A cool breeze lifted the hairs on his neck, the sweat dripping down his arms as he worked, lifting his head, he blew his bangs from his face. It sure was hot, and not even midday. Placing his arm on the bonnet of the car he was working on, he glanced around the yard. The cattle grazing in the far field, the horses neighing in the open paddock to the left. Slipping his right hand into his pocket he pulled out his cigarettes, lighting one, he gazed towards the house, hearing the sound of feet coming down the steps. The house was bright with the sun behind it, causing Daryl to shade his eyes from the brightness. He recognised the petite figure coming towards him, a cool glass of home-made lemonade in her hand, just what his parched throat required.

"Hi there darlin, ya looking pretty today sweetheart" Beth smiled up at him, he always paid her compliments, ever since she knew him,even after they split.

"Thanks Daryl, brought you some of Maggie's Lemonade know how much you love it. Daddy said to leave the cars it's getting too hot for anyone to work out here" Daryl gulped the refreshing drink down, glancing at Beth in her shorts and sleeveless top. She was beautiful, stunning in fact, and he hoped one day she would meet someone special. Someone who deserved the love she gave out. He had first hand experience of that kindness, they had tried their hand at more than friendship, but with the age difference both agreed it just never felt right, after all he thought of her more as a sister. Both thought that their friendship was worth saving more, didn't mean he wouldn't do anything he could for her.

"Ya both lifesavers but I tell ya that each damn day sweetheart. So tell me who's this new man who has stolen my girl's heart?" Beth blushed, he could always make her feel good, she hoped he found that one person who could break through some of the barriers he still had up. He denied there were any but she knew, their whole family know. Their daddy Herschel Greene, welcomed Daryl into his loving family, six years ago, yet still Daryl found it hard to let anyone truly in.

"Now Daryl you know a girl has to have her secrets" her smile lighting her face when he laughed out loud, wiping the juice from his lips.

"Most girls yeh not you darlin, ya tell me everything so come on who is he?" Beth looked down at her feet, then back into his blue eyes, she could never keep a secret from him.

"You know Carl"

"Carl Grimes Ricks Kid!" Beth giggled, at him. He was like an overprotected brother and she was so glad they were close enough for her to confide in him, about everything.

"He is not a kid Daryl, he is a few years younger"

"Hell honey any damn younger and ya be changing his diaper" Beth slapped in on his shoulder

"Behave Daryl, he's friendly, charming and I like him." Daryl raised his eyebrow as if he didn't believe her

"And what does ya daddy say sweetheart?, ya went from old to younger now" Moving closer she let her finger trail down his arm

" Daryl, as much as I love you, There is no need to make me sound cheap" grabbing the glass she turned towards the house

" Beth honey ya know I was just teasing ya, I'm sorry darlin, Come on tell me more about Carl" he sent a small Dixon smirk her way.

Seeing the honesty in his eyes, she moved him towards the house to the porch, relaxing in one of the rocking chairs hidden in the shadow of the over hang, Picking at an invisible piece of lint on her shorts she scuffed her foot back and forth.

"He's two years younger and we are both in the same group at the church We have always been friends, but well, after you and I went out together once or twice, I realised I had feelings for him. Kind of want to take it slow, he's taking me out tomorrow night to the movies" Daryl nodded, kinda hurt a little that she was thinking of another man or should he say boy when he took her out on those two dates, but that was just his stupid ego talking. He really was happy for her, but if that Grimes kid hurt her in any way he would put an arrow through his ass.

"Daryl I know that look stop being an over protective brother. Daddy is fine with it, he likes Carl so does Maggie."

"Am happy for ya sweetheart, so why's he not taking ya out tonight, ain't Saturday nights date nights for you lot?" Beth almost squealed causing him to flinch at the noise

"Nooo, I can't tonight, Carol is coming to stay" her whole face lit up as she mentioned the woman's name

"Carol, ain't she ya cousin the one who's married to the boxer?" Beth giggled at his words, taping his shoulder

"Ed isn't a boxer silly, He's a business man in the city"

"Oh thought with the way he used her as a punch bag he was training t' be one" he sneered the words, he hated men who hit women, hated women more who stayed in the situation.

"Daryl that's awful to say, Carol has finally escaped him, Daddy is helping her, she's coming to live here and I cannot wait. She's wonderful, so kind, so strong and..."

"If she was so damn strong she would have left" how could Beth think she was strong, god the woman got to be one, weak little mouse. He had never met her and already she disgusted him, his ma never got out from his pa when she had the chance. He ended up beating her to death in front of his two young sons.

"Daryl Dixon you of all people should know how hard it is for a woman to escape an abusive relationship. Ed tormented her for years, physically and emotionally. She got to the staged she believed everything he said, how worthless she was, useless and I will not even say the words he has called her. Daddy says they are not words a woman should know. You saw this with your Pa Daryl, you saw it all. DON'T LET ME EVER HEAR YOU DISRESPECTED HER, OR YOU CAN FIND ANOTHER BEST FRIEND" with that she stood up, without another glance in his direction, she headed into the coolness of the house.

Leaving Daryl disgusted with himself, he'd been badly abused himself, how could he lash out like that and to Beth of all people. Yet he did think he was correct in some sense, he had heard the Greene's talk about Carol over the last few years. How she met Ed when she was a sales executive, how she married him, then all changed. She went from a strong independent women, to the mouse scared of her own shadow. Daryl firmly believed she could have escaped sooner. Herschel had opened his house and heart to her just waiting for the day she choose to leave. Looks like the time had come and he hated the woman already, little Beth had shouted at him and that was a first in their six or so years of knowing each other, he didn't like it one bit. Lighting another cigarette he sat in the shade watching the day go by, wondering how he could apologise to Beth, he didn't want to lose her friendship. The Greene's were the closest thing to a family the Dixon boys had and Merle would beat his ass if he upset any of them. Stubbing the cigarette out he threw it in one of the various cans on the porch, which Herschel had put out especially for the brothers. Opening the door he swallowed his pride time to suck up to his friend. Who knows maybe the mouse, wouldn't be the old washed up person he imagined, yeh and pigs fly. Today was turning out to be one of those you wish you could start again and it was still not yet midday.