A/N: A lot of dialogue in this chapter.

Night Watch
Chapter 4 - Late Night Confessions I
Beth Greene

After speaking to Daryl last night it was obvious that he didn't like me as much as much as I liked him. I did like Daryl a lot, at first I thought that it was just a crush but after spending time with him I'm starting to get the butterflies in my stomach I got when I first met Jimmy. Daryl makes me nervous, confused, I wonder if he thinks about me, he gives me butterflies and I want to spend as much time with him as I can. I know it's stupid to think that someone like Daryl would even think about me that way, he probably just saw me as silly kid that didn't know how to survive. He was only being nice by letting me go and do night watch with him. He knew that I wanted to get outside for a little while and that was the only reason he offered. He didn't offer because he wanted to spend more time with me.

It's probably best for Daryl's health that he didn't like me too and we don't start any sort of relationship. I've had two boyfriends since this all started and both of them have been killed by walkers, Daryl is stronger then Jimmy and Zach and he is a survivor compared to them two but something bad might happen to him if we took that step. I'm just supposed to be alone for the rest of my life and carry on with my miserable existence watching everyone else find loved ones.

Thinking about the small conversation between Daryl and I last night I thought back to what he said. He thought that I liked Axel. Axel!. He was a creep and he did come on too strong when I first met him. Daryl doesn't know this but I heard him warning Axel away from me and to leave me alone. Daryl told Axel that if he did anything to me then Daryl would kick his ass. Since then Axel hasn't even looked in my direction, obviously afraid that Daryl was going to beat him up.

"You Ready?" Daryl asked. I looked up and saw him leaning against the door frame with his arms crossed over his chest.

"Sure" I replied.

I got up from my bed and grabbed everything I would need for the night and walked out with Daryl towards the tower. Maggie and Glenn were on duty and Maggie made sure I had everything and then it was just Daryl and I alone. I took my place at one end of the catwalk whilst Daryl took the other. We had the whole place covered and we could see the whole place. Nothing was getting through here tonight with Daryl and I on watch tonight.

Everything has been quiet so far and the walkers have been milling around but not close to the fences "They seem closer to the woods today" I commented to Daryl who grunted at me in response "What's different tonight?" I asked him.

"It's colder. The woods is warmer" He told me.

"I didn't know the weather effected the walkers" I said.

"It does" He answered.

I could tell by Daryl's mood that he wasn't up for talking much today but I'm not a fan of silence. I didn't want to push Daryl because then he will become more and more closed off. Maybe if I start the conversation off lighter he might be more willing to speak to me.

"Daddy said you're hunting tomorrow" I stated.

"Yeah" He replied.

"Do you think you'll get much?" I questioned.

"Dunno" He answered.

"Well surely you'll know what animals will be out in this weather and so on" I pointed out.

"Might get a few squirrels" He said.

"It will be good to get some meat" I commented.

"Mm" He replied.

I thought he might enjoy a conversation about hunting. It was something Daryl did before and he seemed to enjoy going out and hunting. Maybe there was something wrong with him.

"Daryl, you ok?" I asked him.

"Fine" He replied.

"You sure? You seem a bit off today" I told him.

"I said I'm fine" He snapped.

"Well now I know you're not fine. I know you Daryl and you're obviously upset about something. You know you can talk to me, what's wrong?" I questioned and moved further towards him but he took a step back away from me.

"Don' worry bout it" He said.

"Of course I'll worry about it. Me and you are friends aren't we?" I asked.

"Suppose" He replied.

"Then tell me what's wrong?" I questioned.

He sighed and I saw his guard drop. He was willing to open up to me and I would stand here and listen whilst he said whatever he had to say. If I interrupted him whilst he opened up then he would take that chance to put his guard back up and I wanted him to keep his guard down and open up to me… just for a little while. I might get to know the real Daryl for a change.

"Last night… You spoke bout a guy you liked. You said he was older and I've been tryin' to figure out who it is. I don' want some guy forcin' himself on you. You deserve better" He told me "I know you said you weren't sure he liked you but I just wanna make sure we got no bad people in our group" He added.

"He's not a bad person. The complete opposite actually" I replied.

"What makes you think he might like you?" He asked.

"I don't think he likes me the same way. There have been no signs that I know of to indicate he likes me back so I'm just gonna try and forget about him… if I can" I said.

"Well I think that's for the best. You don' need that sort of distraction" He stated.

"Is that why you don't show interest in anyone?" I asked.

"Who said I ain't interested in anyone?" He questioned.

"I just assumed" I replied "So you like someone in the group?" I asked.

"Might" He replied with a shrug.

"Don't clam up on me now. Who is it?" I questioned.

"None your business" He answered.

"You can't leave me hanging like that. I won't tell anyone" I said.

"I know you won't" He replied "It's not that. I jus' don' think it a smart choice to discuss it" He added.

"Is is Carol?" I questioned.

"No" He replied.

"Sasha? Michonne? Maggie? Someone out of Woodbury?" I questioned.

"None of the above" He replied.

"C'mon Daryl! Tell me" I said and I sounded like a child. I even stomped my food a little for good measure. I heard him chuckle lightly and saw him shake his head a couple times "Please Daryl. I promise to keep your secret" I told him.

"Make you a deal. You tell me who you're crushin' on and I'll tell you who I'm crushin' on" He said. I went silent. I didn't want to tell Daryl I had a crush on him and then hear about the amazing woman that has grabbed Daryl Dixon's attention. To be honest I never thought he would show interest in anyone, he didn't seem the type to be open to relationships just because of how closed off he is as a person "Your secret is safe with me" He stated when it was clear I wasn't going to answer him. He was using me own promise against me.

"You'll laugh, think I'm stupid and probably freak out" I told him.

"Can' be that bad, can it?" He asked.

"You'll think it is" I said.

"Why?" He asked.

"I just know how you will react is all" I told him.

"C'mon Beth. Tell me" He said and he took a step closer to me so there was only an arms length between the two of us.

"Daryl I… if you promise not to freak out and go crazy then I'll tell you" I said and he nodded in response "Well the guy I like is you" I said and turned my head away so I couldn't see Daryl's reaction.

"What?" He questioned in shock.

"It's you" I confirmed.