AN: Sorry guys it took me so long to update this round. I had to work all weekend so that didn't leave a whole of time for anything else besides sleeping. At first I thought "who needs sleep?" but then after working 13 hours Saturday and 13 hours yesterday I decided it was ME! Haha So here goes the next chapter. I am not entirely sure where this next chapter is going but I feel confident the characters will let me know what is supposed to happen next.

Daryl nodded at Glenn as he came out on the porch to relieve him. "Hey man" Glenn said gruffly as he was rubbing his hand over his face. It was his turn for watch.

Daryl nodded at him and stood up, stretching his aching legs. "Hey, glad to see ya. I ain't been this tired in a while". It was still slightly dark out; he might be able to catch another hour or two of sleep, especially seeing how he hadn't slept much before his watch and smirked to himself when he remembered the reason why. Beth had developed quite an appetite for love-making, he thought smiling.

Glenn looked at Daryl curiously. He had been wanting to talk with Daryl since he had figured out what was going on with him and Beth. "So man," he began and then faltered. Glenn wasn't really good at starting conversations like this. "So Beth." He gestured to Daryl.

Daryl sighed. He knew that this was coming. Geez, a guy couldn't just be with a girl. He had to talk about it too. He supposed it was natural for everyone to be curious though. "What about her?" Daryl said as he tinkered with his bow.

Glenn looked at him flustered. "Come on man, you know what I'm asking you. Maggie is completely clammed up about the whole thing. Those two have got to make up soon. Maggie has been in the worst mood." Glenn didn't further elaborate that he hadn't been able to touch her in days. Last night, she had relented a little. Glenn thought it might have something to do with Liam's death. She had allowed him to kiss her goodnight but she had begged off anything else and of course with Judith with them that night, it would have been impossible anyway.

Daryl chuckled. "You cut off man?"

Glenn looked relieved that Daryl understood what he was saying. It wasn't entirely about the sex. Glenn hated conflict. He wanted everyone to just get along. He knew though with everyone in such close proximity, there was bound to be some kind of clash of personalities once in a while. "Well yeah sure but it's not just that. I just can't stand to see Maggie and Beth at odds. They are so close. So what's going on with you and Beth. Do you love her?" And the words felt foreign on Glenn's tongue when speaking about Daryl feeling love for someone. He knew he had a rough past and he played his feelings close to the vest but he also had seen how he looked at Beth. His eyes noticeably softened when he watched her and it seemed that his eyes followed her everywhere.

Daryl let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. "Why is everyone so damn interested in what is going on with me and Beth?" he knew he was being grumpy but it was only because he was so tired. Yes, he loved Beth. He had just told her not even three hours ago. But he wasn't sure he was ready to admit it to anyone else. Those were really hard words for him to say. It had seemed natural saying them to Beth but telling anyone else, well that was a different story, he thought.

Glenn seemed unfazed by Daryl's tone. "Because man, you are Daryl freaking Dixon. Anybody who knows you would like to know what's going on. I get it though. I love Maggie. She is the best thing that has ever happened to me. There's just something about a Greene girl. Hershel sure did raise his girls well." He said as he fingered the pocket watch in his hand. The watch meant even more to him now that the man was gone. While he had never been close to his own father, he had grown extremely fond of his father-in-law.

Daryl nodded agreeing. "You're right about that. There is nothing like a Greene girl." He relented. "I dunno. Beth and I…." he trailed off. It was hard to put into words he realized. "I'd die for her" he finally said simply. That pretty much said it all. He hoped that was explanation enough because at the moment that was all he could come up with.

Glenn nodded at him seeming satisfied with his answer. "I know how you feel" He said.

Daryl grunted as he picked up his bow. "Well I'm gonna go get some sleep" he said trudging to the door.

"Alright man, sleep fast" he joked as he watched Daryl walk back into the lodge and Daryl laughed as he shut the door. It was getting lighter out by the moment. They still hadn't talked about what they were going to do yet. Daryl and Rick had mentioned maybe staying here for a few days. Everyone was so exhausted, they could really use the break before moving on.

Glenn hadn't gotten much sleep. He thought when they had found the lodge that he would finally get a few hours of sleep, but instead of sleeping he had been wide awake for the first hour or so, watching Maggie and baby Judith sleep. Glenn felt a clench in his heart when he looked at his wife curled protectively around the sleeping baby's form. She was such a natural at being a mother. It made him long, not for the first time, for a child of their own. Watching Maggie with Judith he knew if their circumstances were different, they would have a whole house full of kids. It had been terrifying on the road though. It had forced them to really think about what it would be like to have a baby in this world. It was hard enough constantly worrying about Judith. It was the worst catch 22 he had ever experienced. Taking care of the little girl over the past few weeks had been equal parts rewarding and scary at the same time. Judith was such a good baby and had such a unique personality that sometimes you forgot you were living in an apocalyptic world. Glenn sighed thinking that if this thing was ever over with, he and Maggie might be able to have a real life together. A life without walkers and death and gore and fear.

Upstairs, Daryl wearily placed his bow beside the bed and undressed silently. She looked so peaceful sleeping there. He crawled in beside her and wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to him. She was warm and soft and pliant in all the places that he was hard and rugged. He breathed in the scent of her, strawberries and the musky smell of sex and the smell of something else familiar. She smelled like him, he realized and smiled. He liked it.

Beth stirred lazily feeling Daryl's arms go around her. "I missed you" she breathed.

"Missed you too Princess" Daryl whispered, stroking her hair with one hand. "Sorry I woke you up. Go back to sleep".

Beth looked up at him and leaned in for a soft kiss with which he easily complied. He kissed her tenderly. He couldn't deny her anything, he realized. Kissing her he moaned against her lips. He was always amazed at how much she aroused him just with a simple kiss, a touch, a look exchanged between them. Beth smiled sweetly at him. "Sleep?" And Daryl groaned, knowing that sleep was now the furthest thing from his mind.

Okay guys, I know that this was probably the shortest chapter in the history of fan fiction but I wanted to get something out. I will be updating again later tonight so be watching for it. As always, please let me know how I am doing. Your reviews are just wonderful! I can't believe how many of you private message me too telling me about how you like this or that going on in the story. I am overwhelmed with all the praise. I can't believe this story is already to chapter 26 and my followers are at 199 right now! Only 1 more follower til I reach 200. So exciting to realize that many people want to read what I am writing. It just goes to show that there are a lot more Bethyl shippers out there than we know. And I mean worldwide too. Evidently there is a huge Bethyl following in the UK and in Australia. Like, wow! Okay, review review lovelies and until next time. Xoxoxoxoxo