Chapter Text
He can't help but frown when he wakes up in his bed alone, especially when he knows Beth had been there with him not too long ago. He knows she had spent the night there - like she usually did nowadays - the fact that he was still naked and tangled in the sheets further proved that but her side of the bed was empty, the warmth of her body not even lingering so he knows she's been gone for awhile. He groans as he sits up, muscles popping as he stretches and he checks the time on his phone, his brow furrowing more as he realizes it's only a little past eight in the morning and there was no reason Beth shouldn't still be here, tangled up with him.
He gets up and heads for the bathroom, his frown deepening when he notices the walls of the shower are wet. Somehow his girl had managed to not only slip from his grasp but also showered and he hadn't woken up for any of it and he wonders when his reflexes had started to dull because usually the slightest noise would wake him and he usually feels it right when Beth tries to get up, often reaching his arm out and wrapping it around her to try and keep her there just a little bit longer because after years of sleeping alone and being alone, he couldn't get enough of having her warm little body curled up around his.
Once he's showered and dressed into faded jeans and he shrugs his leather vest over his signature sleeveless flannel shirt, he laces up his boots before he opens the door to his room and makes his way out toward the main room of the clubhouse. The smell of bacon immediately hits his senses and when he hears the sound of Beth's musical laughter coming from back in the kitchen, he relaxes, taking a seat at the bar and he looks up just as Beth walks out through the swinging door, a steaming plate of food in one hand and a mug of what he assumes to be coffee in the other and she instantly bursts into a smile when she sees him sitting there.
She's dressed in one of those long flowy skirts that go all the way down to her ankles, a pair of strappy sandals on her tiny feet and he swallows when his eyes travel further up as she makes her way over to him, the smooth, pale skin of her belly peeking at him below the light colored crop top she wore and he suddenly remembers why he was so exhausted lately. Beth has been sleeping here at the clubhouse, in his room, for the past few weeks now but most nights, they hadn't exactly been sleeping.
"Mornin' sleepyhead," Beth says as she sets the plate of food and mug down in front of him, smile still bright as she leans over the counter top, placing a quick kiss on his cheek. "I was just gonna come get you."
He lets out a small grunt. "Didn't even hear you leave," he grumbles, lifting the mug and taking a long pull of the steamy beverage.
"I tried to be extra quiet, didn't want to wake you," she says and then her smile turns less innocent, more coy. "And I figured you deserve the rest after last night."
He hums in the back of his throat, trying to ignore the way he can feel the tips of his ears warming. "You're wearin' me out, girl." he mutters, voice low enough that only she hears and when her cheeks burst into a pretty pink color he can't help but smirk.
"Well, I mean, I don't have to spend the night here every night, I could start goin' back to my apartment."
He narrows his eyes. "Don't you dare."
This time she is the one to give him a smirk, a mischievous angel standing in front of him. "Yes sir, Mr. Dixon."
With that she is practically waltzing away, disappearing back into the kitchen and he is left there with a dumbfounded look on his face. Partly because one, the girl, his girl, knew exactly what she was doing to him using his name like that and two, he is also pretty sure he just inadvertently asked her to move it with him and she didn't even hesitate. He couldn't help but shake his head then, bringing the coffee mug back up to his lips, just the tiniest hint of a smirk threatening to form on his lips.
They were having a barbecue later that day, Dale's charter coming by to join in as well. There wasn't any particular reason, other than of course that business was once again good, no rivalries or threats to worry about for the moment. It was a rare moment to have these days and it had really been Beth's idea to have everyone come by and of course, he was pretty sure he would never be able to say no to Beth Greene so he made the calls and here he was, sitting outside at one of the picnic tables, cigarette between his lips and a beer in his hand as he looked over at Dale, seeing the old man smirking at him as he looked around.
"I'm quite proud of you son, I knew you could turn this club around for the better." he says and Daryl gives a slight nod.
There was a time when the club wasn't always like this, where Daryl avoided it as much as possible and it wasn't until Merle became president that he had reluctantly joined, his brother claiming that he needed his baby brother there by his side, his VP, the only one he could really trust. Then, when Merle still couldn't get the club out of the hole his predecessor, Joe had buried them in, and half the club was arrested and whisked off to prison, Merle had somehow, someway, found reason and handed the club over to Daryl.
"Wasn't too hard, once I got the rest'a Joe's men outta here. No more drugs, focused on our legit businesses more than the others." He shrugs.
Dale is still smiling as he shakes his head. "I sometimes forget how much you hate being praised."
There's a teasing tone to the old man's voice and Daryl feels the tips of his ears begin to warm, grumbling incoherently under his breath.
"I wasn't just talking about business either," Dale speaks up after a moment and Daryl looks over to see him glancing around them. "This place, you really brought some life back into it. Used to be just some nasty biker bar before. Looks good."
Daryl snorts, noting the hints of sarcasm in Dale's statement. "Naw, that sure as hell wasn't me." Daryl explains, taking a swig of his beer. "An' that's not even me bein' me or whatever. All'a this," he says, gesturing to the air around them. "That was all her."
Both men look over to where Beth is standing with a bunch of the other women. There is a baby on her hip - Daryl's not sure who's - and she's laughing, listening to whatever story one of the ladies are telling and occasionally she'll glance down, coo and smile at the baby in her arms and Daryl always felt like Beth Greene just had this light about her but looking at her now, he swears his girl is practically glowing. He takes note of the baby in her arms again and Daryl suddenly finds himself enjoying the sight, it doesn't actually terrify him, his girl with a baby.
That however, realizing that he realized such a thing, has him lighting up another cigarette because not only was it way too soon to start imagining Beth holding a baby, a baby with her blonde hair and his blue eyes, but Daryl had never, ever once in his life ever had those kind of thoughts before. Not until he met her.
"Yeah she is certainly somethin' else, that Beth Greene," Dale comments, his tone admiring and Daryl just nods numbly. "I will admit though, I was a little surprised, hearing about you two. One, because she is Hershel Greene's daughter and two, well, son, I guess I just never imagined you havin' an Old Lady."
Daryl can't help but smirk. "Me neither. Not until her." He has to look away from the knowing smile on Dale's lips and his eyes land on Beth again and he frowns now. "But, it ain't like that, not yet, she ain't my Old Lady."
"Well, why not? Women like Beth Greene, they only come around once in a lifetime, son."
"Yeah, I know." Daryl replies almost immediately, nodding his head slightly and he feels the corner of his mouth lift up in a smile as he watches Beth suddenly break out into giggles from where she stood only a few feet away from him.
Dale chuckles from beside him and gets up, patting Daryl on the back as he goes to head back inside and Daryl stands up too when he sees the group of women Beth had been talking to also begin to leave, Beth handing the baby back to whom Daryl assumes is its mother and when he reaches her it is just her and Andrea. He slides up behind Beth, wrapping his arms around her middle and pulling her back into him so she is resting against his chest and her hands come up to wrap around his wrists, keeping him there.
"Hey," he mumbles, giving a nod to Andrea who smirks at him, noting his unusual display of affection with a raised brow.
"Hey yourself stranger," she says and he smirks. "Since you're here, now I can talk to both of you. I mean, when I first saw you Beth, no offense, I thought it was a joke. But I see it now, you two are good for each other. And you are definitely the kind of Old Lady someone like Dixon here needs.
He feels Beth stiffen slightly in his arms over Andrea's words, more precisely, the Old Lady comment because much like he told Dale, she wasn't exactly his Old Lady. They were together, had been for a few months now but that conversation hadn't come up yet. He knew a part of her had to realize though that he had no intentions of ever letting her go, she was a smart woman, Beth Greene, and in the years he has known her, as both his friend and now something more, she was always good at picking things up, of figuring out what he was saying without having to say it. She had to know. Maybe that was why the next words came out of his mouth without any hesitation.
"Yeah, she ain't too bad."
And just like that, Beth relaxed, looking over her shoulder at him with an almost blinding smile. She was his Old Lady. And later on, when he made the announcement in front of the club, no one even batted an eye.
Beth Greene was now Daryl Dixon's Old Lady.
And then later on, after every one had left and gone their separate ways and they were now lying in Daryl's bed, her head on his chest and her finger's tracing invisible patterns against his skin, he wasn't surprised when she spoke.
"So, does this mean I need to get a tattoo now?" she asks, her voice more curious than anything and Daryl lifts his hand up to run it through her hair.
"Don't gotta do nothin' you don't wanna do."
She lifts her head then, to bring her blue gaze to his. "I thought that's how it works though? I'm not really your Old Lady until I get your ink?"
Daryl can't help the lazy smile that forms on his lips as he shrugs. "Don't need to get no tattoo to prove you're mine. You're my Old Lady 'cause I say you are, Beth, and if anyone needs to be reminded'a that, they can come talk to me 'bout it."
She smiles then, one of those blinding smiles that nearly takes his breath away and she leans down, connecting her lips to his. She pulls away quickly, much to Daryl's disappointment and looks at him, her eyes softening and a slight blush begins to paint her cheeks as she stares down at him.
"I want to get a tattoo though, I want everyone to know that I belong to you and only you, Daryl Dixon."
This time he was the one to pull her down to him, his lips crashing against hers. Neither one of them stopped until they were breathless and panting against the other and she met his gaze once again, this time a hint of mischief lingering along her baby blues.
"I'm not tired," she whispers, her fingers ghosting against his jaw and he smirks in reply, raising a brow. "No, don't look at me like that," she says with a giggle, shaking her head at him. "Let's get outta here, go for a ride?"
He turns his head to look at the bright light of his alarm clock. "It's almost three in the morning, girl."
She raises her brow this time. "Is that past your bedtime, old man?" she teases and then lets out a squeal when he squeezes her hips playfully in retailation. "C'mon, let's go on an adventure, ride to no where, watch the sunrise, make love in the middle of the forest. We can do anythin'."
So that was how they ended up on some back road in the dark of early morning, her arms wrapped around him as she let out a laugh - sometimes he thinks his girl just might like riding more than he does. They spent most of the dark morning just riding, letting the moonlight guide them and then he brought them to this one spot, where there was a small waterfall and an incredible view of the town, they made love with the sun rising above them and then later, after they had stopped at some small diner for breakfast, he came to stop outside of his favorite tattoo shop, already having called in a favor.
"What are we doin'?" she asks as she climbs off behind him, her lips already lifted in a knowing smile.
He smirks. "You been drinkin' too much moonshine without me, girl? What's it look like?"
She grins then, beaming, and she jumps up on her toes to place a quick kiss against his lips. They go into the shop and Daryl can't help but smirk when he sees Tara slumped over her desk, a coffee in her hand even as soft snores came from her lips. Beth giggles and heads over to her and she barely touches the other girl's shoulder when she jumps up, nearly spilling her coffee everywhere.
"What? I'm up!" she gasps and Daryl lets out a chuckle that is met with a glare, and a yawn. "God, you two a fucking crazy. Couldn't just schedule something for a normal time?" she complains then, ushering them toward her work station.
"Ain't nothing normal about us," Daryl shrugs and Tara snorts in response.
They spend the next hour there, Beth telling her about the hospital and how she's pretty sure Maggie and Glenn are going to start trying for a baby sometime soon. Daryl tells her that business is good, both businesses, and when Tara casually brings up her applying at the police academy, her and Daryl share a knowing look, and he smirks, a breath of a laugh escaping his lips.
And when they leave there, Beth with his initials now tattooed on the side of her left hand ring finger and him with her name tattooed across his chest, right over his heart, they climb back onto the bike, head back for the clubhouse and quietly lock themselves back into Daryl's room. They collapse onto the bed in a mess of tangled limbs and fall asleep in the other's arms.
Daryl now lifts up her left hand that had been resting on his chest. He runs his rough finger along the ink that has faded slightly - normal for a hand tattoo - and he thinks about how they should get it touched up soon. His finger then goes to the top of the diamond ring that was now sitting on his girl's finger, a ring he had slid on himself almost a month ago now. It wasn't big or anything, nothing flashy - even though he did have the money for such a thing, he knew Beth didn't want something like that - but she loved it and that was all that mattered.
He feels her stir against him and she lets out a quiet hum as she stretches against him, sliding her fingers in between his and lacing them together as she looks up at him, her eyes still glassy with sleep and a tired, beautiful smile on her lips.
"Mornin'," she mumbles.
"Mornin'," he repeats, leaning down to place a kiss on her temple.
"You been up long? Coulda woke me," she says, once again stirring against him, sliding her self further up his body so she can turn and face him, bracing her arm against his chest, her other hand coming up to smooth away his hair off his forehead.
"Nah," he says in an almost sigh. "Just thinkin' is all." he explains and then shrugs, shifting her slightly and she gives him a sweet smile.
"And what were you thinkin' about Mr. Dixon?"
He pauses slightly, his words getting caught in his throat because he was prepared to just shrug again and tell her it was nothing but then, he realized it wasn't. Because he had woken up thinking about the time they had gotten their tattoos, back to when he first made her his Old Lady and that just wasn't nothing. It was the start of everything, her, changing his life and making it better, a million times better than he ever imagined, than he ever thought he deserved.
Beth Greene wasn't just nothing to him.
She was his everything.
And, sometimes, he still couldn't believe she was Beth Dixon now.
"You know, I ain't never much liked my last name...'til it was your last name too."
It was a thought that just came to him, hearing her say his name like that, and he didn't plan on saying it out loud and Daryl knows sometimes, he doesn't say the right things, but watching Beth, watching the way her mouth falls open just barely, how her eyes widen and begin to sparkle in the morning sun rise peeking through their window, he knows that letting that thought slip out, into the space between them and letting her know what he often fails to express to her through words, how much he loves her and wants her, how he can't imagine his life without her, he knows it was probably one of the best sort of mistakes he has ever done.
They've been through a lot, him and his girl. There have been times where he was sure she was going to leave, where this life he lived, the life she accepted and worked her way into would be too much for her. Then there were others times, times when he failed her, when she was taken from him and he nearly lost her and every time, no matter what happens, she always comes back to him, always stays with him and he doesn't understand why, doesn't know how a man like him has earned the gift of this woman in front of him but he'll be damned to even question it anymore, just like he knew that there was no way anyone could take her from him, not anymore, not after last time, not when she still has nightmares and she hardly sings anymore.
They were in this together now, the rings on their fingers just a simple reminder of what the two of them have known for a while now.
It was him and his girl, against the world.
...