It was winter, and Beth had let everyone know that Christmas was coming up in a few days. The group had found a safe zone of sorts with massive walls surrounding the area, so she felt like it was finally time to spread some Christmas cheer. Each person had struggled to let themselves settle down, but it seemed like they were all pretty much comfortable by now.

Well, everyone except one.

But honestly, who was surprised that Daryl Dixon wasn't willing to stay put without checking every nook and cranny every night? Or that he eyes each plate he receives with weary eyes before he takes a small bite? Beth noticed how his hands trembled when cops passed by. These were the times that she'd walk up, touching the hair that hung down his shoulder, and at some point, he had stopped jumping. Where he used to tense up and hurry away from her touch, he now leaned into it and looked up at her, and she'd smile down at him and let him know it's okay. It's okay to relax.

But, of course, it was easier said than done. Beth had always said Daryl was meant for the world they lived in. He just wasn't built for large communities with a lot of people, and that was okay with her.

At dusk, he's leave the house, one shared by Rick, Carl, Beth, Judith, and Daryl, and he'd carry his crossbow and just walk along the wall for a few hours.

Beth always heard when he came back in, wouldn't let herself go to sleep when he was out there. And when he'd come in, she'd hear him walk down the hall that she and Judith's rooms were in, which was nowhere close to his own, and she'd smile into her pillow.

Daryl was always looking out for her. When she'd go down to the cleaning area, Daryl would offer to walk with her.

She wasn't sure where they were in their friendship, if you could call it that. She knew she cared about him, and she was pretty sure he felt the same, but because she was so much younger, he never acted out on it. She'd tried to kiss him once, and he almost let her. But then his hand grabbed her shoulder and he looked like a man trying to quit heroin, but being handed a needle. Without any words, he shook his head and walked off.

That was the closest they had came, and Beth was tired. Yes, she'd wait, but for how long? How long was he going to keep her in this horrible emotional state?

There were plenty of men she could become affiliated with, but she just couldn't. She wanted Daryl Dixon. She wanted his quiet shyness and his affection for kids and how he looks at her and she can take on the world.

Because that's how he made her feel, and she just wanted to show him her appreciation. Perhaps she could get him a gift this Christmas? Or, make one. Yeah, she'd make him one. It was decided.

Daryl pov

That girl was going to end up killing him. She was always smiling at him, and right now, she was sitting across the room fiddling with something, sneaking glances up at him when she thought he wasn't paying attention. But, it seems she doesn't know everything about him like she claimed to, because if she did, she'd know he was always paying attention to her.

When she walked into the room, his ears tingled as they listened for her soft steps across the floor and her wispy breaths.

And on those occasions when she'd catch him off guard by touching his neck, he felt like he might explode. Her fingers were so soft and her skin was always cold.

He caught her looking at him one more time before he decided to figure out what she was doing, standing up. Immediately, he saw her hide what she had been messing with and gulping back something along the lines of a lie. Why was she about to lie?

"What are ya' doin'?" Daryl asked even though he knew she wasn't going to tell him.

Beth smiled up at him, one of those big doe eyed innocent smiles that she had perfected so well. "Nothing." She responded, leaning back in her chair so he couldn't see.

He was getting a little upset, only because she'd never lied to him before. "Beth, what the hell are you doin' behind your back?"

Beth seemed shock by him cussing at her, and Daryl didn't know why. He cussed all the time. Why was she so surprised by that?

"None of your damn business, Dixon!" She shouted. Her switch in moods made him more irritable, considering that they were both incredibly hard headed, but she was almost always the calm one. Why was whatever she was doing so important that she couldn't even show him?

They stayed there for a moment just glaring at the other, both of them trying to find a way to leave without seeming like the one who lost when Daryl decided how. "Keep your damn secrets. I don't wanna be part of your childish games anyway."

Her eyes automatically went from angry to hurt, and he knew it was going to happen, but it still hurt to watch and know that he was the one who caused it. He pulled away from her then, pulled away from everyone as he stalked off through the house.

His muscles tightened when he heard Beth screamin' and hollerin' behind him, coming at him like a bat out of hell. "You don't get to just walk away with that being the last word, Daryl Dixon!"

Daryl spun around on her, his hand lifting to further his point as he let it wave around in her face. "You're the one who started getting all uppity about it first! I just wanted to see the damn thing."

Beth moaned in exasperation, making his breathing skyrocket. "You don't get to tell me what to do! You're not my chaperone, remember?" She asked, and Daryl did. He remembered it all the time, how he had mistreated her and how she had proved herself to not be one to take his shit. Maybe that's why he liked her so much.

Daryl raised his eyebrows. "Maybe ya need one. Sure actin' like it."

"Says the guy who can't commit," she whispered under her breath.

Guess she forgot that he had great hearing. "Can't commit? Commit to what?" He questioned, stepping closer as the anger practically dripped off of him.

"Anythin'." Beth said, herself now closer than she had intended. "Me."

What? Daryl looked at her, trying to tell what she meant. Had she wanted him to commit? He just thought that she'd have a better life than with some redneck asshole with and ever bigger asshole for a brother.

"Kiss!" Judith screeched.

Both Beth and Daryl turned to the girl, a question lingering on their faces.

"She's right," Michonne said in passing, her eyes lifted a little above their heads. Both of them slowly lifted their gaze, finding that a single green plant was hung above them in the doorway they had been arguing in. "It's tradition." She supplied before reaching down and grabbing Judith, leaving just the two of them alone. Again.

But this time, it was different. Tension was palpable and Beth was looking away. But, she felt his eyes, and looking up, she felt it. That feeling she gets whenever Daryl stares at her, and her heart soars through the roof and she thinks she could take on a million zombies if he's right there.

And he was. He was always right there. So close. So close, you could touch…

Beth flung herself at him, their lips colliding like tsunami waves crashing against the shore and her butterflies flew out of her chest and fluttered around her as she got light headed from Daryl wrapping his rough hands around her face, making sure she wasn't moving. But, she was moving. She was rubbing herself against him, making him emit these feral moans, and it just made her want to move more.

Daryl fought against her, but soon won when he pushed her against the wall. It was awkward as she hit it, her teeth knocking into his, but part of caring for Daryl meant liking everything about him, even his lack of game.

He made up for it anyhow, his fingers gliding against her smooth stomach skin and her own holding his, pushing them up, and up…

Finally, he was pushing against her chest and she was practically gasping for breath because the oxygen had been sucked out of her with a vacuum.

"Merry Christmas." Beth whispered, her forehead leaning against his.

Daryl leaned back a bit, looking up at her. "Hmm?"

Then he saw the little booklet she held in her hand, the title, which was written in her flowly handwriting, saying, "101 Reasons Why Daryl Dixon is a Good Man." He took it from her, looking at her as he did, and opened the first page. "Reason #1. He's more efficient in walker killing than a damn chainsaw."

"Good lord." He said with a chuckle, flipping to the next.

"Reason #2. He ain't afraid of nothin'."

Daryl felt Beth's hands go to his shoulders, and he looked away from the book to see her watching him with open eyes, showing him just how much she cared. He didn't understand it, but he saw it.

She pulled him in, kissing him yet again, this time sensual and slow. It was intoxicating, having her all over him, but he wouldn't trade it for the world. He felt her face heat up, and he opened his eyes when she moved away again. "Reason 101." She said aloud. "He has this infuritating way of making you love him."

This time, he was the one to kiss her.

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