Beth couldn't believe her own boldness. She was even more surprised that Daryl had agreed to give her what she asked. She knew he wanted her, she had felt it in his kiss. Beth had never been kissed like that before and her knees still felt weak when she thought about his hungry mouth on hers.

Anything she'd experienced before last night paled in comparison. Compared to Daryl, Jimmy now seemed like a little boy. She knew it was wrong to think ill of the dead but Jimmy had been just as awkward and inexperienced as her. He'd never even put his tongue in her mouth.

Beth blushed as the memory gave her butterflies in her stomach. She hoped she was being discrete. She was at a breakfast table with her father and Rick, who was cradling Judith.

Beth couldn't eat. She half dreaded seeing Daryl this morning but at the same time she desperately wanted to. Beth wanted him to acknowledge that something had changed between them in even the smallest way. But he'd gone out with Carl early. They'd gone on a run for some weapons and Beth was a little jealous that he hadn't asked to take her. She realised that would probably be a little suspicious if she protested and breaking Daryl's first rule of secrecy.

Beth couldn't see herself changing her mind but that didn't mean she wasn't nervous. It was a huge step. Nobody had seen her naked since she was a little girl, though Daryl had gotten closest, and the idea of being completely bare to him thrilled her and terrified her.

Though he would be just as exposed as she was and that was something to look forward to. Beth wanted to see all of Daryl, even though the idea intimidated her a little bit. She wanted to see his tattoos and the scars on his back. Beth was excited by the possibility of exploring his body.

Beth had gotten a taste of that when he'd let her run her hands along his stomach. He was always complaining about how old he was but Beth didn't think old men were supposed to have defined abdomen muscles.

Daryl had said it would hurt like he was trying to scare her. He didn't realise that her and her friends had discussed sex for years already. They had imagined it in the idealistic way that teenage girls do but they all knew that that the first time was a bit painful.

Beth wanted to laugh at the idea of telling past-Beth how it was going to happen: during the apocalypse with a red-neck, maybe twice her age. She could just picture her own shock. But Beth would also reassure herself that he was a kind, good man and that he made her feel things that nobody else ever had. Daryl made her want to do things that nobody else ever had and damn the consequences.

Beth remembered how it felt when Daryl picked her up last night. It was like she had lost control of the situation but instead of feeling scared it had been incredibly sexy. All the power was in his hands but Beth trusted Daryl.

"Something on your mind, Beth?" Rick asked.

Beth realised that she had inhaled sharply at the last memory. Now both men were staring at her curiously.

"No,' Beth stammered out, mortified.

"I never apologised for puttin' you on the spot the other day with the run," Rick said.

"I didn't mind. You were right, I wanted to go."

"I'm just glad you came home safe," Hershel said.

"Thank you for letting me go, Daddy."

Hershel smiled. "You are a woman capable of making her own decisions Beth."

"I am," Beth agreed vehemently.

Rick looked at her sharply and Beth saw a flash of a thought flicker across his face. "And you don't mind that I didn't send you out with your sister."

Beth laughed and forced a casual tone. "Maggie woulda just left me locked in the trunk while she did all the hard work."

"I'm glad it was, Daryl," Hershel said. "He's a good man and certainly capable of protecting her."

Beth looked from her father to Rick, wondering if they were trying to say something else but there didn't seem to be any hidden agenda to their words.

"I just can't believe we forgot your birthday," Hershel said sadly.

Beth patted his hand. "We didn't forget my birthday exactly. We forgot about marking dates."

"Well, we'll try and rustle up something special tonight," Rick said. "We could use a celebration."

"Oh I don't want you to go to any bother," Beth protested.

"It's not a bother. We're a community here. We gotta start actin' like life can go back to normal," Rick said.

"You think it can?" Beth asked quietly.

"I know it can!" Rick promised her.

...

Daryl was thankful that this run was routine and boring because his mind was anywhere but on the present. A herd of walkers could have strolled by and he'd barely notice.

His thoughts kept going back to last night and sometimes he had himself half convinced that it had been a dream. But no, Beth had asked for a birthday kiss and being the selfish bastard he was he hadn't been able to deny her.

And now he was replaying it on a loop in his head. The feel of her lips, the tug of her fingers in his hair and the softy breathy noises she had made against his mouth.

And now he was going to sleep with her. Daryl was still surprised he had agreed but there was still the chance she would say no. If she did then he'd respect that and the friendship would hopefully endure. He'd certainly have more vivid fantasies to console himself with after last night.

Then again, there was a very real possibility her resolve would last the two weeks and then he'd have the opportunity to make those fantasies reality. Not all of them he reminded himself. Beth was virgin and that meant he couldn't dive in gun hoe; she wouldn't be ready to hear some of the things he wanted to do.

Daryl's biggest fear was that he wouldn't be able to make it good for her. He knew his own strengths. Most of the women he'd slept with had been confident, experienced and knew what they wanted. Daryl had always gotten them off by dominating them and even being a little mean. His approach veered towards aggressive. That wouldn't work with Beth. He'd have to take his time.

That raised the issue of location. Even though it might never happen he had to consider the possibility that Beth would still want to and so he wanted a plan in place.

They would need a safe spot with no chance of interruption. Daryl didn't want her first time to be him taking her up against a tree, though the idea turned him on no end. He definitely didn't want to be watching out for walkers or, worse, Hershel.

Daryl didn't know if it was a onetime deal or something Beth had any interest in making regular. He was letting himself off the hook with answering that one. Daryl would see where things stood after; see how they both felt.

Daryl wanted her in the worst kind of way though and by some miracle it was mutual. Two weeks was beginning to sound like an eternity but it would give them both time to think it through.

Daryl realised with a start that at some point he'd have to find some kind of protection on the next run. The last thing he wanted at the moment was this to result in a brood of baby Dixons.

Daryl decided with a grin that he would make that Beth's task for the two weeks. If he had to wrestle his conscious into submission then the least she could do was endure the awkwardness of tracking down condoms discreetly. It probably wouldn't hurt for Beth to be confronted with some of the more practical aspects of what she was suggesting.

...

One of the Woodbury residents owned a guitar and it turned out they were good. The cell block was loud with music, singing and laughter. Carol had gone out of her way to organise a veritable feast of food.

It wasn't the eighteenth birthday Beth had envisioned but it was strangely perfect for her life now.

Glenn had gallantly offered to dance with Beth and proved to be a quick study. After Glenn had been stolen back by Maggie, Sam took his turn to spin her around the room.

Sam seemed to have overcome Daryl's intimidating introduction and was no longer meek around her.

They even had a birthday cake. Or a kind of birthday cake. Karen carried up an apple which had a candle sunk squarely in the top.

Beth laughed out loud at the sight of it but she played along. After she had blown it out she took the knife from Karen and sliced the apple in half.

"If you touch the bottom, you have to tell us who you have a crush on," Tyreese called out, teasingly.

Beth's eyes went unbidden to Daryl. He was sitting off in the corner talking to Carol but he caught her glance and Beth thought she saw a faint acknowledging smile.

The apple was the most delicious she had tasted. It was better than any chocolate cake because of the effort they had gone to trying to ensure that her birthday was special. They didn't have much in the prison but they had used what they had to create a wonderful celebration.

Her father hugged her close and kissed the top of her head. "I hope you're enjoying tonight."

"It's the best birthday I ever had," Beth said sincerely. She hugged Rick too, knowing that he had been a key conspirator in organising this all in a day.

Carol had abandoned Daryl to pull Beth back out to dance and Beth was getting dizzy from all the spinning around she was doing.

She was catching her breath on the sidelines when she felt a hand on her lower back and a voice in her ear. "We need to talk."

Beth looked up at Daryl's serious face. Beth thought immediately he was changing his mind.

As soon as they were safe distance away she blurted out, "a deal's a deal!"

Daryl was startled. "I wasn't gonna break it. Dixon's don't welsh on deals."

Beth considered Merle, who had ever shifting loyalties and Daryl must have read what she was thinking on her face because he added, "well, I don't."

"What did you want to talk to me about?" Beth asked. She kept her voice low, conscious that they were not completely out of ear shot.

Daryl's eyes flickered over her shoulder to make sure there was no one listening. "I need you to find protection."

Beth was confused. "Protection from what?"

Daryl actually looked moderately amused now. "From me," he said dryly.

"I don't understa- oh." Beth felt her cheeks getting hot. "Can't you find something?"

"You wanna be an adult well that's an adult responsibility," Daryl pointed out. He had crossed his arms and it was clear he wasn't budging on the issue.

Beth realised he was testing her. He was hoping she was going to crumble under embarrassment and technicalities but Beth had no intention of giving him that satisfaction.

"Fine, I'll get 'em." Beth crossed her own arms, her stance mirroring his.

She saw Daryl's grin falter.

"In fact," Beth continued, "It's probably a good idea I get them. I don't want you over exerting yourself over the next two weeks and not being able to live up to expectations. You are old after all!" She tossed that last comment over her shoulder as she walked back towards her party. Beth caught a glimpse of Daryl's face; he looked like he had eaten something sour. Beth tried not to giggle.

If Daryl wanted to get her to change her mind he'd have to try harder than that.

...

Daryl didn't know how their training sessions had gone from a covert operation to something that Rick had practically mandated.

"Why can't you do it?" he demanded of Rick.

"She's use to workin' with you!" Rick countered calmly. "If she's gonna be going out on runs regularly-"

"You wanna keep sendin' her out?"

"Don't worry, I'll send you with her too."

Daryl wanted to tell Rick that this wasn't what he wanted at all but he could hardly explain how he promised to resist her for two weeks.

"Between her and Carl, all my time's taken up."

"Yeah, you're a regular mother hen," Rick said.

"Hilarious," Daryl said flatly.

"Just keep her sharp. And be thankful I haven't got you teaching the Woodbury recruits like I do Tyreese and Glenn."

Daryl was thankful for that. The Woodbury folks had gotten comfortable in their sheltered town. They hadn't spent months on the run living hand to mouth. It made them whiny when pushed. But on the other Daryl didn't want to have sex with any of them.

"Is it too late to trade with Tyreese or Glenn?" Daryl was half serious.

"I thought you'd prefer trainin' Beth," Rick was perplexed. "Carl said-"

"Carl says a lotta things!" Daryl snapped.

"-that you were friends," Rick finished.

"We are," Daryl groaned.

"So what's the problem?"

Daryl hesitated. "It's got complicated."

Rick put his hands on his hips. "Complicated how?"

Daryl wanted to tell Rick exactly how but he told Beth he wanted this to stay between them and that went both ways. If Rick ran to Hershel and stopped it from happening then he would feel like he'd betrayed Beth somehow.

"I just feel guilty pushing her out in to danger is all,' Daryl said. By some miracle Rick seemed to believe him.

When he thought about it, a particularly hard training session with Beth might make her change her mind or at least annoy her enough to consider it.

He hadn't been wrong. Beth was glaring up at him from her position on the ground.

"I don't remember askin' you to stop."

"You asked me to do two hundred push ups!"

"No I told ya to do two hundred push ups and then you can have some water. Then you'll do another two hundred push ups."

"That's impossible!" Beth protested.

Daryl crouched down so they were eye to eye. "But you're so young, you should be able to manage."

"So I did get under your skin!" Beth gloated, managing to do one more shaky push up.

"Yeah, I had half a mind to spank you for what you said."

Beth paused and Daryl saw her breath hitch.

"Not like that," he groaned, standing upright. "Everything I say is gonna sound dirty now, ain't it?"

"It's always sounded dirty," Beth mumbled under her breath.

"What was that?" Daryl asked loudly pretending not to hear.

"Nothing," Beth said sweetly.

"Enough push ups, time to go running."

"You sure change your mind quick." Beth stood up, brushing her hands off.

"Changin' your mind is an easy thing t'do," Daryl said pointedly.

Beth glared at him. "Nice try. Are you going outta your way to be meaner than usual?"

"Just being myself, Sweetheart. If you don't like it feel free to find someone else t'step in."

"And let you off the hook that easy?" Beth scoffed and turned to start her laps of the prison.

He had created a monster, Daryl decided. He was starting to see some of his own bad habits reflected in Beth. The sarcasm and the back talking were all his influence. The stubbornness though, that was Beth through and through. It was a bad combination.

She wasn't wrong. He was being meaner than usual but he had no intention of changing who he was just because their relationship had changed.

...

Beth knew what Daryl was doing but that didn't make it any less annoying. He just had to make things ten times more difficult than they had to be. If she had said the earth was round Daryl would have argued that the world was pear shaped until they both died of old age.

Beth didn't want to point out that he was achieving the opposite of what he intended. When he was being an ass and making her all frustrated Beth often found herself getting hot and bothered at the same time. It was all very confusing how he could be mean to her and she still responded to him.

It made her want to kiss him to shut him up. They hadn't discussed the rules of touching during the two weeks but he hadn't initiated anything and Beth's courage wasn't infinite.

Beth limped past Michonne on guard duty.

Michonne's gaze swooped over the younger woman. "Dixon been working you hard?"

Beth managed a grunt that confirmed this.

Michonne's lips quirked into an almost smile. "He has a lot of flaws but he's good at what he does."

That was high praise coming from Michonne. Beth envied the way she used her katana like an extension of her body. Beth had always wanted to ask Michonne to teach her but she was realistic about her coordination skills.

Standing there in front of the stoic woman in front of her, Beth realised there was something that she could ask Michonne.

"Michonne, say I needed to get something on a run discreetly how would I go about it?"

Michonne stared at Beth hard. "I'd suggest going with someone who can keep their mouth shut."

"What are you doing tomorrow?"

Michonne crossed her arms and sized the girl up. "What's the something?"

"That's where the whole discrete part comes in to it."

"Is it a matter of life or death?"

Beth wanted to say yes but that would be a lie. "It's not but it's important to me."

"I'm gonna need a little more than that if you want me to risk my life helping you."

Beth blushed. She couldn't do this on her own and there was no one else to ask that wouldn't need a whole lot more information.

"Promise not to tell?"

Michonne's face let Beth know how ridiculous that question was. Michonne had integrated into the prison but she was by no means an idle gossip. If she told her it would stay in confidence.

Beth mumbled a word.

"Didn't catch that," Michonne said.

"Condoms," Beth choked out, her face flaming.

"So Dixon's been teaching you other things, has he?"

"How do you know it's for me and Daryl?" Beth asked trying to throw Michonne off.

Michonne's little sneer clearly said, don't insult me.

"Fine," Beth breathed. "Nothing's happened yet because, well, you know."

Michonne took a step closer to Beth and caught her eyes. When she spoke it was almost gentle. "Is this consensual? He's not intimidating you into anything? 'Cause I could have a word."

Beth realised what Michonne was asking. "No! That's not how it is at all. If anythin' I tricked him into it."

"Sure," Michonne agreed cynically, "bet you had to twist his arm."

"I'm old enough to make my own decisions," Beth stated defiantly, wishing she could control her face the way Michonne did.

"Now, that we agree on. Alright, I'll come with you and I'll keep my mouth shut."

Beth felt a rush of relief. "Thank you so much, I owe you."

"You don't. At least you're being smart about the whole thing."

"Would you hate it if I hugged you?" Beth asked.

"Yes."

"Alright then." Beth tried to hide a smile. She secretly suspected that Michonne had a soft side. A very well hidden soft side.

AN: Trunk and not a fortnight in sight! – That's for my American readers. Also I'm not sure if they have the same tradition in the US as we do here in Oz: With Birthday cakes if you touch the bottom of the plate when you are cutting it or the knife comes out dirty then you have to tell everyone who you have a crush on or kiss the nearest boy/girl. It was a gamble but I threw it in for the moment.

Anyway, sorry for the delay with this chapter. I wouldn't say the muse has deserted me but she was being a painful cow these last few days. There are going to be a few chapters in this fortnight/two weeks but they're not filler chapters. I think they're important for the characters journey. Please feel free to rail and rant at me because I just love hearing from you! I can never tell you enough how wonderful and intelligent you all are.

MD666

P.s I'm exhausted so apologies for any spelling errors that slipped through on my final edit.