..when Beth asked shyly "I know that you maybe have better things to do and you are probably tired, but would you like to get a pizza and eat it by the last sunbeams on my balcony?"

Best Daryl wanted to jump in the air, because of her invite, but somehow he managed to suppress this need and instead he answered "I don't have anything more to do for today, so yeah, it would be a pleasure for me girl."

Getting a bright smile from Beth for his answer, she said happily "Great Mr. Dixon. Maybe we can take your car? It's a little farther away." Opening his car, Daryl said "Sure. Climb in girl."

While they were driving to Glenn's pizzeria, Daryl just couldn't stop watching Beth sitting on the passenger seat from the corner of his eyes for even one second. At the beginning of their drive she had called her brother-in-law to make ready two pizzas for her, but now she was just sitting next to Daryl, like they had done so many times when they were younger.

Listening to the music from the radio, she leaned out of the opened window, so her golden hair was fluttering in the wind or she was singing quietly with one of her favourite songs along. And in this moment Daryl was just happy to have this time with Beth together, to see her happy and have her close. It was all he had ever asked for, when he was thinking about her in his empty flat back in Atlanta.

Daryl stopped the car on the parking lot from the pizzeria, where Beth climbed out and took the pizzas. Soon she came out with their dinner and a brown bag. Daryl wanted to give her the money for his pizza, when Beth answered him that she wanted to pay it, because he had already took the bill for her ice cream and coffee.

Getting back on the road, Beth leaded him to her flat on the other end of the village. Parking his car next to the nice looking house, she was living in, Beth climbed out of the car and just wanted to grape the two pizzas, when Daryl took them, because she already had her two bags.

Following her into the house and upstairs they were finally standing in front of her flat's door. The second Beth opened the door, stepped inside and Daryl followed her, he just had to smile to himself, because this was the flat, which was fitting perfectly for her.

It was so bright and clean, smelled like fresh laundry and lavender. It was so lovely decorated with so many details and on the dinning table was standing a vase with pretty flowers. All in all it was just the flat Daryl had always imagined being hers.

While Beth was making their dinner ready in the kitchen, Daryl was looking closer around and finally his eyes caught the photos on her commode in her big living room. There were many photos from Beth with Hershel and Annette, with Maggie and Shawn. He could also see an Asians guy, which was obviously her sister's husband and the little girl and boy about who Beth had told him before. They were all looking a little different than before, also older, but somehow still the same.

Pics from Beth's birthday, her college graduation, where she was at her work with at least twenty kids around her, with her beloved horse, where she was having a pick nick with her whole family, always a bright smile in her face.

There was also one pic where Beth was standing next to Merle, his wife and his two children. Yeah, Merle had definitely changed, Daryl almost hadn't identify him on the pic, he was looking so different now, so happy.

In contrast to Daryl. Just looking at these happy pics, made himself clear that he had missed all this, because he was such a damn dork. He could had been still a part of Beth's life, maybe he would be on some of these photos too, but that was over now. He had his chance and of course he had failed.

Daryl just wanted to step away from the commode, when his eyes caught one photo frame in the corner. He gasped quietly and his heart stopped beating instantly, while he was taking it into his palms. With tears burning in his eyes, Daryl was looking at the photo he hadn't seen since year, but still he remembered about it like it was just yesterday.

The photo was always standing on the tiny table next to Beth's bed on the farm, it was even himself, who had given it to her as a birthday present. The photo where Beth and he were in the middle of one of the Greene's flower meadows and he gave her a piggy back ride.

Daryl always loved it to hear her giggles when he was doing so, because of that Daryl made it as often as possible with her. On the pic they were both looking so happily, with bright smiles and without any worries. What had he done that this beautiful friendships had broken?

But obviously Beth hadn't forgotten about him over the years, because she had even kept this sweet picture of them and took it to the others on the commode. Maybe he still meant something to her, at least Daryl hoped so.

Hearing her getting closer, he took the photo on its place again and tried to look like he wasn't close to tears. "I'm ready Mr. Dixon. C'mon I bet you are as hungry as myself." Getting himself a plate, Daryl followed Beth outside on her balcony.

After placing her plate on the table, Beth went inside again and Daryl looked at the pretty view he got from her balcony. "I hope you like beer Mr. Dixon? Normally I don't have one, but thankfully Glenn had some." Now Daryl knew what she had in that brown bag. "Thank you Beth." He said and lowered himself opposite from her on a chair.

While they were eating the delicious pizza, Beth was telling him some funny stories she had experienced the last years, or they were just talking about random things. But Daryl didn't care, because he was just enjoying Beth's presence.

One time Beth was obviously checking him out and when she began to giggle playfully, Daryl asked her curious "What's so funny girl?" Serious Beth answered "It's just because you have changed so much Mr. Dixon."

Because Daryl didn't get it, he asked confused "What do you mean girl? I'm still the same." Blushing a little Beth said "Yeah, but before you were a teenager, almost still a boy and now.. now you are a man."

Embarrassed he answered with a smirk on his lips "Nah, I'm not. I'm still that stupid like before." Giggling she told him "Yeah, that's maybe true, but.." Beth winked at him, before she went on "I mean look at you Daryl. You have the body of a man, every woman wants to climb like a tree. Your muscular arms, your broad shoulders, your strong chest and even when I was first a little shocked about your long hair, it really fits you. You are looking like a wild animal Mr. Dixon."

Daryl was never used to compliments and certainly not from Beth. Damn embarrassed and with red, hot cheeks he said "Stop it girl."

Beth was such a pastor even without her trying, just sitting opposite from him like that. Her bright blond hair was blowing in the wind, while her face was looking as sweet as always. Best Daryl wanted to lean over and cover her cute face with kisses, but of course he didn't. How her long fingers guided the fork to her soft, rosy lips, it almost made him crazy.

How firm her hip was looking in those damn hot pants, Daryl got the need then to bite playfully into that soft flesh. Her long, gracefully legs and her bare feet were making his whole body hot and his mouth water. Beth's tiny toes made Daryl smiling to himself, they were looking so damn cute, he had to suppress the need to lay them on his lab and touch them for the rest of the evening.

But of course he didn't do any of these things, because he wasn't allowed to do this. He never was.

After they were finish with their dinner and Beth took the plates inside, she came back with a new beer for Daryl and a glass red wine for her. Like before she lowered herself on the wooden bank opposite from him and the two of them went silent.

It wasn't an uncomfortable silence, it was never this when Beth was around him. They were listening to the birds singing in the trees and watched the sun going down slowly. But even when Daryl hadn't expected the following, he also wasn't surprised, when Beth suddenly said "You have broken my heart that day you have left, you know that Mr. Dixon?"

Daryl's heart fell then and he began to feel sorry and damn ill. He wasn't able to answer her, he could just stare at her, while she was doing the same. A half eternity passed by till Beth blinked and her eyes filled with tears. Hoping, that she won't start crying, it was already too late, when she broke their connection and a tear broke free from the corner of her eyes.

Like this tear was the key to his heart, Daryl quickly stood up, went over to Beth and took her in his arms. "Fuck Beth, I'm so sorry." He whispered into her golden locks, while she leaned her head against his shoulder and began to sob. Trying to calm her down with stroking her upper arm and cradling her in his arms, Daryl hated himself so much for what he had done to her. He always just wanted her to be happy, but he was the reason why she was sad ten years ago and now in his arms.

"I'm so sorry. Please stop crying sweetheart." Maybe because of his soft voice or the fact that he was calling her sweetheart for the first time, Beth slowly lifted her head and her red, glassy eyes and his met again.

After looking at him for seconds, Beth finally said "I know you don't want to talk about it Daryl, but I have asked myself this question every day and maybe.. maybe it will help me to understand it better, but.. why have you just left that day and never came back again?"

Breathing deeply inside his lungs and trying to control his nerves, Daryl was finally able to answer her. "Because I was a damn stupid dork Beth. I can't tell you why, because still today I don't really know it, but.. I think I was just not ready for growing up and the only way for me that day was running away as fast as possible."

Leaning her head against his shoulder, Beth said with a shaking voice "I'm so sorry Daryl. I shouldn't have said this to you, it's all my fault." Daryl couldn't believe his ears, how could she even think this for one second.

Placing his index finger and thumb gently under Beth's chin, Daryl made her so lifting up her face, till she was looking into his eyes again. "Stop thinking that sweetheart. It was never your fault, it was me, just me all the time."

With glassy eyes Beth said "But I have told you that day that we shouldn't meet again, that we shouldn't see each other any more. I never meant that serious Daryl, I was just so.. I don't know why I have said this to you, but I'm so sorry. I have never wanted to make you leave or give you the feeling that you have to go."

Pulling the loose strands of golden hair, which was falling into Beth's pretty face, behind her ear, Daryl said softly "Listen to me sweetheart, it was never your fault. It was my wrong, stupid decision. And believe me I regretted it every day, every night. It was the biggest mistake in my whole life. I'm sorry sweetheart."

The tears were silently running down Beth's cheeks, when Daryl pulled her closer and soothed her gently. They were sitting like that minutes, till Beth broke the silence, when she said "After I was sitting one hour on the horse stall ground and cried, I finally made myself standing up and ran to your house. I wanted to tell you that I'm sorry, but it was already too late. You were gone."

"First I just wanted to stay and wait till you would come back, but then I saw the keys on the table and your smashed mobile phone on the floor. Then I looked into your clothing box and saw that half of your stuff was gone. Then I got it, you were gone. Just gone."

"After spending one more hour crying on top of your bed, I was finally able to get a half way clear mind again, ran back to the farm, got into my car and searched the whole night long for you."

"Even after sunrise I was searching for you, but I just didn't know where you are, where you went, if you were good and hopefully nothing had happened to you. Finally daddy made me driving home with promising me that he will search for you now."

"Till he came back home in the late afternoon I was crying myself into sleep and had a damn bad nightmare that you had an accident and you were laying in a hospital somewhere. I have called then every hospital near, but you weren't in one of these."

"Also daddy hadn't found you, which made me just crying even more. I was so worried Daryl. We all have totally forgotten about the graduation ball, till Jimmy was standing in a suit on our porch."

"But it didn't matter, because I wasn't able to go to the ball, because of my red, swollen eyes and the fact, that I was feeling damn ill all the time. I didn't get there, because I just wanted you back Daryl. Till today I just wanted you back all the time. I have missed you so much Daryl Dixon."

Because his own tears were burning in his eyes now, Daryl pulled Beth closer to his chest and pressed a lovely kiss on her forehead, which made her closing her beautiful eyes and enjoying this beautiful gesture. With his lips still close her skin, Daryl whispered "I'm so sorry for what I have done to you sweetheart. I have also missed you so damn bad all the time."

It was almost sunset, when Daryl was still holding Beth in his arms and her words were running through his head. She didn't get on her own graduation ball and so also not on her date with Jimmy, just because of him. Even when Daryl hated this guy still today, he was feeling bad for her.

So he loosened their hug, just so he could grape his mobile phone from his pocket. Catching her confused look, Daryl explained to her, while he loosened their hug completely and stood up "I was the reason why you couldn't get your graduation dance, but if you want I can give you a dance now. As an excuse."

Before Beth could even answer the only slow song Daryl knew began to play on his phone. When the first tone was filling the air, Beth began to smile up at him and her eyes were looking so lovingly. With new tears glistening in her eyes, she nodded her head and took his waiting, stretched out hand.

Daryl had never danced with a girl before, at least not to such a slow rhythm, but he would do just everything for his Beth. "But don't expect too much from me. I have never danced before." Daryl told her, which made her giggle and say "I bet you will make pretty good Mr. Dixon."

Easily one of her tiny hands found its way on his shoulder and her other into his shaking hand. The second his free hand touched her waist, Daryl got goose bumps everywhere on his body. Carefully they began to move and tried to find the right steps for the rhythm.

Beth giggled happily, when Daryl stepped on her feet a few times, but she didn't care. They were dancing around her balcony, even when it just had to look ridiculous, but Beth was happy and that was the most important thing.

Daryl made her spinning in circles, while they were both laughing. It was giving him this feeling inside his belly again, every time Beth was looking up at him with her beautiful eyes and her lips formed the sweetest smile on the whole world.

She just came back into his arms, when the music finally stopped and everything was silent again. But they didn't stop dancing slowly, while their chests were touching each other. Beth was still smiling up at him, but at the same time a tear found its way out of her perfect eyes.

Gently Daryl whipped the tear with his thumb away from her soft skin and whispered "Don't cry because of such a stupid dork like me sweetheart. I'm not worth your tears." Even when some more tears were glistening in her eyes, Beth's lips formed a smile, when she whispered back "You aren't a stupid dork Daryl."

Beth leaned her head against Daryl's chest then, like this space was made for her, was waiting for her all the time. Their bodies were fitting so perfect to each other, when he placed his chin on top of her golden locks.

They were still slowly moving, when the sun finally disappear behind the horizon and instead of the birds singing, they could hear the music from the crickets now. Inhaling her own, special scent and holding her in his arms, Daryl got it that now the time had come, where he just had to tell her the whole truth..