It was midnight when Beth woke up to cries of a fussy Judith who was nestled in the crib beside her bed. The baby was teething and only Beth could calm her down. With a sigh Beth got down from her bed and picked up the crying babyy. "Hush lil baby," she cooed while rocking the baby in her arms. "I'm here now."

Beth loved Judith. She always wanted a baby of her own but now even the mere thought of it seemed ridiculous to her. Her heart ached knowing that she would never have the life she always wished for- a charming husband, a dream wedding, a house by the lake, babies and happy endings. All of that seemed alien to her now. Now all she wanted was to survive and live for her remaining family and Judith who was still crying in her arms.

She decided to take Judith outside, hoping that the cool midnight air might calm her down, and tucked in her knife even though she knew that it was pretty much safe outside. Rocking the baby in her arms, she headed outside and the mild midnight air hit against her. It felt nice, felt peaceful with the chirping of crickets and the moonlight shining above which cast a dim yet serene light over the place. 'Some things remained the same even though the world had turned into shit.' Beth thought to herself.

She paced back and forth trying to calm the sobbing baby whose cries had dropped a little after soaking the pleasant breeze outside. Beth started to sing quietly, rocking the baby in her arms when a voice interrupted her. "Ya' know it ain't safe to wander outside in the middle'a the night, especially with a baby."

Turning around she found Daryl putting off a cigarette butt with his boots. Beth made a disgusted face as the smell of cigarettes filled the air around them. She always hated the smell of cigarettes and found them repulsive.

"Wasn't wondering around" Beth answered scrunching her face a little. "And it's safe enough here." she completed.

Daryl could see her face glowed up from the dim moonlight. She seemed delicate yet her eyes gave away sparks of fierceness which kind of intrigued him, but something made him nervous deep inside while talking with Beth.

"Alright" he replied and spun around to leave while placing a new cigarette on his lips.

He didn't want to talk further, as talking with girls like Beth wasn't his cup of tea. Girls like Beth were sweet and lively and Daryl had no experience in dealing with them. He always hung out with Merle and the girls he used to bring around, and as far his mind could remember they spent majority of their timing boozing or smoking pot and sometimes hooking up; nothing more, nothing less.

But Beth was different, different in her own and simple ways. She knew that Daryl didn't talk much but was somewhat pissed at his lack of communication skills and the away he tried to avoid her. She knew he wasn't exactly the chatty types, but expected a few words more out of him. No matter how much he seemed to be reserved and distant, she knew it well that he was soft and kind person underneath.

She was a bit hurt and upset by his behavior, like she was not even worth talking with, especially when all she had ever been was nothing but sweet to him.

"This is gross you know!" Beth spat back, not finding anything else to reply in particular.

Turning back to her, he stood there puzzled. He never saw Beth raise her voice or being angry at anyone. Her voice had always been sweet and gentle, and he couldn't remember any instance when her voice carried that particular tone which she was carrying now.

"What?" he mumbled with his eyes narrowed and the cigarette stuck between his lips.

"You know this bad habit of yours." She pointed to his cigarette, still with the appalled look plastered on her face.

Withdrawing the unlit cigarette and stuffing it back into his pocket, Daryl blurted out. "Why do ya even care?"

Nobody from the group had ever remarked on this habit of his, not even Carol who was the closest to him. Nobody cared about it, but Beth did and she wasn't afraid to speak it out.

"It ain't none of your business." Daryl replied with a cold voice even though he tried hard not to.

Beth was now visibly hurt by the sudden outburst of his rude demeanour but tried her best not to show it. She couldn't apprehend his erratic behaviour. Just before few days he teasingly gave her a new nickname and today, he was being a total jerk.

All she did was care about him. Maybe her words were not in place and didn't reflect well, but she did care.

"Oh yes, it isn't Mr Dixon but trust me when I say it- this thing will kill you for sure if the walkers doesn't" Beth retorted, her voice partially enraged.

At first Daryl found it ridiculous; a girl half his age giving him advice about smoking but then, it hit him. No doubt, he was strong and fearless but deep inside; he was sensitive and craved for affection. And Beth's words aroused a hint of warmness inside him.

Maybe it was a very small thing, but for Daryl it did make an impact. He was not used to people caring about him but Beth's word triggered that particular emotion in him.

Still, he was reluctant to acknowledge it. He didn't want anyone to get closer to him. After losing Merle, he had build up his wall, and was adamant about not to let anyone in.

Daryl wanted to apologize to Beth, but his ego took over him."Watch yer' words girl. 'And stay the fuck away from me." Daryl snapped but instantly regretted his choice of words. But the damage was done and he couldn't take it back.

Beth stood there with a sleeping Judith in her arms, trying to hold back her tears. She wasn't angry but hurt; she thought she could bring him out of his desolation but she was so wrong.

"You're unbelievable." Beth smiled. A smile filled with sting.

With that she went inside with the sleeping Judith in her arms, leaving a guilt-stricken Daryl to ponder upon the whole thing.

'Why did I do that?' Daryl asked himself as he walked back to the bottle of alcohol placed in the corner few steps back. For him, alcohol was the key to escapism, and he wanted to escape from his feelings, his life and the way Beth Greene made him feel.

"Daryl, wake up!" Carl shook the hunter as he frantically tried to wake him up.

Normally, Daryl never needed anyone to wake him up. He would always be up before everyone else and would go hunting to provide for the day's meals. But today it was different, maybe because of all the alcohol he gulped down last night after his bitter-sweet conversation with Beth.

"What?" he asked as he stirred and woke up.

"Dad wants you."

"Why?" Daryl asked as he sat up and put on his angel winged vest.

"Dunno, dad just told me to find you and tell that he was looking for you"

"Alrigh' I'll go n'see him." Daryl replied as he grabbed his crossbow from the floor and headed outside to find Rick.

It was a sunny day in Atlanta and the sun rays were heavily striking Daryl's eyes as he had a little hangover from yesterday night's drinking. The prison was in full swing, with everyone doing their cores and the children playing around as if everything was normal.

As he walked around to find Rick, Hershel called out to him "Daryl, Rick was lookin' for you" The old man was chatting with an aged fellow from Woodbury while Daryl walked around searching for Rick.

"Yea, I kno'. Where is he?" Daryl asked impatiently.

"Easy, there son. He's working on the pig sty. You'll find him there if he's still working."

"Thanks" Daryl muttered and made his way towards the Pig sty. When Daryl finally found Rick, he was wiping his muddied hands on a piece of cloth.

Rick has changed over the month; his leadership skills were at the lowest, and now he mostly spend his time indulged in farming and all those related chores.

"Hey Daryl, I was looking for you." Rick greeted with a smile.

"Yea, I know. What's the matter?"

"Nothing much," Rick sighed and came closer to stand face to face with him. "You know I trust you the most, Daryl. You've been an efficient member of the group and I want you to look after them in my absence."

Rick knew that Daryl was the only person who would selflessly protect the others in his absence. He knew Daryl was responsible but still wanted to have a word with him. Meanwhile Daryl found it weird, the way Rick was talking; he had always looked after everyone even without Rick asking him to.

"I will. Ya don't 'ave t'worry bout' it." He assured him.

"You maybe thinking why I'm telling you this all of sudden" Rick chuckled.

"Nah, nothin' like that"

"Well, there's nothing serious about it but I know, you're the only one who would selflessly protect these people,"

"Yeah maybe" Daryl mumbled, with his voice almost inaudible.

After Lori's death Rick had been quite disoriented, yet they were able to rescue Glenn and Maggie from Woodbury and even save the Prison from the Governor. But now, it was different; he was not his usual self and he wouldn't carry his gun around anymore. He would either be farming or tending to the pig's sty with the aid of Hershel and Carl.

"Tomorrow, Glenn and the others are going for a supply run" Rick informed as they both started to head towards the people gathered around the grill. "I know anything could happen but try to get everyone back."

Daryl now understood why Rick was being so weird; he was worried over what happened to Zach few weeks ago. He was feeling guilty about it, for not being out there that day and wanted to make sure that nothing as such happened tomorrow.

"I will do my best." Daryl reassured him with a nod, wondering if he could really do that.

Beth had been helping Carol with the dishes when her eyes caught the sight of Daryl cleaning his crossbow. The sun made his face brighter and she can't help but notice how muscular he had become since the first time she saw him at the farm. His facial features were still attractive and his hair was a few inches longer than what it used to be.

Beth scolded herself mentally, for thinking that way about a man who didn't give a shit about her and not to mention, even told to stay away from him. Meanwhile, Daryl had already seen Beth and was wondering if she had seen him too. He kept pretending to clean his crossbow and behaved like she didn't exist, but when his eyes involuntarily peeked at her, he caught her staring at him. Beth got embarrassed and immediately retracted her gaze and fixed it on the dishes she had been cleaning.

Both Beth and Daryl were quite oblivious to the fact that the whole thing was being watched by Carol whose senses were at its highest peak.

"Having any problem with Daryl?" Carol asked Beth, with her usual sweet smile, sensing the tension between them.

"No nothing. We don't even talk properly." Beth replied with a sheer hesitation in her voice.

"You can talk with me Beth, if anything's bothering you."

Beth was now irritated at the way Carol was poking her nose into her business and wanted to flee from the situation. She knew that Daryl and Carol were quite close, and one thing Beth knew for sure was that she didn't want Carol to get involved in her and Daryl's matter.

"I need to go," Beth informed as she wiped her hands. "Have to feed Judith."

She then went inside leaving a confused Carol to complete the work they both had been doing.

Carol now, wholly convinced that something's been cooking between the two of them, went and sat beside Daryl who was still cleaning his crossbow. She had been observing both of them in the past few weeks, and could visibly point out the tension that hung around them.

She cared about Daryl and didn't want him to get into any conflict regarding Beth as she knew Hershel would never approve anything between them. And there was Maggie and Glenn to back him up. Even Rick would find it inappropriate and would leave the matter for Hershel to resolve.

"What's the matter between you Beth?" she asked quietly.

"Nothin'."

"Oh come on, don't lie to me. I've seen the tension between you both. Just tell me what's going on." She pleaded hoping to get an answer.

"She was bein' a pain in the ass. And then I said somethin' rude." Daryl replied nonchalantly, still wiping his crossbow.

"And?"

"And what? That's all. What else it would be?" Daryl asked in a irritated voice as he stood up and glared at Carol.

Carol sighed. She knew Daryl would never blurt it out completely but still tried to reason with him

"I know you won't tell me but still I'll tell you to stay away from that girl. It won't lead you to anything but trouble." Daryl didn't reply anything and was looking down.

Carol frowned and continued, "Don't think I have anything against her, she's a sweet girl but I don't want you to get affected by her."

Still no reply from Daryl who continued to stare at the concrete ground beneath him.

Carol got up reluctantly and was about to leave, but then turned back. "You should apologize to her."

Daryl looked up at her with a questioned look.

"She's just kid, with a little a crush on you," Carol chuckled. "She'll get over it eventually. Just don't be mean to her." And with that Carol left Daryl alone while she again resumed her chores.

Daryl thought about it for a minute and shouts over to Carol, "I will!" realising that it would be the best course of action and would probably quell his guilt over how he behaved with Beth last night.

Hey guys, I hope you liked the chapter. I didn't want them to fall in love immediately as it ruins the plot (atleast for me) and wanted to add alot of tension between them. Easy love is not fun, but 'hard to get' might bring a different twist in the story. Even I'm not sure how to put Carol- good or bad; as you know she is kind of close to Daryl but that could be good or bad thing. I want you guys to decide it and let me know.