records

alone in our world

Authors Note: a continuation of "inside your head". i recommend you read it prior, for continuity. thank you for the overwhelming support on the first chapter. :*

—

She spends April in the woods, just him and the cabin.

Making love and beautiful music. And later, they'll discover, Lila.

But that's later.

And this is now.

—

When the label heads tell her she's touring with Taylor, it's like a dream come true.

She's not stupid; she knows that the highest selling country singer right now is the 24 year old blonde, unlucky in love, but lucky in album sales. This is her moment to prove her worth, in an arena, surrounded by thousands of screaming, joyful fans.

Of course, there's a lingering twinge of disappointment.

They're not Miranda or Blake, or Tim and Faith. She doesn't belong on The Brothers Dixon tour, just as they'd be out of place on hers. She's country pop and he's outlaw rock and maybe one day, it'll be Beth and Daryl, a genre of their own. Right here, right now, the world's not ready for that. For them.

But one day.

—

A week before the tour starts, she heads home.

Daryl's in Australia (huh) on tour, and he sends his gruff regards, clearly relieved he can't make it.

The last time he was there, she spent the morning convincing her parents they were simply friends and collaborators, pretending they hadn't fucked in the barn the night before. She knows he's not eager to face Hershel Greene's questioning, would rather face a thousand members of the press than an old veterinarian.

Beth doesn't hold that against him.

Being home, there's no place like it. She could write an album full of songs about this place and still it wouldn't fully capture the peace and safety it brings. Her youth spent riding Nellie, playing her guitar on the porch, singing folk songs around the piano with her mother and Maggie.

She tells this to the interviewer and photographer over the lunch her mama makes. Answers their questions - her musical aspirations, industry struggles, and finding happiness.

And Daryl.

"It's such a private, beautiful thing," she says wryly, twirling her hair subconsciously, "when I'm with him everything is clear."

That's all she says on the matter. That's all they ask.

When the article goes to print, in the small indie publication, her interview reading more like a story, she thinks maybe they've understood her better than she's ever understood herself.

This happy dreamer, this girl in love.

This picture of bliss.

—

Merle is an unavoidable third wheel.

There are label parties that they are expected to attend. The press takes a small thrill in their mismatched pairing, keep waiting for the breakup and the drama. He's volatile, it's true; too often is he quick to let loose on paparazzi that accost her in his presence.

(She's always quick to tug him along, to rein him in and soothe with gentle words.)

But for all Merle's name calling (sweet thang, lil' Greene), he doesn't intimidate her like he used to. He means so much to Daryl, who takes the good with the bad in equal stride. He gave him a guitar, he led him to Nashville, built them this life, and for that, she will always be grateful.