AN: As always, thank you for all your sweet reviews. You guys are seriously what keeps this story going when I lose inspiration (which is not uncommon). Also, as a shameless plug for my tumblr, if any of you guys wanted to follow me my username is "persephonesgirlhood". :)
"How'd ya find us?" Daryl asked suddenly, breaking the silence that had settled during dinner.
"Well, we weren't lookin' for ya - I mean, we were, but we weren't," Maggie clarified. "We always looked for ya, Bethy, but never had anything to go on. We heard something about Rick though."
"Sounded like Rick, at least," Glenn contributed.
"Yeah, few weeks North of this place," Maggie jumped in, "heard from a group that they'd seen some sort of settlement. Man with a baby, and a boy. Couple other folks, too. Just a block of cleared out buildings."
"The group didn't... they were okay, I mean?" Beth asked, looking at her sister.
"They were nice people," Maggie said.
"Good people," Glenn added.
"They were lookin' for someone though. They didn't stop."
"Everyone's lookin' for someone now'days," Daryl said quietly.
"What about you two?" Glenn asked. "Did you find anyone?"
"Just each other," Daryl said.
"Yeah - uh -" Beth stalled, trying to think of a cover story. What kind of person doesn't look for their own group? she asked herself.
"We were lookin', 'course," Daryl said. "But with Beth, and the baby, an' all - it just seemed smarter to settle down somewhere quiet. Fortify the place best we could."
"Makes sense," Maggie said easily.
"I heard that though," Beth said to her sister. "About... Rick. I overheard it, really. Couple people had been turned away from some building. It was a while ago. Sounds like he must have made good, then."
"We'll be wantin' to stay here though," Daryl said firmly. "Beth ain't in any condition to be fighting off walkers, or walkin' til her feet bleed."
"Of course," Glenn said.
"Agreed," added Maggie.
Beth hid her sigh of relief, but looked over to Daryl. He was sitting across from her, on the other side of the fire, playing with his spoon. When their eyes met, she smiled at him in thanks, and he shrugged his shoulders easily as if to ask her what she expected. She could almost hear him in her head: Told ya I got ya covered, girl.
"Glenn and I'll just sleep down here," Maggie said. "We can either try to fit onto the couch together, or just use the cushions and our sleeping bags and set up on the floor."
"Yeah," Glenn agreed. "It'll be way more comfortable than anything we've had lately."
"Are you sure?" Beth asked. "I mean, if you wanted a night in the bed, we could -"
"I'm not taking a bed away from a pregnant woman," Glenn said.
"Well, Maggie, if you want, we could share for a night or two?" Beth offered. "I'm sure the guys wouldn't mind."
"Nah," Daryl said.
"It's alright, Beth, Daddy ain't here," Maggie said with a laugh. "We both got boyfriends, it isn't a big deal."
"Right," Beth said. "Well, I'm glad you're turning me down, 'cause you snore."
"Do not!"
"Actually -" Glenn said.
"Shut up, jerk," Maggie snarked at him.
"Y'snore, too," Daryl said, with a small smile at Beth.
"Yeah, but when I'm asleep my snoring wouldn't bother me, would it?" Beth said with a laugh.
"S'pose not."
"So, not to kick you out of the living room, but we're exhausted - so get out," Maggie said playfully.
"Alright, alright," Beth said. "We'll be just upstairs if you need anythin'."
Daryl was sprawled out on the bed next to Beth reading his book. He had volunteered to sleep on the floor, but she had waved him off. It wasn't as if he hadn't just been in her bed the night before. He was breathing easily, and for a long moment, she just watched him, feeling so grateful her insides ached.
"Thank you, for today," Beth said.
"It's nice havin' 'em around," Daryl said.
"Yeah," Beth said.
Still, she felt a guilty pang in her stomach. The way Glenn and Maggie had looked at one another - touched one another - finished one another's sentences. And here was Daryl, stuck with her, out of obligation and probably some guilt of his own.
"Y'know, we don't have to do this forever," Beth said.
"What d'ya mean, girl?"
"Pretending... you and me... pretending that we're together. That you're my boyfriend, I mean. Or that I'm your girlfriend. I still want you around for the baby. I wouldn't have asked that if I didn't... but eventually we can... y'know, "break-up" or whatever."
"Beth -" Daryl started, sitting up to look at her.
"It's okay, Daryl. You don't owe me anything - and if you feel guilty, about what happened to me, and are still blaming yourself - don't. I'll be fine. The baby will still have you. And you can have what Glenn and Maggie have with someone, eventually."
"Beth, stop," Daryl commanded. Beth snapped her mouth shut. "I don't want what Maggie and Glenn have. I want what we got."
"But we don't... there's nothing..." Beth struggled to find words that were completely honest.
"Y'gonna make me come right out 'n say it, then?" Daryl asked, running a hand roughly through his hair. "Fine! I don't want this t'be pretend, Beth."
"But I'm so -"
"Don't matter," Daryl cut her off.
"But it -"
"No," he said, moving closer to her. "Y'listen here, Greene. I'll do whatever y'need me to do. If y'don't want me, I ain't gonna beg ya or try to change your mind. But I'm here, Beth, and y'can have whatever y'want from me. Friend, father of your baby, boyfriend - just say it, girl."
"I.. I..."
"But before you make up your mind - I just... just one more thing," he said haltingly.
Slowly, always slowly, he dropped his head down to hers and tasted her mouth. Beth could feel his lips, wet from his tongue, warm from his blood. He always ran so damn hot. Beside her his hands clenched in the duvet, pulling it up around her. Beth could feel in him passion, dark and wild, but tightly restrained. She ached in a way that surprised her, scared her, and took her breath away. She wanted to feel that passion. She wanted it all.
"Don't write us off, Beth," he said, running a hand over her mussed ponytail. "This ain't pretend between you and me. It just ain't."