A/N: Wow, thanks for all the great responses! Sorry for the tease of an ending so I thought I would give you the next chapter as fast as I could! Enjoy.

Beth wiped the sweat from her brow with her forearm as she hung the last of the clothes on the line. She had spent the morning soaking, scrubbing and hanging their laundry. Be it there wasn't much, just a couple of outfits between the two of them but they were exceptionally dirty from their recent voyages and their linens.

She drew a deep breath and arched her back, stretching. She was tired. Week of traveling back and forth from the cabin through dense woods and avoiding walkers while searching and hoping to find their group. She was exhausted. Beth needed some time to rest and collect her thoughts. Although she had grown to treasure and enjoy her time in the woods with Daryl, the quiet beauty of nature and watching the hunter in his element, she needed some time to herself. She needed to collect herself. The laundry had been more work than she had thought. The hard work had cleared her mind, focusing just on the task. It was nice to be singularly focused, worries set aside for at least couple of hours.

Now she was done and was flooded with the thoughts that had plagued her for weeks. First and foremost on her mind was Maggie, Glen, Carl and all the others. So many months had gone by, seasons have passed. She clung to conviction of being reunited with her family but it was becoming increasing difficult. The fear and depression were starting to seep in. The realization that they all may be lost, that they may be gone. Fighting off the gloom and negative thoughts were becoming increasingly difficult. A singular thought helped to keep those creeping spirits away. Daryl.

Months alone with Daryl… a shiver shuddered her visibly. Daryl. It was still strange to her but had become increasingly more apparent to her. Beth couldn't hide it anymore, least of all from herself. She wished Maggie was here to talk to. Even Carol or Daddy or… anybody. She needed someone to talk through the feelings she had developed. Somehow, she had let her little affection for the rough archer grow into something more… something she couldn't quite get a handle on, something that had to come to head with their walker encounter at the gas station.

She wasn't exactly sure when or where it had started, not the deeper seeded feeling she was pushing down low inside. But the spark, the first flame had started at their arrival of this corner of paradise in the woods. It was there, that little flame had slowly developed, crept up on her until she was quivering and frantic as she waited alone in the gas station, awaiting the fate of the man who had come more than just her companion. She didn't know if she was crazy or stupid for letting her emotions get out of hand but there was no denying it anymore.

Beth rubbed the back of her neck and looked over at her growing patch of garden. She had a couple of rows started, peas and green beans from seed packets they had found last week. She really should consider clearing more area, a garden could really help keep them alive this winter if she could grow enough food. However, she turned her gaze out over the gleaming lake water. The cool lapping waves were calling to her. She let a slow smile play across her face, letting the confusing thoughts of Daryl drift to the back of her mind. She was going fishing.

After gathering a pole and tackle box from the cabin, Beth was sitting at the end of the wooden dock with her line in the water and her bare feet dangling above the blue water. It wasn't long before the calming water soothed her, allowing her attention to drift back to those moments in the gas station. Daryl had shoved her, hard and tossing the pack of gathered supplies on top of her as she tumbled to the floor, her bow falling from her hand. The door slammed shut before Beth had been able to utter a word. She heard the groaning of the encroaching group of walkers followed by the sounds of a struggle as she climbed to her feet, tossing the pack to the side. She watched, helpless, through a grimy window as Daryl raced away from the pack of dead, several dispatched on the asphalt. She teetered between running after him to help and staying in the gas station. Indecision made her choice in moments as she realized she didn't know where Daryl would be going to, his plan and the fact he would be furious for her for leaving the safety.

She had been left there to stew and worry. Daryl was gone. She was alone… and terrified. The idea of Daryl being gone… really gone had created a sudden and insurmountable fear that formed a lump in her throat and a catch in her heart. He had become so much more to her in the past months on their own. First a savior, then companion, teacher, friend and now… now Daryl might not know it but he was now her crush. Frantic minutes passed with her pacing and worrying until he entered the station, covering in gore and filth. She threw herself on to the surprised man, taking hold of him and terrified to let him go. She had made him promise to never leave again. It disturbed her to have spewed all that out, to let him see her like that. The trek home had been quiet. She had been overwhelmed by the rush of emotions that flooded her. She had never felt anything like that before. She had boyfriends, Jimmy and Zack. She knew what crushes were. She knew what desire was… or at least she thought she did. What had filled her, poured out of her at that dusty, dank station had been more. More than she was ready for.

A small tug pulled on the line, then another and with a quick jerk, Beth had a fish on the line. Soon a beautiful bass was hanging, flopping on her line and out of the water. She unhooked the fish and strung it up. She smiled, fish fry tonight!

Her hook was back in the water within a couple of minutes. Her toe tipped the water, creating a perfect circled ripple echoing out. Beth closed her eyes, enjoyed the heat of the sun beating down and channeled her inner Maggie, willing her to be sitting next to her. She could imagine the conversation she wished she could be having.

What's up, Buttercup?, her internal Maggie cheerfully questioned her. Beth hadn't heard her childhood nickname in years, she crinkled her nose at it.

"Nothin'," she muttered, twirling her big toe in the water once again.

Something's up. You might as well tell me. Gonna git it out of ya sooner or later.

"I don't really wanna talk about it." Beth rolled her shoulders and dipped her head.

What happened on the run yesterday?

Beth sighed. "Daryl," she responded quietly. Why was this seemingly harder in her imagination than she would really believe it to be?

What that redneck do this time? There was a flash of sisterly protection in Maggie's voice.

"Shoved me in the gas station-"

He what?!, Maggie interrupted. Did he hurt you? I'm gonna-

It was Beth's turn to interject. "Nah. He was trying to keep me safe. It's just when he did that… It made me realize… I didn't know if he was hurt or safe or alive." Her words came out rushed and breathy.

A moment passed before her inner older sister had a response. So… Daryl. I think you have more to tell me.

"I… I like Daryl." Oh, god, how childish did that sound? She didn't want to be childish. She had spent the winter trying to prove it to herself… and maybe a little to Daryl. She wasn't a child anymore. She was a woman in her own right. She was able to take care of herself. She was viable partner, she could contribute and survive.

Daryl? Maggie squeaked and then came back again with a more even voice, Daryl?

Beth nodded slowly. "Daryl." The name was even having an effect on her. A warm sensation in her core that made her shift her seat.

Maggie snorted. Suppose I can at least see it in those arms. Her sister hummed sweetly and appreciatively. Yup, man's got some nice arms.

"Stop, Maggie", chided Beth. A blush rose to her cheeks.

The rest of it. I don't understand. Daryl? He's old, dirty and crabby.

"He's more than that, Maggie. You don't know him like I do, we've-"

There was a tug on her fishing line. Pay attention, Buttercup.

The next pull was fierce and bent her pole. Beth jerked it back and hooked the fish. The animal fought hard, even leaping from the water when the end was close. But in the end, the bass was reeled from the water. It was twice as large as the last. Perfect size for dinner tonight if Daryl came home empty handed, it was unusual but a possibility. She took the line and other fish from the water and went back up to the cabin. She cleaned and fillet both fish before placing them in the cooler. It would keep them until later.

She absently rubbed her grimy hands on her shirt, taking a moment and realizing she had never finished her conversation with her inner Maggie. Would her overly protective sister have really been so understanding? Would she have warned her to stay away from the older man? Or would she have listened and counseled her as she had done on other boy issues? There in was the problem Beth realized as she nibbled on her lower lip. Daryl wasn't a boy. He was a grown man. Nothing like she had any experience with. Nonetheless, she still couldn't help the way he made her feel.

Outside and past mid-day, Beth wasn't sure what to do next. She had spent enough time pondering Daryl. The cabin could use a cleaning, it had been neglected with all their trips lately but it was too hot to be inside the stuffy cabin. She absently fingered her grey tank top before realizing it was covered with some fish grime. She groaned softly, even she wasn't able to keep an outfit clean for a half a day so how could she ever judge Daryl? Beth exhaled and looked out over the blue waters again. A smile jumped to her lips as an idea sprung in to her mind, a way to kill two birds with one stone.

She ran back into the cabin and exited with soap and shampoo in her arms. She ripped a mostly dried towel from her line and raced to dock. She kicked off her boots and socks while she pulled her shorts over her narrow hips. Her fingers briefly toyed with the hem of her tank top but she decided against it. She piled the towel at the end of the dock with her clothes before taking her shampoo and soap to the end of the wooden dock with her. She carefully placed the on the edge before taking several steps away from the end. Beth drew in a deep breath and rocketed towards the end, pulling her knees to her chest as she leapt from the dock. The water surrounded her, cold and shocking and wonderful. She allowed herself to sink for a moment after hitting the water before a couple powerful kicks propelled her to the surface. She let out a low chuckle and shook the water from her face. It felt good to be cool. Beth took a moment to scan the surrounding area. Making sure it was still safe before making her way back to the dock. She lathered the shampoo into her hair and scrubbed her tanned body and tank top with the bar of soap. It had been a long time since she had been this clean and it was wonderful. So great that she couldn't bring herself to leave after rinsing herself off. She laid back, floating calmly on waves. She didn't know how long she had been floating there when she heard the trudging of heavy footsteps. She sank silently into the water, raising just her eyes above the water's edge. Her heart was racing until she realized it was Daryl. He had returned from his hunt. That realization caused a different flutter in her heart.

Really? Daryl?, came Maggie again causing Beth to giggle. She leapt from the water and waved to her friend, not completely understanding the simultaneous surprise and slack-jaw look on Daryl's face…

A/N: Okay - so it's at the same ending. Sorry for teasing again. I promise I won't do it again... well, no I can't promise that! What I can promise is their first real kiss. It's coming up soon *wink-wink* perhaps the next chapter?