to blame
When you share my bed, will ya share my name?
Will ya, angel?
She clutches the paper to her chest as tears silently run down her face. "Yes." she whispers to the loneliness of her cell. "Yes."
X
She never takes the ring off after that and refuses to go by anything other than a Dixon.
X
It happens in the last month of her pregnancy of course that she's fated to meet her end. She's patrolling the grounds with Daryl casually dragging her hand along the fence, not in a mocking gesture just an absent one as she speaks to Daryl of Merle and his fondness.
She finds talking about him doesnt erase the pain, but at least, it somewhat eases it. Thats when it happened, just an absent second before some dead corpse has scratched her hand taking off the first two layers of skin underneath its dirty fingernails. She screams and before she has the strength to retaliate Daryls pushed her on her ass to the ground and stabbed the walker in the head.
The injury is fatal- and they both realize it at the same time what needs to be done. There isnt time to get Hershel, or Rick or debate about. He undoes his belt buckle and ties it around her hand to the point she cant feel anything.
"Daryl. Dont." She says frantically panting, scooting backwards on the ground away from him. "Just just cut me open, take him out- dont dont-"
He doesnt let her finish before he's gnawing off her hand. She doesnt even know what he had on him, but as soon as he breaks through the cartilage shes screaming. She knows people must be coming, but the pain is so intense she can barely scream.
Right before she looses consciousness she can hear Merle's voice in her head over lapping with her father's in some sort of sick melody.
"Is that why I lost my hand?"
"And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell."
"Matthew 5:30."
X
Somehow, Merle's nub was far less repulsive than looking at her own absent hand. She cant help but wonder if perhaps he felt the same way about his own missing limb as she did about hers. Disgust.
And still, she had gotten fever and no one could determine if it was from infection or if it was from the walker scratch. They fretted over her endlessly and by the end of the second day, she asks her father to get Daryl immediately.
The redneck comes to her cell without hesitation, giving her a brief nod as he examines her, full belly and strained face.
"Hanging in there?"
"No." she replies curtly, her breathing rigid- her body aching in ways that only seemed to get worse with every second- shes not sure what shes experiencing and she doesnt want to waste any more time figuring it out. "You need to save him. Im dying."
"Ya aint dying." Daryl growls at her. "That little babys fine n so are you, youre DIXONS remember?"
She smiles through her pain, trying to meet his blue eyes with her own. "I know- thats why- you have to let me do this. You have to make sure he doesnt die with me. I cant lose the only thing thats left of Merle- thats left of me. Please." She knows shes begging but at this point in the game- she doesnt have much choice- she cant do it on her own.
"Beth..." he says his voice choking. "I cant do this I..."
"You dont have a choice Daryl. It HAS to be you, Merle wouldnta wanted it... any other way. I dont want it any other way." She rolls her head up to the ceiling and arches her belly up towards the top bunk.
"Please." she whispers, her voice breaking in a pained agony. "Save my son."
His hunting knife swoops across her abdomen before either of them have a chance to change their mind.
X
She has a son whom Daryl takes it upon to call his own.
X
She wakes up on a beach, the ocean lapping the sand just inches away from her feet. She's confused at first because she cant ever recall having been to a beach in her 18 and a half years of life. The first thing she remembers is that there should be walkers- devilish creatures trying to eat her- but there arent. There's nothing but the sound of the waves lapping the sand.
It isnt until she sees Merle on a log out in the middle of the ocean that she realizes she must be dead. She walks to him, her feet no longer moving under the water but on top of it. The water feels exquisite underneath her feet and she marvels in the feel her death grants her.
"Our son." she whispers as she greets him, his lips pressing roughly against hers. Kisses dont feel the same- nor does their interaction. It can only be explained as a warm burst of light that seems to ignite all of them leaving nothing untouched.
"Is alive and well." He says pointing down to the water beneath their feet.
"He's beautiful." she whispers, laying her head idly against his shoulder. The love doesnt need to be spoken anymore than that- it surrounds them and burns in their eyes as they watch Daryl cradle their son.
His resurrected hand finds hers and the two of them walk off towards what Beth can only assume is heaven.
"Prepare to meet thy maker." his voice is snarky as always, but theres a wondrous glint in his eye that Beths certain she's never seen before.
She takes one last look at her family who lives below- and despite the lightness in her core and the happiness that must be her soul. Its the inability to remind them they will all be okay- to not let death destroy them even among-st the hell they walk.
He nods towards her hesitation and grasps her hand more tightly. She's not sure where shes going, what her destination is, shes just happy to be going with him.
A/N: Thanks for taking this adventure with me. My apologies go out to the Daryl/Beth shippers. I hope you enjoyed all the same. Please, as always, Read and Review.