Chapter Text
'Cause it's a beautiful night
We're looking for something dumb to do
Hey baby, I think I wanna marry you
Marriage has always been the furthest thing from Daryl's mind. He'd had a front row seat to his parents' train wreck of a marriage, could clearly remember some of the things they used to say to one another, still heard the sharp slap of a hand connecting with flesh; that alone is enough to turn anyone off of marriage. He'd watched Merle's short lived (really, really shorted lived) marriage implode right in front of him, right down to his brother's ex-wife hurtling her thirty dollar ring at Merle's head, leaving behind a deep gouge inches from his left eye. Hell, he'd even seen the downfall of Rick and Lori's marriage, and while he benefited from that greatly it still left a sour taste in the back of throat, knowing what had to happen in order for him and Rick to be together.
He never wanted to get married, never thought he'd find someone he wanted to marry, so when the idea creeps around in the back of his head for weeks, he figures it's about time he actually toys with the idea. At first, like he's prone to do, he ignores the thought, but it festers like an untreated wound, plaguing every free moment he has, until finally he says, "Fuck it" and decides to go for it. But here lies the problem, how does he go about doing it?
Daryl isn't looking for help when Beth appears at his side, carrying a basket of laundry. She gives him a long look and curiously asks, "Whatcha thinkin' about?"
"Who says 'm thinkin' about something?" Daryl grumbles stilling his nervous pacing.
"You're wearin' your brooding face and you're pacin' back and forth like a skittish horse during a rainstorm," Beth points out and Daryl scowls at her. "What? It's not my fault you're easy to read."
"Go away," Daryl mutters darkly, fighting the urge to start pacing again.
"Look, I know it ain't my business..."
"You can say that again."
"...but if you wanna talk, I'm here," Beth finishes stubbornly, pretending Daryl hadn't said anything. "C'mon Daryl," she nudges his side with her elbow, "talk to me."
He almost doesn't say anything, but this is Beth. Next to Carol, she's one of the few people in this prison who doesn't go off and blather to the others, so he sighs and mumbles, "It's stupid."
"Did you and Rick have a fight?" Beth asks shifting the basket on her hip, giving him a kind smile. "I'm sure you two will make up..."
"We didn't have a fight." He looks down at his hands, picking at a stubborn hangnail. "I've just been thinkin'..."
"About?"
He shrugs. "Just stuff."
Beth lets out a frustrated sigh, dropping her basket to the floor. She walks towards him, ducking her head so she can look into his eyes, and says, "Don't make me guess because we'll be here all day." When he doesn't say anything she lets out a breath and mutters, "Stubborn ass." She moves back towards her basket, lifting it off the ground. He thinks she's going to walk away, but instead she says, "You two can't have a baby, so that's off the table."
"What?"
"You wanna play the guessing game, Daryl Dixon. We'll play the guessing game." She taps her chin with her index finger, a pensive look crossing her face. "You can't exactly adopt Judith, since lawyers are pretty much nil, and besides she already calls you papa so there's no need to bring that up." She starts pacing, narrowing her eyes. "You're not thinking about breaking up with Rick are you?"
"No," Daryl answers quickly, shaking his head. The last thing he wants to do is leave Rick, and the fact that the thought even crossed Beth's mind leaves him a little irritated.
"I'm just coverin' my bases," she states raising her free hand defensively. "Besides, you two are in it for the long haul, and nothing short of death will..." she trails off, her eyes widening. "Oh my God." She drops her basket again, this time to jump excitedly, and Daryl has to fight not to roll his eyes. "Oh my God," she repeats clutching his arm, beaming up at him.
"Quit it," Daryl grunts pulling out of her grasp. "I haven't done anythin' yet. Yer building a mountain out of a molehill."
"But you've thought about it."
"Yeah," Daryl admits, albeit reluctantly, and takes a step back when Beth squeals. She throws her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly, and he mutters darkly until she lets him go.
"Do you have a ring? When are you gonna do it? I mean, just like Glenn and Maggie's marriage it won't exactly be legal, but I'm sure we can put something together..." she trails off, her eyebrows furrowing, concern flitting across her face. "Why do you look like your suckin' on a lemon?"
Daryl shoves his hands in his pockets, ducking his head, and mumbles, "I don't know how."
"What? Speak up, Dixon. I can't hear ya."
Daryl lets out an irritated breath through his nose and says, "I don't know how."
"Don't know...?" Beth puts her hand to her forehead. "I don't..." she lowers her hand, shaking her head. "Alright, Dixon, I'm gonna help you."
"What?" Daryl vigorously shakes his head, backing away from the blonde. "I don' need any help."
"You do," she insists tapping her chin again. She nods, coming to some sort of decision, and repeats, "I'm gonna help you." She turns to leave, calling over her shoulder, "Just let me get these clothes to Carol, give me ten minutes."
"Beth, really..."
She turns around, continuing to walk backwards, and says, "Relax Daryl. This'll be fun. Rick won't know what hit him." She beams again, waving at him, and then disappears around the corner. Daryl runs his hand down his face, silently wondering how he got himself into this mess.
"This is stupid," Daryl grunts tugging at his shirt collar.
"Is not," Beth insists slapping his hand away, fixing the tie around his neck again. "I just wish we could have found some cue cards so you could do it like Mark in Love, Actually." She fixes the knot one, final time, stepping away from him, and admires her work. She nods in approval and says, "You look handsome."
He turns, looking in the bathroom mirror, and grumbles, "I look stupid." He turns back to her and adds, "Besides, that pansy was tryin' to steal his best friend's wife."
"He was not, he was just..." Beth trails off, her mouth falling open in surprise, and she points at Daryl.
"Shut up." He walks past her, but only makes it a few steps before turning back. "I don' even have a ring."
"You don't need one." She pats his chest, giving him an encouraging smile. "Just look him in the eyes and say..."
"I know, I know," Daryl says and walks away from her.
"Good luck," she calls after him, and when he waves off her words she giggles.
About halfway to his and Rick's cell, Daryl yanks the tie off and shoves it in his pocket. It's irritating and stupid, and he silently wonders what possessed Beth to even suggest a tie. Daryl's never been a 'formal wear' kind of guy, even before the outbreak, and nothing will ever make him one.
Eventually, after nearly turning around three times, Daryl finds himself outside of their cell. He draws in a shaky breath, letting it out slowly. His hands are shaking with nervous energy, his fingers twitching, and he feels like he's going to throw up. Daryl swallows, trying to dislodge the sudden lump in his throat. He's being an idiot, he just needs to step up and do it. He steps forward, hand reaching out to move the curtain to the side, but he freezes when he hears tiny footsteps approaching him.
Daryl turns, giving Judith a small smile, and asks, "What are you doin' up?"
"I had a bad dream," Judith answers wrapping her tiny arms around herself, her stuffed dragon dangling from her left hand. Worry pierces Daryl's chest, but he fights to keep it off his face as he kneels down next to Judith. She throws her arms around his neck, clutching tightly to him when he stands, and whispers, "Can I sleep with you and Daddy tonight?"
"Yeah," Daryl answers readily. He doesn't like the idea of Judith having nightmares, but he welcomes the distraction. It's a dumb idea anyway, getting married. He and Rick aren't the marrying kind, he doesn't even know what he had been thinking. He'll just have to tell Beth that he's changed his mind, and tell her 'tough shit' when she tries to argue. He and Rick are fine where they are; they don't need to be anything more.
That still doesn't temper the disappointment that's settled in Daryl's stomach.