Hi all, hope everyone is still enjoying the story.

This was one of my favourite chapters to write and I hope you enjoy it.

Please leave a review to let me know your thoughts. Reviews make me happy.

Stay safe - Natalie

Chapter 11

A familiar scratching woke Daryl in the early hours and he slipped out of bed, noticing a slight chill in the air. Turning back as he headed to the door he watched as Beth subconsciously cuddled in to his pillow and a smile pulled at his lips.

"I'm comin', ya damn mutt" Daryl grumbled as he staggered through the kitchen, not quite fully awake.

Pulling open the door he saw his trusty sidekick sitting there with his head lolled to the side and his tongue hanging out, as if waiting for permission to enter.

This dog had found him a few years ago and resembled him in his younger years, drifting in and out of life. It didn't bother Daryl, he was used to the dog taking off for a few days every now and again. Sometimes he envied the animal of its freedom.

"Ain't got all night" he told the dog with a wave of his arm, signalling that the dog could enter.

Locking up the door he turned and headed back to bed, keen to get a few more hours sleep before his day started.

Beth rose early and left Daryl to sleep, he deserved a few more hours before he started his chores. He was always so busy, and she hadn't missed that he didn't sleep well. He was always tossing and turning in his sleep and she wondered what often went through his head that kept him so restless.

Heading down to the kitchen she headed to the back door to collect some firewood to light the stove. The morning felt chilly and she wanted to get breakfast started before Daryl woke.

Bending to grab the wood, she felt something brush against her bare leg. Thinking it was a loose thread from the shirt Daryl had given her, she brushed it away and heaved another log in to the crook of her arm, before turning and coming face to face with a large beast.

Not expecting to see a dog in their kitchen she could not help but let out a loud yelp as it walked towards her.

Hearing a small scream come from the kitchen, Daryl rushed out of bed and grabbed the pistol that he kept in the bedroom, before rushing from the room, stubbing his toe on the doorframe in the process. Cursing under his breath at his injury, he burst in to the kitchen, gun raised and saw Beth crouched on the floor, his dog licking her face.

"Sorry, I didn't mean t' wake yer. Jus wasn't expecting this big guy to creep up on me" she said as she rubbed the dogs ears.

Placing his gun on the shelf next to him, he bent to rub his throbbing toe, "damn dog!" he grumbled as he watched him lapping up the rubs and kisses Beth was cooing at him.

"Lets get you some breakfast" she said as she stood up.

Daryl was about to explain that he had chores to do first, when he noticed that she wasn't even talking to him. She had been talking to the dog, that was now munching on some bacon that Beth had placed in a bowl.

"Such a good boy" she cooed as she stroked his back.

As if realising that Daryl was still stood in the doorway, Beth looked to him confused, "Y' okay?"

Shaking his head, Daryl turned and headed back upstairs to dress before returning to the kitchen a few minutes later. Straight away his eyes went to where his dog now lay content and he glared at the animal.

Seeing Daryl's face Beth giggled and walked over to him, placing a kiss on his cheek, "yer never said y' had a dog"

Daryl once again glared at the animal, "he goes off sometimes…wandering…but he always comes back eventually" he explained.

"What's his name?"

"Dog" Daryl stated

"Y' call your dog, Dog?" she questioned as she looked at the animal, "Looks more like a shadow to me"

Daryl grumbled but ignored Beth's words. It was actually a good thing that Dog had come back when he had. Daryl had been hoping to go in to town to sort a few bits and didn't like the thought at leaving Beth alone at the farm.

….

Once Daryl had finished with his early morning chores he had headed back to the house for breakfast.

"I gotta head in t' town. Got some stuff to sort out" he told her as she passed him the butter for his warm biscuits.

He saw her pale slightly and rushed to reassure her, "I thought yer could stay here. I won't be gone long and Dog will stay here w' ya"

As if sensing his master, Dog strutted over and lay down at Beth's feet.

Colour returned to her face, she knew she was being silly but she didn't feel ready to face the town so soon after what Dwight had done.

"I was gonna start the laundry anyway, whilst the weathers still good" she told him.

He didn't know how he felt about her being outside whilst he wasn't home, but he knew she'd have Dog with her and he would leave the pistol where she could find it if she needed it. He'd never had any trouble at the farm before, but there was always a first time.

Arriving in town Daryl headed straight to the blacksmith's, he had hated leave Beth at home but knew he had wanted to do this alone. He wanted it to be a surprise.

"Hey Daryl" Tyreese greeted him as he entered, "long time, no see" he continued as Daryl entered the warm room.

Shaking his hand Daryl stepped back from the hot metal that bubbled between them.

"Y' hear Dwight left?" Tyreese questioned as he nodded to the general store.

Frowning slightly at the memories that surfaced from looking at the shop across the way, Daryl nodded "Did y'see him leave?" he questioned, needing to know that he had followed through on the judge's request.

Tyreese lived above the blacksmith's quarters with his sister Sasha. They were nice people and always looking out for the town folk. Daryl knew that Tyreese knew most of what was happening in town. Always casting his eagle eye over their community.

"Yep, saw him leave at first light. Didn't look too happy mind you" Tyreese informed him.

Grumbling at the talk over Dwight, Daryl turned his back to the street watching as Tyreese resumed his place near the bubbling metal.

"So what brings you by?" Tyreese quizzed.

Pulling out the small woven bag from his pocket, Daryl tipped out two gold rings. They had been his grandmothers and had been the only thing his mother had managed to hide during her marriage to his father.

Tyreese whistled as Daryl dropped them in to his hand.

Daryl wanted a wedding ring for Beth and himself, but he didn't want them tainted by his past, he wanted them to represent their future.

"Do yer think y' could melt these down and remould 'em?" Daryl questioned.

Holding them up to the light, Tyreese moved them back and forth between his fingers, "they're solid gold, so should be good. Do you have a design in mind?" he quizzed.

Seeing movement from the corner of his eye, Daryl watched as Tyreese's sister, Sasha, entered and swatted her brother round the back of the head playfully.

"Design for what?" she asked looking between the two men.

Daryl swayed from foot to foot, he hated being put on the spot but he knew Sasha would be able to help with what he wanted. She always had had an eye for detail.

"S' for mine and Beth's wedding rings" he started and Sasha moved to grab some paper and a charcoal, "I wondered if Tyreese could make Beth's like two wings….angels wings coming round to join in the middle…like this" he told them whilst holding his hands how he had envisioned the metal. "I thought they could be holding the stone from that one" he finished pointing at one of the rings that held a small clear stone.

Sasha nodded and carried on moving the charcoal around before turning the paper for him to see. It was just how he had imagined it would look and he could only hope that Beth would like it.

"I didn't know you had such a sweet side in you, Daryl Dixon" Sasha crooned, making him blush slightly.

Daryl had never really been the type of person for fluffy puppies and rainbows, but there was something about Beth and he just wanted to make her happy.

Sasha looked down at the paper and back up to Daryl, "this is part of you both isn't it?" she questioned.

Tyreese coughed and shook his head, but Sasha carried on despite the frown marring Daryl's face, "the angel's wings, that's Beth, right?" she asked as she followed the lines of the wings she had drawn.

Daryl nodded and looked back down at the paper. Sasha darkened the lines around the stone slightly and looked back up at him with tears in her eyes, as if suddenly realising something, "she's holding your heart?"

Feeling a lump in his throat, Daryl gave a short nod, unsure if he would be able to speak or not.

It was Tyreese that broke the spell by snatching the drawing from Sasha's hands. "Could probably have it ready by the end of the week for you. That good?"

Daryl thanked both siblings and after agreeing a price confirmed he would return before the end of the week to collect them.

Beth had noticed that Daryl had seemed quieter than usual since he had returned from town, hell he had seemed different from when he went to town a almost a week ago, and whilst she had tried to engage him in conversation, the most she had got out of him was grunts and grumbles.

Daryl knew he had been harsh with her since he had spoken with Tyreese and Sasha. He had gotten worse with her since he had collected their rings earlier that day.

Initially he had had it all planned out in his mind, how he would present her with the ring and how she would fall into his arms, professing her love for him. But then he had remembered his life and who he was. He wasn't stupid! Once she knew the truth about him, about his past, she would likely run to the hills. He was damaged! Who would want to be with a man that bore the scars of his past all over his body. He was sure that she would take one look at him and feel repulsed. Hell, he did when he caught himself in the mirror.

He remembered a story his mother had told him and his brother when they were young, he couldn't remember the name of the story, only the part where his mama had asked "how could she love anyone as hideous as a beast?" At the time he just thought it was a story. But now when he looked at himself he imagined Beth seeing him as that very beast. He didn't want her to leave, he wanted her forever. But he was scared of the rejection he was sure would come.

Feeling the inner turmoil raging inside him, he had laid on his back with his arms behind his head, not wanting to touch her, taint her with his touch, "Y' awake?" he grumbled

It was the most he had spoken to her all week and to be honest she was at the end of her patience. Maybe she should give him a taste of his own medicine she thought as she kept quiet.

"Beth?" he said louder when she didn't answer him. He knew she was still awake because he could feel her fidgeting.

"Beth?" he questioned, becoming frustrated that she was ignoring him, "Fine!" he fumed, when she continued to stay quiet. Gripping the covers he turned on his side to face the wall.

Beth felt the blankets pulled from her body as he turned over in a huff and felt annoyance well up inside her. How dare he be angry with her, when he had barely spoken to her for a whole week. Wrapping her hands firmly around the edge of the cover she rolled and pulled it back around her, concealing a laugh when she heard him curse.

She felt him tug them to cover himself back up, but she held on tight, jumping slightly when he flew from the bed.

Sitting up at Daryl's sudden move, she lit the lamp that sat on the bedside table and looked at him.

She could see his chest heaving with anger and could not help but wonder what had happened between them. She had thought things were going well between them and wasn't completely sure why or how things had changed so much.

Rising from the bed, she stepped carefully to where he stood, his back facing her, as he grumbled at the wall.

"Daryl?" she whispered as she lightly placed a hand on his arm, only to step back when he whirled round to face her.

His face was red and she could see the anger bubbling under the surface.

"What the hell yer want from me, girl, huh?"

Shocked at his outburst, tears sprang to her eyes as she felt her own anger rising, "What the hell is wrong with you?" she shouted back as loud as she could.

Acting like a caged animal Daryl stepped forward before stepping back, his arms swinging like he couldn't control them,

"Screw you, yer don't get it" he yelled. How could she get it? All she had known was a fancy life with love from everyone who knew her. Truth was not even Daryl knew why he was angry at her. Was he angry at her? No! he was angry with himself but the doubt of her returning his feelings, feelings he had not known before, was enough to send him to the edge.

"Get what? Yer never talk to me…" She yelled back "Yer never talk about yourself! Yer never tell me nothin'! We go through the motions of being married but I don't know nothin' about you!…. Your just a….just a…"

As quick as lightening Daryl was in her face, "Just a what…huh…just a what?" he yelled raising his arms in the air.

Beth couldn't help but flinch when he raised his arms and she knew he had seen it too. It was almost as though the fight left his body the instant he'd known she was scared.

"Beth….I…." he started as he moved to grab her arms. Spinning out of reach Beth ran from the room and into the bathroom where she locked the door behind her, stopping him from advancing.

"Beth?"

Hearing his voice was the last straw and Beth felt herself slide down the wall until she was sitting with her arms wrapped round her legs.

"I didn't mean…..I wasn't gonna…..I wouldn't hurt ya Beth!"

She heard the moment he broke, his own body sliding down the door at the thought that he had lost her.

Beth sat listening for any sign that he had moved back into their bedroom when she heard him begin to speak,

"I didn't come from the same life you did. My pa, he weren't a good man like yer daddy. He was a mean sumbitch. Wasn't a day went by without his belt connecting w' some part of my body. Dint even have ta do nothin' to feel that buckle break the skin…think he jus liked seeing us in pain"

Holding a hand to her mouth at Daryl's words, Beth could not help but feel the pain from his words and tears flowed down her cheeks.

"My ma, she tried to help in the beginning, but he'd jus knock her outta the way, like she was nothing more than a piece o' straw….. eventually she stopped tryin'….. I….I didn't have hope or kindness like you did, jus a whole lotta darkness and a whole world of pain….even have the damn scars to prove it!"

Beth stood slowly and moved to the door reaching out a hand as if she could feel him through the wood.

"I was bought up in a world wit' out love, Beth. I don't even think I know how t' love. But then you came along…..and I…."

Beth pressed her ear against the door waiting for him to finish. She wished she could tell him that she loved him, had done since the moment she had seen him in the church. But she knew he would never believe her, not after his proclamation. He would assume she was just saying it out of pity and her heart broke for him.

"Some husband I am, huh?" he questioned as he stood and walked back in to the bedroom. He hated that she was hiding from him, afraid of him!

Standing at the foot of the bed, he looked to where they usually laid. Night time was usually when they were closest and he felt a lump in his throat that he would lose this, lose her.

Beth opened the bathroom door quietly, as she heard Daryl move away and tiptoed to their bedroom door. Daryl stood defeated at the foot of their bed. She could see in his mind that he had already resigned himself that she would leave, that she would never love him. It was then, at that moment, that Beth knew she would make sure he knew the best kind of love and she would be the one to show him.

She had been stood for several moments just watching him stand there lost when he questioned himself "why would she wanna a husband like me anyway?"

Not realising that Beth was stood behind him, he jumped slightly when she spoke, "so I can kiss yer anytime I want"

Turning he saw a smile ghost her lips and tears glistening in her eyes and he knew she meant it. He looked at her properly, standing there in his shirt, puffy eyes and messed up hair and knew he hadn't lost her. How he didn't know and in that moment it didn't matter.

Without hesitation he rushed towards her wrapping his arms around her waist, as hers came around his neck. Both meeting each others mouth with urgency.

A squeak left Beth's mouth when Daryl bent and lifted her in to his arms. Her legs wrapping round his waist, as he turned and led them both to the bed.