CHAPTER ONE
The setting sun poured into the window of the silver extended cab pickup, waking the petite blonde in the front passenger seat. Beth Greene rubbed the sleep from her eyes with her free hand in the tiny mirror of the truck. She couldn't help but look at how much she had changed over the last two years. Her hair was longer than she had ever kept it before all hell broke loose. Her eyes had bags underneath them, being that sleeping wasn't something that came easily anymore. She looked much older than any 19 year old she had ever seen before the dead walked with the living. She traced the dark circles around each eye, stopping right at the outer lash line. The truck hit a dip in the road and Beth nearly poked her eye out. She let an "ouff" escape from her lips and looked to her left.
"Sorry 'bout that" he said under his breath, looking over at her with a half smile on his lips.
That was a big step for the reticent Daryl Dixon. She just gave him a small smile back. She wasn't quite awake yet and was debating trying to doze back off for a few more minutes of stolen sleep. She placed her arm back to cradle the bundle wrapped snugly against her chest.
Beth looked down at the sleeping baby swattled tightly in her arms. Emma began to stir from her movement as well as the trucks. Emma's bright blue eyes fluttered opened from behind her long eyelashes, she has soft downy sandy blonde hair, chubby cheeks, perfect pouty lips just like Beth's, and a wide bridged nose just like Emma's father's. Beth smiled down at her perfect three month old daughter and gently ran her fingertips across her chubby cheeks. She was thankful that she had a healthy child despite the world she came into.
It wasn't Beth's dream way to start a family, but Emma had two loving parents even though their lifestyle may be a bit unconventional. Emma let out a couple of small grunts followed by a sucking noise, a behavior that told Beth that her daughter was hungry and it was time for a feeding. She was hoping that they would have stopped to make camp for the night or reached their destination before having to feed her. Beth knew it was perfectly natural to breastfeed her child but she still felt like she should give a fair warning that she was about to expose herself.
"She's hungry…I hope you don't mind if I feed her." Beth said turning to the back seat of the car where her sister, Maggie, and Glenn were riding. After not seeing her sister in almost a calendar year, which in this world felt like a decade, the two barely recognized one another. They were basically strangers.
"It's fine. Do you want to see if I can find you a burp rag to cover with?" Maggie offered as she gave Glenn a look across the seat that said 'You better not look at my sister's breast'.
Beth's body had changed drastically from the time she had last seen her sister. She was definitely all women, from her soft curves, to her breasts and hips were full. To her sister she almost looked like a vixen as she stared over her shoulder with her oceanic blue eyes, only kept from spilling out by her long thick lashes.
"That would be great; her diaper bag is between you two." Beth said as the baby began to fuss. She knew she couldn't wait any longer before it would turn into a full on cry, she had to start now. Beth slipped the strap of her tank top down exposing her creamy white breast, engorged with milk to feed her child. Beth eased her soft pink nipple to Emma's mouth and felt relief when she latched on.
Daryl looked over at his girls with a soft smile on his face. He ran his hand, which was not holding the wheel, along the baby's soft downy hair. He brushed his fingertips along Beth's arm, just slightly grazing against Beth's exposed breast. Beth didn't even flinch; in fact she gave him a glance from her oceanic blue eyes and a smile that read enjoyment of his hands on her, which bothered her sister.
Maggie thought it was weird to see them together. Part of her didn't like that she was with someone sixteen years older than her. How could she love some who could be her father? But one glance at the man operating the vehicle and all questions were cleared up as the vision of tenderness and love for her sister and the childhe called his own filled Maggie's green eyes.
Daryl was all man; he was a strong provider, doing anything to keep her sister and niece safe, fed, and comfortable. He had given her a real life from the looks of the settlement they just pulled them away from, to clean up the mess that they couldn't take care of themselves.
Maggie looked over at Glenn crossing her arms over her chest and let out a huff after handing her sister a burp rag to make herself feel more modest. Maggie was definitely jealous of two things: Beth's relationship and Beth's new body. But she'd never admit that to her sister.
Yes, Beth certainly had changed a lot; never would she have thought that she would be on this crazy journey with the man in the truck next to her with a beautiful baby girl nursing in her arms. They were like night and day; he was almost twice her age. Unlike Beth, the world ending hadn't taken such a toll on Daryl's looks. Maybe this was because he was already living a rough life long before the dead walked.
Before the shit hit the fan Beth wanted to be a doctor, a real doctor. Not a vet like her father. When the world began to fall apart Beth's father, Hershel started teaching her some medical skills that could be applied to humans safely. Beth took to this like a fish to water. Of course, she had to now that her mother was gone. This training become incredibly helpful on the day a man in a cop's uniform came running through their farm carrying a boy who had been shot. From that point forward, her life had never been the same.
~About two years ago~
The first twenty four hours were overwhelming trying to keep the little boy with the gunshot wound alive. After he was stable, Maggie insisted that their father get some rest and that Beth help her entertain their guests. She was so focused on the life of the boy in the bed, she hadn't even noticed that their house had become full of strangers that Maggie had been tending to. Maggie was always better with people than the very meek Beth. Her sister introduced the very odd looking group to Beth, who was so tired she had totally missed the detail that her father was letting them stay on the farm. When the group began to settle in that's when this detail had become clear. Beth became quick friends with the women and respected the men. But there was one person that intimated her more than anyone that she had ever met in her 17 years of life.
It wasn't Rick, their fearless leader or even Shane, who was all brawn no brains. It was Daryl. The man with the crossbow. Daryl was definitely rough around the edges with his leather vest, sleeveless shirts, scruffy chin hair, ripped jeans, and boots. But he was also incredibly handsome with his bright blue eyes hiding under his shaggy greasy dark blonde hair.
She was unsure why she felt this way, maybe it was because it seemed like he didn't need anyone. Or maybe it was because unknown to Rick and Shane who had a constant power struggle, everyone relied on him to function, to survive. However, it seemed that the only ones who had made this observation was herself and Carol.
Carol, a woman in their group who was probably about the age her mother was when this all started, became quick friends with Beth. She was always watching and thinking just like Beth. Carol caught Beth's change in body language when Daryl was in her presence and brought it up one day as they did laundry.
"Ya know he's got a kind soul underneath all the dirt and grime. Wouldn't hurt a woman... let alone a girl like you." Carol said quietly.
"Huh?" Beth looked up from her work and said, she didn't want to admit that he scared her, so she figured it was better to play dumb.
"It's not in his code..." she said through a smile as Daryl walked by and nodded at Carol. To be honest Beth didn't even think she was a blip on his radar.
"Oh...I just don't know what to make of him. He has a strange knack for this kinda life." Beth stated as she glimpsed at him quickly then back down to the wash. A blush climbing up her neck and settling in behind her ears.
"He's good with his hands...was living mostly off the land before this all happened. I know he is a hell of a lot better off without his good for nothin' brother. Merle, that's his brother, got Daryl in a whole mess of trouble ever since they were boys, stealing, fighting and whatnot... Even did some time in juvenile, I think. That was all due to his brother, but the more he's with us the more I see changes in him for the better. He would never do anything to hurt someone unless they hurt someone he cared for. You have nothin' to worry about." said Carol.
"Still, I think I'll keep my distance..." Beth said with a laugh and a smile.
Keeping her distance is what she did until the day he stumbled back to the farm with an arrow through his side and a grazing bullet wound to the right side of his head. This forced her to have contact with the intimidating man.
Beth's father did all the major medical treatment on Daryl's side and the bullet graze on his temple with Beth observing and assisting when asked. She had never heard anyone swear quite like that, the man could paint vivid pictures with his curses. It made her cringe to hear "fuck" so much.
Hershel left the entirety of his post-treatment care to Beth. He give her instructions for his treatment and how often she needed to change, clean, and bandage his wounds.
Lying there wounded like a baby bird, Beth didn't find him as scary as she once thought. Maybe Carol was right; he was quieter than anything, that is once the stitches were in place. The next morning, Beth went into his room with a tray of food and clean bandages. Daryl was already awake but hadn't moved from lying on his left side.
"I...I have your breakfast..." she whispered her voice quaking.
He didn't say anything just sat up with a groan. She timidly walked to the edge of the bed and handed him the tray. Which he quickly snatched out of her hands and began shoveling food into his mouth with his fingers like a caveman. Beth couldn't help but notice that he almost looked afraid of her, like a dog that had been hit with a newspaper one too many times.
"Can I look at your head while you're still eating? I need to change your bandages..." she explained, he didn't say anything just continued to eat. Beth slowly reached over and began working on the head wound.
"Fuck! Ya ain't gotta clean it so hard girl" Daryl winced. This made Beth jump out of her skin.
"I...I'm sorry...it won't happen again." She apologized, her hands still trembling.
"Best not." he grumbled and returned to his meal. Beth worked a quickly and gently as she could, she wanted to be out of that room as fast as possible.
When she reached his side wound, Beth stopped for a second and let her eyes wander over his hard body. There was no way she could believe his age, she shook her head and continued back to her work. She moved to the exit wound on his back lower side from the arrow and stopped again.
She couldn't help but see the scars on his back. Without thinking she ran her skinny pale hands across them lightly. This movement made Daryl uncomfortable; he shook her hands off of his back quickly. Daryl tried not to notice the way her eyes and hands felt on him. They felt comforting which a foreign feeling to his body. Her skin was soft and smooth against his, it gave him a unfamiliar twinge in his chest.
"Those don't look like they are the work of the walkers..." Beth stated
quietly.
"Don't ya know how to mind your own damn business girl?" He questioned right back. Fighting the strange feeling he was experiencing.
This girl putting her hands on his skin was strikingly beautiful, making Daryl feel like he had to build his walls up for fear of embarrassment or rejection from her. "She must be barely legal" he thought. Daryl was never one for robbing the cradle.
Beth said nothing, just put her head down, eyes focused and worked some more. He wished she'd just hurry up so he could get some damn rest. Lucky for Beth, he was healed up good enough to go back to his group within a few days.
As the days passed and the groups presence, including Daryl's, became almost normal to her. It was a nice change to have others to talk to, there was always new stories and something going on. After the group being there for some time, the women got it in their head that they needed to have a meal together as a sort of thanksgiving. Beth loved this idea of a feast. They worked all day to put it together and even had some liquor that's Shane found in the local bar when they were on a run to celebrate all they have. Her father reluctantly let the liquor into the house but agreed to show his respect for them following his rules.
For the first time in as long as she could remember the big old farm house was filled with the sounds of laughter and happiness. Peering up from her plate she could even see a small smile on Daryl's face as Shane and Rick tried to outdo each other with crazy cop stories. His smile made her smile, which she found odd and unnerving. Her eyes traced all the strong masculine features of his face stopping as they found his deep blue eyes, she truly could get lost in them. She could feel her skin burning as she looked at his thin lips, even though they seemed chapped she wondered what they would feel like against her much fuller ones.
He looked over at her, feeling her eyes on him. Beth quickly looked away casting her gaze on Shane who was sitting next to Daryl. He must have thought she was looking at him in the same way she was looking at Daryl because he grinned widely and he gave her a little nod. Beth smiled back out of respect for the former police officers authority, then dipped her head back down to continue eating.
After the meal was complete Beth decided she was going to sneak away to the horse barn for some alone time. She went up to her room and changed into her spaghetti strapped pink cotton night dress that hit her just above the knee, and cream colored knit button down sweater, her hair was pulled to the side in a low ponytail and she carried her boots in her hands to avoid excess noise. She tried her best to creep past the room full of people but was caught by her father just as her body was about to break the door frame.
"Where do you think you're off to all alone, young lady?" Hershel asked making the room fall silent.
"Just out the stables to brush out the horses, Daddy" She said turning to face him as all eyes fell on her.
"Not alone and not this close to dark. It can wait until tomorrow." he scolded dismissing her efforts.
"But..." Beth started to argue but to her surprise someone cut her off.
"If it's ok, I'll keep her safe out there. Wouldn't hurt to learn more about them horses...possibly take one out tomorrow?" said Shane slurring a bit from the far side of the table, the booze getting to his head a little.
"Well, I think it would just be better to wait until day break." Hershel hesitated, noticing the slight change in Shane's speech.
"Ah, come on Hershel, let them go, protected and serve remember ain't nothing gonna happen to ya girl while in the good hands of Officer Walsh" Rick jumped in and defended.
"Alright, I guess if your think it's ok…Just a little while ok? Just shown him how to brush down one horse, he can learn to saddle it tomorrow." Hershel compromised.
Shane stood up from the table and followed Beth out of the screen door. Daryl watched them leave with hawk's eyes. He should have been the one to go out there with her, after all he was the one that was actually planning on borrowing a horse. Shane didn't care whether or not they found Carol's little girl. Daryl had to stop his thought process right there, Why did he care what the blondie did?