This was by far the longest story I have written for this pairing - word wise - and I can't thank everyone enough who has supported, read and reviewed this story for me.

I got a review that I wasn't able to respond to so I'll respond to it now. I necessarily don't agree with you. I try to make my stories NOT repetitive and am always trying something new with each one I write. But as I tell others, there are thousands of other Daryl x Beth stories to read if mine no longer interest you. Thank you for being honest with me. And I'm sure Daryl x Jesus stories will be popping up now - just not from me.

…

Beth wakes up alone and for one panicked moment, she lays there with her eyes closed and her heart feeling heavy, thinking that Daryl's snuck out sometime during the night. But as soon as she thinks that, she banishes the thought from her mind. No. Daryl didn't just sneak out. They have just told one another that they love one another and they've slept together for the first time and after all of that, Daryl wouldn't just leave. Beth knows that.

She rolls from her side onto her back to look at the empty spot in the bed beside her and reaching a hand out, she touches where he had laid the night before. It is still a little warm.

And then she hears a giggle and she knows that Matty's awake and out of bed. Her eyes go back to the clock. It's just a few minutes past seven and even if it's Saturday, they've always been early risers so it's not surprising to her.

She pulls herself from the bed and quickly moves to dress herself, to cover her nakedness. She puts on a new pair of underwear and a bra before tugging on a pair of sweatpants and a tee-shirt. She looks at her reflection in the mirror at her dresser and can't help but smile. She looks happy. Obviously happy. And it's as if she's shining like a beacon, which only makes her smile wider and want to giggle.

Is this what pure happiness feels like?

She brushes out her hair and instead of braiding it before showering, she pulls it back into a ponytail and giving herself one more look in the mirror – her reflection only making her smile grow – before she finally leaves the bedroom.

She sees them the instant she steps from the hallway. They're both in the kitchen, turned away from her, standing at the stove. Daryl is wearing jeans and a tee-shirt and it's clear he's gone back to his own apartment to get them – and to get Morris, too, the cat curled up on top of the chair in the living room, sleeping. Otter is in the kitchen, chewing the kibble from his bowl and watching the two as if asking them if they really know what they're doing. And she then looks to Matty, standing next to Daryl in a pair of basketball shorts that hang past his knees and one of his green Gators tee-shirts, his hair in a pure disarray of curls at the moment.

Beth watches them for a moment and her heart is tight as she does so. Daryl's here, in her apartment in the morning, and it's not as if he's never been over here before at the early hour but this time, both he and Matty think that it's just the two of them for the time being, both of them talking and Matty laughing again, and it's obvious Matty loves this man. And it's obvious that Daryl loves this boy. And she loves them both and they both love her.

Is this what pure happiness feels like?

Daryl seems to sense her first. He turns and looks over his shoulder and when he sees her, his lips twitch in a smile. And then Matty turns and sees her.

"Mama! We're making you breakfast!" Matty proudly brags as he hurries over and grabbing her hand, he tugs her into the kitchen to join them at the stove.

"It smells so good," she smiles even though it really doesn't and Daryl is smiling at her because he knows that she doesn't mean that but she just keeps smiling and Daryl leans in and kisses her on the side of her head.

…

It doesn't smell good and it doesn't taste good either. Most of the banana pancakes have fallen completely apart and those that haven't are terribly burnt.

But that doesn't matter because the three of them sit down at the table to eat and Matty is so proud of himself for making breakfast and Daryl's here with them and Beth knows she's never had banana pancakes better than these.

…

She's not nervous doing this anymore and comes often without Daryl. She knows the rules and the guards recognize her. They even start asking her what she's got with her this time and sometimes, she'll bring them a box just for them.

Daryl still doesn't talk much about his childhood but he really doesn't need to; not if he doesn't want to. She knows that's it was absolutely awful and it's enough that he took off his shirt around her. And continues to do so. If he never wants to talk about anything else, she will never force him to. It's enough to see how he responds to affection and love and she is able to fill in the blanks for the most part. And visiting his older brother in prison, Merle doesn't talk about it either – not that she asks him – but always constantly getting into trouble and living his life in and out of places like this, she knows the brothers have gone through things that only the two of them will ever share and will ever know about.

Beth knows how easily it would have been for Daryl to go down the same path that Merle had and she's so grateful – every time she visits Merle in here – that Daryl was able to take a completely different turn for himself. She can't imagine her life without him being there.

"Hey, peanut butter," Merle grins at her through the glass after the guard leads him in and the handcuffs are taken off. He sits on the stool and picks up the phone and flips the lid on the box. "What we got today?"

Beth smiles at him. "S'mores cupcake," she tells him into the phone. "Bottom layer of crushed graham cracker and then a dark chocolate cupcake with a roasted marshmallow whipped frosting."

She watches as he takes the first greedy bite, marshmallow getting all over his mouth but he doesn't seem to care as he chews loudly and with his mouth open. Beth waits for the verdict and this is really the only time she ever feels nervous. Merle is a brutally honest person and it can take a while to get used to. But she needs brutally honest. It's not as if her family lies to her but she knows that even if they don't like something, they won't really come out and just tell her that. With Merle, if he doesn't like her latest cupcake, he'll let her know and she'll go back and rework the recipe until he does like it. She sees it is a challenge when he doesn't like one she makes.

Merle Dixon has become the official taste tester for Beth's Bakery.

He finishes the s'mores cupcake in four bites and then licks his fingers and wipes his tongue around his mouth. Thank goodness he's not the official propriety manager at Beth's Bakery.

"Well?" She asks once he's gotten a chance to clean himself up.

"So, you gonna add this one to your menu or you gonna bump one of the six out of there?" He asks her.

Beth smiles a little. "Business is going so well but it's still just me. And this one actually takes a bit of time so I think I'm going to still just have six kinds of cupcakes. I'm going to have to make room for this one if you think I should add it."

"Girl, you're gonna be losin' out on a lot of money if you don't sell that one," he tells her.

Beth can't help but beam. Both at the compliment – and compliments from Merle Dixon, she has a feeling, aren't that easy to come by – and the subtle encouragement this man is able to give her with her cupcakes and bakery.

She knows that most wouldn't care for Merle Dixon's company. He is in a prison orange jumpsuit and has an Aryan Nation tattoo on his arm as well as a new tattoo by the corner of his eye – a marking that he had either seriously injured or killed another inmate in there – but that's Merle when he's not here. When he is here, he's Daryl's brother and he's important to Daryl so he's important to her, too.

She doesn't know if he'll ever get out. He was given ten years but with the way he's behaving in there, Daryl's pretty certain that he'll get years added and Daryl doesn't say it but Beth knows that sometimes, he really misses his brother.

She hopes that Merle misses him, too.

"How's my baby brother?" Merle asks her.

Beth smiles. "He's good. He got a promotion at the garage where he works."

That makes Merle frown. "Promotion? Thought he was already the best damn mechanic there. What? They make him the owner now?"

"No," she shakes her head and laughs a little. "His boss, Martinez, is taking a step away from the garage. He's trying to spend more time with his family and he's made Daryl the manager. Daryl's the one in charge when Martinez isn't there."

"Huh," Merle rubs at his chin and the grey hairs growing there. "Good for him," he then nods with approval. "And how things goin' with you two?"

Beth feels her cheeks heat but she's not sure why. "Good," she then replies with a slight shrug as if it it's just that and not so much more.

And Merle's able to see right through her. He grins. "He gonna put a ring on your finger?"

She laughs at that. "Merle, I don't know if you know this about your brother, but we have to move very slowly with him. I won't be surprised if he never wants to get married."

"Huh," Merle says again and then shakes his head. "I wouldn' be too sure 'bout that one, peanut butter."

And Beth feels her stomach clench at Merle's words but she refuses to allow herself to see it as anything else except an older brother teasing his younger brother. She knows she and Daryl are nowhere near the point yet of even thinking about getting married. Things are going so well – in both their lives and together – and she just wants it to stay like this for a little while longer before the talks of an imaginary wedding have the chance of ruining it.

…

They don't have a huge discussion about it. It's just one of those things that happens and it feels completely natural so she supposes that neither really feel the need to talk about it.

Daryl – and Morris – are over at their apartment more times than not. Morris' litter box has even found a place on the floor of the bathroom beneath the sink. Daryl's clothes and his toiletries start finding their way over and he spends the night there pretty much every night. They're living together before they even really realize it and when they do realize it, they don't have a conversation about that.

Daryl signs a year to year lease and when Axel comes, asking him if he's going to renew, that's when Beth finally decides to breach the subject with him.

"I bought some of those containers that suck the air out of them. I'm going to put my sweaters in those during the summer and store them under the bed," she tells him and he just looks at her. "That way, we'll have plenty of room in the closet for your shirts."

He keeps looking at her.

Beth keeps talking. "And we just need to do some rearranging of the furniture in our room so we can bring your tall dresser over, too," she suggests. "Maybe put the bed against the wall.." she leaves him then in the living room to walk to the bedroom to look things over.

After a moment, she feels him directly behind her, his firm chest brushing against her back.

"What do you think?" She then asks, looking over her shoulder, up at him.

Daryl's quiet for a moment, his eyes roving over the room. "I can build somethin' for the closet. Shelves or somethin' so you don't gotta be puttin' things in bags under the bed."

Beth smiles up at him and Daryl's eyes intently look into hers.

"We'll make it work," he then says in a lower voice.

She turns around to face him and standing on her toes, she kisses him, her hands slipping to the back of his head and his hands sliding over her hips.

"Matty's at Tavon's for the afternoon," she then murmurs to him as if he doesn't already know and she knows she doesn't have to say anything more than that.

…

Not that he has anything to make up for but Daryl's good to his promise to her and every time since their first time together has been just like her fantasies about him. She doesn't understand how he can be so gentle with her – light touches and delicate kisses but then he will spread her thighs apart and just pound into her and she moans loudly and wants to scream and sometimes, she feels like she can do nothing but lie there and take it. The immense pleasure she feels everywhere in her body from Daryl lets her do little else.

They do this even with Matty asleep – both knowing the boy is such a heavy sleeper but Beth bites her lip anyway, not wanting to be loud and Daryl buries his face in her neck or into the pillow so he can't be heard groaning – but when Matty's out of the apartment on weekends, with Tavon or at the farm for a little bit – Beth admits that she and Daryl take advantage to not having his ears around.

The sex is so good, Beth wonders if perhaps she might be addicted to it because she wants it all of the time. She's in love with running her hands over his body and the feel of her inner thighs rubbing against his hips with each rocking forward thrust. She hadn't had the slightest idea that sex could be as good as this.

When they're done and the sheets are twisted like vines on the bed, Beth lays there, trying to catch her breath as Daryl gets up and goes into the bathroom to flush to condom down the toilet and when he comes back, he looks at her and smirks a little, proud of himself. She can't even scold him for being cocky. He should be very, very proud of himself.

"I think I need to go on the pill," she then says as he climbs back into bed with her. She turns her head on the pillow and looks at him. "What do you think?"

He shrugs. "Your decision. Not mine. 's your body."

"I know. I just…" She sits up a little. "I love Matty more than anything but I don't know if I'm ready for another surprise like him. If we do decide to have a baby, I'd want us to be aware of it and actively trying for it rather than just have it be a complete accident."

She instantly regrets the words. Not the thought but speaking it out loud. She and Daryl have never talked about anything remotely like that and she has no idea how he'll react. She knows he won't just walk away. He doesn't do that anymore. But what will he do?

She makes herself to keep her eyes on him and she wonders if he can see the sure-sign of panic in them as he looks at her in return. And he doesn't say anything for the longest time. At least, it feels like a long time to Beth. Practically an eternity.

But then, Daryl gives his head a nod. "Makes sense," he comments.

And that's all he says. But that's enough. It's more than enough because with Daryl Dixon, she really has to look at everything between the words that he doesn't say.

With a smile that's growing wider by the second, Beth slips her arms around his shoulders and pulls him to her gently until his body is, once again, covering hers.

…

Another school year finished and just like that, Matty is finished with first grade and will be entering second grade in the fall. Beth can hardly believe this is all happening as time does has a tendency to not stop and all she knows is that she doesn't necessarily like it. She did not give him permission to grow up.

The first week of his summer vacation, Matty comes with her every day to the bakery. He helps her bake and as she rings up customers, he's careful to get their cupcakes from the display case that they have ordered. And Daryl comes in at his lunch break nearly every day and sometimes, if he's working that day, Martinez comes with him.

Merle was right. The s'mores cupcakes is one of her biggest sellers and just as Daryl is addicted to her banana cupcakes, Martinez seems to be addicted to the s'mores ones and Matty can get them these cupcakes without them needing to actually order them out loud.

Sometimes, in the afternoon, Annette will come in the afternoons and bring her grandson – along with Otter – back to the farm to let him run around and enjoy his summer or Tavon will come with Michonne in tow and she'll take the boys to the park – along with Otter – across the street where they play few games of touch football, not wanting to tackle without pads and hurt themselves for next season.

It hasn't been discussed but Beth supposes that it doesn't really have to. Matty will be playing football in the fall. Football is something her son loves with his whole heart and he's so good at it and she can't keep him from it. She can't be the mom that either forces her son to do something he doesn't want to or keep him from something just because she's afraid. That's not fair to Matty on either count.

Sometimes, when there's a lull between customers, she'll come around the counter and watch them out the front window, smiling as Matty whips down the grass to the two southern Oaks that they have designated as the end field. From across the street, she can see the brightness and happiness of his smile.

So when the letter comes to their mailbox on the second week of summer vacation, telling all returning Gators players that there will be summer practices starting the week after Fourth of July, Beth knows that Matty will be there on the field with the rest of them.

…

Shawn has signed up as an assistant coach this year for the Gators and T-Dog is thankful to have him. People in these parts still remember Shawn Greene and soon, they'll know the name of his nephew, Matty Greene, too.

And it's not as if she thinks T-Dog doesn't care about her son's safety. She knows, for a fact, that that's far from the truth but Beth feels a little bit better with her brother on the sidelines, coaching Matty and talking with him in between plays.

The Grimes have their Fourth of July barbecue and then the next Monday, practice starts.

Beth isn't the only one there. It seems like most parents have turned up to watch. Even some of the fathers who she knew would be at work normally which means that they took the day off just to come to their young son's football practice. Beth tries not to pass judgment though. This is still Georgia and this is still the south and few things are more important than football. The bakery is closed on Sundays and Mondays so Beth's able to come herself and she sees how happy he is when Matty puts those pads on again after going so long without. And she smiles when T-Dog slaps him on the shoulder and his teammates cheer for him, welcoming him back.

Beth smiles because Matty hasn't stopped smiling.

Rosita surprises her by coming, bringing watermelon and water, and the two girls sit in the grass with crossed legs, watching the boys run sprints and laps and then they get to practicing tackling and just like Beth does, Rosita cringes a little at the crash of pads. Otter sits beside Beth, fully at attention, his ears perked and his eyes sharp as he keeps a vigil over every second of the practice.

Maggie comes a little later, joining the two with a smile. "Are they going to feed them?"

"I don't know," Beth answers, handing Maggie a piece of watermelon. "They stopped a while ago for oranges."

"Well, they must be absolutely stuffed," Maggie says with a roll of her eyes and Beth has to purse her lips together to keep from laughing.

Maggie is like Beth and isn't that wild about her nephew playing football. She's never really been a fan and when Shawn played, she hardly went to any of the games. She only comes to see Matty play because she wants to support him because like Beth, she knows how much he loves it and she might not like the sport or understand it that much but she, like the others, knows well enough that her nephew has a talent for it.

"Is Daryl going to stop by?" Maggie then asks, turning her head away from the field. She doesn't want to see Matty get run at and Beth admits, it's not her favorite sight either.

"I think so. Depends on what time he gets out of the garage tonight," Beth says and then tilts her head back, getting the last small swig of water from the plastic water.

"How are things going?" Rosita then asks with a slightly sly smile.

Beth just laughs a little and shakes her head. "I'm not going to give you two any details," she says because she knows that both know that things are great. They're fishing for things a bit more explicit than that.

"I'm your sister!" Maggie says with mild indignation though her eyes are smiling.

"I'm your friend," Rosita frowns at her.

Beth just laughs again and takes another piece of watermelon, looking back to the field. It looks like they're finishing running tackle and defense drills and are going to start running plays. Tavon is their quarterback once again this year – not that anyone wondered whether or not he would be – and once again, with Matty as his go-to running back, all of the parents are watching and already chattering that no one will be surprised if once again, the Gators, make it to the playoffs.

"I'm worried that one of these days, Jimmy is going to hear just how good Matty is and he's going to come around and try to get involved," Beth speaks suddenly, softly, even surprising herself because it's one of those thoughts she has but keeps deep down, never to be spoken out loud to anyone.

Both Maggie and Rosita turn their heads to look at her.

"He wouldn't dare, Bethy," Maggie is first to speak and her voice is sharp as steel. "He signed away all rights and has absolutely no connection to Matty. In twenty years, when Matty's making millions in the NFL, Jimmy can do nothing but cry about it."

Beth's lips twist a little at that and looks at her sister. "Such confidence," she teases her but Maggie doesn't smile. Instead, Maggie reaches over and squeezes Beth's knee.

"Jimmy wouldn't dare," she says again. "And if he does, I think it's safe to say that all of us, me, Glenn, Shawn, daddy, Annette and Daryl would all have something to say about it." Maggie's green eyes are intensely settled on her. "And don't forget you. You're the fiercest mama in the county."

"Probably one of the fiercest in the whole state," Rosita amends and Beth can't help but smile at that. It is a worry of hers but she knows that it will be a worry that probably won't accumulate to anything. And even if it does, Maggie's right. Jimmy signed away all rights.

According to the state of Georgia, Matty has no daddy.

Otter's ears flick quickly and then he turns his head to the right. Beth turns her head to the right as well to see what has gotten the dog's attention and she smiles a little when she sees that Daryl has arrived, crossing the grass from the parking lot, approaching the field.

Matty sees him coming, too, and waves at him before he's called back into the huddle and to pay attention, and Daryl smiles a little and holds up his hand in greeting before he spots Beth and Otter and the others and starts making his way towards her.

Beth smiles a little. But that's according to the state.

…

Daryl never comes to church with them and when she and Matty get ready to go to Sunday morning service, Daryl gets up with them and gets dressed but that's to get his weekly hunting in the woods done before he makes the drive to see Merle.

But this morning, he gets up with them as they usually do and when Beth enters the bedroom from the bathroom, having taken a shower, she sees Daryl standing at his dresser, looking down at his drawer of jeans. She doesn't think anything of it and she dries herself off before pulling on a bra and a pair of underwear and then going to the closet to pick out which dress she should wear today.

As she dries her hair and then begins pinning it up in its usual milkmaid braid, Daryl has finally chosen a pair of jeans. She notes that this pair doesn't have any holes or stains in them and she knows he usually wears a ratty pair while hunting but she doesn't question it. He then opens another drawer and looks at his shirts folded there. He pulls out a plain white one and then tugs it on over his head before going to the closet and pulling down one of his plaid button down shirts.

Beth's watching him now and isn't trying to hide it.

Daryl then feels his eyes on her and he turns his head, looking at her. "What?" He asks.

She can't help but ask. "What are you doing?"

He shrugs. She can hear Matty in the kitchen, pouring food out for Otter and food for Morris and then going to the pantry and getting himself a box of cereal.

Daryl shrugs and finishes buttoning the shirt and then rolls the sleeves up to his elbows. "Your pops asked me to come to service this mornin'. Didn' really have a reason to turn 'im down. Told 'im the church roof might fall in on us all but he didn' seem to believe that."

Beth normally would have smiled but she supposes her mind is still trying to process this.

Daryl turns to face her fully. "I look a'right?" He then asks her. "Don't really own any church clothes."

She breaks into a smile and she nods. "You look great," she says and she means it and she knows that Daryl probably doesn't believe her and want to call her crazy but he just gives a nod and looks down at himself before exhaling a deep breath.

"A'right," he then says and she's not sure if it's to her or to himself but he takes another second and another deep breath as if's telling himself ready or not, and then he turns, opening the bedroom door and going out to meet Matty in the kitchen.

Beth smiles to herself. She wonders why her daddy has wanted Daryl to come to church with them this morning.

…

They sit in a pew with Annette and Hershel as she and Matty do every other Sunday and Daryl sits beside her and she can feel how tense and uncomfortable he is but he's there and Beth didn't realize how much this meant to her until he told her that he was coming today.

She's almost not paying attention to Father Gabriel's sermon that morning but then a few words catch her ears and she's immediately back to listening.

"When a man and woman lay together without the sanctity of marriage, it is a sin," the man is saying from behind his podium at the front of the church.

Daryl immediately tenses even more from beside her and Beth whips her head over to look at Hershel but the man is looking forward and doesn't notice. Annette does however and looking at Beth, she gives her daughter a small smile and a wink. And since her mother is the one looking at her – though she really wishes her daddy would – Beth frowns at her.

"If a man and woman live together before the sanctity of marriage, they are simply telling God that living in his holy light and living a good Christian life does not matter to them. The man does not respect the woman and the woman does not respect herself and both," he pauses for effect. "Clearly do not respect God."

…

After service, Hershel just so happens have to run to the feed store with Otis so Beth still isn't able to confront him about that not-so-subtle dig at hers and Daryl's living arrangement and they go back to the farm for their usual weekly Sunday lunch. In the kitchen, Annette is running the defrosted chicken under the water in the sink before arranging it in the cooking pan to slide it into the oven.

"What was that all about?" Beth asks her mother, her arms crossed over her chest and her mouth still down-turned in a frown.

"What, dear?" Annette asks innocently as she begins cutting up carrots and onions to cook with the chicken.

Beth exhales a deep sigh. "Father Gabriel's sermon today. What? Did daddy go to him and tell him to lecture us on that?"

"Beth, don't be silly. Father Gabriel doesn't take orders from his congregation on what he should speak about each Sunday," Annette says, still sounding as innocent as an infant.

"Mama, there's nothing wrong with mine and Daryl's living arrangement. I've never been happy like this before," Beth informs her.

Annette pauses in her cutting and looks at Beth. "Bethy, I know that you know that's not true," is all she says and deciding that she can't talk about this right now, Beth turns and walks from the kitchen.

She heads out of the front door, the screen door slapping shut behind her. It's a beautiful and clear late summer day. The sky is a perfect blue and the clouds look like puffs of cotton balls, lazily floating past in the gentle breeze. Maggie and Glenn and Shawn will be coming later for Sunday lunch and for the moment, everything on the farm seems to be quiet.

Beth slowly sits down on the top step of the porch and thinks about what her mama had said. Did she think she wasn't happy? Because she was. Everyone could see how happy she was and it wasn't something she could hide. She's completely and madly in love with Daryl Dixon and having him with her, it makes her smile now a little even just thinking about it. She has a wonderful son and a successful cupcake bakery and she has Daryl and everything has fallen into place and her life is as good as it can get.

Or did Annette mean that that wasn't true about there being nothing wrong with the way she and Daryl are living together before marriage? Her parents are old-fashioned. She knows that. Everyone knows that and Maggie and Glenn had gotten an earful when they had decided to move in together a few years before they finally got married.

But Beth doesn't even know if there will be a marriage between her and Daryl like that and she has always gone to church and she believes in God and the faith but she loves Daryl and she'd rather be with him like this than not be with him at all. She refuses to feel guilty for that no matter what her parents or Father Gabriel says.

She's happy and Matty's happy and she knows Daryl's happy, too, and right now, that's all that could possible matter to Beth.

She hears a familiar bark of a dog and she looks to see Matty running out of the woods with Otter behind him and a few feet behind, Daryl then emerges. Matty waves to her but doesn't stop as he takes off to the barn, Otter still on his heels, and Daryl comes her way.

Beth gives him a smile as he sits down beside her and his lips twitch in his own smile.

"I'm sorry about this morning. I had no idea that was going to happen," she's quick to say.

"Didn' think you did," Daryl shakes his head.

He sits there quietly, looking out over the farm, so Beth is quiet, too. She loves that they have reached the point where they don't have to talk with one another and they can have this quiet between them and the quiet can be comfortable. She leans over and rests her head on his shoulder and she smiles faintly and closes her eyes as she feels him turn his head and brush his lips along the top of her head and she feels his fingers on her arm.

"So, what you think 'bout it?" He finally asks.

Beth slowly opens her eyes but her head remains on his shoulder. "What do I think about what?"

He's quiet for a moment but he feels completely relaxed even as she can practically hear the wheels turning in his head. "'bout us gettin' married."

…

The End.

Thank you very much for reading and please review one last time. I've actually always planned a little epilogue so I'll either post it to this story or make a separate one-shot for it.