A/N: Hello all! This is my attempt at writing a Bethyl fanfic and I hope you guys enjoy it! Please feel free to review, whether it's to tell me what you liked or/and what you didn't, as I approve of constructive criticism! I warn you now though that future chapters will contain a couple scenes from the actual show (with a few minor changes now that Beth is involved) as I try to reach my own plot. This is only because I feel I cannot change such a great, already existing masterpiece. So I apologize in advance!

CHAPTER ONE

Beth waited on the road just as Daryl instructed.

She could still hear the dreadful moans of the walkers nearby, and with every moan arose more worry for her companion. Seconds felt like minutes as she heard a loud commotion inside the building that they had just lived in for the past two days. It was a clashing sound. Something had fallen and she knew Daryl was struggling. Beth wanted to go back in and help, in fact she already planned to if he took too much longer to escape. She knew he would give her shit for it later, but she didn't care. She felt useless standing in the middle of the road like an idiot.

Another few seconds past so Beth took a stride to head back, but before she could go any further she spotted Daryl sprinting quickly through the trees as a few walkers followed close behind. Beth sighed with relief as he headed straight in her direction, but never stopped when he reached her. Daryl grabbed Beth's arm firmly, spinning her around as he led her past the road and into the woods. A few branches lashed at her face until she finally stumbled on something hard. Beth landed on her hands and knees which were instantly covered in dirt. She didn't know what it was that she tripped on. It could have been a log or a rock, but she didn't have time to think about it as Daryl yanked her up like a rag doll and continued to pull her back into a run.

They ran for at least two miles until Daryl finally decided it was safe to take a break. Beth leaned her forehead on Daryl's chest as he held her arms. The rhythm of his heart drummed rapidly and she could feel hers beating at the same speed. It was a relief for both of them that they made it out safely.

"I was startin' to worry for you," Beth's words escaped her lips with difficulty, still trying to catch her breath.

Daryl grunted but replied softly against her hair as he squeezed her arms tighter. "Last man standin', remember?"

Beth smiled only slightly as she remembered their conversation back at the house with the Moonshine. She knew that he didn't actually believe it but probably said it anyways to make her feel better. She felt the vibrations in his chest as he spoke, and it comforted her more than she anticipated. She pulled away from him to catch his eyes and he stared right back. They were lazy and tired, but he still managed to regard her with sympathy. However, it didn't take long before he averted them, letting go of her as he turned to scan the area as best he could in the dark.

"D'you have any rope in that bag?" Daryl spoke out as he shook the trunk of a tree.

"Yeah," Beth replied as she took the strap off her back exhaustingly, "Are we stayin' here for the night?"

Daryl shrugged as he looked at her, wishing they were back at the kitchen table eating peanut butter, pickled herring and pig's feet. "I guess. There ain't anywhere else to go. Sure as hell can't see worth shit in the dark."

Beth could tell he was angry, and she didn't blame him. So was she, but there was nothing they could do about it. This was where they were now, so they had to make the best of it. She pulled out several ropes, untangling them from each other as she did. Beth loosened a few knots, but one of them was giving her a hard time, and it wasn't long before she began to get frustrated. She used as much strength as she could but it wouldn't untie.

Daryl watched her with interest as she muttered useless words at the rope, figuring she was taking all of her anger out on it. He knew with perfect clarity why she was upset. Whenever they found anything good, it never seemed to last. They were growing tired of always being on the move, and just as they thought they found another sanctuary, it was so quickly taken away from them once again.

Then, Daryl heard Beth begin to sob and he couldn't take it any longer. He walked up to her and took out his open hand. "Here, I'll do it."

Beth sniffled as she passed the rope to him, watching as he fiddled with the knot until it finally loosened. Without a word, he left her side as he began to fasten it around a tree, and then tied the other end on another trunk soon after. Beth finally regained her bearing and did the same, but a lot slower than her counterpart. They didn't have cans or anything that could clang loudly if a walker came at them against the rope while they slept, but it would have to do. Even a rope would be a hard obstacle for walkers to get past.

"I'm gonna get some sleep," Beth spoke out of the silence, pulling out a blanket from the bag and laid it as flat as she could on the ground. She looked at Daryl, waiting for an answer as he nodded at her.

"Alright. I'll stay up for a while and make sure we weren't followed," Daryl replied as he kneeled down and leaned his back against a trunk and pulled out his crossbow, setting it on his lap.

"Okay," she held contact with him for only a moment before she lied down on the blanket and closed her eyes, "Goodnight."

Daryl remained silent for several minutes, watching the stillness of Beth's figure in the moonlight as the yellow t-shirt she was wearing made it easier for him to see her. "Sleep well," he finally said quietly; hoping not to wake her in case she had already fallen asleep.

"You too," Beth responded groggily after a couple seconds, but didn't move to look at him. However, she smiled privately to herself, feeling much better with just those two words said to her.

...

Beth awoke slowly from a perfect dream about her family back at the prison. Her father was still alive, and they were all laughing contentedly about something that was humorous, but she didn't remember what it could have been. It took her a moment to realize where she was, and another moment to notice that she was alone.

Beth sat up quickly, feeling her head spin as the blood rushed to her brain. She shut her eyes tightly for a moment as she placed her wrist against her forehead, attempting to wake up properly. When she opened her eyes again, she knew that the weariness of her sleep did not fool her. Beth really was alone, and she began to panic not knowing where Daryl was. She stood up on her feet, scanning the woods around her as best she could, but it only disappointed her more when she didn't see him.

"Daryl?" Beth called out in a whisper, wondering if he was perhaps nearby and she just didn't catch him. There was no answer, so she yelled sharply this time. "Daryl!"

Still there was no reply, except for a sudden twig breaking in the distance. Beth quickly unsheathed her knife and shakily held it out in front of her, realizing it was a brass move to be yelling which would undoubtedly attract walkers. Before she could start kicking at herself for being so irresponsible, a figure moved out from behind some trees. Despite it still not being very bright out, she knew it was Daryl even from a distance, and she drew a heavy sigh of relief.

When he finally caught up to her, she noticed a dead rabbit dangling by the ears between Daryl's fingers. "What're you doin' calling out like that? You're just askin' to be walker bait," he inquired with annoyance as he ducked underneath the rope.

"I'm sorry; I know that was stupid of me. I just didn't know where you were," Beth replied honestly, feeling a little ashamed. She looked at all the empty spaces around him before she finally regarded the uneasy expression on his face.

Daryl bit the inside of his cheek as he stared calmly into her soft blue eyes, and then casually looked away. "I figured I'd be back before you woke up. I didn't mean to frighten ya."

Beth shook her head. "It's fine. I see you have breakfast," she pointed at the rabbit, attempting to change the subject.

Daryl lifted his arm and looked at the animal in his hand. "Yeah, it ain't much but its somthin'."

Beth smiled fondly at him, "You did good."

He inspected her carefully then, and his expressions softened as he shrugged. "Let's get a fire started. Do you still have that mirror and glass shard from the car?"

"Yeah, it's in my bag," Beth answered as she rushed to her backpack and pulled them out.

As she prepared the campfire like she did many times before, Daryl dressed the rabbit with his own knife on top of a large rock just a few feet away. After digging out a pit, Beth placed some logs inside and then began scavenging for a couple of fallen branches that would have a fork on the tip of them. She didn't stray too far from their camp, but it took her some time before she could find what she was looking for.

When she got back, Beth planted a branch through the dirt on both sides of the fire pit, then grabbed one more stick and sharpened each end to make a brochette. Afterwards, she began making the fire with the glass and the mirror. When Beth was done her job, Daryl had also finished cleaning his catch, so he took the skewer and pierced it through the rabbit.

As their breakfast was cooking, the two remained quiet for a short period, but Beth wanted to say something as the silence was beginning to irritate her.

"I had a dream about the prison," she spoke abruptly, but hesitated when Daryl caught her eye. They were mixed with wonder and concern, but mostly just filled with sadness. She decided to continue. "It was a good dream… one you wouldn't want to wake up from, ya know?"

Daryl twitched his lips as he stared back at the crackling fire, followed by a heavy sigh. "I hate dreams. They annoy you, fill you with fear or show you things that you want but can never have."

"Yeah…I guess there is never a happy medium," Beth breathed in deeply, clutching her legs closer to her chest. She was hoping for a more positive response, but it seemed as though Daryl had completely given up the idea of ever finding their family and making things the way they used to be.

Silence once again. Normally it didn't bother her like it used to, but for some reason she needed the company of a conversation this morning. Perhaps it was all because of the dream she had, and it was still subconsciously affecting her. However, in the calmness of relaxing by the fire, she was finally able to think about last night. Beth had almost forgotten all about it until now. The way Daryl had opened up to her, admitting that she was the one who helped him believe that there was still good people out there. It wasn't necessarily what he said, but the way he said it. His demeanor had changed into something she had never seen before; almost innocent and vulnerable, and the way he looked at her was completely different. She could see the walls that were built around him crumble right before her eyes. In that moment they shared something, but Beth wondered if it was only because of the candlelight that made it seem more romantic than it was.

"It's ready," Daryl spoke out, pulling Beth away from her trance.

She snapped her head up and watched him carefully. Without thinking about it, she decided to get his attention. "Daryl?"

"Mhm?" He replied under his breath, still focusing on his task with taking the cooked rabbit off of the fire.

Beth felt silly then, as it didn't really seem like the right time to bring up the topic about what had happened the night before. "Nothin'."

With the skewer in hand, Daryl sat down beside Beth, asking her to hold the other end. She did as was told, and they began pulling the tender meat off with their free hands.

"It's good," Beth declared after she took her first bite.

Daryl scoffed at the situation, "Probably would be better with some spices."

Beth chuckled quietly as she knew he hated compliments, and decided to tease him. The reminder of last night, and the meaningful moments at the Moonshine house, gave her the confidence to do it. "Whatever you say, Mr. Dixon."

Daryl grunted and nudged her ribcage gently with his elbow as she took another bite. "Don't call me that. It sounds too formal."

Beth smirked, "Sorry Mr. Dixon, it won't happen again."

This time, Daryl glared at her in the corner of his left eye as she began to chuckle. He put his attention back on the rabbit and grabbed another piece of meat, popping it into his mouth. He quickly sucked the juices off the tip of his thumb and index finger, and then pulled it away for another piece. "You're pushin' it."

She smiled as she noticed a smirk appear lightly on the corner of his lips. "I know, but it's fun."

Daryl shot a questioning look at her as he sounded surprised and slightly amused, "Fun? You have an odd sense of fun."

Beth shrugged and cocked her head slightly, feeling a bit embarrassed, so she quickly covered it up with a good answer. "It's not like we have anythin' else to keep us entertained."

Daryl made a rumbling sound in his throat as he kept eating, but didn't respond. He was just like an old stick in the mud, and she didn't bother to continue if he wasn't in the mood. Beth huffed, annoyed by the lack of a retort. She figured he agreed with her but didn't want to admit it, or perhaps he took what she said differently then what she had meant. Either way, they had gone back to silence and Beth sighed, admitting defeat.

...

They spent a couple more hours at their camp until they packed everything up, deciding to move on to somewhere else. They needed more supplies, as they had abandoned most of it when they were rushed out of the funeral home. Beth felt really bad about leaving it in such a state, as the people who were there before them would come back to walkers that had now claimed the building. Even if they did clear it all out, the others would find that their stash was partly eaten without the thank-you note that Beth wanted to leave there in the first place. She brought it up to Daryl and he could only shrug it off. There was nothing they could do about it now.

When they finally reached a road, they decided to stay on it for a while in hopes of finding any kind of convenience stores along the way. They passed a few walkers, killing them with ease while ignoring the others as they were too far away to even pose a threat.

"Over there!" Beth exclaimed with her arm stretched out pointing, noticing a gas station in the distance and what looked to be a hunting shop sitting beside it. The faded words on the sign read Duck and Buck Outfitters.

"Looks like we're in luck," Daryl responded as he took out his crossbow, eyeing the male walker trudging around the front of the building. When they got closer, he turned to Beth and looked at her brazenly. "Here, you do it…Miss Greene."

Beth widened her eyes as he cockily passed his weapon to her, and she held it clumsily in her hands. She wasn't expecting a sudden lesson from Daryl, and she figured this was his turn to tease her. It took her a moment to hold it straight, and afterwards she jutted out her chin it attempts to show him that it didn't affect her. Beth took out one of the last three remaining bolts from the quiver and placed it into the barrel, trying to remember how to use it as best as she could.

Daryl cleared his throat as he crossed his arms, watching her prepare to shoot. It wasn't long before she lifted the crossbow and aimed pompously at the walker ahead of them. When Beth pulled the trigger, the string released but no bolt flew out as was expected, and Daryl began to snicker.

He leaned over to her when he noticed the scowl on her face, and proceeded to tell her what she did wrong. "That's called a partial dry fire. You didn't push the bolt all the way back against the string."

"You're enjoyin' this, aren't you?" Beth glared as he properly prepared the bolt for her.

"Just shoot," Daryl ignored the question and looked on ahead at her target that was now following in pursuit of the bolt that had bounced off of the concrete behind it. He spoke softer as he nodded in the walker's direction. "Go on."

Beth sighed as she once again lifted the crossbow and aimed. She didn't give herself much time, and when she pulled the trigger, the bolt flew and hit the walker's lower back. It fumbled forward a bit before turning around with a growl, noticing them instantly. It snarled angrily as it began to slowly walk towards them, giving Beth a surge of anxiety.

"Try again," Daryl directed calmly, "Just ignore the walker. Keep steady, and take a deep breath as you aim. Don't let it out until you shoot."

Beth nodded quickly, taking another bolt and placing it into the barrel just as Daryl showed her moments before. She took aim once again, directly at the walker's forehead. She was now able to see the gashes clearly across its face as it drew closer, and his left ear had been completely torn off. Beth breathed in deeply, fixing her posture as she did, and pressed the trigger.

Beth grinned ear to ear when the arrow flew and instantly pierced right between the walker's eyes. It fell lifelessly to the ground. "Wasn't that hard," she said proudly as she spun around to face Daryl.

"Mhmm," he grunted in his throat as the left corner of his mouth curved upwards, "Wait until you're runnin' and tryin' to shoot."

Beth handed Daryl the crossbow, still smiling playfully at him as she knew he was pleased with her shot. She watched as he left her side and grabbed the arrows from the corpse on the ground, and he quickly wiped off the blood and flesh with his bandana.

"That was good," Daryl admitted, giving Beth a side glance through his dark hair as he placed the bolts back in the quiver.

Beth felt her cheeks begin to blush from his compliment. "Well, I have a great teacher."

Daryl chuckled slightly as he swung the crossbow over his shoulder. Turning his back to her, he began walking towards the shop before he replied teasingly, "Yeah, and don't you forget it." As much as he appreciated her approval of his teaching methods, he didn't quite know how to take it, and so instead answered with witticism.

"Why is there even a store like this around here? Seems kinda odd bein' in the middle of nowhere and all," Beth asked as she followed the redneck cautiously towards the door of the shop.

Daryl shrugged as he reached the front window and attempted to clear the glass from the dirt and dust that had settled on it. "Before the turn, this area probably had good game for hunters. It was perfect for anyone needin' more ammo without going back into town."

Beth nodded, satisfied by the answer as she tried to peer inside. "See anything?"

"I don't see any walkers if that's what you mean. Hold on a second…" Daryl lifted his hand and banged on the window a few times, "That outta get their attention."

They waited a minute before deciding to walk in when nothing had happened after the knock, assuming that it was safe to go inside. Most of the place was already looted, which they had both suspected. A lot of what was left was just scattered papers, empty boxes and broken card board stands of fishermen and hunters in disarray. In the far corner of the room laid a corpse that had practically rotted to the bone with dry, dark blood splatters on the wall beside it. All of the displays that had held firearms were broken and bare, and Daryl sighed with disappointment.

Beth journeyed to the other side of the room, deciding to look further in hopes that she could find anything useful. Reaching the counter that sat a smashed up register, her face suddenly lit up into a grin when she spotted a broken display that still held crossbow bolts and arrows inside. It almost seemed surreal, like finding a platter of deliciously hot food in the middle of the woods.

"Daryl, over here!" Beth called to him astoundingly, waving at him to hurry.

He was surprised by her sudden outburst of elation, but when he arrived by her side he understood instantly. His eyes lit up and his mouth dropped open as he shook his head in disbelief. "I'll be damned. People don't like using crossbows or what?" Daryl chuckled at his fortune as he stared down at the marvellous view before him. After searching for more bolts for the last few months, it was an immense surprise to finally find some.

"All of the guns are taken," Beth observed as she took a scan around the room once more, then at Daryl, "So maybe you're right."

"Well, their loss is my gain," Daryl shrugged with a smirk as he reached inside the display and carefully avoided the broken glass inside while picking up the ammo.

He diligently collected the bolts as well as the arrows. He counted eight bolts which he put into his quiver that sat on the crossbow. He was distracted, not realizing that something was lurking behind them. It wasn't until he heard the beginning of Beth's scream before it became a muffle did Daryl spin around with his crossbow out. The mood changed instantly as Beth was squirming in the grasp of a man with a wicked grin on his face. Behind the man, there were several others who had already aimed their barrels at Daryl.

"Claimed!" The man spoke loudly, still grinning cunningly as he gave Daryl a menacing stare.