A/N: Hi lovelies! Okay, just a few words about last chapter and Carol's behavior. I know it appeared that I am writing her sort of bitchy, but let me explain. Carol has changed so much since season 4 and I think it's really important to convey how far apart these two characters are right now - even in the show. Her new found strength came with a price, as so many things in life do. Carol has proven time and again that she will do whatever is necessary to survive, with a very Shane-like mentality (the core group is all that matters), where Daryl is all about helping people and still believing (thanks to our sweet Doodlebug) that there are still good people out there. He wants to believe this and he wants to help them if he finds them. They are clearly on two very different paths, and my goal is to show this, not to make Carol appear like a mega-bitch. In case I gave the wrong impression, Carol is not jealous of Beth in a romantic way (because in TWD I have never perceived her love for Daryl as anything but familial), but she is jealous in the sense that she is losing common ground with him, and feeling more isolated. Sorry for the rambling rant! Sigh. xoxo ~ Lis
Daryl awoke, just before dawn, his internal alarm clock as accurate as ever. Sitting up, he was careful not to wake Beth, as he gently untangled her limbs from his and slid out of the bed. He wanted her to rest a bit longer while he finalized some things, and besides, she was going to need her energy.
Raising his arms high over his head, Daryl stretched, then bent to scratch the dumb one-eyed dog behind its ear. With a million things on his mind, he grabbed a clean set of clothing out of his dresser drawers and headed to the bathroom, dropping them on the toilet and turned the shower on, jumping in before the water even had a chance to heat up. Washing, rinsing and hopping out in the literal blink of an eye, Daryl drug his clothing on, ran a toothbrush over his teeth, and headed back to the bedroom. Stopping briefly to tug on his boots, he scooted Willie off of the bed and tucked the covers tighter around Beth, not wanting to put another log on the fire, since they'd be leaving soon.
Pausing to grab his crossbow and sling it on his back, Daryl snatched his empty backpack from the top of the dresser, clicked his teeth so Willie would follow and quietly stepped out of the room, shutting the door behind him. Once he was in the kitchen, he threw open the cabinets and grabbed the things he needed, quickly stuffing them into his backpack and zipping it closed, leaving it on the counter. Next he grabbed an empty pot, filled it with water and turned the gas range to high. He set the pot on the burner to boil, grabbed up his backpack and headed to the front door, Willie at his heels.
Sliding out the board they'd rigged against the front door, so they didn't have to nail it in place every night, he pulled the door open. Daryl was just about to step outside when Rick's bedroom door creaked opened and he stepped out into the common room, barefoot and shirtless, his hair matted down on one side of his head.
"Rough night?" Daryl asked with a smirk. They were usually unkempt, but Rick looked rather rumpled this morning.
"What the hell are you so chipper about?" Rick grumbled, smearing his hand up and down his face vigorously, then blinking his eyes, trying to wake himself up.
"Goin' ta take Beth outside tha fence, teach her ta drive stick. Maybe go huntin', time permittin'," Daryl answered. "Judith have a bad night?"
Rick grimaced, pushing his hand through his matted hair. "Teething will be the death of me and we're completely out of that gunk Beth was rubbin' on her gums."
"Try some whisky," Daryl offered, stepping out of the way so Willie could go outside and relieve himself.
"For her or me?" Rick raised an eyebrow.
"Have everyone make a list. We're 'bout due fer a pharmacy run. Maybe ta'morrow?" Daryl suggested.
Rick nodded, turning around to head back to his room. "Have fun and be careful," he called over his shoulder before shutting his bedroom door.
Grabbing the quilted throw on the back of the loveseat, Daryl tucked it under his arm and continued out the door, his boots clapping on the porch steps as he eagerly made his way to the Jeep, tucking the blanket and backpack safely into the backseat. Remembering he left the pot of water boiling on the stove, he whistled for the dumb dog as he bounded back up the porch steps and made a beeline for the kitchen.
Daryl rounded the corner of the dinning room, his enthusiasm coming to a screeching halt as he encountered Maggie in the kitchen, starting a pot of coffee, her and Glenn fresh off of night watch. The water must've over-boiled, as she'd removed the pot and already turned the burner off.
"Good mornin'," she drawled, tones clipped, when it appeared Daryl wasn't going to say anything.
"Mornin'," he mumbled, grabbing bowls and emptying the contents of two blueberries and cream instant oatmeal packets into them.
"Daryl Dixon in the kitchen?" Maggie regarded him, feigning shock. "What's the special occasion?" She asked, watching over his shoulder as he grabbed a dishtowel and wrapped it around the pot handle so he could pour the water into the bowls.
"Goin' huntin'," he answered, grabbing two spoons from the silverware drawer. It was true for the most part. If they had the time.
"Takin' Beth too?" Maggie pried, leaning gingerly against the kitchen counter, crossing her arms over her chest and cocking her head to one side, as Beth often did.
Daryl nodded, "That's tha plan."
"When are you comin' back?" Maggie asked, doing her best impression of a stern parent.
"When we're done," Daryl replied calmly, continuing on with his task, stirring the oatmeal into the water.
"Ya just watch where your pointin' your bolts, Dixon," Maggie's tone was serious, threatening even, but when he raised his head to look at her, her eyes were teasing, overflowing with humor.
"Lay off Maggie, you know Darryl's got good aim," Glenn chimed in with a smirk, not waiting for the coffee to finish percolating before pouring himself a cup.
"Man's right," Daryl joined in. "My aims good, real good," he taunted, his lips tilting into a lopsided grin. If Maggie was throwing down the gauntlet this morning, Daryl was going to accept the challenge. "Or so I've been told."
"That's what I'm worried about," she shot back, side-eyeing Daryl. "Ya just protect my baby sister, hear?"
"Wit my life," Daryl replied with complete honesty, scooping up the bowls and heading back towards his room.
Only when he reached the door did he stop to ponder just how in the hell he was going to open it with two steaming bowls of oatmeal in his hands. He turned to berate the dog for once again being useless, only to find Maggie standing behind him. With a smug smile, she reached down and twisted the knob, and pushed the door open.
"Real genius," she snarked playfully, rolling her eyes.
"Thanks," Daryl replied, nudging the door open the rest of the way with his boot, and stepping inside. Then, "later Maggie," as he kicked it shut as the dog shimmied in, preventing her from peeking nosily inside the room, as she so obviously desperately wanted to.
Beth was still sleeping, curled up on her side like a kitten, her hands tucked under her cheek. She was so unbelievably beautiful, even more so in her peaceful slumber, Daryl swore he could go on watching her forever, except the bowls he was still holding were burning holes through his palms. Quickly, he set them down on the dresser and crawled onto the bed, laying down to face Beth, and gently pushed her hair out of her face, tucking it behind her ear.
"Rise an' shine, Greene," he whispered in his raspy voice, leaning down to kiss the tip of her nose.
Beth stirred, sleepily blinking her eyes. "Five more minutes," she murmured, attempting to pull the covers up over her head.
"C'mon Beth," Daryl coaxed her, gripping the blankets and blocking her attempt to cover herself. "We ain't gonna have many more nice days left before winter. Got a busy day. An' I made breakfast," he added.
Her eyes flew open at that. "You made breakfast? For me? Daryl that's so sweet," she cooed, laying her hand on his stubbly cheek and stroking it affectionately.
"Don't go gettin' all googly-eyed, Greene. It's jus' instant oatmeal," he scoffed, trying to minimize his affectionate expression.
"Oh, well then ...five more minutes," she said again, tugging the blankets from his hand, then giggling as he pinned her arms and rolled on top of her.
Beth grew instantly serious, her eyes immediately clouding over with desire as she felt Daryl stir between her legs, already growing hard from the contact. She licked her lips, waiting for his kiss.
Daryl groaned. "Don't go lookin' at me like that girl, or we'll never leave this room, an' I have our whole day planned."
Growing bold, Beth wriggled her hips beneath him, nestling him deeper in the vee of her thighs, gasping at the friction. "Surely you can spare a few minutes?"
"Shameless hussy," Daryl teased her, bending to cover her mouth with his own in a gentle kiss, his tongue lightly brushing against hers, sending a jolt of desire shooting straight to his toes.
He released her abruptly, pushing himself away from her and rolling off of the bed in one fluid motion, lest he throw his well thought out plans to the wind and make love to her until she couldn't walk for a week. Ignoring Beth's adorable pouting face, he strolled to the dresser, grabbing her bowl of oatmeal and handed it to her.
"Eat up, Greene," he ordered her, scooping up his own bowl and shoveling its contents into his mouth without really tasting it. "Then get yer cute lil' backside in tha shower an' put on sum'thin' comfortable."
"Where we goin'?" Beth asked then closed her mouth over her next spoonful, regarding Daryl with a curious expression.
"You'll see," Daryl said with a coy smile.
"No Daryl, stop! I'm not ready," Beth squealed.
"What tha hell ya gotta be ready fer? It's jus' drivin" Daryl said, from the passenger seat of the Jeep.
"This is not like regular driving," Beth protested, side-eyeing Daryl. "It's gonna stall again."
"Prob'ly," Daryl agreed, trying to contain his humor. "But that's how ya learn."
He'd brought Beth a little ways down the mountain from the lodge and to the west, to an abandoned field. It was overgrown with tall weeds and grass, beginning to brown and die from the oncoming winter, but it was empty and open and away from town where they might run into someone unsavory, and they were in a Jeep, after all. So far, she had yet to master getting it out of first gear without stalling it.
Beth sighed exaggeratedly and placed her hand back on the shifter, looking to Daryl for confirmation.
Daryl nodded. "Put it in neutral. Yep," he said, placing his hand over top of hers and giving the stick a wiggle from left to right. "Middle is neutral. Now go on, start 'er up. You don't need ta push in tha clutch unless yer startin' 'er in gear."
Beth turned the key in the ignition and the Jeep's engine hummed to life, again looking to Daryl for confirmation, she gripped the stick, laying her foot down on the clutch and shifted the Jeep into first gear, pushing the stick up and to the left.
"That'a girl," Daryl encouraged her. "Now ease off tha clutch and give 'er some gas. Easy ..."
Sucking her bottom lip between her teeth, Beth did as she was told, wincing as the Jeep bucked forward and began to move, the engine whining out in first gear, as she gave it more gas. Her face awash with nervousness, she pushed the clutch in again, pulling the shifter down and left and choppily shifting it into second gear. Again, it bucked forward but did not stall.
"Oh my God, I did it," she cried, her smile so big you could see it from space. Giving it more gas, she eased in the clutch again and pushed the shifter into third gear, her smile growing wider as it shifted more smoothly. "Do you see this Daryl? I'm doing it!"
"I see ya Greene," Daryl called back, grinning like a fool with pride. He loved watching her like this, full of confidence, her hair blowing loose from her ponytail, cheeks pink and flushed from excitement. She was a mess, and she was breathtakingly beautiful. Vibrant and full of life. "Told ya. Now, slow down an' downshift."
Beth did as she was told, biting her lip when the Jeep bucked again, but just a little. She took the Jeep to the end of the field, then looped around and came back to the center, up and downshifting as Daryl directed, her shifting becoming more and more seamless the more she practiced.
"Alright Beth, lemme show ya sum'thin' fun," Daryl said, as Beth was nearing the end of the field again. "Give 'er some more gas, then cut the wheel to the right-"
"The right? Why?" Beth interrupted him, confused. "There's bushes there, I need to go left."
"Jus' do it," Daryl persisted, and as she did, he jerked the e-brake up, spinning the Jeep in a three hundred and sixty degree angle to the left, and in the direction she needed to go.
In the unexpected excitement of the moment, Beth accidentally let her foot off of the clutch, and the jeep lurched forward and stalled, her expression shifting from excited, to disappointment. Daryl laughed out loud and was rewarded with a slap on the shoulder.
"S'all right girl. Start 'er up an' do it again," He said, pointing to the opposite end of the field. "It's much more fun ta do in the a snow, but'l also come in handy if yer ever in a pinch and need ta turn 'round real fast."
"And does Rick know about all your evasive driving techniques, Mr. Dixon whose never been in jail?" Beth teased him.
"Nah," Daryl shook his head. "Merle an' I used ta do this when we were kids. Took tha ol' mans truck down ta tha quarry ta do donuts when he was too lit ta notice ...which was pretty much all tha time," he mumbled the last part under his breath.
Concentrating at her newfound skill, Beth restarted the Jeep, shifting as she should, only choppy coming out of first gear, and gunned it to the other end of the field. When she could go no farther, she jerked the wheel hard to the right, and pulled the e-brake up herself, successfully spinning the jeep to the left, pushed in the clutch and eased the jeep right into the next gear, without missing a beat. Letting out a whoop of excitement, she sped back to the other side, repeating her actions once more and then pulled the Jeep back to the center of the field and cut the engine.
"Congratulations Miss Greene," Daryl said. "Ya passed tha course."
"The Daryl Dixon school of driving. That was fun," Beth admitted. "Go again?"
"Nah," Daryl replied with a quick shake of his head, pushing open the passenger side door and climbing out. "Don't wanna burn up all our gas. Besides, got sum'thin' else in mind."
"Oh?" Beth asked, intrigued at his vagueness.
"Yep," he called as he walked around the front of the Jeep and opened the drivers side door, motioning for Beth to scoot across the seat to the passenger side. "Ya can drive on tha way home."
"Where we goin'?" Beth asked, settling herself into the passenger seat, glancing over at him expectantly.
"Ya hungry?" Daryl asked, starting the Jeep back up, he pushed in the clutch and shifted the Jeep back into gear, pulling out of the field and heading back towards home.
"A little," Beth confessed, laying her smaller hand on top of Daryl's on the stick shift. "Thought you said we weren't going home?"
"We're not," Daryl answered, absentmindedly rubbing his thumb against her hand. "Not really."
About a quarter of a mile from the turnoff to the lodge, Daryl pulled the Jeep onto the shoulder, carefully guiding it into the woods and out of sight from the main road. He kept it in first gear as slowly inched up the incline, a few yards away from the road and effectively out of sight.
"We walk from here," he explained, cutting the engine and climbing out of the Jeep, tucking the keys safely into his pants pocket.
"Walk where?" Beth asked, coming to stand beside Daryl behind the Jeep, as he pulled the backpack out and shouldered it, tossing the quilt over top of it.
"Wherever tha hunt takes us," Daryl replied, handing Beth his crossbow. "Ya remember everythin' I taught ya?"
"Of course," Beth replied with a nod of her head, wincing for just a moment as she adjusted his crossbow a little better in her arms. Her sprain was almost healed, and only bothered her when she put extreme pressure on it.
Daryl placed his hand on the small of her back, guiding Beth forward and farther into the woods ahead of them. "S'good," he said, a smirk creeping its way to his mouth. "Impress me."