Hi Guys! I hope you've all had a good week :D Thanks so much for all the reviews to the last chapter, you guys are amazing! And I'm glad you liked the little steaminess going on there ;) And thank you to everyone who has favourited, followed and recommended this story since the last chapter (especially those tumblr ones, I love them!)

Hope you all enjoy this one!

xxx

"Ease up, man; you're gonna bust your stitches."

Daryl halted in his hammering and glanced down at Glenn from where he was balanced; high up on one of the thicker tree branches as he worked on the roof of the perch; "Y' gonna be cluckin' around like that the whole time? 'cause I can do this myself."

Glenn rolled his eyes and carried on through the doorway into the structure.

Daryl pushed aside the thought that Glenn was probably right; the dull aching of his wound that had been present since the day before at the farm an indication that maybe he was pushing just a little too hard. But that was neither here nor there. There wasn't time for sitting about and he'd spent almost the entirety of the past week lying about in blankets on the office floor.

This was the apocalypse and they didn't have the luxury of time; especially not time to lie around doing nothing.

And Beth's birthday was the next day; he needed to get cracking with this or the whole thing would have been pointless.

It had been almost sundown when he and Glenn had pulled back up in front of the Church the previous day; a whole day spent out at the farm and, apparently, that was just long enough for people to start worrying.

At least, that's what he'd learn later on that night.

As it was, he'd pulled up and exited the vehicle, hauling out a box and handing it over to Rick as the other man came to greet him with a nod and a question as to how the excursion went.

Daryl nodded; "Went good. Got some shit." He'd lifted another box, making the walk back to the porch with him, as he indicated at the food and medical supplies they'd come across during their scavenging.

Rick halted him with a question, as Daryl dumped what he was holding onto the porch and turned to head back to the pickup, where Glenn was still waiting in the passenger seat; "Y' headin' back out?"

"Got somethin' t' do."

Rick glanced back at the Church; "Think there's someone who'd like t' see ya before y' go running off again."

"Tell her I'll see her tonight."

Rick had looked amused, averted his eyes as a smile played on his lips, before glancing at the Church at then back at him. He gave him an ironic nod; "Your call, man."

Daryl hadn't gotten the hint at the time; had pushed aside his confusion at the implication that he was doing something wrong here, that Rick seemed to know something he didn't. Instead, he'd focused on the task at hand; "Listen. I need t' keep her busy for a couple of days."

Rick had responded with a questioning frown.

"Think y' could ask her t' spend some time with little Ass Kicker?"

Rick had seemed to get it; had agreed and assured him that Beth would probably want to do that anyway, so long as Daryl didn't plan on whisking her off somewhere for himself, as that was what she often did when she wasn't with him and had teased that his little girl had been asking for Beth all week.

The thought was both heart-warming and guilt-inducing, that his injuries and Beth's fussing over him had kept her apart from the toddler.

As it was, Daryl's attempt at keeping Beth distracted proved unnecessary. It seemed Beth had been more than a little unimpressed by his disappearance the previous day, as he'd learned from Glenn, though he could have guessed as much when he had finally went to see her later on after their return from the farm and she had made it very clear that kissing and touching was not something that was on the agenda for that night.

And he hadn't really been able to ask for any clarification or to try and explain himself because, due to the presumed declaration that he had returned to full strength, another side-effect of going on that run; he and Beth had found themselves cast out of the office and back to their previous sleeping arrangements in the Church sanctuary.

It was awkward; he wasn't entirely sure how he'd messed up this time. He hadn't really thought about how she might actually worry if he was to head off on a run. It just wasn't something he was used to dealing with; someone worrying about him, someone expecting him.

But, apparently, that's what had happened and he was bearing the brunt of her annoyance now. And, though it was he who had orchestrated the whole 'let's keep Beth distracted' thing with Rick, the sharp sting of rejection had been present when she had told him that morning when he'd approached that she would be spending the day with Judith was unmistakable.

"You need a hand up there?"

Daryl turned his attention from arranging the beams to glance back down at Glenn, who was now standing back on the platform, looking up at him. He was thoughtful for a minute; "Railings still ain't done."

Glenn nodded; "On it."

It was a little odd; this new camaraderie established, a little different than before, now that the two of them appeared to have something in common. The Greene sisters.

Their trip to the farm had proven mostly uneventful; only half a dozen or so walkers had roamed the area surrounding the house and there was only a handful to take down actually inside. They took them out quickly; though that was when the first burn of pain in his wound had struck and it had ached ever since. He figured he'd have to change the dressing again.

Following the walkers kills, they had split up; Daryl heading upstairs while Glenn had scavenged the lower floors and found anything of use to the group before he had set about looking for things he thought Maggie would like.

Daryl's mission wasn't quite so practical; he had only one thing in mind. And, with a little help from Glenn, everything they had come there for was loaded up into the pickup and they had left. Job done.

And Glenn had been more than a little excited to return and show Maggie what they'd acquired; though he had stated he would wait until after Beth's birthday to do it.

"Listen."

Glenn glanced up when Daryl spoke; though he didn't look down, just plucked one of the nails from between his lips to line it up on the timber; "Y' holdin' off on showing Maggie what y' brought back." He glanced at him briefly, before lifting the hammer and turning his eyes back to what he was doing; "I appreciate it."

Although he wasn't really looking Daryl could see a grin come to Glenn's face; could sense his amusement; "No problem. 'sides, Maggie's not gonna mind when she sees what you're doing here. You oughta cut it out; you're making me look bad."

Daryl looked at him, his brow furrowing, as he plucked the other two nails from his lips; "How's that?"

Glenn was regarding him with an amused look, studying him for a second, seeming to frown a little when he realised Daryl's question was genuine. And then Glenn chuckled and shook his head, turning his attentions to the railings.

Daryl frowned, still confused, and turned his attention back to roof.

xxx

Beth wasn't sure if she was overreacting; if it was normal that Daryl's running off a couple of days before, and then his sudden determination that the perch had to be worked on and completed immediately, had concerned and irritated her. She wasn't sure exactly how this whole thing was supposed to work, she had never been worried like that over anyone when others had gone off on runs or the like; the nervousness was always there but this had been different.

She didn't want to be some nagging girlfriend, trying to keep tabs on her guy or something; but surely Daryl knew he shouldn't be running around putting himself at risk like that when he wasn't up to his full strength yet.

She figured that was where the concern was coming from. That it was because he was injured, that he was still recovering and he was pushing himself too hard; but it wasn't as if she could lock him up in the office forever. She guessed she was lucky he had even stayed in there for those days before; she had known he was getting antsy and eager to return to his normal everyday activities.

She supposed the only way he'd be able to do that was by sneaking off when she was sleeping.

It was a little strange though; to suddenly go from spending so much time together to hardly seeing him at all for almost three days, even at night. Maggie had lain claim to the office when it had become known that Daryl was up on his feet again, back to business, insisting that it had been 'too long' for she and Glenn and that it wasn't right that her little sister was having all the fun.

It was a joke, Beth knew, but it had ended up leading to this.

"Y' still haven't had sex yet?"

Beth shot her a look, indicating in Judith's direction, where she was sitting on the porch scribbling on a scrap piece of paper with some crayons she had found.

"Why?" Maggie went on, with a frown; "Hasn't it been a month?"

Beth was startled to realise it had been; that it had been only a few days into the New Year that they had finally decided to do this thing and now they were in February.

Beth was irritated and embarrassed by the question; as if it was something totally abnormal and it wasn't as if she hadn't tried. But she wasn't going to tell her sister that; she knew Daryl wouldn't appreciate her delving intimate details of their relationship with anyone, even if it was her sister; "We just haven't."

Maggie looked at her for a second, before she nodded, slightly; "Oh. Well; that's good. If you don't think you're ready yet. He'll wait."

Beth rolled her eyes; "I'm ready, Maggie."

That only seemed to puzzle her sister more and Beth ventured to give her a little piece of information, something to shut up the questions and any implications.

"It got a bit…I dunno...I told him I haven't done it before," Beth shrugged; "Now it's like he doesn't wanna push or something."

Maggie tilted her head; seemed to take a moment to take in what she had said.

A very slow smile spread across her sister's face as it did, Maggie's eyes drifted from her, from where they sat next to one another on the porch, over to the direction of the perch where they could see glimpses of Glenn and Daryl moving around on the platform. Her expression was a puzzling mixture of amusement and warmth when she looked back at her, making Beth frown.

"What?"

Maggie made an amused sound, like a chuckle, before she shook her head; "Just thinking my whole opinion of Daryl Dixon is changing with everything you tell me about him."

Beth smiled a little, glancing over in his direction. Her brow furrowed; "He's stubborn."

Maggie grinned.

Beth met her eyes and then shrugged. Maggie nudged her arm, still smiling; "You've got a good one there, Beth."

Beth met her eyes, could see the pride and the amusement in her sister's eyes, and she felt a smile tugging at her lips as rolled her eyes, shyly, glancing back in his direction. She bit her lip, nodding a little; "I know."

Maggie nudged her again, holding out her hand. Beth frowned, opening her palm to her, and Maggie opened hers so that a silver necklace fell into her hand; "Happy birthday."

Beth smiled, lifting the item closer to look at it; turned over and touched the little locket that she had given her. She leaned her head against her shoulder, pressing in and then leaned up to kiss her cheek; "I love it."

"What did Daryl get you?"

"I don't think he knows."

Beth thought she saw a fleeting confusion pass over her sister's face at the statement but it was gone just as suddenly; instead her sister just looked thoughtful and then Beth saw her smile again but before she could question her, Judith's voice called her over and she left her seat next to her sister; the moment forgotten.

xxx

It was getting late in the day by the time he and Glenn had returned to the Church.

Glenn was keen, wanted to finally show Maggie what it was he had brought back for her from the farm; and Daryl had agreed that Beth ought to be there too when he did. That the things Glenn had found would mean as much to Beth as they would to her sister and so he hung back a little, near the door to the office, when Glenn had approached the sisters carrying a small box in his arms.

Maggie looked up at him with a smile; "Hi."

Glenn returned her look with a warm smile; "Hi."

It was sickening how lovely-dovey the two of them were.

Glenn gave Beth a kiss on the cheek, wished her happy birthday; and Beth smiled, thanking him, touching something at her neck and Daryl saw it was a new necklace, before her eyes drifted past Glenn to him. She bit her lip and gave him a small smile and Daryl felt a corresponding one tug at his lips when he recognised that her previous frostiness with him now appeared to have thawed somewhat.

He stepped further into the room, taking a seat on the chair next to the desk as Glenn placed the box down in front of them, before reaching over to pluck Judith from Beth's arms.

"What's this?" Maggie frowned, reaching for the lid of the box.

Glenn was beaming but he shrugged, swinging Judith up onto his hip, playing mysterious; "Just something me and Daryl thought you'd like."

Beth met his eyes again with a puzzled frown, as Maggie pulled the lid off the box, reaching in to pull out what was inside. Daryl crossed his arms across his chest, while Glenn raised his eyebrows, still smiling as Maggie pulled one of the photo albums from the box. Daryl could see the dawning comprehension on her face as she pulled it onto her lap, as she raised questioning eyes to Glenn.

But Daryl's attention was only for Beth; watched as she reached over to touch the cover of the book, lifting it opening and revealing the first page; a scattering of Greene family photographs decorating it. He saw her bite her lip, as Maggie shook her head.

"Oh my god," Maggie murmured, before raising her eyes to Glenn's.

Glenn grinned widely, shrugging, before he turned and met Daryl's eyes. Daryl felt a smile tugging and averted his eyes, feeling slightly uncomfortable under the emotional weight that had seemed to suddenly grip the atmosphere of the room.

Beth nibbled on her lip, her attention completely focused on the photos on the page. After a second, Maggie wrapped an arm around her, pressed her lips to her cheek, and the two of them both turned their attention to the book.

After a short while of looking, Beth giggled and Maggie laughed, saying something about one of the photographs; their voices were quiet though, almost reverent. And Daryl caught the way Beth's eyes started to glisten after a while, as the two of them carried on; a photo of Hershel seeming to grasp both the girls' attention for a little longer than the others and the two of them fell silent as they stared at it.

Glenn headed over to him, leaving his spot in front of the girls to stand next to him at the desk; little Ass Kicker still held in his arms.

Daryl reached out to ruffle the little girl's hair as the two of them reached him and Judith laughed and held her arms out to him. Daryl smiled at her, plucking her from Glenn's arms, balancing her weight easily on his arm, as they watched Beth and Maggie carrying on looking through the album.

After a while, Maggie raised her eyes from the item to her husband; her expression both happy and emotional; "When did you get these?"

Glenn still had that same grin he had worn since they had come into the room, even before that, when he answered; "Went back to the farm a couple of days ago."

Maggie's smile widened and she shook her head;"I can't believe you did that."

Glenn shrugged, his grin turning from prideful contentedness to mischievous, as he glanced briefly in Daryl's direction; "Wasn't my idea."

Beth's eyes flicked up sharply from the album to him, and he could sense Maggie and Glenn's eyes on him too, and he felt himself almost shrink under the scrutiny. Under the gratitude and appreciation that the two sisters were levelling his way. He didn't think it was that much of a big deal that the time; had known they would appreciate it but didn't really anticipate how they would respond towards him over it.

He averted his eyes, clearing his throat, and bounced Judith a little on his arm before he placed her back on her feet. He nodded at them, getting to his feet and muttering something about needing to speak to Rick, before he headed from the room.

He didn't get far.

"Daryl."

He turned as Beth's voice halted him, having only gotten a little way down the hallway. She tilted her head to the side, looking at him warmly with unmasked affection and it still embarrassed him a little, even if he was glad that she had been touched by the gesture.

The photo albums hadn't even been his idea.

He didn't really know what to say so he just shrugged.

And Beth seemed to melt, her shoulders dropping, and then she approached him with a slight spring in her step; reaching up to put her hands on his chest when she reached him and pushing him up against the wall. Daryl could feel another smile play on his lips before hers were pressed against his, her hands slipping from his shoulders up to his neck as she kissed him.

She laughed into his mouth, making him smile against her, and then she drew back but stayed close; smiling up at him, beaming almost the way her brother-in-law had been doing when he had delivered the items to them.

"Thank you."

Daryl shrugged; "Was Glenn that found 'em."

Beth grinned, shaking her head; "Don't play it down." Her fingers moved against his neck; thumb caressing gently as her voice softened; "Thank you for doing that for us."

Daryl lowered his eyes, the appreciation in her eyes still unfamiliar to him and making him more than a little uncomfortable, and Beth seemed to realise that so just gave him another warm smile and drew him back to her; pushing herself up onto her tiptoes to kiss him properly this time.

He was better at this.

He reached up, his hands going to her hips for a second; one hand gripping tight as the other slid up her back and held her closer as his lips responded to hers. It was satisfying and a relief, having been bereft of this kind of contact with her for the two days since he had left for the farm.

Beth drew back, keeping her hands on his neck, still standing close as she looked up at him sheepishly; "I'm sorry."

"For what?"

Beth rolled her eyes slightly; "For being mad at you,"

"Didn't know you were."

"Whatever," Beth laughed, shaking her head, leaning in to kiss him again, quickly.

Daryl grinned, leaning down and claiming her lips again; his kiss eager this time. Beth pushed herself up onto her tiptoes, her lips opening for his as she wound her arms around his neck, pressing herself in close against him.

Daryl held her tight, pulled her in closer, and then turned them so that she was the one pressed against the wall rather than him. Beth made a quiet moan, laced with amusement, when he pushed closer, one of her hands burying itself in the back of his hair as their embrace became heated.

Daryl ran his hands up her sides, slowly, as he kissed her; before they moved lower, down to the back of her thighs, gripping them tight.

He almost didn't notice when Carol rounded the corner of the hallway, stumbling upon them; and he quickly sprang back from Beth as the other woman lifted up her hand, averting her eyes; "Oh! I'm so sorry!"

Daryl shook his head, mumbling something about it being fine, but that same mortification he felt whenever someone stumbled upon them made his cheeks redden as Carol hurried past them down towards the kitchenette. He glanced back at Beth who was biting her lip, a slight grin evident on her lips and he marvelled at how comfortable she felt about all of this; how she always seemed to be amused rather than embarrassed when this happened to them.

Beth reached up, slipping a hand around the back of his neck and drawing him down for another kiss. But he was a little more reserved now, still feeling uncomfortable and now very aware that anyone could walk in on them at any moment. He didn't know how she could be so relaxed in spite of that.

He drew back, swallowing as he reached up to place his hands on her shoulders; "Perch is done."

Beth raised her eyes to his. After a second an amused smile played on her lips, making him frown.

"What?"

She smiled fully at his confusion, tilting her head to the side; "That meant to be your way of asking me to go make out with you in the tree house?"

Daryl felt his, already-reddened, cheeks colour further and he averted his eyes, his embarrassment seeming to amuse her further as a few bubbles of laughter escaped her, before she pressed a kiss to his cheek.

"Nah," Daryl denied the claim, clearing his throat; "Got your birthday present up there."

Beth's amusement dimmed slightly, making way for a warmer smile and a definite interest in what he had said; "I didn't think you knew."

Daryl frowned; "Course I knew." He left out the part about Glenn having to tell him.

Beth gave him a wry smile, lowering her eyes, and he leaned down to kiss her again.

He quirked an eyebrow at her when he drew back; "Y' wanna go?"

Beth bit her lip, giving him a nod, and he reached up to take her arm and lead her from the Church.

xxx

Daryl had set up a ladder, now, leading up to the platform rather than the rope that had been there before.

Beth went up first, waiting at the top while he climbed up; took in the curtain that had been nailed up as a makeshift door that led into the small structure and concealed whatever was inside from her. She knew Daryl had cut out some holes as windows inside but none of them were on this side, the doorway rendering that unnecessary.

Daryl jerked his head at it; "Try and get a proper door set up sometime."

Beth shrugged; "I don't think anyone minds."

"Do you?"

Beth turned her attention from the curtain to him, with a slight frown; "What do you mean? I thought this place was supposed to be for everyone?"

Daryl shrugged, his eyes scanning the build; "Yours now."

Beth turned to him fully, narrowing her eyes playfully; "That's cheating a bit, isn't it?"

Daryl flicked his eyes from the structure to hers, without moving anything else. A smile played on his lips; "How's that?"

Beth shrugged, grinning playfully; "Well, you were already building this before we even got together."

"Sayin' y' don't want it?"

"No."

Daryl nodded slightly and Beth could see he was fighting a smile because there was mirth in his eyes that usually wasn't there. He nodded at it; "G'on then."

Beth frowned a little, at the implication that there was more, but he gave nothing else away. Just stood there watching her and Beth thought he looked a little uncomfortable, a little nervous; and it only intrigued her all the more. She stepped past him, where he stood closer to the entrance, and pushed the curtain aside, stepping into the little structure that he had built.

Daryl stepped up behind her but didn't step in, leaned against the doorframe and leaning himself against the curtain, holding it back so the dimming sunlight filled the small space; letting her see exactly what was inside.

Beth stopped a couple of steps in; at first unable to comprehend what it was she was seeing.

It was her room.

At least, every little item that he had been able to comfortably fit into the small space available to them.

On one side of the space, her duvet and pillows and the blanket and cushions that had decorated her bed at home had been lain out on the floor as a makeshift sleeping area. A narrow walkway separated it from the other side; on which there was the small writing desk that she had had since she was little and her cubby bookcase had been set up next to it; filled with what she could see were the same books she had gathered when she had still lived on the farm.

Two framed pictures that had been on her wall at home were hung up on either side of the room.

And, sitting on top of the bookcase, was a photo frame she had kept on the bedside table; a picture of herself with her family.

Beth could feel her bottom lip tremble slightly as she took it between her teeth, nibbling it, as she cast her eyes around the room again. What Daryl had done for her not quite sinking in yet; not quite believing what she was seeing.

She drew in a shaky breath, turning to glance at him over her shoulder; and he was blurry when she did and it made her realise there were tears in her eyes. Daryl averted his eyes slightly, looking around the room, looking uncomfortable and shifty under her gaze.

Beth pursed her lips together before speaking; "Daryl."

She hesitated, not sure what to say; his gesture rendering her speechless and she didn't think there was anything she could say that would make him see how touched she was by what he had done or how much this meant to her.

Daryl didn't quite meet her eyes, looking shy, as he glanced around the room. He cleared his throat and shrugged; "Couldn't think of what t' get ya."

Beth closed her eyes, a small bubble of laughter escaping her, and she shook her head, crossing the short distance so that she was standing in front of him. He met her eyes then, still looking shy and a little embarrassed, and she realised he knew exactly how much this meant to her; that he knew exactly what he was doing here and she felt warmth and affection and something else grip and swell up within her towards him.

She reached up, wrapping her arms around and burying her face into his neck, feeling the dampness of her tears press against it as she held him tight. She felt Daryl press his lips against the side of her hair, his arms winding around her waist, holding her close.

She swallowed, murmuring into his neck after a second; "Thank you."

She felt Daryl shrug again, his lips pressing against her temple, and then his hand reached up to affectionately claw at the back of her hair; "Mhm."

And she realised as she stood there with him that this thing she was feeling, this emotion that swelled up whenever she looked at him and when he was with her like this; realised that it felt a lot like love.