It had been a month since they had anchored the boat off of the island. Winter was coming fast and they had almost everything needed stockpiled and stored. Daryl had outdone himself time and again. It had been the same every morning for weeks now. Beth would wake to the sound of the dinghy's motor firing and Daryl making another trip for supplies. Almost every afternoon he would return with more things they could use. He had managed to remove the showers, toilets, and bathroom facets from the filtered water line and rerouted them to pull directly from lake. With the boats filter system running only one sink for drinking and cooking they figured it would take years before it needed replacing. She had built shelves into the lower engine room and crawl space before completely filling it with food, fuel, weapons, ammunition; anything and everything he thought could be used had been meticulously organized. She had been proud of it and Daryl had even told her she had done an amazing job with the place. She could see him coming home again from the northeast this time. He was in a pontoon, the dinghy tethered to its side. She could make out a large blue tarp bunched up on its deck. It took him another five minutes before he had pulled up alongside their home. I couldn't help it I threw myself at him kissing him full on the lips.

"What did you get?!" he set me down before smirking at me. He pulled the tarp back in one big extravagant movement.

"Got us two dirt bikes" he started he must have sensed my hesitance because he looked back at me then those blue eyes lighting up at the look on my face. "Yeah your gunna learn ta ride. Told you I was going to teach you what I know, and I know how to ride. Also I saw something today that you need to know. The gators have pushed north in abundance. They are eating the walkers. It looked like the walker couldn't bite trough the gators hide. Thing had to be fifteen feet long never ever seen one that big before. I know it's almost winter but even then I think a no swimming rule can be safely added to the list." I couldn't agree more

"You're really gunna teach me to ride?" My voice was skeptical but I knew my eyes belayed my excitement at the prospect.

"Hells yeah!" I just smiled at his exuberance he continued rattling of a list of thing's he had gotten that morning.

"Those blue totes got books inum thought you might be getting bored out here. That black duffle has a broken down beret fifty cal. Fourteen rounds in the bag with it. Got us a few more hand guns and a shotgun as well, I also found you this." As he finished he reached behind the steering column and pulled out a compound bow. "It's got a fifty pound draw weight and holds at twenty five. Should be a perfect fit for you, with a bit of strengthening up of course." He smiled then and it lit up his whole face. God she loved that look on his face. To know that it was her who brought that smile to his face warmed her to her core. So much so that it scared her a little.

"Did you find any signs from anyone alive?" my question made him look at me with all of his burning intensity. My lower belly flipped with excitement. His eyes did things to me that no man had ever managed to do, and just with his eyes alone!

"Not today, I have been sticking close to the lakeshore as long as I'm by myself. I figure in the next few months I can get you trained up real good in hand to hand, hunting, and tracking. After that we will go and we will search together."

"That sounds great Daryl." I wanted to find anyone from our group so bad I could hardly stand just sitting here. He had convinced me of the importance of proper training some time ago. He needed me to survive. It was obvious in everything he did. She had figured him out pretty quick, he was actually dotting on her. Daryl was a Provider through and through. He'd been able to coordinate and supply a group of forty people for over six months. Given their current situation he had stockpiled a massive stash. He came back from the pontoon with three crudely wrapped packages. He put his hand on her lower back and turned her inside.

Her imagination had been running wild on her, conjuring images of those callused hands touching her body. He had done little more than hold her at night as they slept since that first night on the boat and she was getting frustrated. She wanted him that much was certain; she wasn't sure how he would feel if she told him. He had worked so hard to get them everything they could need for the next six months. He had told her last night that he would return with something special for her. These three packages now sat before her on the dining room table.

"What are they?" the thought that Daryl had gotten her anything special at all was a surprise.

"Why don't'cha find out" he wore that cocky smirk with pride his eyes crinkled in amusement.

She grabbed the smallest one first it felt like two cylinders. Gently breaking the tape she unrolled the old newspaper. They were arm bracers she noticed looking closer.

"This is alligator hide isn't it?" she asked him slowly "Why do I need arm bracers?" he just smirked at her

"Wait till the end Princess." She just nodded her head a large smile split her face. She knew she was blushing. She grabbed the middle package it was soft the paper bending around it. She tore into the paper pealing it back from the leather coat inside, it was small, would probably fit her perfect. He had added gator hide to this one as well. The shoulders, forearms, and lower back all had the thick scales fitted to their respective places. A pair of angle wings with a halo was printed on the back. As she flipped it over her shoulders Daryl moved in front of her. Grabbing the zipper ends he pulled them together and zipped her up. He inspected his work with a critical eye pulling here and there to check its tightness.

"How's it feel?" his voice was gruff and low, it sent an involuntary shiver down her spine. It felt good. Really good actually, she felt like she was wrapped in a warm embrace.

"Really good, thank you so much." She knew she had blushed Hard, the coat was so Daryl, but mini, just for her. She looked at the last box questioningly pulling the top open she saw a gun? Looking back at Daryl the question written all over her face.

"It's a nine mil. with silencer found a special forces looken walker had it under his arm. Figur'd I could adjust the harness to fit you." I closed the distance between us looking up at his face, he had turned his head looking at the pile of stuff on the front deck. She reached up cupping his cheek in the palm of her hand. Turning his face she brought her lips to his and kissed him. It was short and chaste but it took all her will to do it.

"Thank you, Daryl Dixon, for bein you." It was short and simple he'd said he needed reminding, he'd get reminded. She loved him god she did but he just wouldn't instigate any romance. Sure he flirted some but he never kissed her. He never touched her inappropriately or in any sexual way. It was frustrating her to no end.

"I know I keep your nightmares away Beth, its way you get in bed with me. I'm not going to turn you away from comfort. I like you Beth, I really really do but I need you to wait. Once we have found our Family and are really safe not just feeling safe but really safe. With our people and others, and you still want to try and make something of this then I will give it a shot. Ur young Beth" I must have made a face because He continued quickly " not to say you don't know what ya want. I just want you to make this choice because you want me no matter what people may think or how they will view this. They could shame you and outcast me for all I know they could rip us apart. If we go through with this I need you to really and truly know what is going to happen. Maggie would kill me Beth you know she would."

Lord knows I hated how logical he was about it, but damn him he was right. I knew my hormones where going haywire and obviously chivalry wasn't completely dead yet.

"Thank you Daryl, come on I'll help you bring all that in. maybe we could use that wood stove you set up tonight. I could cook us a real nice meal?" His eyes lit up at the prospect. He looked ten years younger when he was excited. His response was flustered, I found it incredibly cute.

"F'corse s'no problem." His drawl always came out thick when he was ruffled.

"I still can't believe you just cut a hole in the living room wall and put a wood stove in." He smiled at that, a true smile, a happy smile.

Two months later.

It had been ninety days since daddy died. He wouldn't believe it if he saw me now. I had earned Daryl's respect today. We were out hunting and we knew the gators where around but by chance my shot had saved his life. From ten feet away the gator had erupted from the water jaws open, Daryl had slipped in his haste to get further up the bank. I swung around at the noise aimed and fired. A single arrow to the base of the skull had severed the spinal cord killing it instantly. He had looked at me then, really looked at me, and told me that I was ready. That I had to master the skills he taught me by doing them over and over till it was reflex. He had taught me what I could it was up to me now. I took those words to heart Daryl Dixon still didn't hand out a lot of compliments. I loaded the meat he handed me into my saddle bags the Yamaha 250 squatting under the added weight. Daryl rolled up the hide and bagged the organs.

"Come on let's get this back to the boat we will make a plan on where to start looking tonight. We have a long day ahead of us."

I kicked the bike to life as Daryl took point, I was so glade he had taught me to ride the freedom was exhilarating, made a person feel free if only for a moment in this crazy wasteland.

Three months of Daryl's modifying and tinkering had left the house boat almost unrecognizable from the outside he had completely covered with brush and braches painted every window black from both sides. He even made a floating dock and brush covered boat house for the pontoon. It really did look just like a pile of brush from shore. Even through the binoculars Beth couldn't make out the boat under all the debris.

"I'm still amazed how well you hid the boat in plain sight Daryl you are amazing. I really mean that you're an amazing man." I knew my compliments threw him for a loop sometimes but the look he was giving me now held no uncertainty.

"Don't hold yourself short Beth Greene you're an Amazing women." It startled me how much I believed him. He made me feel empowered, like I could take on the world by his side. Shaking my head I laughed to myself. We would find our people I knew they had survived; we just had to find them. We would track them to the end of the earth if that's what it took. I drove my bike up the ramp onto the pontoon deck securing it to a pole Daryl had added to the middle. I barely noticed the trip back to the boat my mind preoccupied on thoughts of Maggie, Judith, Glenn, Rick, Carl, Michonne, She really hoped they would find all of them, any of them.

I took the meet out and spread it out on the counter. Daryl had already brought out the drying racks. I started cutting strips absent mindedly.

"Daryl, you got any idea where we are going to start?"

"Yeah, I do, when we were all out there getting those meds we found a radio signal. Said something about 'arrive alive and survive' that was north west of here about sixty miles the signal was week so maybe another hour from there at max. We will look for clues around the highways and train tracks. We found the prison following the tracks maybe someone followed them out.

"Help me finish this and I will make you jalapeño and dill gator brats." That had him away from the map faster than I thought it would as he slid up behind me wrapping his arms around my waist.

"You're strong now Beth and you will only get stronger. Don't let it change you and don't let it get to your head. I can't lose you Beth, I won't survive it."

"Where a team Daryl, you watch my back and I watch yours. We will survive together, because you taught me to be strong, never forget that Daryl." My words were calm despite my racing heart. He dropped his arms and stepped back giving me a bit of room. I continued to strip the meat and smiled. We were going to find our people tomorrow.

I woke first which didn't happen often but like every other time before it she could feel his erection through both of their sweat pants the thin cotton doing little to hinder her feel of him. He was spooned around her his hand was under her shirt spread flat across her stomach. Experimentally she wiggled her hips in a slow roll feeling the tip of him at her entrance. Closing her eyes she focused on the sensation. The thin cotton left little to her imagination. Her breathing deepened she moved a little faster. She felt it the moment he woke up. He was off the bed so fast he jerked the blanket with him. Ankles tied up he hit the floor hard. She winced as he cursed up a storm.

"Jesus Beth!" his exasperation clear in his tone. "I told you we couldn't do anything like that." He was breathing heavy and I knew I had pushed the limit of his patience. I smirked at him then

"Sorry Daryl, you excite me." I said it low and slow letting the words roll off my tong. My words had a visible effect on him, I watched his eyes strip me bare with their intensity; he shuddered before turning and walking away. Slowly I got out of bed and grabbed a towel mine as well shower before heading out. Maybe a cold one, then again maybe not. The sun would rise in maybe an hour and they could head back to the farm and see if anyone had returned there. Daryl had said he had been collecting gas cans in the back of a truck near the marina. He would go get them and then they would fill them from the boats main tank. She wished they could take the bikes, but they needed the added protection if they got trapped.

Daryl's POV

The sun was just rising when I finished loading up the gas cans onto the pontoon. Locking up the truck I quickly made my way back to the dock. The first gunshot nearly deafened me in the still morning air I jumped behind the wheel and fired up the motor. I hammered the throttle down and took off. The pontoon wasn't fast and I could already see the four men running to the boats. He needed to get back to Beth. Hopefully she heard those shots and got ready up in the nest. There was only about a thousand yards before he came around the island and saw their home. As he turned the corner he looked up to the highest point and saw the rifle scope glint in the morning rays. Good she was ready, he sighed, hopefully he could get there before they caught up.

Beth watched Daryl come around the corner of the island. He hugged the shore closer than usual and a lot faster than normal. She knew it wasn't him who fired those shots. She sighted the far point of the island and waited for the next boat. Daryl voice spoke in the back of her mind his tone low and hurried. 'Remember this is a big rifle and it's going to hurt something fierce when you fire. Just aim at the bow of the boat and shoot. You don't need to hit anyone just their boat and we will handle it together from there.' She slowed her breathing as she saw the speed boat make the corner. Aiming slightly ahead to the bow she fired. She was sure she was screaming but her ears were ringing so loud she heard nothing else her shoulder was at a funny angle and she couldn't really feel her fingers well. Her vision blurred and darkened as she slipped into unconsciousness. Daryl saw the muzzle flash from the Barett before he heard the report. God the girl was probably deaf from that. Looking behind him he saw the speed boat flip and roll its entire front end gone from the massive fifty caliber round. Bringing the pontoon up to the front deck he quickly tied it up and headed up to the nest. He knew something was wrong when he saw her just lying there in her towel but when he saw her shoulder he shivered. She had dislocated it and probably broken her collar bone as well. He had to get that ball back in the socket before she woke up then get her inside. He forced her arm up and wrenched it into place he heard the pop and relaxed. He reached down and picked her up it was going to be another six to eight weeks before they would be able to go searching if her collar bone was broken. He set her gently on the bed and grabbed his cross bow it was time to take care of the stupid fuckers who dared shoot at him.

He could see them swimming for the island, and the gators swimming from the island towards them. The bigger ones were all man eaters and the smaller ones where learning. So many walkers to eat he supposed but it was a fitting end he watched as the first one was brought under. The forth one almost made it to shore before he was dragged back into the water. It was shallow enough for Daryl to see the death roll sever an arm. He turned away he had to get back to Beth and wrap her shoulder and arm. She had saved his life again to today, probably both their lives but at the cost of her shoulder. They would be here almost through the winter before she would have full mobility, early spring before she would be able to shoot her bow with ease. He was so glad he had stockpiled so much, he didn't think he would be leaving much for a while.

Beth woke to a deep throbbing pain in her chest and arm. Looking down she could see that her chest and shoulder had been wrapped up snuggly but not over tight. Flipping the blankets back with her left hand she blushed scarlet. She was completely naked under the blanket. She remembered climbing up to the nest in her towel after hearing gun shots. She remembered pulling the trigger on that boat of men coming towards their home. Making her way to the dresser she found a pair of sweats and a hoody. She didn't think she could get the sweatshirt on by herself but Daryl had already wrapped her breasts and shoulder with an over long ace bandage. She blushed, Daryl had seen her completely naked. She looked in the mirror and smiled to herself, as they say, spilt milk either way. Walking down stairs Daryl was sitting in his 'dumpster chair' in his boxers, drinking. She sat there opened mouthed.

"Really Daryl! After ninety days of bein sober you decide to get drunk without me?

He turned to look at her trademark smirk plastered to his face. "Jus water princess, though I'm sure we still got a jar of shine tucked away if ur interested?"

"Not really. You mind telling me what happened?"

"Guys came outa nowhere, shoot first ask later kinda guys. I led them right to you Beth." The look on his face told her everything she needed to know about how he was feeling.

"Wasn't your fault, did I get them?" Her voice hitched a bit at the end she wasn't sure how she felt about shooting a living breathing person.

"Sunk there boat. Saved my ass really you did. The gators got um. All the guts I've been dumpin round here brought um in thick. I got what I could from the wreckage. There was a floating military crate. Had some medical supplies, few M.R.E.'s that's s'bout it. Was a damn fine shot by the way, hit the hull just above the water damn near split the boat in two. The Barett did a number on your shoulder, dislocated it and I think it broke your collar bone?"

"Collar bone isn't broken, I would know, its sore but not painful wrapped up right now. It didn't throb on the stairs either I think the pain from my shoulder made me pass out. How long has it been?"

"You slept through most of the day, s'bout dinner time."

"You eat?"

"You sure ur ok?"

"Yes I'm sure Mr. Dixon so answer my question." He still didn't respond to her.

"I'll make you something." He was behind her before she had fully turned around.

"You don't have to do that Beth" He was close, she could feel the heat from him. She felt his hand rest on her uninjured shoulder. "Don't push too hard just yet, I'll make us dinner." She felt him guide her back to his chair by the stove. He had set up a puzzle on the card table, seeing the box she smiled. "Santa Clause Daryl?"

"Don't judge I was pitchin a fit for a while, got old pretty quick though." He smiled at her then a real smile "Found this on the boat when we got here, the silence was getting to me so I dunna, s'bout christmas figured we could finish it when you got up?"

"I'll start, you make us some dinner." She was smiling regardless of the deep seated throbbing in her shoulder. Looking down she noticed she still hadn't put a shirt on. She blushed a bit before speaking up

"Hey Daryl I need your help? My sweatshirt?" He understood without further explanation turning back to her. As soon as he had the shirt over her head he wrapped her in his arms.

"You just focus on getting better princess, I can hold down the fort for a few days." With that he left her to her thoughts as he silently moved about the kitchen. Beth watched him prepare there meal with a smile on her face. A girl could do a lot worse than Daryl, man had a 'provider' streak in him that scared her sometimes but not so much anymore. At first it was terrifying to her when she realized that she had become Daryl's entire world. Everything he did was selfless in its intent, he kept going to keep her going. He was her provider, her teacher, her confidant, Daryl Dixon had become everything in her daily routine. Everything he did he taught her why it was that way. He wasn't good with words but she was used to learning from watching. She was proud of herself, she had learned so much in so little time that even Daryl had made regular comments about her progress. Telling her little stories about how he had learned most of this stuff the hard way. How she should be damn grateful she was a naturally observant and light on her feet. They had made a game of it. Eventually it had become the most dangerous game. It had started with Daryl making her arrows with a one inch disk for a head. He told her there would be hesitation when it came time to kill a man; he wanted her to not flinch. It had been humbling to say the least she kept closing her eyes right before release. Her shots would go wide. By the fifth day Daryl had been at his wits end and his frustration was brewing to anger. He told her straight up 'hit me with your arrow or im'a shoot you in tha ass.' she couldn't help it from ten feet away she drew her bow and shot him in the forehead. She had almost felt bad she could have taken an eye out but the satisfaction of him cursing up a storm on the ground. She could still remember her cocky response. 'think you can threaten to shoot me in ass, jus try it Daryl, I dare you. She had sauntered away from him then fully intent on going to the Pontoon for lunch when she had dropped to the ground. Basterd had actually shot her in the ass at looking back maybe forty feet god that hurt like a bitch she knew it was going to bruise and welt somthin fierce. She chuckled to herself.

"What's so funny?"

"Just remembering you shooting me in the ass."

"Hey I had black eyes for over a week from that and I'm sure I had a concussion."

"With a head as thick as yours?" He just growled at her she just smiled at him. He was such a grumpy old man. She broke down in laughter the shaking jarred her shoulder but she just couldn't stop. He looked completely helpless lost and alone at her laughter. Like he had no idea what to do or what to say.

She just looked at him and kept chuckling slowly she looked up at him. " I'm proud of you Daryl and I'm proud to be with you. I'm glad I'm with you if anyone can track our people down, it's you. You have taught me to hunt and track; animals and people. You have taught me what the woods can provide you and how to read her signs. I'm still learning and just by being with you, you teach me more every day. Don't blame yourself for today, it has always been a risk. We took care of it, it's over, put it to rest. Now bring the grub over her and grab a blanket I want to take a nap in your dumpster chair after dinner and it's just not right without you in it."