Thank you so much to all of those who read and reviewed this silly little story. I'm sure it's not the last time I will write something for the House Call universe.

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Chapter Ten.

The garage had been so busy that week, Dale had asked all of the guys if they would mind working on Saturday, and he wound up leaving so early that morning, Beth was still in bed. When she attempted to get up to make him something to eat, Daryl just shook his head and kissed her on the cheek.

"I'm just gonna eat my toast. Don't need to help me with that," he said to her quietly and she smiled tiredly, her eyes already sliding shut again.

She fell back asleep almost instantly and she didn't even hear him when he left. When she woke up fully, it was almost seven o'clock and the house was silent. There were birds chirping outside and a soft breeze was blowing, rustling the trees. Beth rose from the bed and looking outside, she made sure that Daryl's motorcycle was actually gone before she hurried into the bathroom. Luke had spent the night at the Grimes for his first sleep over which made it just her in the house and that couldn't be more perfect for today of all days.

She had bought the test earlier that week, driving to a store nearly a half hour away so no one would recognize her. She didn't need people in this town finding out that Beth Dixon had gone out and bought herself a pregnancy test. She had then snuck it into the house and hid it in her box of tampons under the sink, knowing that Daryl would never find it there. Her fingers were practically shaking it now as she pulled it out and began reading the directions on the back though she supposed these things were rather self-explanatory.

She peed on the stick and then set it carefully on the edge of the bathtub. And now, she just had to wait. She exhaled a deep breath and washed her hands before leaving the bathroom, going into the kitchen to set the timer for fifteen minutes.

She stood there for a moment, looking out the window above the sink, her hand resting on her still-flat stomach. Would it still stay flat or would it be growing over the next few months? She wanted a baby. She really wanted a baby and she and Daryl had finally decided that the time had come to start trying. She hadn't actually expected anything to happen for a while. Her mother had had trouble conceiving both Shawn and herself and Beth had thought, in the back of her mind, that she might have trouble, too.

But then, she was one week late and then two and her heart began pounding in her chest and she had just known. Or suspected. And she had to find out as soon as she could. Dale needing Daryl to work that day was a godsend since she didn't want to do this with him around. She might not actually be pregnant and she didn't want to put him through the wave of emotions that came with the possibility if it turned out to be not even true. She wanted to be certain before she told him.

The timer dinged, startling her, and she hadn't realized she had been staring out the window for the entire fifteen minutes. Her stomach was fluttering and she felt like she was going to throw up as she took slow steps back into the bathroom. She tried to remind herself that breathing was very important and she had to keep doing so. Inhale, exhale, over and over. Her hand slowly reached out to pick up the stick. With one more deep breath and a silent plea sent up to above, she looked down.

Her eyes almost immediately flooded with tears. A pink plus sign. As clear as day, it was a pink plus sign. And the pink plus sign only meant one thing. She felt the tears rush down her cheeks and she let out a slight laugh, unable to tear her eyes away from the sight in front of her. Positive. It was positive. She was pregnant. She and Daryl were going to have a baby.

And just like that, everything was different now.

…

All of the bay doors were open, taking advantage of the warm day when Beth pulled into the parking lot and her eyes scanned for Daryl but she didn't see him. She headed into the office, Daryl standing behind the counter, filling out some paperwork, and when he lifted his head and saw her, he smiled warmly.

"Well, good morning, Mrs. Dixon," he greeted.

She laughed a little. "Good morning, Dale. You weren't kidding about it being busy."

"For some reason, people don't give a crud about their cars in the winter and hold off all maintenance until the spring. And that doesn't make a lick of sense because winter is the one time your car needs the most love," Dale said.

Beth nodded. "Daryl has said something similar though his explanation involved calling those people not-so-nice names," she smiled and Dale laughed. "Speaking of Daryl, would it be alright if I spoke to him for a moment?"

"Of course it is. He's due for his break anyway." Dale went to the door that led into the garage and stood in the threshold. "Dixon!" He yelled. "Wife's here!"

"Thank you," Beth smiled at him as Dale stepped back and Beth took his place in the doorway, watching Daryl push himself out from beneath a car and she smiled, her stomach fluttering, as she watched him approach, wiping his hands on a rag.

"Hey," he said. "Everything alright?" He asked.

Beth nodded and stood on her toes, her hands resting on his cheeks and she gave him a soft kiss. Daryl's hands slid over her hips and kissed her softly into return.

"You sure?" He asked once their kiss ended and their faces remained close.

She kept smiling. She couldn't help it. She didn't think she could stop smiling now even if she wanted to. She was nervous about telling him and yet, she knew it would be okay. He wanted a baby, too. He hadn't actually said that but she knew he did. He hadn't fought or protested it when she brought it up and he had even smiled when she told him she imagined him taking their son or daughter out hunting one day.

She knew he was scared about it deep down. He hadn't much of an example of what a good parent was while growing up and he had mentioned the cursed Dixon blood more than once. She didn't believe in any of that. She knew Daryl would be a wonderful father and he would love their child more than anything. He didn't believe it but she knew it to be true. Daryl Dixon had so much love in his heart and once he loved someone, he would love them forever.

"How's work going?" She asked, wanting to buy a couple of more seconds.

"Been so busy, it's goin' by fast. It's almost lunch, ain't it?" He asked and she nodded.

"I actually brought you some food. I left it in the car," she said.

"That's why I married you," he smirked.

"Because I keep you fed?" She laughed and he didn't deny it. She looked up at him. "I love you," she then whispered and watched as the tips of his ears turned red.

"Alright, Dixon. I'm not paying you to woo your wife," Dale said, coming up behind Beth, a smile on his face.

"How do you know I'm not the one wooing him?" Beth smiled. She looked back to Dale. "Do you mind if I take Daryl away? Just for a few minutes. I have to tell him something," she said and she felt Daryl looking at her.

"Take all the time you need, Beth. Daryl's due for a break anyway," he reminded her.

Beth gave him a gracious smile and then taking Daryl's hand, she tugged him from the garage towards the parking lot, stopping them near her car.

"I'm gonna ask you one more time, Beth," Daryl said, his eyes watching her closely.

"I'm fine." She lifted her hands and linked them behind his neck and his hands went to her hips again, pulling her close to him. "I'm fine," she said again and she couldn't stop smiling. She exhaled a deep breath. This was it. "And actually, I'll be even better in about… nine months."

For a minute, and then another passing minute, Daryl didn't do anything or say anything. He just stared at her and she wondered if he understood what she was telling him. She opened her mouth to say something else – to actually just come out and tell him that she was pregnant – but before any words could leave her mouth, he suddenly grabbed her and crushed her body to his. She gasped with surprise and then laughed as his arms bound around her waist, lifting her up so her feet dangled above the ground. Her arms tightened around his neck and she hugged him and he just stood there, holding her, his face pressed against the side of her throat.

She didn't say anything, not wanting to break the moment, and she closed her eyes, feeling tears ready to fall down her cheeks again. This was exactly how she had wanted him to react. She had wanted him to act like this was a good thing and something that not only she wanted but something he wanted, too.

His arms tightened once around her waist and then slowly, he set her down on her feet again but his arms remained around her waist.

"When did you find out?" He asked, his voice sounding more gruff than usual.

"I took the test just this morning. We'll have to go to the doctor to get it confirmed but… I am. I know I am," she said softly.

His eyes never left hers as his hand slipped from her hip and came to a rest on her abdomen. The seemingly simple gesture made the breath catch in her throat and the tears she was trying to desperately keep in her eyes spilled out, sliding down her cheeks, and she moved her hand to rest over his.

They stood there and didn't say anything for another moment. She then heard Daryl exhale a shaky breath and she looked at him, seeing that he was trying to keep himself under control. He wasn't going to cry. Dixons didn't cry. But he definitely was looking overwhelmed.

"I love you," she whispered to him.

His eyes lifted from looking down at their hands on her stomach to meet her eyes. "I love you, too," he said in his low, gruff voice and it made her beam and cry a bit more. "When do we have to go to the doctor?" He asked.

"Soon," she said. "I want to find out for sure before we tell my parents."

He nodded in agreement. "Think that new doc in town, Stookey or somethin', might be the one we have to go to. Want me to give him a call?"

"You'll do that?" She asked and she couldn't help but feel a little surprised.

"Isn't that how it's supposed to be?" He shrugged, trying to be casual but she could the faint blush on his face he got whenever he was feeling embarrassed or unsure. "You carryin' the kid so I'm your bitch for the next few months?" He guessed.

She burst out laughing then and his own lips twisted into a small smile. She stood on her toes and put her hands on either side of his neck as she pressed her lips to his. His arms bound tightly around her waist and held her as tightly to him as he could.

"I hope you've gotten your fill of me," she smiled up at him. "Because we're never going to be alone ever again."

He smirked at that. "Real glad we decided on havin' kids then," he said and she laughed again before pulling him down for another kiss.

…

The end.

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