Guys, I can't say enough how thankful I am to all the reviews you're sending in! I'm so glad you're all enjoying this :D And thanks again to those who also favourited and followed this story since the last chapter!
This chapter is one I've been planning it for a while so I've been a bit nervous about writing it - it's a bit different from the others so far! I hope you all enjoy! :D
xxx
Despite his teasing, Daryl hadn't woken her when his time on watch was up.
By the time Beth had woken in his arms, the sun was already starting to cast a soft glow over their camp, and when she had raised her head, sleepily, Daryl had met her look with a small smile.
The strangeness of waking up in his arms, with him looking down on her with such warmth in his expression, had made her smile shyly before she buried her face back against his chest, yawning quietly. She had been blearily content for a moment before the haze of sleepiness faded and she had frowned and rose up to look at him again.
Daryl had only quirked an eyebrow when she had chastised him for not waking her so he could get some sleep himself. Then he had shrugged and said he only needed a little bit, before leaning his head back and closing his eyes. His arm that had cradled her through the night had still rested loosely around her back, allowing her the option of getting up and moving away or staying there with him as he slept.
Beth had glanced back at him, taking in the sight of him with his eyes closed. She had seen him before as he slept, of course; it wasn't the first time she had to take watch while he rested. But it was the first time she had ever really looked at him as he did. It was the first time she noticed the way his features relaxed, making him look softer and at peace. He had an openness, a vulnerability that made him look younger which he often concealed behind his guarded demeanour while he was awake.
She had titled her head to the side, content to drink in the sight of him, but after a few moments of her staring Daryl had quirked open an eye, startling her.
Beth had frowned, though her embarrassment didn't quite hit her until she felt Daryl's fingers gently touch her chin and turn her head so it was facing the direction of the camp.
"Ain't gonna see no walkers comin' if you're too busy watching me."
Beth knew she had blushed crimson at his words, could feel the way her face and neck flushed. She was mortified as she cleared her throat, looking down, starting to push herself up; "Sorry, I'll uh…go over there."
"Never said that."
Beth had hesitated with a frown at his words, looking back up at him, but his eyes were closed again when she did. She had paused, uncertain as to what to do, his words confusing her as she was left wondering if he was asking her to stay. He never gave any indication either way, only continued to sit there with his eyes closed, his arm neither tightening nor loosening around her.
It was her choice.
And it was a choice she'd only taken a moment to make, before she had carefully laid back down against him, her head on his shoulder. She'd felt the arm that surrounded her tighten for a second, not quite a squeeze but still an acknowledgement of her company, and his thumb caressed her side softly.
Beth felt her heartbeat quicken at the recollection, as she followed Daryl down the trail, struggling to hear his answer to the question she had asked.
"Don't remember what it was called; but the guy never bothered givin' them names, just called 'em Rat and Mole and Toad or somethin'."
"The Wind and the Willows?"
Daryl shrugged; "Rings a bell."
Beth laughed; "Don't pretend you don't know. Lots of kids had it read to them when they were little."
"Yeah, well, that was the one. She didn't much read to us; well, I dunno about Merle. He was too old for it by the time I came along. He was in juvie at that point anyway."
"But she read this one to you?" Beth smiled, "That's nice."
Daryl only muttered something, the distance between them making it impossible for her to hear.
"Did you like it?"
"What?"
"The story."
Daryl took a second to brace himself against a tree trunk, the weight of everything he was carrying making it harder than usual, as he stepped up to climb over a log and some rocks that had blocked their path; "Dunno."
"How come?"
Daryl, having jumped down so he was standing on the other side of the obstruction, turned and held a hand out to her, giving her a nod; "She didn't finish it."
Beth took his hand, allowing him to help steady her as she climbed up it. She put her hand on his shoulder, bracing herself when she was at the top; "Why not?"
Beth jumped down.
"She died."
The blunt way with which he said it threw her for a moment, making her snap her head up to look at him. Daryl held her look for a moment, before he shrugged, looking neither upset nor affected by the words he had just said.
Beth still had a grip of his arm, from when she had jumped from the log, and squeezed it before shaking her head; "I'm so sorry."
Daryl shrugged, tugging his arm out of her grasp to put a hand against her shoulder, urging her onwards; "'s okay. Happened ages ago." Beth lowered her eyes, as she allowed him to guide her back along the trail, his hand lingering against her shoulder blade for a second before dropping away; "Anyway, the book burned down with the house."
Beth glanced over at him, at his reserved acceptance over what he was saying to her, and wanted more than anything to comfort him in some way but didn't know how so the two of them carried on quietly down the trail for a little while longer until she noticed some berries on a tree that they were passing.
Beth paused when they reached them; while Daryl carried on, having been keen to return to the camp as soon as possible after the two of them had spotted the herd of walkers that roamed not too far from where they had been hunting.
"Daryl, can we eat these?"
He stopped at her words, looking back at her over his shoulder. He looked at them from a distance with a considering frown, before he walked back and stepped up behind her, as she fingered the berries she had found.
Daryl eyed them for a second before he picked one off, "Look like persimmons." He put it on his tongue, chewing it for a second, before swallowing and nodding at her; "Enjoy."
"You don't just shove things into your mouth before being sure," she admonished him, before picking off a few of the berries.
Daryl shrugged, picking off some for himself; "I was sure."
Beth gave him a sceptical look and raised her own fruit to her lips; "They're good."
Daryl mumbled something that she didn't quite catch, but she assumed it was something along the lines of agreeing with her, because he gathered up a few more in his hand before he continued down the trail they had been following; "C'mon."
Beth quickly gathered a handful of the berries before hurrying to catch up.
xxx
It was getting close to nightfall.
The deer that they had caught weighed heavily on his back, alongside the backpack he was wearing, and he could tell that Beth was growing tired carrying the crossbow and the belt of squirrels they had managed to gather while they had been out.
It had been a successful trip and the food they had managed to gather should last them a while, especially now that the weather was cold enough to keep them longer before having to cook them. But the cold weather, along with the looming herd of walkers he and Beth had spotted during their time away made it all the more urgent that they start moving on.
Beth's hand on his arm stilled him, her voice quiet; "Daryl."
He stopped, turning to look at her, quickly recognising the apprehension in her tone. He followed her gaze, which landed directly ahead of them, where three men were trudging through the woods, heading in their direction.
Daryl swallowed, recognising the rough way they were carrying themselves, however the first of the men spotted them before he could lead them in a different direction; "Hey!"
Daryl quickly felt for his knife, assuring himself of its location, as he turned his gaze back to Beth; "Hey."
She turned anxious eyes to him, as he dropped the deer to the ground, snatching the crossbow from her shoulder.
"Ain't far from camp. You know where it is?" At her nod, he went on, as he hastily loaded up the weapon; "Anything happens, I hold 'em off and you run. Got it?"
The anxiousness in her eyes increased as she nodded jerkily. Daryl lifted the crossbow, keeping it at waist height, and stepped in front of her, nudging her back with the side of his arm as the first of the three men reached them.
Daryl nodded at them in greeting.
"Fine catch you got there," the man eyed the deer.
Daryl kept himself facing forward, only allowing his eyes to glance down at it briefly, without answering him.
"Don't frighten the things, Den," another man said, as the two others joined them. He nodded at Daryl; "Just you two out here?"
"No," Daryl said, stepping further in front of Beth when he noticed the third man eyeing her appreciatively.
"Don't look like you got much company."
The third man grinned, having stepped to the side slightly so that he could still see Beth after Daryl's attempt to shield her; "Don't think this guy's complainin' about the company." He winked at her; "What's your name beautiful?"
"Leave her be." Daryl glared at him, raising his bow slightly.
"Hey, we don't want no trouble," the second man raised his hands, "Just hungry." He shrugged; "Y'know how it is."
Daryl hesitated, eyeing the man who was still eyeing Beth, before he nodded at the man who had spoken to him; "Y' can take half."
The three men gave a collection of snickers, as they exchanged looks between themselves.
The first man turned his attention back to Daryl, raising an eyebrow; "We'll have it all."
Daryl shook his head, his eyes narrowing. Although Daryl was aware they would at least be getting the deer, as there was no way he was going to be able to fight these men off without leaving Beth at risk of one of them going for her.
Daryl held the man's look for a moment; the atmosphere tense with anticipation of what was to happen next. The second man twitched and within a second, three weapons were lifted; two guns opposite his one crossbow.
Daryl glared at the first man, at whom his weapon was directed against.
It was the third man who spoke this time, the other who had a gun directed at him; "Now, there ain't no reason to make this harder than it has to be."
Daryl kept his crossbow and eyes trained on the first man.
Until the sound of the menacing click of the hammer of the second gun being cocked brought his attention to the other, who now had his gun trained past him and directed at Beth.
Daryl felt panic and rage course through him at the threat.
"Lower the bow," the third man said, his expression deadly serious; "Or I put her down."
Daryl swallowed, slowly lowering the crossbow.
"Kick it away."
Daryl glared at him before he did, sending it off to the left, watching as the bolt disengaged and fell amongst the leaves. The third man nodded, lowering his gun slightly, and Daryl felt Beth move in close behind him as the three men stepped forward.
"Den, get the deer."
The only man without a gun reached down, hiking the catch up onto his back, while the other two kept their guns trained on them.
The third man approached, his gun lowered slightly to the side, not quite pointing at them; "I'll take those squirrels, pretty girl."
Daryl made to step in front of her again as he approached, but the man lifted his gun, directing it at him, making Beth place a placating hand on his arm before she cautiously stepped out from behind him. She reached up, unslinging the belt from her shoulder as she got closer, and held it out to him.
The third man eyed Beth up and down for a second, while the unarmed man stepped away and the second man lowered his gun, before he reached out to take the belt she held out to him. A sinister smirk passed over his expression for a second, before he grabbed her by the wrist and tugged her to him.
"Know what, how about you come along with us as well."
The next moment passed in a blur, as the sound of Beth's yelp and the sight of her being pulled against this man made Daryl see red and he was on him within a second, hitting the gun from his hand and sending it flying across the ground.
A shot rang out as Daryl floored the third man with a hook to the jaw, drawing his attention to the man who had fired and missed.
"Go!" Daryl quickly shoved at Beth before grabbing the second man's wrist, twisting it and making the second shot shoot skywards, before Daryl managed to turn and lock the man in a tight hold, continuing to rotate the wrist until the gun fell to the ground and Daryl was able to kick it away.
Daryl caught sight of Beth running away before a strike to the back of the head made him jerk forward, releasing the hold he had on the man as they both toppled forward.
He rolled himself over just in time to stop the second blow to his face; recognising the first man had gotten hold of his crossbow and was using to strike him.
Daryl struck back, getting him across the jaw and sending him to the ground, but before he could get himself upright a pair of hands grabbed him by the shoulders, forcing him back down. Daryl kicked out, managing to get the third man as he approached him in the shin and sending him down as the arms that restrained him hooked over his and pinned him to the ground.
"Oh, bet you're feeling pretty stupid now you sorry piece of shit," the third man spat on him as he grabbed Daryl's knife from his belt; "I'll give your girl a kiss for you," the man added, as he raised the knife up, preparing to bring it down.
For a second he thought this was it. He was going to die. Killed by his own knife.
And then a shot rang out and blood splattered over him.
It took a second for the four men to realise what had happened. The man who had had the knife raised looked down at the point where blood pooled and soaked through his shirt. He grasped at the wound helplessly for a bewildered moment, before he coughed, spraying more blood in Daryl's face, and toppled off of him and to the ground.
The other two men turned.
Daryl raised his eyes from the man who had fallen, looking across the short distance to where Beth stood; gun still raised and held firmly in her hand.
