A/N Thank you to all the followers, the favers, and reviewers, and my "silent" readers and guests, all of you, I appreciate you. Daryl is finally coming home.

He'd looked forward to this moment for eight weeks. He thought it would be the happiest day of his life walking through that gate, but if he was being honest he was a little anxious.

Living there at the treatment center had been its own kind of freedom. Regimented, yes, painful, yes, but he was with his "people." They got him, even if they didn't know him they understood him, they weren't shocked by his behaviors or his stories, they didn't avoid him like he was some random crazy bastard.

Now he had to go back into that "real" world, the world where people didn't want to know about ugly and painful realities. Didn't want to know about wounded warriors and damaged psyches. Where no matter what ungodly horrors you'd been through you were expected to act happy, smile and fit right in. It was going to be another adjustment.

But for the first time in his life he was proud. He was proud of himself for going into this program and sticking with it, no matter how painful it had gotten and no matter how much he wanted to be anywhere else. And he was proud of his service, proud of his fellow Vets, and proud of his country.

As uneasy as he was he knew he wanted to be with his family, his brother, sister in law, niece and nephew, and her. He missed Beth even more than he'd thought he would. As much as he didn't think he cared for talking, he missed their porch talks and their bedroom talks. He missed her sweet voice singing to him, he missed her kindness, he missed the way she always encouraged him, never let him getaway with being down on himself, he missed her pretty face. And he missed that little arm wrapped around him at night and the feel of her soft hair on his back. He missed Beth.

He thought a lot about the kissing they'd done that night before he'd left. He'd just gone for it, he'd followed his heart, and she'd been receptive, she'd welcomed him and his attentions. These past eight weeks he'd taken a lot of comfort in thinking about that kissing, and he'd taken comfort in that little note she'd given him.

Now he just wanted to get back to her, he wanted to see if they could make this thing stick, if he really could have something with her. Because he couldn't think of anything he wanted more than to have something with Beth.

Sometimes when he was laying in that lonely bunk at night, he'd think about that old Bob Dylan song. Shit, Tommy Wayne loved that damn song, he drove everyone crazy he played it so much. Now Daryl found that one verse kept popping up in his head. It made him think of the way things were between her and him.

Suddenly I turned around and she was standin' there

With silver bracelets on her wrists and flowers in her hair

She walked up to me so gracefully and took my crown of thorns

Come in, she said

I'll give ya shelter from the storm

He stepped onto that Greyhound, found a seat in the back, and got ready for a very long ride. He'd be getting back to the bus station at 5:00am Sunday morning. He'd called Merle before he left treatment and his brother would be there to pick him up. He always could count on Merle, he realized that now more than ever. He felt like he understood his brother better, and he was anxious to see him again. He didn't want to question him about it, didn't want to confront him, he never would. He just wanted to see the one person in this world that cared about him enough that he'd kill for him.

And Merle was there waiting when he stepped off that bus. They embraced quickly and immediately broke apart, "I missed ya son, an damn ya look good. Let's get us a cup a coffee, do a little catchin' up."

Merle dropped him off at home at seven. He'd promised to be at his brother's house for Sunday dinner at 11, and he'd also promised he'd bring Beth.

Beth was waiting there on the porch. She stood the minute she saw that truck coming and she looked even prettier than he remembered. All sweetness and light. Pale skin, big blue eyes, blond curls all falling down from that ponytail that never was quite straight. She was without a doubt the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen.

His brother looked to him and said, "Go ta yer girl son, she's been waitin' for ya." And he smiled that big old Merle smile and drove away.

He moved quickly up the walkway and onto that front porch, threw the backpack down, threw his arms around her and they held tight to each other, not speaking a word, just taking comfort.

Finally he pulled back, put his hands in that pretty blond hair and kissed her like a man in need, and she returned that kiss and that need.

He stood back just a bit, hands still in her hair, "Damn girl I missed ya so much. It's so good to get home to you."

"I missed you, I've missed our days and I've missed our nights." She moved her arms around his waist, pressed her face into his chest and hugged him tightly. She had tears in her eyes, but they were happy tears, relieved tears.

He put a hand to her elbow, kissed her on top of her head, "We should probably go inside Beth, the neighbors are gonna be talkin'." They softly laughed and stepped inside.

He reached in his pocket, pulled out the worn piece of paper and held it out to her. "You don't know how much this meant to me, how it helped get me through. I've worn it out readin' it, runnin' my fingers over it, the words are all faded to nuthin'. You need to write me a new one."

She couldn't believe it, she'd wanted him to know she'd be there, but she hadn't realized her small gesture would mean so much to him. She could feel her eyes were moist, but she fought it. She didn't want this reunion to be about tears. "I would have done anything to make that time easier for you, I'm glad the note helped. I'll be happy to write a new one, and lots of others."

They stood hugging in silence. It felt so good just to be together, just to feel each other. Daryl marveled at how much he wanted to hold her, have her hold him. Shit he'd hated the idea of people touching him, but he wanted to hold her and never let go, and he sure didn't want her letting go of him.

They sat on her couch and she asked him, "Do you want to talk about it Daryl?"

"I do, I wanna share that with you and I wanna hear all about your deal too. But I wanna wait 'til later when we get back from Merle's. Right now I got sumthin' else I wanna do. I wanna just sit here with a pretty woman I know, with my arm around her and her head on my shoulder. I wanna close my eyes and think about how damn happy I am to be back home."

And that's what they did.

They pulled up in front of Merle's just before 11. She had that cookie tin in her hands and he smiled, "What kind you got this time?"

"Frosted sugar cookies, and yes, I have plenty for you at home," she smiled that smile he'd missed so much.

"That's real good, otherwise the Chaos was gonna find out theirs turned up missin'."

He gave one hard knock on the door opened it and yelled, "I'm lookin' for chaos!" And Sophia and James came running. They were hanging off of him and he was bent down hugging on them. He just had time to give Carol one quick hug, and just that fast, Daryl and those kids were out in the backyard running around like they'd never been apart.

Merle looked at her, tried not to smile, and shook his head, "Some things never change Sis. So how ya doin'? Everythin' go okay with y'all this mornin'?"

"Perfect Merle, it's just so good to see him again. And I can see the difference, he's so much more calm and he seems happy. That makes me happy."

He put an arm around her shoulder and gave her a quick hug, "Ya know Sis maybe ya ain't seen it in yerself, but yer better too. Ya both been workin' hard at this thing. It's all payin' off."

He smiled down at her, "Let's get on in the kitchen, see if we can't drag Carol out ta the porch ta watch all three a them kids."

Beth

I felt like every nerve ending in my body was tingling when I saw Merle's truck come around the corner, bringing Daryl home.

I'd missed him so much, there were so many times I just wanted to hug him and I knew I couldn't.

When he walked up on the porch I knew the waiting had all been worth it. The waiting, the therapy, the loneliness, all of it, because this man on my front porch had a whole new air of confidence. The way he looked right at me, didn't look away at all, and then when he threw his pack down and kissed me like that, well I knew for sure. I'd wait for Daryl Dixon forever just to be kissed and held like that one time.

Merle and Carol surprised Daryl and I both by inviting Maggie and Glenn to Sunday dinner. All of us being together like that, it was so wonderful, it was family.

I know our healing journey isn't complete but I just feel so positive about everything. For the first time in a long time I feel like my life is on track, that I can be happy and that I deserve to be happy.

I tried to fight my feelings for him for a long time, I didn't think we had a chance, I thought we were both just too messed up. I know now, I can't deny it and I'm not even trying to fight it anymore, I'm in love with Daryl. And now I think Daryl and I really can make this work. Well we can make it work if he falls in love with me. I don't know if that will happen, but I'm praying it does.

They got back to the little duplex and he asked her to come to his place. He opened the wine and poured her a glass, cracked a beer for himself and smiled, "Shit Beth I'll probably be drunker than a skunk after one, ain't had a beer in eight long weeks."

She smiled and laughed softly, "Well I had one glass of wine with Maggie at lunch on her birthday, that's been it for me. Did you want to sit on the porch so you can smoke?"

"I guess you ain't noticed, I don't smoke anymore. Quit about a week into treatment. I was doin' Ranger trainin' and I couldn't keep up with that and keep smokin'."

She smiled a demure little smile, "I thought you just hadn't had a chance to have one yet today. But I did notice the results of the Ranger training." Her cheeks were pink and his neck had flushed right up.

He took her hand and they went to the couch, "Tell me what you been doin' while I been gone Beth. I'm wantin' to hear it all, your therapy, your volunteerin', hell I even wanna hear about your lunches with Maggie, and Glenn's pancakes. I missed hearin' your voice, I wanna listen to every story you got." He took a swallow of the beer, smiled that little crooked smile at her and he looked right in her eyes. That was maybe the biggest change she'd noticed this first day, the way he didn't look down anymore.

Daryl

Her voice is soothin' to me, I noticed that the first time I ever heard her speak. Its sweet, doesn't have a bit of meanness to it. Oh I know she can get riled up, but she ain't mean. And I do wanna know what she was up to while I was gone. I wanna feel like I'm caught up with her life. I was used to seein' her every day, then shit I couldn't even really talk to her for eight weeks.

I knew I was gonna miss her, that it'd be hard to be away from her, but damn it was a whole lot worse than I ever thought it could be. Now that I'm back here with her, I don't wanna ever be away from her again.

I got all these feelin's for Beth, I know I want her, know I don't wanna be without her, but I ain't sure if that's love. It's almost like a longin', like I know I need her, I wanna make her happy and do for her, I wanna protect her, all of it. I never been in love, don't know the first thing about bein' in love. I just know I want her in every way a man can want a woman.

And I wanna finally be happy, for the first time in my life I feel like I deserve that, happiness. I never used to think I was worthy a bein' loved, or that I deserved to have a good life, deserved to find my happiness. I've learned better, I can't keep payin' for things I couldn't and can't control, I gotta keep remindin' myself a that.

I want my happiness, and I want it with Beth.

"Man, you been crazy busy Beth, and your therapy sounds intense. I know it hurt but I think it pays off, don't you?"

"Oh I do, there were so many days I didn't want to do it, but I'm so glad I did Daryl. I feel so much better, more settled, more at peace." She looked at him and he nodded.

"Now you tell me, tell me all about your treatment, what your days were like. I want to know what you've been doing for eight weeks." She looked in his eyes and he looked back. Then he told her.

After he'd told his story they sat in silence, both thinking about all they'd been through.

She spoke first, "That's so powerful Daryl, I never could have done that, you're so strong."

"You're strong Beth, you don't see that in yourself, but I see it."

Then he smiled, and asked, "When did Merle start callin' ya Sis?"

And she smiled back, "It was a couple of weeks after you left, I didn't think too much about it at first, I mean you know, you're a southern man, lots of southern men call younger women Sis. But I did start to think it meant more to him than that. Does it bother you?"

"Nah, I like it Beth. I'ma come up with a name to call you, I can't be lettin' Merle outdo me."

Merle

Damn it was good to see Little Brother, and he was lookin' good, strong and healthy like in his Ranger days. And what a difference it was him standin' straight with his shoulders squared, an lookin' me in right in the eye.

An like Beth said, he was calm.

When I pulled up ta his place I almost started ta laugh, I could see how excited they both was. She was sittin' there waitin' on him, and he was gnawin' at the bit ta get outta my truck. Yeah, they're in love them two, now they just gotta figure it out.

When they come ta the house it was like he hadn't been gone at all, them kids was all over him an he was all over them, just runnin' around like maniacs out in the yard.

Sis she's real patient with him, she don't get not one bit mad over him runnin' off with them kids, she just watches n smiles.

She's a real sweet girl, a real good girl, I don't think Little Brother can do better than her.

I liked her sister and brother in law too, they seem like real nice folks. I saw how her sister is with her, she's protective, just like I am with Daryl.

I'm just so fuckin' happy the boy is home, maybe now we can all start livin' again. Ya know?

It had been a long day, they were both exhausted, yawning, but it was like they didn't want to give it up. Finally he said what they'd both been thinking, "Would you stay with me Beth, please?"

She gave him a tired smile, "Yes."

He walked her to her place and waited while she brushed her teeth and put her pajamas on. Then they walked back to his house.

He got in the bed, but he didn't turn his back to her. He put an arm out and she settled her head on his shoulder. "This is what I been waitin' for girl." He kissed her slow and easy. It was sexy and romantic, but not demanding. Then he wrapped that other arm around her and pulled her close.

"Merle don't want me to come to work this week, said I should take some time an get used to bein' back. So I'm thinkin' it's time for me to do sumthin' I ain't done since before I went overseas. I wanna go campin', spend a couple nights out in the woods. Would you go with me?"

What he didn't know was she'd go anywhere he wanted her to go, all he had to do was ask, "That sounds like a lot of fun Daryl, yeah I'd love that."

A/N I hope you enjoyed this chapter, our couple has made lots of progress. I very much appreciate you reading my story, and would also appreciate reviews/comments. Merry Christmas and a Very Happy New Year to all of You! xo

Song credit, which I do not own any part of but surely wish I did: Bob Dylan, Shelter from the Storm.