Beth let out a frustrated sigh, and shut her book with a firm flick of her wrist. She resisted, albeit barely, the urge to throw the book across the room. She'd officially started school three weeks ago, which was stressful in and of itself, but she'd also been moving into the apartment with Daryl about the same time. She almost shuddered at the memory of the horrendous dinner that had taken place when she told Maggie and her dad. Daryl hadn't wanted to do the whole dinner announcement thing, but he'd agreed when she'd explained that it was better than just having them find out through second-hand gossip.

Everyone had just sat down at the table, a roasted chicken sitting prettily on a platter next to herb-roasted potatoes and some boiled green beans. Daryl sat next to her at the table, fidgeting and doing everything he could to try to remain calm. If you didn't know him, you'd think he was fine, but Beth could tell he was almost to the point of panicking, and if she wasn't right there with him, she'd have laughed and told him to calm down. But this was a time where neither one of them could be calm.

Hershel sat across from Daryl and Maggie sat across from Beth, and both were just as on edge as Beth and Daryl. Maggie eyed them suspiciously as they passed the food around the table. Talk was strained, and the silence as everyone started to eat was unbearable. Finally in a huff, Maggie slammed down her silverware (a little harder than she meant to) and stared at them with hard eyes. "So, are you pregnant or something?" Beth just looked at her, mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water.

"What?"

"Is that why we're all here about ready to jump out of our skins?" She rounded on Daryl next to her. "Is she pregnant? If you went and did something so stupid as get her pregnant, I swear I'm gonna kill you." She glared at him, "She has a bright future ahead of her, and she doesn't need to be giving it all up just because you weren't thinking with the head on your shoulders." Daryl blinked, not sure whether he should laugh or be angry at the idea that Maggie felt she had the right to make that judgment call. It wasn't until he noted that Hershel hadn't said a word yet, that he realized that was what the both of them were dreading, and that the conversation of them moving in together could prove to be a bit trickier than he originally thought.

"Maggie, I'm not pregnant. Good grief." Beth huffed, her affronted eyes turning from her sister to her father. "I'm not daddy, so you can stop lookin' at Daryl like you gotta go get your shotgun. And even if I were…it's not a call either one of you could make. This is my life."

"I know Bethy, but we just want the best for you." He started slowly, choosing his words carefully. "Havin' a baby is a big thing, and you'd have to put all your dreams on hold," he saw Maggie about to cut in, but cut her off. "at least temporarily, and we know that wouldn't make you the least bit happy. It's best to wait until you've finished your schooling…you know, make sure you're ready." Beth nodded in agreement before taking a bite of her green beans.

"well, if it ain't that…why'd you call this dire family meeting? You ain't dying are you, Daryl?" She looked at Daryl from the corner of her eyes, a small teasing grin threatening to upturn her lips. "Because I imagine that might be useful at some point." Daryl gave a snort. After their little talk at the barbeque over the 4th (was that really almost three months ago?) she and Daryl had started a habit of teasing each other. She liked to play the part of angry older sister, hating the man currently corrupting her precious baby sibling.

"Wouldn't give you the satisfaction, Greene." He rumbled from his seat. "I asked her to move in with me." And everything went silent.

"And…what'd she say?"

"She said, yes." Beth cut in, trying to keep the agitated tone out of her voice. She didn't like being talked about like she wasn't there and Maggie had a bad habit of doing that when she felt they were venturing into topics of conversation a bit too old or mature for her. It wasn't often, but it still happened and Beth made a point of letting her know that she was equally a part of the conversation every time it did.

"But, don't you think playin' house is a bit dangerous Beth?" Maggie snipped. "I mean, dating and seein' each other is one thing, but living together…that could give people ideas, lead to things happenin' that you don't necessarily want."

"Give people ideas? Like what…I actually care about him? Like he actually means something to me, and I ain't just playin'?" She fisted her hands in her lap. "Heaven forbid that kind of idea get out around town. It might damage my reputation…right Maggie?"

"Bethy, calm down." Hershel said quickly, knowing that if he didn't step in his two girls would go at it like the worst of them. "She didn't mean it like that."

"Then how did you mean it Mags?"

"I just meant…I don't want people to think badly of you. I know you two care about each other…but I don't want others thinkin'…"

"Thinkin' what?"

"That you're easy, or that he's takin' advantage of you."

"You know both of those things ain't true."

"I know, but not everyone does. They don't know you like we do, and I'd hate for you to get caught up in someone else's rumors and gossip. People can be mean, and I just wanna protect you."

"I appreciate it Mags, but I'm a big girl, and I don't give two licks what others think. I know what I have." She looked over at Daryl, who sat there uncomfortably silent, hoping not to get pulled into the middle of this war of words between the sisters. Maggie looked at Beth for a moment before she nodded her head. All eyes turned to Hershel Greene, sitting there, not eating, clearly weighing his words and his opinions carefully. "Daddy?"

"What happens if something goes wrong between you two, what then?"

"Rosita and Tara both said that I can stay with them until I'm on my feet again. I'm not jumping into this blindly, Daddy, I promise. I thought about it."

"I'm not going to pretend like I know what goes on between you two when no one is looking, but I remember being young and in love. What happens if you find yourself pregnant?" Beth paused, paling a little as she looked helplessly to Daryl. They'd never discussed kids, in fact, it was probably the furthest thing from their minds. They were both careful to use protection, but still. Protection did fail some times. What then? What would happen then?

"We ain't really discussed it, but I know Beth would weigh the options, and we'd make a decision together. She ain't in this alone." Daryl said. "If that were to happen, you gotta know she wouldn't be in it alone." His eyes met Hershel's, trying desperately to show the man whatever it was he wanted to see. Finally, Hershel let out a sigh.

"It ain't what I want." He looked between the pair of them. "I'm old-fashioned, and would love to see you married and settled down, but those are my ways, and I'm set in my ways. You aren't me, and I can't expect you to be." He gave a slight nod. "If this is what you want, I wont nay-say it. It'll just take me a little while to get used to it." There had been a round of nods before everyone had continued eating, the conversation hanging in the air, finished but not forgotten.

True to his word, it had taken Hershel about three weeks before he'd warmed to the idea of Beth and Daryl living together. He still said he'd rather see her married, but when he saw how happy Beth was he couldn't stand to stay opposed. Truthfully, Beth was so glad when he'd finally stopped mentioning the idea of marriage and weddings altogether. Every time it had come up it had felt like a lead weight settled in her stomach, and she knew Daryl felt just as awkward about it as well. They were still too new. With everything that had happened, they'd only truthfully been a couple for about three months, unofficially dated (and slept together) for months before that, and had known each other for about a year before that. They'd only been present in each other's lives for a year and a half (two max) and part of that was really only seeing each other around town, never really interacting.

Beth sat on the bed, staring at her closed textbook. They really had come so far from even just a year ago. A year ago he'd sat quietly in a booth while she'd used him to make Zach go away. A year ago, she'd awkwardly thought of ways to learn his whole name. A year ago, she would have giggled at the idea of just speaking to him when they saw each other at places around town. Now, now she was living with him, sleeping with him, in love with him. Her smile faltered a little bit. She'd told him almost a month back that she loved him, and he'd been about ready to say it back, but she'd stopped him. And he hadn't been close to saying it back since. She'd kept her 'I love you's to a minimum, trying not to make it awkward or make him feel like she was expecting something, but each time, she had to admit, it hurt a little more when he didn't say it back.

She flopped back on the bed, a groan slipping from between her lips as she covered her eyes with the heel of her hands. She wasn't going to push him, but damn if she didn't want to. She heard Daryl enter the room, and let her hands fall away from her face, as she watched him get ready for bed. "Y'get your readin' done?" He rumbled as he pulled his shirt up over his head.

"Mhm."

"And your outline thing?"

"My notes. Yeah, I got those done too." She stared at his back. It still made her gut tighten with anger to see the dark welts and scars that littered his back. It made a fierce need to protect and love him rise up within her. He turned to look at her.

"Good. It's been hell tryin' to stay occupied while you're in here readin'." He confided before flopping onto the bed next to her.

"Oh really now?" She was teasing him. "Having a hard time functioning without little ole me to help you along?" He gave a snort.

"Yeah, got something I've been wantin' to talk to you about." She rolled onto her side to look him in the eyes.

"And what's that? Daddy been at you again to make an honest woman of me?"

"Nah, it ain't that. It's something I've been meanin' to talk to you about since b'fore you moved in. Just, sometimes I don't know how to say it." He had a hard time meeting her eyes. She smiled softly up at him, her hand coming up to cup his cheek gently.

"You can tell me anything. I promise I don't bite." He rolled on to his back and tucked her up against his side. She could tell he was nervous; could feel the rapid thumping of his heart under her palm, so what ever it was that he wanted to talk to her about was serious.

"You know I ain't good with words. I don't know how to say most things right, but I've been trying to figure out a right way to say it." His voice dropped lower, softly spoken so only her ears could hear. "But I can't think of anything special or a right way to say it…so I'mma just say it."

"Daryl, what-"

"I love you, Beth." She froze against him, her heart slamming into overdrive as her breathing seemed to stop. Did he just? "I know it seems simple to just say, but there's been times I was tryin' to say it…and it just wouldn't come out. Like it got stuck in my throat, or like I know if I opened my mouth everything would just come tumbling out but not in the right order. Y'know?" He paused a second and looked down to meet her eyes, not quite sure what he would find there.

She met his eyes, barely breathing, a look of almost wonder covering her face and features. Slowly, achingly slowly, a smile stretched her lips. He couldn't help the flood of relief that filled him. Sure, he knew she loved him, but not being good with words, seeing that smile made all the damn fluttering in his stomach settle. He leaned down to kiss her, her hand sliding into his hair to anchor him to her. "Say it again." She whispered against his lips.

"I love you."