A/N: I am so sorry it took so long to get this chapter up. I had intentions of uploading on Sunday before the premiere but alas life has gotten quite busy this week for me! Husband is off to CA for work, kids are on MEA weekend, work exploded and some how... I ended up with 7 foster puppies. Not sure what I was thinking but anyway it happened, I'm sorry for the delay when I teased you with the last one! Hope you enjoy the chapter, letting you have some more sweetness before I take it all away... dun... dun... DUN!
"Here we are as in olden days,
happy golden days of yore.
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Gather near to us once more.
Through the years we all will be together
If the Fates allow
Hang a shining star upon the highest bough.
And have yourself a merry little Christmas now."
Beth let the last note hang in the room as she glanced over at Daryl again. A full belly and a warm bed, her worn out red neck hunter didn't stand a chance. He had drifted away before she had reached the fourth Christmas carol.
She eased herself from the rocking chair, taking the patchwork quilt from the end of the bed and drew up slowly over the length of Daryl. She pulled it to his chin, tucking him in gently. Underneath the roughness, the gruff and dirt which she swore he wears as armor, he was a handsome man. He had stunning blue eyes if you could ever get a good look at them. His lips were not too thin, not too thick. And his scruffy beard… she had never been one to enjoy a beard on a man but then again most of the guys she had been involved with couldn't have grown one anyway. His hair, that dark wonderful chestnut with hues of autumn red when cleaned and in the light. She smiled at the thought and decided he needed shampoo and haircut tomorrow. For his benefit, of course. She reached her hand down and paused. His hair was in his face, partly covering his eyes. She bit her lip and considered her options, should she? She continued forward slowly and brushed his locks from his face. She lowered her lips and kissed him softly on his forehead. Beth wasn't quite sure why, but she knew Daryl needed it as sure as she was that he would never ask for it.
Daryl's eyes fluttered open, hazy and unfocused. "Beth?"
"Shh," she hushed, backing away slightly. "Sleep." A pink blush was creeping to her cheeks. While she didn't regret kissing the rogue man sleeping in her bed, she didn't really want to explain it to him.
He shifted in the bed, twisting the quilt with him. His eyes closed as he murmured, "You kissed him."
"You're dreaming," she whispered, a little smile on her face.
A low grunt escaped him and a moment passed before another mumble escaped the sleeping Daryl, "Usually you're naked when you do that… new dream."
Beth's eyes went wide. What did that man just say? A hand went to her mouth in shock at first and then… slowly a little chuckle escaped her. Beth supposed it was OK… she would have never guessed in a hundred years that she would have ever been in the dreams of Daryl Dixon. She wasn't sure if she should be thrilled but she certainly wasn't upset by the idea. It was strange thought to ponder as she laid down on the blankets that made up Daryl's normal bed. Beth curled onto her side, resting her head on a pillow scented of Daryl, wild, woods and sweat. She closed her blue eyes and considered she might let a little of Daryl in her dreams tonight.
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Beth rose slowly from the makeshift cot on the floor, she had slept in Daryl's usual spot last night. It was definitely not as comfy as the bed, she stretched her arms and shoulders trying to ease a bit of the soreness out. They were going to start alternating, it wasn't fair that Daryl slept there every night.
She pattered quietly over to the stove and put another log on to warm up the winter cool room. She glanced back at the sleeping form in her bed, his dark hair had drifted back over his face again. She was going to clean and cut it, he needed it. She grabbed a pot and started to warm some water. Beth rested back into the rocking chair for a moment, the floor underneath creaked rather loudly.
The resting Daryl bolted upright in her bed at the sound, his eyes bleary and looked around rapidly before resting his vision on Beth.
"Sorry," she said sheepishly, trying not to smile at the startled Daryl, guessing he would not like it.
He rubbed forcefully at his face. "S'kay. I guess I slept too… hard."
Beth would have guess he was going to say good. That little imp inside of her took hold of her tongue again. "Did you have any good dreams last night?"
He paused and peered at her from his fingertips. "No. No dreams," he replied stoically.
She rose before he could see her smirk and walked to the kitchen area. "C'mon. Let's get up and eat."
The pair ate a quick breakfast of dry cereal, dressed and washed up with some of the warmed water. Once done, Beth grabbed two towels, the scissors and the warmed pot of water while Daryl was distracted. For the first time since she could remember, the man hadn't slept within two feet of his crossbow. He was now examining and priming it carefully.
Beth turned a chair backwards to the table and patted it loudly. Daryl looked up from his weapon. "What?"
"Sit," she instructed.
"Why?" he asked, more weary than the first question.
"Because I'm gonna give you a haircut. I don't know how you can see anything. It's almost as long as mine," she teased.
He grunted in response but didn't argue as he walked over. "Kinda like it long," he muttered sitting down.
"I'll just give it a good trim," she replied, wrapping a towel around his neck. "Here, rest your head back," she ordered, pushing him slightly back.
She planned on washing his dark locks too. Slowly, she wet his hair, massaging in the shampoo into his hair and scalp. Daryl's eyes closed and relaxed. Beth could swear he was enjoying it as she worked her slender fingers through strands of his hair and she smiled. He relaxed so little, it was nice to see it twice in less than twenty-four hours. Once thoroughly cleaned, she rinsed his hair with the warm water. She patted his hair dry with the extra towel. She had to give Daryl a gentle nudge to sit him back up, wondering if he had dozed off again by the blinking look he gave her as he rose. She went to work trimming his hair. She didn't want him to know that she didn't have a lot of experience cutting hair. He was only her third haircut and didn't want to butcher it.
It was a while later when she declared him done, brushing any extra hair from Daryl's shoulders. She swept up the hair on the floor, noticing it was little more than the inch she had originally intended. Daryl went to the mirror and examined her work.
"Thanks," he commented when he raked his fingers thru his freshly cut hair, looking at it carefully.
"No problem," she answered, secretly beaming internally.
Daryl turned and looked at her but said nothing. A moment passed quietly before it started to unnerve her, butterfilies developed in her stomach under the gaze of his dark blue eyes. "What?"
"Uh, you wanna go out today? Hunt?" he finally stuttered out and dipped his head low, going back to fiddling with his bow.
Beth threw aside the awkward moment and responded enthusiastically, "Hell ya!" She quickly put her boots and coat on and grabbed her own bow. "Let's go," she said, walking for the door and pulled her cap down low over her ears.
He followed her lead and slide into his winter garments before grabbing one of their always packed survival pack and throwing over his shoulder. "Littl' eager, are we?"
She threw a flashy smile over her shoulder at him. "It's my lucky day. I can feel it. I've been close but today is the day!"
"Not that way," he said, taking the path along the lake instead of deep into the wood. "Had no luck that way yesterday."
Beth followed, as she always did, close behind Daryl as they settled up on a game trail. They traveled in silence for a while, allowing her to appreciate the scenery while looking for sign of game. The stark beauty of winter was apparent by the barren limbs, reaching black fingers to the sky, and the white early morning frost peppering the sparse brown vegetation. A lone small finch chirped from up high, sending out a sweet song above.
Then something caught her eye, a broken twig and an indent in the cold dirt. She paused and took a knee on the ground by the print. She pressed a finger to the edge and examined it.
"Hey, Daryl, think I found something," she called out to her partner in front of her. "Deer?"
He nodded and came back to where she was kneeling. "Hoped you'd catch that. Didn't pass by long ago."
Beth rose, pulling her compound bow into her hand and trying to contain the smile of pride. "Let's get movin' then."
It was less than a half mile away when they spotted the buck. Cautiously, they edged closer, weaving between the brush and barren trees. Finally, downwind from their target, Daryl urged Beth to take the shot. Beth took in a slow, deep breath as she pulled the string back as she aimed. There was a fine tremble in her arm and she nipped at her lip to try to stop the tremor. Beth released the arrow and watched as it struck the buck cleanly; the animal fell instantly to the ground.
Beth did her best to squelch the yelp of pride that erupted from her throat. There were no cheers of happiness allowed in the wilds of walker land. She jumped up, bouncing excitedly as turned back towards Daryl. He gave her a lop-sided grin and a solid nod of approval. She couldn't contain the happiness and pride bubbling, she lowered her bow and leaned forward towards Daryl. She pressed her lips lightly to his cheek and smiled at him. "Couldn't have done it without you," she rewarded and bounded towards her kill, leaving a stunned Daryl behind her. She couldn't help but smile as she thought, I've got to stop this… two kisses to Daryl Dixon in twenty-four hours. Can't be making that a habit… can I?
She had no time to ponder as she reached her kill. She stared down at the life she took, the food she had provided. The deer was security for her and Daryl for a time. She could do it. She could provide, she could survive.