"I get to go on watch tomorrow!" Beth declared as she entered the backyard, taking a seat next to Daryl.
"I ain't never seen someone so happy to sit up top a wall and stare at trees." he replied as he fished a new pack of cigarettes out of his shirt pocket.
"Well, it's better than sittin' around here doin' nothing." she said, feeling as though he was raining on her parade a bit.
"No patrols?" he asked, tossing the plastic wrapping into a small trash can he'd brought out.
"Not yet." Beth frowned. "Christie said maybe in the next week or so."
"Those are bit more interestin' than watches." he lit his cigarette, the tip flaming up suddenly and dying down just as fast. "When tomorrow?" he asked as he stretched his legs out in front of him.
"Tomorrow afternoon." Beth replied, tucking her legs up beneath her as she sat and stared into the yard, seeing that the grass needed seeing to. "Christie said it would give me an idea what it's like and if, as she put it, I don't shoot anyone or fall over, then she might speed up putting me on patrol."
"Well, you seem to have good enough balance, princess." he nodded, glancing over to her for a fleeting second. "Ain't seen you shoot in a while though."
"I've gotten a lot better." she said enthusiastically. "Carol will be doin' watch tomorrow morning."
"What about Lori?" he asked, hoping the woman would be sent out of the house a bit more. Her mood had soured more and more the last few days.
"She and Christie don't get on very well." Beth looked at him and went on. "To be honest, I think Christie's keepin' her off of watches and patrols just to annoy Lori."
"Well, with as fat as she's gettin' she won't be a lot of help on patrols." Daryl spat into the grass at his side, ignoring the look of disgust on Beth's face as he did so. "You need to be able to move fast and quietly, her waddlin' ain't gonna cut it out there."
"She's not gettin' fat, she's just pregnant." Beth swatted him, giving him an exasperated look. "But I do get what ya mean."
They fell into an amiable silence for a few moments, Daryl appreciating the quiet, Beth eager to talk more. She knew she had a better chance of getting him to spend time in her company if she let things go quiet for a bit, but she was a naturally chatty person.
"Do you think Rick's gonna move back in here?" she asked when she couldn't stand the silence anymore.
"I'm kinda likin' the peace and quiet we've got now." he shrugged, giving her his honest answer. He didn't like knowing his friend was hurting, but he sure as hell did not appreciate having to listen to their domestic squabbles all the time, either.
"Doesn't it worry you?" Beth asked, staring at him again. At times she found his aloof detachment a bit unsettling.
"It's their business." he replied, grinding the butt of his cigarette out on the bottom of his boot. "It might be better for them to split up."
"I worry about Carl." she wrapped the jacket she wore around herself as a breeze picked up, dropping the temperature a bit. "It must be hard for him."
"Don't see how it's harder than listening to his folks fight like cats and dogs." he tossed his own jacket to her when he saw her curling up more, shivering slightly.
"Thanks." she smiled as she draped the leather coat over herself. "I suppose you're right. I've tried talkin' to him about it, but he just shrugs it off like it's nothin'." she laughed. "It's kinda like dealin' with a miniature version of you sometimes."
"I don't act like no spoiled brat." he replied defensively. "Watch your mouth, princess."
"Yes, sir." she laughed. She never took any of his threats seriously, when he threatened to toss her over the wall for being too talkative, or said that he wouldn't let her sit out in the back with him anymore, she knew he never meant it. She thought that, for all of his tough guy bravado, he liked having some company. Liked having a friend to just talk about nothing with.
"You're gettin' mouthy." the corner of his mouth twitched a bit, but he held back the smile that had threatened to make an appearance.
"I must be spending too much time with a bad influence." she stretched her legs, got to her feet and handed his coat back to him. "I'm headin' to bed." she yawned. "Good night, Daryl Dixon." she gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and headed inside, leaving him to himself.
He slipped into his coat, it still warm from Beth having just worn it and smiled. She wasn't a bad kid, not too bad at all. Though he wouldn't be too quick in admitting that to anyone.
Christie was putting the guns they'd used in practice away and saw Lori approaching. She tried to hurry up as best she could, eager to avoid speaking to the other woman, but she wasn't fast enough.
"Can we talk?" Lori asked, keeping her voice low.
"Do we have to?" Christie put the last gun away and locked the shed.
"Yeah, we do." Lori stared at her, not willing to leave until they had spoken.
"Fine then." Christie sighed. "What is it?"
"Hurry up and get Rick his own place." Lori crossed her arms over her chest, resting on the growing bump of her belly.
"I can't rush things." Christie explained. "I'm still working on Reichert, he's resisting me on some arrangements..."
"Then have him move in with someone else in the mean time."
"I can't do that, either." Christie was trying her hardest to keep her calm. "I brought you lot in, you're my responsibility."
"That's convenient." Lori scoffed.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Christie asked. She knew Lori didn't like her, but if she didn't know better, she'd guess Lori was jealous.
"Just that you have to separate Rick and I, and coincidentally, the only place for him to stay while housing is sorted is with you."
"If you wanna accuse me of something, just do it already."
"I think you're trying to worm your way into my husband's pants." Lori said matter-of-factly.
"Oh, you're kidding, right?" Christie laughed loudly, catching some glances from a few bystanders. "Unlike some people, getting laid isn't really at the top of my list of priorities at the moment. And really, with a ray of sunshine like you for a wife, why would he ever even look at another woman?" she had had enough of Lori's accusations and went to move past her.
"I'm not done." Lori grabbed the younger woman's arm. "Stay away from him."
"No." Christie shook her head. "I've no interest in him, but just because you're such a bitch, I'm gonna be around Rick as much as I possibly can." she was practically whispering, not wanting anyone to hear their exchange. "And from what I've heard, you might sleep with anything with a pulse, but I think Rick has some standards. Then there's the fact that,for some unbelievable reason, he loves you. I don't get it, I would have left you to the walkers."
"Stay away from him." Lori repeated, trembling in anger.
"You were the leader's wife out there, Lori." Christie said, getting her arm out of Lori's grasp. "You're not the queen bee anymore. Here, you're nothing, no one." she hissed, turning and walking away, leaving Lori to stare at her, still trembling with anger.