Hi beautiful people! First of all over 7,000 views, I am amazed and so thankful! Chapter 11 down for the count, might be a little slow but the pace will pick up soon as I have lots of drama in store for all of you! Special thanks to those who left me comments: sweetkiwi604, KaneCenaZombie12, DarylDixon'sLover, jeanf and Andrea Harding! You guys rock also a big shout out to any of you new favoriters/followers!

….

Chapter 11: Stable

Later that night we rested ourselves on the porch of the tattered house basking in the moonlight. I sat beside Daryl feeling more at ease with him than I had ever since it'd been just the three of us. He kept a hand on my knee and that was all I needed for reassurance about him and I. Beth was across from us resting her back up against the other porch post, she was the epitome of innocence, sitting there with her clear blue eyes, diaphanous golden hair and delicate frame. People would mistake her in this world as being fragile, but Beth Greene was anything but fragile. She was strong. I watched her sip the remnants of her moonshine.

"You don't feel sick, do ya?" Daryl questioned her; since she had been sitting quietly for a few minutes.

"No, not at all, wish I could feel like this all the time actually" I could tell she was tipsy as she let out a chuckle. "That's bad isn't it?"

"Na, yer lucky yer a happy drunk"

"Yeah, some people can be real assholes when they are". I broke in, nudging him with my arm and raising my eyebrows to him. It comforted me when he playfully nudged me back.

"Yeah, I'm a dick… when I'm drunk" his words were sincerely apologetic whilst he kept his eyes cast on the ground. A silence fell amongst us for some time as we twiddle our thumbs sitting in the moonlight before he spoke up again. "You wanna know what I was before all this?"

Cocking our heads in his direction I noticed the absence in his eyes as he traveled back to years past which after all we've been through, seemed to be another lifetime ago.

"Nothin…" he sighed. "All I was, was Merle's shadow. Where ever he went, I went. Son of bitch was always gettin' us in ta trouble somehow whether it was his drug dealers or boyfriends of woman he shouldna been sleepin' with" At least he was able to let out a small smile at the last thought. "Jus' some redneck asshole with an even bigger asshole of a brother"

"You miss im' don't you? I know I miss Maggie…. and my step-brother Sean. He was so over-protective" She paused for a moment, pulling herself together and I couldn't help but let Lori creep into my mind; we had never been like Maggie and Beth… Age gap was too much but she was still my sister. I came to her for advice, came to her when our parents weren't letting me have my way only to have Lori tell me the same thing. She always had my best interest at heart. "… and my dad" she choked on the word. My heart sank for her, she didn't know it but we had that in common, though it wasn't something Id wish we didn't. Having to witness any family member's death I wouldn't wish upon anyone… "Once we got to the prison I just thought things would be OK, we would be safe, get things back to normal. Maybe have more babies around" her voice trailed off with what I hoped were more happy thoughts than sad ones. "And my dad would grow old, be a grandpa maybe. And he would go eventually, but it would just be on his own time… peaceful. That's how unbelievable stupid I am" she couldn't hold back the tears that had welled up in her eyes and the crack in her voice. She drowned the thoughts out with another swig from the mason jar.

Daryl's rough but tender voice cut in "That's how things are sposed ta be, sposed to find someone, settle down n start a family, grow old"

"No, I need to change, it's like you were made for this world Daryl" she said gently.

That was absurd; no one could ever be ready for a world like this. I leaned forward and placed a firm hand on her knee. "Beth the last thing you need to do is change, you have such a kind soul and pure heart. That's a rarity in how the world is now. Don't you dare change, don't you dare let this world spoil you. You can be the person to beat this hell we're livin' in" I was adamant about this, she was stronger than she realized herself to be. I shifted my weight and turned back to look at Daryl and glancing back at the tattered house for a few moments. I gestured to it and spoke up in defense but still keeping a calm tone. "And this isn't you anymore. You beat this place whether you believe it or not. I wasn't with you when this group was formed and I don't know how you acted back then but you've been there for me ever since I got here… You are strong and intelligent" He huffed under his breath as if he was anything of the sort. I smacked him in the arm. "I mean it, you are intelligent and caring and protective" I raised my hand up and place it on the side of his face, his warm skin met my cold hands and I felt him flinch slightly against my touch. He met my eyes, those beautiful blue eyes. "You're a good man Daryl Dixon".

"We should burn it down" blatantly Beth interjected and when we twisted our heads the immaculate grin is the first thing we noticed. I couldn't help but burst out in a laugh. I knew she was tipsy but did she really just say what I thought she said?

"I'm serious, let's do it" she stood up hastily. It warmed my heart to see her a little more lively; hopefully that meant she took my words to heart.

I watched Daryl rise from his position. He lent me his hand offering a sturdy post to help me get up. I brushed my hands on my pants and then placed them on my hips waiting for the verdict. A smirk laid itself across his face. "We're gunna need more booze".

We walked in and playfully began unscrewing tops and letting the booze fly. From ceiling to floor we emptied every last bottle and ever last mason jar. Beth lit the fuse and Daryl tossed it in. I watched Beth flip the bird energetically as the flames engulfed the house, smile plastered on her face. She nudged Daryl.

"C'mon guys" as she raised her eyebrows demanding that we also give the salute. We gave in and raised them high.

As we walked away, the heat pressing on our backs I realized that this was a new start for the three of us, not only as individuals but as a group. There'd be no more quiet days, no more piercing silence, and no more pessimistic view of the future, at least for the time being. Daryl seemed to have finally let go of his past that had no part in the person he was now, and I think Beth knew that burning the place was the symbol of that.

….

We had walked throughout the night, not wanting to set up a camp and fire that would possibly draw attention to ourselves. Hopefully every walker at least for a couple miles was headed in the direction of the fire. Daylight broke as the sun pierced through the thick Georgia forest. We found a place to hold down for a bit. Daryl went off searching anything he could kill. Beth and I scavenged the ground picking up fallen branches and sticks; anything to be used for a fire.

"Thank you, for saying what you did back at the house, bout' me being kind"

"Of course" I shot her a smile.

"Do you mind if I ask you somethin'..?" her voice tiny.

"Sure, go head" I stopped scavengin' and looked up at her, ready to answer whatever she was about to throw at me.

Her big blue eyes stared at me. "Who were you with… you know, before Michonne found you"

"Well" letting out a deep sigh to regain some stability. "I was with my boyfriend of 5 years, my parents and a few of our neighbors".

She turned white as a ghost, I assumed she regretted asking but she persisted along with the conversation "Do you mind me askin' what happened?" And for the first time, I didn't want to throw up or internally combust at the thought of sharing it.

"Well whenever all of this started being broadcast on the TV's and radios, Colt and I headed straight for my parent's house to make sure they were OK, few of the neighbors were already there when we arrived, swear they had on every TV in the house. I wasn't able to reach Lori on her cell but if I knew anything they'd probably be with Shane and they'd be safe. My parent's house had a high porch and for whatever reason we thought that was safer so all the neighbors brought over their food, blankets, memories… We acted fast and boarded up the windows real tight. Everything was fine for the first couple weeks. There were about 9 of us. We started to hear the screams and then we heard the growling but we kept quiet. It wasn't until we ran out of food that we decided to leave; loaded up my dad's truck and the neighbors stocked their van" I didn't think going into gory details were necessary at this time, if she kept at it I'd tell her but so soon after losing Hershel, it just wasn't a good idea. I inhaled sharply. "To make a long story short, one by one our group got picked off, we were ambushed by a heard, Colt and I. He risked his life to save mine and although I was able to get him out of there I still had to watch him take his last breath…"

"Did he…?" her voice faint.

I nodded.

"And you had to…?"

I had hit her with a lot of information, she stood there taking everything in. "I'm so sorry Dani…" her blue eyes full of remorse. I simply nodded, letting her know that I was ok. At this point I was more at ease than I had been in a long time and part of me felt selfish for that after what we'd just been through.

Within minutes as we got the fire started, Daryl came trudging back. He held two small squirrels and even though it wasn't much I was grateful. He skinned them and I skewered them, resting the meat over two sticks above the fire, sitting there, our stomachs growling just waiting for the meat to cook. In between shoveling the meat into our mouths there was mild conversation.

"Daryl, can you teach me? Yanno, how to use the crossbow?"

After popping the last piece of meat into his mouth and sucking the leftover juices off of each finger he curtly nodded to Beth. "Les put this fire out, we'll start trackin'. Try and find us a better place ta hold up for the night" standing up he kicked dirt over the fire, picked up the crossbow and raised it in the direction of Beth. She cautiously released him from its grasp. As we walked through the forest he explained to her how to hold and shoot just like he had done with me. An hour into walking, Beth started to pick up on something that had been moving through the area, she just wasn't sure what it was yet. I trailed at the end of the line, enjoying Daryl take on a sort of big brother aspect. It was cute.

"What exactly are we trackin…?" I heard Beth call out as peered through the crossbow.

"You tell me" Daryl said.

"Path's all zig zaggy" She stopped, lowering down so she could better examine her findings. "It's a walker" Turning back she grinned at us.

Walking ever so lightly we began to hear the munching and slight moaning of what Beth had been tracking. Peering through the brush we saw it on its knees. It had obviously found something to munch on since it wasn't aimlessly trudging through. Daryl ushered for Beth to go ahead, cautiously and shoot. She paced forward, carefully stepping so the leaves wouldn't crunch too much beneath her feet. One wrong step and we hear the "clink" and then "snap" and she fell to the ground.

"Damnit" I exhaled. Beth amazingly kept calm as the walker turned around and got up from his kneeling position, she shot it and it was a good shot, just not high enough to take it out. I ran over swiftly and slid on the ground to where she'd fallen. Prying the bear trap away from her ankle and examining the damage it had caused. I knew not to worry about the walker; Daryl had quickly rushed in a taken care of it, throwing the bow against its head.

"She alright?" he said in between breaths.

I examined the ankle and then looked up at her as she brushed the blonde hairs out of her face. "Can you walk on it?"

"Yeah I think so" I helped her up bringing her arm up around my shoulders, cradling her waist to support her. Daryl led the way and through the break in the trees we saw a cemetery. A gigantic, old, white house lay in the distance. "Hey can we stop, I just need to sit down for a minute" Beth carefully unhooked her arm from my shoulders and limped a few more steps.

"Jus hold on for a minute" Daryl unslung the bow from his shoulder and handed it to me, I placed it over my own shoulder. It was heavier than I remembered. Walking over to Beth he stood in front of her and bent his knees. "C'mon, hop on" he said as he motioned with his hands for her to climb on his back.

I laughed.

"Are you serious?" Beth couldn't help but let out a snort.

"Yeah, s' serious piggyback ride, c'mon" I could see he found the humor in his words. He braced himself as the diaphanous, blonde haired girl jumped on his back. "Damn girl, yer heavier than you look". We started to make our haul through the rows of headstones.

"There's a house up there, maybe there's people in it" My tone optimistic, or at least there would be food there we could eat.

"Yeah if there are, you leave that to me." Daryl's tone reverted back to his uneasy and untrusting ways.

"There are still good people Daryl" I peered at him through the corner of my eyes, raising my brows and giving him a smirk.

We stopped when something caught Beth's eye, she gracefully unhitched herself from Daryl's back and walked over to a headstone.

"Beloved Father" it read. I walked over and laced her fingers through mine giving her hand a tight squeeze. Daryl glided past us with a small bouquet of wild yellows flowers and gently placed them on top of the aged stone. We stood there, silently paying respects not only to the nameless man who was buried there but also thinking about the people who we'd lost. Daryl walked back and stood beside me, in a swift manner my hand met his back and I caressed it, running my palm back and forth feeling the stitching of the wings on his vest against my skin. He briskly nodded his head in the direction of the house. I tugged Beth and I's linked hands in the direction of the house.

We met the porch and got a finger from Daryl telling us to wait there. He kicked open the door and pounded on it wooden frame, hoping that if anything were inside the noise would draw it out. After minutes of nothing making its way over we made our way inside. The house was beautiful; in fact it looked brand new.

I looked over a Daryl and then at Beth, a grand grin running across my face and I made a dash for the kitchen. I heard the two of the following behind me and one by one we bust open cabinets to find anything we could. We all stood in front of the last remaining cabinet. The others had been empty. Carefully I opened the last cabinet and my eyes lit up when I saw the food; peanut butter, jelly, diet coke…

"Pigs feet, these er mine" Daryl said as he snatched a jar and put it on the table. "Wait a minute… there's no dust on any a these, fact there's no damn dust in the whole house" He was suddenly cautious as if whoever might be taking care of the house would pop up any second.

"Daryl calm down, we'll be fine" I smiled at him. "Let's just take a few things to eat and leave the rest, I'm sure they'll understand". Nodding at me in agreement, he unscrewed the jar of jelly, inserted two fingers and scooped out an enormous glob, thrusting it inside his mouth.

"You're disgusting" Beth laughed.

….

Darkness fell. It didn't take us long to realize that the house was a funeral home, made sense with it being smack dab in the middle of a cemetery.

I sat at the piano with Beth and watched her thin hands glide across the keys as she softly belted a tune.

"And pine for summer,

And we'll buy a beer to shot gun,

And we'll lay in the lawn,

And we'll be good."

I could feel Daryl lingering from the arch way. He accidently bumped the wall with his bow and Beth jumped beside me. Daryl had done his rounds, checking for anything out of sort, any possible weak entries where someone could get it. It was all bolted except for the front door. We strung some cans and tied it to the large posts between the steps so that if anything did decide to make its up way, we would hear it.

"Everything checks out, we'll be good fer the night. Beth there's a bed upstairs, why don't you go get some rest"

I walked Beth up the stairs and into the bedroom. The bed looked heavenly and inviting and she graciously plopped down onto the thick comforter.

"This feels like heaven" she sighed as she fell back onto the bed.

We got up and pulled the covers back so she could slide in, I sat atop the bundle on the other side of the bed and rubbed her back, hoping she would fall asleep peacefully. She needed it. Hell we all needed it. I don't know how long I sat there with her, enjoying the comfort this place had brought us. I could hear Daryl making his way up the wooden stairs; they creaked beneath his heavy feet. Looking up he was standing in the door frame, his broad chest almost filling the entire space. His guard was definitely down as I noticed the bow was not in its usual hung place behind his back.

He nodded towards me. "She's asleep" his voice deep. I slyly removed myself out of the bed, crossing my arms in front of me walking to meet him at the door. I turned back to admire Beth, I felt his rough hand on my back as he ushered me out to let her sleep.

My body was beat. Being in a safe place for the night meant my body had time to finally relax and when it did it hit me like a ton of bricks. I was sore all over. I started to rub my neck, hoping it would help.

"What's wrong" his words genuine.

"Just tired and sore"

He walked behind me and I felt his rough hands cautiously at first on my shoulders, gently kneading. It felt amazing and it put me in a trance.

After minutes of enjoyment I slowly brought my hands up respectively to his hands on both shoulders. I tugged at them, bringing them around me and closing the gap between our bodies. He moved his hands and I thought I'd gone too far but as quickly as he removed them from over my shoulders I felt them creep around my waist. He pulled me close, I could feel his hot breath against my neck and his beard pricked my cheek. I shifted, turning into him. Looking up into his eyes, always were the damn hairs in front of those eyes.

I wanted him to kiss me; his touch was the drug and him the dealer. The more he was willing to give the more I wanted to take but what would the ultimate price be? We just stood there, eyes locked, breathe so close. I wondered if he could see the lust and desperation in my eyes. I wanted him; I wanted to feel those rough, calloused hands touch the most delicate parts of my skin, wanted to tug my hands at his brown hairs. I wanted him pressed into me, rough yet gentle at the same time, tantalizing me.

All I was granted was a brush of his lips against my forehead. "Y' should get some rest".

"You should too…" I looked up at him, longing in my brown eyes. "We'll take turns, just sit with me please." I led him over to the small loveseat against the wall and gestured for him to sit down first. I curled up in a ball resting my head into the crook of his arm.

I finally felt safe, mentally, physically, emotionally.

"Goodnight darlin'" his voiced hummed. And with that I drifted off fast, the rise and fall of his chest was rhythmic and peaceful, like a lullaby so sweetly singing me to sleep.