Call for a Good Time

Chapter 8

Beth bit her lip as she wrapped her hands around the handlebars. Daryl was out doing something, grocery shopping if she remembered correctly. He'd left while she'd been half asleep still. When she'd finally pulled her butt out of bed Merle had been waiting for her. Apparently he was going to teach her how to ride a motorcycle by herself today. "Merle, I don't think this is a good idea." She looked up at him as he put a helmet on her head and strapped it in place.

"Don't worry sugar, I'm gonna be right here." He straddled the bike behind her, wrapping his hands around hers on the handlebars. He started to explain the mechanics of how to start the bike, how to shift gears, how to speed up, and how to slow down. "Alright, ready?" Nervously she nodded her head and started the bike. It roared to life underneath her and she slowly moved her hands, gently easing away from the curb and pulling her feet from the ground. Merle didn't do anything as she eased them onto the road, going slow at first. His hands were there to make sure they didn't crash and die.

It was easier than she had originally thought it would be and soon enough she was going sixty miles per hour, weaving between cars as they rode around town. Merle had removed his hands from hers and was leaning back, just enjoying the ride as she drove around. By the time they pulled back into the house Beth was ready to go for another ride. She shut the bike off as she gently eased it down and kicked out the stand. Merle climbed off the bike and smirked at her. "See, I told ya you could do it."

She smiled climbing off and taking her helmet off. "That was so much fun."

He nodded approvingly. "I think you're ready to ditch the Prius and get your own bike." He wrapped his arm around her shoulders as they walked into the house.

"I know what kind I would want," she said happily, going to her laptop and opening it up. She brought up a picture of a bike she'd seen once and had fallen in love with. A 2014 Triumph Scrambler, it was old school, and it was gorgeous. She showed Merle the picture. "You can get it in three colors, a dark blue, this cherry red, or the cherry red and silver."

"That's one hell of a beautiful bike," he commented, scrolling through the page looking at all of the specifications. "Not too expensive either."

Beth smiled and sat beside him on the couch. "My older brother had one before he died, I always loved it." They looked up as Daryl walked in. "Hey baby."

"Hey." He took the few bags of groceries to the kitchen and set them down on the counter. "What 'yall been up to?"

Beth bit her lip and looked at Merle. He nodded his head and continued to look at the Scrambler. "Merle taught me how to ride a motorcycle."

Daryl turned around and stared at them, nearly dropping the eggs in his hand all over the floor. "What was that?"

"She's a quick study, little brother. Three blocks, that's all it took." Merle looked up and smirked.

Daryl shook his head, putting the eggs in the fridge. "Okay, I see how it is, ya'll are gonna start gangin' up on me."

Beth smirked and walked over to him, wrapping her arms around his waist as she pressed against his back. "C'mon baby, imagine how sexy it would be to see me all dressed in leather with some sexy motorcycle boots that go all the way up to my knee, leaning over a motorcycle, my hair all wild from the wind," she whispered in his hear.

Daryl growled and turned around, grabbing her by the waist, fisting a hand in her hair and kissing her hard, bending her backwards slowly. She giggled into the kiss, gasping lightly as he bent her backwards and gripped his shirt. He slowly pulled away and stared into her eyes. "You can have a bike."

Beth giggled and kissed him. "Thank you." She started to lean in to kiss him again when there was a knock on the door. She frowned and looked over. "Are you expecting someone?" she asked.

Daryl shook her head and gently released her, going to the door and opening it. "Yeah?"

"Is Beth here?" Beth's eyes widened.

"Maggie?" She walked towards the living room as Daryl stepped back opening the door. It wasn't just Maggie. "Daddy? What are you guys doing here?" she asked, staring at them.

"You haven't called or been to the house in weeks, the school called the house wondering why you didn't register for fall classes, and Bobby called, he said you quit the diner." Her father crossed his arms, looking all around the small house, judging it like he did everything else that didn't involve his church.

"We're just worried about you," Maggie added, looking between Merle and Daryl.

"Yeah, well I'm fine. I registered for my classes last night; the semester doesn't even start for another month." She sighed and pushed a hand through her hair. "I got a new job, I've just been busy."

Hershel nodded as he looked at Daryl, openly judging him. "I can see that." He looked back at Beth. "I think it's time you came home."

Beth crossed her arms. She was sick of them treating her like a child. "I am home."

"Beth," Maggie started but Beth cut her off.

"No, I'm almost twenty one for crying out loud. I'm old enough to make my own decisions." She crossed her arms, meeting her father's eyes. "Now, you're welcome to stay for lunch and get to know my boyfriend and his brother who have more than taken care of me, or you can leave."

…

Hershel and Maggie ended up staying. Maggie had gone to the kitchen to help Beth with dinner while Hershel sat on the couch with him and Merle. Daryl wasn't sure what he was supposed to say. He knew the old man was judging them, he knew Hershel didn't think Daryl was good enough for Beth, but he was going to play nice. He loved Beth, so he was going to try his hardest not to be a complete asshole to her father. He just hoped Merle did the same.

"So what do you two do for a living?" Hershel asked as he looked around the living room, lightly picking at a cigarette burn on the arm of the couch.

"We're mechanics," Daryl answered, watching his eyes pick out every little deformity of the room.

"Mechanics," he mumbled thinking that over in his head. Daryl could see the wheels turning, adding up how much they made, and the state of the house. He wouldn't be surprised if he grabbed Beth and dragged her out and condemned the place. "Interesting."

Thankfully enough Merle kept his mouth shut, just staring him down. "Lunch is ready," Beth called from the kitchen. Daryl breathed a sigh of relief as they made their way to the kitchen. They all sat around the table and an awkward silence fell down over them as they ate. "Daddy, how are things?" Beth asked, breaking the tension.

Hershel shrugged. "The corn is coming in nicely and Daisy is pregnant again."

Beth smiled. "Well that's fun."

Her father shook his head. "Beth, I cannot abide this relationship." There it was. Daryl looked at Beth, reaching over and taking her hand under the table, trying to keep her calm. "They're mechanics, this place looks like a crack house, and I doubt either one of them have a high school diploma or a GED."

Daryl watched Beth's eyes flash as she looked at her father. He could see the rage bubbling up in side of her. "You're right. They are mechanics, neither one of them finished high school, and Merle used to take drugs, but he's been clean for six years now." He saw it in her eyes the second the damn busted and everything came flooding out, weather she wanted it to or not. "But you know what? Zach, the boy you loved so much and wanted me to marry? Yeah, Daryl had to come pick me up one night after he left me in the middle of the ghetto after he'd punched me and busted my lip. Oh yeah, and there was that one time Daryl had to come over because Zach had broken into my apartment and started to beat me and carve the word slut into my skin." She shook her head, he really hoped she wouldn't go far enough, but he knew she was going to, and he just let her. "Wait, wasn't there one more? Oh that's right. Zach showed up here, trashed the house, kidnapped me, beat the ever loving shit out of me and carved that word so deep into my belly that I got this to cover it up." She stood up and pulled her shirt up, revealing her fully healed tattoo.

She shook her head and sat back down. "Yes, they're not what you wanted for me, but you know what? They love me, and they take care of me. Daryl and I have been together for months down, and Merle treats me like a princess. If you can't accept them then you can leave." She was panting by the time she was done. Daryl looked over at Maggie and Hershel, they were just staring open mouthed at her, neither one of them knew what to say. He was just glad she hadn't mentioned that they had killed Zach.

Hershel finally sighed and rubbed his eyes, before looking between Daryl and Merle. "I may not approve of this life, but I do owe you an apology and a thank you. You'll understand one day why I'm so protective of my little girl, and maybe you'll forgive me for judging." He sighed again and looked at Beth before looking Daryl in the eyes, talking to him man to man. "If she's happy and you treat her right, then I guess I can learn to accept it."

…

That night Beth and Daryl were lying in bed after making love. She curled against his side and kissed his chest. "I love you, Daryl Dixon."

He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer, kissing her head. "Love you too baby girl."

She lay there all night, half watching him sleep, half thinking about how her life had turned out. A year ago she was concerned with getting good grades and finding a nice husband. But now, now nothing seemed to matter except her new family. She loved her biker boys; she loved the life she had. It wasn't overly complicated anymore, it wasn't hard and confusing. It was simple, and she realized before sleep finally claimed her, that simple was what she'd been searching for.