Thank you for the new reviews and story alerts! Reviews make me happy, the more I get, the more I write!

So glad so many of you are enjoying the story.

I do have a question for you though…. I am a few chapters ahead in the story and am getting to a part where Daryl and Beth come together for the first time. I know some people like sex scenes and some don't so I wanted to ask…in or out? It won't be graphic but hopefully classy but I would really appreciate your thoughts on this.

Chapter 9

Daryl had noticed how pale and quite Beth was on their journey home and knew she was likely going in to shock and although he could still feel the rage flowing through his veins at Dwight's actions, he knew he needed to keep calm if he was going to help her.

Glancing back to where Beth sat on the small chair at the kitchen table, he hurried to wet the clean rag that he had found to clean her wounds.

"It's gonna hurt some" he explained gently, wincing himself when he dabbed at her split lip.

Beth's eyes were glazed over and he could see she wasn't really looking at him. It was almost as though she was hiding within herself and he cursed himself, 'if only I had gone in with her…if I'd have stayed with her'.

"I'm sorry" Beth whispered as he moved away to rinse the cloth. Immediately he turned in shock, "y' got nothin to be sorry for. Weren't your fault he couldn't keep his damn hands to himself!"

A tear slid from her cheek as she rose from her seat, "it is my fault!…I'm….I'm weak! I'm not strong like you or Carol or…or… even my daddy" she shouted startling him a little, "he put his hands on me and I couldn't do a damn thing about it!"

Daryl made as if to step towards her but she held her hand up in front of her, "I bet all you see when y' look at me is just another victim…" she told him as her last word broke on a sob.

Wanting to comfort his wife, Daryl stepped forward and slid one arm around her waist and the other around the back of her neck, pulling her head to lay upon his chest as she sobbed.

As he stood silently allowing Beth to cry Dwight's words rang over and over in his mind, "no damn ring on her finger" and he could not help but wonder if there was some truth in the matter. Sure he could teach Beth to be stronger, to be able to defend herself. But, surely that could be avoided if people could plainly see she was taken, right?

Whilst Rick had helped him with arranging most of the wedding, rings had been something that had been overlooked. He knew not all folks exchanged rings and hadn't given it a second thought, but as he felt Beth shaking in his arms he knew he would be rectifying this at the first opportunity he had.

When he felt her hiccups subsiding he cupped her cheek and tilted her face to his, "yer not weak Beth. Hell, y' came across country on your own and married a total stranger. That makes yer strong not weak in my eyes. Not all strength is about usin ya fists!"

"But…" she began,

"No buts!" he told her as he lent down to peck her lips, "am gonna teach y' to defend yourself sum though. Don't want my wife not knowing how to throw a mean right hook" he joked, earning a chuckle.

Beth couldn't help but smile back at the man that had just told her what she needed to hear. She didn't want to be seen as some frail woman that could not look after herself and needed her man to protect her all the time. Although she had to admit that she had felt loved and protected the moment Daryl had pulled Dwight away and stood in front of her.

Feeling Daryl's heart thumping under her hand as it laid on his chest, she could not help but wonder if she was beginning to fall in love with this man.

"Y' okay?" Daryl quizzed when she hadn't said anything for a few minutes, "Yer head hurting?"

Her heart swelled that he was so worried about her. Shaking her head slightly at the thoughts that had just been milling about, she smiled at him as much as her lip would allow, "I'm okay, its just my lip is all".

Unsure whether she was being truthful Daryl raised an eyebrow and was about to tell her to go and have a lie down when the door knocked, making Beth jump slightly in his arms.

"Stay here" he told her firmly as he released her. They were not expecting any guests and he was not sure who it would be.

Beth was shocked as Daryl grabbed a pistol from a pot by the stove as he moved to answer the front door, closing the door behind him as he went. She knew most people likely owned a gun in these parts, but she hadn't even known one was in the house. She made a mental note to speak with Daryl later about it.

Daryl looked out of the lace curtain that lined the window on his front door and saw an agitated Rick stood on the other side. Blowing out a breath he hadn't known he had been holding Daryl opened the door and beckoned Rick into the hall.

"I'm so sorry Daryl. I shoulda warned y' that Dwight can get a bit handsy" Rick fumed at himself as he paced the small hall.

"A bit handsy! Are you crazy? He split her damn lip!" Daryl spat in anger as his arm flung out pointing to the kitchen door that hid Beth. He wasn't angry at Rick, he was angry with himself for not being with her.

Rick hung his head at Daryl's words. He had known that Dwight could get rough with the ladies, hell, he had had enough complaints from the gals that worked at the tavern but until now he had never crossed the line.

"She okay?" Rick questioned

Daryl stepped forward suddenly into Rick's space causing Rick to knock into the wall behind him. Rick knew Daryl would never hurt him, they were brothers, but he also knew that Daryl needed to left off steam and Rick would allow him to do so.

"Okay?…Okay? No she damn well ain't okay. How can she be….he hit her! Would prolly have fuckin rap…."

Daryl had been on a roll, letting out his frustration on the simple question Rick had asked. He knew that Rick had meant nothing by it, but it didn't stop him from ranting at him, until he heard a small voice behind him, "Daryl?".

Beth had heard the shouting in the kitchen shortly after Daryl had answered the door. She had stood rooted to the spot listening to the two men, but when Daryl had started shouting she hoped that she would be able to calm him before things got out of hand.

Taking a deep breath she had opened the door and had initially been frightened of her husband, seeing him physically vibrating with rage. But then she remembered how soft and caring he had been with her since her arrival and swallowing her fear she stepped forward coming to stop just behind him, "Daryl?"

Both men turned to her making her take a step back from their scrutinizing gazes however, it was Rick that moved towards her first, "Beth, I'm so sorry" he rushed as he took in the marks that marred her pretty face.

Beth nodded once at Rick acknowledging his apology before stepping to her husband and slipping her small hand in to his strong warm one. Daryl's eyes widened as he looked down at their linked hands. Why would she want to hold hands with him after how he had just been behaving? Did he not frighten her? Was she not afraid of him?

Rick looked down at their linked hands and a fleeting smile ghosted his face. This girl had been able to do something no person had been able to do since he had met Daryl. She had calmed his very soul just by touching him, grounding him back to earth rather than giving in to the temptations of his anger.

Daryl had not stopped looking at Beth the entire time she had prepared and served coffee for the three of them to drink. After they had all taken control of their emotions, Beth had suggested she fix them all a hot drink to calm their nerves.

Both men had looked at her like she had grown two heads but had agreed quickly to avoid seeing disappointment cross her face.

It had taken several moments before Beth questioned why they had entered the general store when they did, to which Rick had filled her in on what his son Carl had witnessed and how he had managed to alert them to the issue.

"I'd like t' do something to thank him" Beth stated, noticing Rick shaking his head before she had even finished speaking, "Yer don't need to that Beth. He was jus doin what most good people woulda done".

"I know I don't have to Rick. I want to! Your boy saved me! He knew to get help and things coulda been a lot worse if he hadn't".

Rick looked to Daryl who shrugged, "s'not up to me" he explained.

"Your still coming for dinner tomorrow, right?" Beth questioned as she looked at Rick, an idea forming in her mind.

Daryl saw the hesitant look cross Rick's face and knew he needed to step in. He did not want Rick feeling that all of this had been his fault, not when it was Daryl's guilt to bear, "Course he is! He ain't gonna miss your fried chicken for burnt squirrel is he?"

Rick smiled at Daryl and nodded, coming to a truce, "S'long as y' up to it Beth, we'll be here" he confirmed.

Both men could not help but smile back at the blinding smile that filled Beth's face. She was changing them all and none of them even realised it!

…

Beth dressed once again in the shirt that Daryl had given her, feeling a comfort from his scent that lingered on the material. Raising her wrist to her face she could not help but grimace at the bruising that circled it, quickly rolling down the sleeves to hide them from view.

Walking out of the closet she hesitated slightly as Daryl waited on the bed, the pulled back covers resting in his hand waiting for her to get in so that he could cover her.

Seeing the kindness in his eyes at the gesture she moved slowly to the bed feeling the blankets cocoon her chilling body as soon as she laid down.

Daryl turned off the light, plunging the room into darkness and settled himself back on the bed. He didn't want to frighten Beth by pulling her close so he settled for lying on his back with an arm laying over his eyes, waiting for Beth to move closer to him when she felt comfortable to do so.

They had been lying in bed for nearly thirty minutes and he could not help but feel that he was losing her already when she made no attempt to move towards him. He knew she would need space to deal with her ordeal and he vowed to give her what she wanted.

Feeling himself beginning to drift off to sleep, he jumped slightly when Beth spoke, "Will y' touch me Daryl?"

Turning on to his side to face her, he moved some hair from her face and cupped her cheek.

"I don't mean…like this" she told him as she covered his hand with her own.

Confused by her request Daryl's frowned, "Beth, I don't know…."

"I can feel his hands….touching me…..grabbing me" she started and he noted a bruise circling her wrist that was attached to the hand that laid on top of his own, "I don't want to feel him….I want to feel you….."

Daryl blinked at the words she was speaking, did she really want him touching her? "Y' make me feel safe Daryl…I…I want to feel safe"

Her words broke him and he could not deny her request. If only for his own selfish reasons he would give her what she had asked.

He turned his hand over that rested on her face, capturing her own and pulling it towards him to place it on his heart. He kept his eyes trained on hers watching for any sign that she wanted him to stop.

Leaning forwards he captured her lips softly in his own, his tongue seeking permission along the line where her lips met. Apprehensively Beth opened her mouth and found herself quickly finding a rhythm with him.

He stroked her face where Dwight had gripped her chin before moving his hand along her arm to her wrist where he broke their kiss to lift her wrist to his mouth, carefully placing kisses the sensitive area that was covered in purple marks.

Slowly he slipped her arm over his shoulder and felt her fingers tangle in his long hair. Looking over her face he saw no trace of fear and proceed to capture her lips once more.

Beth whimpered into his mouth and pulled him closer, needing his comfort to smother her.

Deepening the kiss Daryl twisted slightly and rolled himself to hover above her. He felt Beth move her legs allowing him to settle between them as he continued to caress her mouth.

When Daryl had moved above her Beth had felt his arousal dig into her stomach and had expected to feel as repulsed by it as she had done earlier when Dwight had done the same thing. She was shocked to realise that it didn't feel wrong at all and she could not help but grind her hips into his own, emitting a groan from Daryl at the movement.

Daryl knew he would not take her that night, he just wanted to do as she had asked and touch her. Removing the memory from her mind of Dwight's hands pawing her small body. He had not realised that Beth would respond so willingly and knew they needed to stop. He had told her they needed to know one another more and he wanted to follow through on this before they took things further.

Reluctantly pulling back from their kiss Daryl pecked her lips once more, not trusting himself to linger and rolled over taking Beth with him, where she laid her head upon his chest.

Beth could hear his heart thumping wildly under her head and noticed that it matched her own. "Why'd y' stop?" she whispered.

"Y' not ready for that tonight….not after what happened."

Curling a loose thread from Daryl's vest around her finger Beth wondered if Daryl wanted her in that way, or whether he had just been doing as she had asked, "Daryl?"

"mmhmm"

"Was it….was I okay…..with the kissin, I mean?" she hesitantly questioned.

Daryl could not believe his ears, 'was she okay?" damn, he didn't think he had ever tasted a sweeter thing.

"It's just y' stopped and I can't help… well I though it might be….I thought yer might not like kissing me" he could hear the hesitation in her voice at being so bold with him and he hated that he had made her feel that way, that she had to doubt herself.

"Beth, I think y' could about kill me with those kisses" he told her as he placed a kiss to the top of her head that rested under his chin, "when I kiss y' I don't ever wanna stop, not even ta take a breath" and he could feel her smile at his words even if he could not see it.

It was not longer after his admission that he felt Beth's breathing even, alerting him that she had succumbed to sleep. No thoughts swam through his head, everything felt right and he was able to close his eyes, falling asleep quickly with a smile on his face.