An Alternative (TWD Bethyl)

Chapter 7: Somethin' Special

What? Why would he think I.... I could never hate him. I really do need to learn to shut my mouth. I said all those terrible things and now he thinks I hate him. Maggie did say he believed I was alive, he believed in me when no one else did... not even my own sister. Oh I have to talk to him! I have to tell him I don't hate him, it's the complete opp...opposite. What am I thinking!? I can't lo-  She shook her head. I can't like Daryl like that. He would run so fast if he knew I cared for him like that. Which I totally DON'T. But I don't understand why he would say sorry though. I must talk to him... I just have to let him know I at least don't hate him.

Beth curled up with a sheet, turning to her side letting her body finally relax for once. He has been acting so different since I came back. Maybe it's just because were all together again and when it was just us he could be... I don't know, maybe more open. And how he's been looking at me, the way his eyes grabbed me when I got shot. I can swear I caught him looking at me by the fire when I was grabbing the pudding. At least he is okay with more physical contact. I think he secretly likes it, like when it was just us, he didn't pull away like I thought he would when I held his hand. He keeps carrying me too... I mean I want to be strong and independent, but I don't hate it when he keeps sweepin' me off my feet... She smiles as her eyes start to close. Literaaa-llly. She yawned and slipped off to sleep thinking about how his hands felt each time he would cary her... and how firm his chest was when she was slamming her hands on him.

This time, Beth's dream started off with Daryl giving her the serious piggy back ride and them standing at the grave hand in hand....

***

Daryl shut the door but couldn't seem to walk away. He slid down the wall next to Beth's door and just sat there, his head in his hands. I really don't want her to hate me... It would kill me if she did. I can't admit that..no... Id be fine with or without her... His thoughts trailed off. "You know you don' mean that you little panzy... you would just bawl your eyes out without that little girl"

He could hear Merle's words as if he was sitting right next to him. Fuck... I would though, I need her more than she knows. She has to know, I did believe in 'er, I knew she'd be alive. I just got to figure out how to tell 'er tho'...

Daryl awoke to Beth's scream again. The door across from him opened up and Noah stepped out. He made a face and Daryl realized he had fallen asleep there on the floor.

"No need to wake her. It only lasts for about three minutes and then she's back to dreaming of rainbows and poodles or whatever." Although Noah's comment was meant as more of a joke, he didn't even smirk at it. "I'm pretty used to it though, it only happens once a night," he yawns "she'll yell a few times then it'll fade to a whimper... and after the three minutes she seems to go back to looking peaceful." Noah just walked down the hall towards the bathroom.

"That toilet work?" Daryl asked the kid, aggravation evident in his voice.

"Yea Rick said it was alright. You know the floor can't be too comfortable, you should go to the couch or something" And with that the half awake boy closed the door to the bathroom.

Daryl thought of getting up and going down to the couch, but decided not. He couldn't help feel a ping of jelousy thinking of Noah being there with Beth when he couldn't. He shouldn't know how peaceful and sweet she looks when she sleeps, only I should have gotten to see that. Not some kid she barely knows... He thinks back to the nights when it was just them and he would look over at her sleeping and how angelic she would look. I don't even deserve to see her like that. Feeling protective over her he decides he'd rather spend the night at her door, where he would know no one would go in, then sleep anywhere else and leave her door open to anyone, or that kid, to disturb her rest. Noah had re-entered his room, still looking as if he wasn't even awake, and with that Daryl felt comfortable enough to fall back asleep, still sitting on the floor by Beth's door. Her guardian, from this night forwarded he vowed that's what he would be. He would guard her with his life. Never again would he let anything bad happen to her.