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The next few months were just about as perfect as they could get for Daryl. He and Beth had settled into a routine of stolen kisses and hidden moments. He had begun to train her in addition to her training with Michonne. It not only served to help keep her safe but was also an excuse to spend even more time with her. He also started teaching her to hunt and track. He had told Rick that if anything ever happened to him it would be good for someone else to be able to take up his job and that Beth seemed to have a natural talent for it. Rick was skeptical. Hershel seemed to be the only one who was willing to trust in Beth. He respected Daryl's and Michonne's judgements enough to have faith in his youngest daughter's abilities. Although they had fun together, she took her training seriously and had vastly improved. Despite most still being wary of her abilities, Beth was allowed on runs now. Her newfound confidence was something that Daryl found extremely sexy. She had this new light to her as she started finding her place in the group. She loved helping out with Judith but being able to go on runs and provide for the people she called family made her feel like a fully contributing member.

There was only issue between the two of them; Beth wanted to keep their relationship a secret and Daryl didn't. He was tired of sneaking around, tired of not having Beth in his bed every night, and he was tired of feeling like he was betraying Hershel. At first he understood her reasoning. She said their relationship was new and she didn't want to be under a microscope while they were figuring out how to be together. Daryl understood that. He had no idea how to be in a relationship and he knew everyone would be waiting for him screw up, wait for him to hurt her. But he hadn't. They'd been carrying on for four months now and with the exception of a few disagreements here and there it had been smooth sailing. If Daryl were a sappy man he'd say him and Beth were made for each other. That maybe if such a thing was real, that Beth was his soul mate. It was a good thing he wasn't a sappy man. When it became apparent that things were going good he brought up telling her dad again and again she didn't want to. This last time her excuse was she wasn't ready. She needed more time. Why he wasn't sure and when he pushed her to elaborate all she did was clam right up and make excuses. He'd had enough. He couldn't even look Hershel in the eye anymore knowing what he was doing with his daughter. He wanted Hershel to be okay with him being with Beth and knew Hershel wouldn't appreciate being lied to and carrying on behind his back.

Daryl was really starting to wonder if she was even serious about him or if she was ashamed of him. He didn't want to think she felt that way but what else could it be? It would makes sense. Despite how well they were together he would always know that Beth was too good for him. If they had ever met when the world was right she wouldn't have looked at him twice. She would probably have been scared of him. He wouldn't blame her. He had been angry at the world and everyone in it and knew it showed then. His temper had always been simmering just under surface, ready to come out at the slightest provocation. He was an asshole. An angry, loud, redneck asshole. He had to be in order to survive around Merle and the people he hung around. For some reason Beth seemed to want him. He was always waiting until she realized he was no good for her and to break it off. Until then he was going to enjoy every moment he was lucky enough to get with her. He was willing to let her go if that's what she really wanted and it seemed it might be coming faster than he expected. Daryl still had his pride though. He wasn't willing to be her dirty little secret. It wasn't like he wanted to flaunt their relationship. He was too private of a person for that. Nobody but Hershel and maybe Rick had to know for all he cared. They were the ones that mattered. He just wished she would talk to him, tell him the real problem.

Daryl sighed as he made his way into the office they used for council meetings. He needed to focus. He took an empty seat and hoped this meeting didn't take long. He was supposed to meet Beth for training in less than hour. It went by pretty fast and he was the first up and headed towards the door, anxious to meet Beth. He hadn't spent any time with her in two days. He went on a two day hunting trip which ended in a boar and and a buck. Daryl heard Hershel call his name but with everyone talking, it was easy to pretend he didn't hear, and ducked out of the room. He couldn't talk to Hershel. Not right now.

When he walked out of the prison doors he saw Beth out in the field stretching and he couldn't contain a small grin. He was supposed to be training her in self defense today but changed his mind. He wanted to be away from the eyes of everyone. He walked over to Carl who was walking around with Judith on his hip. Daryl could hear him pointing out random things and naming them.

"Carl." Daryl called to him.

Carl pointed at him and said, "Look Judy, it's Daryl." Judith squealed a happy sound and went back to sucking on her fingers.

Daryl ruffled her hair affectionately before looking at Carl. "I'm gonna take Beth out to check the snares and teach her how to make them. Tell Hershel when you see him."

"Alright." Carl adjusted Asskicker on his hip and Daryl turned to leave. He didn't get far before Carl called out to him.

"Hey Daryl. You think you can teach me some of this stuff too sometime?"

He sounded so damn hopeful that Daryl couldn't say no, even though it would cut some of his time with Beth.

"Ask your dad. If he says okay I'll find some time to teach you."

A huge smile spread across Carl's face. "Thanks Daryl!"

"Yeah. Yeah." Daryl grumbled as he walked away but Carl could tell he didn't mind.

Beth looked up at him as Daryl approached her with a smile on her face.

"Grab your weapons and come on." Daryl told her. She looked surprised but did as he asked and grabbed her knives.

"Where to Mr. Dixon?" He glared at her but there was no heat to it, so she just laughed and gestured for him to lead the way.

"We're leaving the prison?" Beth questioned as he lead her through the hole in the fence and then closed it back up.

"Yeah. Gonna do snares today."

The moment they were out of sight and into the treeline, Daryl turned and grabbed Beth by the hips and pulled her into him. His lips met hers and muffled her sound of surprise. Daryl melted into the kiss after she responded and let go of the tension he didn't realize he was holding. It felt so right for her to be pressed up against him. She tasted so good and he couldn't get enough of her. Kissing was something he usually avoided. Not with Beth though. Never with Beth. He would spend all day kissing her if he could. Daryl finally pulled away and held her close.

"Been wanting to do that all day."

She gazes up at him, cheeks flushed, lips swollen and eyes dilated, and says, "have you now?"

"Mmhhmm" he hummed and kissed the top of her head.

"Me too," she whispered as he let go and pulled her farther into the trees.

"If I'm learning how to track and hunt, why do I need to learn about snares too?" Beth questions him as they walk.

"You might not always have a weapon you can hunt with. Can't throw a knife at a deer Greene." Beth laughs.

"Okay, okay. Point taken." She suddenly gets serious. "Can you also teach me how to skin and prep a kill? It's disgusting but there's no point in hunting if I don't know how."

Daryl is suddenly serious too. He doesn't want to think of a situation where he wouldn't be there to do these things for her, but he knows it's important that she be able to survive on her own no matter what. "Yeah. I can do that."

They spend the next couple hours checking each snare and Daryl teaches her how to make one. He makes her tie knots over and over again until it becomes second nature. There wasn't many walkers around and Daryl was grateful for that. They ended up with a few rabbits and headed back to the prison.

Just like before right before they come into sight Daryl grabs her and kisses her until they're both dizzy. They make plans to meet up for his shift in the guard tower at midnight and part ways.

Daryl doesn't turn when he hears the door open, knowing it's her by the sound of her steps. She's getting lighter on her feet with every tracking lesson and he is proud of her. She walks up to him and wraps her arms around him from behind and rests her cheek on his shoulder blade. He puts a hand over hers and stares out into the night. He enjoys the embrace for a moment before turning around and cupping her face in his hands, thumbs caressing her skin. Beth gazes up at him and the look in her eyes somehow takes his breath away and terrifies him at the same time. He leans down and gently brushes his lips against hers. Beth shivers and grips his waist harder. He applies more pressure, the sweet kiss turning into something more.

Daryl licks her bottom lip, asking for entrance, and she opens her mouth for him. His tongue is slowly sliding against hers in a whisper of a touch that makes his cock ache. One of his hands leaves her face to grip her hip and pull her closer. He wants to let her feel how much he needs her.

Just as Beth reaches to undo a button on his shirt they hear someone coming up the stairs. They both freeze for a fraction of a second before they hurriedly break apart and put some distance between them. Daryl puts his back to the door trying to regain his senses. The door opens seconds later and Carl enters.

"Hey Daryl I was wondering..." He breaks off when he sees Beth there. "Oh hey Beth. What are doing here?"

Beth is slightly flushed but doesn't hesitate. "I couldn't sleep so I thought I'd try to relieve Daryl." She shrugs . "You know how he is though. Thought I'd keep him company instead."

Carl doesn't seem suspicious. Just smiles and then turns to Daryl. "Dad says it's okay if you teach me stuff. When do you think we could start?"

"Don't know yet. I'll let you know."

Carl beams at him, says his thanks, and disappears back down the stairs.

Daryl hears Beth let out a breath when they can't hear him anymore. She looks nervous. "Do you think he noticed anything? I don't think he did but I'm not sure."

Daryl keeps his back to her. He is frustrated and trying to reign it in.

"It wouldn't be a problem if we could just tell your dad about us."

"Not this again." He can tell she was frustrated too without even looking at her.

"Aren't you sick of this? Sick of sneaking around, of worrying about being caught? Cuz I sure fucking am."

"I'm not ready Daryl. It's that simple." Her voice is softer but there's an edge to it.

He finally turns to look at her. "Why?" It was as close to plea as Daryl would ever get. He just wants to understand.

She averts her eyes and shifts her weight. She says nothing.

"You ashamed of me?" His voice is quiet but he can't keep the hurt from creeping into it.

Her eyes widen in shock. "Of course not Daryl! How could you think that?"

He throws his hands up. "I don't know what to think Beth! Ya won't talk to me. I've been wracking my brain and all I can come up with is either you're ashamed of being with me or ya ain't in this as much as I thought." Daryl's voice rises with each word until he is yelling.

Beth opens her mouth to respond but he cuts her off. "Just go. I ain't dealing with this shit. You obviously ain't ready for this."

"So you're back to this! Cutting me off and running away because you're afraid of what I might say."

"I ain't afraid of nothing," he snaps back at her.

"That's bullshit! You know damn well I'm in this as much as you."

"Why can't you just fucking tell me?"

"I don't want to tell my daddy because I love you, you stupid, noble, stubborn ass!" She screams at him.

He freezes. He can't comprehend what she just said. He must of heard wrong. She couldn't of said that she loved him. He opens his mouth stupidly, not even knowing if he could speak, but she wasn't done.

"I don't want to lose you Daryl. I know how much you respect my daddy and Rick. I know that you're a good man and if they had a problem with us, I'm afraid you would walk away. Because you think it would be right." She has tears in her eyes and Daryl can't take it anymore. He walks up to her and cradles her face in his hand.

"You love me?"

"Yes" she chokes out on tearful laugh. "I love you Daryl Dixon."

The biggest smile spreads across his face at the words he didn't even know he needed to hear.

"You think too good of me. I'm a selfish man Beth. I ain't giving you up for nothing." And then he kisses her. And he doesn't stop.

Much much later as she is falling asleep in his bed and in his arms, he whispers in her ear, "I love you too Beth Greene."