A/N Thank you all so much, see my smile? :) Shall we check in with Daryl and Beth?

He'd been making real steady progress, not fast progress, but there was definitely some progress each day.

He felt happy and proud. Proud because he'd been working his ass off. Happy because well, things were getting easier and he was hoping sometime soon he'd be able to get back to work.

He and Beth were getting along great occupying the same space, and they were both excited to be hosting Maggie and Glenn's wedding the next day. That was something he'd never have bet on, that he'd be excited about having people over, "entertaining." Shit, it hadn't been that long ago he wished he never even had to look at another person.

Life had a way of changing things up on a person. That was for damn sure.

He'd helped with the cleaning and with the setting up of the big table and the chairs. And Merle had helped him with that arch thing Beth had insisted they just had to have. She said the bride and groom and the minister would stand there under it and do the legal part of the ceremony. He couldn't see the point of the thing, but he didn't say that. She didn't ask for much and he figured if it was in his power to do it for her, well then he should. She'd sketched out what she had in mind and they'd come pretty damn close.

Well anyway she seemed happy and that's all he really gave a fuck about.

She'd even asked him to hang up those little paper wedding bell things along the eves of the two porches. He'd managed it all without a mishap, and he was feeling pretty good about that.

While they were doing all that stuff out in the yard, they'd talked about tearing the wall down. Making it one big yard and one big back porch.

He said he wanted to do the work himself just as soon as he had a little more strength in that right arm. And she said that was just fine with her, however he'd like to do it.

The way things were going the Doc and the PT were both thinking that he was going to get that strength back. That he also had a real good chance of gaining back a lot of dexterity in his right hand and fingers.

But there were no guarantees. It was one of those wait and see deals, the kind that make you a little anxious.

But he was working on the anxiety too, going to his doc, lunches with Tom, having regular visits with Rob, and going to group. It was like a damn full time job between the physical healing and the mental healing.

He was just so damn glad that she still wanted him, with or without the use of his hand and arm. That told him a lot, it told him she really did love him. Just for him, for who he was as a person.

Well and the other thing he was pretty damn happy about was his wounds were healing. That made having a sex life with her just a whole lot easier on both of them.

But it wasn't just about the sex part. They both liked the other part too, it was important to them. The holding onto each other part. It was like they got that strength they needed each day, just from the power of having someone you love, and someone who loves you back, to hold on to.

The wedding turned out to be a lovely day all the way around. He'd moved the keyboard out onto the porch and she played a little soft music while Daryl escorted Maggie up to that little arch thing, to Glenn.

He couldn't believe Maggie had asked him, but she told him he was the closest thing to a brother she had, he was her family and she'd be honored if he would.

The ceremony itself was brief, and Maggie and Glenn both seemed to relax once that part was over. Beth didn't miss seeing how happy her sister looked. They'd both struggled so much, each in their own way. Finally it seemed that as much sadness as they'd known, their lives were happy again.

There was a time Beth never would have believed that could happen.

Daryl's barbecue chicken was the hit of the day, and she didn't miss that embarrassed but also proud, look on his face.

Two Months Later

He was back to work. He wasn't 100% up to full capacity, far from it. There was fine detail work he couldn't do yet. His fingers just wouldn't always do what his mind told them to. But the good news for him was, there was plenty he could do and he could be a productive person.

And damn if he didn't get a big fat settlement from the other driver's insurance company, that and he'd gotten a nice one from his own insurance company. Beth had gone with him and he'd bought a real nice F-150 extended cab. It was a couple years old, but you'd never know to look at it, and the best news was she loved it.

So now he had a little more money in his bank account, and he was earning that weekly paycheck again. It made him feel like he could take care of himself and take care of her, physically and financially.

Oh sure she had plenty of her own money, but it was still important for him to know that even if she didn't, if it all evaporated tomorrow, he could take care of her.

He might be a dinosaur, but dammit, he wanted to feel like he could take care of his woman in every way.

The job was good, the finances were good, their love was good, yeah it was all good. Except for one thing. There was something missing.

Merle

Damn I was glad when Little Brother could finally come back to work. I mean we'd been limping along alright, the guys had been great about it, they really had. There was a lot of overtime that had been put in, and everyone was getting tired, but they didn't complain.

He ain't like he used to be, there's some stuff he can't do, but he's still the best mechanic I've ever seen. The boy just has a gift for fixin' a Bike. Hell, I remember when he was a kid, he'd be takin' my engine apart and puttin' it back together every chance he got. Shit, I finally had to tell him to knock it off, he was gonna wear the damn thing out.

Daryl is a different breed a cat, there just ain't no doubt about that. I never knew a tougher man. He's been to hell and back more than once. But dammit, he does come back, beats the odds, he's got a fight somewhere deep inside that don't ever quite let him give up.

He's one tough sumbitch, physically. But he's also got that fragile thing goin' on. I never knew someone, man or woman, quite so sensitive. He's easy to hurt on the inside. He gets cut deep by life, by people, by situations. That ain't new, he's been like that ever since he was a little fella.

It's another reason I'm real grateful he found Sis and she found him. They got the same kinda tender hearts, so they're real careful of each other's hearts. That's a real good thing. People like them, why the world can be downright brutal on 'em. I don't give a shit how much fuckin' therapy they get.

But what they got now is each other, and they take good care.

Daryl

I love Beth, shit she's everything to me. And dammit I want to do whatever it takes to keep her happy. She deserves nuthin' less than that. She's the best.

And our life it's real, real good. Yep, we got a good thing goin' for sure. We understand each other and we each know what we need and what the other one needs, you know, all emotionally speakin' and shit.

What the fuck could be better than that? I got no idea. I'm thinkin' bout askin' her to marry me real soon.

But there's sumthin' missin', for me, not for her. She ain't missin' it at all.

I wanna talk to her about it, I know I gotta talk to her about it, but that don't mean it's a conversation I'm lookin' forward to havin'. Nah, I'm dreadin' every fuckin' minute a this. But I gotta do it tonight, otherwise she's gonna start to notice I got sumthin' on my mind. She don't miss much when it comes to that kinda thing.

Besides, it's gonna be sumthin' we're gonna have to figure out together, what the hell are we gonna do so we're both happy? Fuck if I know.

All I know is I love her and I don't want her to be sad or angry. I want her to be happy and satisfied. Glad to be with me. She's my girl.

xxxx

While they were doing dishes that night he said he'd like to talk something over with her. She smiled at him real big and said, "Okay good because I have something I want to talk about too."

It was a beautiful evening and they decided to take their conversation to the back porch.

He'd gotten the wall down and the back porch was now one. He'd just had to ask for a little help from Merle.

She'd hung some little lights up along that eve and it looked great, peaceful and inviting.

He asked if she wanted a glass of wine and she said she thought she'd have a lemonade instead.

He'd just cracked his beer when she smiled, "You go first, what is it you want to talk about?"

He took a deep breath and she knew then it was something she probably wasn't going to like, she tried to brace herself for the worst.

"Yeah well, I know you ain't gonna be happy Beth, but that's why I wanna talk to you about it. I ain't doin' nuthin' until we can find some kinda common ground."

What could he be talking about? "Okay."

"I miss havin' a bike. Damn Beth, I been ridin' a motorcycle since Merle taught me how, I's 14. When I got outta the VA Hospital there was only two things I could get myself to do, ride my Bike and fix other people's bikes.

After the accident I thought it'd be easy to give it up. Shit, I thought for a while I'd never be able to get back on a Bike. But I did Beth, I gotta be honest. Yesterday at work a guy brought one by he's lookin' to sell, I took it for a spin. I wanted it bad, I's ready to buy it from the guy on the spot. But I told him I had to talk to my girl first. So that's all I'm askin' here, is can we at least talk about it?"

She hadn't been sick, but she was feeling like she could throw up at any minute. She thought he was over it, but she should have known this might come up. She knew he loved riding, she knew he loved the freedom of riding. Who was she to say he couldn't?

But dang, he was just "getting back." His life had just gotten to where he felt like a functioning, productive person. What if there was another accident, only it was even worse? She didn't want to think about losing him, not ever.

"I can't tell you not to get the Bike if that's what you want Daryl, but I think we both know I don't want it. It's not that I don't want you to be happy and enjoy the things you love, it's just that I'm so scared, especially now. Now I'm double-scared."

"Why Baby, why more now? You mean because of the accident? I didn't know you was scared before that. I thought the fear came after."

That's when she handed him a small item wrapped in a soft cloth. He opened it and there was the positive test. It took him a minute to realize what it was, hell he'd never seen one before. "Beth are you kiddin' me, a baby? How'd that happen?" And right after he asked, he remembered, "Oh damn, it just took that one time huh? That first time after I got home from the hospital." He couldn't help a small grin.

But then he thought maybe she wasn't happy about this. "Damn, I'm sorry I shoulda had better self-control, shoulda made sure I used that thing. Shit, Baby I'm sorry."

"Stop it Daryl, stop saying you're sorry, I was there too, I could have insisted. And besides, I'm not sorry at all, I'm excited."

He just held her for a few minutes, told her how much he loved her, and she told him right back.

He rarely laughed out loud but he did then. "As fucked up as we are we're either gonna be the world's worst Mom n Dad, or the world's best Mom n Dad. Shit, I'm bankin' on best." He held her tightly, and whispered, "I can't wait Mama, it's gonna be great. Will ya marry me?"

They talked about it, and she said "Yes."

And then she talked about that elephant in the room.

"Can I have a day to think about the motorcycle? It just caught me by surprise, and with everything else going on, well I just don't want to make a snap decision."

Beth

I knew something was up when I missed my period. But I was thinking it was something else. I didn't have a period for almost four months when my folks and Shawn died. The Doctor said it was probably the stress.

So that's what I thought it was, just the stress of having so many things to do, running in so many different directions and worrying so much about Daryl.

Plus, I didn't have morning sickness or anything. Mama told me once she never got it with any of us kids, so I guess I got lucky and got that from her.

Anyway, I started to think more and more that I could be pregnant, because after Daryl was getting better, I wasn't really feeling stressed at all. Tired sometimes, concerned for Daryl sometimes, but nothing real terrible.

Finally I just said the heck with it and bought the test. That was two days ago, but I waited until today just to see if I started. But I kind of knew I wouldn't.

I was so worried about telling Daryl, I thought maybe he'd be upset. I've heard a few times that guys really get upset when their girlfriend suddenly gets pregnant, like they were trapped.

I didn't really think Daryl would feel that way, but I also wasn't sure he'd be happy.

He was so cute, like a kid at Christmas. That made me even more excited.

And when he asked me to marry him, well at first I thought he just felt like that was what he had to do, or that he was caught up in the moment. He convinced me it was what he wanted, and the truth is it's what I've been wanting for quite a while now.

He says we'll do whatever I want for a ceremony, and I'm thinking I just want to do exactly what Maggie and Glenn did. Of course Daryl will want to invite Tom I'm sure, and maybe someone else he knows. Whatever, I know it's going to be small. Daryl and I mostly just like hanging out with family.

It's the motorcycle thing. That's what's hanging in the air.

I had lulled myself into that false security, convincing myself they were a part of our past. I was sure this terrible accident would cure him of ever wanting to ride again.

I mean it's not like I hadn't enjoyed it myself. Heck, I loved it every time we got on that Bike, but then I came so close to losing him. The thought of him on one just scares me. Especially now with a baby coming.

But I don't feel its right to just take away from him something he loves. He'd go along, never get back on a bike again. But he wouldn't be happy, and how could he not develop just a huge resentment toward me?

Well just as I was thinking that, it dawned on me.

I know what I need to do.

xxxx

He got home from work and he could smell she'd been fixing his favorite, her chicken and dumplings. Well, truth was he liked everything she cooked, but the first meal she ever fixed him was chicken and dumplings, so that was always going to be his favorite.

He kissed her hello and sat down for a minute at the kitchen table. She knew getting back in the routine was hard on him, he was exhausted. But she also knew he'd get used to it again real soon. And the important thing was, he was so happy to be back to work, to be in that routine.

She also knew his arm would be bothering him something awful, oh he wouldn't complain. But she'd see him rubbing on it when he didn't think she was looking, those nerves trying to come back could be painful. He'd told her once that sometimes it felt like a lightning bolts were shooting down his arm. But he said all the weird tingling sensations were kind of worse.

She didn't say anything, she just moved the pot off the burner and walked over to where he sat. She started rubbing on his arm, massaging it, and his eyes closed and he relaxed. It made her feel good that in this small way she could help him to feel better. And he softly said, "Thanks Baby."

She smiled to herself and then she told him, "I've thought about it a lot Daryl. I remember that first time I saw you ride up here on your motorcycle. You were incredibly sexy," He snorted when she said that. "Seriously, no one ever looked better on a Bike."

"If ya don't quit talkin' like that I'ma think you only want me for my body."

"Well I can't lie, those arms got to me right away." And then they both laughed.

"Oh yeah girl? Well I got news for ya, you're not so bad your own self you pretty little thing."

"Well Mister Dixon, I thought a lot about the motorcycle," She instantly felt his body stiffen. "I fell in love with the Daryl Dixon that rides a motorcycle. And the first time I got on that Bike with you, and I wrapped my arms around you, that's when I knew I was never, ever going to want to let go of you.

I want you to have that freedom, that happiness that a motorcycle gives you. It wouldn't be right for me to try and deprive you of that. Why it would be like you taking away my music forever. That's what I realized. How would I deal with that?

But we both know I'd be lying if I acted like I was perfectly okay with the idea. I'd like to at least have some little guidelines. Is that reasonable, or am I stepping out of bounds?"

"Damn Baby, you know I want that, I want you to tell me how you feel, what you want.'

"Well, we know the helmet saved your life. I know you like to ride without it, we all lucked out you had it on when you wrecked. I'd like you to promise me you'll always wear it when you're on the Bike.

I'd like you to promise never to ride the Bike if you've had even one beer, or you're angry, or emotional. Anything that might cause you not to be focused. Is that alright, or am I asking too much?" She looked nervous.

He took her hand, "I think you're right Baby. I'ma be a husband and a Daddy, I got to be responsible, and I will be, I promise you.

An I want ya to know, I do love ridin', but I don't love nuthin' more than I love you."

A/N Thanks for reading. Let's see, we had a wedding, went back to work, we're having a Bethyl baby (woot!) and another wedding. And although we had a little angst over the bike, we worked it out. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, I'd appreciate your comments/reviews. xo

If you haven't already, please check out my new Bethyl Fic, The Biker and the Bobby Soxer. Imagine Daryl and Beth in 1958. Also, I recently set up a new blog for my fics on Tumblr. The handle is bethylmethbrick. Stop by for a visit. Thanks so much.