Chapter Twelve
The closer it got to Beth's birthday and their trip to Savannah, the more and more excited Beth became. Her mouth ran a hundred miles a minute as she was trying to tell Daryl all of the stuff she wanted to pack in to the weekend, and places she wanted to go see and eat. She was raving about Tybee Island, and how she couldn't wait to go lay on the beach. Daryl tried to keep up with everything she was saying, but she was talking so fast he could feel his eyes glazing over as he finally gave up trying to make out what she was saying. Instead he kept working on his motorcycle, nodding and adding in an occasional "mhm" when there was a pause.
"So what do you think?" Beth asked as she crouched next to him, Daryl looking over at her. She sighed when he looked at her like a deer caught in the headlights and hung her head, "Daryl you haven't even been listenin' to me!"
"I tried but girl your mouth has been flappin' faster than I can keep up with. I've barely caught a word you said." he replied and she pouted as she stood straight, crossing her arms and shifting her weight to one foot, "Don't give me that look, I ain't dealin' with it." he said and looked back down at the motorcycle engine he was taking apart.
"You're such a jerk." she huffed and saw the amused smirk pull across his lips, "It's not funny, Daryl I'm tryin' to talk to you!"
"I feel like I'm at a damn auction. Do me a favor."
"What?"
"Will you go grab me a water bottle?"
"Seriously?" she asked and moved her hands to her hips, Daryl standing and wiping his hands off on an old dirty rag.
"Please?" She scowled and let out a huff, turning on her heal and walking towards the house. Daryl walked over to his truck after she disappeared through the back door, opening his truckbed toolbox and looking down at the box he had hidden.
"Daryl!" he heard her shout and nearly jumped out of his skin, looking up where she stood at the back door, "We're out of water bottles!"
"Sweet tea then!" he shouted and swore he could see her eyes roll from the distance. He chuckled softly and grabbed the box, disappearing into the guest house quickly and into his room. He opened his closet, a roll of pink wrapping paper falling out of the top and nearly hitting him in the head. He cursed under his breath as he snatched it up, reaching up and sliding the box up in the top of the closet. He'd get it wrapped and in it's place after she left for the clinic today.
"Daryl?" he heard her ask from the kitchen and was quick to close his closet door, hearing the wrapping paper roll back off the top and to the bottom of his closet.
"Son of a bitch." he huffed and walked away from the closet as she came down the hallway with two glasses of sweet tea in hand.
"What are you doin'?" she asked and he grabbed his black bandana off of his dresser by the door and held it up for her to see, "You're actin' weird today, Dixon, what's wrong with you?"
"Ain't nothin' wrong with me, girl." he said and lowered his head, kissing the top of her head and leading her back down the hallway, "You still goin' to the clinic today?"
"Yeah, Maggie and I need to clean the cages today and sort out medicines for clients." she said as they made it back outside. After about another hour Maggie came outside, jingling the keys and calling for Beth.
"I'll see you when you get back." Daryl said as he looked over at her. She smiled and winked, blowing him a quick kiss before she ran to the car that Maggie was climbing in to. As soon as he saw them disappear down the driveway he hurried into his room and opened the closet. After tossing the aggravating wrapping paper tube onto the bed he pulled the box back down, being as careful as he could with it as he set it down on the floor. He grabbed the wrapping paper, tearing the plastic off and rolling it out across the floor. He heard a whimper at the door and saw Maisy, her tail wagging quickly back and forth with her tongue hanging out of her mouth.
"What?" he asked and she let out a loud yip, laying down in the doorway and watching him as he slid his dresser drawer open and grabbed a small Walmart bag out. He dumped the contents out on the floor, grabbing the scotch tape he had bought and opening it up. He started wrapping the box and after realizing he forgot scissors he sighed and pushed himself to his feet, walking down to the kitchen. He slid open the drawers, rifling through them quickly.
"The fuck? No fucking scissors." he grunted and shoved the drawers back in, hearing a whine and turning around, "Maisy no!" She stood in the doorway to the kitchen, the big purple bow he had bought for Beth's present hanging from her mouth. She growled and lowered her front half to the floor, her tail swinging wildly from side to side.
"Maisy, come here." he said and stepped towards her, the dog taking off into the livingroom and Daryl hurrying after her, "Come on, girl, I ain't got time for this." She darted under the coffee table, around the sofa, and took off down the hallway with Daryl cussing after her as he followed quickly.
"How are you and Glenn?" Beth asked as she and Maggie sat at a counter labeling pill bottles and medicine packets.
"We're doin' really good. I think he wants to come with us on our trip to Savannah, if that's okay with you." Maggie said and saw Beth's face light up.
"Really? That would be great! The more the merrier! I'm glad you guys are doin' so well, it's good to see you so happy again." Beth said and Maggie laughed softly, reading her father's notes before reaching for a big bottle of pills and counting out the dose asked for. After recounting and having Beth double check, she filled the bottle and sealed it.
"So you invited Daryl?" Maggie asked and glanced over at Beth who nodded, "Elizabeth."
"What?"
"I don't understand what you see in him."
"What do you mean?" Beth asked and turned to look at her older sister who sighed and set the pill bottles down.
"I just think you're rushing into feelings for an older guy and you need to slow down before you take a big step and regret it." Beth only sighed and stayed quiet as she kept filling out her labels, placing them on their respective bottles and packets, "Beth..."
"No, Maggie, I don't want to argue right now, okay? You don't know Daryl, you don't know what's going on with us, I don't want to get into it."
"Alright." She sighed and watched Beth who was biting her lip, fighting back tears as she worked as quickly as she could. She finished her stack of labels, setting her pen down and walking towards the kennels that she would be cleaning for the day. She slid on gloves and a surgical mask to block the smell, grabbing a trash bag and shaking it open. She opened the cages and began to clean up the soiled potty training pads, gagging a little as she went. She took warm water and soap, washing out the bottoms of the kennels and patting them dry before cleaning out water and food bowls. Time passed quickly for her and by the time she was laying fresh potty pads down, Hershel was walking into the boarding room and looking around at her work.
"Very good, Bethy." he said as she was laying the last puppy pad, "Are you ready to go?"
"If that's okay. Is Maggie done?"
"She offered to stay till close, so she'll ride back with me. You can stay if you want, it's only one."
"I think I'll go home. I have a lot of laundry left to do so I can get packed. We only have five days left 'til we leave." she said and Hershel nodded, giving her a tight hug and patting her back.
"I'll see you in a few hours. You drive safe." he said and kissed the top of her head. Beth told Maggie a quick goodbye as she grabbed her purse and grabbed the keys, heading outside and to the old Honda Civic. She slid into the seat, cranking the car and rolling down the windows as she pulled out of the parking spot. She turned the radio up and searched through the stations until she found a classic rock station. She cranked the volume up more, singing to I Love Rock N Roll as loud as she could as she flew down the two laned highway. When she finally arrived home she pulled into the driveway and waved over at Daryl who stood up and walked over to her from where he was still working on his motorcycle.
"You okay?" he asked and she nodded, moving to her toes and kissing him softly.
"I'm gonna go shower and change, I feel gross." she said and he stole another kiss before stepping to the side and letting her pass. He watched as she disappeared inside, feeling bad for her. She seemed down, but he hoped in just a few minutes she'd perk back up.
Beth moved up the stairs slowly, sighing and running Maggie's words through her mind as she chewed on the inside of her cheek. When she reached her door she pushed it open slowly and walked inside, stopping when she saw a pink gift-wrapped box with a large purple bow on it. She walked over to her bed and sat down, picking up the card taped to the side and opened up to read the crude handwriting.
Beth
I know your birthday aint for a few more days but I figured youd like this a little early so you can get used to it before we get it to savannah.
Happy birthday
Daryl
ps maisy helped me wrap this a bit
She smiled at the card and set it to the side, picking up the box and setting it in her lap. The bow had dents and creases in it along with obvious teeth marks and she laughed softly. She picked the bow off carefully and set it with the card, taking her time to unpeel the tape holding the paper closed. The paper was also a little wrinkled and at closer examination at chew marks in some places.
"Poor guy." she said with a smile and a soft laugh as she opened the paper and felt her jaw drop. She placed a hand against her mouth and her eyes began to sting with tears as she looked at the picture on the box. A Nikon Coolpix L830 digital camera in a dark fuschia color graced the side of the box and she let out a happy little sob as she broke the tape seal on the box, pulling it out and taking it out of the packaging.
"Oh, Daryl." she said and set it on her dresser, hurrying down the stairs and turning the corner sharply into the kitchen. She bypassed her shoes and flew out the back door, yelling for him. He stood up from his motorcycle engine and started walking towards her, opening his arms and catching her as she jumped up into them.
"I'm so sorry I called you a jerk earlier! Oh you are amazing! Thank you thank you thank you!" she sobbed into his shoulder, her arms and legs wrapped tightly around him. She pulled her head back and crushed her lips against his, feeling his smile against her lips as he kissed her back. Happy tears were still streaming down her face as she broke the kiss to look at him.
"You like it?" he asked and she nodded, biting her lip and sniffling. He set her down, reaching up and wiping the tears streaking down her face and kissed her softly. She grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the guest house and inside.
"Where are we goin?" he asked and she pulled him into the livingroom and back into a crushing kiss. She reached down and cupped his jeans, giving him a firm squeeze and hearing him growl against her lips as he started to harden under her touch.
"You deserve a proper thank you." she whispered softly as both hands moved to his belt buckle, managing to get it undone this time before jerking his pants open as his mouth pressed hard against hers. He snaked his tongue into her mouth as she reached into his boxers and pulled him free, grasping him firmly in her hand and pumping up and down. He gripped her hips hard, his kneels feeling weak. She nipped his bottom lip before pushing his pants and boxers down his legs and forcing him back on the couch. She smiled down at him and moved her hands to the button of her shorts slowly and popped it open. She smiled down at him, seeing his stormy blue eyes watching her with an obvious hunger and desire for her. She cocked her hips to the side as she slid her zipper down slowly, watching his hands clutch the couch cushion he was sitting on.
"Dammit, Beth." he groaned with a smirk and she licked her bottom lip slowly, sliding her shorts down her legs and letting them pool at her feet. He reached forward and grabbed her dark purple panties, pulling her hips toward him and kissing the skin just under her navel and feeling her shiver. She slid her panties down and as she moved to straddle his lap he was quick to slide her shirt off, exposing the dark purple bra underneath.
"You want me?" she murmured softly and he moaned a soft yes to her, grabbing a hold of her hips tightly. She grabbed hold of him again, stroking him slowly as she moved her hips above his. His tip brushed against her opening, Beth letting out a small purr at the teasing sensation before she started to slowly sink down over him. He sucked in a sharp breath, feeling how soaking wet she was as he slipped inside her. He reached up and jerked her bra down, exposing her perky breasts that he was quick to attack with his mouth, sucking her nipples until they were hard and erect. She began to grind her hips against his, throwing her head back and letting her hair cascade down her back as his mouth and hand worked her sensitive breasts.
"Oh, Daryl." she moaned, bracing a hand back on his knee and the other resting at the nape of his neck as she moved her hips against his. Her desire was white hot, sending flames of passion coursing through her veins as she quickened the pace of her hips. He was gripping her hard, his head laying back on the couch and eyes shut tightly as she rode him hard. He was panting for breath, moaning and begging for her as she took control, his back arching towards her. She brought her head down and her mouth met his neck, teeth and lips attacking the sensitive skin and causing him to suck in a sharp breath. He helped her to move her hips, feeling his release coming quickly as her muscles started to clench around him.
"Beth..." he groaned, fisting his hand in her hair and pulling her head up so he could press his lips against hers in a bruising kiss, "I'm ain't gonna last much longer." he panted and saw the smirk pull at her mouth. She thrusted her hips hard, fast, shoving down hard on him to drive him in deeper and her threw his head back, his body going rigid as he let out a deep, gutteral growl as his orgasm crashed over him. She shoved her face in his neck, crying out and moaning his name as she released with him, her muscles milking the last of his orgasm out of him.
"I think..." he said through pants of breath, "I think that was the best thank you ever." he said as she lay against him, trying to catch her own breath as well. She laughed softly, nuzzling her face in his neck and giving the skin a soft kiss. His arms tightened around her, holding her to them as they started to come down from their blissful high.
Beth sat on the ground near Daryl cross-legged, flipping through her user's manual as she looked over her camera. He had also gotten her a memory card for it and she was trying to figure out what the first picture she was going to take with it was going to be. She looked around and saw Maisy running through the grass nearby chasing butterflies, and saw the horses and cattle grazing in the pasture. She then looked over at Daryl, seeing him laid back on the grass with his arm behind his head and eyes closed against the sun.
"Daryl?" she whispered softly, and smiled when she got no reply. He was sleeping peacefully, his other hand resting on his stomach as he slept. She smiled and picked up the camera, deciding on the setting she liked and aiming it at him.
"Say cheese." she teased softly and once she had it positioned, she clicked the button and heard the shutter sound, "Perfect." she added as she looked at the picture of him. He had a slight smile on his face as he slept, and the sun hitting his face had the perfect lighting.
"You're amazing, Daryl Dixon." she murmured and reached over, running the back of her finger along his cheek and feeling the rough stubble.