Let me start off by saying I am a huge Walking Dead fan, both of the TV show and The comic series. That also being said this is my first Walking Dead Fic. So please let me know what you think? Constructive criticism is always welcome. If you have any thoughts or questions let me know and I'll do my best to respond. This is an AU version of The Walking Dead where Daryl and Merle did not initially meet up with the rest of the group, they have been roughing it by themselves. This picks up right after Hershel's farm is destroyed. Of course I do not own anything, because if I did certain people would still be alive on the show, and no profit was made.

It was unusually warm for the fall. Beth felt a hot sticky breeze blow across her bare calves. She had been wearing a skirt when the farm was over run, a skirt and riding boots. Who wears a skirt when they might have to high tail it any moment. She smirked at the idea of how sheltered she was. She was so ill prepared for what had happened.

Her daddy let the larger group join them and it had been nice. The new people taught them how to survive. Beth was grateful for that. She didn't think she would have been able to last this long otherwise. They had told them about the herds. Large groups of walkers that were beginning to roam together. Her Daddy didn't think that it was an issue, they lived out in the middle of no where, but it quickly became a problem. Her house was overrun, but what seemed like at least 300 walkers. Her Daddy and Rick were taking shots at them with the rest of the group. They quickly realized it was better to just run. There were too many of them.

Rick lit the barn on fire, drawing as much attention away from them as possible, while everyone else grabbed whatever weapons they could. She hadn't mastered the gun yet so she had settled on a large kitchen knife, deciding that it would have been safer. Patricia grabbed her arm and began to pull her to the waiting truck that held Rick's wife Lori and another survivor named T-Dog. She remembered a sharp tug on the arm that Patricia was holding and she turned to see her being devoured. Panic and fear gripped her as she looked for somewhere to run. There were too many walkers between the truck and herself, so she booked it towards the woods without looking back.

That was two days ago and she was still alone. No people, just a few straggling walkers. She began to panic wondering if she should just end her life and get it over with. She felt her knees begin to crumple and her back began to ache from the sobs that were tearing through her. Her mind raced. Were they even looking for her? She doubted it. She had been gone too long and traveled too far. Finding her old group was like searching for a needle in a haystack at this point.

A loud crunching sound tore her from her thoughts. She listened carefully, it sounded like footsteps. Too fast to be walkers. It was a person. Her mind flip-flopped between decision. Should she call out to them? Ask for help? They could not be friendly. What if they were men? Rick and Glenn had warned her that finding women was getting tougher and tougher. Men were becoming animals.

She turned to see a man, a little older than her, walking towards her. He was smiling and for some reason that was down right unsettling. Both his hands were raised as he stepped closer to her tree. She wondered if he had seen her or not, but in the next instant the thought of remaining hidden flew away.

"Hey there princess? What'cha doing out here by yourself?" She quickly stepped out from behind the tree, her knife was safely hidden behind her back. She made a couple slow steps back, inching her way farther and farther away from the strange man. "Calm down." He smiled. It was still as unsettling as before and she realized quickly that it didn't meet his eyes. "Are ya out here by yourself?"

"No." He voice shook, giving away her lie quickly. "My daddy and brother went hunting. They'll be back soon."

"No they won't" He smirked. She bolted without another thought, feet carrying her faster, but not fast enough. He was on her in a minute, tackling her to the ground and flipping her over to face him. "You're real pretty, you know that."

"Please stop." She cried out, trying her best to grab at the knife that had fallen just slightly away from her, she was lucky he didn't seem to notice.

"No crying princess..." The sickening smirk returned to his face. "You and me, we're gonna have some fun." Relief flooded through her as her had made contact with the knife. She let out a primal scream as she grabbed the weapon and plunged it deep into his abdomen. He looked at her in bewilderment and shock as his blood flowed freely from his stomach and began to pool onto her hands and midsection. She pulled herself slowly from underneath him. He stared at her another moment before collapsing onto the ground in a heap.

She instantly became aware of the warm stickiness of his blood on her clothes. There was nothing to wash off with and until she could locate some new ones she was just going to have to deal. She heard another snap of a branch on the ground. Someone was close. Did he have friends? Would they be looking for him. Silent tears streaked down her face as she made out two voices. Two men, her heart sank as she listened in.

"I'm tellin' ya baby brother, I heard a girl crying!" She popped her head around the corner and watched the two.

"Prob'bly just a cat or somethin'. We ain't got time to go off chasing after girl's that don't exist." She looked at the one who just spoke. He looked older than her, maybe in his thirties with shaggy dark brown hair. He was wearing a sleeveless shirt and was carrying a crossbow. The other man was a bit taller, his hair was sheered short. She couldn't put her finger on why, but something about him turned her stomach.

"It Wasn't no cat I heard! It was a girl!" The taller man said a little louder.

"You don't keep it down yer gonna have a whole herd comin' after us!" The dark haired on spat. She felt her stomach begin to twist at the taller man started walking towards her tree.

"Girly!" He called out. "Ain't gonna hurt ya none!" He chuckled "Just wanna talk."

"Merle!" The dark haired on spat out in exasperation. "Would ya keep yer big yap shut!"

"Come on out!" He smirked. "We'll protect ya!" Beth had to make a decision fast. She could stay where she was and probably be found or she could bolt. She may be able to out run them, may being the key word, but it was better than nothing. She waited until the man known as Merle turned to talk to the other and she ran as fast as she could sprinting past them.

"Told Ya!" Merle cackled as he chase after her. "Where ya goin' girly?"

"Merle, leave her alone." She could hear both of them coming after her and she pushed herself faster. She didn't know how long she was going to be able to run. She felt her heart cry out as she saw a large white building come in to view. A church! Not one she recognized, but still a place to hide. She ran to the front door and ducked inside. Only one walker and it was quickly taken care of.

She didn't know if they saw her, but she couldn't run anymore. She hadn't slept hardly at all since the farm. She was exhausted. It took everything she had left to sit down in an empty pew. She stared up at the cross hanging right up front. Where was God when she needed him. Her chest began to heave as her body was racked with sobs. When she use to cry like this as a kid her momma would sing to her to try and calm her down. Singing would have probably been quieter than sobbing at the moment. She kept her voice barely above a whisper as the only song she could think of escaped her lips slowly.

Are you lonesome tonight,

do you miss me tonight?

Are you sorry we drifted apart?

Does your memory stray to a brighter sunny day

When I kissed you and called you sweetheart?

Do the chairs in your parlor seem empty and bare?

Daryl heard her voice sail through an open window in the church, voice of angel. He turned slowly hoping that Merle didn't hear it. Didn't need to be dragging a tiny lil' thing like her along anyways. His heart dropped slightly as he saw Merle's smile. He pointed to the church, Daryl shook his head no, but Merle persisted. If Merle was gonna bother this poor girl, Daryl might as well be there to protect her.

Do you gaze at your doorstep and picture me there?

Is your heart filled with pain, shall I come back again?

Tell me dear, are you lonesome tonight?

The church door swung open and Beth immediately silenced herself, not that it would help much now. She backed herself into a corner, brandishing her weapon as she took in the sight of the two men. Merle looked pleased that he had found her, but the second man eyed her worriedly.

"Whew baby can you run!" He laughed. "I tell you what Daryl she is a quick lit'l girl." Merle appraised her from afar as she forced bile back down her throat. "Pretty too! Like a little baby doll, with that golden hair, pretty face. Whatcha name babydoll?"

"Get back!" She cried out brandishing her only weapon. Daryl, she thought that was the second man's name, watched as Merle walked towards her slowly.

"Whatcha gonna do babydoll?" He laughed. "Cut me?" She stepped forward slightly as she sliced at the air in front of him. "Whew kitten's got claws."

"I said stay back!" She screeched.

"Merle!" Daryl called out. "Leave her be. We gotta go."

"Ain't everyday we find a woman out in the woods. Specially one as pretty as you." He took another step forward and she struck him this time slicing his arm from the elbow crease to his wrist. "Lit'l Bitch!" he said as he back-handed her. She fell back, but quickly recovered grabbing her weapon and taking a crouching stance. She watched him carefully, striking out at him anytime he got too close. She got him one more time on the side, but it was barely a scratch, but certainly enough to piss him off.

She closed her eyes and waited for him to cross the distance and over power her. She could only hope that if he did rape her that he would kill her after. She couldn't live with that, but nothing happened. Were they toying with her? Was this all just for fun, some cruel joke?

Her eyes slowly cracked open to see the one named Daryl standing in front of her defensively. He had his crossbow trained on the older man. She thought for a moment about slicing him too, but quickly decided against it. He was trying to help her, she assumed. Although it could just be part of a ploy to put her weapon down.

"Back off Merle!" The man said sternly.

"Ya gonna protect that lil' bitch after she just cut me?!" Merle was angry, his face was an unnatural shade of red.

"Ain't like it wasn't deserved." He fired back. "Prol'ly scared the hell out of her." Merle looked down at the tiny girl and realized quickly that she was covered in blood, as was the knife she had sliced him with.

"Ah to hell wit' ya!" He threw up his hands in frustration. Daryl watched him until he exited the church. He then turned to glare at the girl.

"Where's your group?!" He almost shouted at her. She flinched back. Daryl quickly realized this wasn't the way to get through to her. He sighed, running his fingers through his hair. He took in the way she was crouched defensively, covered in blood from her midsection to her shins. This girl had probably dealt with more today than she had in her whole lifetime. Girls like her had real problems these days without groups. She was a pretty little thing light blonde hair, beautiful blue eyes. Not quite like his, darker like the sky after a bad thunderstorm. "What's yer name Pretty girl?" He asked crouching down in front of her.

She thought for a moment before she decided to answer. "Beth." She managed to croak out.

"My name's Daryl." He smiled. "Where's yer group Beth?"

"I...I...I don't know." She felt her eyes begin to fill with tears again.

"They just up and leave ya by yerself?" He looked almost upset.

"no." She shook her head. "there was a fire on my daddy's farm. A whole bunch a them things came after us. Patricia," She paused in the middle of her explanation, unsure why she spoke her name he would have no idea who she was talking about. "My family friend was running with me to the car...to the rest of my group. There were too many of them. I had to run." He nodded his understanding.

"This yer blood?" He motioned to her slowly, making sure to keep his hands a safe distance away from her. She shook her head. "If I go check in the woods am I gonna find a body?" She nodded slowly. "Good." He said with a curt nod. "Probably deserved it." He was silent for a moment. "How long ya been by yourself?"

"Two days."

"Ya eat?" She shook her head no. He dug through his pack that was sitting beside him and handed her a can of peaches. She eyed him warily and then snatched it out of his hands. Sje popped the pull top and dug in, not even bothering with the pleasantries of a thank you. "Think yer group is gonna be lookin' fer ya?" She shrugged. He sighed again as he made the quick decision, he had to take her home. Girls like her can't live by themselves. "How 'bout this pretty girl?" Her head quirked up at the nickname he regressed back to. "I'll take ya back to yer house." A large smile graced her face, showing him all the pearly white teeth in her mouth. Daryl was stunned. He didn't think she could get any more beautiful, but he was wrong.

"What if they're not there?" She raised an eyebrow at him. Surely he wasn't gonna take over watching out for her. They just met.

"We'll cross that bridge when we get to it." He looked at her once more and turned to call out the open window. "Merle!" It wasn't a shout, not loud enough to register to that, but probably loud enough to get the other man's attention.

"Lil' bitch cut me good." He hollered as he stormed back into the church. She recoiled at the sight of him. "Damn' thing won't stop bleedin'"

"It's gonna need stitches." She said softly as she took in the large gash on his forearm.

"Yea?" Daryl smirked back at her. "How you know that?"

"My daddy's a vet, seen what a wound looks like when it needs stitches." She said forcefully. "I can do it if ya need me too. Seen it done plenty of times."

"Merle I need an extra shirt from you and a bottle of water, for the squirt."

"I ain't givin' that lil' bitch a damn thing!" He looked at his brother with shock. "She cut me."

"Yea and she's the only one that can fix ya." He smirked. "I just so happen to have the stuff she needs to stitch ya up, but if you'd rather I do it?" Daryl moved to grab the first aid kit out of his pack.

"What's she need a new shirt fer?"

"Unless you want her sewin' ya up with bloody shirt and hands." Merle didn't say anything, but threw a shirt at her quickly.

Merle ran his finger across the messy line of stitches. It wasn't the best job in the world, but heck she did it. He smiled up at her, leering slightly before pulling her close as he admired her handy work. She recoiled quickly, but he didn't seem to notice.

"Damn babydoll, ya are worth somethin' ain't ya!" He said happily. He watched her for a moment before he stood up and brushed himself off. "I got first watch since we gotta take babydoll back to her folks tomorrow." Merle hadn't been happy about having to backtrack two days, but Daryl quickly pointed out that it didn't matter as they weren't headed anywhere in particular.

Daryl and Beth sat in silence as she packed things back into the first aid kit. She smiled up at him as she handed it back. He studied her face for a moment and Beth quickly became uneasy. A fact he noticed quickly.

"So Elvis huh?" He smirked at her.

"My momma use to sing it to me to calm me down." He nodded his understanding.

"My Ma used to listen to him all the time..." He trailed off slowly, she caught a glimmer of something in his eye. She couldn't tell exactly, but it almost looked like pain. Remembering something she had no business wondering about probably. They sat there in silence for a few more minutes before he reached for his pack again and pulled off the crowbar that was attached to the front."This'll probably come in more handy than that kitchen knife ya got." He placed it on the ground in front of her.

"Thank you." She smiled genuinely at him. "For everything."

"Ain't a problem pretty girl. Can't leave ya out there by yourself." He sighed. "I know it ain't much, but figured I'd let ya know. Yer safe here, with us. You can go to sleep." She shook her head and he chuckled. "Yer loss."

Beth watched his sleeping form and felt her eyes begin to get heavy as she leaned back against the wall. This was the first time in two days she had felt safe. She wasn't sure what that meant, but she didn't have time to think on it as she fell into a dreamless sleep for the first time since this whole thing started.

Alright...so tell me what you think? Should I continue? Is it just utter nonsense. Any pointers or suggestions or even compliments, because heck who doesn't like compliments. Please Read and Review. And for those of you who don't know (Shame on you.) The song Beth was singing was Are you Lonesome Tonight by Elvis Presley.