AN: The response was overwhelmingly YES on the sequel, so guess what I'm gunna do? Haha! I have a few prompts and side projects I'm going to work on but I will circle back around and I'm pretty excited!

As always, thank you to DarylDixon'sLover, UltimateBethylFiclist, Brady66, 2carlaa, vettech60, An Amber Pen, Reignashii, Carowen, rckyfrk, Mirsa, SirensCalling, DanAlaya, fieryandpassionate, lisasays, heatherrk, Gabs, spuffynoelle, Guest, Daryl Dixon's Redhead, and Klutz-z. You all are awesome!

Here we go!

Chapter 26

Daryl moved back to Georgia a week after Rick's offer and Beth's surprise visit. They'd spent most of their time in his cabin preparing for his final move out of Kentucky.

Dave had been very understanding about Daryl's resignation, an almost knowing smile passing across his lips as Daryl offered a rare apology to the man. Dave nodded and told him he'd have Emilia rearrange the appointments and for him to get the hell out of there. Daryl's parting request had been to allow him some time to give Beth what she had said she came for. He spent a half hour inking a small heart with a music note in it, on the nape of her neck. It would have taken only a few minutes had he not taken the time to kiss the area around the tender flesh every time she flinched.

That had been five weeks ago and he now sat alone in their condo. Beth had convinced him not long after his arrival that they should live together since they stayed together every night prior to their brief separation. Daryl, wanting to make her happy, obliged without a second thought.

He spent his days helping Rick sort out the business, managing the new 'recruits' and giving them assignments while she spent her time bouncing between concerts and appearances. He tried to ignore the frustration when she would call and tell him she wasn't going to make her flight home and would need to go on to the next show. He desperately wished she would learn to say 'no' for these jobs in between her tour dates. He was sure they had only spent four or five days together in the last five weeks.

When she had called him earlier that morning to tell him she would be home that afternoon, he had been hesitant to believe her. She had promised this to him several other times and had let him down, something he was no stranger to. However, after her insistence that nothing could keep her from coming home, he decided to 'have a little faith', as she had put it. He'd gone out and grabbed a fresh bouquet of flowers and made a reservation at her one her favorite restaurants at Rick's suggestion.

He waited for her arrival around three. As four rolled around, he decided to grab a beer. By seven he'd had several and was still sitting in the living room alone. His frustration was beginning to build as their dinner reservations had now passed and the flowers sitting on the table began to wilt. He started wondering why in the world he'd come back to begin with. He wanted to help Rick and be closer to her but he felt like they were miles apart. He knew her schedule was busy and it would be trying on them but he had not expected this.

The front door opened shortly after nine at night and Daryl didn't bother glancing over at the noise. There was a bit of commotion as bags were being set down and keys dropped on the table. He sat his beer down as she moved to stand in front of him.

"I'm so sorry." She whispered, her hand reaching out for him. He didn't move. "The flight got delayed and my cell phone died." Daryl only grunted his acknowledgement of her excuse and reached past her for his beer can, taking a long sip that emptied the can. "Daryl?" She sat down beside him, trying desperately to draw him back to her but he didn't want to. She sighed heavily and stood up, knowing that he would need to come around on his own. She moved towards the kitchen and stopped, clearly taking note of the wilted flowers sitting on the table. "Are these for me?" She asked softly.

"Yea, dyin' though." He grumbled bitterly. He wasn't expecting to hear her soft giggles from over his shoulder.

"Why didn't you put them in water, silly?" He turned his head and glared at her, his rage and frustration billowing out of control.

"Beth, what the hell are we doin' here?" He practically shouted at her, causing her to jump slightly. He rose and moved around the dainty furniture to stand before her.

"What do you mean?" He'd never seen her look so fragile before. Not even when Zach held that knife to her neck.

"I moved back here to be with ya! I never wanted to come back here an' live like this!"

"Then why did you?" She whimpered.

"Because I thought it would be better than missin' ya every god damn day not knowing when I'd get ta see ya again." He shouted, his arms waving around as he paced before her. He knew he looked like a caged animal being poked by gawking children but the beer buzzing through his veins and the outright rejection he felt being left here alone while she traveled the country was causing him to feel hurt his father never could create. "I know the schedule, but you takin' on every damn TV appearance and radio interview is gettin' ridiculous!"

"Daryl, I can't say 'no', not while there is so much promoting to do!" She countered, her voice becoming stronger as she squared herself before him.

"The hell ya can't! You're gunna run yourself into the ground like this an' anything you ever hoped to have with anyone won't last." He saw her flinch as if he had struck her across the face and guilt rose in his chest. He dropped his voice but kept going, "This ain't me, Beth. I ain't the kinda guy to sit here in a place like this for no reason! I ain't the kinda guy to buy flowers and make reservations at fancy places but I'm trying an' it ain't doin' a bit a'good." He stopped and pulled out a chair and sat down, his head in his hands. She dropped down to her knees in front of him and pulled at his hands.

"It'll get easier." She whispered. "If you wanna go back to Kentucky, tell Rick and I'm sure he can find another partner." He could see the wheels turning in her head as she tried to come up with an option that would make him happy. It only pissed him off more because it wasn't the solution he needed.

"Goddamnit, Beth! It ain't about the fuckin' job! I love ya, girl! And sittin' here waitin' on ya like some pussy whipped asshole, wonderin' when you're comin' home ain't me!" He hadn't even realized what he'd said until he saw how wide her eyes had grown and how her mouth had fallen open.

"What did you say?"

"Shit…" He mumbled as he ran a hand down his face. "I love ya, Beth. I never loved anyone before. Don't know what the hell to do." He said quietly. The silence in the room was suffocating. He waited for something, anything, to break the nothingness he felt looming over him. He finally felt her delicate fingers wrap around his wrist and he watched them pull his hand up to her cheek. When he finally chanced a look at her face, his heart shattered. She was crying and he had no idea what to do.

"I love you, too." She confessed through her tears. Daryl felt like all the air had been ripped from his lungs. Emotions he'd never experienced rushed through every nerve ending in his body, but before he could figure out what the hell they meant, his body was moving without permission. The hand on her cheek moved behind her neck as he pulled her to him, their lips crashing together violently.

Her hands wrapped around his neck and her body immediately moved to fit against his as much as it could in the position they were in. He immediately stood, their lips never breaking as she followed him, and snaked his arms around her waist. He finally released the bruising hold he had over her mouth and lifted her off the ground, moving them back to the couch. She fell back down as soon as the back of her calves touched it and frantically began working at his belt buckle. He ripped off his shirt and leaned down to undo the buttons of her blouse until her chest was exposed to him. He was proud of himself for showing restraint enough to not just rip the thing to shreds.

It took just a matter of moments before all articles of clothing were now a pile on the floor and he was thrusting inside her while her legs wrapped around his waist. Her nails dug into the skin at the back of his neck drawing a hiss from him. Her moans and pants brushed past his ear as he buried his head in the crook of her neck.

His hands gripped at her hips to hold her in place as he continued to push and pull in and out of her roughly. He could feel the tension in his body build as a result from his forceful onslaught of her body. Pulling his head back to look at her, he slowed his movements and drew her eyes to his.

"Don't stop." She begged breathlessly. He had no intention of stopping but he needed to control himself, his need to make sure she was happy, outweighing anything he needed for himself. His head dropped to hers to rest his forehead against hers, her breath mixing with his own as he continued the slow and tantalizing rhythm he created. With each thrust, her hips rolled against his, trying to draw everything he had from him.

He continued like this until he felt her body begin to come alive beneath him. Her hips no longer met his effortlessly and he knew she was close. He pulled his head away from her and released her hips to press his hands into the couch next to her head to steady himself. Her pants and moans starting coming louder and her eyes clinched shut as she trembled around him. He pushed into her hard and faster causing her to practically scream from the intensity of her orgasm.

It wasn't long until his own body was shuddering right along with her. His thrusts began erratic and the tightness that had been building so rapidly only moments ago snapped so violently it sent euphoric sensations through every inch of his body until he felt like he would burst into flames.

They stayed that way for several moments, both catching their breaths and regaining control. Daryl began to feel very sheepish for the way he had yelled at her and found himself unable to look at her. He reached down and grabbed his discarded shirt before pulling out of her and catching the mess he had caused. She sat up as soon as he did, her hand resting on his shoulder.

"Don't." She whispered. He glanced over at her, his eyes failing to reach hers. Instead, he focused on the cream color of the skin on her neck. "I know what you're doing. Don't."

"I shouldn'ta yelled at ya." He muttered.

"No, you shouldn't have. But I understand why you're upset. I can't promise anything, Daryl." He finally looked at her when her words hit his ears. "I love you. We'll make this work and we'll figure this out. It will get easier." He nodded and she rested her head on his shoulder in place of her hand.

"M'sorry." He mumbled as he wrapped his arm around her and pulled her closer.

"I'm supposed to do a radio show tomorrow. I'm gunna call Glenn here in a bit and cancel it."

"Don't. Rick and I got a lot sorted this week. I'll go with ya. Maybe find some classy place to take ya out for dinner to make up for all this."

"I'm not the classy sort of girl, Daryl. Order a pizza or Chinese and I'll be happy." She retorted.

"Thought all girls like that romance novel shit."

"I don't need much." She said with a smirk. Deep down, he knew she was telling the truth. She could have anyone in the world with her right now but instead she was content on sitting here with him. Some poor and dirty redneck from Kentucky by way of Georgia. He still didn't understand it but at this point, he decided not to question it. He had told her he loved her and she loved him. His life may be a damn romance novel, but at least it could be written with compromise.

He used his free hand to pull the blanket from the back of the couch and wrap it around their chilled skin as she nestled closer to him. When they woke the next morning, she was still wrapped in his arms and he realized that she was right; they would make it work.