Not your typical Bethyl story, but it WILL be a Bethyl story. Please keep that in mind! :)

I hope you all enjoy!

August 2013

Beth had just turned 26 that summer, and six months before her 26th, she got married. It was also her first year as a Therapist, because after all, she loved to help people and figured she'd make a career out of it. It was challenging at times, but very much worth it.

She lived just on the outskirts of Atlanta with her husband, Negan, a well known car salesman and a little league coach in his off time. He was a friend of her Father's, who introduced the two about three years ago.

It wasn't an instant attraction at first. Despite his charm and sensuality, there was an excessive amount of sarcasm and crudeness. She learned to accept that part of him, though, because that's who he was and he wasn't changing for anyone. But even though he was crude and sarcastic, he was very much a hopeless romantic.

Making her way into work that morning was purely exhausting, she probably yawned a million times on her way to work, even after two cups of coffee. It was a late night for her once Negan finished cleaning the kitchen, and a slight hangover from the three glasses of wine she drank. She almost called off work, but remembered she had a new patient starting. Surely rescheduling wouldn't be right, and he sounded as if he needed a lot of advice and reassurance.

"Morning, Beth." Karen greeted.

"Morning." She yawned as she signed in.

"Late night?"

"Kinda."

She smiled."Oh, your 2:30 cancelled. Tara, poor thing is sick."

"Really?" Beth frowned."I hope everything is okay?"

"It was actually her mother, she has strep throat."

"Poor thing." Beth shrugged and walked to her office door."I'm sure she'll reschedule once she feels better."

She unlocked her office door and walked in. It was a fairly large room, with two large bookshelves on one wall, a desk by the window and two chairs in front facing each other. She also had a fresh water fish tank in the corner next to the door. It was a birthday gift from Negan, after learning that she loved fish. She took a seat at her desk with a sigh, and began listening to some voicemails.

An instant smile spread across her face, after hearing the husky growl of her husband on the other end, telling her to have a good day and that he loved her. It was something he did every morning, or when he could. Sometimes he was really busy and didn't have time, so he'd make it a lunch time phone call or voicemail. They always seemed to make her day.

After she finished with her voicemails, she fed the fish and straightened up a bit before her first patient. But before she could glance at the clock for the time, her phone was buzzing, signaling her next appointment. She hurried over to the door, quickly glancing at her reflection in the mirror along the way, and opened the door to the waiting room.

...

When her first appointment with Amy was over, ending at exactly 11:15, she noticed a tall dark haired man at the front desk as she saw her out. He turned around and she offered a smile, but he offered nothing as she walked toward her. She said goodbye to Amy and turned her attention to the man to the left of her.

"Hi, you must be Daryl?" She extended her hand.

"Mhm." He took her hand.

"Well come inside and have a seat."

He walked inside and she automatically noticed that he was tense, maybe it was just physical and not emotional, but in some cases physical tension can be from emotional. She shut the door behind her and walked to the window behind her desk, opening it a crack to let in some much needed fresh air.

"Sorry, it's a bit stuffy in here."

"S'alright."

She sighed and walked over to the chair opposite of him."Well, why don't you tell me a little about yourself?"

He shrugged and looked around her office, staring at all the degrees that hung on the wall, and a cork board full of pictures. Pictures of her family, a husband it looked like, and a few random quotes.

He finally returned his gaze back to the blonde and shrugged."Not much to tell."

"Well, are you married?"

He shook his head.

She raised a brow."Girlfriend?"

"Nope."

"A bachelor, interesting." She smiled.

"Ain't a bachelor neither, cause nobody wants to fucking be around me, not with my brother around."

Her smile slowly faded."Oh, um, well - okay."

"Sorry." He mumbled.

"No no, that's what I am here for." She reassured."I want to know why you're here."

He shrugged again."Just...havin' some problems, I guess."

"Like what?"

"...My brother, my dad, my fucked up childhood. I'unno, everything."

"Okay, well what made you call me a few days ago?" She asked, crossing her legs.

He sighed."This woman I know, Carol, she told me about you. Said I'd benefit from comin', so she gave me your number."

Beth's eyes lit up."Carol is such a sweet woman, I'm so happy she recommended me to you."

"Yeah well, we'll see how I feel after this."

"That's fine, Daryl." She smiled.

He waved his hand."Anyway, I figured what could it hurt? Ain't got much to lose anymore."

Beth could tell just by how he spoke that he was a troubled man, and he would most likely be a challenge. Among him being troubled, she could tell he wasn't an open person, so getting anything out of him would be like pulling teeth. And she wasn't a Dentist.

"So you're neighbors with Carol? That's wonderful, she's such a sweet person."

He nodded."Yeah, her husband's a dick though...Reminds me of my dad."

That was the reason why Carol came to Beth, her husband was abusive towards her, but she couldn't leave him. However, things have changed and now she was leaving, after he directed some of his anger towards their daughter, Sophia.

"How so?" She asked.

"Well you know how he is."

"I'm not allowed to discuss what I talk about with my other patients, Daryl. So I'm asking you how he reminds you of your dad."

Daryl fidgeted with a hole in his pants, obviously stalling.

She leaned forward."It's okay to tell me, that's what I'm here for."

He glanced up."He beats her... I hear him late at night screaming and throwing shit. Next mornin' she's got bruises and cuts on her face, kinda like how my mom did." He paused for a minute."And the little girl, I hear her crying a lot...I feel bad 'cause I wanna help, but Merle says it's best to stay out of it."

Beth nodded."And Merle is?"

"My shit for nothing older brother."

"You're very hostile about your family." She observed."I feel like we should talk about your childhood a little, maybe I can get a clearer picture of things."

"Whatever floats your boat, Doc."

Beth cleared her throat."Everything and anything that you can remember will help me to understand you better."

Daryl snorted."Where do I start?"

What do you all think of the first chapter?

There will be some shorter chapters with just Therapy visits (like this one) and other times longer chapters with some Negan and Beth. And later on, there will be Bethyl chapters *heart eyes*

I hope you all liked it, I was really nervous for a few reasons: Beth is a bit older in this story, but I figured she had to be if she wanted to be a Therapist. And Beth is married to Negan lol I know he's not everyone's favorite at the moment.

Please review!

Xoxo