Daryl slung his crossbow over his shoulder as he maneuvered through the brush and trees of the forest. The carcass of the deer long since forgotten as he caught a glimpse of sunshine golden hair floating just in his periphery. Beth was here…walking next to him. Something he'd never thought would happen. He had to resist the urge to reach over and touch her, to make sure she was real.
A loud rumbling split the quiet, easy silence between them and Daryl blinked, his focus traveling around the forest they were trekking though. The ray of sunlight were gone, replaced by a dingy darkness that only accompanied full rain clouds. His face turned up to the sky just as a fat wet drop landed by the corner of his eyes. He let out a grunt and Beth turned to look at him. He could tell the moment she was hit with a drop because her whole body jerked as she looked at the little wet spot on her arm. She looked up at him, a little slow on the uptake, but before he could speak the sky let out another rumble and opened up to drench them both.
Breaking into a dead run he ran towards Alexandria but knew they'd never make it. They needed to find somewhere to wait out the worst of the storm. He knew there were little shacks and cabins dotted all through the woods. He'd seen them on his way out to hunting…but now he just needed to find one so they could keep dry. He could hear her crunching the underbrush as she ran to keep up with him and it made his heart go into double time. This was real…she was here. It seemed like no matter how much he repeated the thought it still was hard to believe.
His eyes lit onto a small structure hidden mostly by trees and debris but he knew what it was and that it would be safe until the storm had passed. Slowly, cautiously he pulled his bow from around his back and held it up at the ready as he opened the creaking door. It was a small cabin, one room, but it was clear and dry. He turned to call Beth in but paused as he watched her, thunder rumbling over head. She was standing in the rain, hair plastered to her skin, face tipped up as clear fat drops landed on her face, a small smile twisting her lips. "Beth…" He called, drowned out by the thunder. He called again and watched as her blue eyes landed on his. "C'mon Greene, found us somewhere to wait it out."
She held her hands out, catching more drops on her fingertips. "Daryl…have you ever just felt the rain?" He gave her a funny look but trudged out towards her, bow dropping down to his side.
"We're in the middle of a thunderstorm and you wanna stop and feel the rain?" His blue eyes met hers and he watched as she smiled up at him. Before he could stop himself, his free hand darted out and caught the back of her neck, gently tugging her forward towards him. His lips crashed down on hers and he was once again flooded with the sense of awe that she was here…she was with him. When her lips moved against his he was lost; lost to the sensation of her pressed against him and kissing him. After so long of feeling like she was never coming back it was almost enough to bring him to his knees. She pulled back to look at him, her delicate hands coming up to smooth his wet hair away from his face. She stepped up on tip toe and pressed her lips lightly to his again.
"You're right…" Thunder rumbled above her. "We should go inside and wait it out." He gave a soft 'mm' in response and followed her into the little cabin, marveling at the feeling of her hand clutched tightly in his. What an amazing feeling.