quarreller | Domestic Fluff (With Bethy)

Domestic Fluff (With Bethy)

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

They were lucky: both of Beth's pregnancies had gone smoothly. Even so, her body was still recovering, and they did not have access to the wide assortment of helpful technology that people used to have. So she was lucky to have a husband like Daryl, who not only didn't mind, but insisted on helping as much as he could.

Late one night, she woke abruptly from a nightmare, heart pounding, a sick feeling in her gut. Her first instinct was to reach for Daryl...but his side of the bed was cold. Though she knew that awful nightmare wasn't real, her strong maternal instinct drove her to her feet. With slippers on, she grabbed the lightweight robe at the end of the bed and pulled it on as she made her way through the dark house and to the makeshift nursery.

A candle cast soft, flickering light over the three people most dear to her in all the world. Sitting on the love seat all together was her own heart: Daryl, Holly, and Jasper.

The knot of unease in her stomach relaxed. Looking tired yet smiling, she leaned against the doorframe for a moment, arms hugging herself dressed in a lightweight sky blue nightgown and matching robe. The sight before her made her heart ache with all the love she felt.

Daryl held Jasper close, his little head resting against his father's heart. He had turned three months old a little over a week ago, and his personality was already beginning to shine through. And sprawled on Daryl's lap was Holly, almost two and a half, sleeping soundly with a little smile on her mouth. One tiny fist still clutched part of his shirt, making sure he wasn't about to go anywhere.

Beth quietly approached them, not wanting to wake the children...though they were both so deeply asleep, there seemed to be little chance of that. Her hand reached out, gently brushing a lock of Holly's hair out of her eyes.

"Hey, love...you do know you need some sleep too, right?" She smiled warmly as she looked up at Daryl.

Daryl had been nervous about having a boy. Afraid he might project the issues of his past onto a new generation. That he'd be too tough on the kid, or not tough enough. In the end, the only person he was being hard on was himself; wanting to make sure he held himself to a higher standard of fatherhood than the example he'd been shown as a child. But the moment Beth had placed their son in his arms, he'd realized labels like "boy" or "girl" didn't really matter. A baby was a baby--every bit in need of care and protection as any other--and he'd fallen every bit as hard for Jasper as he had for Holly, and for Judith.

He smiled up at Beth, blinking away the mist and hoping he could pass it off as sleepiness. "I know, but they were just so peaceful, I didn't want to move."

Beth pretended not to see the mist in his eyes, even though the sight melted her heart. She hadn't known it was possible to love the man more than she already did, but seeing the way he looked at their children...well. Her heart had grown even more, to accommodate all the love she felt.

She smiled, carefully sitting down beside him. "I know that feelin'," she said. Her small body pressed up against his side, placing a light kiss on Jasper's brow before resting her head against his shoulder. After that nightmare she had, she needed to feel her husband's warmth and see her children, safe and sound with their father.

"Are your arms tired? Or do you wanna leave 'em like that for just a little longer?" she asked.

"Not too tired," he said, gently shifting Jasper to one arm so that he could wrap the other around Beth's shoulders. Even just a few years earlier, he would never have imagined life could be so good. But here they were, and it was everything he never knew he wanted.

He just prayed he could continue to keep them all safe.

"What about you? I thought you were in bed."

Beth smiled up at him as he wrapped an arm around her. She felt some of her tension melt away as she snuggled up against him, taking his free hand into her own and lacing their fingers together. Her feet were tucked up on the couch.

Their little family, all huddled together.

"I was," she said quietly, briefly closing her eyes. "But I had a nightmare, and had to come check on you and the kids." Beth raised his hand, the one twined with her fingers, to her mouth and planted a kiss on the back of it.

"We're safe," he murmured, hugging her to his side. "I got you." Of course he knew the world was still a dangerous place, but for the moment, their little family, and the community around them was thriving. And he'd do his best to keep it that way.

"Would you feel better if we have them in the room with us tonight?"

"I know," she said quietly, though still letting him hug her closer against his side. Yet the terrible images from her nightmare still plagued her. Beth felt her eyes sting as tears welled up: even though she knew none of it had been real, she couldn't help it.

"Yes...I think so." She buried her face against his side, grateful for his calming presence. Beth always felt safer and more at ease when she knew he was nearby.

"All right." Daryl hugged her once more, then turned to hold baby Jasper out to her. "You take this little cuddle bug, and I'll get his big sister."

Once they'd made the transfer, he scooped Holly up in his arms, and stood, staying close to Beth as they headed back to their room. It wasn't uncommon for them to sleep with one or both of the children in their bed, but Daryl didn't mind. He'd gladly give up a little extra space to make sure his wife and kids were safe and happy. "You wanna talk about it? Or just talk?"

Beth couldn't help but smile when he called their son cuddle bug. Daryl had effortlessly stepped in and took on the role of father, just as she had known he would.

"Just talk," she said. There was no reason to bother him with the terrible things her mind had conjured up. Maybe tomorrow, but not tonight.

Jasper was sound asleep, not even wiggling around in his sleep. The four of them headed back to the bedroom. She cradled him with one arm, while clearing a small spot with no pillows on her side of the bed -- before long, he would need feeding again, and she wanted Daryl to get some sleep, too.

After fussing over him and making sure he was warm and comfortable, she made up a space beside him for Holly, with just the one pillow. "There we go, she said softly, waiting for Daryl to lay Holly down. She wanted to hold her husband for just a bit, before they joined the kids in bed.

Gently, Daryl lowered Holly to the bed and tucked her in. Once he was sure she was settled, he turned to Beth, pulling her into his arms and tucking her head under his chin. He was so grateful for everything they had. Often more than he was able to express in words.

"Holly's such a good big sister. She's gonna spoil him even more than we do."

Beth let herself be pulled into his embrace, relaxing in his arms and feeling the tension leave her body. She knew that Daryl wasn't the best with words, but he showed her how grateful he was every day...how much he loved the three of them.

With a sigh of happiness, she buried her face against his chest. "She is...she's so gentle, and patient."

Her hand tugged on his shirt, bringing his head down low enough to kiss him. "They're so lucky to have you for a father," she said, smiling sweetly up at him.

Daryl leaned down, his arms tightening around her as their lip met and parted. He smiled back at her, gently stroking her back and shoulders, and staring into her deep blue eyes. "And to have you for a mother."

Daryl's presence helped to chase away the lingering thoughts of the nightmare, as well as the remaining anxiety. She only felt completely at ease when he was near.

With her arms wrapped around him, she hummed, gently swaying them both. "Let's see...how does four more sound?" she asked, a spark of playfulness in her eyes.

"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?"

"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.

"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."

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."

"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."

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?"

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."

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.

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.

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.

"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."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Domestic Fluff (With Bethy)

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject