A/N: Thanks again to everyone who has favorited, followed, and reviewed! If you missed it, please see the review that posted ourselves in response to some awesome questions that we got back on previous chapters. This one is a lot easier on the heart. Hope you enjoy! Thanks! Lola & eReedus

The Hunger

Chapter Six -Plans

Friday, May 10th 2002. Senoia, GA.

They were laying in one of their favorite places. By the creek that they'd visited more times than they could remember over the years they'd known each other.

It was a glorious day, sunny and warm but not sweltering. Daryl would bring Beth here quite often after school on a Friday, sometimes to fish but mainly for the peace and quiet. Hardly anybody ever came here, most of the other kids hung out at the larger lake the other side of Senoia. That had bigger places to congregate and huge trees around it with tire swings and ropes hanging from them. Beth liked it here though, it was much prettier with bright flowers, the faint hum of birdsong and the silence of nature they couldn't find anywhere else. She always liked it best when it was just the two of them.

"What time d'ya wanna leave tomorra?" Daryl was stretched out on the grass, his arm behind his head. Beth laid tucked up onto his chest as the late afternoon sun warmed their skin.

"Early, it's gonna take three and a half hours to get there. We need to leave about 5 a.m. You can stay over if ya want, ain't no point goin' home late tonight just to get up at 4 a.m. And I don't want ya pa gettin' mad at ya again if ya wake him… please...stay at the farm?" Beth sounded scared, she knew if Daryl woke his father at that time of the morning the older man would probably kill him.

She knew he wasn't hit by his pa as often nowadays but she also knew it was bad when it did happen. Of course Daryl tried to hide the severity of the beatings, but she knew. They'd been getting worse since Daryl had grown bigger, like his pa knew he wouldn't be able to get away with it much longer and didn't like it because Daryl was growing up.

When Daryl had returned home the night of Beth's birthday, the night they first made love, he'd taken a real bad beating. His father was still awake in his armchair when Daryl crept in, he was completely drunk and pissed about some stupid argument he'd had earlier with one of his buddies. All Daryl did was just arrive home at the wrong time. His pa lost it. Shouting at him, telling him that he shouldn't be spending all his time fucking that Greene slut, and that she only wanted to get herself knocked up just like his whore of a mother had, trapping him in hell for all eternity. Taunting him by telling him that Beth didn't really want him, she was just using him until someone better came along. Daryl hadn't been able to stop himself from answering back, arguing with him in defense of Beth and his momma. His pa seemed stronger than ever though, his anger fueled both by the alcohol and his fury because Daryl had dared answer back. His pa had managed to knock him to the floor and had taken the belt to him again.

It took over a week for Daryl to actually tell Beth what had happened, but she was pretty sure he still hadn't told her the whole story, he'd never been this distant from her for this long before, so she knew it must've been bad. She hated how that evil man had ruined yet another night in Daryl's life. A night she wanted him to remember as something special.

Beth could never understand why Daryl was always so ashamed of what his pa did, especially with her. None of it was ever his fault but whatever she said or did she just knew it was never quite enough to get through to him. It broke her heart that his father had crushed him emotionally as well as physically, and now it was like he was some wild animal that needed taming. She felt sick that Daryl had as many wounds on the inside as he had on the outside. She just wished she could mend those as easily as she always had the physical ones.

That's why they'd already planned to start fresh once they'd graduated from school next year. There was nothing holding them in Senoia. They'd talked about it all the time lately. What their future held, where they would go and what they would do. That's why they were off to Savannah for the weekend. To check out the College of Art and Design there. They'd been accepted provisionally already, as long as their final transcripts matched those of their preliminaries. Savannah was close enough to still be able to see her family but far enough away from his pa. It was Atlanta where they wanted to move to eventually though.

Daryl had done great in his PSAT's, scoring 210 which was virtually unheard of. Beth was so proud of him she'd hardly given a second thought to her own good score of 190. She'd been encouraging him to apply for student aid to fund his college placement, but he'd refused point blank to apply on the grounds of needing financial help. Beth had tried to convince him it wasn't anything to be ashamed about. Why shouldn't he get something out of his lazy, alcoholic, no good, abusive pa? If he could qualify on the grounds his father didn't have the funds to support him then she told him he should. Daryl still refused, saying he'd get a scholarship on merit or he'd take out loans and pay them back after graduating. He didn't want anything from that man.

"If ya stay at the farm tonight we can sneak out to the barn and…yunno…be together again… if ya want… the bed's still made up in the hayloft?" Beth hated having to push him on this but since her birthday he hadn't wanted to do anything more than kiss and quickly touch her, and even that was over her clothes. He'd relented a couple of times and let her use her hands on him and pleasure him that way. But he just didn't seem to want to touch her or let her see him like she had that night. It was as though he felt he shouldn't have done it and that it was wrong, dirty or bad or something. She didn't understand it at all, he'd seemed so happy that night as they'd laid wrapped around each other. For the first time in their eleven year relationship Beth didn't quite know what to do. She felt lost and sad and so alone.

But that night had been four weeks ago now. At first she wondered if it was her and if she'd done something wrong. Although, after he'd physically recovered from his pa's beating he'd been a little more tactile and loving, but it was like he'd regressed to how shy and awkward he'd always been before. Trying to hide his feelings and his body's reactions from her. Trying to keep her at a distance.

"Don't think yer daddy would be too pleased if he caught us da ya?" Daryl was trying to deflect the question as he carried on staring into the bright clear sky above them.

"Well he doesn't think we're stayin' in separate rooms tomorrow night, so I think it won't be too much of a shock that we've had sex Daryl." Beth just looked at him for a reaction but there wasn't one.

"Daryl, I gotta know… have I done somethin' wrong?...It's just I don't understand why yer stayin' away from me. I thought ya enjoyed what we did. I thought ya would wanna do it again? Didn't ya like it? Is that it? Daryl, what's wrong? Please tell me." Beth felt desperate all of a sudden, she just wanted to cry at the thought she might've ruined things.

Maybe he wasn't ready and she'd pushed him? Maybe he thought she was a whore just like his pa had told him over and over? Maybe she was just no good at it?

"Beth, I loved it. Ya ain't done anythin' wrong I swear. It ain't you, it's me. Please don't cry Beth…I do wanna be with ya, I wanna be with ya all the time but it don't feel right… Nah… it does feel right but it shouldn't, should it?…I dunno…I'm too ruined and ugly ta be with ya, ya don't wanna be lookin' at me. I'm all messed up and yer…well yer beautiful and perfect and good and ya deserve better than ta be spoiled by me and ma hateful pa. You'll run off an' leave me in the end 'cause I'm so useless and weak. I ain't got nothin' but nastiness and evil ta give ya." Daryl sounded broken as he looked down and saw Beth so upset.

He had to tell her the truth though, he never could lie to her, not when he could see her tears welling up. Tears because of him and his broken scarred body and useless feeble mind. He hated that he couldn't just be normal, couldn't just accept things. But his brain wouldn't let him. He didn't deserve happiness or to be with Beth did he? That's what he'd been told his whole life, that's what people thought wasn't it? That he wasn't good enough. That he was worthless and stupid and bad. And they were right. Someone like Beth couldn't really love him, could she, not when she realized? He'd only ruin her goodness and then she'd leave him all alone just like his pa had always said.

"Daryl Dixon is that all? I thought ya maybe didn't love me no more or ya thought what ya pa said about me was true." Beth almost choked the words out as she let out a huge relief filled sob and her body relaxed the breath it'd been holding.

"I'll always love ya Beth, it's always been ya, it always will be. Don't say stuff like that, ma pa don't know shit 'bout ya. I know ya ain't what he says ya are. Yer beautiful and clever and yer good. Yer Beth, yer perfect...I ain't good enough for ya though. I know that. But I wanna be, I wanna try ta be 'cause I love ya and I don't ever wanna be without ya. I wanna try ta give ya back everythin' you've ever given me." Daryl glanced down at Beth again and grabbed her hand, linking their fingers and squeezing them tightly. At that moment he was that scared, confused and ashamed six year old again. He was waiting for affirmation from his best friend. Reassurance he wasn't really bad and she did love him no matter what his pa did or said.

Beth propped up on her elbow next to him and turned to face him, nervously rubbing her thumb across his hand. Beth knew that look, knew what he was asking. She knew Daryl better than she knew herself. She had to do her best to convince him he was wrong and that she would love him unconditionally until her dying day .

"Daryl… none of that man's badness exists when I look at you. All I see is the most perfect, caring, gentle man I've ever known, or ever will know... I love ya Daryl, I'll love ya forever and I'm never leavin' ya.…. You deserve to be happy, we deserve to be happy, don't let him ruin it Daryl. Don't let him win… I know you think yer different because of yer scars and yer pa... that yer worthless and useless but none of that's true. None of it. He's just an evil, horrible bully Daryl and he doesn't deserve to breathe the same air as someone like you. Someone as tender, loving, gorgeous, sexy, funny and generous as you. I only see lovely, beautiful things when I look at you Daryl, things that make my stomach flip with excitement. Things that make my heart sing when you touch me...every time you look at me." Beth gently kissed his soft lips as she closed her eyes, she lingered there for a moment, trying to hold back tears and steady herself before she carried on.

"Please tell me what he said. Let me make it better. Let me take the pain away, Daryl." Beth was gazing down on him with all the love she could find, gently stroking his face with the back of her fingers as she made him look at her.

Daryl was quiet for a moment, his eyes now wide and locked with Beth's as she told him every thing he needed to hear. Her words of acceptance and love made him feel giddy and warm inside. They whirled around his head, clashing with and smashing his pa's hateful words. He knew Beth didn't lie, he knew she only ever told the truth. He didn't want to hide from her or lie to her any more. He wanted her to make it all better for him, he wanted to feel her stroke his hair and take the pain away as he told her everything. For her to tell him it was going to be okay and that she would always love him.

Daryl took a deep breath and started to slowly let it out. "Ma pa...he don't understand why ya'd wanna be with me... he thinks yer jus' usin' me ta get knocked up and that I'm a simple minded idiot for thinkin' ya care about me. He says that ya... do things with anyone that asks ya and that ya don't care 'bout me at all... Beth...he called ya things I can't even say, the words he used were jus' awful. And he said he wanted to do stuff to ya, disgusting, sick things, and he said he'd make me watch so I weren't so useless anymore and could...yunno...properly. He said yer jus' like momma was, a dirty slut that needs teachin' a lesson jus' like she did." Daryl was in tears now, his words shaky and broken as deep sobs wracked through his upper body.

He was so confused. He felt sick at having to tell his sweet Beth the evil, twisted and sick things that spewed from his pa's foul mouth every time he got drunk. Once he started to tell her though, he couldn't stop. He felt like a weight was being lifted, he felt like he could breathe, like he could finally see and think clearly for the first time in years.

"Daryl, look at me baby." Beth felt sick too, she felt like this couldn't really be happening. She gently stroked his hair, rhythmically running her fingers across his scalp to try and soothe him, to make him feel the tiniest bit better. Beth was in tears too now though. She could have just sobbed for weeks. Listening to the man she loved more than life itself poor his heart out to her was more than she could bear. She couldn't deny she was stunned. She never imagined anything this bad. She knew Will Dixon was mean and nasty, she'd lived with the physical evidence of his evil and twisted treatment of his youngest son for years. She also knew he abused Daryl verbally sometimes, but she never knew just how often or how badly.

"Daryl. I love you. I love you so, so much. You hear me. I've loved you from that first time I saw you, and I'll always love you, forever." Beth squeezed herself against Daryl's body and carried on stroking his hair as she kissed along his jaw. "I don't care what that man says about anythin', it's all lies, it's all drunken ramblings from a damaged and evil man. What he says about me isn't true, you know that right? What he says about you isn't true either Daryl, you hear me baby. You do deserve to be loved, you do deserve to be happy and you ain't simple minded or bad. I'll never ever want anyone else. Never. I belong to you, I always have. Tell me you believe me, please...I'm not what he says I am Daryl, I've never looked at anyone else, I never will."

"I'm so sorry Beth... about pa and his ugly awful words. He jus'... well I... he gets me so confused, I don't wanna believe him...I know what he says about ya ain't really true but he's always in ma head, and then I look at ya an' I see how everyone else looks at ya too...like yer perfect, an' ya are, an' then I think he must be right. That I ain't good enough for ya, that I'm too useless to keep ya happy... I know I don't show it but I do love ya Beth… yer ma whole world. If ya ever left me I think I'd jus' die." Daryl's hand had woven itself into the hair at Beth's face now, panic taking him over as he rambled on. His fingers delicately brushed the tears from her cheek as she closed her eyes, tears still freefalling.

"I ain't ever leavin' ya Daryl, never... and no talk a' dyin' neither." Beth smiled at him and kissed his lower lip, lingering there as she watched him close his eyes. She whispered against his mouth. "I think I need to show you how I feel. Words don't explain it properly. I know you're confused baby, that he confuses you with awful, bad words and ideas. If I can show you, you won't be confused anymore, you'll be able to see and feel how much I want you. Please let me show ya how much I love you Daryl, don't push me away...please?...Not after all these years. Not because of that man. Not after all we've been through together. We're so close to startin' over and leavin' him behind." Beth was looking into his very soul now, trying to reach the parts inside of him that had been battered, bruised and almost broken beyond repair by that bastard pa of his.

Her words ignited something inside him this time, a revelation. For the first time in a long time he had hope that Beth perhaps didn't see things the same way he did. Hope that she wasn't repulsed by him because of his pa and the evil that spilled from his filthy mouth and mind. Beth knew it wasn't true and that it was his pa that was mean and bad, not Daryl himself.

He couldn't deny her, he couldn't say no to her. All he wanted was for her to be happy, that's all he'd ever wanted and she deserved to have everything for what she'd put up with. For how she'd cared for him. For how she'd given him a life worth living. And he wanted her. God, he wanted her so bad that he physicall ached inside. He wanted to please her but he didn't know how. He had no idea about sex and his pa had told him over and over he'd never be able to please anyone 'cause he's so useless. His pa always told him women were whore's, just like his momma and Beth. That he was too weak and stupid to keep that little blonde bitch happy for long, she'd just go and find herself a real man, someone who could fuck her good and proper, just how the dirty little whore liked it... it made him feel sick but perhaps his pa was right? How could a dirty scarred redneck like him ever please a perfect pure angel such as Beth? He badly wanted to try though. He wanted to hold on to her and never let her go.

He rolled her onto her back and laid between her legs, not even thinking about her feeling his arousal this time. His hands snaked around the back of her neck and into her hair as he kissed her, pulling her close.

His kisses were always gentle but this time there was something more there too; something exciting, something electric. There was a passion. She'd never felt it before, not even when they'd made love. This kiss was melting her inside, setting her alight.

"What d'ya need me ta do Beth, show me how ta please ya... I'll do anythin' ya want.. please." Daryl was looking at her frantically now, his eyes searching hers for an answer, for help. He suddenly knew his pa was right, he was useless. He didn't even know how to touch her.

"Anythin'… I just want you to touch me Daryl, anywhere... everywhere. Like before. Just put your hands on my body, feel me." Beth's hands were twisting in his hair, her breathing becoming heavy at the sight of the man above her.

His mouth came down to meet hers again, her quickened breathing being met by his low groans. Her small hand grabbed his soft warm one and guided it under her shirt, molding it around her breast before she let go and let him move it on his own. Beth couldn't help but moan out, his hand felt better than she remembered as it caressed her already hardened and sensitive nipple. His tongue was delving deeper into her mouth too, lathing hers gently but with purpose. With a need to do what he could to please her.

Beth pulled away, gasping "I love ya Daryl, yer perfect. Make love to me again." Beth stroked her hand through the hair that had fallen over his eyes, before he lowered his mouth to behind her ear, squeezing his eyes closed and nuzzling softly there for a time.

"I'm sorry I hurt ya Beth...I love ya so much." Daryl murmured the loving words into her soft skin as he kissed her already burning flesh. It sent a shiver through her core, sending a gush of wetness between her legs as her insides started to throb.

Beth needed him. She didn't care they were out in the open, she didn't care they might get caught. Her hands were fumbling at his pants, loosening his belt, pulling down his zipper. Daryl was blushing now, awkwardness taking over as his hands barely continued to run over her body. Brushing over the curves of her waist, her hips and down her legs back up along the inside of her thighs and under her skirt, where he just stopped, afraid to move any closer to the heat radiating from her center.

"It's ok Daryl… jus' touch me. I belong to you...I want ya to touch me anywhere you want. I want you to enjoy it too. Please. It feels so good, it feels like heaven… don't stop." Beth tried to encourage him further, she could see he was about to pull back.

Beth lightly guided his hand upwards to her center. He cupped his hand over her, immediately feeling Beth's arousal seep through the thin lacy material onto his fingers. He could hardly believe he'd already done that to her. Just from kissing her. To feel what he'd done to her made him even harder. He suddenly needed to give her what she wanted. What he'd needed and wanted for so long too.

His fingers slid into her panties, moving slowly over the wetness he'd made, making her moan his name. Oh God, he loved it when she moaned. He surely must be doing something right, something that made her feel good. Beth's hand was curled around him, gently stroking him up and down to the rhythm of his fingertips as they massaged her sensitive spot and played around her entrance.

He buried his face into her neck and groaned. The combination of Beth's hand, warm and firm around him and his hand on her wet slippery center were just too much. He wanted that feeling of his body being inside her again, of losing himself as Beth wrapped herself around him. For a moment he could forget he was useless, he could forget every horrible thing his pa had ever said, she took it all away and she made it better. She always made everything better.

"Oh God Daryl please I need ya inside me… I can't wait." Beth was now arched backwards rubbing hard against his fingers, groaning and panting as she neared orgasm.

"Beth…I ain't got a condom." Daryl sounded as if he was about to erupt, his breathing had almost turned to panting now too. The sight of Beth, the knowledge he was making her feel good, that he was doing things to her body that she liked, was blowing his mind. He really didn't care he had no idea what he was doing, Beth looked like she was in heaven, and he knew he was so he was going to carry on.

"It's okay, I'm on the pill now." Beth was now pushing his pants over his butt and down his legs while Daryl struggled with removing her panties.

Beth pushed and twisted her leg under him and quickly dragged them off, attempting to tug her skirt up as she put her leg back in place around Daryl's hip, but getting it tangled and knocking into him instead. They looked at each other and let out a giggle. The whole situation seemed so funny. Their nerves and clumsiness mixed with an innocent youthful frantic desire to please each other.

They carried on looking at one another, the laugh replaced with a smile as they both realized that neither of them cared that they didn't have a clue what they were doing. They just wanted to enjoy it, like they had the first time. They wanted to repair the damage Will Dixon had done and they both needed the healing closeness that making love would bring them.

"We jus' might have ta keep practicin'… what da ya say Dixon?" Beth almost whispered to him as she gave him one of her huge smiles, the kind that took his breath away.

Daryl's lips crushed into hers, their tongues twirling together as he gently eased himself into her in one long push. It felt even better than the first time, he was naked and she was wet and tight and oh God, the friction as he sunk into her tight body was just amazing. He was slow and careful but Beth still whimpered and sucked in a deep breath as he penetrated her fully. "D'ya want me ta stop…I'm hurtin' ya ain't I?" Daryl almost pulled back out, even though he was just about to climax, unsure if he should carry on and feeling useless once again, his fathers words echoing in his head, bringing him back from the brink.

"Nooooo, God no, keep goin'…don't dare stop... it feels so amazin'...I just gotta get used to it." Beth smiled at him, before whispering the next bit. "I think yer kinda big!" Beth was now giggling, gripping on to his butt, holding him in place between her legs.

Daryl started to blush, but grinned at her, spurred on by her loving words of encouragement. "Tell me if it hurts ya." He started to move, slowly slipping in and out of her as he watched her beautiful face smiling up at him, a gentle moan leaving her lips every time he pushed into her.

The sensation of stretching around him, burning because it was all so new and throbbing from his touch moments earlier had Beth on the edge.

"Ohhhhhh Daryl that's so good, keep goin'… ohhhhhh, God yer gonna make me come. Oh that feels...aarrhhhh yeah just there. Deeper." Beth was now panting in time with his thrusts, grabbing his hair and pulling him into her as she screamed incoherent words of praise to Daryl.

Daryl enthusiastically opened her shirt and tugged her bra down, kissing her breast while gently sliding in and out of her center. He wanted to keep going forever, he never wanted this feeling to end. This feeling of complete and utter acceptance and of love as he moved deep within Beth's perfect body. The knowledge Beth was enjoying him doing this to her, enjoying him being inside her gave him a confidence that he'd never had before. Beth had started to move her hips against him now, setting a rhythm as he ploughed into her, slapping her flesh hard against his. He was so close now, the surge of euphoria he felt that first time they made love was back again, he knew he wouldn't be able to stop himself and closed his eyes tightly, waiting for that moment when his world existed of nothing but Beth.

Then everything around him went bright and quiet. He was still buried inside Beth, they were still making love but they weren't at the creek anymore and the feeling of release was momentarily gone. They were in a dimly lit bedroom, he was knelt on all fours over Beth's body as she lay spread-eagled on a soft plush bed. She was naked except for a black satin blindfold and metal wrist and ankle restraints which were tethering her to the top and bottom of the metal bedframe. He was kissing her softly, his lips moving gently over her throat as she swallowed softly. Beth writhed as much as the restraints would allow, metal clinking against metal. Daryl carried on kissing her, his tongue lapping at her sensitive flesh as he carefully closed a cold metal clamp around one of Beth's already erect nipples. She hissed through clenched teeth at the pain, panting and gasping before the pain turned to pleasure, ripping through her body as fast as the blood in her veins. She was begging him to do it again, her voice filled with love and trust. He lowered his mouth to her chest and licked over her other nipple, tugging and sucking it between his teeth as she chanted his name. He waited a second before he attached the second clamp onto her perfect and now wet nipple, waiting for her reaction. Beth gasped again, the sound of which almost took him to his own orgasm. She thrust her hips upwards, begging him to take her and use her, as the chains and cuffs rattled loudly in the quiet room. He grabbed under her ass as he adjusted his position above her and quickly and sharply buried himself inside her, his free hand now kneading her breasts and tugging on the clamps as she mumbled and moaned under him. He picked up the pace, whispering filthy words against her throat as he looked along their bodies, watching as his cock pounded in and out of the woman he loved, taking them both closer to climax. He could feel Beth's center start to tighten and throb...

Daryl was back at the creek, his daydream gone, leaving him with a new found enthusiasm for sex. He carried on moving, in faster longer, more urgent strokes now as Beth was already climaxing around him, those last long thrusts hitting her deep inside. She clamped around him, holding him tight as she tumbled over the edge calling his name, but for real this time.

Daryl was only seconds behind her, one last thrust taking him to the release he'd needed for weeks. He stiffened and exploded inside her as Beth continued to ride out her own climax; pleasurable ripples still coursing through her center until she could feel only a wonderful euphoria. It slowly subsided, changing to a warm glow and an exquisite feeling of fullness and completeness.

Daryl collapsed onto her chest, panting heavily across her shoulder as a smile of contentment began to settle on his lips. He didn't know what the hell he'd just seen, but whatever it was had excited him and aroused him more than he ever thought possible. He didn't feel ashamed either, not one bit, not like he had that time on the bridge. He'd liked it all... the absolute feeling of power, the thrill of being in charge... but mostly the way Beth had reacted to him, how much she liked what he was doing to her. He was overflowing with happiness, a feeling he hadn't had since the night of her birthday. His pa had soon knocked that high out of him though, bringing him back to the awful reality that was Daryl's existence.

He knew his pa was wrong now though. Beth did love him and she didn't care about all the bad ugly things. She wasn't going to leave him. And he had just made her happy. He'd just made love to her and watched as she climaxed because of him, singing his name. He also knew once he never had to see that evil old bastard again, he could keep making her happy, forever. That's what he'd just seen, their future. Their happy future.

Daryl rolled off of Beth and lay next to her, pulling her tight into his chest as if to stop it bursting open with joy. He closed his eyes. He had a sudden overwhelming need to ask Beth to let him do things to her. Different things that were probably weird and twisted but at the same time, wonderful too. Things that made him harder than he'd ever been before. Things that she'd enjoy, that would send her spiralling into an abyss of delicious and painful ecstasy. He wanted to hear her moan as he used her body... God he loved to hear her moan his name, he felt powerful, in control. He needed her to say she wanted to be punished, he wanted to hear his sweet Beth beg him to fuck her. To say that she'd never want anyone else. That it was him, always him.

Almost daydreaming again, he held her left hand and started to twirl her ring between his fingers as more thoughts ran riot in his head. He couldn't help but hope that maybe, just maybe all their plans would work out in the end. It was just one more year. He knew she'd give him the strength he needed. And one day soon he knew he would be ready to take her to places she could only dream of, give her all the pleasure and happiness she deserved for taking such good care of him all these long years.

Saturday, May 11th 2002. Savannah, GA.

They'd arrived in Savannah with about half an hour to spare the following morning. The drive had been easy, but at that time of the morning they'd expected it to be. Daryl had slept in the spare room at Beth's, he told his pa he was going fishing and hunting the whole weekend and wouldn't be back until after school on Monday. His pa was angry and shouting something at him but Daryl ran out quickly and just hoped by the time he got back his pa would've forgotten all about it. That's what usually happened when the older Dixon drank too much, couldn't even remember his own name. The stupid dumb fucker.

They'd spent the whole of the day looking around the college campus. It was huge, so many buildings, each for different programs, spread out over miles. They knew they wouldn't be together all day once they started here, their lectures would keep them apart. Daryl would be studying for a BFA Architecture, probably majoring in architectural design and Beth would be taking a BFA Interior design with a major in historic preservation. But as long as they could start fresh, just them, they didn't mind spending more time apart than they ever had done before. It would take some getting used to but it would be worth it.

Daryl had spent years drawing plans for Beth, just Beth. High rise buildings, houses, apartments blocks, cabins, even stables for her horses. But since Beth's birthday those dreams had more often than not, included himself. Beth would attach his drawings to the walls in their stall in her daddy's barn. She'd go ahead and make plans for what the interiors would look like, the vibrant colors, the rich textures, the opulent furniture, the smooth curves to contrast the sleek sharp lines of his ideas. They were always such beautiful creations he came up with. Her favorite being 'their house'. He promised her over and over that he would build it for them one day when he was far away from this life. Beth always just told him she didn't want anything fancy and she'd be happy living in a shack as long as she was with him. But he was determined to build it anyway…just for them… and their little blonde haired daughter that he'd seen more than once in his thoughts and dreams of late.

Some parts of the tour they'd stayed together for, the admin block, student services, residence halls, eating places and all the other communal areas.

Daryl had squeezed onto Beth's hand as they'd been shown the accommodation for Freshmen and whispered to her "We ain't stayin' 'ere… we're gonna get someplace nearby… no way are ya sleepin' in this God awful place Beth Greene." then he looked at her and smiled.

"What about Beth Dixon… maybe she'd like ta sleep here?" Beth whispered back as she squeezed his hand and grinned at him mischievously. She knew he wouldn't be able to say anything at the moment, there were too many people and it was too quiet. She knew they'd talk about it later though.

It was the only thing they hadn't made any firm plans on. Since Daryl had given her that beautiful ring last month she just wanted to do it. Get married as soon as possible, even though he hadn't really proposed to her yet. That didn't bother her, she knew after yesterday it was what he wanted. But he wanted to wait, to do it right and proper but she never was bothered about right and proper. She never needed fancy. She just wanted to be Mrs. Daryl Dixon, to show the world that Daryl was hers forever.

She thought maybe he was a little nervous about asking her daddy and telling her family, although she had no idea why. She knew they'd all figured years ago Daryl would 'officially' become part of the family one day anyhow. He'd already been accepted as part of Beth years ago. They were like two sides of the same coin; unbreakable and together forever. Her father had known how she'd felt about Daryl before Beth had even realized. Her family adored him.

After the main tour had finished for the day Daryl dragged Beth off to the realtors on Abercorn. Daryl was determined they should get their own place, especially since seeing what the alternative was. He didn't want to be cooped up with strangers, curfews and rules. He'd had enough of that, he'd had eighteen years of that. He wanted to make his own rules now and break them if he wanted with no one to punish him.

They sat in the truck for a while in the parking lot of the office, Beth unsure about the whole thing.

"There ain't no harm in lookin', I know it ain't 'til next year but we can check out details and costs."

"Where exactly will we get the money from Daryl? They won't come cheap, even the tiny ones." Beth didn't really care where they lived but she supposed it would be nice to have their own place and she'd like to do it for Daryl's sake.

"I'll get a job, take out a loan…I want ya to have somewhere nice, somewhere ya can put all those fancy ideas a' yers to use…yunno make it all homely and stuff." Daryl had started to blush again. He supposed it was because he was getting so excited about something so stupid.

He'd never had a home though, no nice things or possessions. No nice decorations or comforts. He supposed that was why he was always creating images of beautiful things. As much as he enjoyed being at the farm, it wasn't his. It wasn't something him and Beth had created. That was what made this exciting.

"Daryl Dixon are ya asking me ta live in sin with ya? And ya ain't the only one who can get a job. I can pull my weight ya know… we might be able to afford it then. Daddy said he'd give me an allowance every month too so we can see." Beth grinned and leaned over and kissed him.

"It ain't livin' in sin if we're married is it?" Daryl turned and wrapped his arms around her and pulled her across the seats and into his chest.

"Daryl was that a proposal? If it was, ya do know the answer's 'yes' don't ya?" Beth snaked her arms around his neck and started to kiss around his ear, her hands playing in his hair excitedly.

"Nah not a proposal, jus' a thought is all. I ain't proposin' in the front a' yer daddy's truck, but maybe before college." Daryl grabbed her face between his hands and kissed her.

"We goin' in now then or what?" Daryl smiled and grabbed her hand, dragging Beth behind him as he got out of the truck.

The next morning before they had to be back on campus they viewed a couple of places that they were told would be vacant by next summer, the current occupants being seniors, so they were available for new tenants to reserve if anyone wanted to. Beth fell in love with a small one bedroom apartment, 1712 Abercorn Street. The rent was reasonable and if she and Daryl both found part time work, along with her daddy's allowance they would be able to afford it. They might not be doing a lot else… ever, but they could just about afford it.

Daryl was determined they should put down the deposit. He'd work two jobs if he had to. If it meant Beth got what she wanted. What she deserved.

They had an hour or so before they had to be back at the college so Daryl dropped Beth back at the hotel to pack their case ready for leaving later while he told her he needed to do something. Beth had looked at him strangely but hadn't said anything.

Daryl went back to the realtors and paid the deposit and signed the contract. Hershel had taken Daryl to one side before they'd left yesterday and given him $1000 and told him to use it for whatever made Beth happy. Well, this was going to make Beth happy so he went with it. But he would be paying Hershel back, it was his job to look after Beth now.

The rest of the day went quickly, more talks and an overload of information. An orientation of the whole campus and sample lesson plans and timetables and important dates. Then due dates for course fees, which is when financial aid got discussed again. Beth had looked at Daryl, widening her eyes at him in the hope he'd change his mind and apply. His look told her he wasn't going to.

As Beth had already checked out of the hotel and loaded their case back into the truck they managed to get away from Savannah by around 5 p.m. It would be late by the time they got back to Senoia and as Daryl had already told his pa he wouldn't see him until Monday Daryl was going to have to stay at the farm again. Beth's insides flipped at the thought they could be together again. Obviously he wasn't allowed to stay in her room, he slept in the spare room, his room, but that hadn't stopped them the other night.

Daryl had seemed keener than he usually did but he'd still been awkward with the whole thing. Beth had to take the lead again. She wondered if he'd ever find the courage to touch her first, make a move on her. She wondered how many times they'd have to do it before he realized she was utterly and completely his. She wondered if being his wife would make the difference. If he would finally acknowledge she was, always had been and always would be, his. His in every single way possible.

"Where d'ya go earlier Daryl? Ya ain't already got another woman have ya? Been in Savannah twenty four hours and already found someone new, huh?" Beth looked at him and giggled as she leaned her head back onto the headrest.

"Yeah like that's ever gonna happen…yunno I'm only ever gonna love one person. The same person I've always loved." He didn't look at Beth, just kept driving. She could see the color rising to his cheeks so just put her hand on his knee and rubbed along his thigh.

"And I love ya too. More than you'll ever know."

They were quiet for a while, both just staring out onto the highway that stretched out for miles in front of them.

"Don't be mad at me Beth…. But I paid the deposit on that apartment ya loved." Daryl stole a glance at her to see what her reaction was. Hoping this wasn't going to be the first major argument they'd ever had.

Beth was quiet for a moment and Daryl's heart almost burst through his ribs it was pounding so hard. He glanced at her again expecting to see anger but all that met him was the start of a huge grin and bright shining happy eyes. His heart skipped a few beats before it slowed to its normal rhythm once more.

"Thank you…" Beth leaned across and kissed his cheek, leaning her head into his shoulder "Yunno I sometimes wonder how it was fate that day daddy got a flat all those years ago. If he hadn't I'd never have spoken to ya, I'd never have known ya, I'd never have met my best friend and my soul mate." Daryl looked down at her and kissed her hair not saying a word. What could he say? She was right. Hershel's flat tire had saved Daryl's life.