Despite his best intentions, Daryl had fallen asleep sometime in the early hours of the morning. Beth had started breathing deeply and evenly. His head had fallen forward against his chest but as soon as there was stirring on the bed, he snapped awake.

Beth was turning in her sleep but it wasn't the wild thrashing of a nightmare so he didn't fret. He leaned forward to test her temperature with his hand again. She felt cooler already and Daryl had to slump back in his chair with relief. After everything they survived, it would be absurd to die from an illness.

Daryl rubbed his eyes with the heels of his hands. They felt gritty and dry from a night spent mostly watching Beth. The blankets had twisted around the girl and he righted them. Beth moaned but didn't wake.

Daryl didn't think his heart could stand up to all these scares she was giving him. He wasn't a young man any more. He'd never worried about someone like this except for Merle, and Beth should be giving him a lot less to be concerned over. She wasn't into crime, drugs or drink, thank goodness.

In fact Beth Greene was possibly the most wholesome person he'd met in his entire life. Except maybe when she had legs wrapped around his waist, arching her body into his. Her sickness had stopped him from thinking too closely about what had happened last night. Daryl was glad because he knew he was responsible for letting things get out of hand.

It was his own fault, he knew Beth behaved rashly when he goaded her and then she had been so beautiful, standing there glaring at him that he couldn't have done anything else but kiss her. She'd been drinking and Daryl, well Daryl got carried away. His body had taken over; ignoring every thought and promise he'd had on the subject. If Beth hadn't balked, then who knows where they would have been?

Daryl could feel his skin heating up as he thought about it. Deciding Beth was well enough to be left alone for a few minutes, he ducked outside. He splashed some freezing water on his face and neck and that served to wake him up.

Daryl did a quick lap and tested all their walkers' bindings. They were still secure. Yesterday Beth said she sometimes got the impression they had thoughts and Daryl could see why. When the light was muted, it could be an eerie thing to have so many eyes pointed in his direction.

He went back inside and saw Beth was shivering again. Daryl checked and he realised her fever had broken. Now she was genuinely cold. Daryl found the bag she kept all her clothes in and started riffling in it for a sweater or something. He should probably help her upright and get her to drink some fluids and take more medication. His hand brushed something hard and plastic at the bottom of the bag. Furrowing his forehead, Daryl tugged it out and stared in disbelief. He glanced at Beth to make sure she was still asleep and then returned to examining his discovery with shock.

It was a box of condoms and Daryl couldn't for the life of him figure out where they had come from. He certainly hadn't seen her pick any up on any of their excursions into town. Beth wasn't ready to have sex, that much was evident from last night, but was she thinking about it seriously enough to take precautionary steps? His mind was reeling. He'd said no more than kissing to protect himself but also because he didn't really think Beth was going to want to do that with him ever. Daryl rubbed his temples and considered what he knew. They were attracted to each other but Beth was young, inexperienced, virginal, and he was an emotionally stunted coward. It wasn't the perfect combination for getting sex to happen.

Daryl put the box back where he found it and covered it with clothing. He had found a sweater and was determined to put that little box of temptation out of his head.

Daryl pushed Beth's hair back from her face, feeling tender and able to do so without her knowing.

"Beth," he called softly and he saw her eyes open. There was a splash of colour in her cheeks that hadn't been there yesterday.

"Daryl?" She sounded confused.

"How're you feelin'? You ain't been well." He kept his voice low.

She tried to sit but couldn't manage it. Daryl put a hand on her back and helped her upright. She gingerly tugged her arms into the sweater while Daryl got her some water and pills.

"I feel... kind of weak," Beth explained. "My head hurts."

"These'll help," Daryl said, pressing the tablets into her hand. Beth swallowed them without much direction from Daryl.

"I'm just going to be right outside, if you need anythin'," Daryl said standing up.

She nodded into the pillow, not really taking much of what he said in. Daryl left her to the cabin and went outside. There wasn't much he could do so close to the cabin but he also didn't want to be inside, staring at Beth and thinking about condoms.

...

When Beth opened her eyes, there was a fire in the cabin. Her throat was still dry and her head pounded but she felt better. Daryl was slumped in a chair across from her, immersed in his book. He hadn't noticed that she watched him just yet.

It took two tries to speak. "Hey," Beth croaked.

Daryl looked up sharply. The shadows made the lines around his eyes seem more pronounced and he looked exhausted, but when he glanced at her his expression softened.

"Hey," he replied, putting the book away.

Beth sat up in the bed and it was an effort but she managed it without Daryl's help. The last twenty four hours felt like a fiery blur. She remembered Daryl's concerned face hovering over her and being very cold.

Daryl passed her a bottle of water. "Sip this slowly." His command was softened by the obvious tenderness in his tone. It made Beth stare. She took a delicate mouthful and the water felt wonderful.

"I'm not drinkin' again," Beth said weakly, folding her arms within her clothes. She still felt cold.

"Yeah, I don't think it was the alcohol so much," Daryl said. "You hungry?"

Beth realised that she was in fact very hungry. She nodded and watched Daryl move comfortably around the cabin heating one of the cans of soup.

"Can you eat on your own?" Daryl asked, as he passed her a steaming bowl. He lingered awkwardly and it made a smile cross her face.

"I think I can do it," she said to a relieved Daryl. Spoon feeding patients was not really in his skill set but she was touched that he would offer.

Beth ate slowly so as not to upset her stomach but having some sustenance did make her feel a lot better.

Daryl was watching her closely and when she raised an eyebrow, questioning his intense scrutiny, Daryl rubbed the back of his neck and backed away.

"It looks like it was one of those twenty-four hour things," Daryl explained.

It might be her imagination but Daryl was different, edgy. It was almost like he was a little scared of her, which made no sense. She probably couldn't have stood up let alone done anything to him.

"My mother used to make me soup when I was sick," Beth commented. Now more than ever, she missed her mother. All she wanted was some loving arms wrapped around her. Her breathing hitched and she realised there were tears in her eyes.

"Are you alright?" Daryl asked, flustered. He had heard her gasp from across the room.

Beth thought about lying to him and feigning indifference but her strength had vanished, torn away by what her body had endured. She shook her head.

Daryl took one cautious step forward. He now looked terrified. "What do you need?"

"Could you-," Beth took a breath. "Could you just hold me?" She hadn't meant for her request to sound so vulnerable but her shaking voice made it so.

Daryl, to his credit, didn't hesitate though his face showed surprise. Beth shifted over while Daryl kicked off his boots. He sat with his legs on the bed and his back against the wall. He opened his arms for Beth and she curled up next to his body.

Beth closed her eyes and breathed in the scent of Daryl. He smelt like outside and smoke. It reminded her that she wasn't here by herself. She felt small next to him but perfectly safe with her head on his chest.

"Tell me something," she murmured into his chest.

"Like what?"

"A story from your life," Beth suggested.

"There aren't that many good stories." He sounded sad.

"Tell me about when you lost your virginity." Beth was too tired to be tactful and she was curious about the woman who got there first.

"What kinda thing would that be to tell you?" Daryl demanded, sounding annoyed. Beth grinned at the return of cantankerous Daryl.

"C'mon," Beth coaxed. "I wanna know."

"Can't for the life of me think why," Daryl grumbled. "Seems inappropriate."

"Please, I'm sick," she whined and threw in a little cough for good measure.

His arms tightened around her and she realised he was chuckling, seeing straight through her attempt to manipulate him. He was getting wise.

"Oh god," he groaned and Beth knew she had won. "I was seventeen. Merle was back in town, fresh outta the slammer."

"Uh oh," Beth contributed, nestling closer into his body, enjoying his natural warmth.

"You got that right! So he decides he has to take his lil' bro out on the town for a few welcome home drinks. We went out and met up with a few of his 'friends.' And that's when I got introduced to Gypsy."

Beth snorted, "That's a stripper's name."

There was an awkward pause and Beth leaned away so she could look at Daryl's face. He was blushing. "No way!"

"Can I stop? This here's embarrasin'!"

"Not now you can't!"

Daryl mumbled something unflattering but then he cleared his throat and continued. "We were all drunk and we ended back at somebody's place."

"Somebody?"

Daryl shrugged, "no idea whose. I don't know if Merle had a word or something but Gypsy pulled me into a bedroom." Daryl sounded like sharing pained him but Beth was bizarrely fascinated.

"Was she pretty?"

"She was ok," Daryl answered slowly.

"Why'd you sleep with her then?"

"Because I was a drunk, seventeen year old male," Daryl replied with a grimace. "'Sides she was real pushy, I ain't sure I had a choice."

"Was it good?" Beth asked because she heard sex was good but had no point of comparison.

"Shit no!" Daryl snorted. "We were both off our faces an' I could hear Merle yelling advice through the door."

Beth had to bite the inside of her cheek not to laugh as she imagined the scene.

"Hey, no giggling," Daryl snapped, not fooled for an instant.

"I'm sorry," Beth said contritely. "I'm sure it was all very exciting."

"Yeah well all things said it wasn't bad... until her husband showed up. Merle and I got out through a window, my pants half undone still."

Beth started laughing. "I'm sorry, I can't help it, that's too much! That's so awful."

Even Daryl had to crack a wry smile at that. "Nobody knows that except me an' Merle."

"And Gypsy!" Beth pointed out with a grin.

"Remind me why I share anythin' with you?"

"You were being nice."

"And look where that got me."

"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone you're actually a big softy," Beth promised.

"Shit," Daryl swore emphatically. Beth sighed and came to the startling conclusion that she couldn't think of a single person she'd rather have here with her.

"At least you got something out of it," Beth decided, talking about Daryl's story. Her speech was slower as she became sleepier.

"Like what? An incredibly awkward story that I got guilted into sharin'?' Daryl poked her gently in the ribs.

"An orgasm, orgasms are good right," Beth mumbled into Daryl's solid chest.

Daryl jumped at her words. "How the hell would you know?"

Beth shrugged, too tired to think sharing was a bad idea. "How do you think?"

Daryl got very quiet before saying softly, "Jesus Christ, Beth, you're gonna be the death of me."

"You shared something personal, it only seemed right to do the same."

"Yeah, but it could have been somethin' else. Literally anythin' else."

Beth was sluggish and she couldn't work out what the big deal was. She decided conversation was just getting too difficult so she settled for closing her eyes and focusing on Daryl's breathing, which was a little faster than normal, just like his heart.

Everything had changed so much. She thought about the gut wrenching loathing he had once inspired in her and now she was being held in the circle of his arms while he embarrassed himself to make her feel better. She wasn't sure exactly when everything had become different but she wasn't surprised to discover that, when she thought about it, she really was in love with Daryl.

AN: Ok that was a big (kinda?) revelation for Beth.

This was another time when I thought I might have been heavy handed and without subtly but Daryl still doesn't see Beth as being a sexual entity. He's attracted to her but he's never really considered that she might have less pure designs for his body. So he needed a kick in the pants to realise that Beth is interested in sex, she's curious, she's had urges (worst word ever, I shall use it as often as I can).

Unrelated side note (read rant): a guest reviewer Lumina mentioned that Gimple, Nicotero and Andy Lincoln have mentioned Bethyl/Deth. I knew Gimple had (couldn't find the other two and their comments, if anyone knows the direction please point me that way) but it resulted in me reading some articles about the whole hug thing etc and man, people are dumb. I could practically hear them sharpening their pitchforks while they wrote. Clearly the biggest thing was the age gap and yeah it ain't conventional and it would have to be dealt with in a classy manner but it's certainly not impossible. It makes a heck load of sense to me that an 18 year old would be attracted to Daryl, I mean he does look like Norman Effin' Reedus after all. They didn't stop for one second to acknowledge that this is a different world. It's not like people are going to start dying alone and virginal just because there is no one in the socially conventional age bracket! Sure it's an issue that would need to be explored but TWD doesn't tell stories only because they're easy. Ugh, I'm going to stop myself here but it made me so annoyed that people are that closed minded and negative.