Domestic Fluff (With Bethy)

[quarreller]

Daryl was up with the new baby, taking his turn with the nightly feeding, changing, and rocking so that Beth could catch up on sleep. He didn't see it as a chore, in fact, he'd insisted on taking over at night, seeing as he was often out hunting or scouting during the day while Beth was juggling kids and classes. He looked forward to it, even. Having that special bonding time, telling stories, and hunting imaginary monsters for a change.

Truth be told, both of the little ones had fallen asleep ages ago. He was just sitting on an old loveseat in the nursery; toddler sprawled across his lap, newborn cradled against his chest. Basking in the warm, fuzzy feeling that filled his chest. That same feeling that first crept up on him when he held Rick's daughter in his arms was now a permanent resident in his heart, and he wouldn't have it any other way.

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[quarreller]

"Four?" Daryl arched his brows in feigned surprise as he considered the prospect. "Is that all?" Six little heartbreakers running around, singing songs, collecting shiny rocks and brightly colored leaves. Learning how to shoot a bow, and play the guitar. Six tousled heads of dirty blond hair all gathered around a campfire, telling stories. Six eventual teenagers to cuss him out and challenge him to see the world in other ways?

He chuckled, letting his hands drift down to Beth's backside and giving a hearty, playful squeeze. "You wantin' to get started on the next one already?"

[bethy]

"Four...or maybe five...seven seems like a lucky number." She was smiling.

Truthfully, if her husband asked for even a dozen children, she would do her best to give him just that. She loved him so much that she simply didn't have it in her to deny him anything.

Beth laughed quietly when he reached for her bottom. "No, not just yet...Jasper is still nursing." She glanced over at their babies, safe and sound and loved more than they could ever know. "He has your eyes," she said quietly, "and his hair is turning darker."

She knew that Daryl had been nervous about having a boy...he rarely spoke of his family, but his childhood still haunted him. The scars on his back were a painful reminder of all that he had suffered.

When Beth had seen them for the first time, she had traced them with her lips, whispering words of affection and comfort. It was then that she had vowed to love him fiercely with all her heart and soul, enough to try and make up for all that pain he had endured ten times over.

"I'm so proud to be your wife, and the mother of your children." She leaned against him, arms wrapped around his body, gazing up at him with adoration.

[quarreller]

"There's no hurry." Daryl agreed, though he left his hands where they were, comfortably resting just below the small of her back. The little ones grew so fast, he wanted to be sure and enjoy this early stage, and give Jasper just as much of his attention as he'd given Holly. To make sure they both grew up with all the love and support he never had.

"I'm proud to be your husband, and their father. Proud of how far we've come." He'd never thought he could become the kind of man he was now, but he was grateful for the opportunity he'd been given. "Feels like I'm the luckiest man in the world."

[bethy]

With their hands on each other, she swayed their bodies back and forth a little, humming softly. She was tired, but between the kids, the rest of their family, and their jobs in the community...sometimes it was hard to carve out a little time just for the two of them.

"I wish that my Mama and Daddy could have seen them," she admitted quietly, sounding a little sad. "My brother, too. That Holly and Jasper could have been spoiled by grandparents. And that they could have all seen us together...had a proper weddin'. I just know Daddy would have been proud to have you for a son-in-law, Mama would have loved you, and you'd be fast friends with Shawn." It had been a while, since she had spoken of her lost family so openly.

Beth looked up at him, a wistful smile on her face. "But they have their Aunt Maggie and Uncle Glenn, Carol, Rick and Michonne, and their cousins Hershel and Carl and Judith and all the others...they won't ever be alone."

[quarreller]

"I know." He rocked her gently, his hands coming up to stroke her hair. He didn't have the same regret about his own parents, but there was a part of him that wondered if Holly might have been able to bring out a softer side of her Uncle Merle. He was pretty sure that girl could melt the Antarctic with her smile.

"I reckon I'm just lucky Aunt Maggie didn't pull a shotgun on me years ago."

[bethy]

Beth laughed quietly at his comment, still swaying gently together. It was a shame that they couldn't have music...she wanted to dance with him properly, or play the piano for him.

"Well, if she had, she knows I'd have pulled a shotgun on her," Beth said, matter-of-factly. She reached up, gently caressing his face. "You must be tired...wanna lay down?"

[quarreller]

Daryl murmured a soft affirmation, his eyelids growing heavy as her touch relaxed him. Beth was a feisty one, and stubborn, as he knew very well. She wasn't afraid to speak up for herself. Heck, if she hadn't confronted him about his feelings, he reckoned he would have spent the rest of his life admiring her from afar.

But he was glad things hadn't turned out like he'd reckoned. "We should rest."

[bethy]

Beth would never forget the evening that had sparked their relationship. Her, sitting on the hood of a fancy car, and calling out to him: 'hey, Daryl...when are you gonna kiss me?'

That memory always made her smile.

She tugged him down to her level, kissing him slowly yet thoroughly before breaking away and hugging him. "We should," she agreed.

Beth headed to her side of the bed, climbing in carefully and pulling the covers over her. Her body curled up around Jasper, gazing down at both children lovingly.

[quarreller]

Carefully, Daryl slid into bed on his side, draping his arm across his little family as they settled in. He knew there was no telling what the future might hold, but it was enough to know that for the moment, they were safe and sound. And that, one day, he might get to watch his family grow even more.

[bethy]

Beth caught his hand with her own, gently pressing a kiss to his knuckles before lowering it. "Good night, love," she said, words barely audible in the dark room.

Being a mother, she couldn't help but fuss over their two babies just a little, brushing Holly's hair back and slightly readjusting Jasper's arm. Beth was always making sure they were comfortable and positioned correctly.

[quarreller]

"G'night," Daryl murmured, eyes drifting closed in spite of himself. He never wanted to miss a moment with his family, but he knew he could rest easy with them close by. "Sleep tight."