A/N Hey you – thanks so much! I wish I could give you all a vanilla coke and a ham stack, but all I have is this chapter. I hope you like it!

I had a guest reviewer who questioned whether Merle's wife was Cindy or Cassandra. Good catch my friend! She's Cassandra, but it seems I made a slip last chapter and put her once as Cindy. Cindy is Merle's wife in my fic The Daryl Dixon Diet. I guess I have to quit marrying the man off to women whose names start with "C." Or give them all the same name. Anyway – all fixed now :)

That first morning she got sick she thought maybe it was the egg, could the eggs be bad? But golly Daryl hadn't gotten sick and he'd had three.

The second morning she was thinking gee, maybe she was coming down with something.

By the time it got to the fourth morning she was pretty darn sure she knew what it was, maybe. She could have talked to Maggie but she didn't want to because gosh, if that's what it was she didn't want to tell anyone before she told Daryl.

So after he left for work and she threw up again, she went right to the library to study up. She wasn't going to check a book out because gosh, you know, the librarian might tell someone what she was reading. So she just looked through the books right there and took notes.

When she saw the drawings of babies growing in the womb that kind of fascinated and scared her all at the same time. She wondered how bad it must hurt to have your stomach stretch out that huge. And oh my gosh the delivery. Well she couldn't even imagine a woman living through something like that!

Before she knew it holy smokes it was almost 11:30! She needed to get home and get his lunch fixed. She hadn't gotten a thing done all day!

"Ya seem nervous Cream Puff, everythin' okay?" He was munching on his ham and cheese sandwich and washing it down with cherry Kool-Aid.

"Oh yes I was just thinking of all the things I need to do at home, and it just seems like golly the whole dang morning got away from me and I haven't gotten anything accomplished."

"See there? I don't know how ya thought ya could work an keep a house, that's just too much girl. I'm sure there ain't nuthin' ya didn't get done that won't keep 'til tomorrow." He smiled and she did feel better about what might be happening. Everything would be okay, he'd make sure of it.

"But dang Cream Puff ya haven't eaten your lunch now. Ya ain't been eatin' worth a damn these last few days. Ya start losin' weight an you're gonna blow away." He smiled and touched her cheek when he said it but he looked worried, "Ya ain't gettin' sick are ya?"

She wasn't going to say anything until she knew for sure. Shoot it was too soon to go to the Doctor and find out anything anyway, they wouldn't be able to tell for another couple of weeks. So she just wasn't going to worry about it, and she'd make sure she ate her dinner tonight so he wouldn't worry either.

When she got home she made a doctor's appointment for right after the Valentine's Day party.

But golly, she couldn't help thinking about it, kind of making plans just in case it really was true. The house had two spare rooms. One had just a bed in it. He'd told her once that sometimes he and Merle would get to drinking and Merle would stay the night. Other than that, he'd hardly gone in it. There was another very small room that had a little table and a single chair with some tools and things. That's where he fletched his arrows.

She'd let him decide which one he wanted to use for the nursery. Of course the baby would sleep in a cradle in their room for several weeks, but eventually they'd move the child into its own room. Gosh, now she wondered if it was a boy or a girl.

And she already knew she wanted to paint the baby's room pale yellow, a nice peaceful color. And she liked that blond furniture, maybe they made baby furniture in that finish and maybe Daryl would agree to buy it. Suddenly she was getting excited.

She was glad the morning sickness seemed to wait and start after he left for work in the mornings, she didn't want him worrying. And as it turned out on Saturday he'd gone out to cut the grass just before it started. But Sunday morning he was right in the middle of French toast, eggs and sausage when it hit hard and she had to rush in the bathroom.

He ran after her a little panicked. He heard her in there throwing up and he was thinking to himself yep, he just knew she'd been coming down with something. He was talking to her through the door, "Ya okay Beth, can I do sumthin' for ya?"

"No Daryl please go back and eat, I'll be there in just…" and then he heard her throw up again and now he really was nervous and he just went right in. He got down on his knees next to her, his arm loosely around her waist. "Damn girl ya must have sumthin' bad." He rubbed her back for a minute, then stood and got a cold wash rag and he held it to the back of her neck.

"Love ya Cream Puff, don't want ya bein' sick n all. What can I do ta help?"

"Gee whiz well nothing really. It doesn't usually last for very long." And then she threw up again.

"Whaddya mean it don't usually last long, how long ya had this thing?"

"Since Monday I think." She was resting back on her heels now, feeling like it may have passed.

"Fuck Baby, why ain't ya said anythin'? That's too long ta be sick, n you just goin' about things like nuthin' was wrong. Ya shoulda been in bed restin'."

"Well geez Daryl I can't stay in bed all week and I don't think it's exactly that I'm sick or something."

He snickered at that, "Well that don't make sense at all Beth, if ya ain't sick then why ya barfin' every damn day?"

And she looked in his worried eyes and she blurted it out, "Because I think I might be pregnant."

And it was a good thing the Biker had been down there on the floor with her, because he kind of tipped over a little right then. "Damn Baby ya really think? Shit are ya mad at me? I know it's all my fault."

"Now Daryl, first of all I'm not even sure yet, it's too soon for the test. But besides that gee willikers I was there too you know, how could it be all your fault?"

"Cuz I forgot them things an cuz I'm the man an I shoulda controlled myself."

"Oh baloney and that's all I'm saying about that!"

"Bein' pregnant gets ya all feisty now?" And then he smiled and said, "Rinse your mouth out so I can kiss ya."

And that's just what she did. And he smiled again and said, "Now I guess we ain't even gotta worry 'bout usin' them things."

xxxx

The next morning they woke to not a light in the house. No clock working, everything just as dead as could be. "Damn Cream Puff, something must be real wrong cuz I know damn good n well I paid that bill, took it right by their office. Gonna get the name of the electrician Dirty used at the shop. I'll call ya soon's I know when he's comin'. Sorry ta leave ya like this. Electrical is the one thing I ain't comfortable messin' with."

Dirty gave him the name of a guy he used to rewire the shop and Daryl got right on it. The guy said he'd be at their house by 9:30 am. He called and let the Bobby Soxer know. By 11:15 she was pulling up in front of the garage even more pale that usual.

He went out to her and she took one look at him and burst into tears. He jumped in the little pickup and took her in his arms. "The fuck girl? What's wrong, what happened?"

And she sniffled out the story. It seemed this electrician fellow had showed up right on time and right away she got a creepy feeling off of him. He fixed the problem and all, something had shorted out in the breaker box was what he'd said.

Then she told her husband, "He had a bill he made out, he was holding it in one hand when he put his other hand on the back of my neck and tried to pull me close to him, and oh my gosh Daryl he said something so awful I don't even want to tell you."

Daryl was already plenty more than just a little pissed off when he heard the guy had touched her, he was afraid of what was coming next. And she was plenty shook up and he was trying to stay calm for her sake. "Beth baby you can tell me anythin'. What? What did he say?"

She looked down with her face red and tears streaming, "He rubbed himself you know, there, well you know where, and he said, 'Maybe you can pay me in sex favors and we can forget the bill.'" Now she was crying in earnest and she barely got the next part out, "I told him my husband was on his way home and would be walking in that door any second. As soon as he left I got in the truck and drove right here."

And The Biker was so fucking pissed off he couldn't hardly see straight but before he took care of that guy, he had to take care of her. He hugged her close and got her quieted a little and said, "Ya know what his name was?"

"He had it sewn on his shirt, it said Len."

"Ya stay here, I'ma be right back."

He went in and talked to Big Brother first and Big Brother went right to the pay phone while Daryl made a beeline to Dirty. He told Dirty he needed to know just where he might find this asshole. He didn't tell him all of it, just that the guy had touched his wife and said some sleazy shit to her.

Once he'd heard that Dirty didn't need to know any more, he knew that bastard was about to get his ass handed to him by Daryl Dixon. "Well Little Brother as I recall that particular asshole likes ta drink his lunch at Miller's Tavern."

"K, I'll be back."

"Yeah ya take all the time ya need ta do the job right." Dirty smiled, but he was pretty damn disappointed he wasn't going to see this because well, sure Daryl was definitely the sweet one, just like Big Brother always said, but when he did get riled up God help that poor dumb bastard he was going after.

Merle nodded to him and Daryl went back to her, got in the truck and held her for a bit, "Cream Puff I don't want ya goin' home right now. Ya go on over ta Merle's, Cassandra's waitin' for ya. She wants ta fix ya lunch or sumthin'. I gotta go take care of a special job. I'll stop by their place later and follow ya home."

She was still sniffling pretty good, "But you haven't had your lunch and I won't be home to get your dinner ready." Sometimes he'd swear she was just too damn sweet and too damn good for him.

He hugged her tight again and said, "Don't be worryin' 'bout that now I'ma pick up sumthin' while I'm out, and maybe we can just stop at the diner later, k? Promise me ya won't go home." He was concerned that son of a bitch might go back there and try and finish what he'd started with her.

"Well yes, if that's what you want I promise."

Merle followed behind him. It wasn't that he doubted Little Brother could handle himself, in fact he already felt sorry for the stupid sumbitch that was about to get an ass whoppin' like he could never have imagined. He just planned to be there in case anyone tried to make it less than a fair fight.

Daryl walked in that seedy little tavern with Big Brother just a couple of paces behind, and damn if Dirty wasn't right behind him. He'd decided he couldn't miss this. The kid almost never fought, but when he did well it was a thing of beauty to watch Daryl Dixon kick ass. And shit now that someone had gotten out of line with that sweet little wife of his, God only knew what might happen.

Daryl spotted him, the guy with "Len" there on his shirt. Little Brother looked him in the eye with that flint-eyed stare he got when he was crazy pissed, "No man touches my wife and no talks ta her that way muther fucker." And he gave him a hard right to the jaw and it was on. Merle was happy to see no one stepped in, no one stopped it either. He and Dirty just stood ringside, arms folded across their chests while little brother knocked the holy living shit clean out of that Len fellow. They pulled him off the asshole before Daryl killed him.

Yep Little Brother made short work of the slimy bastard, then he spit on him and said, "Ya best never show your face on my side a town again or you'll be rottin' in hell."

Merle and Dirty were thinking the guy was so punch drunk by now he wouldn't even be hearing that.

Merle laid a twenty on the barman, "Sorry for the trouble." The barman said, "No trouble at all it was too damn quiet around here anyway."

Daryl was still just a shaking when he walked out of that tavern and Dirty clapped him on the back, "Ain't nobody left for ya ta almost kill kid, let's go chop a Bike now."

Daryl just nodded and rode on back to work.

Beth got to Cassandra's and she was standing out on the front porch smiling and waving, "Well hey there Sweetie I ain't seen ya in a week, I missed yer cute little face. I'm so glad you could stop by for lunch."

"Hi Cassandra I missed you too. I'm sorry I didn't bring dessert or anything, I didn't know I'd be coming."

"Oh now don't give it another thought. I have everythin' we need right here."

And little tears were in the Bobby Soxer's eyes and Cassandra gave her a hug and asked, "What's the matter Sweetie?"

Beth told her what had happened and Cassandra was real comforting, rubbing her back and all and she told her, "I'm sorry Sweetie, some guys can be such assholes. I'm sure he won't be botherin' ya again." Now she had an understanding of why Merle had called and told her to keep an eye on Peach until Daryl got there.

Cassandra had fixed a real nice lunch too, cottage cheese with pears, a club sandwich for them to share and sweet tea.

"This is wonderful Cassandra, thank you for having me."

"Yer always welcome here, but personally I wish we coulda gone ta watch the fight, that woulda been more fun."

"The fight? What fight?"

And Cassandra smiled real wide and said, "The fight where your man teaches that asshole a lesson."

"Daryl wasn't going to teach anyone anything he had a special job for work. And besides, Daryl isn't really a fighter, unless well a couple of times he defended me, but that's not the way he is, he's very sweet and gentle."

And Cassandra almost spit out a pear. "Oh Sweetie Merle was so right, ya really are the sweetest peach in the orchard."

Beth was confused, "What do you mean?"

"Sweetie your husband is Daryl Dixon and that means a little sumthin' around here. Yer right, he's a very nice man an mostly even tempered n all. But he has a bit of a way of...how can I say this, of discouragin' anyone from botherin' him, his family or his things. The only person that man would let get away with anythin' is you Sweetie."

"Oh that's just silly Cassandra."

"Remember when ya scratched the bumper of that pretty little pickup? Yer man didn't even get mad, acted like it was no problem." Beth's face got pink. "Well before ya knew Daryl, some guy scratched it up at the drags one Saturday night. Seemed like he done it on purpose. That guy was a jerk anyway an Daryl made him one sorry sumbitch for that. It was a sight ta behold. An now Little Brother's all in love an lettin' ya drive it all over like it's yours, hell he's never even let Merle sit behind the wheel. Well that's just one story but we won't get into all that."

Daryl and Merle road up after work and Cassandra asked him, "Do ya need some ice for them knuckles?"

"Nah but thanks, I'd have a beer though." Beth saw how his hands were red, swollen, and marked up, but she waited until they got home that night and then she asked him. "Daryl did you fight with someone today?"

He looked at her, "Well yeah I had ta. I's teachin' him how ta act right 'round my wife. I ain't ever gonna let no one bother ya or talk to ya that way Cream Puff. You're mine ta take care of an that's what I'ma do, always."

xxxx

He sure didn't want to go to that damn party her Mama and Daddy were putting on, not in the least. But shit it meant so much to her he was going to try and make the best of it. He did his best to put on a face that said he was every bit as excited as her.

She knew better, "It might be fun for you Daryl and if it's just awful we'll leave early."

"Nah Baby we're goin' and we'll stay an it's gonna be cool. It'll be real nice ta see everyone an it's real special that your folks wanna give us a nice party. Been a long road gettin' ta where they was okay havin' me around ya." And he gave her a hug and dammit he really was going to work hard at this, she deserved it.

He was wearing his best jeans, his best shirt, and his motorcycle boots. She was wearing a pretty dress with flowers on it, tight at the waist with a full skirt. He was thinking how pretty she was, and it made him smile when he thought that if what they were thinking turned out to be true, well she wouldn't be wearing tight waists much longer.

They pulled up to Mama and Daddy's and Maggie came running out the front door to greet her sister. Even though it had only been a month since they'd seen each other, Beth could see the big change. Maggie's tummy was definitely sticking out and Beth was trying to imagine what she was going to look like when her tummy started growing.

The sisters hugged and Abe and Daryl shook hands, and just about that time Merle and Cassandra showed up and close behind them was Aunt Virginia and Smitty, they were followed by Shawn and Peggy.

Merle looked to the other men, "Ya ready for a rematch?"

Daryl jumped on that, "No! None a that Indian Wrestlin' now, this here is a nice party with church folks an such, ya can't be gettin' half naked."

And the other men nodded and then Merle, always thinking, suggested, "Well what about arm wrestlin'? Ain't gotta take any clothes off for that." And that sounded real good to the other men, heck even Shawn was thinking he might get in on that.

But first they felt a powerful need to wet their whistles. Daryl was playing it cool, trying to be respectful to his in-laws, so he and Beth were having fruit punch. The other fellows might have felt plenty of respect, and yet they weren't going to let a little thing like that get in the way of their Saturday night.

Merle pulled a pint out of the top of his boot and livened up some coke for him and Cassandra. Smitty reached in the left inside pocket of his leather jacket and poured Aunt Virginia a little peppermint Schnapp's, just to take the winter chill off. He pulled a pint of whiskey from the right hand inside pocket and poured a healthy serving into his Dixie Cup. Shawn kept it high toned, his booze was in Peggy's purse and they each had a glass of Vodka and fruit punch.

Abe got Maggie a fruit punch and then he reached up in her big maternity blouse to pull a pint out of the pocket of her skirt. When he reached in there to put it back, it seemed to take quite a while and finally Maggie said, "Better not linger any long or we're going to have to go upstairs."

The Bobby Soxer turned beet red and Merle got ta cackling so loud people were coming over to see what was so dang funny.

About that time Mama announced a Hula Hoop contest. The ladies all seemed to think that was the niftiest idea going, even Maggie wanted to participate but Mama was afraid that wouldn't be appropriate. The Bobby Soxer asked her husband, "Can I Daryl?"

"Sure if ya think it's all right an all with the, ya know n everythin'." He couldn't get it out but she knew right what he meant, and now his ears were red.

Merle seemed to think he should get in on this contest, why should the ladies have all the fun? Cassandra just laughed right along with her husband. Daryl was sure they'd had a couple of high octane beverages long before they got to the party.

Merle was certain with Cassandra's impressive hip action she'd win that hula hoop contest without a doubt. Peggy was holding her own real well, for a while, but the Bobby Soxer had been high school champ and she won hands down. The Biker was mighty proud of his little wife.

Then came the Limbo contest, which Mama and Daddy were both a little worried might be too risqué, but Daddy put the music on the phonograph and nearly everyone wanted to give it a try. Mama of course said no way to Maggie, Abe fell on his ass his first attempt, Beth didn't think it was ladylike in her pretty party dress, and her husband agreed. He also preferred to observe this sort of spectacle rather than participate. Smitty and Cassandra both lasted through many a lowering of the stick, but it was Aunt Virginia who got the lowest.

Smitty, who may have had one too many by then, threw an arm around her and said, "One of the things I love most about this woman, damn she's flexible."

Everybody ate a great big feast, Mama had gone all out. Then Merle announced in his own inimitable style, "It's time for the arm wrestlin' contest!"

Although they didn't get half naked, the men did seem to think it was important to strip down to those undershirts they were wearing. Ladies hands may have gone over their mouths and they may have said, "Oh my," as if it were all quite racy, but there wasn't one of them who didn't keep their eyes on the arms. They were impressive.

Abe took Shawn in the first round, it was really no contest but Peggy seemed more that capable of soothing his ego. Then Merle wrestled Abe, that went on quite a while before Merle managed to put the man down. Smitty seemed mighty confident and Aunt Virginia was rooting for him, but nope, Merle brought him down too.

That's when he turned to Daryl, "C'mon Little Brother, let's see what ya got."

Daryl hadn't really planned on participating, but damn he'd just been called out in front of a roomful of people, most importantly his wife.

He took his shirt off, leaving of course the undershirt. (Mama and Daddy didn't miss those tattoos that were peeking out on his upper back, or the one on his arm.) He sat across from his brother and they nodded to one another. Shawn said, "Go!" Merle was giving Little Brother the squint eye and Daryl smiled at him and it seemed neither Brother's arm was moving in any direction. Those muscles were taut and twitching with the force being exerted, and ladies were trying to pretend they didn't notice. Suddenly Daryl let out a noise that sounded a lot like a growl and bam, Merle's hand hit the table.

The Bobby Soxer jumped up and down clapping her hands and the Biker was both proud and embarrassed, he hurried to put that shirt back on.

Mama slipped off to the kitchen to get the dessert ready to serve. She'd made a beautiful sheet cake all iced in white with wedding bells and flowers on it and everyone's names. She'd also made a huge half sheet of Neapolitan ice cream. She'd made it in a sheet so she could slice it and serve it right along with the cake. She planned to set both on the dining room table for just a few minutes so everyone could admire her creations.

It had taken her hours the night before to make that ice cream. First came the chocolate layer, then vanilla and the beautiful pink strawberry on top. It was a sight to see. It took all her strength just to lift it from the freezer and set it on the counter. She had her back to it, getting dessert plates from the cabinet and flatware from the drawer, when Daryl walked in. He'd come to get Beth a glass of ice water.

He yelled, "Scat you!" And Mama turned around to see that little black kitten jump off the ice cream and down to the floor. Daryl bent down petting it and said, "It ain't yours little fella."

When he looked up, there were little kitten pawprints on the ice cream, tiny tongue marks to the edge of it, and tears in Mama's eyes.

He didn't say a word. He took his knife from the sheath and he scraped just the thinnest of layers off the top, so that beautiful pink was all smooth again. Not a paw print or tongue mark in sight.

Mama looked at him questioningly, "Do you think it'll be okay to eat?"

He gave her a little half shrug and a crooked grin and said, "Ma'am, ain't no one ever needs ta know 'bout this 'cept you, me an that little black cat."

And she smiled at him, "Call me Mama, Son."

Now everyone thought that cake and ice cream was the prettiest and most delicious dessert they'd ever been served. But when Beth went for some he stopped her. "Nah Cream Puff, ya ain't eatin' that."

"But why Daryl? I love ice cream."

"Yeah I know, I'll take ya ta the ice cream parlor after church tomorrow, you can eat all ya want."

A/N I hope you had some fun this chapter, now go on and have some ice cream! Thanks so much for reading and please leave a comment / review xo

To see the chapter photo visit my tumblr blog at bethylmethbrick And please check my other current Bethyl fic, The Lesson Learned. Just a little warning, it's not quite as fun and fluffy as this, but it has its moments :) Love y'all and I'll see ya next Saturday!