AN: First, I am sorry I couldn't get another chapter up last weekend. My daughter was sick for about 5 days and it was hell in my house. Then this weekend I was sick so yeah, it's been fun around here. Anyway, everyone is feeling better and I'm back to writing. Thank you all for sticking with me! It's much appreciated!

And as always, thank you to DarylDixon'sLover, UltimateBethylFicList, 2carlaa, rckyfrk, vettech60, Carowen, An Amber Pen, katiegirl99, BetaGirl09, SirensCalling, heatherrk, suzisnowflake, Trixieviv, caseydoll5, Gabs, Reignashii, pieryandpassionate, Daryl Dixon's Redhead, Guest, and Mirsa for the feedback! It means so much!

Chapter 25

It had been six weeks since they had left New York. Their relationship was growing quiet well, although filled with its own struggles. They both seemed more than willing to accept what the other was willing to give without expectations, which was mostly Beth waiting on Daryl for something or another. She seemed to understand that this was the first real relationship that he had been in and did not push for more and he was grateful.

Daryl had kept in touch with Dave on how the rebuild was going and had gone up to Somerset a few times to help when he could. Other times he was an 'unofficial' guard to Beth while she did small concerts here and there. On days when she would spend hours on end putting finishing touching on her album in the studio, he was out in the woods working on the old cabin. He tore out the rotting wood and took the interior walls down to build them back up. He didn't really know why he was doing it, it wasn't like Merle was coming back to live in it anytime soon, but it gave him something to do. Daryl was never a lazy man and he had gotten enough of sitting on his ass in New York when he and Glenn had been spending time together. Glenn wasn't exactly a ball of energy like Daryl was, although he did take some time out of his manager schedule to help him put up dry wall.

Their nights together were spent mostly, in his condo. Beth loved to cook for him and he'd be lying if he said he'd never eaten so well in his life. She made a wide variety of comfort food from chicken and dumplings to elaborate casseroles made with Doritos of all things. She would just laugh at him when he joked about gaining weight from all of her cooking. After dinner they would wash the dishes and settle down on the couch to watch a movie that they almost never finished. One thing that surprised Daryl was Beth's insatiable sexual appetite.

In fact, that was the only thing they had really fought about since they got together, albeit indirectly.

One night they had sat down to watch a movie and Daryl did as he always did, began kissing his way down her neck and to her shoulder, when she abruptly stopped him with a verbal lashing. He was dumfounded by her rejection and asked her what was wrong. He wasn't expecting her to break down into tears and scream at him for only wanting her for sex. He did exactly what he shouldn't have done in that very moment, he laughed.

The next thing he knew they were both yelling at each other, more her than him, but he'd said some things he had instantly regretted as well. Like calling her a child and demanding to know what her problem was. She stormed out of his condo without a word leaving him pissed and confused. After an hour or so, she came back with mascara streaking down her face and an apology on her lips. She explained that she was on her placebos this week and was a bit moody. Daryl still didn't really understand and she wrapped her arms around his neck and explained exactly what that meant.

Daryl never said he was sorry for the things he said. He simply picked her up and carried her bridal style into his bathroom and began filling the Jacuzzi style bathtub with warm water and told her to relax as long as she need to. Tears fell from her eyes again as she thanked him with a kiss and began to undress.

That had been two weeks ago and now they stood in the parking garage as Daryl loaded the last of his stuff onto the back of his bike that he'd driven back after his first trip to help Dave. He was leaving to go back to Kentucky and she was starting her tour in a few days. Once he was sure everything was tied down tightly he turned to look at her. Her eyes were red but she hadn't cried, yet. He leaned up against his bike and she stepped in front of him, her hands on his shoulders and his finding their home on her hips.

"Call me when you get back." He nodded. "I've got to fly to Oakland tomorrow and do a rehearsal for the first show. I can call you when I'm done."

"Let me know if ya need anythin'. Ya know I'll find a way to get there." It was her turn to nod.

"I think we'll be ok. Michonne said that Kyle is working out well, though I've never really talked to him."

"Just don't get as friendly with him as ya did your last male guard." He couldn't help but tease her with a smirk. She playfully smacked his shoulder and called him a jerk.

"I wish you'd come, too." She said softly, her eyes casting down to look away from him as the first tear fell. He gently lifted her chin back up with his knuckle and swiped at the tear with his thumb.

"I know. We'll figure it out."

"You're way to strong willed." She choked out with a laugh.

"Nah, just never relied on anyone. Don't wanna start now." He reminded her. She leaned up and kissed his lips softly.

"You're gunna miss me so bad when I'm gone, Daryl Dixon." She whispered against his cheek.

"Awful full of yourself, Greene." She chuckled and backed away from him a few steps.

"Alright, get out of here before I make you stay." Daryl nodded and mounted his bike. "Call me." She repeated over the roar of his bike. He watched her cross her arms and turn and walk away, not wanting him to see how hard this was on her. A part of him screamed at him to shut it off and follow her wherever she went, but his own pride kept him from it. He put the bike in gear and drove away before he could have a chance to change his mind.

He drove for an hour and a half before he needed to stop for gas. He pulled off at an old truck stop and began to refuel when something caught his eye. He watched an older man with a cane walking to his car with two younger women beside him. He heard one of them call him 'daddy' and he couldn't help but be reminded of meeting Hershel just the night before.

"Daddy wants to meet you before you head out for Kentucky tomorrow. He's making fried chicken." She asked hesitantly. He was sure if he said no she would fall before him begging.

"A'ight." He agreed without argument. She squealed and sent a text message to, whom he assumed to be, Maggie. Her phone dinged a few minutes later with the time.

The pump stopped with a loud click, pulling Daryl from his thoughts. He replaced the nozzle and climbed back on his bike and got back on the interstate. His mind wandered back to last night as the miles passed him by.

They pulled up to the large white house seated in the middle of nowhere. There were horses in the pasture and a tractor sitting by the barn. Everything about this place screamed country living and Daryl loved the silence the space allowed. He found himself wishing that he grew up in a place like this instead of in a rundown shack in the middle of the woods.

They climbed out of the car just as the front door of the house opened. An older man with white scruff limped out onto the front porch.

"Daddy!" Beth and Maggie yelled simultaneously and ran to the elder Greene. Glenn was close behind leaving Daryl to make up the reluctant rear. He was nervous about meeting her father. He'd heard plenty of things about the man before him, but he never really thought he'd get a chance to meet the man everyone spoke to highly of. The girls hugged their father and Glenn shook his hand. Daryl climbed the steps to stand beside Beth who beamed at him brightly.

"Daddy, this is Daryl." She smiled widely.

"Nice to meet you, son." Hershel extended his hand and Daryl quickly shook it.

"Nice to meet ya, sir." Daryl was nervous as Hershel's eyes raked over his appearance. Daryl was surprised when he saw no judgment in the man's eyes.

"Girls, why don't you two go finish making the sides and Glenn, you can set the table. I'd like to talk to Daryl for a few minutes." Daryl noticed the knowing look Glenn was giving him, while Beth and Maggie retreated into the old country home. Hershel pointed to the chairs to the right of them and they both took a seat. Daryl couldn't stop himself from chewing on his thumb nail.

"So, Beth tells me you two are dating?" Hershel wasted no time in getting right to the point.

"Yes, sir." Daryl mumbled.

"Rick tells me you saved her life." Daryl just looked at the man wondering why Rick was the one to tell him and not Beth. "I'm thankful you were there with her when that boy showed up. I'm sorry you had to kill him, I know that couldn't be easy."

"It was either him or her. Easy choice." Hershel nodded his understanding.

"Not an easy one to live with." Daryl shrugged his shoulders. Sure, he'd had trouble dealing with it at first but Beth enjoyed making sure that he kept his mind off of it. Heat ran up the back of his neck as he thought about the impure things he and this man's daughter did, now of all times. "My daughter cares a great deal about you and she tells me that you would rather go back to Kentucky to work at a tattoo parlor than stay with her." Daryl opened his mouth to explain but Hershel raised a hand to stop him. "She also explained why. And I respect a man that needs to earn his way in life and not take from others. It tells me that Bethy's lifestyle is not what you are after. And, no offense, but judging by the way you sit before me in tattered clothes, I get the impression that you are one for the simple things in life."

"Didn't grow up with much, don't need much now." Daryl grunted.

"You take care of my little girl, ya hear?" Hershel wasn't asking that much, Daryl knew. He nodded his promise and looked down to the ground. He couldn't help but notice the metal sticking out from the end of the man's pants where his leg should be. Hershel caught his glance.

"It was a stupid mistake made years ago. If I can pass on one piece of advice in my lifetime it will be this; never ride a harvester when you've drank a fifth of scotch." Daryl could tell with the look on his face that he was dead serious. "I'd been sober for almost ten years when I had a relapse shortly after my stepson died. Doctors did all they could but it was a lost cause. Got fitted with this a year later. To be honest, I think I like it better than the leg." Hershel joked. "Thinking about cuttin' the other one off."

"You're one tough son of a bitch." Daryl blurted causing Hershel to laugh.

"Yes, yes I am. Now, let's get inside, son. I believe dinner is just about ready."

Daryl didn't know why Hershel accepted him as easily as he did without threats or one hundred questions. Beth later told him that she thought her father saw a great deal of himself in Daryl. Either way, he was glad he got through the night without a gun pointed at his face.

It was near dusk when he pulled his bike off the interstate and headed towards the bar. He parked and dismounted; the cell phone Rick let him keep, in his hand the minute both feet hit the ground. True to his word, he called her to let her know that he had arrived safe. She told him she missed him and he once again promised they would see each other soon. She told him she'd sent him an iPad as a present since she knew he wouldn't accept it, so they could Skype.

"Gotta get Emilia to show me how." He joked. They talked for a few more minutes before he ended the call to go talk to Dave. He walked in the bar to find almost everything exactly like it was before the fire. A few improvements here and there, but he'd somehow managed to find the same rusty junk to decorate the walls with.

The parlor was hidden behind a new thick red curtain and he was shocked to see how much had already been done to make it look like nothing had ever happened. There were new designs on the wall, new machines at each station, and two autoclaves sitting on the back wall for sterilization.

"You sure you wanna be back?" Dave's voice from behind him startled him momentarily but he didn't let it show. He simply nodded and looked at the wall. "Word got around that you're coming back. You're book is already damn near filled. First appointment is tomorrow." Daryl remained silent as he passed by the spot the dove used to sit, the one he paid homage to almost every night they were together. "How long is she gunna be on tour?"

"Six months." Daryl grunted his first words to the man since he arrived.

"And you're stayin' here til then? Any plans on meeting her?" Daryl just shrugged, because honestly, even though he promised her he'd see her soon, he had no idea when that would be. "I still think you're crazy." He muttered before disappearing back behind the curtain to greet whoever had caused the bell on the door to ring.

..

Two months had passed. They talked every night on either on the phone on or Skype while he was still at the bar, but her words rang through his mind every single day. He missed her terribly and his day to day life just wasn't the same without her. His days off hunting in the woods were the only time that felt right to him about being away from her.

He had just sat down to tattoo an owl on a girls shoulder when his phone rang. He answered it without looking, assuming it would be her telling him about a show she was about to do.

"Daryl, its Rick." His blood ran cold. Rick never called him.

"Rick? Everythin' alright?" Rick laughed on the other end of the line and Daryl felt the tightness in his chest break loose.

"Yes, everything is fine. I have something I need to talk to you about. Is now a good time?" Daryl held up one finger to the girl on his table and walked away.

"Yea."

"Since Beth is getting to be more popular, I've had other people reach out to me and ask for services. I've had to hire twelve new people to work guard detail for various celebrities for concerts and events. I've got three that work one venue alone." Rick rambled on.

"What do ya need from me?"

"I need a partner and I thought you might be interested. It'll have you back in Atlanta and I figured you might get a chance to see Beth more if you were here rather than in Kentucky. Think about it and I'll call ya back tomorrow." Rick didn't wait for him to respond before he hung up. Daryl's mind raced as he returned to the table and began working on the owl. He knew when she was in between shows she tried to go back to Atlanta and see her father who just had knee surgery on his good leg. He decided to get through the night and think about it at home, in the quiet of the woods.

With the owl finished and the wolf on the man now seated in front of him, his night at work was drawing to a close. Daryl heard the door ring over the music playing in the parlor but he paid it no mind. He also ignored the sounds of someone walking up to him, assuming it was just Emilia or the new girl coming to talk to him.

"If you have time, I've got something in mind I'd like to talk to you about." His eyes shot up to meet the face the familiar voice belonged to and it was all he could do to remember to bring the gun off of man's skin before he drew something he didn't mean to in his surprise. He set the gun down on the table next to him and moved over to her quickly and wrapped her in his arms.

"What are you doing here?"

"Tryin' to get a new tattoo, of course." She smiled brightly and brought her lips to his. And just like that, his decision was made. He'd have to tell Dave, once again, that he was leaving.

AN: I hope you enjoyed. For those of you who can't tell… this one is drawing to a close but I think I might do a sequel with all those lovely scenes we'll be missing out on in this one, if everyone wants it. Let me know what you think!