Thank you an infinite amount of times for your support and love of this story.

…

Part Nineteen.

Their life doesn't change that much after the wedding; not that she really expects it to. She goes back to the bakery and he starts work on the garage, getting it ready for its grand reopening and it seems as if they get offers from everyone in Evergreen about watching Molly for them while they're working. The baby seems to love being with Oscar and Axel because Oscar and Axel have Cornelius and she spends her days, bursts with laughter and crawling after the cat around the motel office. And every time Beth comes to get her in the afternoon after the bakery is closed, she cries because Cornelius can't come, too.

Daryl tries to explain to her that Cornelius is an outdoor cat and they can't bring him home and make him an indoor cat. Molly doesn't understand though and she cries and throws fits and she wails and Beth doesn't know what to do because she doesn't want to just give her daughter anything she wants if she screams loud enough for it.

She probably should have told Daryl that though because two days later, he comes home from work and he is holding something in his coat. Beth knows what it is before he even pulls it out and when Molly sees the black and gray cat, she squeals with delight and Beth smiles as Daryl shows Molly how to hold the cat gently and he catches her eye as she watches them and he smiles at her and gives her a shrug. And she can only laugh at him and shake her head.

…

She tries to remember what it was like sleeping without Daryl. She knows she obviously did sleep without him for many years and there was that little bit of time when Merle came back and Daryl was gone but now, he's here beside her every night. It's not like in the movies or romance novels. They aren't curled together, cuddling, every night. Sometimes, he steals all of the blankets and sometimes, she kicks him in her sleep but sometimes, she wakes up and her head is on his chest and she hears his steady heartbeat in her ear and she has never felt more well-rested.

He has to go to New Orleans for a weekend to pick up some parts and the Saturday night he is gone, she tosses and turns and winds up sitting downstairs on the couch for most of the night, watching a string of movies on Lifetime. She knows it's silly that she can't sleep without him but when he comes home the next day and she practically leaps into his arms, she sees how tired he looks, too, and maybe he can't sleep without her either.

That night, in bed together, they don't go to sleep together right away. Instead, there are kisses and touches and soft panting for air and she wants to laugh at both of them for being so addicted to one another like this, acting they had been separated for years instead of just for one night. But then she reminds herself that there is nothing wrong with a husband and wife being so deeply in love, they need each other like this. In fact, this is the sort of marriage she always dreamt of having for herself someday.

She gasps his name and arches her back and tugs him in closer to her. He almost has her feeling as if she's going to shake right off the bed and she wonders if they should spend more nights apart so they'll have more reunions like this.

…

Molly is turning three. They have now put forth enough money to put a down payment down on the house and Daryl's garage has a steady stream of business and a steady flow of cash and Beth's bakery is doing better than she ever hoped. Some rich kids from Charlotte were passing through – though who just passed through Evergreen, she still didn't know – and had stopped at the bakery. Suddenly, she has these trust fund kids in love with her chocolate cake with chocolate buttercream frosting and they are paying for her to ship cakes up to Charlotte for them.

Sometimes, Beth catches herself just standing there for a moment and looking around as if she can't quite believe that this is her life. She has a husband and a daughter and a successful business and good friends and she is so happy with everything. And she knows her daddy would be happy, too, because this is what he meant when he wrote that letter years earlier. He wanted her to go out and find something for herself and she has. She has found the best life for herself.

…

They run into Andrea in the grocery store and Beth isn't sure why she feels nervous. Molly is sitting in the cart, chattering to herself as she eats from and plays with a box of animal crackers. Daryl is pushing the cart and Beth is going over their list and as they turn into the cereal aisle, they almost bump right into Andrea.

She smiles at them and Beth smiles back and sees that Andrea's eyes don't even linger on Daryl. She just says hello to him and to Molly and says what an adorable little girl she is and tells Beth that she is going to call her about some coffee cake for a meeting at her law firm that she is going to need baked. Beth smiles and tells her to call her anytime and then Andrea is gone with a wave.

When it is just them again, Beth exhales a breath of air.

"What?" Daryl asked and he is looking at her with amusement shining in his eyes.

She looks at him and almost smiles, shaking her head. "I don't know. I was just nervous about seeing her and having her… having her around you."

He smirks at that and begins pushing the cart again, Beth walking beside him. "Andrea liked me, yeah. Wasn' a secret. But it was only because she wanted to go slummin' for a while. Wasn' more than that."

Beth nods because she knows that.

"'sides, Shane and her are hookin' up with each other now. Rick told me," he shrugs.

"Ew," she can't help but laugh at that because the idea of Shane still bothers her and she's so glad she doesn't see him around that much anymore. "Why did he tell you?"

Daryl shrugs again. "Like to know what Shane's up to. Make sure he's stayin' away from you," he says completely casual and Beth just looks at him, surprised and a little confused, but Daryl doesn't say anything more on the topic and grabs a box of Fruit Loops that they have a coupon for, tossing it into the cart.

…

They go to the farm often on Sundays because Molly adores her Aunt Maggie and seeing the cows in the field. This Sunday though, Maggie races out to meet them and before Daryl can even turn the truck off, Maggie has stuck her hand through the open window and both sisters begin screeching. Beth scrambles out of the truck and they embrace one another, practically jumping up and down.

"Glenn and I are getting married!" Maggie exclaims to Daryl as he pulls Molly from her car seat into his arms.

"'bout damn time," Daryl says but he's smiling and then Maggie is hugging him and Molly both and Daryl pats a hand on her back.

Beth and Maggie spend the rest of the day talking about weddings and Daryl helps Glenn mend one of the fences and they talk about crops and bikes rather than weddings and when they all come together for dinner that evening, Maggie is telling Glenn everything she wants and Glenn just nods his head, going along with it all.

On the way home, Molly is sound asleep in the back and Beth looks at Daryl, a faint smile across her lips and her hand reaching out to touch his thigh.

"I'm glad we got married the way we did," she says.

"Yeah?" He glances at her before back to the road.

She nods. "Maggie's going to be a complete Bridezilla. You would never think that looking at her but the next few months are going to be hard on Glenn."

"If he's smart, he'll just agree with anythin' she says," Daryl says. "Easiest way to deal with you Greene women."

Beth looks at him and she wants to argue but she laughs instead because he's right and he smirks a little, taking her hand from his thigh and twining their fingers together. She rubs circles on his wrist for the rest of the way home.

…

"Daddy?" Her voice is tired and the knock is soft and Beth almost moans in disappointment when Daryl lifts his head from between her legs. Even in the semi-darkness of their bedroom, she can see the glistening on the beard on his chin and she had just been grinding against his face seconds before but their daughter is here now, wanting them, and that is more important than an orgasm.

Daryl stands up as Beth pulls the sheet over her naked body and he wipes at his lips and chin before going to the door, opening it.

"What are you doin' out of bed, girl?" Daryl asks in that gruff yet gentle voice of his.

"Mama's screaming," Molly said and peeks past Daryl into the room.

Beth feels her face explode in a blush and she pulls the sheet tighter around her as she sits up. "I'm sorry, baby. I was having a bad dream. I didn't mean to wake you."

Daryl looks back at her with a smirk and he then bends down, lifting Molly up in her arms, the stuffed fawn in her arms as always. "I'm takin' care of your mama. Don't you worry. Now I'm takin' you to bed so you can go back to sleep."

Molly yawns and nods and gives Beth a tired wave as Daryl carries her down the hall. And when he comes into the bedroom again a few minutes later, he closes and locks the door and Beth can't help but start laughing softly. Daryl doesn't say anything. He just gives that rare smile of his and shakes his head as he goes back to their bed. She moves the sheet off so her naked body is exposed again and he sinks back down onto his knees, her legs draping over his shoulders and his face happily burying between them once more.

This time, Beth grabs a pillow and bites down on the corner of it to keep herself from screaming again.

…

They go to the diner one night for dinner and T-Dog has hired a new waitress to cover what used to be Beth's shifts. Her nametag says Tara and it's her first night and she seems completely frazzled. Thankfully, Martinez is the night cook as always and he knows Daryl wants his burger medium rare and Beth doesn't want salt on her fries and she forgets Daryl's drink order.

"What's with these waitresses T keeps hirin'?" He asks. "Always forgettin' my drink orders."

Beth rolls her eyes and nudges his leg with her foot beneath the table. She then hands Molly one of the French fries before taking one for herself.

"I forgot your drink order but you fell in love with me anyway. Should I be worried about Tara?" Beth asks, her eyes twinkling with her teasing.

Daryl just smirks. "If she starts singin' Taylor Swift to me and showin' me how to make S'mores, better be careful."

Beth can only laugh.

…

Molly is just four when Daryl decides to take her hunting for the first time. He wants to start teaching her how to track and how to be quiet before anything else and Beth comes with them because being out in the woods with Daryl is still one of her favorite things.

She loves seeing the way Daryl smiles with pride when he teaches Molly and she listens to his instructions, being light on her feet, being as quiet as him. She is just like her daddy. There always seems to be so much more of Daryl than Beth in their daughter but Beth doesn't mind. Why should she? She loves seeing Daryl and their daughter together. It never surprised her that he would be an absolutely amazing father even if he, himself, didn't really believe that of himself for the longest time.

That night, they camp out beside the fire ring Daryl first took her to and they make S'mores and Beth sings songs and braids Molly's hair and when she is asleep, she and Daryl sit there and stare up at the stars like they always do.

…

The call comes at a few minutes past one o'clock in the morning.

It's Merle and he's in jail in Wheeling, West Virginia. She watches as Daryl takes down all of the information with a lump in her throat and lead in her stomach. She's been waiting for this. Since he came back to her, since she was pregnant and gave birth to Molly and they got married – through all of it, she has been waiting for Merle to return to their lives.

Daryl throws a few clothes into a gym bag quickly and she stands there, wondering how she can ask him not to go because this is Merle and he's already left her once for him but this time, it's not just her. It's Molly, too, and Daryl can't leave their daughter.

But the words clump in her throat and she exhales a shaky breath as she follows him down the stairs. Molly's in the living room, watching Sleeping Beauty as she is prone to do at any time of the day, and Daryl scoops her up, hugging her tightly and kissing her head.

"You be good for your mama," he tells her. "I'll be back soon."

"Will you?" Beth blurts out before she can stop herself.

Daryl stares at her as he slowly puts Molly back down on her feet. "Course I will," he says and he doesn't look confused at all as to why she is asking that. He comes to her and leans down, kissing her. "I'll call you when I get there," he promises and she fights the urge to grab hold of his shirt and keep him there with her.

All she does is go out on the porch and watches him drive away.

…

He's late when he calls but it doesn't matter because she's not asleep.

"I can go see him in the mornin'. I need to get some sleep first," he yawns.

"How was the drive?" She asks, still feeling so nervous, she can throw up.

"Fine. Long." He yawns again. "I gotta get some sleep. I'll call you tomorrow."

"Okay," she says and she selfishly wants him to stay on the line because suddenly, she remembers them from a few years ago – the first time this happened – and she still sometimes wishes she had been able to hold onto him better.

"Love you," he says, almost mumbling as he drifts off.

"Love you, too," she says earnestly. Almost desperately, hoping that it's enough.

…

He doesn't call the next day.

She calls him and leaves him four voice messages, hoping he's alright, telling him to call her, telling him he needs to call her and she bites at her nails, her stomach in a knot the entire day because her phone stays silent and she has no idea what's going on right now up in Wheeling; what Merle is saying to his brother.

She tries to hide it from Molly and they spend the day baking sugar cookies and playing with her dollhouse and Pudge the cat and when Molly asks when is daddy coming home, Beth gives her a small smile and promises her soon.

Daryl better not make a liar out of her.

…

Her eyes snap open when she hears the familiar rumble of a truck outside and she instantly looks to the clock. It's almost four a.m. and she can't believe she had been able to fall asleep at all.

She races from their bed and down the stairs and throws the door open. He is just getting out of the truck when she throws herself against him, causing him to stumble back but he holds onto her and holds onto the ground with firm feet. And she can't help but start crying because he's back. He saw Merle and he came back and the past few days, she has been so worried, she hasn't eaten anything and she's been so scared but he's back. He's here.

"I called you," she said, pulling her head back so she could look at him.

"My phone's dead and I didn' stop to charge it. I just wanted to get out of there."

"What happened?" She asks.

He shrugs and she feels his fingers through the flannel shirt of his she has stolen to sleep in. His eyes are looking into hers and no where else. "Merle went one way and I guess I went the other."

And Beth has so many questions still but those words are more than enough right now and all she can do is exhale a breath. He wipes a thumb across one of her damp cheeks and she closes her eyes, hugging him again.

…

She wakes up to laughter and pots banging in the kitchen. She is surprised Daryl isn't still beside her considering how exhausted he had been and she pulls herself from the bed, heading down the stairs and going into the kitchen. She leans in the doorway and smiles as she watches Daryl and Molly standing at the counter, making more of a mess than pancakes but Molly is laughing and Daryl is smiling and Beth doesn't know how long she stands there before they spot her and Molly proudly shows her the pancake batter that is full of lumps. Beth declares it to be the best pancake batter she has ever seen though and she kisses them both and Daryl tells her to sit down because he and Molly are in charge of breakfast today.

And they are the absolute worst pancakes she has ever tasted and she smiles when she sees Daryl grimacing too but Molly is so happy and they eat them and tell her how delicious they are and their eyes meet from across the table.

And she thinks of the path Daryl has taken – asking her out and having this house and daughter and marrying her – and she watches him as he listens to Molly telling him all about something from her preschool class and Beth doesn't wonder if he's happy. He doesn't have to say it. She can just see it because she knows him. She knows she knows him better than anyone.

And she knows that no one knows her better than him and this path she has taken for herself – all starting with leaving the farm and stopping for gas in Evergreen, Georgia – was the path she was always meant to take. She knows she's happy. And she knows that he knows it, too.

…

The end.

Thank you so much for reading and please review one last time!

*A Special A/N: my sister has recently passed away, her funeral just this week, and I am going through a lot of things. I don't know what I will write next. I am waiting for something truly wonderful to inspire me for my next Daryl/Beth story. I am sorry to say though that my muse for From Afar and Not a Bad Thing has completely disappeared and I will not be continuing either of those. I'm sorry to those who were enjoying those two. I hope you understand though. Thank you.