AUTHORS NOTE/DISCLAIMER: again, don't own the walking dead characters please don't sue. Also, I'm so sorry it's taken so long to update. I seriously wrestled with where I wanted this to go for a while and then it was an issue of actually having the time. It's seriously 7 in the morning right now so I apologize if there are a lot of errors and the like.
As always, reviews/follows/favorites make my day and let me know there's interest! Thank you so much for your support!
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It seemed as if all was well within the prison walls, Beth had started experimenting with recipes, finding that beef jerky was a good enough meat when Darryl was too busy with her training to hunt.
Darryl had taken to training her with a knife better. Once in a while taking her out behind the fences when there were only a few walkers to take care of. He'd watch her, watch her instincts and coach her how to use her strengths and cover her weaknesses. It was no surprise that Beth had little physical strength, months of only lifting a baby were bound to wreak havoc on what used to be her biceps, but what she lacked in strength, she made up for in speed.
Darryl had learned that she was incredibly evasive, sometimes able to bob and weave out of reach of one walker, and capable of tripping up the one coming up behind her with out so much as panicing. When it came time to shove the knife in the skull was when she slowed down. Usually it would take her some time to even be able to plunge the knife in.
Michonne had been a great help with that as well, she was helping to get Beth back into survival mode. Having her lift weights gradually as well as working on her foot work. It was no use tripping up a walker if she were tripping herself too.
Michonne had been patient, but stern. Never letting Beth quit but never taking to screaming in her face or getting upset with her. They'd taken to each other quite well, falling into an understanding with out many words.
Rick had taken to training her how to properly use a gun. She already knew the basics, but she needed to work on identifying when was the right time for the gun, and how to aim so she wouldn't waste any ammunition.
Rick had given her the small handgun that Lori had. It was small enough to be comfortable in her hands, with little kick back. Though the first few days she'd had sore elbows from forgetting that such a tiny gun could pack such a punch.
For the first few weeks things seemed to be going quite well, but then Rick's patience with Judith began to wear thin. The little girl was crawling and exploring her surroundings. even pulling herself up and taking a few steps while balancing herself on the edges of tables and other things.
"Hey, Beth I'd hate to have to ask you this but do you mind if we cancel gun training this afternoon. Judith had me up all night and I've got watch until afternoon. I'd appreciate getting some sleep." Rick had stopped Beth in the kitchen, he was staring at the ground as he always did when he was feeling guilty or self concious.
"I understand Rick, actually, once I finish with making breakfast I can keep you company on watch, make sure you don't fall asleep. I'll watch Judith later too so you can get a few hours. Truth be told I kinda miss spending so much time with her." Beth's eyes were smiling for the first time since before she lost Zach.
"I'd like that." Rick smiled back at her. If it wasn't for the sound of the door opening and closing he'd probably have gotten a bit lost looking into her tranquil eyes.
Darryl looked between the two of them as he walked up. He was never one to miss a thing. He took one look at Rick and realized what he was interupting.
"Damn girl, got another one under your spell? your life is a fuckin cheesy romance novel." There was a look in his eyes that they could tell he was joking. Seeing if he could get a rise out of either of them.
"Well forgive me for trying to spread some cheer in this otherwise depressing situation. If y'all want to stand here and give me puppy eyes it makes no difference to me." She shrugged, grinning wider as Rick's cheeks started to get red.
"I was just canceling on Beth actually, the other little girl that has my heart kept me up all hours last night getting into stuff and things, was askin' if she'd mind letting me take a nap instead." Rick was taking the light hearted picking in jest.
Darryl laughed a little as he was looking into the pot that Beth was stirring "Excuses excuses man, just admit that you're gettin' old" He cracked.
"If I'm old what does that make you? Ancient?."
"Didya straing yourself dustin off that over used, old, comeback?"
They continued jabbing at one another and to Beth, it just looked like two guys finding the humor in what they had left. To her, it was a sign that though things never would be how they were, they could make life here normal. What she didn't know, was that this was the calm before the storm.
The breakfast dishes were cleaned and put away, so Beth decided to make good on her promise to keep Rick company. On her way to the guard tower though, she bumped into Darryl.
"Oh, so sorry!' she turned, blushing from having almost knocked into the hunter.
"s'alright, I was actually looking for ya. I was wondering if you minded if I came by later to see lil' asskicker." He was picking at his nails, as he did when he was nervous.
"I don't mind at all, I'm sure she'd love it." Beth put her hand on his shoulder as she spoke, then moved to walk past him.
"Where are ya in such a hurry to get to?" He called behind him.
"Gotta make sure the old man doesn't fall asleep on watch, also, might get a bit of training on a rifle. Might be useful in a pinch." she had turned to explain, but hurriedly bounced away back towards the guard tower.
Rick heard the door open and smiled. He knew she'd come see him and it made his day. He was sitting with his feet propped up on a second chair with his back towards the entrance.
"Rick, you awake?" Beth asked since she couldn't see his eyes from where she stood.
"Not yet, it's actually been pretty peaceful since Carl and I cleared the fences a few weeks ago. We still get a cluster or so but, that's when we usually send you and Darryl out to pick them off." Rick looked back and grinned at her.
"I see how it is. Make the youngin's do all the dirty work huh?" She poked his shoulder as she came around to sit on the opposite chair. The issue was that he wasn't moving his feet.
"You don't really think I'm that old do you?" Rick asked. Looking up at her slightly, smile a little more forced.
"If I answer do I get to sit down?" She crossed her arms over her chest.
"Sure."
"I think you're at the very least 35, but at the most 42. I don't consider that old. I consider that seasoned." She unfolded her arms and grinned.
"Beth Greene you have a way with words." Rick moved his legs off the chair and scanned the area as he spoke. Beth couldn't tell if he was flattered or disappointed.
"I didn't mean to offend you if I have." She quickly tried to cover her tracks, hoping she hadn't bruised his ego.
"You didn't offend me at all. Maybe one day I'll tell you if you're right or not about how old I am." Rick laughed a little.
"You know, being considered young isn't all it's cracked up to be. I get treated like glass. So much so, I've started behaving like glass. Cold, and hard yet transparent. I know that every one thinks that I'll shatter. Once upon a time I guess I did, but that's the thing about bulletproof glass, you can watch it crack under pressure, see it splinter but it takes a hell of a lot to get it to actually break. I'm cracked and splintered, but I'm not broken." Beth had leaned forward with her elbows on her knees and picked at her nails much like Darryl had earlier as she spoke.
Rick wasn't expecting that in the slightest. Sure he'd heard Carl's speeches about how he's not a little kid anymore, but then the kid would always turn around and do something that reminded Rick how young his boy really is.
This was different. He was watching her work through this analogy. She was right and he knew it. He'd been so used to seeing her at her worst that he'd let it influence his opinion of her. When she looked up and made eye contact, Rick's breathe hitched. For the first time he didn't consider her a child but saw her as the young woman she was fighting so hard to show every one.
"I guess we got so caught up in keeping the young so innocent that we forgot that it naturally happens over time. I'm sorry that this is the world that you've been forced to find who you are in, but I think I'm more sorry for not noticing the changes in you until now. You've got a level head on your shoulders which is more than I can say for even myself." rick never broke eye contact with her as he spoke.
"I think my daddy has been fighting to ignore it too. Trying to keep me as a babysitter and behind these walls like he can keep me from what the world's become. I love him for it, I love him for the will to keep trying, but this was going to happen regardless. I think with maggie, he saw her grow up, and had the luxery of fighting it and coming to terms with it and not having to really worry like we do now. With me, we're all so busy trying to survive, it's understandable to ignore what you don't want to accept. It's a big part of how we go through our lives now. I just, I wish he could understand that living my life like a child isn't doing me any favors anymore, it'll get me killed now. I wish he could see things the way I do." Beth had looked to the fences as she rambled. She hadn't really expected to delve into such a deep conversation.
"I'm sure he wishes the same about you. It's hard to watch your child grow up, to let go of seeing them at their most vulnerable and fragile. You get it stuck in your mind that they'll always be that way, and that turns into you wanting them to stay that way so you can protect them. Now more than ever there's this primal parental need to make sure that above everything else your child, whether they're and adult or not, is protected and taken care of. He can't just switch that off." Rick kept looking between her and the perimeter. Trying to choose his words carefully as not to offend her.
"I guess I never really thought of it like that." She slightly blushed, feeling as if she'd just shown a weakness in her maturity.
"Just cuz you're grown doesn't mean you stop learning girlie." Rick smiled at her and lightly tapped her foot with his.
"I uh, I actually think I'm gonna go talk to daddy, are you going to be okay by yourself for a few hours?"
"I'll be fine, sounds like this talk is way past due." Rick smiled as he watched her get up and leave the tower. He was proud of her, but there was another feeling in his chest that he couldn't quite pinpoint, and it only happened when she was around.