Hush Baby Im here

Chapter 39

As we got dressed, my mouth couldn't keep from spreading into a smile.
Without a doubt, best time I've had since the apocalypse started.

I laughed to myself, pulling a shirt back over my head. Daryl slid his hands around my waist, nuzzling into my neck.

"Can I help you?" I asked sarcastically.

"Yes." He whispered into my ear, causing goosebumps to trickle down my spine. I wanted to reply with some quick witted comment, but he pulled away hastily. Quickly spreading the covers across the bed. Someone knocked on the door lightly, and I rolled my eyes at Daryl.

Pulling the door open to reveal a very well dressed Rick. He walked past me not taking in account that I was there.

"Daryl, Aaron's outside and he wants to talk to you." he announced. Daryl nodded knowingly, leaving the room. My heart broke at the thought of him leaving again without saying goodbye, but Rick said talk, not head out.

"How are you?" He asked once we heard Daryl shut the front door.

I just shrugged, "you?"

He repeated the action.

"What happened here." He said, stepping closer, motioning to the cut in my hip. I had forgotten all about the night Pete had chased me.

"I don't know." I said, trying to laugh, but it's sounded like a forced choked out laugh.

"What about here?" He pulled my palms up and ran his fingers over the healing shredded skin.

"I fell." I was too blank, and Rick had a knack for knowing when people were lying. He rose his eyebrows lazily, as I tried not to squirm in his scrutinizing gaze.
I wish Daryl was still here.
But he's not.

I wanted to tell Rick about Jessie, but I was scared it would start something we'd all have to finish. That usually meant allot of death, or some form of battle.

Yet I knew it was the right thing to do.

"He's hitting Jessie, Rick, Pete's hitting Jessie." I looked up, there was a bit of shock registered on his face, until his brows wove together in concern.

"What does that have to do with these?" He pulled my hands up and touched my hip. My skin tingled where his fingers had touched, I wanted to pull away but I stood there.

"I saw it, Pete wasn't to happy about it. So he chased me out of the party. I fell, and I crawled under a deck to hide."

I blinked, almost wanting to smirk.
Happy now?

He cursed, finally dropping my palms.

"It's not that bad. He probably wouldn't have done anythin-" I was interrupted by a sharp glare, slicing daggers through me.

"He would have done a lot. He's not a man Beth. He hurts people. Kids. There might be stuff you didn't see that happens in the bed-"

This time I didn't let him finish, "stop!" I hold up a hand sharply. A bitter taste rising in my tongue.

"I know, that's why I told you about it." I say the words through clenched teeth, staring down at my feet, realizing how incredibly selfish I had been about wanting to leave.

"I already know he hits her, and I'm talking to Deanna about it soon, she just lost her son you know?"

I was shocked, "how?" I ask.

"Her son Sam, he's warmed up to Carol."

"And he told her?" I asked.

"No, its things he didn't say." I looked down again.
Carol's been there. 

There is a long silence, where Rick looks like he is about to speak but then chickens out, or forgets. Finally he does; "How are you?" He asks again, placing his hand on his belt and slouching a bit.

"I'm fine. How are you?" I reply oddly. 

He shrugged, looking around the room, "fine."

"What's on your mind Rick?" I sigh, just wanting the truth out of him. He shifted his weight to his other foot, uncomfortably and that was a sign he was going to ask me a favor, I could read him easily.

"I don't want Daryl to know about this." he says in a lower tone.

"About what?" My voice rises in curiosity.

"He's already pissed enough at me for not protecting you the first time. But I think you should go out again, sometime soon." He said. I stared at him confused,

"So that I can get bit again and see if third times the charm?" My voice came out snarkier than I had intended and a frown set onto my face.

"No," he said like a dad responding to his five tear old daughter, "I just have some theories I want to clear up." 

"Like?" I push further.

He just shrugs, and starts towards the door.

"Beth?" He asks before he's out the door,

"Hm?" I say, turning back to face him.

"I don't know about your relationship with Daryl is but he seems happy lately, keep doing what your doing." My cheeks flame burning red as I nod.
He doesn't know does he?

He definitely does.

Shit.

My cheeks feel heated and I suddenly feel very awkward with myself. Like I want to curl up and never face another human again.
Stupid Rick had to ruin my happy morning. 

My mind smirks, and I blush pink again just thinking about it. About him.

There's that feeling when you get an overload of cuteness, and just want to hug everything and scream, that feeling was racketing through my brain. I was unable to keep the corners of my lips rising every five seconds. I left my room, heading downstairs to get something to eat. Carol moved around fussily in the kitchen, wiping the counter as clean as it could be.

I smiled as I sat down on the stool across from her, fiddling with a piece of toast.

She sighed, "even though its been so many years, I still have that fussy mother trait." She sets down the cloth satisfied with the shine of the counter top.

"But it's a good thing." I say smiling, taking a bite of my toast.

"Is it? Have you cleaned your room yet?" I roll my eyes and laugh, along with her.

She looked so fitting in her flowered cardigan, like she belonged in this community. But I knew better, we all knew better, Carol was a slayer, she was tough as nails. Daryl walked in, announcing they'd be leaving real soon again.

Carol called "be safe pookie!" Throughout the house as he stomped back out the door. Clearly embarrassed.

I laugh, hopping off the stool and heading out the door to say goodbye. Even though I was smiling, I was always scared he wouldn't make it back.

"Don't go falling into pits or some shit like that." He said after holding me in a long, warm, tight hug.

Again I laugh, "don't go getting captured by some cannibals or something like that."

This time he chuckles.

Aaron smiles at me as he sits in the car waiting for Daryl to get on his bike. I pull away, but Daryl pulls me back, and in the midst of day on the street, he kisses me. It's a short sweet kiss, the kind that leaves your dazzled and wanting more. I stay that way as I watch Aaron, who's face clearly shows surprise, and Daryl who is smirking so hard I just want to kiss his face, drive out of the gates.