Hi Guys! I hope you're all having a great weekend! :D Thanks so much for all the positive response to the last chapter! Your reviews are gold! I love them – thank you! And also thank you to everyone who favourited, followed and recommended since the last chapter; and thank you, you tumblr people for all the love over there :D It puts me over the moon!

Here's the next chapter! Hope you all enjoy :D

xxx

Daryl winced when Beth dabbed gently at the wound on his back.

He felt Beth lean down from where she was behind him, straddling his legs, pressing a kiss to a spot between his shoulder blades and the feel of her lips against his skin made the pain worth it. She spoke quietly, close to his ear; "Sorry."

He made a soft grunt in response, turning his head to glance at her sideways from where he lay, stomach down on the bedding area he had set up when he had been sorting out the treehouse earlier. Beth smiled at him as she looked down at him, her expression warm and tender; a look she had been giving him for most of the night, ever since he'd first brought her there.

He could see how much it meant to her; see that he'd gotten it right, that he'd made her happy with this. He could see in the way she had reacted when she had first set foot in the place; in the way she touched and looked at him now. It made his stomach knot and flutter strangely, the sensation and the atmosphere of the small room filled with something he didn't recognise; making him nervous and, yet, keen to see and feel more.

"You shouldn't have done so much, you know," Beth spoke, her tone quiet but slightly wry, as her fingers gently cleansed his back; tending to it; "You could've made this worse."

Her concern was both unnerving and pleasing; liking it but resisting it all at once; "Thought you liked this thing?"

He felt her move over him, her hand going to his hip and caressing it gently, and then felt her lips press against his skin again; this time at his shoulder; "I like you more."

Daryl felt a strange jolt within himself at her innocent statement; the words simple but seeming to be laced with a deeper meaning. And he felt her squeeze his hip as she leaned back up and carried on with what she was doing.

He felt a smile tugging at his lips; feeling bemused and self-conscious by what she had said, and turned his head further into the pillow he was leaning against. But he realised she had caught his smile, heard her giggle quietly, before she ran her hands up and down his sides; her fingers trailing against his skin teasingly.

Daryl squirmed underneath her.

Her hands stopped and then she spoke; the delight in her tone evident; "Are you ticklish?"

Daryl was going to respond 'no'; because he wasn't, as far as he knew. But she seemed to want to put the question to the test and her fingers clawed at his side and he jerked away, the sensation odd and he didn't like it at all. And then he heard her giggles increasing with her delight, as the fingers on her other hand went to work on his other side and he squirmed again; a muffled yelp escaping his lips into the pillow.

"Beth!" he growled, swatting back and trying to grasp the offending wrists; "Cut it out!"

He could feel Beth shaking above him, still giggling even if she did stop, and he felt her lean her forehead between his shoulder blades as she attempted to control them.

He felt tense now; half expecting her to try that little stunt again and made to roll over, but her hand pressed to his shoulder, stopping him; "Wait, I'm not done."

"Hurry up about it."

He could feel a smile still playing on his lips and he caught her glancing at him out the corner of his eyes; saw her smile widen before she went back to work dressing the wound.

Daryl stretched his arm up, tucking it under and resting his head against it as she carried on with her ministrations; enjoying this. Enjoying the way she was taking care of him and enjoying this playfulness and the way they could just relax; being with her making him forget for just a little while. While they were like this, all that mattered was her and them; and he was getting used to that now, getting used to this thing that they were. Realised she had been right before, when she had come to him and said that it'd all be worth it; that anything they had to go through to have this was a risk worth taking.

He wouldn't trade this for anything; would never give this up.

He realised she had finished up a while ago; that she was still sitting over him, quietly, and he wondered what she was doing; her body still. And then he felt her fingers on his back, trailing down gently, and he realised she had been looking at them again; at the scars. He swallowed and turned his head to look up at her; wondered what she was doing.

Beth met his eyes, looking slightly nervous, but that same warmth and tenderness she had been regarding him with all evening alleviated the slight discomfort he felt as he lay there beneath her; his back exposed to her. And then she gave him a small smile and he was helpless not the return it, before he turned his head back into his arm, averting his eyes.

He cleared his throat; "Y' done?"

"Mhm."

He slipped his arm out from underneath himself, bracing himself to roll over; felt her lift herself only slightly off of him, just enough for him to turn but remaining close enough for him to know she didn't plan on going anywhere. And this proved correct when he settled himself onto his back; and she, in turn, settled herself on his thighs.

Daryl bit his lip; he liked this too, looking up at her like this.

Beth titled her head to the side; her eyes left his, moving downwards slowly, seeming to drink him in as her eyes roved from his lips, down his chest, his stomach; halting at his navel. He swallowed, feeling uneasily exposed beneath her, reaching up to grasp her knees with his hands, squeezing gently.

Beth reached up, her hand touching his chest, and it trailed down and he drew in a deep breath as she did; noticed the way she took in the other little scars that laced his front. Not as startling as the ones on his back but easy to see and easy for her to guess where they had come from.

After a second, she leaned down, touching her lips to his chest and he felt a little jump in his stomach when they pressed against his skin; tightened and slid his hands from her knees up her thighs. He let them roam high, feeling bold and cautious all that once; enjoying the feel of her over him and beneath his hands. And they stopped when they met the crease at the top of her legs, leading to her hips, and he hesitated for only a second before letting his thumbs stroke up and down against the inside of her thighs.

He felt her press her forehead against his chest, heard her draw in a breath; and then she shuffled herself up higher, off of his thighs, and straddled his hips. Daryl exhaled, the pressure welcome and sweet, and he squeezed her thighs again before slipping his hands around, gripping her from behind; felt his heartbeat increasing as he tilted his chin down, his lips seeking hers.

Beth realised what he was doing, what he wanted, and leant up, claiming his lips with hers; and they were demanding and persistent against his, unlike the usual sweetness that he was used to when she initiated their kisses. Her enthusiasm excited him and he gripped her tighter, hands pressed against the pockets on the back of her jeans, and he heard her sigh and then moan against him. And then she ground her hips down against his and he felt a sharp jolt of pain shoot across his lower back; making him break the kiss abruptly.

Beth looked confused for a second before she gave him a sheepish smile, similar to the one she gave him a few days before, and then pressed a kiss to his cheek as she rolled off of him; leaving him bereft of her weight on top of him.

She pushed herself up and crossed her legs in front of her, reaching for the High School Yearbook she had been looking through before she had offered to dress his wound. Daryl shifted and lifted his arm, tucking his hand beneath his head as he watched her, as she turned the pages and smiled, reminiscently, as she looked through it.

Beth raised her head to look at him, a slight frown on her face; "You grew up near the farm, right?"

Daryl shrugged; "'bout fifteen miles."

"Did you go to my school?"

His lips quirked; "Don't think y' woulda seen me there."

Beth tilted her head, shooting him a look and then giving him a wry smile; "I meant when you were younger."

Daryl touched his finger to the cover, tilting it upwards; "Newman High School." He bit his lip, pretending to think about it and shook his head; "Nope."

"What year did you graduate?"

"I didn't."

"Oh." She looked uncomfortable for a second, like she thought she might have offended him, and then she shrugged; closing the book and tossing it aside; "Me neither."

"Woulda done."

Beth gave him a smile and glanced around; "Wouldn't have mattered if I did." She met his eyes, looking curious; "Where did you go?"

"West Tucker."

Beth frowned; "Haven't heard of it."

"Closed down; ain't a school no more."

Beth's lips twitched; "What is it now? A museum?"

Daryl looked up sharply and then felt a smile spread across his lips at her unexpected brazenness, meeting her eyes as she her bit her lip coyly; but her eyes sparkled with mischief and he chuckled, reaching out and grasping her by the arm, tugging her to his chest and wrapping an arm around to hold her tight as his hand clawed at her side the way she had done to him earlier.

Beth squealed and squirmed against him and he found that, while he had hated the sensation of it being done to him, he was quite happy to dish out the treatment to her; her uncontrollable giggles and squealing and squirming as he held her tight against him both amusing and endearing.

"Sorry!" she squeaked out, as her giggles became laughter; "Kidding!" Her legs kicked out as she wiggled, scrabbling at the arm that held her tight, his name coming out like a sob from her lips; "Daryl!" He felt himself laughing silently, while she squealed and squirmed, and then he stopped, his hand resting against her side as he leaned his face down to bury in against her neck.

He listened as she caught her breath, heard her still giggling quietly, before she turned to look at him and he raised his head to meet her eyes. She smiled at him, warmly, that impish spark still in her eyes but it was mixed now with tenderness and she leaned forward, pressing her lips to his.

Daryl smiled against her lips, kissing her softly and lifting a hand to touch his thumb to her cheek, caressing it gently as he drew back.

Daryl slid his other arm under her when she didn't move away, touching his lips to her shoulder as he cradled her against him. She leaned in close and brushed her nose against his, and he bit his lip, meeting the affection in her eyes with shyness. She smiled, keeping her face close, turning her head into his neck a little.

"You're good at this."

Daryl leaned back only slightly, just enough to catch her eyes; "What?"

She lowered her eyes slightly, looking endearingly coy when she answered; "Us."

She raised her eyes and he averted his own slightly for second, feeling both uncomfortable and pleased by the statement. Then met her eyes again and held her look, before glancing down awkwardly, turning his head slightly away from her.

Beth shifted and then rolled over in his arms so that she was facing him, putting a hand on his shoulder to pull herself upwards so her face was level with his. She nibbled on her lower lip, her eyes flicking between his for a second, before she spoke, her voice quiet; "I'm really happy."

Daryl swallowed, nodding slightly, her statement warming and pleasing him, and then leaned and kissed her; reaching up to cup her cheek as his lips moved gently against hers. He drew back, meeting her eyes, and gave her a small smile and she returned it with one of her own, before she shuffled in and nudged him so that he lay back fully, and settled her head against his chest; her arm sliding across his stomach to embrace him.

He heard her yawn, quietly, and he lifted up his hand to stroke the back of her hair; "'s gettin' late. Should probably head back."

Beth grip tightened around his waist and he felt her shake her head, burying it more into his chest; "Nope."

"No?"

Beth pressed her lips against him without moving much else; "This is my room; so, I sleep here."

A puff of amusement left his lips at the playful resoluteness of her statement. He clawed at her hair, affectionately; "That right?"

"Mhm."

They were quiet for a second, before she spoke, again, softly this time; "You can stay. It can be yours too."

Daryl leaned his head back against the pillow, smiling to himself at this; at what they were doing. Realised that she wasn't the only one happy here; that he felt happiness and a contentedness that he'd never believed even really existed before he'd known her.

He exhaled and shifted, slipping out from underneath her and rolling onto his side. He caught Beth's frown when she spoke; "Where are you going?"

Daryl glanced over his shoulder at her, as he plucked his shirt up from the floor of the room. He shrugged, before pulling it over his head; "Nowhere."

And then he reached down, grasping at the blankets they were lying on top of, tugging them down and out from underneath her and pulled them up over them, as he shuffled and settled himself back down against the duvet that lined the floor.

Beth smiled down at him and then leaned over him, bracing a hand on his stomach as she blew out the candle that was next to them; darkness falling over them and only the light of the moon illuminating various items through the window.

Beth snuggled back into his chest, drawing the blankets up more, and then leaned up, pressing a kiss to his lips again; whispering, now, the darkness seeming to warrant it; "Goodnight."

Daryl squeezed her arm, his voice quiet too; "Happy birthday."

xxx

Beth glanced at Daryl over the pages of the book she was reading.

In the days since her birthday the two of them had settled into an easy and unspoken routine; during the day they would be tied up with whatever day to day duties they normal dealt with, spending time with the group and doing their part, playing their roles. And then, after dinner, Daryl would do as he'd always done; taken watch and now opted for the first slot, carrying it out from the platform of the perch.

And then, as the sun began to set, Beth would cross the field and join him; waiting until they got the torch signal from the next person up from the porch.

It was almost domestic, having their own place; this little sanctuary to just talk and touch and sleep, without the expectation of someone bursting in on them. It was almost normal; and she'd never thought she'd have normal again.

Daryl had given her this. And, she was certain, that for the rest of her life he was the only one that ever could.

And she wanted to give him something now; wanted to give him everything. No more holding back; no more waiting. She wanted him to have all of her. And she wanted to have all of him.

Of course, Daryl Dixon remained completely oblivious; currently tending to some old revolver he'd brought back to the perch with him that night and had taken apart and gotten to work on at the desk when they had retreated indoors.

She was becoming impatient; becoming restless. She didn't know why he was holding back, what he was waiting for. She knew he wanted her; she knew it every night when he pressed in close and she heard his breathing quicken, his heartbeat racing beneath her fingers and could feel him pressed in hard against her. But he was always controlled, always patient and it was sweet but frustrating; she knew there was another side, the one he had demonstrated to her in the shack and after she'd seen his scars and when he'd pressed her against the wall and gripped her tight behind her legs.

And it was that side of him she wanted him to give in to; finally. And she was starting to realise that, like their first kiss, if she intended on waiting for him to be the one to start this thing, then she had better be reconciled to the fact that she could be waiting for a very long time; at this rate, she'd be facing her twenty first birthday and she'd still be a virgin.

Beth rolled her eyes and tossed aside the book she was holding; the one she hadn't managed to take in a sentence of for the past half an hour that they'd been in there, and braced her hands against the blankets she was nestled in amongst and pushed herself to her feet, approaching him.

Daryl kept focused on the task at hand; only stirring when she stepped up behind him and slid her arms around his waist.

She felt him lean back slightly, his hand coming up to cover hers and give it a squeeze, before it left hers again; presumably returning to whatever he was doing with the pieces of the firearm on the desk, from the little tinkering sounds that followed.

Beth bit her lip, her heart hammering with nerves as she splayed her palms against his stomach, turning her head to press a kiss between his shoulders blades as she cautiously slid her hands down his stomach, stopping when her fingertips reached the waistband of his pants.

She felt Daryl go still.

A heavy silence filled the air.

Beth bit her lip again, squeezing her eyes shut as she leaned her forehead against his back; fearful of rejection and nervously anticipating what would happen if he didn't.

She heard and felt him draw in a breath and then he turned in her arms; turned to face her, looking down at her. There was a question in his eyes, but there was a certainty behind it; like he already knew the answer and she held his look for a moment before he seemed to make a choice, leaning down and claiming her lips with his.

Beth felt his hand reach up, his fingers lightly touching her neck, and stepped in closer, sliding her hands from where they rested at his sides and up his chest; breathing him in as she did and she felt his hand press in firmer, the tips of his fingers kneading the hair at the nape of her neck as the pressure of his lips against hers increased, and his other hand reached up to grip her at her side.

Beth slid her hands up further, up to his neck, stroking it for a second with her thumbs before she looped her arms around it and pushed herself up onto her tiptoes, closing the distance between them and pressing herself in close; felt Daryl's hand slip from her hip across the low of her back.

Daryl's lips left hers, going to her neck, and she sighed; already feeling heady with the sensations of him against her and with the nerves and anticipation. She gripped the back of his hair, tilting her head to the side when he placed open mouthed kisses against her skin, his tongue flicking out to tease the hollow where it met her collarbone.

He dragged his bottom lip from there up the side of her neck slowly, until he reached the point behind her ear, pressed an open mouth kiss to the sensitive skin behind it and she felt him breath her in; felt her own breathing quickening after it caught and pulled back a little, her hands running from the back of his hair, down his neck to his shoulders, down his chest to his navel; not willing to take them off of him, wanting to feel him beneath her hands. Needing to feel; needing to touch.

And she gripped at the hem of his shirt, tugging it upwards, making Daryl draw back. He didn't pause, didn't hesitate, reached his arms up and grasped his shirt from behind at his shoulders and pulled it up and over his head, casting it to the side, before stepping in again and returning to her neck.

Beth made a whimper, her hands reaching up, pushing him back a little so she could touch him; ran her hands across his stomach, down over his hips and up his back, pulling herself in close again when she did but found herself unsatisfied; used to this now and wanting more. She drew back a little, reaching down for the hem of her own shirt, stepping back slightly as she gripped it and pulled it over her head; the action meaning Daryl had to stop and step back a little, giving her room as she did so.

Daryl's breathing was heavy as he looked at her; as his eyes slowly skimmed her, from her shoulders moving downwards; saw him swallow as his eyes clouded over, becoming darker and hazy with lust, and then he stepped in, his hands going to her waist, trailing it slowly with his hands as his lips found hers again.

Beth moaned against his mouth; the light skim of his skin against hers teasing as he took her lower lip between his teeth, tugging it gently, before moving in deeper, insistent and she willingly parted her lips for him as his hands skimmed up higher, his thumbs stopping to rest beneath the wire of her bra. She felt them move cautiously against her, while his fingers gripped her ribs tight; and she ran her hands up his arms, over his chest, and then pushed herself in close; wanted to feel him against her and the feel of his skin against hers made her dizzy as she looped her arms back around his neck, pressing herself in fully, and tried to lift her knee to rest against his thigh.

Daryl growled, his hands gripping tighter, his lips leaving hers and going to her chest; ran his bottom lip from between her breasts and up to her throat, making her gasp and her knees weaken, and he reached down, his hands running down her sides to the back of her thighs; he turned the two of them, awkwardly bumping into the desk as he did, his breathing ragged as he changed their positions and pushed himself in close; his hands gripped her thighs tight and then lifted her up so she was sitting on the edge of the desk and she felt him nudge her knees apart with his own before he stepped into the space between them; his hands on her thighs pulling her in tight against him.

Daryl's hands moved faster now, sliding up her back, one going to trail down her shoulder while the other went into her hair, gripping tight, tugging so that her neck arched back as his lips went to her throat and he trailed his tongue up the curve; and she heard a breathy sigh escape her lips. His hands trailed back down to her back, running across her shoulder blades, feeling her beneath him as she leaned back and he dragged open lips from her throat back down her chest.

One hand slid from her back to her ribcage, moved upwards until he touched her through the fabric and she bit her lip, whimpering at the feel of his hand on her as his thumb tugged down the cotton of her bra and then his lips trailed down, his mouth hot and slow, as it moved down to her breast; his tongue flicking out to tease her.

Beth gasped; the sensation new and exhilarating, heard her own breathing coming heavy as Daryl's hand cupped against her, squeezing gently while his thumb circled and stroked, as his mouth licked and teased, and she felt a jolt shoot through her down to her toes as she whimpered and gasped under his attentions.

He pressed in closer between her legs and she felt him hard against her; and she felt nervous and excited with anticipation again, her heart hammering as she reached down from his shoulders; her hands going to the buckle of his belt.

She made fast work of it; noticed her hands were shaking as she did, and she guessed Daryl did to because his hands came up to grip hers, stopping her before she could tug the belt from the fastenings. Beth looked up at him sharply; her nerves suddenly no longer due to anticipation but fear of rejection.

Daryl's thumbs stroked her palms as he held them and the lusty haze in his eyes that had been there before had given way somewhat to concern. He tilted his head, biting his lip, and Beth could see his breathing was still shaky when he spoke; "We don't have to."

Beth's eyes flicked between his, as she attempted to calm the quick breaths and willed the beating of her heart to calm a little so she could form a response. He was looking at her with concern and apprehension and affection and something else; it took her a second to pick up on it, to see the uneasiness behind his expression, his own feelings about what was happening as opposed to his feelings towards her and she felt herself relax as she released that he was nervous too.

She drew in breath and smiled at him, biting her lip and shaking her head, her voice almost a whisper but sure when she spoke; "I want to."

Daryl just looked at her for a second; studied her. And, then, slowly seemed satisfied by what she had said and what he could see, before he leaned in and claimed her lips with his again; unhurried this time, slow and deep, as if making her his. And she sighed into his mouth, reaching up to cup his face in her hands as his slid back around to the small of her back, his fingers caressing the skin there gently.

Beth bit her lip when he drew back; turning his attention to her shoulder now, his kisses slow and hot and wet against her skin, and she trailed her hands back down his chest; back down to his belt. She swallowed, her hands steadier now as she gently tugged and undid it, before her fingers went to work on the two buttons of his pants. Daryl didn't stop, didn't acknowledge what she was doing; leaving it up to her, his hand reaching up to her shoulder, his thumb dragging the strap of her bra over the edge to the top of her arm, freeing it up so that her shoulder was bare and he pressed open mouthed kisses to the newly exposed skin as she tugged the second button undone.

Beth hesitated for a second, drawing in a shaky breath as Daryl's attentions went back to her neck, his tongue flicking and his teeth nipping teasingly against her, before she tentatively reached forward, slipping her hand inside. She heard Daryl's breath catch, felt his fingers curl a little against her back; and then she swallowed and reach in further, taking him in her hand.

Daryl drew in a breath, his fingers pressing into her back, his nails digging a little into her skin as he pressed his forehead into her neck; going still.

He was hard and smooth against her palm; and she slowly trailed her fingers upwards, before she ran her thumb over the tip and she felt him shudder slightly against her, his hips twitching reflexively. His hand slid from the middle of her back up to her shoulder blade, splaying against it and pulling her in close, as he dragged his lips against her neck again, unevenly and without the same focus, as her hand surrounded him again and began a slow backwards and forwards trail.

She enjoyed this; touching him, alternated her movements a little as she did, sometimes holding him firm as she moved her hand and sometimes just letting her fingers trail against his skin, and after a short while she heard his breathing become ragged, felt his hips shudder involuntarily; heard him growl before he pressed in and bit down gently on her neck.

Beth gasped at the slight sting, felt his hand on her shoulder blade reach up to the back of her neck, stroking gently as his tongue flicked out and he pressed a kiss against when he had nipped her; and she tightened her hold, rolling her palm over the top of him, and she heard his breathing catch and he groaned, before lifting his head and pressing his forehead to hers.

He breathed heavy against her as she looked up at him shyly; carried on what she was doing, enjoying the look in his eyes, dark and hazy and yearning, and the little noses he was making as he bit his lip and closed his eyes; and the sight of him this way was endearing and sensual and she drew her hand from him and slid her hands around his neck to kiss him deeply.

Daryl made a whimper into her mouth, his hand reaching up and grasping the wrist of the hand that had just been touching him; and she wondered if he was going to put it back. And then she felt him sigh into her mouth as he reached up and grasped her face in his hands, kissing her hot and hard, and then they dropped down to the back of her thighs, gripping her tight again and lifting her up and she knew what he wanted; wrapped her legs around his waist and he backed up and turned them, making his way unsteadily to the blankets on the floor.

Daryl slid a hand up her back as he knelt down, supporting her at the nape of her neck as he lowered her onto the pillows, keeping himself close to her as he did.

Beth drew in a shaky breath as they looked at one another, really looked; and she could see such intense devotion and affection in his eyes that she felt her stomach flutter and her breathing catch.

"Okay?" he murmured.

Beth bit her lip, giving him a small smile, and nodded; "Uh huh."

Daryl smiled at her, warm and genuine, and then reached up to brush the hair that had fallen across her forehead aside, before he leaned down and pressed his lips to it; and she closed her eyes beneath him.

A sudden bang outside the treehouse made them snap open.

Beth frowned as Daryl drew back; their eyes meeting in joint confusion.

And then a second sound rang out; and it took less than a second for them to realise they were gunshots, as another was fired.

Daryl drew back, braced his arms at either side of her to push himself up, and the two of them scrambled to their feet, going to the window.

In the field not too far from them were walkers; at least three dozen of them, and probably more, all staggering and surrounding the Church.

"Jesus Christ."

Daryl quickly buttoned up his pants and had his belt done up before Beth had a chance to react, turning as he darted for the desk and quickly began reassembling the revolver. Beth quickly reached for her shirt, pulling it over her head, turning just as Daryl thrust the weapon at her and reached down for his own shirt; pulling it over his head as he hurried from the room, grabbing his crossbow from where it leant on the doorway as he did and slinging it onto his back.

Beth hurried after him, holding the gun tight.

"You stay here." Daryl rounded on her, before she could step through.

Beth frowned; "What? No, I –"

"I mean it, Beth." He snapped, taking her by the arm and pulling her back inside; "You stay here and you don't let any of them see you."

"I can't just stay here; we need people down there –"

"We've got people down there." He turned to head out.

Beth stepped after him; "What if we have to run?"

He looked at her sharply; "I'll come back." Beth bit her lip, holding his look for a second, before he hurried out, grabbing one of the rifles that rested against the railings when he did; and she stepped out and onto the platform to look down as he made his way down the ladders.

She bit her lip, thinking as he hurried down; considered jumping on and following him, but as soon as his feet hit the ground he grabbed the ladder and hauled it away, letting it crash to the ground beneath her; stranding her up there.

And, before she could say anything, he turned and ran towards the Church.