AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thank you for reading and thank you to Guest, kathymoonstone, brinxb and SoutheastChicagoMom for your comments on the last chapter. It's been a while since I've posted so this is two chapters clubbed into one. Please see the warning.

WARNING: **ADULT & SEXUAL CONTENT **

DISCLAIMER: I do not own the Walking Dead or its characters

Apologies in advance for any spelling and grammatical errors. Thoughts in Italics

Loved Back to Life

Chapter 34

Rick has the biggest and proudest grin stretched across his face, clapping along with the audience watching Beth and Amy climbing the steps to the stage when their names had been called out.

The announcement had caught both Beth and Amy by complete surprise, neither knew what to say when the stoplight fell upon them as their names had echoed throughout the auditorium because firstly, they didn't know they'd even be mentioned and secondly it was an incredibly huge shock and honour.

Rick couldn't help from letting out a small laugh earlier when he nor the usher could get a response from Beth. She had frozen and looked like a deer caught in the headlights, clearly in disbelief of what was happening. He had pressed his lips to the top of her ear and whispered encouraging words trying to coax her to join the hostess up on stage who was waiting patiently for her, clearly allowing them to have a little moment to soak up the love and appreciation amplifying around the room – it was a lot to take in. When he finally got a response from Beth, it was a funny little inarticulate noise of a squeak escaping from between her parted lips, that all he could do was chuckle against Beth's skin as their table chanted their congratulations and the rowdier guys chanted "Beth! Beth! Amy! Amy!"

When Amy had snapped out of her daze, realised what was happening, she grabbed hold of Beth's hand out of Rick's and excitedly pulled her up to the stage. They were going to be in the spotlight for once and get their five minutes of fame - not her sister Andrea, the top-notch Civil Rights Attorney who was always in the limelight but little Amy Harrison, the Nurse and Bethy Greene, the Elementary Teacher and that felt satisfyingly good.

Being practically dragged the whole way to the front by Amy, woke Beth up and had got her moving and concentrating on not tripping over in her feet.

Just as Rick, the team of volunteers and soldiers were going wild - clapping, whistling and cheering jumping to their feet showing their support and elation that Beth and Amy were being awarded the Volunteer Service Medal which was awarded to civilians for acts of great bravery.

Josh had the pleasure of presenting the little boxes containing a silver medal in each to Beth and Amy whilst the hostess recounted their mission of getting emergency supplies to a little hospital in a remote village that was miles away from the base and the setback when their convoy stumbled upon a little camp of two small families camping in the middle of nowhere with two heavily pregnant women in the tents ready to give birth. It was revealed how they camped with the families for a day to protect them and for the deliveries of the babies without the aid of the right medicine, stuck right on the border where heavy artillery and shooting was going on between the Rebels. By the end, everyone was so happy to hear the families and the new additions were safely transported to the hospital the following morning and were alive and doing extremely well today.

"Both families are settled into the village which is being rebuilt with the aid of some of the money we are raising today - the money you are kindly donating. If you'd like to make a difference to thousands of lives, please give generously!" The hostess requests trying to keep her emotions in check whilst the room lets their emotions out.

There was a lot of blowing noses into tissues and tears being wiped away as people emptied their wallets into the buckets being passed around.

"This really hits home!" Noah says with a tight knot in his throat once the short clips from each of the volunteer's video diaries up on the screen comes to an end.

"It does!" Rick says with a similar knot in his throat watching Beth from his seat with amazement, admiration and respect.

He was in complete awe of Beth and all the things he's discovering about her. She persevered and fought to protect, help and save those families. Seeing Beth on screen with the little family holding the baby she delivered and surrounded by the happy children dancing and singing brings a warm and proud feeling to Rick's heart. It was the same at Carl's birthday party. Children, adults and even the grumpiest gravitated towards Beth, she was the light and soul of any gathering.

"You need to really value and appreciate life and the amazin' people in it the more – remember to tell them how much you care and love them before it's too late, you jus' never know what the future holds!" Noah adds taking a heavy and shaky breath, finally wiping away at his face and composing himself. There were some sad and heart-breaking stories and everyone's thoughts and prayers were with those families.

"I couldn't agree more!" Rick murmurs watching Beth, wanting to tell her those three words every day and not just tell her, show her.

Noah reaches into the inside pocket of his dinner jacket and pulls out his cell-phone "I need to call my girl and tell her to stay safe tonight and tell her, I love her!" Noah continues pressing away at his screen and leaving Rick to stare off into the distance.

A dozen thoughts run through Rick's mind when it suddenly dawns on him things could have gone terribly wrong and the different scenarios and outcomes flicker in the backs of his mind. He felt a pang of anxiety and fear hit his chest to imagine what life would be like now if anything had happened to Beth on that mission. He'd be completely lost without her. He knows he shouldn't be, but he felt a little disheartened that Beth kept the brave account of what really happened on that mission on the low and skipped everything that was life threatening and traumatic to herself. He takes a look around at all the volunteers and then back up at Beth.

Before they'd gotten romantically involved, they became quite the pen pals all those months ago and had gotten to know one another in those emails they sent back and forth telling each other about their daily lives. There were many nights when his brain wouldn't stop after a particularly bad day, he couldn't sleep and as if on cue, his cell-phone would buzz and it would be an email from Beth. Those emails they exchanged between them, gave him hope and the strength to move forward, not just for Carl but him too. Sleep gradually came easier which meant, he woke the following morning with a clearer head and positive perspective for the day ahead of him. He felt he could tell Beth anything and he had. When he was with Lori, he became such a reserved and guarded individual, always kept his thoughts to himself but with Beth, all those thoughts and feelings came out naturally - it was easy with Beth to share and confide in. Upset or down on those particularly dark days, they each would always lift the other one up, give reassurances when they needed it. It was the start of their friendship, their bond and was how they'd unknowingly became each other's confidants.

So, whilst processing it all, thinking rationally and calmly blocking out all the noises around him, he puts himself in Beth's position. At the time, things were up in the air for him and Carl and Lori's sudden disappearing which had everyone worried and concerned whether she was alive or dead. His life resembled a catastrophic shit-storm and the problems were never ending, just mounting. He realises, if he was Beth - he'd probably have done the same of not divulging just how dangerous and deep he was in on foreign land. Beth had survived and that's all that mattered.

He comes to respect Beth's decision and understands that she did what she felt she needed to do at that time for him and Carl - protecting him from worry and stressing out because that's what he would have done, stressed and worried and he'd have wanted to get the first flight out to be by her side which would have been unrealistic. He had Carl who relied on him from the moment he woke up to the moment he closed his eyes. Carl became a fragile and insecure child and clung to him for fear of being abandoned – he couldn't just up and leave his little boy and he'd have felt guilty that he had to choose. But Beth made it so he didn't have to, she spared him that ultimatum and guilty feeling of having to choose and let one of them down. Carl was and still is his main priority and he knows Beth understood him better than Lori ever could have.

Focusing back at the stage, he watches Beth. She put aside her issues, gathered her courage and really pulled through not just for herself but for all those people. She was a superstar in her own right and deserved The Service Medal for her bravery and tenacity. She was the bravest woman he knew but with bravery, it always came at a price. Maybe not physically, but emotionally and mentally. Post-traumatic stress comes to his mind. People developing and suffering emotional and mental stress after traumatic events. He couldn't bear the thought of Beth suffering, her beautiful soul lost in darkness like once before. It didn't matter how strong someone was, anyone could fall victim to it at any point in their lives. He wanted Beth to know, if ever she needed someone to lean on, to let it all out no matter how big or small, she could do that with him. Since she's come into his life, he's slowly but surely gotten stronger and confident, feeling more like the Rick Grimes he once was and that was one of the best feelings in the world to be able to be himself once again.

The sounds of clapping bring Rick back to the moment. Looking up ahead, he sees Beth shaking hands with very important looking people on stage. They seemed to be ecstatic to meet Beth and Amy and before they could steal Beth away for photos for the press and media, he sees her looking into the crowd over her shoulder and spotting him in the sea of faces.

Beth smiles her beautiful smile when their eyes meet. Her warm smile radiates to him that all he could do is mirror her and he doesn't realise it until it's happened, he throws her a flirty little wink - giving her a flash of his teeth making her blush harder than he's ever seen her blush as she goes. He looks left and then right and just snorts to himself. He knew if Daryl and Shane were there witnessing the exchange, they'd both be making gagging noises and pretending to vomit all over the table. He didn't care. He wasn't embarrassed about the way he felt, he embraced being able to be so emotionally free for once, it didn't feel forced. And even without saying a word, Beth understood him better than anyone could and that was all that mattered.

Once Beth was whisked away backstage and just as a waitress offers Rick a drink, Josh appears and is shaking his hand as they catch up like old friends.

Beth couldn't stop staring at the little box sitting on the palm of her hand, thinking about the unforgettable six months of her life. Her experiences in Afghanistan and the people she'd met along the way had made her stronger and helped her grow as an individual. That time out there was the turning point in her life, she found her inner strength she never knew she had. She went to Afghanistan a fragile girl and returned a strong and confident woman and she was confident looking around the room, the evening was a huge success.

After the appeals, auctions, speeches and the awards ceremony, everyone was finally letting their hair down and enjoying the remainder of the night - toasting, drinking and dancing. She would never forget this night and gave a silent thank you to those who organised the evening for them all to come together. They had raised more money than anyone could have imagined and the donations were still coming in thick and fast as were the collections buckets being passed around the room being filled to the brim. She felt ten feet tall and exceptionally proud. She had been a small part of the success, this working progress and the turn out and the generosity of everyone in attendance had blown her away.

Right now, life was wonderful. People's futures, hundreds and thousands of miles away were going to flourish from tonight's reaping. Her professional and personal life was the same - on the up. She can see the change her life was taking. She felt so lucky to be alive and breathing and blessed with the people surrounding her - her family, her friends and namely Rick who she couldn't imagine living without now that he was a part of her life. His support; words of wisdom, warm wishes, interest in everything she was passionate about and his sheer belief in her, had gotten her through some of the toughest moments in her life, he pushed her to be her best.

Thinking about the times when she had felt so low and useless that everything seemed impossible - one encouraging message or look from Rick lifted her spirits and she was able to face the unknowable. She remembers back at the diner when she was at her lowest, Rick appeared before her and it was his words and comfort that got her through her emotional turmoil. It was now her time to be that person for Rick - remind him who he is and what he is capable of. He's Rick Grimes - he's an honest, hardworking, strong and courageous man that anybody can turn to for anything. He's a great father, friend, officer and significant other and one day, he'll see it and realise he's much more than he thinks he is. She wasn't going to let him kick himself down into the ground anymore. He needs the right person to tell him and open his eyes to this fact and that person was going to be her.

And thinking of the love of her life, it was hard to not think of Carl. It was an unexplainable feeling she had begun to feel for the little boy, much different to the other children in her class or the children she's met. Carl had crawled right into her heart even before she knew he was Rick's son and spending time with him in the short period of time together, Carl made his own place in a section of her heart and settled there. She acknowledges this fact and always wanted him to stay there because that's where he belonged now. Carl craved motherly love and care and his little blue eyes that reminded her so much of Rick, looked to her. She had a lot of love to give and just because she didn't give birth to Carl, didn't mean she couldn't nurture and love him just like a real mother does. And she loves her two guys more than anything, she was going to show them both just how much and how important they are to her.

"Fill em up!" Amy orders waving two glasses in the air to the waiter for another round of drinks "I'm no longer on call, the hospital has cover!" She sings after taking the call from her superior, she was free to drink herself silly and was therefore in high spirits "lalalalala!" she sings swaying to the music in her seat.

"If I'm not balls deep in Super Hot Little Miss Amy by midnight, I'm goin' to turn into a fuckin' pumpkin!" Negan mumbles to himself, sucking a cherry whilst staring at Amy's impressive cleavage and getting ready to stand up and make his way over.

"Did you say something Negan?" Andrea asks placing her hand on his thigh, stopping him from moving.

"Got an itch that needs scratchin'!" He answers not realising his thoughts were spilling out of his mouth, distracted by the feeling of the tightness in his pants and unable to tear his eyes off of Amy's pretty face.

Andrea grins and slides her hand up higher "Maybe we should go back to your hotel room and maybe I can do somethin' about that, hum?" She smirks knowing Negan could never refuse her and she's never had anyone who could keep it up all night, Negan was an animal and it had been a while since they hooked up.

Negan doesn't answer, just continues to watch Amy waving her wine glasses in the air. He was imagining being alone with the curvaceous spitfire for a night until Andrea interrupts and makes him let out a frustrated sigh when the thoughts he was imagining puffs away like smoke. He looks at Andrea with that fake smile plastered over his face feeling suffocated. Andrea was stuck to him like glue tonight and he loathed women who just clung on, he found that incredibly unattractive and not sexy at all. From the corners of his eyes, he catches Amy standing up trying to get a waiter's attention. He can just make out the outline of her nipples from where he's sitting and smirks.

"Damn! the lighting in here is fantastic!" He practically drools pleasurably in his husky voice whilst running his thumb across his lips admiring the view from his seat.

"How 'bout we get back to your hotel room and I can make you see stars!" Andrea purrs into his ear.

Negan turns his head and faces Andrea in thought "Ya know what baby doll?" he responds, looks straight ahead and spits the stone from the cherry into the bowl thinking of a distraction to get rid of Andrea so he could get closer to the goddess known as Amy.

"What?" Andrea asks slightly aghast staring at the stone twirling around the bowl but smiles cocking her head so her face is angled perfectly for Negan to kiss her.

"You should make your rounds and have a good old schmoose with those prissy lawyer friends of yours, they'll be pissed that you've been avoidin' them all night!" He insists waving to a few lawyer looking people who recognise Andrea and start making their way over.

"Trust me, I'd rather schmoose with you!" She frowns following Negan's wandering eyes as he welcomes the advancing women hoping he wasn't trying to blow her off tonight for one of them or another woman in the room – she was ready to claw out her eyes whoever she was Negan planned on taking back to his hotel room.

"Darlin' stop bein' unsociable!" He laughs looking to make his exit "this is a sociable event so…socialise!" He whispers with a wink and slides out of his chair grinning as he makes his getaway before Andrea could stop him.

"Negannnn!" Andrea practically hisses back but she's engulfed with air kisses, hugs and compliments of how amazing she looks and congratulations for a case she'd recently won.

"Miss Amy, Amy, Amy!" Negan grins loosening his tie and throwing back the last of his whiskey.

"Oh no young lady!" Noah swoops in and takes one of the wine filled glasses out of Amy's hand "one drink at a time and this is your last!" he hands the glass back to the waiter and slips into the seat beside Amy propping her to sit up straight.

"Owwww!" Amy whines hiccupping and covering her mouth with a giggle.

Negan is stopped midway from reaching his destination by a business acquaintance. He lets out a groan between gritted teeth when a group by the bar call out his name enthusiastically. He couldn't ignore them like he wanted to and finds himself being steered straight to the bar as he whines seeing a giggling Amy arms all over Noah and kissing his cheek – he wanted to be giggling along with her and getting kisses peppered all over his face instead of having to tolerate the serious and boring men now shaking his hand.

And the ass kissin' begins! He rolls his eyes at the brown nosing he's about to receive.

"We mustn't be greedy!" Noah says in his firm voice like Amy was one of his eight-year-old students "And I ain't cleanin' up any mishaps tonight!" He warns her as she slumps her face on his shoulder and slurs random words that make no sense.

"You're completely and utterly wasted!" Noah says surprised "I only left you a couple of minutes to use the bathroom!" Shocked at the number of empty shot glasses scattered on the table in front of him.

"Would madam like a coffee or a tea?" The waiter asks sympathetically clearing the glasses.

"Irish Coffee peasssssss!" Amy beams to the waiter.

"Just a sweet tea please." Noah requests and once the waiter was gone, he takes a long hard look at Amy and realises he was minced meat "Beth's gonna kill me!" He mumbles.

"Shawn hasn't returned any of my calls!" Amy frowns with a sad pout checking her phone to see no message alerts. She had sent a few messages to Shawn but she had nothing back in return.

Noah's face softens now understanding Amy's wayward behaviour tonight, he hasn't seen her like this since her last heartbreak back in their college days, she just drank herself silly and did the silliest things. Noah puts an arm around Amy and allows her to sniffle into his shirt when the waterworks begin.

"He's with Maggie and the baby…ya know what that guys like with his sisters, imagine what he's gonna be like with one of their kids - his niece?" Noah reminds Amy gently and she just nods having been around Shawn all her life to know he would be hovering over Baby Liza's crib in the hospital monitoring every breath she took until she was discharged.

Thank god for Noah! Beth thought when she finally locates them sitting together at a table. Noah had promised to stay sober and stick to Amy like glue whilst she continued to speak to people.

"May I have the pleasure of this dance Miss Greene?" The distinctive husky voice of a certain someone grabs Beth's full attention bringing a big smile to her face.

Beth averts her eyes away from her friends and turns to see Rick looking gorgeous as ever slowly making his way towards her and giving her his even gorgeous smile. She didn't know whether she loved him in the sharp suit more or him in his officer's uniform, he looked sexy and handsome in both. A naughty thought creeps into her mind – she loved him in his Captain America Suit and she now wanted to see him in no suit at all.

Behave! She tells herself, glad Rick couldn't hear or read her thoughts.

She just shrugs her shoulders in reply to Rick's request of a dance with a tiny smile. Rick just smirks and pulls her into his arms making her bounce up against his chest.

"May I?" He requests again in a tone he hasn't heard himself speak before and giving a look to Beth that says, refusing him wasn't an option.

Beth felt a full force of arousal hit her with Rick's body flush up against hers, the sexy tone of his voice she's never heard before and then there was his demanding and mischievous eyes making her heart rate pick up at speed that she's absolutely lost for words just staring at his lips that twitch up at the corners every so often whilst watching and waiting for her reply.

"May I?" He whispers ever so softly this time seeing Beth was staring dazedly at him, melting there into his arms.

Rick blows hot air into Beth's face making her eyes flutter. She realises Rick is just watching her with a confident smirk on his face, like he knew what she was thinking and she lowers her eyes down shyly.

"You may have this dance Deputy Grimes!" She giggles as Rick didn't look like he would let her go if she refused, not that she would especially when it felt so right being embraced within Rick's arms around her.

Beth slides the box containing her medal into her clutch and they take their adopted positions of her draping her arms around Rick's neck and leaning into his body whilst he places his hands on her hips as they dance slowly to Ed Sheeran's - Thinking Out Loud. As they move, Rick slowly wraps his strong arms around Beth's waist and traps her snugly into his body.

Beth follows Rick's lead, her eyes closed and with her head resting against his beating heart. Nothing felt more right than being held by Rick Grimes, she felt safe and very much loved.

"You fallin' asleep on me?" Rick murmurs into Beth's hair after a couple of minutes of silence of them just dancing.

"Nope, but if I do, can I hop onto your feet like you let those other girls and then twirl me around the dance floor?" She inquires biting her bottom lip trying not to laugh having heard about how successful the disco turned out to be with Rick in high demand by little seven and eight-year-old girls and secretly happy that he didn't dance with any women who wanted to become the next Mrs Rick Grimes.

"Shane!" Rick groans dropping his face down into Beth's neck as she giggles enjoying Rick's lips pressing into the nape of her neck.

"Gertrude nearly broke my toes!" He confesses "I didn't have the heart to tell her to get off but soldiered on!" He reveals.

"Oh my poor baby, blistered and bruised feet and yet soldiered on!" Beth coos caressing his muscly shoulders.

Rick lets out a sigh enjoying Beth's hands working their magic on him.

"And Lizzy…Lizzy kept kneeing me in the shin!" He complains some more making Beth chuckle as she massages up and begins to massage the back of his neck knowing what he was up to.

Rick lets out a low appreciative moan and tries out his luck enjoying being taken care of "Mika kicked me in the knees and-"

Beth swats Rick's back making him groan a laugh knowing he pushed it.

"If you had said Lizzie kicked you, I just may have believed you but my sweet and caring Mika?" She questions doubtfully "No way Buster!" She shakes her head knowingly and Rick wrinkles his nose making them both laugh when she calls him a goofball. They continue to dance on the spot without a care in the world.

Negan's bored eyes fall upon Beth and Rick dancing together. He sits there ignoring the men circled around him trying to outdo one another wondering how Rick caught a young hot chick like Beth Greene. He cocks his head watching them, noting how they seemed to be stuck to one another. He just sits there fascinated at how beautiful Beth looked when Rick twirls her out of his arms only to twirl her back in like a professional. He senses Beth had taken dancing lessons when she was younger, her sexy toned legs told him so. He guessed Rick wasn't the dancing type but only obliged the beautiful young blonde who he seemed to synchronise with. Negan narrows his eyes watching Rick, not for the life of him knowing why.

"Lucky son of a bitch gets to tap that hot piece of ass every night!" One of the men grumbles jealous sitting beside Negan breaking his thoughts to look at him and then Amy was in his line of sight and then there was big sis Andrea beside her.

"Wow, this guy seems to be completely smitten with Beth!" Andrea marvels enviously watching Rick dipping Beth backwards and kissing her cheek as they both laugh "Why can't I find a guy like that?!" She complains grabbing a glass of wine as a waiter walks by.

"Yep!" Amy sigh watching "Bethy's a great girl, she deserves a great guy like Rick, he treats her real good, makes her feel special and wanted!" Amy looks away sadly not knowing what was wrong with her.

Listening to Ed Sheeran's lyrics, Rick liked to think that when he's 70, he and Beth will still be doing this dance and if he was lucky when Beth reached 70, they'd still be going strong.

"I never want you to carry any worries or burdens alone," Rick speaks quietly into Beth's ear as they rotate and move slowly together "I want us to be able to confide in each other, whatever's on our minds, we speak them and share the load however big or small."

"I want that too." Beth agrees and then looks up remembering the conflicted look on Rick's face when she was up on stage as the host went into detail "I knew what you were thinking when I was receiving my medal, the mission, I didn't want to unnecessarily-"

Before Beth could continue to explain, Rick's mouth lowered down onto hers and kissed her ever so gently. When he pulls away, he looks deep into Beth's eyes and they share a look, Rick understood and they understood one another without needing the verbalize any more words. Beth more than happily returns Rick's kiss. It was slow and tender to begin with and as time passed, their kiss deepened with passion, they had forgotten about everyone around them as they get lost in the moment.

Rick's hand releases Beth's waist, trailing up her body until his fingers are entangled in her hair just as he angles her face to a side and he goes on kissing her fiercely. They finally break apart when everyone starts clapping, the song had come to an end. Their breathing was uneven as they open their eyes and lock onto one another not wanting this to be over, they had danced around this long enough.

Rick's eyes dance all over Beth's face, the anticipation of the rest of night already built up in him and clearly evident on his face. He sees the same in Beth too and moves in close "Let's get out of here?" He suggests in a low husky murmur with a certain glint in his eyes as he pushes an errant strand of hair out of Beth's face to behind her ear and she nods agreeing.

Rick takes Beth's hand into his and gives it a sweet little kiss and then looks around for Noah and Amy to inform them, he and Beth were leaving.

Once Rick and Beth enter their hotel room, Rick locks the door behind them after he placed the 'Do Not Disturb' sign up outside. He crossed the room past the large bed to draw the floor-length drapes to the windows that gave the view of the city lights and the buildings opposite their room whilst Beth begins to slip off her sandals.

She switches on the little dim lamp now the drapes were half closed and catches a glimpse of her reflection in the mirror. She was glad she kept her makeup to a minimum and her hair still held its bounce and hadn't gone frizzy from the little spit of rain that fell once they ran from the car to the shelter of the hotel. She begins to remove her earrings from her ears and bangles from her wrists and suddenly felt a nervousness rush over her, a flutter in her stomach now that this was actually happening.

Her eyes lift up to catch Rick in the reflection behind her, taking off his tie and dinner jacket and dropping them down on the little couch as he runs his hands through his slightly dampened wavy hair. She watches Rick's movements, the outline of his hardened muscled body beneath his white shirt and now worries she wasn't going to live up to his expectations. She looks over at the large inviting bed and just stares at it. In a few moments, they would be completely bare to one another, maybe he'd change his mind. She knew Rick wasn't shallow but what if he wasn't attracted to what he sees once she's completely exposed to him. Now she felt shallow for thinking that and thinking that of Rick, she returns her attention back on him.

Feeling Beth's eyes on him, Rick turns to face her and they hold one another's gaze in the mirror. Seeing the shy look on Beth's face as she suddenly looks down at the dressing table, he makes his way over to stand behind her. He places his hands on either side of her shoulders and gently runs them up and down her arms in soothing motions relaxing her, sensing her nerves and a slight hesitancy. He steps forward and presses his chest against her back and breathes into her hair as he continues to caress her, wanting Beth to feel his heartbeat against her, his hands and his warmth and the way his body was reacting to hers. He was happy for them to just stand there as they were for however long Beth needed with the reassurances of how much he loves and adores her, wanting Beth to look up at the mirror to see their reflection and see what he sees.

Beth finally looks back up to see herself enveloped into Rick's arms, love radiating from his eyes. She smiles, appreciating Rick for being so sweet, considerate and understanding - taking this at her pace. She had been giving him the green light for a while now and more so tonight and now she's shying away and hiding. Her lack of confidence in herself was rearing its ugly head again and at the wrong time, at such an important moment. She wanted Rick more than anything but her nerves were getting the better of her. Rick was an older and much more experienced man, knows what he likes and she's only ever been with one person who had always only ever been sweet to her.

"I'm sorry, it's just been a while since I've been in this position and we're finally goin' to do this," Beth hesitates in between sentence feeling like an idiot "your and I'm," She stammers trying to explain and find the right words.

Rick leans in close and squashes the doubts and qualms that he realizes Beth has, quite perplexed because he was the lucky one who hit it lucky to be with her.

"Beth, I love you more than I've loved any woman. You're smart, sweet, funny, caring, gorgeous, compassionate, understanding, selfless, strong!" Rick lists off the top of his head "I respect you on so many levels, I love everything about you, you're not only beautiful on the outside but inside too!" He states matter of fact making Beth peer up at him in the mirror with her big round eyes.

"You're incredibly beautiful and you don't even know it!" Rick smiles seeing the look on Beth's now stunned pretty face "and that is so attractive and sexy, you don't realize how much and you drive me crazy just like you are now!" He murmurs into her cheek, letting his lips brush lightly against the corner of her smiling lips as he presses further into her back and she can feel him and Rick knows she can feel him and wants her to feel what she's doing to him.

"The things I think about you, what I want to do with you, you're always on my mind! Maybe you'd think I'm a dirty man if you were in my head some nights!" He confesses making Beth flush embarrassed placing her hands atop of his and nudging him to stop. He wanted to whisper other things but decides to not overwhelm her.

Beth's heart just soars up into the skies. She felt so much more at ease now just listening to Rick, feeling her self-confidence rise with each admiring remark and touch of his. Her apprehensions were forgotten as she arches back into Rick.

Seeing Beth's change of demeanour, relaxed and at ease reciprocating to his body, Rick presses little warm kisses to her neck "You have such a big heart Beth, there's nothin' I would change about you, I love the woman you are and the woman you're becoming. You bring out the best in anyone, in me and my world just seems a much better place with you in it." He rambles on meaning every word that leaves his lips.

Beth turns around in Rick's arms and studies him for a moment. He was a man of few words but today words were falling out of his mouth so effortlessly and they were all the right words she wanted to hear and he was being sincere not just for the reason to get her into his bed.

Beth tiptoes up and presses her lips against his and begins to pop open buttons from Rick's shirt, no hesitation in her fluid movements. Rick pulls at the material that's tied up at the side of Beth's wrap dress, it quickly drops to one side. He reaches in and unbuttons the button holding the dress together. The material drops apart and he opens the dress to reveal Beth in a matching gorgeous pink lace and silk number.

Rick grins as his fingers trace over the lace and his hand slides over Beth's smooth skin to wrap around her waist. Beth's fingers fumble at the last button, feeling Rick's hands roaming her body, she closes her eyes and rests her face against his bare chest drawing in a deep breath.

Beth lets out a content sigh when she feels her skin tingle all over, it was a good tingling sensation. She was thankful she had worn her newly purchased underwear. Amy and Maggie had encouraged her to purchase some sexy and luxurious lingerie for Rick's benefit, a treat for him to unravel the pretty undergarments to reveal the prize beneath them. She was apprehensive at first that everything was too fitting and sexy but now standing there half naked, with Rick's hands and lips all over her - she was glad she'd taken their advice because not only did she feel sexy and beautiful in what she was in but Rick's hungry eyes seemed to love her in them too.

"You've put a spell on me!" Rick mumbles as he trails kisses from Beth's lips, down her neck whilst his hands snake their way up and were fondly cupping her breasts covered in her laced bra. Beth arches her back forward releasing a little gasp as Rick squeezes and caresses her and slowly but expertly unhooks her bra and slips it off and drops it onto the dressing table.

Rick pulls back a couple of inches and lets his eyes roam over Beth's perky breasts and dusky pink nipples for a moment, thinking they were the prettiest he's ever seen - he leans forward and takes a hardened nipple into his mouth letting out a hum once he tastes her sweetness and waves of pleasure shoot through Beth's body at Rick's attention, she groans lowly.

"You taste like strawberries!" He confirms knowing she had rubbed on the lotion he gifted her that afternoon when she had ummmed and ahhhed over it in the department store "No, you taste better than strawberries!" He confirms adamantly making Beth giggle at Rick's ramblings about strawberries and lotions and the way his tongue was teasing her "Sweet and juicy and succulent strawberries!"

"Oh my god, Rick!" Beth moans in delight taking a fistful of Rick's curls into her hand feeling his tongue swirling and nipping at her with his mouth now fully latched on. The blood pumps through her veins stronger than ever.

Rick pulls her lower body into his and she gasps when she feels how turned on Rick was as he grinds his pelvis into her stomach.

"What is it sweetheart?" Rick asks teasingly switching to her left breast feeling her clutch his hair tighter in her fists.

"Rick!" She pants grabbing his face into the palm of her hands so she could see the desire burning in his eyes and they were burning so bright. It was all the confirmation she needed that Rick truly wanted her.

Rick steps back towards the bed, pulling Beth with him whilst she undresses him, freeing him as quickly as she can out of his clothes and tossing them across the room. Rick was helping Beth with his belt whilst kicking off his boots, toeing off his socks and then his trousers and boxer follow pursuit until the backs of his legs bump against the bed, resulting in him dropping into a sitting position taking Beth down to straddle his lap as they continue to kiss and caress one another. Beth's hand trails down his torso, past his belly following the light sprinkling of hair until she reaches his hardness and grips hold of him tightly.

Rick breaks away from their passionate kiss upon Beth's touch and looks up into her waiting eyes. He couldn't hold back any longer and neither could Beth. His hands run up and down the insides of her thighs getting her ready and she signals with a nod of her head whilst letting go and caressing Rick's biceps and planting another kiss to his lips.

"I want this Rick, I want you!" Beth whispers breathlessly making Rick's smile broaden, he recaptures her mouth with his.

Rick helps Beth to sit up as he pulls off her panties and drops it on top of his clothes. He leans back a little, knees apart, positioning himself and helps Beth sink down slowly, inch by inch on his hardened member. Beth throws back her head as she moans loudly feeling herself stretch around Rick's engorged length filling her until she feels his complete fullness buried deep inside of her.

Rick moans throatily with delight feeling the warm tightness and how wet and ready Beth was for him. He couldn't remember the last time he felt this and the hunger in him or wanted someone so much as he wanted Beth. This was their first time and he didn't want to be rough, he wanted Beth to know that she was in control and they'd go at her pace. It was taking all his inner strength to not to just ravish Beth on the bed like he wanted to. One day soon but today it was all about Beth and her needs.

Desire and a flame was burning high between them, they wrap their arms around each other, their bodies locked tightly together as they begin their lovemaking, stealing kisses and caresses as they pant and moan sitting on the edge of the bed.

When Beth finally opens her eyes, they were in a daze as she meets Rick's who's watching her with a sweaty flushed face. They were taking their sweet time, stopping and kissing and restarting at their leisurely pleasure. They had moved further up the bed as Beth continues to rock her hips at a steady pace atop of Rick. Rick matches her rhythm and they feel the quickening of pace build. Beth feels the rising of pleasure "Rick, oh god Rick!" She pants and doesn't want to stop, she wants Rick to take her to the edge of blissful release "Please Rick!" she begs as he thrusts his hips up into her.

In one quick move, Rick flips Beth onto her back and pins her body and hands to the mattress knowing exactly what she wants and what she's asking for. She wanted more than the gentle and tenderness and he would oblige her. He starts to thrust in and out of her as he kisses her hungrily. She smiles at Rick's eagerness to comply and the feeling of his powerful movements. Rick buries his face into the nape of her neck as Beth wraps her legs around his waist relishing in the feeling of them being so close and together. He reaches back to secure her legs in place whilst her hands move from Rick's lower back and wraps them around his neck as she follows his pace, all the time letting out little pants and moans of pleasure fuelling Rick on. He readjusts their position and his renewed thrusts make Beth cry out when he finally hits the spot.

"Rick, yes right there! right there!" She continues to pant urging him on to continue to hit that delicious spot and again, he obliges her.

Rick holds Beth in his strong arms and murmurs encouraging words into her ear feeling he was very close. He grabs hold of her hips and pulls her bottom up close into him. Beth hitches her right leg up high around Rick's waist. He loses his self-control and thrusts deeper and at a faster pace which is finally Beth's undoing and drives her into a powerful orgasm that makes her vision go blurry, her breath caught in her throat until she cries out with pleasure. It doesn't take much longer for Rick to follow pursuit.

Rick curses between clenched teeth when he feels Beth clenching around him and that was his undoing.

Beth feels Rick stiffen in her arms, she holds on tightly to his body wanting his orgasm to be as powerful as hers and it was, Rick moans out her name when he comes deeply inside of her.

Rick finally rolls off of Beth and on to his back, pulling her into his side. Her head comes to rest on his chest as he pulls the covers up over their exhausted bodies. They lay there, limbs entangled whilst catching their breathes. Rick wipes away the perspiration from above Beth's lips and plants a kiss to her forehead as they cuddle.

Minutes pass, Beth was drawing lazy patterns on Rick's chest. She smiles thinking about what they'd just done not so long ago. She's was completely at a loss for words to explain just how amazing and wonderful their lovemaking was. She's never experienced that kind of powerful lovemaking before and her cheeks flare up remembering how loud she was and how much she begged Rick to have his way with her. She lifts her head up to stare down at Rick who was laying back, propped up on the crook of his arm staring up at the ceiling with a relaxed and content look on his face. The most relaxed and contents she's seen him.

Rick turns his head to look at Beth when her fingers come to a stop and slowly slides down his torso and disappears under the covers "Hey!" he says catching her hand in his and entwining their fingers together, he felt his body reacting to Beth's touch quicker than he thought he would. He had never desired anyone like he desired Beth, not even Lori when he had been in love with her all those years ago.

"Hey!" Beth smiles back and rests her chin back down on his chest not breaking eye contact.

"That was," Beth thinks and beams "Perfect!" she bites down on her lower lip wanting to hear Rick's thoughts.

"It was," Rick says back with a smirk making Beth blush, she covers his eyes with her hand as he pats her bottom and cups her left cheek into his hand "You were perfect and amazing!" He adds.

Beth grin widens, she takes her hand back and continues to draw patterns over Rick's body. She lifts her eyes back at him "You were amazing and perfect too!" She confirms resting her head back down and listening to Rick's heartbeat against her ear.

They lay there in companionable silence, listening to laughter coming from outside - people returning to their rooms after a night out on the town. It had gone past midnight.

"I wish we can stay like this forever!" Beth sighs feeling Rick's hand massaging her shoulder, her back as he works his way down.

Rick peers down at Beth as he caresses her wishing the same.

Soon he says silently to Beth sliding his hand over the curve of her hip.

Moments ago, Beth had felt exhausted when Rick had taken care of her. She was fine just to lay nuzzled in his arms but now with Rick's touches, they had ignited that fire again in her stomach and between her thighs. She felt her body responding to his tentative touches.

"How does an extra day sound?" Slips out of Rick's mouth before he can stop himself - he had wanted to spring the surprise on her in the morning when she woke up in his arms but he couldn't wait to see her reaction.

Beth lifts her head back up in interest, tilting her head to the side with a slight smile for him to elaborate.

"We return to the farm the day after tomorrow," Rick confirms seeing the corners of Beth's lips lift up at the news.

"But how?" Beth asks adjusting herself against him.

"You and I are stayin' another day in Atlanta, your dad and Patricia are takin' care of Carl, Sasha has invited us to lunch tomorrow, we can make that to dinner if you want she's not fussed but other than that, the day is ours - so," Rick's smile turns into a full on grin as his hand slides down to cup her bottom "We can stay like this until then."

Beth's grin matches Ricks, she lets out a squeal of delight and hugs him.

"You're not pulling my leg?" Beth asks pulling away to look at Rick and he shakes his head.

Beth has a playful look on her face as she hovers down over Rick "Well then, we might as well make the most of it and seeing as we get to have a lay in tomorrow morning now…?" Beth gives a suggestive smirk, Rick understands her meaning.

"Definitely!" Rick answers with a cheeky smile making Beth giggle when he switches their positions and attacks her with his loving.

Down the corridor, Negan sits beside a sullen and upset Amy consoling her.

"Dry those eyes baby doll!" He says taking the little bottle of whiskey out of Amy's hand and puts it down on the nightstand.

"I'm too late, he's with Lily, my friend Lily who I work with - of all the people!" Amy sobs into her hands and leans into Negan's embrace as he pulls her in, shushing her.

"You don't need that guy!" He says softly "Let Negan take care of you tonight!" He says lifting her chin up.

Amy looks into the concerned brown eyes staring back at her and before she can push Negan away, he closes the distance between them and presses a kiss to her lips.