A couple of things. 1). Louis is pronounced Lewis. 2). Thank you to those who gave constructive criticism. I have a particular writing style that I've developed over the past 20 years that is definitely "my" style, but I read your comments and have done my best to clean up certain aspects of my writing so I hope it's better and easier to read now.

I know people will read this and expect more drama, but that's just not something I see in Daryl's character and something I won't give Amy the satisfaction of. Also, This is a Beth's POV chapter but also, Daryl and Spencer jump in. Also, the guest reviewer who said Amy only seems to really be mentioned in Beth's chapters, yes! I did do that on purpose and I love you for noticing!

…

Chapter Twenty-Four. Neat Little Bow.

"Is he going to stay out here?" Beth asks once they get out of the truck in Joe's parking lot and Louis remains in the bed, already laying down, his head on his front paws. Louis always comes into the bar with Daryl. Joe even gives the dog a dish of water when he's in there.

"Yeah. He hates that noise," Daryl answers, spinning his keys around his finger.

For the first time, Beth hears the music coming from the bar. It's Saturday. Randall's band, Death by Destruction, always plays on Saturdays at Joe's and she has completely forgotten. If she had remembered, there is no way she would have asked Daryl to come here with her tonight. Amy is inside and deep down, Beth knows she's afraid of Daryl and Amy being in close quarters with one another.

She knows it's bound to happen. Dogwood is so small and everyone knows everyone's business and it was only a matter of time until Daryl and Amy were in the same room with one another – especially with both being frequent patrons of Joe's. But even though she knew it would be happening eventually, Beth can't stop the knot nervously tightening in her stomach. She doesn't know what will happen when Daryl sees his ex-girlfriend because Beth still isn't entirely sure how Daryl feels. About her. About Amy. Now that they're in a relationship, does that mean that he's completely over his ex?

But Beth knows that asking Daryl right now, in the parking lot, what his feelings for her are isn't the most ideal time or location.

Daryl walks around the front of the truck and he reaches out, taking hold of Beth's hand, and she smiles to herself as he leads them across the lot to the bar's main door. And when he pulls it open and steps aside so she can enter first, the music from within slams into their chests like wrecking balls. She looks back at him and she must be making a face to show her distaste because his lips twitch upwards at her and he steps in after her.

Death by Destruction is not a good band, by any means, and most of Joe's customers know that the hour they are on stage, performing, they make themselves scarce. The music is too loud and the main singer's idea of singing is just screaming intelligible words into the microphone and every single song sounds identical. Joe usually spends the set behind the bar, frowning towards the stage, wondering why the hell he lets his son do this every Saturday. It does nothing except slow business on one of his busiest nights of the week.

But with the bar not crowded whatsoever, Beth is able to find Rosita and Spencer almost instantly. Rosita seems to see her at the same time and she flies up from the table instantly and rushes to her, slamming into her and rushing her arms around her tightly. Daryl is still holding Beth's hand, everything happening so fast, and for a moment, Beth is able to hug Rosita back with only one arm before Daryl releases her hand and she can use that one, too.

"I'm getting married!" Rosita exclaims, practically bouncing on her toes, and she then throws her arms around Daryl's shoulders in a hug, clearly taking him by surprise.

"Congratulations," Beth laughs and then looks to Spencer, who's approaching them with a smile. She stands on her toes and hugs him. "Did she threaten you?" She asks him in his ear.

"Disembowelment," Spencer answers with a smile, but Beth can tell he's completely serious. "And after that, she was really going to start her torture. Thanks for not telling her."

"It was hard," Beth admits. "She was eating her weight in Red Velvet cake, thinking you were screwing interns at the Town Hall on the Xerox machine."

"I wasn't that bad," Rosita cuts in though both know she was and she then hugs Beth again as Spencer and Daryl shake hands, Daryl giving his congratulations and Spencer grinning. Rosita grabs hold of Beth's hands and begins pulling her towards the bar. "Drinks are on me and Spencer because we're celebrating because we're getting married!" She exclaims again and Beth laughs.

"Thought they were already married," a man sitting at the bar, drinking a bottle of beer, frowns to himself when he hears; the same thought many other people in town share.

Rosita shoots him a frown. "No, Len, we are not married."

Joe chuckles. "What'll you have, Beth?" He asks.

"Whiskey sour," she orders her usual with a smile and tries to ignore the blonde sitting at the end of the bar, facing the stage. She has felt Amy's eyes glancing over a couple of times in the short time they've been here, but Beth is doing her best to just ignore it. Daryl is here with her. Not Amy. And there's no reason that Beth should be worried about her. Besides, Amy's here, watching her boyfriend's band. She's not here just because Daryl is.

Daryl and Spencer come up behind them then and Daryl orders himself a bottle of beer.

"Was thinkin' Merle would be here," Daryl comments to no one in particular.

Joe answers, sliding Daryl a bottle. "He was, but Carol called, sayin' she was havin' car trouble so Merle volunteered to go pick her up."

Daryl lifts an eyebrow at that and Beth smiles.

"That was nice of him," she says.

"Yeah," Joe agrees. "I think he jus' wanted to get away from this," he says with a cock of his head towards the stage and Beth almost laughs, but takes a sip of her drink instead.

Rosita and Spencer get new drinks for themselves and the four then head towards their table. After much pestering and finagling from Carol, Joe agreed to get a popcorn machine for the bar– as long as Carol was the one to clean it, which she promised that she would, and Spencer stops there now to get themselves a basket of popcorn, setting it down in the middle of their table.

"How many more minutes?" Rosita asks Spencer.

He looks to his watch on his wrist. "About twenty more minutes."

"Twenty minutes too long," Rosita grumbles. "I don't know why Joe lets them play. Everyone knows they're awful. I'm pretty sure the guys in the band know it, too."

But even as she asks, she knows the answer – as does everyone in town. Joe and his wife had been married for years and had had such a hard time getting pregnant. When they finally did, they considered their son, Joe Jr. to be their miracle baby. Joe's wife passed away from breast cancer a few years after that, when JJ was just a little boy of five. Since then, everyone knows that Joe raised his son and spoiled him along the way. Whatever JJ looked at, if he claimed it as his own, then it was his. When he wanted to start a band, he did and when he asked his dad if they could play in his bar, Joe let them.

And everyone complains about it, but everyone gets why Joe does it; even if Joe, himself, sometimes wonders why he does.

"Beth," Rosita turns in her chair towards her. "You will be my Maid of Honor, won't you?"

Beth feels her eyes widen in surprise. "Me?" She asks, truly taken aback.

"Of course you," Rosita says. "You honestly don't think I will ask my sister, do you?"

Spencer looks to Daryl. "Rosita's older sister has tried to grab my crotch every time we go to her family's house for Christmas," he explains. "And, I mean, who can blame her? But it does start to get awkward after the second attempt."

Rosita frowns at him but Spencer just grins. Rosita then looks back to Beth.

"Will you be my Maid of Honor?" She asks.

"Of course!" Beth exclaims, not having to think it over for even a minute.

The two girls lean over in their chairs and hug one another tightly. When they pull back, Rosita is smiling despite the tears in her eyes.

"And I promise, I won't pick a dress for you that is absolutely awful," Rosita swears.

Beth laughs and then takes Rosita's left hand, getting her first look at the engagement ring. Spencer had shown it to her after he bought it, but this is the first time Beth has seen it out of the box and on the finger it is intended for.

They drink their drinks and eat popcorn as Rosita tells the story of how Spencer finally proposed earlier that evening – Spencer walking into the room to see Rosita packing a bag to go stay with her parents for a while and Spencer going to the dresser and practically throwing the ring box at her – "Ridiculously romantic," Rosita jokes – and they all do their best to block out the music.

Beth looks to Daryl as she sips her drink and her eyes can't help but glance over to the bar occasionally, looking at Amy sitting on her stool with a few of the other Death by Destruction groupies. She supposes every band has groupies. She knows she's not imagining it when Amy glances towards their table; glances towards Daryl. Daryl doesn't notice. He's listening to a story Spencer is telling and smirking as he sips his beer. Beth wonders if he does notice and is just ignoring it or if he really doesn't feel Amy's eyes.

She hates this. She knew it would be like this once she and Daryl got together. Even before that and she had a crush on him, she knew that it wouldn't be easy. Everyone knows that Daryl is the one who didn't want his relationship with Amy to end. He was (is?) in love with her and Amy was the one to blindside him and end their relationship. If she hadn't, she and Daryl very well could be the ones celebrating their engagement right now.

She hates how insecure another girl can make her feel.

Beth knows she and Daryl have a good relationship. They have things in common and are at ease with one another. They are able to talk and share things and spend time with one another. The most drama that had happened between them had been resolved already and things have been good – better than good – since then. But in the back of her mind and in the pit of her stomach, Beth still sometimes can't help but wonder if she's just a rebound. If Amy was to come up to Daryl tonight and want to get back together, what would he do? It's terrifying to her that Beth doesn't have a confident answer.

"Thank you, Dogwood!" JJ shouts into the microphone and the groupies all clap and cheer as the band disperses and steps down from the stage.

Everyone's ears are immediately grateful.

"Thank God," Daryl mutters and Beth lets out a soft laugh. He gives her a smile and then tilts his head back, draining the rest of the beer from the bottle. "I'm gonna go check on Louis and see if he wants to come in."

"Alright," Beth nods and smiles up at him as he stands up.

He leans down and gives her a quick kiss on the head and it's so quick and almost natural, she wonders if he's even realized that he did it. But he's already turned and walking towards the door and Beth is left there with pink cheeks and a stupid smile on her face.

Spencer's phone rings and he steps away from the table to answer it.

"So, you two are next, right?" Rosita teases with a smile.

Beth manages an eye roll before she takes a sip of her drink. "It's just been a couple of months, Rosita," she reminds her. "And he and Amy just broke up a couple of months before that. No, we are definitely not next. I think it's safe to say that when it comes to getting married, Daryl and I are in last place."

"But let's say that Daryl did ask you. Whether tonight or a week from now. You would say yes, wouldn't you?" Rosita asks.

Beth doesn't answer. She just takes another sip of her drink. Some questions are asked that really don't need to be answered at all.

Someone has turned on the jukebox once again and has chosen a George Harrison song to play. Much better than Death by Destruction and Beth happily relaxes into her seat, sipping at her drink, listening to "My Sweet Lord" and listening to Rosita's ideas for wedding colors. But something from the corner of her eye catches her attention and her head whips towards the bar to get a better look.

Her stomach sinks.

Amy's no longer sitting at the bar and Daryl still hasn't come back from outside. Maybe she just went to the bathroom, Beth tries to tell herself. But even as she tries to get that thought to take root in her mind, Beth knows that it's not where Amy really is.

…

Spencer sighs heavily into his phone. "No, no. I'll come. Just give me a bit of time. I'm at the bar with Rosita and a couple friends."

He has stepped outside to take the phone call when he saw that it was his office calling. It's a muggy night and he can hear mosquitoes buzzing in his ears that he halfheartedly swipes away as he listens to another man from his office, Milton, tell him the latest that has happened. Someone has gone into the Commons and has spray-painted all over the Stonewall Jackson statue. This is a headache that Spencer doesn't want or need – especially tonight. He's going to have to go and see the damage and then meet with the Mayor and the rest of his staff and try and keep the Mayor from saying something too racist.

All he wanted to do tonight was celebrate his engagement with Rosita and get drunk with his friends. Whoever decided to deface a historical statue tonight of all nights is an asshole.

Hearing a murmur of voices, Spencer glances towards the sound before prepared to step back into the bar. But he stops when he sees who it is. Daryl at his truck. With Amy. What in the hell is he doing out here with her? He immediately thinks of Beth inside. If Daryl does anything to hurt her, Spencer doesn't care of his position in this town. He will kill him. She's not just Rosita's best friend, but his, too, and yes, he likes Daryl, but he loves Beth and there's a huge difference when someone is about to hurt her.

He slips back into the shadows, hanging up on Milton and watching the couple across the parking lot. He wants to tell the cicadas to shut the hell up because he's having a hard time hearing, but he strains his ears and they aren't talking quietly so he can hear well enough.

"I miss you," Amy says and her hand is resting on Daryl's arm.

Daryl smirks a little and shakes his head. "Miss me payin' your bills."

"No," Amy instantly refutes with a shake of her head. "I miss you, Daryl. Randall is sweet to me, but… he doesn't treat me like you did and I miss how you treated me. Like I was the center of your world. I need that more than anything, Daryl."

Daryl doesn't say anything to that. He just stares at her.

"Don't you miss me? At all?" Amy asks, looking up at him, inching closer.

Louis has jumped down from the truck bed and is standing at Daryl's side, staring at Amy and if a dog is capable of scowling at a human being, Spencer's pretty sure that that's what Louis is doing towards Amy right now. Spencer frowns. Why the hell isn't Daryl answering her? Does he really miss her? He's got Beth and he misses Amy? What the hell is the matter with this guy? Spencer needs to punch him. And yes, he's fully aware that Daryl could kick his ass completely, but he doesn't care about that.

"Daryl?" Amy prompts again. "Do you miss me?"

Daryl stares right at Amy. "No." His answer is in his normal-volume voice, but Spencer swears it's as loud as a bomb exploding in the swamp. "I did miss you, but it took me a while that it wasn' you. It was jus' the idea of what I thought we had."

Amy is frowning and her arm moves from off his arm to cross both over her chest. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"I wanted to be with you 'cause I thought you wanted to be with me. I wanted a life with you," Daryl says and Spencer tries to remember if he's ever heard the man say so many words at once. "I was ready to get married and finally have a family of my own."

Amy is quiet for a passing moment, staring at Daryl, and Spencer can see the tightness of her clenched jaw from even where he's standing.

"What? With Beth? You've only been with the Doc for a couple of months," Amy points out to him. "Couldn't you even find yourself a rebound who doesn't look anything like me?"

Daryl just smirks and shakes his head. "Beth's nothin' like you. She doesn' need me. She wants me."

Amy clenches her jaw at that.

"Le's go, Louis," Daryl says and both man and dog turn, heading back towards the bar, not giving Amy another glance.

Right then, Spencer's cell phone begins to ring, the sound blaring across the parking lot, and Daryl stops in mid-step when he hears it. Spencer cringes and looks down to who is calling him. He's going to punch Milton when he gets to the office. He lifts his eyes and looks at Daryl, giving him a sheepish smile, as Daryl looks at him.

"Work," Spencer lamely explains, holding up his still-ringing phone.

"Town on fire?" Daryl asks and doesn't seem the least bit angry that Spencer was obviously eavesdropping on his and Amy's conversation.

Amy storms up then and walks right past them, going back into the bar. Spencer watches her, but Daryl ignores her completely. Spencer then looks back to Daryl.

"So that's that, huh?" He asks.

Daryl shrugs and drops his hand, rubbing it behind Louis' ear. "Been done for months now."

The phone is still ringing and with an aggravated sigh, Spencer answers. "I told you I was coming, Milton. Don't do anything until I get there. I mean it. Don't even go to the bathroom." He hangs up again and Daryl smirks. "And yes, the town is on fire. Someone defaced Stonewall."

Daryl let out a low whistle at that. "That's not good."

"You're telling me. Want to handle it for me?"

"I don't think you want me handlin' it. Dixons fought for the Confederacy," Daryl answers.

They go back into the bar, and when they do, Beth can't help but immediately sit up straight in her chair, looking straight at Daryl. Amy had come in seconds earlier, looking like if someone was to look into her eyes right then, she'd turn them into stone like Medusa. She doesn't know what happened out there, but she can't help but get her hopes up with how angry Amy looks and how relaxed and normal Daryl looks.

Daryl and Spencer head back towards the bar and then they return to the table. Louis trots right up to Beth with his tail wagging, looking for love and affection. Beth rubs his ears and kisses him on the head and his tail is wagging, rocking his entire body back and forth. Daryl sets a dish of water down on the floor for him and then sits down in his chair next to Beth with a fresh bottle of beer.

Beth looks at him. "Is everything alright?" She can't help but ask.

Daryl has just taken a swig of beer and he pauses to swallow and nods his head. "Yeah," he answers and then looking at her for a moment, he adds, "Never better." And then, underneath the table, he moves his leg so his knee is pressed firmly against hers.

The answer makes Beth smile and the knot in her stomach instantly disappears.

…

Knock! Knock! Knock!

Louis is quick to scramble up from where he was sleeping on the floor underneath her desk in her office and he takes off running and barking. Beth, in the middle of paperwork, stands up to follow after him. She locks the front door at night, but people know that if they need her, they just need to knock.

Daryl's working late on the gazebo that night as he and T-Dog have done every night that week. They're nearly finished and the town is pushing for them to reach their end date sooner rather than later. Louis has been staying with Beth in the evenings instead of keeping the men company as he usually does. Beth knows that he wants Louis to stay with her so she's not by herself in the big farmhouse in the middle of nowhere at night and Beth hasn't said it to Daryl, but she thinks it's very sweet of him.

Louis is no longer barking as he stands at the door, looking through the glass pane, and whoever it is, he wags his tail eagerly. The front porch light is on and through the door pane, Beth can see that it's Paulie. She can't help but be surprised and she wonders why the woman is here. Beth hasn't really talked to her – not since Paulie gave her that talk in the greenhouse about hurting Daryl. To be honest, Beth hasn't really been comfortable around the woman since. She has always liked Paulie, but in that conversation, Paulie made sure that Beth was reminded that she's Daryl's girlfriend and nothing more than that.

Beth does her best to give the woman a small smile as she unlocks the door. "Hi, Paulie. Is everything alright?" Beth asks her.

"It is. I was just hopin' you wouldn' mind if I stop by and see you," Paulie says and Beth realizes that she's holding a cake carrier in her hands. "I made a coconut cake and I was hopin' you would wanna share it with me."

Beth hesitates for only a second before she opens the door wider, silently inviting Paulie inside. She can't possibly turn down Paulie's coconut cake. She leads Paulie into the kitchen with Louis on their heels and as Paulie sets the carrier down on the counter and as she takes out the two layer circular cake, Beth gets them plates and forks. She also brings a knife to where Paulie is, handing it to the older woman to cut slices.

"I have found that coconut cake is the best thing to have when tryin' to apologize to someone who you were terrible to," Paulie says as she cuts each of them a slick slab.

Beth stills and looks at the woman and Paulie is looking at her, watching her closely for a reaction to what has just been said. And honestly, Beth isn't sure what her reaction should be. She likes Paulie – so much – and if she and Daryl are going to continue seeing one another, having a good relationship with Paulie like they used to have is vital to Beth. And she hurt Beth deeply, but she's here now, with coconut cake and wanting to fix it. Maybe this is one of those situations where a reaction isn't necessary. Maybe it's just a given.

Beth doesn't say anything. She simply steps forward and slips her arms around Paulie's shoulders, hugging the woman tightly. And Paulie doesn't hesitate in hugging her back.

…

Thank you very much for reading and it would mean so much if you took a second to review this chapter. It took me quite a while to write. And thank you to those who always do review and make me feel appreciated. You guys are the best! xoxo

Next chapter will be the last one.