Ridiculously lengthed A/N: So I'm embarking on a new venture!

This is a slow-burn Bethyl, that will be relatively close to the series but with some 'unseen' moments between the two, however, it does defiantly start as a friendship fic if you're not into the Bethyl-i-ness. I intend to update every few days- week at the most- and have a whole first ten chapters planned so it's just a case of writing. (proof I'm committed) I know I may have left my other stories too long to feel attached to where I was when I was writing them and so I will finish them but for now the inspiration isn't there. So I apologise.

I'm super excited for this, so I would really appreciate any feedback- I even take constructive or mean comments into account so if you hate it tell me why! Likewise good feedback boosts my esteem and makes me type faster ;)

Prologue

A seed of panic was growing in his stomach, it started the second he saw the car drive off. For unknown reasons, and it was always unknown reasons with Beth, his legs began to follow. Desperation overcoming the exhaustion. He was too far behind to follow; only a man against a car. And he had no way of possibly being able to save her, she could be anywhere, with anyone. But he had to. He owed her that much. And maybe the truth of the matter was that after all that had happened in his long life- he needed her.

The Prison- Part One

Friendships can come from as little as a thank you in the right place.

It had been a hard week, new people from the governor's sick rule had taken a massive blow to their resources, much more than anyone had anticipated. The salvaged goods from Woodberry had run out barely a fortnight in, and that's when it became clear that runs would have to become more frequent, further afield and extra-rationing was going to become a necessary hardship for them all to bear. Of course, this hit Daryl the hardest.

He had been going backwards and forward for too many days, trying to salvage anything he could from the woods or nearby places on Rick's orders of not going too far afield in case any of the disgruntled new members tried anything. That was another problem in itself, Rick's paranoia, his half-arsed leadership stemming from on and off days. The man was, quite frankly in this moment, losing it. But that's what a world of resurrected dead people did to you, Hershel had become a necessary compass for the group, stepping up whenever Rick couldn't or inadvertently talking the man back to sanity in spare time. He gave Rick the idea of raising the piglets and starting his own little vegetable patch- advice only a farmer could give.

It was clear by this point that Daryl's sympathy for the man had just about cleaned out. In fact, just about everyone was making ridiculous requests of him and he was getting sick and tired of it. He couldn't remember the last whole night's sleep he got, heck, he could barely remember anything more than three fragmented hours at any time. He hurt all over from the exertion and constant neediness of stupid ass stupid people who couldn't fend for themselves. He was over this. He was over everything.

''Pookie, have some stew.'' Carol squeezed his shoulder, but he shrugged her off with a grunt and snatched the mug from her ungratefully. He might have felt bad at her crestfallen face, but he didn't. Carol would understand, and out of anyone here he gave her the nicest reply possible for the physical contact. Not to mention the stupid name, stupid woman.

He ate the stew quickly, hating the buzz of the cafeteria space with its high-school table layout. He sat alone, mostly because of the glares he gave anyone who came by and the knowledgeable rumours that had spread warnings about crossing him. The Woodberry lot didn't like him much, but then again what did he care not like he didn't anything but everything for them. Great, he was winding himself up. He more or less threw the bowl and spoon into the sink when he was done, not caring about the dull thud it made and started his way out. The kitchen was hustling with taking pots back and forth from the sink, dishing out meals and the general bustle of community. It served to annoy him more.

Just before the door he saw the youngest Greene girl struggling with a tin opener and a tin of fruit, the small bowl and plastic spoon instantly clued him into the intended infant recipient of this meal, so he felt somewhat obliged to fill in the gap of Judith's tummy if her primary care taker wasn't even tough enough to fight with tinned pear. Seriously, where was Rick?

Stupid pathetic kid, guess he'll have to help her do that too. Fucking people, can't even open a tin without him. He walked over heavily, swearing under his breath till his shadow fell across her. He didn't feel guilty about snatching the tin out of her hands, even at the surprised gasp she admitted. Opening it gruffly in a few seconds he pushed it back into her vacant hands so it pressed against her chest a bit too forcefully. Her back arched a little at the pressure and a bit of juice splashed a small dark circle on her vest top.

''Thank you, Daryl.'' Her lips barely moved but there a small genuine smile on her lips that threw him off. It vanished upon the glare he accidentally gave her whilst observing this fact. Maybe it's a real show of the ingratitude of the others that the simple thanks of one girl threw him right off track.

''What?'' He snapped at her, and she involuntarily took a half-step back, her eyes glazing his face uncertainly. The wary nature would have, on enough sleep and in a better mood, left him musing on how she spooked like a horse. But right now it served to piss him off for exaggerating his inaptitude for dealing with humans and the amplification of the gap between him and the rest.

''Well- thank you for helpin-'' it was credit to the kid for pursuing in her explanation; bravery or stupidity.

''You think I care about yer 'thank yous', girl?''

He heard some small sound of confused protest from under her breath, but didn't wait around long enough to find out what exactly she was going to say to the explosive response. Instead he marched off back to the tower where he had another six hours to kill alone, waiting for the impending nothing to attack. At least it was an easy job, only meaning he had to talk to or even see people at the beginning of the shift and the end, but still it required remaining awake.

The first couple of hours passed slowly. He settled to watching the darkness take over and stewing on his angsts of the entire remaining human race, trying to come up with reasons for why he was even staying in this place. He had no ties to these people. He didn't owe them anything either (heck they owed him). But on the other hand, he had been adopted into a dysfunctional family, and now his entire real family was gone anyway. Not to mention he owed them his loyalty- he guessed Rick at least (even if he was being a pain at the moment). Even worst was the overwhelming reason to stay; he was afraid to leave and face this alone. And Dixon's ain't scared of nothing. So he shoved it down into some repressed place as soon as the voice of reason spoke up, choking it on his hate and pride instead so he could pretend he was staying here as an act of superior loyalty. Yes, that was it- they couldn't cope without him, that's why he would stay.

God, this job was killing him. The thoughts were making him angrier, but they helped him stay awake, eyes fixed on some invisible point in the distance. He sat on the hard floor, deciding it was too risky to allow any comfort to lull him into a fake security slumber. There was a small shuffle on the stairs, the sound of someone slowly making their way up to the tower. Best case scenario it was a walker and he could take out some of this angst, worse case it was someone from Woodberry asking for something from the next run as if they were allowed to make a shopping list. But the slight noise was more like a woman- so Carol or china man.

He was wrong, the small blonde popped her head around the door, holding a cup as if it were her own heart. The liquid trembled as her hands shook, but once again the smile was in place as if he hadn't just popped his corks on her earlier and stormed off like a toddler. He grunted I her direction.

''I brought you some coffee- it's black but I got sugar- if-if y'want-'' Beth placed the cup on a table that was somewhere half way between the door and where he was sat, as if it were some peace compromise. She kept her voice sweet and even but the slight breathlessness and fumbling in her pockets for sachets of sugar gave her away.

''What makes you think I want that'' he sneered, but his rude snub was totally negated by him standing up stiffly and putting two sugars in the coffee before picking it up and sitting back onto his original position.

''Well- I thought you might be tired and to say thanks again, though I know you don't care, and sorry for upsetting you.'' She breathed a bit too heavily out her nose, biting her lip a little bit as f she were unsure of her own intentions.

''I ain't upset at you.'' It came out a bit too fiercely to be believable, and once again he thought of himself as a giant toddler. His throat made an involuntary noise of irritation before he looked up, straight into her unshielded blue eyes. ''Look, girl- I ain't. Ok? I'm just tired.''

She nodded slowly, gave a small smile that nearly hid the terror in her face and left silently. Leaving him alone with his thoughts.

Well, he thought, I couldn't have been more of a dick if I tried.

It was a couple of days after that in his even worse mood from even more of a lack of rest he came in from a hard days hunting with the full intention of going to bed and hibernating no matter what came at him, or tried to bite him. He couldn't remember feeling so exhausted, at least not without his father or Merle being somehow involved. He was just near library when he passed the small blonde coming out holding a book, she gave him a tiny smile and walked ahead of him, rounding the corner. He glared back.

''Have you seen Daryl? I need him to cover my fence duty-'' he heard Maggie's voice from around the corner and groaned inwardly, knowing he had been caught with his hopes up of a good rest. He waited idly for Beth to give him away continuing the slow march to the corner when he heard the small thing pipe up.

''Oh uh-huh- he went to see daddy in the other cell block.'' He could practically hear the honey dripping in her voice, knowing she was forcing a small grin and pretending to think, when in reality her innocent heart would be pumping for the lie and adrenaline shooting through her for the unlikely deception she was causing. Rookie.

But it worked, Maggie called something and began a fast pace down the hall back from where she had come from, her bots slapping on the tiles and echoing down until he knew she was gone. Beth had resumed walking too at a calmer pace and he quickened his to tap her on the shoulder and confront her face to face. It then dawned on him how tiny Beth really was.

''What was that for?'' It was an angry whisper in reality; a stunned question in his head.

''You need to sleep, she can do her own duty.'' Beth shrugged as if it was the weather she was talking about, turning and walking away from him at a convincingly normal speed.

''I thought I said I don't need your help!'' He called after her, his temper somehow impeded for her quick-thinking. Perhaps it was the implication that he looked as tired as he felt. Or that of the entire prison only she had noticed.

''It's okay, Daryl. You're welcome.'' She smiled and waved casually in his direction, going into her cell. He was tempted to follow but instead rushed off to his bed, kicking his shoes off and cursing that tiny bitch for assuming she knew what he wanted. He lay on the welcoming embrace of his mattress, where instantly he felt grateful to the beautiful angel that was Beth Greene.

Nearly one week later, he was back on the watch in tower, sighing in defeat of the whole thing. It would settle down and he was getting bored of his insults to the people, and too tired to think of any new original ones. Instead he had taken to glaring at everyone and refusing to offer any help at all even when the council looked at him exclusively, choosing instead to force them into asking him. Had he any less heart he would have said 'no', if not for the entertainment value, then a deserved day or so off.

But bygones were becoming bygones, the space he needed had been granted in a run further afield that let him take a night off in an old hut before working his way back the next day. The space was necessary and anytime not surrounded by people was a real joy, in fact tower duty was a wonderful escape from the crowded cell blocks and constant continuance of living humans to just be there.

Which is why he was surprised to not find himself pissed upon hearing the small shuffling noise of feet on the steps to the tower, in fact he was mostly curious what the illusive Beth Greene could possibly want from him this time. Sure enough she came around the door, a light blue shirt ruffling in the open breeze and an open smile on her face.

''I brought coffee, two sugars are in it already.'' As if to indicate her success she lifted it up to him, slowly creeping to where he was sat to pass it to him. He grunted some form of appreciation and went back to staring at the horizon, waiting for her to bring up a request or job she wanted doing.

Instead she turned as silently as she came up the stairs and walked toward the door.

''Hey- Beth-'' his voice was quiet but the girl made of quietness heard it and turned around, one hand poised on the door frame and back turned to him.

''Thanks.'' It was quiet and stark on it on, taking far too much energy to say to her for a cup of coffee. But she smiled absently at him anyway, continuing on her way, before she paused and looked over shoulder at him with a small mischievous wink.

''What makes me think I need your 'thank yous', Dixon?''