Love at the Solo Cafe Chapter 30, a walking dead fanfic

A/N Thanks so much everyone! I'm posting the story a little early this week because of the Thanksgiving holiday here in the U.S.

Let's see what's going on with our couple...

What they want is to lie in each other's arms for the rest of the day, but there are too many responsibilities. They take what little time they have to simply hold one another. It's been a tense few days and they've missed this kind of relaxed closeness. There's something more to it though. Something new, something big, something that could change their lives forever. They haven't talked about it yet, but when Daryl made the choice not to reach for the packet they both knew a decision had been made.

His arm is around Beth's shoulders, her head laying on his chest when he draws her in tighter and kisses her hair, "I wish we could just stay like this, but I gotta get movin'. It's almost noon. I'ma get dressed, call Merle and tell him ta go ahead n close the shop up for lunch. I'll get Teddy n the three of us can eat together."

She smiles up at him, "All right, and Daryl, thank you."

She doesn't have to say what she's grateful for, he knows what she's talking about, "Nah. I should thank you Beth. Ya pushed me 'til I admitted ta myself I's just plain scared. Shit Baby, I'm still scared, but I want this too, and I want ya ta be happy. I just gotta try'n believe it's all gonna be okay."

For the first time Beth admits to him, "I'm scared too. I don't know what it's going to be like being pregnant, and I worry about all the things that could go wrong too. I'm not even pregnant and I'm already worried about the pain of childbirth, and I worry about being a good Mother. There's a lot to be scared of. We just have to have faith Daryl."

There are so many things going on in their lives this week, and over lunch Beth tells Teddy, "I'm going to need a lot of help from you for the next couple of days Teddy. You and me are going to be very busy."

"Bitsy? Why Mama?"

"Uncle Merle and Miss Amy are going to get married on Saturday, right here at our house. We're going to have a nice party to celebrate, so we have to get everything ready."

His eyes light up, "A big potty?'

Daryl snorts and Beth tries hard not to laugh, and she doesn't exactly correct him, "Yes a big PARty right here at our house, and when Uncle Merle marries Amy she's going to be your Aunt Amy."

"Aunt Amy. Is it gonna be fun?"

Beth laughs softly, "Well I sure hope so. I'm going to try very hard to make it nice and special, and fun too. Grandma and Grandpa will be here and Jim and Carol, Aunt Erma and Uncle Dale, and some other people too. There's going to be delicious food, I'm going to bake a wedding cake, but guess what else?"

"What Mama, what else?"

"I thought there should be cherry pie too. What do you think?"

The little boy is all smiles, "I love cherdee pie."

Daryl's been watching his wife the whole time and it seems the concern has already begun, "Don't give yourself too much work. I can help ya know, and don't even think about try'n ta move them tables and chairs in from the garage. I'll do that whenever ya want."

"Okay. Is Friday morning all right? I'd like to get them set and decorated Friday, then that part is done and I can concentrate on cooking and decorating the house. I don't know though, there's not much for flowers around right now, I think Teddy and I will have to come up with another idea for centerpieces."

Daryl has no interest at all in this stuff, but he listens and nods and comments from time to time, "That sounds nice," or "That should be pretty," whenever it seems appropriate, and twice he says, "Don't overwork yourself. I'll help with whatever ya want."

"I'm just happy Jim offered to cook the main dish, I was kind of dreading that."

"Why, what'd they wanna have?"

"Merle and Amy both wanted pork chops stuffed with cornbread dressing and smothered in gravy. They're delicious, and it's not that it's a hard dish to make, but it's time consuming, messy and it dirties a lot of pans. When Jim said he'd like to make them I was so relieved and grateful. Carol's going to make a Jell-O salad and do mint cups for the tables, Mama's making scalloped potatoes, and Erma's bringing deviled eggs. That just leaves me with rolls, green beans, and the cake."

He nods, "That's enough."

She smiles, "I have such good helpers," and runs her fingers through their son's hair, noting, "Especially Teddy here. He's always so willing to help."

"Well everythin' sounds real good Baby, like ya got it all figured out. Are your Mama n Daddy stayin' here with us?"

"No, I love it when they do, so does Teddy, but they know we're going to be in a mess getting things ready so they're staying with Erma and Dale. Oh, and that reminds me, Erma is letting me use her Sunday china and she has some wedding decorations too. Isn't that wonderful?"

Daryl holds back saying what's he's really thinking, 'yeah, Merle's gonna be all aflutter over them pretty dishes and wedding decorations,' instead he says, "That's real nice Beth, ya need me ta go collect them things for ya?"

"Could you? Maybe on your way home from work tonight?"

"Yeah, sure. I keep tellin' ya I wanna help ya however I can. We know I can't cook," that makes even him snort a laugh, "an I never decorated for anythin' so, yeah, ya wouldn't wanna trust me with that. But when it comes ta doin' the heavy liftin', I'm your man."

She seems to forget Teddy's sitting there, "You sure are a man, a real man, and those muscles are something else." Then she realizes and turns bright red, while her husband just smiles.

Excitement is in the air at the little house on Saturday morning. They suspected all week it was going to be a bit too chilly to have the wedding outside, so they made some big changes. Thursday after work Merle came over and him and Daryl moved the sofa and chair into Beth and Daryl's room. The sofa is standing on end with the chair butted up against it, and their room is very cramped. Daryl and Beth don't mind, it's only temporary.

The TV, the coffee table, the end tables and Beth's side chair are in Teddy's room, and it's cramped as well, but it's just for two nights, and even though it doesn't work right now, Teddy's excited to have a TV in his room. All the furniture moving has given them the space they need in the living room for the ceremony and the celebration. Daryl shrugs, "When I bought this place I thought it had plenty of room. I didn't think about holdin' weddin' ceremonies here."

Beth arranged, rearranged, decorated, redecorated, and fussed with every little detail all morning Friday. Every time she moved things around Teddy would say, "It's pretty Mama," and she would thank him and move it again. Eventually he gave up and asked to put his coat on and play outside. She apologized, "I'm sorry Teddy, I'm giving too much attention to this wedding and not nearly enough to you. I promise, after tomorrow we're going to be back to normal."

She finally got the tables positioned and set so that she's happy. Carol and Erma helped her make some cute little centerpieces using clear vases and dried wildflowers Erma had been saving over the years, and it all turned out real pretty. When Mama arrived Friday afternoon she brought some beautiful white satin yardage. There would have been no reason for her to have such luxurious and expensive fabric if she hadn't been called upon to make a wedding dress for a woman from their church. When the woman found out her prospective groom was getting busy with a woman the next county over, the wedding was immediately called off and the woman told Mama to keep the satin, she never wanted to see it or him again. Now it would finally be put to good use.

Beth and Carol secured the fabric from the ceiling in the far-right corner of the room. They went out from there about two feet on either side, and again fastened the fabric so that it draped in a gentle curve, making a white satin arch that cascaded softly downward. They were all pleased with the look of the white satin arch they'd created, but they weren't done yet. In the center where it peaked, they hung two large white paper wedding bells from Erma's decorations and as they all stood back and admired their work, Mama smiled and said, "I feel safe in saying, Amy will adore it."

Daryl did take Merle out for a night of drinking on Friday and Beth didn't mind at all, she had other plans. Dale and Daddy drove Mama and Erma to her house and took Teddy home with them. That left the ladies free to visit in the kitchen while Beth decorated the wedding cake.

Mama asked, "Is that spice cake I smell?"

Beth smiled, "Yes, spice seemed perfect for Merle."

They all giggled, and Erma noted, "Yes he does seem a bit spicy, doesn't he?" and the ladies all laughed harder and shared good-natured stories about things the man had said and done. Erma ventured, "Can you even begin to imagine all the things we don't know?" The ladies agreed, it was probably best they remain ignorant about most of the things Merle Dixon may have gotten up to in his life.

Mama broached another subject with her daughter, "So, you and Daryl have agreed, yes?"

Beth's smile spread from ear to ear, "Yes, we're going to try and start a family, soon. Amy suggested how fun it would be to raise our children together, and I thought that sounded wonderful too."

Mama and Erma clapped their hands and exclaimed how lovely it would be, and then Erma asked, "Where is Amy tonight?"

Beth was still smiling when she replies, "I felt bad, I wanted her here, but I couldn't have her. I want the wedding cake and all the decorations to be a surprise on her wedding day. Enid is over at Amy's right now. She's giving her a facial, rolling her hair for her, and giving her a manicure. Doesn't that sound fun?"

Erma says, "Oh my gosh yes, I could use some of that pampering."

Daddy arrived at 8:30 to pick up the ladies and informed Beth, "Teddy's sound asleep, we couldn't even get him to stir. Dale's there with him and I thought he ought to just stay the night. If that's not all right with you, I'll go back after him."

Beth doesn't like Teddy to be gone overnight, but she can't see waking him either. "Thank you Daddy, I'm sure he'll be just fine."

Mama suggests, "Why don't you send me home with his things. I can give him a bath in the morning and get him ready for the big day."

"Gee Mama, that would be wonderful. Let me just get his suit." Mama, Daddy and Erma all agree, they can't wait to see Teddy all dressed up.

Beth has put the finishing touches on the two-tiered cake when Daryl walks through the kitchen door about nine o'clock. "Hey Baby."

She greets him with a kiss and says, "I thought the two of you would be out half the night."

"I found sumthin' out. It ain't so fun ta go out n raise hell when all you can think about is the soft, pretty woman ya got waitin' at home."

Even after all this time together he still makes her blush, they kiss and she tells him, "I swear Daryl Dixon, sometimes you say the most romantic things." They kiss again and she says, "I'm ready to shower and get to bed, but I have to figure out what I'm going to do with this cake first."

He's been drinking just enough to feel mellow, romantic and uninhibited. With his arms still around her his hands land firmly on her bottom. He squeezes gently and suggests, "I could probably use a shower myself, might even need some help washin' my back."

She's pink cheeked again but she wants him in the same way he wants her, "I could probably help with that." Then she gets practical, "But first I have to do something with the cake. I don't want Amy seeing it until we set it on the cake table in the living room."

Cake table, huh. Daryl shrugs, "We could set it on top a the washin' machine, it's nice n cool on the back porch. I got a clean cardboard box out in the garage I can set over top of it. It'd be hidden an nuthin's gonna bother it out there."

"That's a great idea, Daryl, thank you."

"Told ya I could help, n speakin' of helpers, how'd Teddy do tonight?" She tells him the story and he agrees, "Yeah, probably best ta leave him, I just hate knowin' he ain't here with us."

"I know, I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry, I'da done the same as you," then his smile grows and he says, "so, we got the house ta ourselves, huh? Lemme carry this cake, then we'll see what else we can get up to."

It's as he sets the cake on top of the machine that she notices his right hand. The knuckles are red and look scraped and swollen. As soon as the cake is safely settled, she asks, "Daryl, what happened to your hand? Have you been fighting?"

He doesn't want to tell her but he has to be honest with her, "Wasn't exactly a fight. I just had ta help someone keep their mouth shut."

Her hand is on her hip and her brows are raised when she asks, "Is that so, and who was that?"

"I swear, me n Merle was standin' at the bar havin' a beer n mindin' our own business. He was talkin' about life n how excited he is ta marry Amy, n he's real excited about that baby comin' too. We didn't know that sumbitch Negan was listening in, and when he piped up n said sumthin' nasty I had ta shut him up."

"What in the world did he say?"

"I'd rather not tell ya."

"I'm sure that's true, but if he said it out loud in a bar it will be all over town by tomorrow. I'd rather hear it from you first."

"Yeah, I guess you're right." Shit, he'd rather get a tooth pulled than tell her, "So yeah, we was mindin' our business n outta the blue, when Merle says he's excited about the baby n all, Negan slaps Merle on the back and says, "Yeah man, I heard you couldn't wait for the wedding night, got my little sister-in-law knocked up, huh…"

"Oh no, he didn't say that!"

"Yeah, well that wasn't the end of it. Then he says, 'maybe ya better remind you're little brother about that stuff, either he ain't been gettin' it up for Beth, or he's shooting blanks into that pretty little blonde.' What could I do Beth? I gave him a right hook ta the jaw, I's so mad it just took that one n he was flat on his ass. Merle picked him up by the back a the collar and his belt n heaved him right out the door n onto the sidewalk. We had ourselves a shot a whiskey, finished up them beers n came home."

"My goodness, that man is disgusting. It almost makes me feel sorry for Andrea."

"Not me, I think she knows what he's all about, n he knows what she's all about, n somehow that excites em both."

"Ew."

"Sorry Baby, I'll go get that box."

"Don't be sorry, I understand it now. I'd like to punch him myself."

Daryl chuckles, "I'd pay a year's salary ta see ya give that asshole a right hook Baby."

She smiles and shakes her head, "I swear, half the time men act like 12 year old boys."

"Oh yeah? Is that what ya think? Get me in bed n I promise I'll be all man."

She feels the heat in her cheeks again but she likes the idea, so she says, "Let's shower first."

"Yeah, I gotta get the bar stink offa me."

The water is warm and their bodies and their mood are warmer. It's been a long day, a long week, and although they're exhausted, they're happy. The touching is intimate and heightens the mood, and when he can't wait any longer he turns the knob and says, "Lemme dry that pretty body."

When they've rubbed each other down he smiles, scoops her up in his arms and carries her to their bedroom, but he's forgotten about the furniture crowding the room and bumps the dresser with his right hip, then trips over a throw pillow that's fallen to the floor causing him to lose his balance and they fall, right onto bed. Him on top of her. She's laughing but he's concerned, "Ya all right Baby? I didn't hurt ya did I?"

"No Daryl, that was kind of of fun. I'm fine, and honestly? I'm right where I wanna be." Now they're both laughing, at least until his mouth lands on hers at the same time his hand cups her mound. Beth let's out a soft moan and he stops kissing her long enough to promise, "Bout ta prove to ya, I ain't no boy."

"mmm, please," and his mouth goes to her breast where he sucks, nibbles and licks, and she's already squirming when his finger slips inside her. When the teasing is no longer enough, when they have to have each other, Daryl doesn't reach for the condom and that's when Beth knows, he never will again.

Sometime in the middle of the night they wake, still on top of the covers and shivering, "C'mon baby, get in bed," she's trembling from the cold when he wraps her in his arms and for the rest of the night they stay just like that, giving each other warmth.

Jim and Carol arrive a half hour before the wedding is set to begin, and the aroma of pork chops immediately fills the kitchen, "Oh my gosh, Jim, I think you've outdone yourself, and Carol, your Jell-O mold is beautiful." Jim puts the heavy pan of pork chops in the oven to stay warm, and Carol puts the salad Jell-o in the refrigerator. Beth has the rolls wrapped in a thick cloth inside a large, heavy pot that sits on the stove's back burner with the heat on low so they'll stay nice and warm. There's another pot on the opposite burner with the green beans. They've made a spot on the back porch for Erma's deviled eggs to stay cool, and Mama's scalloped potatoes are in the oven on the rack below the pork chops.

In the living room there's a table next to the cake table that has ice teas, sweet and plain, lemonade, and a pitcher of water, but when the groom arrives he's got a cooler with a little something extra. He sets it on the back porch and tells his brother, "I know we got us some teetotalers, but if folks wanna join me in a champagne toast ta my wife, they can do that."

Daryl smiles, "I got no objection Merle. Never have had a taste a that stuff."

"Today's the day little brother, n if ya don't like it, don't worry. I got cold beers n a pint a whiskey in there too."

Daryl's shaking his head, but he's smiling too, "Shit brother, I still can't quite believe you're gettin' married. I never expected nuthin' like this, n a baby. Are ya havin any second thoughts?"

"Not a one, I love that little gal. I never thought I wanted ta be a husband or a daddy, but shit, now? Well, like I said, I love that little gal. She makes me happy n I'ma spend the resta my life try'n ta make her happy."

While the brother's are talking on the back porch Beth has opened the front door to Amy, her Mama and her sister Andrea. Negan is conspicuously absent and Beth isn't at all disappointed. They slip Amy in Teddy's room and before shutting the door Beth tells her, "I left a magazine on the dresser to give you something to do in here, and Teddy left you a little truck," the women share a smile and Beth adds, "I'd love to stay in here and talk to you, but we've got guests. I'll be back soon!"

The wedding is scheduled to begin at noon, and all the guests have arrived. Herschel stands beneath the white satin arch and Dale mans the record player, setting the needle down and the soft music begins to play. He hurries to his seat next to Erma, just as Daryl, followed by Merle, enters from the kitchen door. They stand to one side of Herschel, and soon Beth enters through the hall doorway.

Daryl can't help but smile at how pretty his wife looks. She didn't have time to make a new dress or even shop for one, so she's wearing her summer church dress because it's pink, Amy's favorite color. Beth carries a single pink carnation purchased this very morning from the local florist.

Soon the bride appears walking several paces behind Beth, she's being escorted by Jim. Everyone smiles at the sight of the pretty bride. Amy didn't feel she should wear white, even though her husband-to-be told her she deserved to wear whatever she wanted. Still, the dress she chose is lovely. It's a floral pattern and the dominant color is pink, and she got lucky at the JC Penney fall sale and found some pink pumps to wear with it. Her bouquet is simple, Erma's dried flowers with a couple of fresh roses included.

When Beth and Amy reach the satin arch, Dale stops the music and the ceremony begins. At the request of both the bride and the groom, the ceremony doesn't last long. It's a traditional service, but when it's over and Hershel says, "I present you Mister and Missus Merle Dixon," Merle takes his wife in his arms kissing her with so much passion one would think they're alone, and as he does he dips her nearly to the floor.

Mama looks at Erma and as if on cue the ladies whisper the word to one another, "spicy," and try hard not to laugh.

It's been two months since her last cycle and Beth and Daryl are hopeful Dr. Carlson can tell her if she's pregnant or not. She dreaded going through that stupid exam again, but her desire for an answer far exceeded her embarrassment about the whole thing.

After the exam she dresses and the nurse escorts her to the Doctor's office, where the doctor and her husband are waiting for her. Daryl stands and pulls the chair out for her, and the doctor says, "Sit Beth, sit."

Her nerves get the best of her, she can feel herself shake and Daryl reaches for her hand while the doctor advises, "Slow deep breath. Breathe Beth, breathe. Here, let me get you a drink of water." He stands and hurries out of the office.

Daryl grips her hand even tighter, whispering, "It's okay Baby, whatever happens, it's okay."

The doctor walks back in the room and hands her a small cup of cool water. Beth drinks it and he asks, "Better now?"

Her husband is done waiting, "So whaddya think doc?"

"Well, as I told you, the urine test won't be back for eight to ten days, that's when we'll know beyond any doubt, but I can tell you I am 99.9 percent positive, you're going to be a Mama Beth. The signs are all there."

A/N Could it be? Please leave a comment. The chapter photo is on my tumblr blogs gneebee and bethylmethbrick, please have a look. I'll be back next week with a new chapter of Love at the Solo Café, I hope you'll be here too. Until then, Happy Thanksgiving, and remember, I love ya large! xo gneebee