For the past weeks since they had shared the bed, Daryl had gotten to know Beth Greene...or should he say Beth Dixon...in all the ways no other person in her life had. He knew what made her giddy, what made her awkward or just react in the most unexpected ways. He never thought she could be that good but she found ways to prove him wrong.
She truly was his now and he didn't know how to feel about that, nor did he know what to do now that she was carrying his baby.
Sh*t, he thought.
What did he know about kids? He never had a good childhood or any influence to give him an idea about what he was suppose to do or go about it. Beth only had limited experience with babysitting in the past. He hoped that was enough. In the meantime, he insisted that Beth see Bob again just to for a medical checkup. But for now, there was little Bob could do other than give her some prenatal vitamins.
Merle had returned to the house for one brief visit. When Daryl told him that the deed was finally done and Beth was pregnant, he just laughed. "Oh lord, Daryl. You got screwed over."
"What do ya mean?"
"I mean you took that girl in and put your dick in 'er like you were supposed ta. And what d'ya get outta it? Nuthin'. Don't these things come with dowries? Her daddy got a farm, don't he? He gotta be loaded."
"I didn't want nuthin'."
Merle slapped the back of his head. "You f*ckin' dumbass! No wonder this place gone to sh*t since I left. What ya gonna change the kid with? Coonskin diapers? We're all gonna be starvin' here!"
"We're fine just huntin'."
"I haven't seen a deer around in a while have you?" Merle then smirked. "I bet you can find plenty on the border."
Daryl's eyes widened. "Oh yeah," said Merle. "I know you've been huntin' on Central turf. You're quite the daredevil, baby bro."
Beth had been overhearing much of the discussion to her discontent. "Daryl, what's he talking about?"
"Nuthin' to worry about," Daryl told her.
He felt the less Beth knew the better. Unfortunately Merle had been right. Game had been scarce in these woods. It didn't help that the Governor was adding more "taxes" so whatever Daryl could find and kill was practically worthless in trade. Beth was not going to be able to live on rations in the months ahead. And their home, even with Beth's touch, was still in bad shape. It was no place for bringing up a baby.
His worst fear now was that they really would starve.
...
Beth was surprised when Daryl would not join her in bed anymore. She was starting to wonder if he really was indifferent to her...if all that sex really was only meant to ensure she got pregnant as the law required and nothing more. She thought she meant more to Daryl than that.
But all of that changed when Daryl returned home from a long night of hunting. He told her it was easier to hunt at night when more of the animals were out but Beth couldn't help but think that there was more he wasn't telling her.
It didn't matter though, it seemed his hunting at night was successful. He was getting more game for trade. In time perhaps, they could get some luxury items for the baby. Things like that were becoming less available ever since the law was put in place. With a baby boom on the horizon, necessities could no longer be given out without a good trade.
"Not enough!" Daryl yelled at the trader. "What ya mean not enough?"
"The Governor's been wantin' more of my supplies," said the trader. "I need to make up the difference."
"To hell with this!" An angry Daryl just left his game for the man while grabbing the few potatoes that they were worth. "Sorry I can't get you more than this," he told Beth.
"It's fine, Daryl."
"No, it ain't. The Redneck diet ain't gonna be a good thing for the kid."
"We're just gonna have to manage." Loud noises began to plague the area. Beth and Daryl stepped out of the trading post to find loud angry people clamoring the streets. "Daryl, what's going on?"
The people seemed to be carrying guns and torches as they headed down the end of the street. "That's one of the Governor's posts," said Daryl.
Once the mob got there, they started breaking glass and set fire to the building. The people where chanting "DOWN WITH THE GOVERNOR!" The trade post behind Beth and Daryl quickly locked its doors as the crowd grew bigger. This was getting dangerous.
"Stay close," said Daryl. He tried to navigate Beth through the manic crowd but it was proving to be more difficult than he expected. The crowd only spread out a little as a white van pulled up to the post and the Governor stepped out with a megaphone. "You have one minute to disperse! Return to your homes!"
After a few seconds it was very clear that the mob was not going anywhere and resorted to throwing things at the Governor and his men. The back of the van opened up and two men came out holding walkers to leash poles. The presence of the walkers scared the mob back a few feet. But they remained strong and angry. "Break out the tear gas," the Governor ordered.
One of the men threw a silver can into the crowd and a mist began to appear. There was screaming and then gun shots. "The walkers are loose!"
Daryl quickly pulled Beth towards one of the buildings. "Come on, we gotta get off the street!" They tried to get into the nearest building but the door was locked. Any other buildings required fighting through the panicky and stampeding crowds. They managed to squeeze their way into an alley where Daryl shielded Beth until the chaos died down. The entire time, all they could hear were gunshots and screaming.
They didn't bother to take a look at the carnage. Once they got a clearing, Daryl and Beth quickly headed home.
...
When night came, Daryl stepped outside and could see the glow of several fires in the distance...all of them coming from the nearby settlements. Beth had stepped outside to join him. "Daryl? You going hunting tonight?"
"Nah," he said. "Not tonight."
"What do you think's going on down there?"
"A lot of sh*t. Governor's losing control of everything." He led Beth back into the house and they climbed into bed together. The violence in the communities was spreading and it could reach the woods before either or them knew it. It was no longer safe to stay here.
The next morning Daryl woke Beth up. "Hey, pack what you can. We're leaving."
"What? Where are we going?"
"We done our part. No reason to stay here no more," he said. "Think it's time for you to head home."
They got on Daryl's bike and sped their way past a good number of walkers. They had never seen so many of them in the area. The settlements weren't much better as many of them were either up in smoke or had people rioting. As they moved further west, things started to calm down but neither of them were sure how long that calm would last.
Beth was beginning to recognize the familiar roads they were traveling. It had been nearly two months since she left but she could tell much had changed on the farm. The crops weren't thriving like they used to, especially with Hershel having the work the fields by himself most of the time. There wasn't as much livestock roaming the grounds, either.
They pulled up to the house. People began to pour out, beckoned by the noise outside of Daryl's bike.
"BETH!"
Beth got off the bike and quickly ran into her sister's arms. "Oh my god. Maggie, you're going to burst!"
"Just as long as you're not calling me fat," said Maggie. "What are you doing here? I thought I'd never see you again."
Hershel came and hugged his daughter. "It don't matter," he said. "You should all come inside."
Daryl felt a bit uncertain about entering Hershel's farmhouse but Beth made him feel very comfortable. The whole family had dinner together. Glenn was there to talk about how nervous he was about Maggie's approaching delivery date. Beth realized that she would have to eventually tell her father about her own pregnancy and she wasn't sure how he was going to take it.
After dinner, Maggie and Glenn went home. They talked about the riots that were happening in the east and why they came to the farm. "I'm worried the Governor will find out you're here," said Hershel.
"It won't matter," said Daryl. "We ain't his concern no more."
"You sure?"
Beth attempted to search for her courage. "Yes, daddy. It's...we've done it. I'm pregnant."
Hershel was shocked. "Oh...Bethy."
"It's okay, daddy. It was my choice."
Daryl was nervous when Hershel looked back at him. "I understand," said Hershel. "It's been a rough time for all of us. I'm just glad to have my daughters nearby again."
"It ain't safe to go back," said Daryl. "Dunno if we even can."
"Well you're both welcome to stay under my roof. There isn't much to go around like there used to be but you are family."
That made Daryl a little better to hear. "You know, I was thinkin'...if we're gonna stay here. I could help you out with your farm, whatever you need. I don't eat much. I can hunt my own food whenever I want."
"Won't you miss your old home?" Hershel asked him.
"Nah. Merle can have it."
At that moment Beth jumped into Daryl's arms and kissed him.
...
They went to bed that night in Beth's old bedroom. It was the happiest Daryl had seen his wife and if she was happy then so was he.
They slept in a bit longer into the next day until Daryl got dressed. "I'm gonna head back and get a few things...talk to Merle."
"I'll go with you," said Beth.
"Forget that. You just got back to your dad. Last thing you wanna do is up and leave. Take it easy here. I think you've earned it."
Daryl kissed Beth. He wanted her to settle back into her own home and enjoy being with her family again. He would handle all the dangerous stuff. The violence in the east hadn't settled but it hadn't worsen either.
He didn't know if Merle would be around or if he was off doing whatever it was Merle did...or was just doing drugs behind the shack. "Merle, ya home?"
A moment later, he heard a snap and was suddenly shoved to the floor. He counted about five strangers, armed to the teeth, surrounding him and then beating him until he could no longer lift up his head. The barrel end of a rifle against his head made sure of that.
"Well lookie here, boys," said one of the men. "I do believe this is the man who's been huntin' in our territory. What do ya think we should do with 'im?"