A/N Chapter 2.. The Middle.. it's a rather big middle, like a double stuffed Oreo. But it's Bethyl and that's good! Thank you for reading! I am so excited that people are enjoying this! It's also on AO3.

They drive through the dark of the warm Georgia night. Daryl keeps looking over at her, trying to gauge what she's thinking, feeling, anything. And she's making his heart do all kinds of things. She said she came and sat there on that barstool next to him cause she wanted to be with him.

Him.

There were so many nights after that first one that he almost didn't come back, didn't sit there at the bar next to her like he belonged there or she belonged there. Although that's where he wanted to be and she said that's where she wanted to be.. and shit she just about kissed him back there in the parking lot! He'd felt her lips brush his, her breath in his mouth tasted like whiskey. Then she was gone pulling open the passenger door on his truck and climbing in.

Maybe if they can be something off those barstools, something else, something more, well then maybe, just maybe. That's all.

He sees the turn off he's been looking for and he takes it a little fast, tires sliding in the dirt and her big blue eyes are on him, questioning.

" 'M sorry, I need a smoke, gotta pull over."

"Ok." There's a small smile on her face so he smiles too.

The road eventually just ends. There are roads like these all over Georgia. Roads to nowhere and he thinks he may have driven most of them at one point or another. He puts the truck in park and when she reaches for the handle on her door he reaches over and stops her.

"Hang on, jus' wait." He mumbles and he grabs his smokes and gets out and walks around the front of the truck. He opens the passenger door for her and she slides out. "Shoulda done tha' at the bar." He really should have. But he isn't good at this. He doesn't know what to do but he's willing to try.

"Thank you, Daryl."

"Ain't nothin'."

They're both leaning against the truck and he lights his cigarette while she looks up at the stars. The quiet is comfortable. It's okay and he likes that. He watches her through the haze of the smoke.

"You got something on your mind." It's not a question. She has to figure something is going on by the crazy way he was acting at the bar. He takes another drag and drops the butt, stubbing it out with the toe of his boot. He brings his hands to his face and rubs his eyes.

"Are you afraid of me Daryl?" Her voice is soft. He drops his hands and looks over at her.

"Yeah." There he said it. But now she looks a little lost. She wraps her arms around herself and she's just standing there.

"Oh."

" 'M afraid of wha' I'm feelin'." He doesn't know how to do this- but he wants to, he wants to get it right so he just tells her, says what he's been thinking about while he's been sitting on that barstool next to her.

X X X

Beth feels a little letdown. Why is he afraid of her? Earlier at the bar she knew something was going on. Does he have a girlfriend or something? He's spent almost every weekend at the bar with her or next to her, not technically with her. She's incredibly frustrated because she doesn't know what he's thinking. And he isn't saying much. But she's gonna have to push him to talk because she's not just gonna walk away from this. Whatever this is.

"Daryl-"

"I ain't no good at this, this.." He's gesturing with his hand between the two of them, trying to find the right words. And it's so sweet and he's so damn good looking she wishes she'd just kissed him before.

"You mean relationships?" She offers this hoping maybe this is where they're going and he's nodding and he looks a little relieved.

"Yeah them, ain't been in one."

"Daryl, you've never been with a girl?" He's glaring at her now.

"I been with 'em! Jus' never had nothin' like a girlfriend." He pulls out another cigarette and lights up. The smoke swirls in the breeze, blowing away into the night.

"Okay." Now she's at a loss for words. Because he just kind of, in an offhand way, sort of implied that maybe he thinks this could be a relationship if he can figure out how it all works. So. She has to remind herself to breathe. She isn't all that sure either, how this is supposed to go. Because she's never felt this way about a man.

"Was jus' sex, ya know." He's cringing against the truck. "Shit, I didn't mean.."

"So you just fucked them in the bathroom at the bar?" The look on his face is priceless right now, but she managed to take his mind off that last comment he made. The one that turned his face beet red. It could have been her cussing too. She hasn't cussed in front of him.

"Jesus Beth! Why ya gotta- Wha' you even know about that?" he growls. She's giggling, trying not to laugh cause that wouldn't be nice.

"Nothing Daryl. I don't know.. I have had sex in a barn though, that's kinda like.."

He slaps a palm to his forehead and he's shaking his head, but there's a little smile turning up the corners of his mouth.

"Should I just shut up?" she asks and she moves right up next to him until their arms are touching.

"Proly a good idea." He reaches out, touches her cheek with the pad of his thumb and its rough against her skin, making her shiver. "Shit girl I jus' I don' know how ta do this an I jus' wanted you ta know 's, not you.."

Then she's in front of him with her finger against his lips.

"Shh... " She raises herself up on her toes and replaces her finger with her lips. A soft sweet kiss. He cups her face, thumbs against her jaw and he deepens the kiss. It's his tongue that nudges against her lips getting her to open up to him so can he taste her. She presses in close to him and he wraps his arms around her and turns them both around. Now she's up against the truck and he's got his hands in her hair and his mouth is on her neck and regardless of whether or not he's ever been in a relationship, he's got the kissing part down. He's also got something vibrating in his pocket.

"Daryl.." she puts her hands on his chest and gently eases him away.

"Hey.. 'M sorry Beth, got carried away." He isn't quite looking at her as he shuffles awkwardly back away from her.

"Oh no, it's not, that was good, so good... it's just something was vibrating, um in your.." Beth's is pointing to the pocket in his jeans. He digs out his cell phone and it's lit up and still vibrating.

"Yeah Tyreese? Fuck. Yeah okay." He slides the phone back in his pocket. "Merle and that Chinese kid yer sister was hangin' out with just beat up some biker. Cops are coming, guess the bikers friends aren't too happy." Daryl opens the passenger door for her.

"I think he's Korean, great... Maggie finally meets a decent guy and she's gonna scare him away." Beth climbs up into the truck but feels Daryl's hand on her arm.

"Hey, come're." He leans in and kisses her again, fast and hard, before he shuts the door, leaving her breathless. Once he's got the truck running and she's composed herself somewhat, she buckles herself in then looks at him expectantly because they haven't moved yet.

"Sex in a barn? Ya ain't pulling my leg are ya?" He shifts into reverse and Beth just laughs. She unbuckles herself and slides over next to him.

"I don't wanna sit on those barstools anymore," she says softly. He watches the road, the traffic that they are heading into.

"I got a couch, at my house. Maybe next weekend ya can sit there." He says it real low and his voice is gruff and she knows that Daryl's couch is where she's gonna be next weekend.

X X X

Red and blue lights flash in the parking lot of the bar as Daryl pulls his truck off the highway and onto the gravel. He parks and Beth follows him over to where Merle, Glenn, and Maggie are standing with a couple officers. Across the parking lot, the punk ass bikers that aren't even supposed to be here are standing with two other officers and another squad car. One guy is sitting on the ground, holding his face in his hands.

"The fuck you doing Merle?" Daryl asks Merle getting in his brother's face.

"Hey, back off.. they ain't supposed to be here. Came in runnin' their mouths and sayin' shit ta her, gettin' in Glenn, here's face.." Merle's babying his left hand, the knuckles are split and bleeding. Glenn is definitely going to have a black eye tomorrow, but he looks oddly happy. And even Maggie's smiling.

"I kicked his ass man!" Glenn said. Daryl watches as Beth attempts to comfort Maggie, but she really isn't upset. She's hanging on to Glenn and smiling that big goofy smile.

"He did! He stepped in and, well with Merle's help he protected me." Daryl looks at the three of them and just shakes his head. Then he glances over at the officer. A familiar face, unfortunately. But with a brother like Merle you got to know local law enforcement.

"They being charged with anythin'?" he asked.

"No. It's not worth the time. And Merle's right, Tyreese has an order banning those guys from the premises. So it's trespassing on their part. And any other charges these guys might want to press." The officer was writing in his little notebook.

"Ain't none. 'S done right Merle?" Daryl poses it as a question, but Merle understands.

"Yeah, little brother it's done." Merle gives Daryl a wry smile. And Daryl just shakes his head again. He reaches out and touches Beth's shoulder. "Be right back." The other officer and the three bikers still standing watch as he approaches. Daryl knows who they are, they're from a club a few towns over and they're young, stupid, and potentially dangerous. He isn't afraid of them though.

"No one is pressing any charges. Best get outta here and not come back." Daryl growls. He should have known better. He saw the anger on one of the guys faces when he walked up, saw that it wasn't over, at least not for that asshole. But he doesn't expect it when he turns to walk away the guy grabs his shoulder and knocks him down. Fists are flying before he even gets his hands up and blood from a split lip fills his mouth. A swift kick to his ribs knocks the breath out of him. He hears Merle yelling and what might have been Beth screaming something too. Before he can do more than throw a few punches of his own, the guy's dragged off him and Daryl watches as he swings on the officer, clipping his jaw. Another officer grabs the kid and slams him up against the squad car.

"Daryl?" Beth is kneeling in the gravel next to him and although his vision is kinda blurry, he sees the tears in her eyes as she reaches out to touch his face. Merle leans over him and he feels his brothers hands on his arm, helping him up. His mouth stings and he glances over at the squad car where they're loading up the asshole that jumped on him. He's feeling all kinds of emotions right now and he's doing his best to ignore Beth, but it's kind of impossible. She's standing next to him, dusting the gravel off his back.

"Ain't gotta press charges anyway little brother, jackass just bought himself a one-way ticket to lock up!" Merle laughs. He hands Daryl a bandanna from his jacket. "Here, yer gonna bleed all over this pretty girl. Ya alright?"

"Yeah," he growls at Merle and his older brother backs off, knows better. He joins Glenn and Maggie over by the front door of the bar.

"Daryl, I.." Beth rests a small, warm hand on his forearm and he shakes it off and steps away from her. He doesn't look at her, doesn't want to see whatever it is her eyes hold. This is it. This will be what wakes her up and makes her think twice about sitting on his couch next weekend.

"This, this is why ya shouldn't be with me. Ain't nothin' but trouble. Should jus' get the hell outta here. Leave me be." He hangs his head, still not looking at her. He hears the little gasp she makes and he believes with his whole heart that she should leave. Now. But he doesn't want her too, in fact, if she really does walk away it will destroy him. He's giving her the choice, now that she's seen a little more of who he can be. She's the first thing to come along in a very long time that actually makes him feel like life is more than just living. When she doesn't say anything for a few seconds he chances a look and he can see her shoulders rise and fall. Her hair is blowing around her face in the breeze and her blue eyes are flashing. She's looking right at him and she takes a step forward and yanks the bandanna out of his hands.

"No." She reaches up and holds the bandanna to his lip. "That's bullshit, Daryl." He blinks and lowers his gaze, but she gets a finger under his chin and tilts his head up forcing him to make eye contact. "Where else does it hurt?" He just shakes his head and he can't tear his eyes from her face.

" 'M fine." He takes a step back and groans, putting a hand to his ribs. And then she's there an arm around his waist.

"Come on, I'm taking you home." It would probably be comical if he didn't hurt so bad. This tiny little woman making like she's gonna carry him to his big ole truck. And does she think she's driving cause she's steered him to the passenger side. His truck isn't ridiculous like some of those lifted rigs the farmer's boys drive around, but it's big. And she's, god she's so small and he just wants to wrap himself around her and forget there ever was a time when she wasn't right there with him. He stops and doesn't budge.

"Ya think yer driving?" He says it, but without any real conviction.

"I can drive Daryl!" And for some reason, he doesn't doubt that a bit, even if she is small. But he's gonna tease her because no one else would have stayed for him tonight. Unless he asked. He didn't have to ask Beth. She just went and did it.

"Need ta sit on my lap to reach them pedals?" He smiles through his split lip and he knows right then, he's falling. Hard.

X X X

Beth has wanted to cry ever since that biker jumped on Daryl. Watching him fall and seeing the blood, she was terrified, she even thinks she screamed something. But crying, breaking down, she doesn't think Daryl would know what to do with that. Especially right now. Because things are just starting to go somewhere, but it's still so new, and neither of them has a clue what to do with it. Him less than her. That's obvious, but right now nothing could drag her away from him. Even him telling her to go. She'll bite back the tears and be strong, she can do that. And she can drive this damn truck all on her own. Sit on his lap! Ha! He was teasing and that made her want to cry too.

"I'm not sure where to go, Daryl?" He's leaning back on the seat and his eyes are closed, but when he hears her voice he tries to sit up and she can see that it's causing him a lot of pain just to do that.

"Other side a town, just keep on Main Street. I'll tell ya when ya get close to the turn-off." He's taking little shallow breaths and the muscles in his jaw are tight.

"Okay. Um, you know it helps to keep breathing when you're hurt. Holding your breath just makes it worse." She hopes she isn't overstepping some unwritten boundary by giving him this advice. But he's laughing softly and turns his head to look at her.

"Girl I been in so many fights, I can handle the pain." He says it like it's no big deal like it's just the way things are.

"Oh.. you mean you fight on purpose?" He does seem a little rough around the edges, but not that rough. But then she doesn't know that much about him. Yet.

"Hell no, that what ya think a me?" He's back to staring out the window into the darkness. And she's sure she can feel the weight of his sadness on her own shoulders. She heard it in his voice and it's making her heart hurt.

"Daryl, no I didn't mean anything... My brother Shaun used to get into fights all the time." That sounded completely lame and she gripped the steering wheel a little tighter.

"With a brother like Merle, 's gonna be fights. I don't go looking, 'm jus' protectin' him. 'S why I stay away from places like that now. Got tired a bein' that person. But I done a lot a things, Beth. You need ta know, I ain't such a good person 's all." She watches him pull himself up and dig around in the glove compartment. He pulls out a metal flask, unscrews the lid, tips it back and swallows whatever's left. He glances over at her. "Sorry, it's hurtin'." He wipes his mouth with the back of his hand and leans back with a soft grunt.

"Don't apologize! I was gonna ask for a drink, but I think you probably need it more than me right now." Without even thinking too hard about it she reaches over and takes his hand. The little squeeze he gives hers lifts her spirits a little.

"Don' you worry, I got more at the house. Turns coming up on yer right."

"If you ain't such a good person why're you always taking care of your brother?" She says it quietly and he doesn't respond, but she knows he heard her because his breathing changed, like he was listening.

X X X

The road they turn off onto is gravel and a little bumpy. He appreciates how she slows the truck down trying to avoid jostling him around too much. It's a long driveway through a small grove of trees and it ends at a little house tucked in the middle of all those trees.

"Jus' park it here." Daryl pulls himself up and even though he's feeling the pain something fierce now, he wonders what Beth thinks of his place, cause it ain't much. She's already sliding off the seat and out the door as he's reaching for the handle, but she beats him to it and opens it for him. He slides out slowly, babying his ribs. Her hands are on his arms and he really wants to laugh at her attempts to get him outta the truck. But it's nice. Nice that she's here.

"You okay so far?" He can't even respond, he's lost in her eyes, those damn eyes. So he just nods. He's uncomfortable with how much concern he sees in them. People don't look at him like that. Luckily she turns away and she's gazing at the house as they walk slowly up the path to the door. "This place is amazing, it's so peaceful. It reminds me of my daddy's farm. I really miss living out there." Daryl feels his heart soar. It's not much, but he is proud of what he's done to it so far. And the fact that she likes it makes him feel good.

"My house key 's on the key ring." Daryl has one arm wrapped around his ribs as he nods at the keys Beth is holding in her hands.

"Oh! I'm sorry." She's giggling nervously as she fumbles with the keys.

"Here, lemme." Using one hand he gets the door unlocked and opened and Beth steps inside, letting him pass by she closes the door behind them. He flips on a light switch and makes his way to a large L-shaped denim couch and eases himself down onto it, groaning because now the adrenaline has all worn off and the pain is kicking in big time.

"Daryl do you have a first aid kit?" He opens his eyes and she's kneeling in front of him, her hand hovering in front of his mouth. He licks his lip and the coppery taste of blood is on his tongue- he remembers her breath and how it tasted like whiskey.

Whiskey.

She's still there, waiting for him to answer her.

"Yeah, 's in the bathroom. Can ya get me the bottle a jack in the cabinet over the stove?" He tries sitting up a little, but it's no good, it hurts and he doesn't want to look like a wimp, moaning and groaning all over the place.

"Just stay still, I'll get it." She jumps up and from where he's sitting he can see her stretch to reach for the bottle, her little t-shirt pulled tight and showing off a little skin. The groan that slips out isn't caused by pain, but he can pretend it is.

"Cups?" she questions holding the bottle up, but he just shakes his head and gestures her back with his fingers. He takes the bottle and drinks deeply from it, relishing the burn the liquid causes as he swallows it. When he opens his eyes again she's back kneeling in front of him, the first aid kit open on the floor beside her.

"I'm gonna clean up your lip a little, then I'll get you an ice pack." She's whispering this and he smells the antiseptic wipe before he feels the sting. "I'm sorry, know it burns," she says and he sucks his breath between his teeth. She's got his chin in her hand and her thumb is rubbing circles on his jaw while she dabs gently at his lip. And she's so goddamn close to him he can smell her shampoo, see the little flecks of green that are hiding there in those blue eyes of hers and suddenly he's feeling very nervous.

"I needa 'nother drink, hang on." She sits back on her heels and he tips the bottle up again.

"You gonna share?" She takes the bottle and tips it back just like he did and when she coughs he chuckles and groans wrapping an arm around his ribs.

"That's what you get, laughing at me! And you're bleeding again." She slaps his thigh and leans in against his legs dabbing at his lip.

"That stings!" He pulls back just a little and she sighs and stands up shaking her head.

"Fine, I'll get an ice pack. That should help stop the bleeding." She heads back over to the kitchen and he watches her go. Jeans hugging her in all the right places and that blonde hair swinging. He takes another pull on the whiskey and he's feeling it now. It's good cause the pain is dulling and he can just enjoy the fact that Beth Greene is in his kitchen filling up a bag with ice and humming a song.

"Here, hold this on your lip." He'd stand on his head if she told him too right now. It would probably hurt like hell, most likely be impossible, but he'd try. That's what she's doing to him.

X X X

They make small talk. It's different here, in Daryl's house. It's an amazing little place and Beth's impressed, but not surprised. It seems to fit the man she's been getting to know. He may be pretty down on himself for whatever reasons, and his past may not be pristine, but all she sees now is a good man. She wasn't being nosy, but when she was getting ice from his freezer she saw a calendar stuck with a magnet to the metal surface. It was jobs he was scheduled to do at the nursing home in town and the nearest towns over. Weekend jobs. Because he already told her he works at a garage in town. He's the only motorcycle mechanic in the area. A couple of times he's left the bar to take an older gentleman home said the guy likes to come into the bar but usually can't get a ride home. Beth thought it was really sweet that Daryl helped him out and when he tried to apologize for leaving her she refused to hear it. He's a good man. She knows it.

"Feelin better?" The ice pack is melting in his lap and he has a little smile on his face.

"Yeah. 'S good now." He holds out an upturned hand on the couch and she sits down next to him and lays hers in it.

"I think it's probably more to do with the whiskey than the ice." She giggles when he pushes the bottle into her hands.

"Take it, no more fer me." She feels him squeeze her hand gently.

"Lay down Daryl, it'll feel better on your ribs." She isn't expecting it when he drops his head into her lap, but she isn't gonna complain. Instead, she sinks her fingers into his hair, brushing it away from his forehead, scratching his scalp.

"I like ya Beth. I like ya a lot." It's so sincere. She smiles down at him and thinks that things couldn't be more perfect than they are right now. She knows he's a little drunk and probably saying more than he would if he wasn't, but she doesn't doubt for a minute that he doesn't mean it.

"Yer beautiful, ain't never had a beautiful girl wanna spend so much time with me…" He's yawning and closing his eyes. "Don' know why ya wanna be anywhere round me." Mumbling now, He's struggling to stay awake. She's still stroking his hair and brushing her finger up against the scruff on his cheek.

"I like you, Daryl, I like you a lot." She isn't sure he hears this, but then he opens his eyes, just a little, two blue slits.

"If this is a fucking dream I don' never wanna wake up." He sighs and he's quiet for a few minutes. She just enjoys watching him sleep, all the worry of the waking world gone, his face is softened by the loss of that burden for a little while. A soft snore alerts her to the fact that he's out cold. Easing herself out from under his head, she grabs a blanket that's draped across the back of the couch and covers him up. She puts the whiskey bottle away and makes a fresh ice pack and leaves it in the freezer. Pulling out her cell phone glancing over at him once more, she types in a number.

"Hey Rick, no I'm not at the bar, I, uh... Can you get me from Daryl's? Stop.. yes. I'll tell you. Ok. Thanks." Rick has been making sure Beth gets home for a few years now. Maggie sometimes forgets she brought Beth along. She finds a small tablet on the counter in the kitchen and leaves Daryl a note.

~ Sweet dreams... I hope you aren't hurting too bad tomorrow. Don't forget we have a date on your couch next weekend... Love Beth~