Ch.21

Beth wasn't up when Daryl woke up the next morning. He waited a few minutes, and when she still didn't stir, he went to her room. It was early, and only a few others were up, but they had a long day ahead of them, and he had told her that he wasn't going easy on her anymore.

He walked into her room and saw her curled up in a little ball, the blankets pulled up under her chin. She looked peaceful. He gently shook her. Her eyes fluttered open and she jumped when she saw him.

"Wh-what are you doing?"

"Time to get up. We got training to do."

Beth rubbed her eyes, trying to wake herself up, and yawned.

"Get dressed and meet me downstairs," he said as he walked from her room to the kitchen.

When she came down the stairs he handed her a can of peaches. After she ate they headed out into the yard. He grabbed one of her hands and looked at it. Her knuckles were still red and they were now scabbing.

"We're not going to do a lot of punching today, just maybe a little review of yesterday."

Beth frowned. "Why?"

"Your knuckles."

"Then what are we going to do?"

Daryl shrugged his shoulders. "We'll play it by ear." He lifted his hand up and pointed to it. "Punch it."

Beth did as he said, and Daryl was pleased when she hit his hand dead in the center. He was even more surprised when the force of her punch actually moved his hand back a little; she remembered to put her weight behind it. He couldn't help the smile that formed on his lips.

He could tell that her hand hurt, and one look at it revealed bloody knuckles. They were definitely done with punches for the day. He walked over to her and pulled out his bandana.

"Here," he said, reaching out and grasping her hand. He gently dabbed up the blood.

"Thanks," she said, looking him in the eyes.

Daryl tucked his bandana back in his pocket, keeping his eyes on her.

"Turn around."

Beth looked at him confused. "Why?"

"Just turn around."

Hesitantly, Beth slowly turned around. Daryl waited a moment before he walked up behind her. He wrapped his arms around her middle, trapping her arms inside. Beth jumped at their sudden closeness and a small gasp escaped her lips.

"What are you doing?"

"Try to get out of it."

"What?"

"Try to get out of it. If someone wants to take you by surprise, they'll probably grab you from behind. You need to know how to get out of it."

Beth turned her head to look at him, her face searching his. She then turned her head back around. She began to struggle against him. She tried to move her arms, but Daryl had them tightly pinned to her side. She wriggled about, trying to get him to give, but all of her attempts were unsuccessful. Eventually she stopped moving, letting out a loud, defeated sigh.

"I can't," she said softly.

"Yes you can."

"I don't know how."

Daryl loosened his grip on her and she turned around. "How do you get out of it?"

"Grab me from behind, and try to not let me go."

He saw the blush rise on her cheeks, but she listened. Her arms were small around him, and her grip was weak. He brought his hands to her arms and grabbed them, he then bent his knees, dropping his weight and forcing her to bend at her hips. He lifted his foot and applied a little pressure to her right foot. He then took the leg he had used to stomp and moved, turning his body slightly. He brought his foot and lifted it behind him, just high enough to reach her shin, and he lightly pushed it back, forcing her back and causing her to release her grip.

Daryl turned around to see her. She was still blushing. He walked behind her and grabbed her again, pulling her tight against his chest.

"Now do what I just did. Grab my arms and then bend your knees."

Beth grabbed his arms and bent her knees. He tried to ignore the way her body pushed against his groin. She looked back at him, waiting for him to give her his approval. He nodded his head.

"Good. Now, act like you are going to stomp your foot on mine."

Beth did as he said.

"Pivot outward." Beth pivoted. "Good. And then bring your foot up behind you to kick me."

Her foot came up behind her and she rested it on his shin.

"A little pointer. If this ever happens, don't be afraid to move your foot a little higher…kick them where it really hurts." He choked back a giggle when her face reddened even more than it already was. "Do you think you got the steps?"

She nodded her head. "Yeah, I think."

"Ok, then do it again, but this time actually do it."

"But I don't want to hurt you."

"You're not gonna' hurt me."

Daryl tightened his grip again. Beth waited a minute before grabbing his arms and bending her knees. She brought her foot and lightly stomped his foot. When she went to pivot she lost her balance, Daryl's hold on her being the only thing that held her up.

"You ok?"

"Yeah."

"Start over."

She started over, and Daryl knew that she was holding back. She was holding back when she stepped on his foot, and her kick to the shin barely caused him to move at all. After doing it a few times he got frustrated.

"Beth, you don't gotta' be afraid of hurtin' me."

She looked back at him.

"I can take it, really."

She sighed and they started over. This time she put more strength behind her stomps and kicks. But she still couldn't get herself free. She was still holding back, and Daryl knew it. It went this way for a few more minutes before Daryl got frustrated.

"You actually gonna' try?" He asked, releasing her.

"I am," she said in disbelief as she turned to face him.

"It sure don't seem like it. Anyone want to take you, you're gonna' make it pretty damn easy, girl."

She glared at him, not saying anything.

"If you don't want to practice, just tell me."

"I do want to. And I am trying."

"No, you're not. You're still holding back. If you're not going to take this seriously, then I have better things I can do."

She remained staring at him.

"Now are you going to do it right?"

She shook her head yes. He went up behind her and restrained her yet again. She went through the steps, and Daryl could tell that he had made her angry. She wasn't holding back anymore. Her movements were fast, smooth. She stomped his foot with force. But what surprised him most was when he felt a light pressure against his groin. She didn't kick him, but she let him know that she could if she wanted to. He let her go, smiling.

"Good," he said looking her over.

Her hair was falling out of its ponytail. She had beads of sweat starting to gather on her forehead. She was panting, trying to catch her breath.

"You did good, now lets go get some lunch."

Beth wasn't going to lie. She had found the butterflies that formed in her stomach when Daryl grabbed her from behind hard to ignore. She remembered the way his arms felt wrapped around her, causing her skin to goose bump. She was trying to push these thoughts and feelings out of her mind as they sat down for lunch.

She wasn't supposed to be feeling these things towards Daryl. He was so much older than her, and she knew that he would never feel this way towards her. She knew exactly what those feelings were, though. She had felt them before, with Jimmy and then again with Zack. The fluttery feeling low in your stomach, the way you shivered when their skin brushed yours. The feeling was familiar, and it scared her to death. So she tried to ignore them.

They were sitting on the porch steps. They were sharing a can of beans. She was hesitant to share, but they were running low on canned goods, and she wasn't exactly starving. So when he asked her if she wanted to share, she said yes.

They were talking and every once in a while one of them would giggle, most of the time that was Beth. But he was smiling, casting a sly glance in her direction every now and then. Everybody else was up and moving about, doing what ever needed to be done that day. Beth looked over at Daryl and could tell he was thinking about something.

"What?" He asked, feeling her staring.

"What are you thinking about?"

"Nothin'," he said.

"Mhm," she replied, smirking.

He looked at her and started to stand up. "I'm going hunting, wanna' come?"

She looked at him for a minute, shocked. He rarely ever took anyone hunting with him. She blinked and then answered.

"Yeah, I'll go."

Author's Note: So I am very pleased with this chapter. Beth is beginning to have feelings for Daryl...but is Daryl having feelings for Beth? Hmmmmm, I wonder. I guess we will just have to wait until the next chapter to find out.

Also, I apologize for the delay in updating. It is the end of the semester, and I have been very busy. These next few weeks are going to be very hectic, and I am not sure when I will be able to update again. I am going to do my best update by next weekend, but I'm not making any promises. After the semester is over I will be bale to update regularly. I hope this chapter can hold you over until the next update!