The Baby Arrangement

Chapter 73: Home

Chapter 73: Home

Walking through the front door, wet from the rain and hair a mess from the whipping wind, Beth finds the house dark and silent. As she makes her way to the kitchen, her face illuminates with candles and a set dinner table. Chicken Parmesan is laid out on a plate of linguini noodles and red wine is poured into two tall glasses- music begins to play softly. Two warm, strong arms scare her with a jolt as they wrap around her torso and a pair of lips kiss her neck. Turning in his arms, Beth offers Daryl a small smile as she finds his.

"I'm sorry, baby." His voice is so fragile, yet laced with barbed wire. Placing her palms flat on his chest, she leans up to kiss his lips and then hugs him tightly.

"I'm sorry. I've been nothing but selfish and you deserve better." His face droops and his hands slide down her waist and back to his sides.

"Beth, please tell me yer not leaving for good."

"No, I'm just telling you that I often take yer sweet, considerate gestures for granted and I honestly don't deserve you." Her face sinks and she sits on the window seat with her back to the storm outside. Slowly turning to face her, but never lifting his feet, Daryl just sadly looks at her.

"How come it sounds like you don't wanna be here?"

"Daryl, I love you...." He doesn't let her finish her sentence. He doesn't want to hear her day she can't do this or that she's leaving him.

"You love me, but you don't. You're staying, but emotionally you're not. Beth, I can't stand the thought of you walking out on us again. I'll change. I'll..I'll be a better father, better friend, a better husband...Beth, I love you, please, just, please don't leave me." He's on his knees at her lap and thumbing her sides gently. His tears are evident and yet he loathes the fact that he's groveling. "Beth, I know I don't always make the best choices and I mess up more time than not, but I love you more than life itself. Please, baby. I'll give you whatever you want. Let's have another baby and get married. Buy a bigger house if you want, just don't leave."

Brushing his hair back and leaving a kiss on his fore head, Beth holds his face in her hands and smiles, tearfully, down at him. She kisses his lips twice and then proceeds to look deep into his blue eyes.

"Daryl, I love you. I'm not leaving you ever again. I've realized that I'm always thinking about myself and you are selfless. From the beginning you have always been selfless and God has been so gracious to give me you. I'm gonna try to stop being so selfish and to give you more. If anyone should be scared of being alone, it should be me."

"Oh baby, yer the only one I want for now and forever." He kisses her lips and the only thing stopping them from going any further is the smell of dinner. "You hungry?"

"Yes, sir...I love you." They sit and eat dinner in peace and Beth suddenly looks around. "Where's the kids at?"

"I had Maggie come pick them up."

"What'd she say about Teddy?"

"That he's adorable and glad he's apart of the family." He smiles at her and all she can do is blush.

"I am too. I'm sorry about everything."

"Remember what I told you in Paris?" She stops and thinks about it and shakes her head no.

"No."

"Apologize one more time and I'll shove you off the Eiffel Tower."

"Haha and how will you manage that exactly?"

"I'll take you back there and shove you off, Ms. Scared O'Heights." Frowning, she looks at her mostly eaten dinner and then giggles.

"I'd like to go back some day... it's where we conceived Kensi."

"Yeah. That was one of the best days of my life...even when we flipped out and everything." he grins and she shakes her head.

"I personally liked when we were penguins at Merle's house." Beth adds and Daryl holds her hand across the table.

"That was the best...sore afterwards, but that was the best sex of my life."

"Yeah...you know, we could indulge..."

"Make up sex?" He raises his eyebrows twice and she winks at him.

Oh it was going to be the best night in deed.