Poison & Wine - Bethyl

Blessing

Daryl sent Beth off to go pack some things for their venture out, which would start bright and early the next day. Daryl had the idea of telling Rick he was going on a hunt and Beth wanted to learn a few things, so he was going to take her. But soon enough he realized that Rick wouldn't buy it, or someone wouldn't allow it. So he just sat there not packing anything, trying to think of another way.

Beth stood in her room with a bag in her hand and only a few things in it, raging thoughts drifting through her mind. She didn't want to get caught, but she also wanted to be with Daryl. Even if it meant them living out in the wilderness forever. She honestly was torn between canceling, and just going through with it. 

She dropped her bag and sat down on her bunk, throwing her head in her hands. Staying like that for a few minutes, she heard a tiny knock on the frame of the cell. Looking up and expecting Daryl, she noticed it wasn't the man she thought it would be. But a tired Carol with a sad smile on her face. 

"Hershel would like to speak to you." Carol stated, walking in further and taking notice to the bag on the floor. She didn't even want to ask what it was for, because she knew deep down what Beth was planning. 

Beth shook her head and went back to her position, sighing.
 "Well I'm not gettin' up an' goin' anywhere near him or Maggie."

Carol walked over to Beth and sat down beside her, putting her hand on the small girls knee. 

"I think you'll like what he has to say."

The 18-year-old looked over at the older woman, hope running through her veins; mixed with adrenaline. She jumped up and walked out, walking past Daryl's cell and over to her fathers.

Hershel was sitting down on a chair with his glasses on, another chair sitting in front of his. He noticed his daughters appearance. Motioning for her to come in and sit, he smiled slightly and watched her saunter over. 

"Beth," He started, earning a well known look from his little girl. "Carol and I have been talking and she told me some things that I have been putting much thought into."

"Like what?" Beth asked, trying not to sound too hopeful. 

"Something about Daryl." Beth's heart jumped to her throat as she shifted in her seat, urging him to go on. "She was telling me about how he looks at you from across the room. The way he talks about you to others, the things he does for you. Now, I've never really noticed these things except for the way he looks at you, but I never really put much thought into it. When he looks at you, I see a glimmer in his eyes. It's like he is imagining you could be the last thing on earth that he would ever see, and he would be totally okay with it." Hershel sat up some and looked at the look on Beth's face. She looked joyful and happy. 

"Daddy," She started, but the sound of her fathers voice cut her off.

"Bethy, before you say anything at all.. I just wanted to let you know that I was sorry about the things I said earlier. I shouldn't have been so hard, and I should've just listened to you. Now, before you go and get all happy, I need you to go get that man and tell him to come here." The smile on the mans daughters face brought a smile to his own. 

Beth jumped up and nodded, kissing her fathers cheek and ran out on the way to Daryl's room. 

Once she walked in she realized that he wasn't packed at all; he was sitting on his bed his head in his hands. But once he heard the barely audible footsteps, he looked up. A disappointing look spread on his face as he stood up and walked closer to Beth. She was smiling wide and he didn't know why, but he was sure he was about to ruin the beautiful smile. 

"Listen, I-" 

"Before you say anythin' my daddy would like to speak to you." She cut him off, grabbing his hands and swinging them side to side. 

"What?" Daryl was surprised, his breath hitched. 

"Go talk to him, silly." 

The man let go of Beth's hands and kissed her gently before walking out of his room with a fast pace to get to Hershel's room. 

Once he walked in, Hershel cleared his throat and told him to sit. Daryl obliged and sat in front of the man, holding his breath for what seemed like forever in the silence they were in. 

"Son, you're turning blue." Hershel blurted, as Daryl let out a large breath, trying not to inhale too deeply. 

"Beth told me you'd like to see me?" The scruffy man asked, being as polite as he could. 

"She's right, I would also like to speak to you." He joked, getting a small chuckle out of the younger man in front of him. "Now I'm sure Beth already told you about me not wanting you to see her."

"She has.." Daryl said sadly, but as soon as he noticed it came out that way; he tried covering it up. 

"Carol and I had a talk about the way you look at her and things like that. I never really noticed but now that I do; I just want to ask you a few things." Hershel knit his white furry brows together and placed his elbows on his knees, intertwining his fingers together.

Daryl swallowed harshly, he was never this nervous before in his life. Why was this different? Oh. Because it was someone he loved's father.

"Ask me anything, sir. I mean, Hershel." His words were faltering over his tongue and he was sweating bullets. He was also trying to be proper with his words and not be such a redneck, which he never did with anyone. 

"Why do you think you love my daughter?" It was the first question that Hershel shot at Daryl, and it felt as if it was the easiest question in the world. He knew exactly why he loved this beautiful girl. 

"I don't think, I know that I love her. There's just something about her, something that makes this world seem a little less scary. She brings the good out in people and she's always so sure that somethin's goin' to turn out the was she says it is. And I think that's amazing. She's always smilin' and she's always bringing light into this dark prison. It's like she's an angel. Hell, who am I kidding? She is an angel." Daryl said, smiling at the girl he was talking about. When he looked at Hershel he didn't expect to see a smiling face. In fact, he didn't expect tears to be willing in the mans eyes. 

"Would you risk your life for her?"

"Who wouldn't?" 

"Would you do anything she asked you to do?" 

"Of course!" 

Silence filled the room as Daryl's heart began to race in his chest once more, his thoughts going wild. He didn't expect anything good to come out of Hershel's mouth. Especially when a greaser like him was sitting in front of this proper old man. 

"Last question." Hershel's voice pulled Daryl away from his thoughts, his voice cracking as he spoke. 

"Sure go ahead. Shoot."

The nerves inside Daryl's chest were painfully like ecstasy. He couldn't bare to wait any longer to hear this question. 

"Would you like my blessing to take my sweet daughters heart and hold it safely for a long time?" 

That was it. This was the moment Daryl was waiting for. He couldn't believe this was about to happen, this was the start of something beautiful. 

"Yes, more than anything sir. I mean, shit. Hershel!" He breathed out getting a laugh out of the old man. 

Hershel nodded and was attacked with a large hug from Daryl, he slowly brought his arms around the man and laughed even more. Once Daryl pulled away he mumbled a sorry and almost ran out of the room. 

"Woah, woah. Not so fast cowboy. You didn't let me finish."

Daryl turned quickly and looked at the man, muttering another sorry and sat back down. Hershel smiled widely and crossed his arms and pulled his good leg over his fake one.

"You have my blessing."

In that moment, Daryl felt tears streaming down his face as he got up; kissed the mans forehead and ran back to his cell.

Beth was sitting on his bed when he ran in, causing her to look straight up at him and shoot up. 

"So?" She asked excitedly. 

Daryl thought quickly, wanting to ask a proper question that he's never asked before. To anyone at all. He wanted it to take Beth by surprise, so he faked the tears into being sad ones. Hanging his head down low, Beth took notice.

"Oh," Was all she said, cowering back before she noticed Daryl reach for her hands. She let him take them as she arched her brow in confusion.

"Beth," Daryl started, still looking down some. "My beautiful girl..." He whispered, looking up into her beautiful sea blue eyes. "Will you, take the honors and be my girlfriend?"

Beth's heart stopped as she realized tears falling down her face, she threw her arms around the buff man. She couldn't believe it. No more hiding or planning to run. This was it. This was the moment they were waiting for.

"Yes!" She said, slamming her lips to his rough ones.

"I love you, Beth." He mumbled against her lips.

"I love you, Daryl."

This was the moment, where they knew they were inseparable.