A/N - thank you for all of the reviews, you guys are amazing and I am glad you are still enjoying the story.

DebiGee - I am indeed from the UK and believe me I have thought about taking a sabbatical from work just so I can write the rest of this story. Hope you are well and staying safe.

Zombielibrarian - thank you so much for your positive reviews and advice on 'the scene'. you are the best. Thank you so much.

Amy (Guest) - glad you are enjoying the story, so many more kisses to come. Hope you like the next chapter.

Please leave a review to let me know your thoughts.

Many thanks and stay safe - Natalie

Chapter 10

Daryl woke with a start blindly reaching out next to him for Beth. Feeling the bed cold he jumped up and started yanking his clothes on as he left the room in a rush.

Entering the kitchen his heart calmed slightly when he saw her milling around, bare foot and still wearing his shirt.

A smirk drew up at the corner of his mouth and before he could stop himself he stepped behind her, circling her small waist with his arms. He had expected her to jump at the contact but instead found her leaning back against him, her back to his front.

"Mornin" he grumbled with a sleep laden voice as he laid a kiss on her neck.

Turning in his arms she gave him a brilliant smile and pecked his lips, "I dint wake y' did I?"

Shaking his head and uncurling his arms he moved to grab a cup of coffee that she had been brewing on the stove, "na, I need to milk the cows anyhow"

Seemingly satisfied Beth carried on adding the herbs to the flour for their supper. She had woken wrapped in his arms and had been reluctant to get up but knew she would need a head start if she wanted to get everything ready for Rick and the children coming over.

"What is all this anyway?" he questioned as he waved a hand over the countertop that was laden with ingredients.

"It's for dinner" she replied moving a pan to make room for her to knead the bread.

"Well how many yer feeding?" Daryl quizzed, there sure looked a lot of food there.

"It's not all for dinner silly, and anyhow it only looks a lot 'cos of all the ingredients I need" she explained nodding at the items.

"A'ight" he trusted Beth but he didn't think he had seen quite so much ingredients going in to fried chicken.

After eating a small breakfast Daryl placed his plate in the sink and approached where Beth was wrapping dough to help it rise.

She noticed him approach and was surprised to see him hovering near her side. Wondering why he had not spoken she turned towards him and saw a concerned look upon his face, "Daryl…you okay?

"I was 'bout to ask you the same thing" he told her, "I thought….." he started only to be cut off when Beth stepped forward wrapping her arms around his waist. Tilting her head up she placed a cool soothing hand upon his face, "I'm fine Daryl, I promise".

Daryl continued to stare and rose an eyebrow at her words, "I mean it!" she stated only to receive a "mmhmm" in response.

"I tell y' what….I'll make you a deal…..if I ever start to feel not fine, I promise to let y' know! Okay?"

Seeing no other choice and not wanting to burst her bubble he lent forward and kissed her lips, "ya better!" he grumbled before stepping back and leaving the house.

Beth had busied herself all morning and had decided to surprise Daryl with a small picnic. The sun had always made her feel better and she hoped that he would want to show her his lands. Apart from the house and barn she hadn't really seen much else.

Tucking a blanket under her arm and hooking the picnic basket over the other she set off to find him.

It didn't take long to locate him, he was busy moving some cows to the top field in preparation of the cooler months and she could not help but watch him for a moment. She could feel her heart beating faster as she saw the muscles in his tanned arms as he heaved the gate closed.

Daryl had been working hard all morning and had finally managed to move the last of the cows for the winter, and after such a busy morning he was already feeling hungry. Walking towards the fence he unhitched the reins of his horse, Samson, and turned to head home but halted in his steps when he saw Beth standing on at the edge of the field.

She looked beautiful standing there in a blue gingham dress that blew in the small breeze. Her hair was down, just how he liked it and when the sun caught it just right he could of sworn it created a halo around her head making her look like an angel straight out of heaven.

Clicking the horse to walk beside him he began to make his way over to her at the same time she started to walk towards him, meeting him in the middle.

"I hope y' don't mind, but I thought I would bring yer lunch"

Smiling at her thoughtfulness he took the basket from her arm and nodded towards a tree that sat just past a small fishing pond.

Beth laid the blanket down on the grass and smoothed out the edges as Daryl tethered his horse to a branch.

"What's his name?" she questioned once he had finished.

"Samson" he replied as he took a seat next to her.

"Do y'think I could ride him one day?" She asked. She had ridden horses when she was a young girl and they had visited her grandfather, and she found herself realising that she missed it.

Shaking his head, Daryl noticed her face fall, "Samson's a good horse, but unpredictable. He's good with me but I don't know what he would he would be like with you…we could ride him together though, if yer want?"

Nodding her head enthusiastically in response made Daryl laugh and he promised her they would ride back to the house after lunch.

After they had eaten Daryl moved further into the shade and leaned against the base of the tree, "ya gonna burn if y' stay in the sun much longer" he told her already noticing a pinkness to her face.

Beth knew he was right, she had always had fair skin and had felt her face warming in the last few moments, so she rose to move further under the shade and noticed Daryl inviting her to sit between his legs.

It felt as though they had been made for one another, fitting together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle as Beth settled her back against his chest, his legs on either side of her; one laid down flat and the other bent at the knee, supporting his arm that rested upon it.

"Tell me something about yourself Daryl" she requested as she took his hand and pulled it across her waist.

What should he tell her? That he was an unwanted, damaged man? That he suffered the type of childhood that she would only know about in her nightmares? That he still bore the scars upon his back?

She felt him tense at her question, she hadn't meant to make him feel uncomfortable so she rushed to add, "like…what's y' favourite colour?

Breathing a sigh of relief he answered her, "Green….not just any green mind you. Its gotta be like the colour of the trees after a heavy rain has fell."

"What about you?" he questioned lacing his fingers with hers.

"Yellow" she responded, "my daddy always said that yellow was the colour of sunshine and happiness and it reminded him of me. He said I was his yellow"

Thinking of Hershel Greene, Daryl remembered the letter that had accompanied Beth's which told him of how amazing his daughter was and how she was to be treasured like a rare diamond. At the time Daryl had assumed that all fathers would think that of their daughters however now that he knew Beth he realised her fathers words were the truth.

"Gotta admit…I was kinda shocked that yer daddy would allow y' to marry a man ten years your senior"

"My mama and daddy had an age gap. It was more than ten years and most people were against them at first. They didn't believe they would make it. But they did!" she explained and he heard the words in his head that she didn't speak 'just like we will'.

"Tell me about them. Your folks." he urged

He felt her relax into him at his words, "Daddy's a good man. Lost his way for a while after my mama passed but he found the light" Daryl hoped that the light that had saved Hershel would save him too, "My mama, well she was the best cook around, she was always in the kitchen cooking something up or making jam"

Daryl could picture the people in his mind and felt himself questioning why he couldn't have been fortunate enough to have people like Hershel and his wife as his own parents.

"Apart…" she continued "they were good people, but together they were the best people you'd ever meet"

Remaining quiet, Daryl was content to let Beth tell him about the most important people in her life.

"Mama taught me everythin I know. How to cook, how to sew…that sort of thing. But, she also taught me to always have hope and kindness. Said that as long as you had hope you could make it anywhere and that if you had kindness to go with it you could help people without even realising it."

"Sounds like a smart woman" Daryl mumbled as he pressed a kiss to the top of her head.

"Mama passed when I was just thirteen and I managed to find work with a local seamstress. There's nothing I can't sew" she told him and he knew she was not being conceited, she was just proud of what she could achieve.

As he considered Beth's words he could not help but wonder that with her beauty and kindness why she had not married back in her home town. Surely there had been suitors that could of kept her near her father, that she obviously missed.

"Bet y' had all the men chasing yer" Daryl announced and wished he could take it back when he felt her tense under his touch.

Not wanting to lie to her husband Beth lent her head back on his shoulder and turned her head to face him, "there was a man…." she started and Daryl sucked in a breath as his thoughts took over 'of course there was. She was probably still lovesick on the damn fool'.

Feeling Daryl move his arms away from her, she sat forward and looked over her shoulder at him, "he's not a good man Daryl. He was rough and looked at me like I was his next meal"

Daryl felt awful, here he was thinking she was mooning over some boy in her home town and it couldn't have been further from the truth, "he hurt ya?" Daryl questioned and received a quick nod in response.

Now he really felt like shit! They had been having a nice afternoon and he had to ruin it with his stupid thoughts. Looking at Samson as he nibbled at the grass, he had a thought at how he could put a smile back on her face. Pushing himself off the floor, Daryl held a hand out for Beth to help her up, "c'mon, we'll load up Samson and I'll show ya the farm 'fore we head back to the house".

A smile lit up her face and she quickly jumped up nearly knocking him off balance as she packed up the remains of their picnic.

"They're here" Daryl called from the front porch as he watched Rick and Carl lead their horses to the barn.

"Daryl, can we shoot later?" Carl asked as he unsaddled his horse.

Daryl took the reins from Rick and sorted his horse as he bounced little Judith. The man looked like hell and judging from the fussy cry coming from the baby he held, Daryl was sure she was the cause.

Looking back at Carl, Daryl nodded, "gotta eat first though" he confirmed which resulted in a wide smile.

Rick could not help the loud rumble that escaped his stomach when they walked in to the kitchen, "good lord, it smells heavenly" he stated as he sniffed the air deeply.

At hearing his voice Beth turned and flashed the small family a smile, "take a seat, its almost ready" she told them as she shooed them to the table.

As Rick made to sit down, Daryl grabbed the squirming baby from his arms and received a relieved nod from Rick, who sank down in to his chair.

Daryl glanced down at the scrunched red face and began bouncing her slightly, "what's wrong with lil'asskicker?"

"Hell if I know" Rick replied as he filled a glass of water for Carl, "been like it all day. Won't settle at all".

All three males at the table looked at her with wide eyes as she placed fried chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans and fresh bread with homemade butter on the table.

"G'on, dig in. Don't let it get cold" she told them.

Daryl grabbed a piece of fried chicken with one arm and Judith let out a loud cry. Rick sighed and moved to take her only to be beaten by Beth, who snatched her out of Daryl's arm.

"Uh uh. You Sheriff Grimes are gonna enjoy your meal and I am gonna take this little one to get her settled" all three stared at her with a mixture of confused stares and awe, "does she have a bottle?" she quizzed at their blank faces.

Rick fumbled with the bag on his chair and handed her the bottle as Daryl rose from his seat.

"Yer need to eat too" he told her.

Nodding that he was right, Daryl moved to retake his seat only to stop halfway when she announced "I've got a plate fixed up in the oven and I'll eat it once she's settled" before flouncing out of the room.

It was Carl that broke their silence, when he burst out laughing at their shocked faces.

After a few moments they were all laughing as they dug into the feast Beth had prepared.

Daryl noticed Rick wince each time he heard Judith wail and could not help but wish he could do more. However his thoughts were interrupted as Beth walked back in to the kitchen and headed to the cupboard where she kept the herbs.

Pushing back from the table he went over to help her, noticing that she was struggling to reach.

Seeing Daryl out of the corner of her eye, she pointed to the purple top jar, "can you pass me that please?"

Being a good head and shoulders above her, he reached it easily and brought it down, holding it out for her, "could yer just unscrew the top so I can get a little"

Doing as he had been asked Daryl took off the lid and held it out, watching as Beth swiped a finger in and then wiped it over the teat on the glass bottle.

Noticing movement Daryl watched as Rick approached them and was shocked when he saw his daughter accept the bottle that she had been fighting all day and began to drink.

"What is that?" Rick questioned taking the jar from Daryl's hand and sniffing.

Beth smiled, "its just rosehip, but it should settle her more with the teat" she replied before leaving both men standing in her wake, staring at the jar that was now as precious as gold.

Beth was pleased that Judith was now suckling the bottle greedily, she could only imagine how hard it was for Rick and Carl, especially when the baby wanted her mama's nipple instead of the manmade contraption.

Stopping to burp the baby, Beth saw her face scrunching into a cry at losing her food and smiled, before raising her over her shoulder and tapping her back.

Feeling a rhythm from the taps and wanting to keep Judith calm for the rest of her feed Beth began singing.

It had been so long since she had just sung, but she felt the words flow back to her easily as she sang the lullabies from her childhood.

The men had long finished their meal and Daryl had even taken them both out back to allow Carl some shooting practice.

"She doing okay?" Rick quizzed

"Better than I thought she would" Daryl replied sounding proud at Beth's strength. A strength she didn't even known she had.

Rick nodded, pleased with Daryl's confirmation and pulled out a pack of cigarettes, "Smoke?" he offered

Daryl took two, one for his mouth and one for later, which he placed behind his ear.

Both men bent over the flame that Rick produced from his matches, before blowing a plume of smoke in to the air.

"Listen Daryl. I wanted y' to hear this from me and not the town gossip okay? But y' gotta promise to stay calm, yer hear?"

Daryl bristled and took another deep drag of his cigarette "mmhmm" he responded.

Knowing how Daryl is, Rick took his mumble as a good sign, "They're letting Dwight out" Rick rushed.

Daryl spun quickly, rage marking his face, "the hell you mean Rick?"

"The judge over in Foolshope arranged his release, apparently they ain't got the space for criminals of such a low crime". Rick explained.

Crime rates were high, especially in larger areas, but it meant that those that committed smaller crimes were often let free.

"He comes near her again and I'll kill him m'self" Daryl stated.

Shaking his head, Rick placed a hand on Daryl's shoulder, "He ain't gonna hurt her brother. I pulled in a favour with the judge" Daryl turned to look at Rick as he spoke, "Dwight's been issued with papers banning him from the town. He leaves in the morning".

Daryl blew out a breath of relief and grabbed Rick in a hug, slapping his back before releasing him, "I owe ya one" he told him as Carl ran up, interrupting them as he asked, "d' yer hear that?"

"Boys workin' on empty…Is that the kinda way to face the burning heat?"

Both men quietened and listened carefully, catching a soft voice singing. Rick and Daryl looked back to the house before all three moved to follow the lullaby that the could hear.

Daryl walked in front and headed to the parlour where the sound got louder, stopping in the doorway when he saw Beth rocking a now sleeping Judith in her arms as she sung a sweet melody.

"My baby never fret none,

About what my hands and my body done,

If the lord don't forgive me,

I'd still have my baby and my babe would have me"

Rick's hand once again rested on Daryl's shoulder as he whispered in his ear, "consider y' favour repaid".