A/N Thank you everyone! This chapter is all about the love.
Enjoy!
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They're laughing as they towel each other off, but the towels are abandoned when he grabs her hand and they hurry to the bedroom, diving under the covers and she nestles next to him. His arm is around her and she likes the feel of his warm skin on her cheek when she lays her head on his chest. Again, she marvels at his muscles and his strength, especially because she's aware of just how gentle this man can be.
The tips of his fingers slowly glide up and down her arm and she's surprised how warm and intimate something so simple feels. Suddenly a totally unrelated thought pops in her head and she asks him, "Daryl, I just realized, I don't know Teddy's full name, or even if Teddy is his given name."
He softly snorts a laugh and tells her, "Well it's kind of a funny story, but it sure don't say much for me or my smarts."
She's not sure whether she should smile, so she settles for a simple, "What?"
"When she was pregnant, and not doin' so hot, Janie talked a lot about plans...just in case…" he goes quiet as he searches for the right words, "well in case she didn't make it. One of the things was what she wanted me ta name the baby if she wasn't there. If it turned out the baby was a girl, she liked Irene. She said she thought that was real pretty and I did too. If it was a boy she said she'd like ta name him Theodore after a teacher she liked when she was a kid. She thought he could be called Teddy when he was little, and when he got older, he could be Ted. I thought it sounded good too, and besides, she was the one doin' all the work and it seemed right that she oughta get ta pick the baby's name."
"What happened was," he pauses again, taking in a breath before saying the words, "as soon as Teddy came, Janie was gone. Later, when they got him all cleaned up and I was in the nursery with him, some secretary or administrator or sumthin' like that come in the nursery ta see me. I was in kinda like a dazed state anyway, there was a baby, his Mama died a real terrible death, and this woman has a paper she wants me ta fill out. It was the information for the birth certificate. Like I said, Janie planned ahead, she knew I might hafta fill that out, so she gave me a paper ta keep in my wallet. It had her full name, her place of birth and her folks' names and where they was from. Of course, I knew my own information, I ain't that dumb."
"Stop."
"Wait'll ya hear the rest." He takes a deep breath, lets it out in another soft laugh, and admits, "The one thing I didn't know, or have written down, was how the hell ta spell Theordore. Bein' the big tough guy I am, I was too embarrassed to ask anyone, so for his name I just put down Teddy Lee Dixon. I probably shoulda picked Ted, but like I say, I wasn't exactly in my right mind."
She can't help giggling, "That's the best baby naming story I have ever heard, and Teddy Lee is a fine name. It suits him just right."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah."
"Good. Now guess what?"
"I can't imagine."
"I'm ready for that other slice a cake."
"I think I'm ready for half a slice of cake, a petit four and an Italian wedding cookie."
"Damn girl, I knew you were a wild one! Let's go."
She slips into her soft flannel robe, he throws on his t-shirt and undershorts, and they head back to the kitchen to enjoy their snack. According to the clock on the wall it's 8:30pm, and Daryl remarks, "Shit, it's damn near bedtime. I feel like I spent an awful lotta time in bed today for a guy who ain't had any sleep."
Beth giggles, "Well that's not my fault."
He smiles back as his finger traces the curve of her jaw, and he says, "Oh yeah it is, it's all your fault Baby." He's feeling mischievous and teases, "That means I get all the cake, watch out!"
They playfully tussle around the kitchen, and it soon turns into a full-blown tickle fight. They both end up doubled over laughing, but the minute Beth says, "No more, please" he stops the play and steps back. Boy, that's nice. Her brother or sister never would stop until she cried, and tickle fights were never fun with them like they are with her husband.
He offers, "If you wanna slice us some cake I'll get us sumthin' ta drink. What sounds good?"
"Just water I think, thanks."
"Yeah, sounds good ta me too. Beer and cake ain't a real good mix."
"Ew, I bet they're not."
Once they've had their snack and cleaned up after themselves, he asks, "Ya ready ta brush and hit the sack? I'm feelin' spent and I thought maybe you'd give me a break, let me catch a little sleep."
She teases right back, "For some reason I'm exhausted too. I mean, I was up early, but other than that all I've done today is get married, have a party, drive three hours, make love to my husband a couple of times, shower with him and then eat some cake."
"Yeah, you're gonna hafta get some vitamins or sumthin'." He smiles as he takes her hand and says, "C'mon," and they head to the bathroom, brush and then practically fall in bed. His arm is under her head and she rolls sideways toward him, snuggling in and resting her head on his chest, then smiling when she hears the sound of his beating heart. He leans to kiss her curls and that's the last thing either of them remembers. They don't wake again until morning.
Beth wakes to the feel of her husband's touch as his fingers slowly glide along the curve of her body. Her eyes are still closed but she's smiling. "That tickles and feels kind of sexy at the same time." It's wonderful but she's self-conscious, "I feel like I should go brush my teeth."
"Yeah, me too, and there's a couple other things I need ta do in the bathroom."
She giggles, "I have to go too."
After the newlyweds take care of the necessities, they spend a little more time in bed, and even end up dozing back off for a few minutes, then he pats her bottom and says, "It's already eight, are ya ready ta eat a little sumthin."
"Yes, I'm starving again."
Daryl's no cook, but he can fry bacon and she lets him. She makes them eggs and he butters the toast and they sit and eat together. Beth's staring out the window when she tells him, "I love your house Daryl, and the yard is so pretty." Her eyes turn to him and she lays her hand on his, softly whispering the words, "Mostly I think about how much I'm going to love living here with you."
He sets his palms on the table, propping himself up so he can lean to kiss her, and whispers back, "I'm so glad you're here, and Beth, it's your home now, our home."
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They have her now empty overnight bag and two cardboard boxes as they the head up the stairs to her little apartment. She packs her personal items, toiletries, and folded clothes, into the overnight bag. He takes it, along with the clothes that were hanging in her closet, down to the car. By the time he's back upstairs Beth has her fabrics and sewing "extras" in one of the boxes, and her books and other personal things in the other box. Her sheets and quilt are folded, but ready for the washer. That's it. She didn't come with much, and she doesn't leave with much.
She cleaned the apartment thoroughly before leaving for the farm Friday, but while Daryl loads the boxes and the sewing machine, she wipes it all down one more time.
When they're done they don't head home, Beth uses her key and together, Daryl and Beth enter the café. Beth leads the way as they walk to the kitchen. Jim hears their footsteps and turns to greet them, "Well if it isn't the newlyweds, Mister and Missus Dixon."
Daryl spontaneously shakes Jim's hand and Beth smiles, "Thank you, Jim," then says, "I need to talk to you about work."
Jim holds up a hand and says, "Hold it right there. Lemme guess. You're about ta tell me that your husband here, that's you Daryl, would like it better if ya quit me and stayed at home ta be a wife and Mother. Is that about right?"
Daryl tries to explain, "Hey man, wait…"
"Ya know, it's been happening to me like this for years. I get a waitress and everythin' is goin' great. Then just like that, she falls for one of my customers and I gotta look for a new waitress. There's sumthin' about this place I guess, everyone finds love at the solo café."
Beth smiles but she wants Jim to understand, "I'm not just going to quit work Jim. I have a plan, someone I think would make a wonderful replacement."
Once again, Jim holds up his palm, "Would that someone happen to be a pleasant young woman by the name of Enid."
Beth smiles, "Yes, she was at the wedding."
"Yeah, and after you left yesterday, your Mama talked to me, then I talked to Enid. We figured it all out and Merle and Amy are bringin' Enid with em this afternoon. I hope ya don't mind, I don't want it ta seem like I'm throwin' ya outta yer place Beth, hell, your pillow ain't even cold yet, but I figured you'd be staying with your husband, and Enid will be needin' a place ta live."
Beth and Daryl have been caught completely by surprise, but she insists, "I wasn't going to just leave you Jim. I was going to work until you found someone new." She bites her lip and she's almost afraid to say it, "I thought I could still do your baking, I mean, if you want."
He seems genuinely happy and relieved, "Oh thank God. I was hopin' there was some way you n me could work that out." Then Jim looks to Daryl and asks, "You okay with Beth workin' Daryl?"
"Up ta her. She said that's what she wants, and she says she can do it at home in her own kitchen." Then he smiles, "She told me Teddy's gonna help, so I guess ya better get him on the payroll too."
Jim laughs, "We'll pay him in cherry pie." Then Jim gets a little more serious, "Is there any way Erma and Dale could keep Teddy and you could spare Beth for a couple of mornings? I'd feel better if she spent some time workin' with Enid before the girl's on her own. Mornings can get kinda busy around here."
Daryl turns to Beth, "Up to you."
She smiles up at her husband, he's an old-fashion man who's trying to make everything right for her, "Yes, of course, I could do that. Two days should be long enough, then I want to be home with Teddy."
Daryl feels the tightness in his chest ease up completely, "Yeah, I'm sure Teddy wants that too. But Jim, if ya got any kind of an emergency, you just let us know. We'll see if we can help. For now, we gotta get home and put Beth's things away."
Beth hands Jim the key, and although this is what she wants, it's bittersweet to leave her little place she loved so much, still she smiles, hugs Jim and says, "Thank you so much for everything Jim." And once again Daryl shakes the man's hand. Jim thanks them both, and the couple turns to go, then suddenly Beth stops, "Wait, Jim, can I get the key back. I want to put one of my uniforms back in the closet for Enid. She'll need it."
They're about to head home when it hits Daryl's and he's a little worried, shit, should he be worried? When he helps her in the car he asks, "Ya okay, you gonna miss all that n be sorry ya left?" Then holds his breath while he waits for the answer.
"I'm going to miss my little apartment, and I'm going to miss working with Jim and seeing all the people at the café every day." Beth lays her hand on his leg and assures, "But do you know what's going to be a thousand times better than that? Living in our home with you and Teddy and being a family. Nothing could be better than that."
Beth can't believe how things have fallen into place so easily, and so perfectly. It's reinforced the feeling they already felt so strongly, this is meant to be. They were meant to find each other, they were meant to be with each other.
They arrive back at their home and don't waste time unpacking the things they brought from Beth's place. She smiles looking at her things are hanging neatly in the closet, closes the door and says to Daryl, "I guess that makes it official. I live here now."
He's just finished setting up the sewing table and now he rises to his feet, walks to her and places his hands on her cheeks, "This is where ya belong, where I belong, and where Teddy belongs. Together in our home," and when he begins to kiss her they quickly become lost in each other, and it all just feels so right. After their lovemaking they're sleepy and content and fall asleep in the bed they now share.
It's not long before Daryl wakes and practically flies off the bed, "Shit, Teddy'll be home any time now. I don't wanna hafta explain ta him why we're in bed, naked, in the middle of the day."
Oh my, that would be awful, but Beth can't help giggling, "Oh my goodness no! But you know Daryl, eventually he'll figure it all out on his own, children always do."
"Yeah, well, I hope it ain't anytime soon. He's too little ta be thinking about this stuff."
Merle never knocks on his brother's door, he always just barges in, but he doesn't want to walk in on anyone that might be naked, or doing anything he doesn't want to see while in the company of Teddy, Enid or Amy.
Daryl opens the door and Teddy's arms fly around his legs squeezing tightly as the little boy says, "You were gone Daddy."
Daryl picks him up, kisses him and says, "I was right here all along, you was the one gone Teddy, and man, I sure did miss ya. Glad you're home."
The little boy spots Beth standing there behind his Daddy, "Mama, I'n home!"
His Daddy sets him on his feet and he hurries to her, she picks him up, holds him close and says, "We're all home Teddy, and that makes me so happy."
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A/N Ah, those first few hours of wedded bliss. Please leave a comment. The chapter photo of the happy couple is on my tumblr pages, gneebee and bethylmethbrick. Please have a look. I'll be back next week with more of Love at the Solo Café, and I hope you'll be here too. Until then remember, I love ya large! xo gneebee