Towel wrapped around her drying hair; Beth's laid eyes upon a sight she never thought she would see- Daryl sitting on the hardwood floor of her bedroom; staring into the flames of the gas fireplace. He didn't even turn his head as she walked silently towards him, supplies to take care of his face in her hands.

"Furnace's shot. Went and flipped the breaker, checked the pilot light, nada. Only heat we're gonna get in this place is from this right here. It's gonna be nice and warm here in your room tonight." Daryl had his knees pulled up to his chest, arms wrapped around his knees. He was protecting something, what Beth had no idea. But he didn't need to protect himself from her, she would never hurt him. His damp hair was sticking out in every direction; since Beth had cut it he looked so much younger.

Beth sighed sitting down next to Daryl, watching the flames lick at the cool, moist air of the bedroom. "Where are you? You're not here with me Daryl." It was true, when she reached out to lay her fingers on his bicep, he didn't even flinch like he usually would do at human contact. Things were changing within him; to a degree neither of them was aware.

He laid his head in the crook of his elbow, the emotion in his eyes breaking Beth's heart. Tears welled in his deep blue eyes, but he was too stoic to let them fall. Daryl took a deep breath, letting it out slowly before he answered her. His heart and his mind were a thousand other places than sitting next to a woman who he was sure loved him in a house in Kentucky with freezing rain falling outside.

"Can't explain it. Don't know how to put it into words." The words sounded so final coming out of him; as if it was the last words he would ever say.

Beth untied the towel, letting her hair fall around her shoulders. "Well let's get your face cleaned up and then we can talk ok? I'm not going anywhere and neither are you until we get this figured out ok? You can't be the hero all the time Daryl, it will just kill you that much sooner."

Beth pulled Daryl's hands apart; his arms fell to his sides as the backs of his legs rested on the warmed hardwood. Beth crawled up into his lap, straddling his waist so she could get a better look at his face. Daryl stared at the flames as Beth cleaned and cared for his face. The firelight glowed against his skin, warming them both from the chill.

Beth realized that Daryl wasn't looking at her, even though she was face to face with him. Her fingers rested against his cheek, the shiver shaking them both. "You OK now, or do we still need to talk?" Not getting any answer; she took his face in both hands, capturing his lips with hers. Within seconds she felt hot tears running between her fingers, the dam broken.

Beth snaked her tongue past his lips, finding he tasted like mint and berries. He didn't fight her on the kiss, except to lay back against the floor. Her body was molded against his, hard planes matched to soft curves. He palmed the back of her head, his hands twining in her hair. Daryl kissed her tentatively, almost as if he was afraid she wasn't there. That care, that tenderness, from someone so rugged made the heat pool in pit of her pelvis.

Daryl grunted underneath her; his hips pushing against hers. There was no denying his want for her, but he couldn't give into his primal urges until he knew where they stood. Breaking the contact, Daryl gently rolled Beth underneath him before pushing up off the floor.

The hurt in her eyes went straight for his gut, hitting like an avalanche; cold, heavy and painful.

"Sweetheart, it ain't you. It's me." Daryl carefully backed away, backs of his knees hitting her bed as he collapsed back onto it.

Beth climbed up to lay next to him; she needed inside his head, needed to know where she stood with him. "Please try and put it to words. Or I'll never be able to understand and help you." Her eyes flickered over the tattoo on his chest as his hand came up to cover it.

"I left Georgia to get a better job. Went north to South Dakota working on the oil rigs. Wanted a better life for myself than what Merle had. Knew if I stayed it'd be jail for fighting for sure. Went to this hole in the wall bar one night. Saw some asshole harassing this gal who was just trying to have a quiet beer. I stepped in and made him go away. Next I know three months later, I'm the only white guy standing in the creek with water up to my knees getting the blessings of marriage from the tribal chief. Surrounded by her family and friends on the Sioux reservation. I loved that woman with a white hot passion I knew nothing about. She taught me how to love. One day she wakes up looks at me and says 'Mihinga, there's a hoksicala coming with the spring rains.' was supposed to be a boy. She never got the chance to give birth to him. They died in a car accident in freezing rain like this. Got her name tattooed over my heart and our son tattooed on my arm. She's the only woman I ever loved until now."

Beth's face swam into Daryl 's vision, her fingers trembling as he intertwined them with his. He hadn't meant to bring up Sarah and John with her. They were part of his past he kept to himself, it had been almost five years since they were lost. But the wound was always fresh for him, he'd loved that woman with every part of him. Merle always said that Daryl had went a little crazy after Sarah's death; all Daryl remembered was ending up in Georgia out in the woods.

Beth had never thought that this tough man laying in bed with her would break down like this. She would have never guessed he was married, much less had a baby on the way. Daryl would have been an amazing father and partner for his wife. The words he spoke at a whisper haunted her; 'She's the only woman I ever loved til now.'

Beth's heart flopped in her chest; was he really telling her he loved her? Was he capable of emotions like that after all that had happened to him? Daryl's eyes searched hers for recognition; this was his make or break moment.

Her answer came in a way he least expected. Beth threw a leg over his hips; the heat of her radiating over his groin, making it hard for his mind to combat what his body was hellbent to put to action. His eyes transfixed on her half lidded eyes, her fingers slid the thin straps of the nightgown down her slender arms slowly.

Beth closed her eyes; she couldn't find the courage to hold his gaze that held nothing but love and respect for her. Her head dropped to her shoulder, finding his fingers gently bringing the straps back over her shoulders. The emotions conveyed in that one gesture brought tears to Beth's eyes.

Daryl's quiet voice sounded in her ears, bringing her back around to the present. She could feel him throbbing underneath her, the desire clearly evident. Why was he stopping something they both wanted?

"Sweetheart, I know your mind wants to do this, but your heart ain't in it yet. I don't want to hurt you, cause I gather you ain't never had a man touch you before. I don't want to be the one to take your heart and break it as much as I care about you. There's better men than me out there, closer to your age. I could just about be your Daddy in another life. Please baby girl just think it over and be sure it's what you want. When I know you're sure, when I can feel it in you, then you can have my heart. Promise you that."

Daryl carefully set Beth on the bed, rough fingers caressed her cheek before a kiss took their place. "Sleep on it sweetheart. I ain't going nowhere fast."


She heard his words, heard his footsteps disappear through the house. Thoughts flooded her heart and mind as she flopped back on the bed. The last woman to ever get this close to him had been his wife. What had she done to get so close to him so quickly? They had been holed up in this house almost two months dancing this dance. It was clear to her that he loved her, even with him not directly saying it. His glances, the way he touched her, talked to her and the way he treated her told the story for him.

Beth laid in bed, her fingers absently brushing across her breast, thinking it all over. She knew she was in love with him, she figured it out weeks ago. But she wasn't entirely sure how to go about cluing him in. Apparently kissing and touching was a start, but sex was off the table. She didn't give a damn he was older than her, she couldn't see giving herself to anyone but him. How could she make him feel that she wanted to make love with him, with everything in her?

Beth's insides quivered at the thought of his hands on her, rough but gentle. What she felt pressing against her when she straddled him on the bed, and wasn't like anything she had ever felt before. This was a man, this was Daryl wanting her, not Jimmy fumbling through what he thought he wanted. Beth knew the mechanics of sex, she'd been to sex ed in high school. She'd heard the girls talking in the showers and the bathrooms at school about their weekend activities with their latest man in erotic detail. She had even read some of the "porn for housewives" books Patricia had brought to the farm with her. Beth definitely knew how to touch herself to bring herself to release, she had done that plenty of over the years. But as far as putting knowledge to practice, that's was where she came up zero.

Beth huffed getting up off the bed, heading for the bathroom to brush her now dry hair out straight. She tied it up in a ponytail, that was how she kept her hair at night when going to bed.


Daryl knew she wasn't ready to give that part of herself away. He could see it in her face when she shied away from him. Beth's mind was set on him making her a woman, but her heart wasn't. He'd had no qualms about making love to her, had her heart been in it. He didn't want her doing it out of pity for the past he shared with her. He wanted her to do it because she loved him, without question. He'd gave his heart to Sarah along with his virginity because the woman was an ocean to his flames. She knew what he needed to heal, and wasn't shy about showing him the better things in life with what little she had. That desire to heal not only himself but Beth as well drove his desire for Beth.

Daryl rolled over onto his left side, seeing Beth standing at the side of his bed, her blue eyes glowing in the light from the clock. The chill in his room making goosebumps form along her bare skin. He blinked a few times, not sure if she was really there and wondering how she had snuck past him. Beth crawled up onto the bed just as she had that first night she came to his bed.

Instead of laying against his hip, she sat next to him on the bed. Her hand ghosted over him through the sheet, a groan rolled off his tongue. That small knowing smile crossed her lips as she ran her nails over him once more. His back arched slightly, sucking a tight breath through his teeth. The want in her eyes said it all for him, she'd spent a good couple of hours (while he tossed and turned) doing what he had asked of her.

"I love you Daryl."

His heart skipped a beat; laying there stunned for a moment, swallowing hard. Had his ears decided to play a trick on him? He didn't know, but he needed her to clarify.

"Did you just say what I think you did? Honey, don't say it if you don't mean it." Daryl stammered; he was still in shock over the whole scene unfolding in front of him.

Beth lay down next to Daryl; his arm coming easily around her, pulling her close. He could feel her heart thundering in her chest, her eyes bright and round, her skin felt electric under his fingertips.

Beth's eyes met Daryl's in the darkness; she had never been as sure of something in her life as she was now. She pressed her lips to his, her tongue teasing his own. A soft moan was lost within the growl deep in Daryl's throat. Daryl pulled her on top of him; giving her complete control of what was about to happen. He wanted it at her pace, wanted her to be comfortable. As much as he hated giving up control, she was the only other woman he would let possess him.


AN:

Dear Readers,

So you know what's going to happen next... Do you want me to write the scene or would you rather let your own imagination wander? I really would love to see your votes on it! The poll can be found on my profile, please vote! I figure after almost two months of living at the farm with the tension and emotions between them it was time for the bomb to explode. Thank you all for your awesome reviews and sticking with me through the story. I do have the last chapter wrote already, it's just a point now of getting there.