Their first 'I love you's came at different times. The first one to say it would, of course, be Beth. After goin' steady for about nine months or so, Beth had all but gotten down on her knees to beg him, and that thought had even crossed her mind, to meet her parents. While the farmer's daughter turned wild child was a little bit more rowdy than lady, Daryl had seen how close she was with her family. She still managed to see her sister at least once a week, and call her parents every night, but so far, Daryl had managed to evade the inevitable meeting. Up until this point.
Somehow, Beth had managed to literally forced him until his back was against the wall. A normal person would laugh at the sight, Beth Green who had to be shorter than five and a half feet, who could weigh no more than one hundred and ten pounds soaking wet, had gotten into Daryl's face, pointing that finger right at his chest, poking him, rather hard over and over again. "And you're gonna go this time! And there's gonna be no more excuses! And if I have to show up to another family dinner alone again, left by myself to answer all those questions about where my boyfriend is, then I swear to God, Daryl Dixon, I will make you pay!" The last five words were accented with that slender finger being jabbed into his ribcage.
His eyes were wide, some might even say they held just a little bit of fear, as he stared down at the suddenly crazy girl before him, with her frizzy hair, flushed cheeks, and heaving chest. "Okay." He put his hands up in surrender. "If ya back away slowly, and if ya could put Beth's soul back into her body, then I'll go."
"What a perfect time to learn how ta crack jokes, Daryl!" Her menacing glare was back in full force.
He slowly put his hands down on her shoulders, fearing that any sudden movement would make her attack, treating her as he would a caged animal. "Relax. Ain't you listenin'? I just said I'll go."
She smiled, so he must have said something right. "Really?" He nodded, not sure who this woman was and what she had done with his girl. "I'm sorry, Daryl. I didn't mean to get so worked up. It's just...this is important to me."
"I know. And that's why I said I'd go." She had been asking him for months, and she couldn't understand why he would keep refusing to go, or coming up with some last minute excuse so he could back out. The truth was that Daryl was just scared, and to be completely honest, a little bit ashamed. He still wasn't sure how he managed to snag a woman like her, and he knew it was only a matter of time before he did something to fuck it all up, so he was just trying to enjoy it while it lasted.
His nerves were completely shot by the time he was pulling his truck up to the Greene farmhouse, even with Beth sitting next to him holding his hand, and after chain smoking about eight cigarettes on the way over. The woman next to him, however, was a bundle of energy, looking over at him with a mega watt smile on her face every few seconds or so.
He had been expecting them to come out and greet him, act like it was some big deal or something, but when he parked the truck and killed the engine, he waited a couple seconds and no one appeared from out the front door. He looked over and saw Beth was already standing outside the car, looking at him with a questioning gaze.
"You comin'?" He grunted in response and got out of the car, slamming the door behind him. Following her up to the front of the house, he felt odd when she just opened the door and walked right in. He knew it was her home and all, but for some reason he felt like he should wait to be invited inside. Again she looked to see if he was following her, so he took a deep breath and crossed over the threshold.
He glanced around, quickly taking in his surroundings. Nothing stood out to him, but at the same time he was fascinated by everything. They weren't luxurious items that littered the house, but they were valuable, he could tell, in memories. Pictures lined the walls, his eyes immediately drawn to the ones of Beth, missing teeth in a soccer uniform, or with a black cap and gown on at her graduation. His survey was interrupted by who he assumed to be Beth's sister, Maggie, walking into the room. "Beth!" She hugged her sister as if they hadn't just seen each other a week ago. Pulling away, Beth reached down and grabbed his hand, tugging him just a little bit closer.
"Maggie, this is Daryl. Daryl, this is my sister, Maggie." Daryl would have opted for a nod but apparently Beth had come from a family of huggers because the brunette stepped forward and immediately pulled him into her arms. It was awkward on his end, not sure where to put his hands, but Maggie eventually let go after one final squeeze.
"It's so good to finally meet ya!" She was all smiles and wide eyes. Yes, they were most definitely sisters. "Bout time she brought you 'round here." Beth glanced at him, seeing the pink tinge to his cheeks. Apparently she had been covering for him pretty well.
"Yeah, well, he practically begged me to bring him along this time." Beth giggled, Maggie laughed, and even Daryl managed a smile. All three of them knew it was total bullshit, but no one would say it out loud.
"Maggie?" Another woman stepped into the room, her neck craning around the door, her eyes briefly widened at the two other visitors she hadn't heard arrive. "Oh! Hershel! Come here! Beth and Daryl are here!" The older blonde woman he knew was Beth's ma, Annette, if he remembered right.
She wiped her hands on her apron, and yes this woman was actually wearing a light blue apron tied around her waist, and rushed forward gesturing Beth to give her a hug. The younger daughter happily obliged. While they embraced, another man entered, one who must go by the name of Hershel. The older man sized up Daryl, while he did the same, until the made eye contact just as Beth's mom pulled him into what had to be the millionth hug of the night. When she pulled away, Hershel was there a hand reaching out. It would have been an understatement to say Daryl was relieved that the man didn't expect another embrace. When he shook Beth's father's hand, he felt that his grip was firm, and realized the man was trying to convey something through touch, and the look in his eyes, that words could never convey. But to put it simply, 'You hurt my little girl, and I have a twelve gauge shot gun and some shells with your name on it.' Daryl was impressed, and quite a bit intimidated if he was to be completely honest.
After introductions, Annette quickly ushered everyone into the dining room where she had served her 'famous' meat loaf, and when Daryl took his first bite, he knew it was an understatement. The dinner table conversation light, and he chimed in more than Beth would have thought. He saw her face light up when he even cracked a joke, and at this point, Daryl didn't know why he had put this off for so long.
Family had always been a touchy subject with Daryl, but by the end of the night, he knew that this one had welcomed him in with loving arms. When they said their goodbyes, Annette had hugged him again, whispering in his ear, telling him not to be a stranger, and to come to the next family dinner. And when Hershel shook his hand again, the tone was easier, this time the man conveyed something simple with the contact, 'you're alright'.
Walking out to the truck, he could almost feel in his own body how happy Beth looked, as her hands clung to his arm. When he walked her around to the passenger side of the car, she strained to give him a small kiss, reaching up on her toes, and then pulled away. He heard it though, clear as day. "I love you, Daryl Dixon."
The air left his body, and he felt as if he had been punched in the stomach, but instead of leaving an ache behind, he felt a flutter. She didn't even wait for a response, hopping into the car like she hadn't just said those three little words that meant so much. Walking around the cab to get in the driver's side, he felt himself smile. That was the first time Beth Greene had told him he loved him. Actually, it was the first time anyone told Daryl they loved him.
About a month later, Daryl would finally verbally confirm what Beth already knew. She stood in his rundown kitchen, singing along to the static on the radio, in her underwear, cooking him breakfast. It was sudden, but he was behind her, wrapping his arms around her body, buying his face in her neck. "Daryl?" She tried to turn her head to face him, worried that something was wrong, but couldn't with the position he had her in.
"I...I love you." He murmured into her skin. She closed her eyes and smiled, allowing her head to fall backward for a moment.
"I know." And at that, Daryl smiled, she could feel it when his beard scratched at her and then she went about her business, trying to crack eggs into the pancake mix, with Daryl still holding onto her and never wanting to let go.
We are getting closer to Bethyl babies :D Still loving the response to this story! Thanks for all of the support you guys, without you I would be nothing!