A/N Thank you all again for joining me, the Biker and the Bobby Soxer as we've time traveled to the 50's. This chapter is more give and take between our couple. We'll welcome in the New Year, 1959, and maybe we'll get a little bonus at the end, yeah maybe :)

She'd fixed him a big Sunday morning breakfast. "This here is real good Cream Puff. Damn ya spoil me. I ain't ever had a waffle anywhere but in a diner and it sure never was this good. Thanks Beth." And he smiled that smile and she knew she would always love cooking for him and watching him eat. It was one of the best responsibilities she could ever have.

"Ya wantin' ta go ta church today, are ya?"

"Yes unless you have something else planned."

"Nah 's okay, I'll take ya on the Bike, wait for ya out front there. When you're done we can go for a ride, whaddya think?"

"Oh gosh yes, that would be so cool, let's do that." Damn she was the sweetest, he was always just so proud to have her riding with him.

He waited there outside the church leaning on his Bike and reading the latest issue of American Motorcyclist. He could hear them in there singing and although church wasn't really something he cared to get involved in, he liked it that she went. He'd always just kiss her cheek before she went in and tell her, "Ya say a prayer for me Cream Puff."

They rode for quite a while just enjoying the brisk December air in their faces. She had her new leather jacket on and his across her lap, but he was fine. He had on his undershirt, a shirt with long sleeves and a leather vest. Besides, if either of them was going to be cold he wanted it to be him.

Eventually he doubled back and they wound up at the reservoir. He shut the motor down and held his arm out to her.

He was holding her hand and as they walked around and he brought up what had been on his mind, "I got a long weekend comin' up for New Year's. Dirty says since last year this time was slower'n molasses he's just gonna shut down for five days. He said we oughta just think of the extra days off as unpaid vacation." He snickered.

"Ain't too bad though, it's really only the two extra days that I won't get paid. We get paid for the holiday an the two other days are weekend."

"Oh but that's so nifty Daryl and I'm off too, we'll have time together!"

"Well that's what I wanna ask ya 'bout. Merle an Cassandra asked us over for New Year's Eve, an I know Smitty an Virginia ask us ta come stay with them an celebrate, an I know ya was kinda keen on that idea. But well, everyone's just gonna be gettin' their load on an you don't even hardly like ta drink, so I don't see how that would be much fun for ya." He was trying to convince her she didn't want to because the truth was he didn't want to, but he didn't think he should tell her he didn't want to. Hell he didn't know how to go about these things.

"Anyway I was thinkin', even though it's wintertime an a little cold, well I's thinkin' maybe we could go campin'. I got all the gear an seems like it might be fun you n me alone in the woods a few days."

He expected she'd resist, that he'd have to try hard to talk her into it, but she surprised him when she said, "Oh that would be so neat, you and me in the wilderness!"

That made him laugh a little, "Well it ain't really what ya might call wilderness, just the woods. But yeah, I got a nice little tent an we can zip the two sleepin' bags together, have a nice campfire." He turned then wrapping her in his arms and smiling down on her, "Be real fun rollin' around with ya in the sleepin' bag makin' sure ya stay warm."

She turned bright red, smiled shyly and said, "Okay."

She was dreading it. Camping in the woods, with bugs, and snakes and wild animals and no bathroom. It wasn't exactly like she'd never pottied outside, but it had only been a few times for gosh sakes, never for three days in a row! Oh my, this had awful and scary written all over it. But dang it, she knew he loved camping and being out there somewhere in the middle of nowhere, no civilization. Oh dear. But she loved him and she wanted to make the effort, try this thing she knew he loved, for him. She didn't want him to think she was a party pooper.

When they got home he went to the garage to check his gear while she fixed supper. He took better care of his outdoor gear than he did any of his other possessions, and the Biker took real good care of everything he owned. He was really just trying to plan what he ought to take. He wanted to make sure he had everything they'd need so she'd be comfortable. Hell he could survive for weeks with nothing more than a box of matches, his crossbow and a knife. But he wanted her to be happy, to love camping out in the woods just as much as he did.

She smiled when he walked in the kitchen door, "I forgot to tell you what Mama said today at church."

He had no idea so he just shrugged and smiled back. "Oh gosh Daryl, she wants to have a party at the farm on Valentine's Day! It comes on Saturday this year and, well, she wants to give a belated wedding reception for us, Maggie and Abraham, Merle and Cassandra and Virginia and Smitty. Isn't that exciting?!"

Aw fuck. No, there wasn't anything fucking exciting about that shit. In fact that had disaster written all over it. Yeah, cool, yeah. First of all he hated big gatherings of people like that and second, he couldn't figure out what could possibly go right but he could think of about a thousand things that could go wrong.

"Well yeah Cream Puff, I mean if that's what ya want an all, yeah well alright."

Just fuck that's all, just fuck, and now she was looking kind of sad and damn he couldn't stand that.

"Golly Daryl, I thought you'd be happier, we finally get to celebrate our wedding. I mean, you know, Mama and Daddy are coming around, trying and everything and like Mama said, when everyone sees how flat my tummy is they're going to know we didn't have to get married."

Wait, he thought they did celebrate when they ate that fancy lunch out with everyone and then stayed in that little beach bungalow.

And was that what all this was about? Trying to prove to everyone that his wife was a good girl? Bullshit! He knew and she knew they didn't have anything to prove. Fuck e'm all. But yeah, there was her and shit, this all meant something to her.

"Cream Puff ya know I wanna make ya happy, ya know I ain't really into the big get-together shit, but if it's what ya want I'ma be real happy ta be there. Promise." He'd put his arms around her and he was holding her tight you know, so she wouldn't see that lying look on his face.

At least dinner was good, spaghetti. And afterwards there was a cowboy movie on TV, and then he had some other plans involving her and him and he was pretty certain she'd go along, so life wasn't completely screwed up.

Over dinner they talked about the camping trip. "I've been trying to think of what to bring for food Daryl, it's three whole days and gosh, you know you eat a lot. I'm not sure what to do."

That got a snort out of him, "Well ya don't need ta bring any meat, unless ya wanna cook some dogs for lunch or sumthin', oh an maybe some a them sausage links I like for breakfast. Other than that we're gonna be gettin' our own meat, rabbit, squirrel, hell we'll even catch us a couple fish. Gonna be a lotta fun an a lotta good eatin'. Can ya bring that tater salad ya make? I like that a lot."

"Am I going to have to cook all that other stuff on an open fire? Gosh, I don't know if I know how." Now she was lookin' worried and he sure as hell didn't want that. This had to be fun for her or she'd never want to go again, and he wanted her there with him.

"Nah girl I got a Coleman camp stove, hell I even got the pans n shit that go with it. It ain't hard ta use, it's like cookin' on a gas range. An I'll help ya, show ya how it works. I made me a kitchen box a few years back, it's got everythin' we need. I got a big old fresh water jug and a big cooler for food. We're gonna be livin' the sweet life Cream Puff. 'Sides, I'ma be cookin' all the game we get. Gonna be fun, I promise."

She just smiled her best big happy smile, and she didn't mention the bugs and the snakes and the wild animals, or the lack of a bathroom. Oh dear, but gosh she was going to do this if it killed her, which it might, but it was only three days. Surely she could survive three days, after all he would be there.

He loaded up the truck real early on New Year's Eve morning, he was anxious. The small pickup bed was stuffed full of every kind of camping gear a man could have. He almost laughed, three days needed all this shit? But yeah, there was her and this was going to be cool and he just wanted her to love it. She'd see, soon she'd be digging camping just as much as he did.

He was setting up the tent and she wanted to help, but he told her he had it and she should just maybe sit on over on that log while he set up camp. The truth was he had his way of doing things and he just preferred doing this stuff himself. And besides he didn't want her lifting anything, she might get hurt.

He had it all set-up just right just the way he liked it, and she admired it, "My golly Daryl I never would have guessed it would be this nice. You really do have practically an outdoor kitchen built."

It was about that time she grabbed her cute little bottom and shrieked, "Ouch!"

He was immediately on point, "What? What happened? Ya okay?"

Her face was fire engine red when she muttered, "It feels like something bit me on my bottom."

His first thought was, fuck no, not a snake. "Drop your britches and let me check."

If possible she was even more red. "Um gosh, really?"

"Yeah really." And he rubbed his hand real softly over each of her pretty little butt cheeks and then he found it, "Damn."

"What?! What is it?!"

"It's a damn tick."

And she thought she'd die of embarrassment right then. "A tick is on my bottom?"

"Yeah, lemme get it out for ya." And that's just what he did and she said "Owie." Then he made a big mistake, he showed her the bug.

Just that fast, with her pants down around her ankles, face red as could be, tears in her eyes, she threw up.

With every fiber of his being he was fighting off the urge to laugh. "Damn I'm sorry, maybe I shouldn't a showed ya. Ya okay?"

And shit she was so sweet and pitiful and serious when she said, "I may never be okay again."

And he did the only thing he could think to do, he hugged her close, "I'm real sorry that happened to ya girl." And he was thinking that all it was was just a little tick, no big deal. But as little as he knew about the ways of women, he knew enough to know now was the perfect time to keep his big fucking mouth shut.

"How 'bout we take a little walk right over there by the river and see if we can't catch us a fish?"

She sniffled, "Okay."

Now he knew he wasn't taking any chances, he baited her hook, even though she swore she knew how, and he cast that line, even though she said she'd been fishing lots of times with her daddy.

And thank God she caught a real nice one, that seemed to cheer her up right away. Between them they caught four fish, "I can cook these up for us right now, we'll have a real nice lunch, k?"

She was smiling for real now. He'd never cooked for her before, well except for the fried bologna sandwiches the night they fell asleep and everything in their world changed. And hot dogs on the grill. But this was different and it was so tasty, she was surprised. Now she was anxious to try the other things he said he'd cook.

It had been a chilly day but they were dressed for it and so it hadn't been too bad, but when what little sun there was went down, well it got quite cold in a hurry. But Daryl had a real good fire going and they sat close to it on nice smooth rocks he brought over close. She'd made it clear she was never going to sit on another log. And they roasted marshmallows.

"This is so fun Daryl, I love this part." Thank God. He had never in his life brought a marshmallow on a camping trip, in fact he wasn't sure that he'd ever eaten a marshmallow. Leave it to Cream Puff to think of it. And shit, it really was pretty damn fun, as long as she was there.

He'd already zipped those sleeping bags together and when they crawled in, he whispered, "We'll keep each other warm." And they got busy doing just that and they were both so ready, and that's when he remembered what was the one thing he'd forgotten, but shit he wasn't going to quit now. Hell he was pretty sure he couldn't if he wanted to.

Afterward when he was thinking a little more clearly, he was thinking maybe he should have practiced better self-control. But it was too late now, so he just kissed her nice and loving and said, "Happy New Year Beth." "Happy New Year Daryl."

Now that first night neither one of them got hardly a wink of sleep. Just about the time he'd fall asleep she'd say something like, "Daryl, did you hear that noise? What do you think that was?" Or, "Daryl it sounds like there's an animal right outside the tent."

He'd kept trying to reassure her but finally he said, "Beth, I got ya right here in my arms. I got a knife an a pistol on the other side a me. I ain't gonna let nuthin' hurt ya. Now go ta sleep girl before ya make me lose my fuckin' mind completely." And for the rest of the night she stayed mostly quiet, except for when she yelped and jumped a little because she was sure a spider had just crawled across her arm.

Oh and then there was the time she gently shook him awake, "Daryl, Daryl I have to go potty." Half asleep he mumbled, "Okay go." "But Daryl I can't go by myself, it's dark out, what if a bear gets me?" And Daryl knew he wasn't going to reason his way out of this one. He got out of the bag, unzipped the tent and said, "C'mon Cream Puff." She tapped him again, "Bring your gun, okay?"

They were both up early and both feeling pretty sleepy. "Gosh I'm so sorry Daryl. I sure hope you're not mad at me. I just kept hearing things."

"I ain't mad, thing is out here ya ain't got no city noises so ya hear everythin' else real good, it bein' so dang quiet an all. Anyway we'll catch us a nap later." He was thinking maybe he'd get her her own pistol then she'd go pee by herself. Yeah, probably not.

And anyway, how could he be mad? She was standing at that camp stove frying up sausages and damn it smelled good, and she looked so fucking cute with that crazy hair all over the place. Yeah she'd tried fixing it but with no mirror, well she had that ponytail way off center and curls had worked their way lose from it. He knew they didn't come any cuter or sexier than his little Bobby Soxer.

They ate their sausage and eggs with biscuits she'd brought and he'd warmed near the fire. She suddenly looked embarrassed, she kept her eyes down and that's when she asked, "Daryl last night when we, you know, when we…"

Uhoh what now? "Yeah I know, what about it, did I do sumthin' wrong, hurt ya?"

"Oh no, it's just well you didn't put on one of those, you know, things. Did you?"

Shit now they were both embarrassed. "Nah I forgot ta bring 'em, I'm real sorry, are ya mad?"

"No I don't think so. I mean I wanted to do that too, you know, with you and all. Um, and gee maybe it won't matter, it hasn't been that long since I had my time, so maybe it won't happen. And if it did I wouldn't be upset or anything I've always wanted to be a mom. I mean I was going to wait a little longer, but golly you know I wouldn't be mad. Would you?"

"Nah Cream Puff, scared outta my fuckin' mind maybe, but not mad." He kissed her and all he could think was, well if it happened they'd figure it out.

Then she made his whole New Year. "I've thought a lot about it Daryl and golly well, I do want to be a good wife to you. I want to make you happy and stuff, so I've decided I'm going to give Mr. Ripley notice and quit my job, I mean if you still want me to."

He kissed her again on that good news, "Hell yes that's exactly what I want. Been makin' me crazy you workin' when you're my wife. I ain't been happy 'bout that at all, I ain't felt like a proper husband, like a real man. The sooner the better girl."

"Okay then that's what I'll do, I'll give Mr. Ripley notice as soon as I go back to work Monday."

They spent their morning walking those woods, him teaching her about signs and helping her with her bow and she got pretty good, so when he saw a squirrel on a close tree trunk he motioned to her to try for it. She didn't hit it but she came damn close. "Good shot, you'll get the next one." And sure enough she did. "Damn girl it's a fact now, you're a hunter!"

He was at least as excited as she was, well probably a lot more. She got one more and he got two and said, "I think that's enough for dinner. We don't wanna kill more'n we can eat." She wondered if she could even eat one.

He made an odd little contraption out of some sticks and he cooked those squirrels and they had them with potato salad and Fritos and Daryl was a happy husband. And much to her surprise she found she liked the richly flavored meat.

They got into the same predicament that night they'd been in the night before. He just didn't worry about it because he couldn't. If it happened it would be all his fault, even though she seemed to be a very willing participant.

They got back home Saturday afternoon. He unloaded the camp gear, cleaned everything up and stored it away for the next time. She put away the groceries they had left, and then he cooked rabbit on the grill. "I've never had a man cook for me like you do Daryl, and you're a wonderful cook."

She could swear his ears turned pink. "Stop it, ya know you're just sayin' that cuz ya don't wanna hurt my feelins."

She told him then, "I didn't really want to go camping Daryl, I was pretty scared about it and sleeping outside and stuff, but I really liked it once I got a little used to it. I can't wait until we go again." And the biggest surprise to her was, she meant what she said.

Four Weeks Later

She wasn't working at Ripley's anymore and she was surprised she hadn't missed it. But she'd been keeping herself busy in the garden, and decorating the house. She'd rearranged all the kitchen cabinets so things were more convenient for her, and she'd started sewing again. She'd missed sewing a lot, but there just hadn't been enough hours in the day when she was working. She'd also been trying out new recipes, and having lunch with her husband every day at the park.

Valentine's Day and the big party at Mama and Daddy's were just two weeks away. She'd been so relieved to know that Maggie and Abraham were coming, and Merle and Cassandra and Aunt Virginia and Smitty. She knew Daryl wasn't happy about going, even though he pretended like he was. At least with the rest of their "wedding party" there, he'd probably feel better.

She'd fixed him a big breakfast of bacon and eggs and pancakes, and everything smelled just a little "off" to her. And when she'd tried to eat her egg something about it just didn't taste right.

He hadn't been out the door two minutes when she was running in the bathroom to throw up.

A/N I thought we could all use a little happy after Thursdays' chapter of Lessons. So I hope you enjoyed the camping trip. Thanks so much for reading along, I'd love to hear your comments / reviews. You guys are just plain nifty!

To see the chapter photo visit my tumblr blog at bethylmethbrick And please check out my other current Bethyl fic, The Lesson Learned See you next Saturday!