I own nothing The Walking Dead. If I did, I'd have the cast take you out to a lake, and find that perfect skipping rock for you to throw across the water (sorry friends, I'm tired and couldn't think of anything clever this time)

"So, tell me everything…absolutely everything." Maggie was bobbing her head with a little too much enthusiasm. Beth rolled her eyes and attempted to ease off on the annoyance. This was Beth's first date in a really long time; Maggie was allowed to be inquisitive. Sasha giggled as she sat on Beth's other side. Beth had warned her friend about this, yet somehow that hadn't deterred her from coming.

As luck would have it (and because this really was a small town), Sasha happened to be the younger sister of Tyreese Williams, one of the managing distributors that Glenn worked closely with. Glenn and Tyreese got along great together, so when the connection was made, Maggie jumped at the chance of expanding their social group.

Which brought them all together, Bob included, to this warm Saturday afternoon, the women relaxing in the backyard on old plastic folding-chairs, while the men stood around the BBQ.

"You're still not saying anything, Bethy." Her sister warned, glaring as she spoke.

"It was nice" Beth responded as she watched Chuck and Muck running through the sprinklers. Maybe if I go join them, I won't have to talk to her

She turned to look at Maggie who was still glaring. Beth groaned and took a sip from her tea.

"I know what'll make her talk." Sasha reached over and switched Beth's tea with her own.

"No, Sasha, ew!" Beth reached for her drink, but Sasha slapped her hand away.

"It's just ice tea with a little bit of rum. Drink it up and talk!" Sasha gestured towards Bob to bring her another one.

Beth tentatively took a sip, and was surprised to find she liked it. She shrugged and drank some more.

"We had a great time, he was a total gentleman, planned a lovely evening. It was nice."

Maggie rolled her eyes and let her head fall back on her seat. Sasha wasn't ready to give up yet however.

"Okay let's try this, 20 questions, lightning round. Answer these and we'll stop bugging you"

Maggie perked up and smiled as she swung her legs and sat up in Beth's direction. She placed her elbows on her thighs and leaned towards her sister. "Yes, great idea Sasha. Wait, we'll need Glenn for this."

Maggie called for Glenn who quickly came to sit next to Maggie. He was just as curious as Maggie was and therefore happy to play.

"Me first, I'll start with an easy one" Sasha smiled as she got the game rolling.

"Where did you go for dinner?"

"We went to Angelo's" Beth took another sip.

"Did he kiss you goodnight?" Maggie eye's sparkled.

"Pass."

"Did he do gentlemen-y things, like open doors for you and pull out your chair?" Sasha smiled.

"Yeah, he did."

"Did he kiss you goodnight?" Now it was Glenn's turn to smirk

"Pass." Beth gave him a dirty look as she started to feel the effects of the rum.

"Did you go anywhere else afterwards?" Sasha continued.

"Yes, we took a stroll down the neighborhood and looked at all the Fourth of July decorations."

"Did he hold your hand?"

"Yes, Maggie, he held my hand the entire time we walked."

"Did you make plans to see him again?" Glenn asked.

"Tentative plans for another night. I see him a lot at the campus anyway" She clarified as she saw the look of disapproval from Glenn's face.

"Bethy," Maggie's stern look was back. "Did he give you a kiss goodnight?" she tilted her head as she asked the question, as if that would make Beth more willing to answer. It worked.

"God, Maggie, yes! He gave me a kiss goodnight." Beth gulped the last of her tea before setting it down dramatically. "You happy?"

"No, not quite. How was it?"

"That's my cue" Glenn stood up and walked back to Bob and Tyreese.

Sasha leaned closer and nudged her friend's arms, "Yeah, Beth. How was it?" she smiled. Beth closed her eyes and tried to think of how to describe it.

"It was...aggressive."

"What!" The look of humor quickly left her sister's face. Beth turned to Sasha who looked taken aback as well.

"No, that came out wrong." Back tried to back pedal, trying to figure out a better adjective. "The kiss was unexpected?"

Without meaning to, Beth began laughing. "I'm totally saying this wrong!" she said between breaths. Maggie and Sasha looked at one another before focusing back to Beth.

"How about you start over?" Sasha said as she handed back Beth's ice tea.

"I wasn't expecting it." Beth attempted again "He was dropping me off at my apartment. As I looked down to grab my keys he kind of just pulled me towards him and initiated a kiss. It was invasive, not how I would have thought a first kiss would be. It didn't suck." Beth was pulling at her shirt as she spoke. She was always uncomfortable talking about that sort of thing, but these were the things she was supposed to talk about with the women in her life.

She looked up to see Maggie who looked a little worried. "I wasn't going to let him have the last move, though. Right before I stepped into my apartment, I gave him a little peck on the cheek. I can initiate a kiss too."

It was silly really. She had been slightly shaken by Shane's kiss. In an effort to balance it out, and give herself a less stressful memory, she left him with the chaste kiss. He smiled as he placed his hand on his cheek, making Beth wonder if he had ever received one before.

Maggie seemed to have calmed down a bit as Beth continued drinking her rum-free ice tea.

"Do I need to worry about you baby sister?"

Beth looked at her sister before turning her attention to her nephews.

"No, you don't." she said as she stood up. "Don't worry Maggie. I've got this." She smiled as she ran to the boys, feeling the cool water sprinkle at her bare feet.

Sunday morning, Beth woke up with a bit of a headache, but a cold glass of water and a banana quickly fixed her up. As she put on some loose capris and a red tank top, she processed her previous conversation with Maggie and Sasha. Having said those things out loud made her more aware of the doubts she had been feeling during the past week in regards to Shane. Then again, she was relatively new with relationships, so she didn't know how valid her concerns should be.

Beth had been a late bloomer when it game to romance. Jimmy was her first real boyfriend, someone she had started dating during her sophomore year of college, although she had known him throughout her childhood. She was sure he was the love of her life, something that became more real to her when she lost her virginity to him. Both had attended the same college, but Jimmy decided to transfer out of state after a year, so their sweet romance slowly dissolved with the distance and time. She met Zach a few years later. She had a lot of fun with him, and their relationship could have lasted longer, but after the death of her mother, Zach froze her out, not knowing how to handle a grieving girlfriend. It was for the best she had decided. Beth realized later in life that she had only been with Zach because she was lonely, a mistake she would not make again.

But isn't that what you're kind of doing right now? Beth froze at that thought.

She shook her head as she put on her black chucks. Beth was a lot stronger now, emotionally. She was also more confident. She could honestly say she trusted herself, and was in a healthier state in her life. She would never put herself in a bad situation, or even a situation that would make her uncomfortable. She wasn't going to dismiss this thought, however. She was just going to see where things went with Shane. Because that's what grown-ups did.

An hour later, Beth was pulling into the makeshift parking lot near the county library. As she got out, the exquisite smell of fruit and honey filled Beth's senses, and she wondered why she hadn't come to the famous Kings County Farmers Market more frequently. With a few text messages, Beth quickly found Sasha, Tara, and Amy in front of a citrus stand.

"Hi Beth, I'm glad you could make it" even though she had just seen Sasha the day before, she was happy to see her friend again.

"You bet! You made this sound so great, how could I not. I really should come out here more often."

"Us too" Amy gestured to herself and Tara as she placed some lemons into her tote bag. "We're getting to be that boring couple that only lounge on the couch and watch TV on the weekends. It's nice to leave the house." Amy walked up to the merchant and paid for her stuff. Tara laughed as she turned to her friends "I don't know what she's talking about. Going to a farmers market on the weekend? See, we can be spontaneous." She commented as she walked up to join Amy.

Beth smiled as she walked to the following stand, Sasha close behind. "I can't wait to be in a boring relationship" Beth sighed as she picked up a ripe mango and brought it to her nose.

"With Shane?" Sasha asked, watching her closely.

Beth grimaced before shrugging and putting the mango back.

Sign 1: not thinking about him in your future.

"I know you don't believe it right now, but you will find that someone to be bored with. It'll happen before you know it" Sasha smiled as she placed her arm around her.

"What will happen?" Amy and Tara joined them.

"Beth will find her soul mate" Sasha answered with a grin "And they will be boring together."

"Oh, no doubt about that." Tara winked at her friend. Beth would have been a fool not to believe her.

After a couple of hours of walking around and enjoying each other's company, the four women found themselves sitting on a bench eating shaved ice treats that Beth had treated them to.

"I can't believe I've lived here close to ten years, and never been out here before." She marveled out loud as she took another spoonful of cherry ice.

"I like coming here more for the environment" Sasha responded looking around. "Shopping outside in the open air. What's not to like?"

"Plus it's great to come and people watch." Tara added "The most earthy and interesting people tend to flock here."

Beth perked up at those words. A beautiful Sunday morning. Fresh produce, open air, nothing but nature around us. Nothing else going on in this sleepy town. She stood up and started scanning the market. It was quite a few blocks wide, stretching out across a mile of the down town shopping area. Still, she felt sure she'd find what she was looking for.

"You okay Beth?" Tara looked up at her from her seat. Beth walked a few steps forward and spotted a familiar blur of shaggy brown hair. She immediately giggled and turned to her friends.

"I'll be right back ladies" she put the remainder of her shaved ice down and walked in his direction. "Is she okay? Did you see how red she got?" she heard Amy tell Tara as she walked away. Yep, she knew she was beet red. She just hoped it cleared by the time she reached him.

"I knew it!" She cried out as she got within arms distance. Daryl quickly turned around, a look of shock and then amusement as realization set in.

"I knew you'd be here!" she smiled triumphantly at him as she looked behind him and saw what stand he was at. "I mean, I didn't know you'd be at this exact location here," she reached for a jar of strawberry rhubarb jam. He chuckled as he took the jam from her hands.

"Careful girl. I've seen how clumsy you are." She playfully punched him in the arm, and was rewarded with his laugh. He put the jar back in its place and stepped back to watch her closely. Beth couldn't stop herself from properly looking at him as well. He was wearing a tan short sleeved button down shirt and baggy jeans. Usually when she saw him he was in professor mode, so it was nice to see him outside of that environment. She hoped he was thinking the same thing.

"So you come here often?" she asked as he waved goodbye to the merchant and started walking towards the produce.

"Yeah, I suppose. I'm here about twice a month." She liked that he looked at her when he spoke; it allowed her to take in his features and reinforce the fact that he was incredibly handsome. "You?"

She shook her head "No, this is my first time. I'm here with some friends" at that moment she turned in the direction of the girls, who just so happened to be staring back at her. Sasha and Tara quickly turned away once they were caught, but Amy kept staring, grinning widely at them. Luckily, Daryl was still watching her so she could at least save herself from that embarrassment.

"I should probably get back to them. I just wanted to say hi." She smiled at him. Even though she was the one who approached him, she couldn't stop the familiar fluttering sensation in her tummy.

"I'm glad you did" he smiled back, and that warming sensation came back to her face.

"I'll see you Monday?" he asked, finally looking down at his bag full of produce.

She nodded. "You bet. Bye Professor Dixon."

"Goodbye Baker Beth." He grinned as he walked away.

She stood there dumbfounded as she watched him leave.

Sign 2: Swooning more over Daryl's nickname for me, then when Shane calls me gorgeous.

It was probably guilt that had made Beth rush home and start baking. She washed and pealed the peaches she had purchased and began work on some mini-peach cobblers. She kept the dough cold so that she could pop them in the oven early the following morning and have fresh pies to take to work.

She was determined to get Shane to try one of her pastries. It was of great urgency now. She left for work earlier than usual but didn't mind. It was worth it to have the strong smell of warm cobbler to accompany her on her drive to work. She parked in the campus security lot, figuring that the odds of her getting ticketed there were probably low considering who she was dating. Besides, she liked being a little bit of a rebel.

"Morning Rosita" she smiled as she walked up. "Is Shane in yet?" Rosita looked at her with a bored expression on her face. She was obviously not a morning person. "Yeah, hold on a sec." She went to go get him as Beth placed the warm cobbler on the lobby desk. She busied herself reading a copy of the year's campus crime report when she heard the familiar steps walk up to her. "Hey there gorgeous" his masculine voice filled the lobby. "What brings you here so early?"

"I brought you a pie" she said. That's pretty direct and to the point.

"Oh" he looked down, not sure what to say. "It's small"

Rosita laughed as she watched the couple interact. It was a pretty awkward and stilted conversation. Sign 3?

"Yes, it is. It's mini-peach cobbler. If you like it, I have three more in the car" she smiled.

"I'll have it if you don't want it" Rosita interrupted as she took her place back behind the counter.

"No, it's not that I don't want it. I'm just not a fan of sweets" he looked at Beth unapologetically.

"You don't like sweets?" Beth couldn't comprehend what that meant. Who didn't like sweets?

"Well, some sweets are okay." He grinned wickedly at her as he leaned forward. Both Rosita and Beth groaned out loud, and Shane at least had the decency of looking embarrassed.

"Do you like sweets?" Beth looked at Rosita who was currently filing her nails.

"Uh, yes! Yes I do." Beth slid the pie in her direction, and Rosita quickly jumped out of her chair and grabbed it. "Awesome, I'm taking my break now" she said over her shoulder as she walked towards the back offices.

Beth chuckled as she watched her go and then turned to Shane. "What am I going to do now, Shane? You don't like sweets? That's kind of my specialty."

"I wouldn't worry about that Beth. I'm sure you'll figure it out" he said, grinning wider. She scoffed and rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, okay." She said as she started to walk backwards towards the door. He shook his head and followed her out, holding the door open for her.

"I'll call you later" he leaned and whispered into her ear. Beth shrugged and turned to look at him "If you'd like" she responded, hoping her indifference would bother him. "I'll be having lunch with Daryl later today, so maybe you can call me after." That should do it.

Instead of being bothered, however, he leaned further down to kiss her. Beth put her hand in his face and stopped him before he was able to make contact.

"No, no kiss" she declared taking her hand down and walking out in front of him.

She turned to look at him, and was relieved to finally see a look of shock.

She waved and turned towards her car.

"You don't get to choose which sweets you get."

She couldn't help it. As soon as she got back to the library, she pulled Tara into her office and debriefed. Even though she wanted her honest opinion, Beth couldn't help but enjoy all the exaggerated features her friend made as she retold her morning's events.

From disgust, to amusement, to anger, and finally pride for her friend, Tara's face told her everything she needed to know.

"Yes! Ha ha ha, yes! Bad-ass baby-girl Beth. You are my hero!" Tara clapping enthusiastically by the time Beth had finished.

"You sure I wasn't being too sensitive?" Beth almost whispered it.

"Friend, no." She stepped in front Beth to emphasize her point. "Beth, you are not a sensitive person. You a have a good head on your shoulders never doubt that. You are justified in every feeling you ever feel."

Beth smiled. She knew it, but it was nice to hear it from someone else.

"Besides," Tara continued "It's good for men like Shane to get dropped down a few notches. If you choose to continue this relationship, you'll be good for him."

Beth sighed. "I don't know if that's what I want."

Sign 4.

"Baker Beth." He greeted her as he sat down at his usual spot.

"Professor Dixon." She greeted in return. She took a bite of her sandwich as she forced herself not to look in his direction. She was trying to think logic thoughts, trying to sort things out. It didn't help when she had Mr. Blue sitting so closely to her. She smiled fondly as she remembered her old moniker for him.

I'm justified in every feeling I feel Beth reminded herself as she took another bite.

"I got you something." Daryl reached over and pulled out a small brown paper bag. He handed it to her as if it wasn't a big deal. She looked at him before taking it from his hands, not sure how to respond.

"Daryl, thank you." She practically gasped, taken completely aback by his actions.

"Don't thank me yet. It's nothing really." He said as he lit the cigarette already in his mouth.

Beth looked at the bag for a short while before pulling out its contents. It was a small bottle of pear-honey jam. Beth recognized the label from the farmer's market booth she had seen Daryl at.

"This is supposed to taste good on all sorts of baked goods. Since you've been treating me for a while, I figured it was time I repaid the favor."

She turned the small glass jar in her hand, completely at a loss as to what to say. She looked up at him, and saw him give her that half smile of his that she had grown so fond of. "Or maybe it's my subtle way of asking for more goods." He chuckled at his own joke.

Before she could process what she was doing, she leaned over and wrapped her arms around him in a hug. An awkward, self-conscious hug, but a hug all the same. He had just reached for the cigarette in his mouth when Beth had enveloped him, essentially trapping him in that pose. She didn't let go even when she felt him bring his arm from under her, and gently grip his hand on her elbow. "Thank you." She said as she felt his chest against her cheek. "Daryl, thank you."

She pulled back and looked at him. He was looking over her head before looking back at her "It's nothing." He shrugged, standing up and putting out the cigarette with his shoe. Beth looked at her jar again and smiled. She put the jar bag in the bag, and stood up as well. Daryl was still looking over Beth's shoulders, causing Beth to turn and look in the direction Daryl had been staring.

"The fuck is that guy staring at?" He grumbled as Beth turned to face him again.

"Probably us." Beth shrugged, not feeling a single care in the world.

Sign 5

She sighed and turned around towards the figure again.

"That's Shane, my sort of boyfriend." She sighed as Shane made his way towards both of them.

Well this just got even more interesting.

A/N: I hope you all didn't think that the Farmers Market scene in this chapter was the "quality time" I was referring to in the last chapter. Cause it totally wasn't! How's that for another tease?

I don't believe I say this enough… but thank you so much for every review! Sorry that I didn't get back to most of you, but rest assured I will! I do not take for granted every kind word, or additional follow. I am so humbled. I was even more humbled when I was perusing some of my favorite Bethyl blogs over at Tumblr and saw that a few people had recommended this story. I think I yelled for a good five minutes when I read that. You are all the best, and I am so grateful for every single one of you.

Much love, your friend Mir

(p.s. Slabtown!)