The Baker and the Butcher

Chapter 22

Everyone was packed up and heading out to the row of vans outside the prison ready to make the long drive to Texas.
Everyone except Beth Greene.
Daryl was in his cell picking up the rest of his dirty t-shirts and stuffing them into his bag when he realized he'd given Beth his vest to sew a few nights ago.
He popped his head into the cell next door "Beth, I'm gunna need..." He stopped short noticing the blonde staring out the window tugging on her fingers.
She turned quickly "oh Daryl! Your vest! I've got it right here. Good as new, I could've sworn I put it on the chair, or maybe the closet. Yeah no definitely the closet let me just..." She moved quickly around the room fluttering her hands.
Daryl smiled moving to stand by her side gently tugging her to sit down with him on the edge of the bed.
She sat at the edge of the bed gently nuzzling into his side and sighing.
Daryl wrapped both arms around her tiny frame tugging her as close as he could.
" what's wrong sugar?"
Her face was buried in his shoulder as she mumbled something unintelligible.
Daryl smirked
"I'm sorry? What was that? I didn't hear ya right?"
"Im scared" she mumbled again.
He still couldn't hear her fully
"Beth I can't.."
"I'm scared Daryl, I'm terrified."
He looked up at the watery eyed beauty and questioned
"Why are you scared? Well be safe now, were gunna start over. Everything will be normal again soon."
Beth shook her head her lip trembling
"I don't want it all to go back to being normal! I've been on my own for so long I don't think I even remember what normal is. What both of us ignoring each other around other people? Everyone hating Merle? You not wanting to speak to me because you're scared of what everyone will think? If that's normal I don't.."
He cut her off gently lifting he chin with his thumb.
"You're right. Nothing about us is normal. Now we got a chance to make it better." He thumbed away a tear
falling.
She leaned into his hand.
"And Beth there's no way I could ignore you now, no matter how hard I may try." He smirked
She smiled softly before taking a deep breath.
"Okay." She stood up wiping her eyes and fixing her top. "Let's do this dixon, we got a life to build." She reached for his hand to help him up.
He smiled sneakily grabbing her Hand and pulling her back on the bed before landing on her and attacking her with tickles.
When everyone finally got settled in there cars they set off on the long journey.
Daryl was in a van with Beth, Merle, Carl, Judith and Tyreese all of which were sleeping except Beth.
Beth was busy writing away in the passenger seat furiously scribbling in a yellow journal.
Daryl reached a hand over and placed it on her thigh.
She looked up and smiled putting her unoccupied hand over his.
"Whatr you writing?"
She flipped the book over to show him
" just some new recipes, I can't wait to Get back in the kitchen."
Daryl smiled
"Yeah I know what ya mean, it'll be nice to not have to hunt for survival, I wanna butcher for fun" he laughed
Beth scrunched her nose
"You would find that fun."
A few minutes past before she spoke up again.
"Yknow any family of ours is always Gunna be well fed atleast."
He smiled "yeah if you feed your baby nearly as much as you feed judy she'll be quite the plump little babe."
She shrugged "everyone needs a little sweet... And a little sour." She pointedly looked to him.
"Yeah yeah yeah just keep writin' recipes."
She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.
He blushed before staring straight at the road.
This was gunna be a long trip