Hello my beautiful readers! This chapter was kinda tough to write, considering I was on a plane when I wrote it but I hope it does the job! This ones a big chapter for Daryl AND Beth ;) thank you all for the amazing reviews, as I said I will try to thank each one of you guys personally, but lately I haven't been able to. So I apologize for that! But! On to chapter 17! Please comment, fav, follow! And! I will be posting a new BETHYL fic within the next few days so keep an eye open for that ;) love you guys!

The bass pumped through the club and Beth threw back her fifth- or maybe sixth jello shot of the night. There was little alcohol in them, so she wasn't exactly feeling buzzed or anything. The night was young and Beth felt freer than she had in a while. Daryl was training, like he had been almost constantly lately, and Beth had miraculously found the time to finish her assignments that were due the next week. So without anything tying her down, she had agreed to go out with her persistent friends.

Much to her disappointment, Daryl had asked Beth to not come to his training sessions. One, because he was working with Merle and it might look kind of suspicious if Beth showed up and stared at Daryl all adoringly like she often found her self doing. And two, because Daryl refused to let Beth's ass be a distraction, which it had proven to be.

The fact that she rarely got to see Daryl aside, Beth almost felt like her old self again. Holed up in her room doing homework each night and only venturing out when her sister nagged her or her stomach grumbled with hunger. It was nice, but it definitely seemed more blatantly boring than before.

"Hey!" Carls voice boomed next to Beth's ear and she held her hand up to it defensively.

"Carl, you're talking way louder than necessary," Beth wrinkled her nose as she looked her friend in the face.

"I'm not!" The 18 year old spoke loudly again and peeked into his shirt pocket. Beth jumped back a little when Larry's head popped out.

"Carl...You brought your lizard to a club. Really?"

Carl flashed a wide grin and nodded. "Yeah! He fucking loves the music and lights. He's all about a good party."

"Surely there are rules against having lizards here.." Beth shook her head and pursed her lips.

"WHAT?" Carl yelled even louder and Larry slipped back into the pocket.

"You don't have to yell like that!" Beth laughed and rolled her eyes.

"But the music is loud!" Carl chuckled and tucked his hair behind his ears.

"I know, but you're yelling at an inappropriate level," Beth let out a low laugh, shoving Carl on the shoulder with a gloved fist.

"Ow, you're packing a harder punch these days.." Carl rubbed his shoulder and Beth tensed.

"Uhh, just been working out, what can I say. Sorry," she patted Carl on the arm with purposeful gentleness.

"I thought it was because you're a fighter now," Carl shrugged nonchalantly and screwed up his face as he sucked on a lime wedge after taking a bitter shot of tequila.

Beth's eyes widened and her heart started pounding. "What the hell are you talking about..?" She stammered.

Carl's laugh rang out. "Dude, I'm kidding! Like you could ever fight someone. I was just thinking about how last time we were here, we saw that fight go down and you were all intrigued."

Beth felt relieved but also a bit indignant. "I wasn't intrigued and I totally could fight someone if I needed to," she crossed her arms over her chest.

"Yeah, yeah. Why don't we find you someone hot to dance with, instead," Carl's eyes scanned the crowed and Beth sighed inwardly. Carl still didn't know about Daryl and Beth wasn't ready to tell him.

A slow smile spread on Beth's lips when she spotted her blonde friend coming toward them. "Hey look, I found someone hot to dance with," Beth wiggled her brows and reached out her hand for Lizzie. "Want to?"

Lizzie grinned and sipped from her fruity drink that Beth had been diligently guarding. "Let's go."
_

Bodies surrounded them on the dance floor, each moving in their own way but in a common rhythm to create a wave of motion. Beth definitely wasn't sober, and it felt more than good to get out of her head for a while. When Lizzie left to take a break, Beth stayed and swayed with the crowd.

Her eyes were closed and the overhead colored lights flashed against her pale skin where sweat dripped down her exposed neck. When she felt someone press into her from behind, she didn't even give it a second thought, she just went with it and started grinding her hips when she felt strong hands grip them.

Their bodies moved slowly with the music and Beth's stomach fluttered a little bit at the familiar way the stranger was handling her and how his hands were roaming up and down her sides. She opened her mouth to protest when one of the searching hands started to slide down her lower stomach.

"Do ya always let strangers touch ya like this?" Daryl's low growl of a voice hit her ear and Beth turned her head quickly.

"I was just about to stop you, actually.." a pleased smile graced Beth's lips. "What are you doing here?"

"Gropin' ya in public, what o' it?" Daryl grinned crookedly and Beth turned to face him, her arms sliding around Daryl's neck as she looked over the man's strong features in the dim lights.

"Mmm, I didn't think I'd see you until tomorrow," Beth bit her lower lip and let it slip free in a gasp when Daryl pushed his hips against Beth's abruptly.

"Well, I had somethin' that needed ta be taken care o' t'night," Daryl rubbed his clothed arousal against Beth's hip.

It was thrilling to talk about something like that in such a public place, with people only a couple of feet away from them. They were protected by a bubble of music and darkened lights, so it was almost like they were alone.

"What got you like that?" Beth swayed her hips with the music, intentionally grinding against Daryl with every slow pass and having to bite back a moan.

"Watchin' ya dance.. Fuck, it's almost as hot as watchin' ya fight," Daryl groaned and closed his eyes briefly.

"You're sick.." Beth smirked and fought a blush that was threatening to fill her cheeks. "How long were you watching?"

"As long as I could resist walkin' over. So, like, two minutes," Daryl chuckled, making Beth roll her eyes.

"So maybe we should get out of here," Beth drawled, a slow lift to her eyebrow.

Daryl pursed his full lips and let his eyes scan the area around them. "Er maybe.." he unzipped his jacket and pulled one open side of it around Beth's body as much as he could, anchoring it with where his arm held Beth at the small of her back.

"What are you doing?" Beth murmured, confused but letting Daryl maneuver her.

A small smile played on Daryl's lips as he undid Beth's pants, the jacket and his body blocking anyone from seeing what was happening between their bodies.

"You're not going to.." Beth started and finished with a moan, burying her face in Daryl's neck when he dipped a finger into her slick folds.

"Oh, I think I am," Daryl said huskily against her ear, his breathing heavy as he stroked Beth to the beat of the music.

"Fuck you, really," Beth meant to speak harshly but her voice came out as pure sex and Daryl bit her earlobe in response, giving it a sloppy suck.

"Ya like it," Daryl whispered and Beth couldn't deny that she did, not with the rising evidence in Daryl's skilled hand.

"My friends are here, Daryl..." Beth suddenly realized through the haze of her desire, her hips rolling to thrust into Daryl's hand.

"Then ya better fuckin' come fast, eh?" Daryl smirked and started moving his fingers faster, making it almost impossible for Beth to act normal.

"Ohh.. God.." Beth moaned loudly into Daryl's neck, thankful for the music that saved her from embarrassment.

"Com'on.." Daryl dragged his tongue along the shell of Beth's ear. "If ya let go fer me then I will fuck ya so hard t'night. I know ya been wantin' it."

Beth's eyes fluttered shut. "God...really?" They hadn't had the opportunity for sex lately because Beth was always fast asleep by the time Daryl got out of training. Sometimes Daryl would come and crawl in bed with her, but most of the time he'd just go home. Daryl took his craft very seriously and he meant it when he said that sex wouldn't be a distraction.

Beth pretty much had a constant case of pent of sexual frustration, so the promise of sex was enough to push her over the edge.

She came hard in Daryl's hand, which Daryl held cupped over the head to catch all of the hot juices. Daryl felt himself grow harder when Beth bit down on his shoulder to hold back a yell of pleasure. Pleasure was short of perfect...but the pain, that's what Daryl craved. He snorted. Maybe he was sick.

"God, Beth.." Daryl murmured and pulled a napkin out of his pocket to wipe his hand on before he kissed Beth, buttoned her pants, and did them up, giving her ass an appreciative squeeze after.

Beth swayed on her feet, but this time because she could barely see straight. A goofy smile was on her face and Daryl was beyond amused.

"Ya gotta wipe that look off yer face 'fore ya find yer friends, er else they'll think ya hooked up in the bathroom er somethin'," he laughed, his eyes sparkling with the blinking lights.

Beth was sort of mesmerized by it all. The alcohol, the music, the fact that she just had an intense moment with Daryl the middle of a busy club. But mostly, she was mesmerized by Daryl.

"Listen, I'm gonna go home an' take a shower but.." Daryl gave her a quick peck on her lips. "I think it'd be in yer best interest ta come over later."

"I'll come with you now," Beth found her voice, though it was hoarse. "Let me just tell them."

"No, no, have some fun. I didn' mean ta crash. Ya don' git ta see them enough," Daryl offered and zipped up his jacket casually, as if he hadn't just used it as a shield for an orgasm.

Beth couldn't argue with that, and she knew if she tried, Daryl would win. It actually pissed Beth off a lot that Daryl was better at winning arguments than she was. "Hey.." She tugged on Daryl's arm as he started to walk away.

"Ya?" Daryl looked at her questioningly.

"Why didn't you just text me and tell me to come by later.. Why'd you come?" Beth wasn't complaining, it was just her natural curiosity.

"I guess I missed ya," Daryl shrugged and slipped his arm from Beth's grasp, showing her a smile that said, 'and that's all you're getting out of me'. "See ya later."

"Yeah, see you," Beth grinned dumbly and ran her hand along the side of her hair, shaking her head.

She watched Daryl disappear into the crowd and only stopped staring when Lizzie nudged her side and handed her another drink. "Who was that fucking gorgeous guy?"

Beth sipped the drink and puffed out her cheeks. "No idea."

Maggie stood next to Lizzie and rolled her eyes hard but kept her mouth shut. Beth gave her a grateful smile; she really was an amazing sister.
_

Daryl let Beth into his apartment, shirtless and in boxers, which was coincidentally exactly how Beth had been wanting to see him.

"What happened to you?" Beth noticed a fresh abrasion on Daryl's chest where it looked like a knife had scraped along the skin, surrounded by forming bruises in the size of a fist. When her eyes met Daryl's face, she saw the purpling around his eye. Something she hadn't noticed in the darkness of the club.

Daryl looked down with a light shrug, glancing back up at Beth without offering any explanation. "It don' hurt, I was jus' gonna put somethin' on it.

"No, really, who did this?" Beth frowned and brushed her fingers above the injury on Daryl's chest, making Daryl shiver a bit while Beth's scrutinizing eyes traveled over his face.

"If yer gonna ask me 'bout every single scrape I git, it's goin' ta git ol' real fast, girl," Daryl pulled away and walked toward the bathroom. Beth followed him and leaned against the doorframe as Daryl pulled out some antibiotic ointment, bandaging and tape.

Beth tutted and took the materials from him, carefully applying the salve, her lips tight and her mind racing. Daryl shifted to sit against the counter, holding obediently still as Beth patched him up. "Merle did this to you?" Beth spoke quietly after a silent moment.

Daryl just blinked, looking Beth evenly in the face briefly before casting his gaze aside. "I don't understand.. What reason would he have to rough you up? That's not his job," Beth murmured and smoothed her hand over the tape, pressing it down tenderly to be sure it was secure. Her lips brushed below Daryl's eye after, causing Daryl to wince and pull back, a conflicted look on his face.

"Can we jus' not talk? I don' need that right now," Daryl shook his head roughly and pulled Beth against him before any protest could occur. Beth rested her chin on Daryl's shoulder, inhaling the faint scent of her soap and trailing his hands down her back.

"I'm sorry.." Beth mumbled. "I have a hard time not questioning things I don't understand. I've spend time in school being taught to do just that," she smiled wryly.

Daryl kept quiet but his hands kept busy as they tugged Beth's jacket off and pulled her shirt over her head. Beth's body went lax, her limbs moving in whatever way Daryl wanted until she stood only in her under garments. She couldn't help but shudder at the way Daryl's eyes drank in his exposed skin, as if she were just the refreshment he needed. Her stomach swirled in anticipation when Daryl grabbed her hand and led her to the bedroom.

"Daryl..." Beth moaned and fell back against the bed with Daryl on top of her, a hard grind already starting with their hips. Their lips met roughly at first but slowly the kisses became deep and languid, their tongues tangling in a tried and true way.

Beth sighed through her nose, her hands moving up and down Daryl's strong back and her legs spreading to create ultimate contact between their groins. Daryl rolled his hips down in repeated circles, the friction spurring a delicious buzzing sensation in their lower stomachs.

Daryl reached his arm back and pushed his boxers down over his ass, guiding them down his legs so his bare erection bumped against Beth's clothed center. Daryl cursed deliciously at the wetness of her panties. He snaked a hand behind her back and unsnapped the fabric that covered her breasts. Beth was careful to not touch Daryl's injury, but that was the only lingering though on the subject when Daryl started kissing along Beth's chest.

He sucked the little hard tip of Beth's nipple, rubbing his tongue expertly over it and using his teeth to give light tugs. Beth whimpered and lifted up her hips when the feeling spread straight down to her pussy.

Daryl let out a throaty chuckle at Beth's reaction and pressed his hand down on Beth's prominent hip bone, pinning her to the bed and lifting his head to look over Beth's face. "God, yer needy."

"It's your fault for treating me like that," Beth's voice was low and she grunted a little when she tried to lift hers hips again.

Daryl kept his hand firmly in place and licked at his lips, his lashes fanning down as he looked over the planes of Beth's chest and the way her arousal was dripping wet through her panties. "I think.. Ya want ta be fucked badly. Don' ya?" Daryl tucked his fingers in the string of Beth's panties, pulling them down her long legs at a tortuous pace. His fingertips leaving burning trails when they brushed over her skin.

Beth bit her lip and cocked a brow defiantly, a little smirk set in place with a shrug of her shoulders. "Do I?"

Daryl glared down at her and pinched the inside of Beth's pale thigh, making her leg twitch. "Tell me ya want it.."

"Want what?" Beth teased but her voice betrayed her nonchalance.

Daryl took his cock in his hand and bumped it against Beth's thigh, making Beth swallow hard. "I know ya want it...ya want my thick cock in yer little, wet, pink pussy." Daryl growled in her ear, biting her earlobe lightly. Beth breathed out shakily, trying to keep what little composure she had left.

"Yer so wet fer me...so fuckin' wet. So fuckin' beautiful. Prettiest smooth, tight pussy I've ever seen." He pulled away and looked in her jaded eyes. When he didn't receive an answer, but a slight tremble instead, he kept his dark eyes on Beth while he started to tug on his length, giving it long and twisting strokes, glistening drops spreading over the skin.

Beth watched with swollen, parted lips, her cheeks heating up and her thighs becoming wetter as her juices flowed down her folds. Suddenly her teasing game seemed like it was the worst idea in the world. Yes, it definitely was. "No, stop," she shook her head quickly, swatting at Daryl's hand.

"Why? It feels fuckin' good.." Daryl pushed his hips forward into his hand, grunting and closing his eyes.

"Daryl, stop, you'll come," Beth moaned and got up on her knees, putting her hand around Daryl's wrist to try to stop his movements.

"I think that's the point," Daryl groaned and pressed his forehead against Beth's, not bothering to stop his strokes.

"I want you to come inside of me, asshole," Beth pushed at her stomach and Daryl cracked open an eye, a pleased smirk on his lips.

"What do ya want, girl?"

"I want you to fuck me," Beth said with a huff and Daryl laughed, stopping his hand.

"That's all I wanted, ya stubborn brat," he sighed and pushed on Beth's chest, making her fall back easily against the bed. "Why do I put up with ya, anyway?" Daryl teased with a grin and rummaged in the nightstand drawer, pulling out a condom.

Beth scrunched her nose. "Do we uh.. Have to use one?"

Daryl creased his brows, looking at the gold foil packet in his hand. "I'd rather use it, Beth."

"I don't have anything," Beth summed up and paused when she realized she left out one factor. "Why.. Do you think you have something?"

"God, no," Daryl rolled his eyes. "Jus'..." he sucked his lower lip into his mouth, dropping his head down. "Ya, I been tested but, I been with a lot o' people.. What if somethin' slipped through that a test didn' catch? I jus', I'd rather be safe than sorry. I don' want ta risk hurtin' ya," Daryl breathed out and Beth felt her heart beat embarrassingly loud in response to Daryl's concern.

"Yeah, that's okay then," she flashed a crooked grin and Daryl shook his head.

"Yer always so difficult 'bout every fuckin' thing, eh?" he nudged between Beth's legs and leaned down to kiss her while he prepared Beth with careful attention, his fingers sliding in and out, stretching Beth pleasurably.

When Daryl put on the condom and assumed his position on top, Beth was already a ball of buzzing sexual energy, practically on the verge of coming. Daryl definitely knew what he was doing and had, as he just said, a lot of experience. In any other situation, Beth might have felt a bit intimidated by that piece of information. But with Daryl, it seemed like it was a fucking blessing. Beth was being rewarded for her years of involuntary celibacy.

Daryl slid into Beth slowly, gripping his thigh with increasing pressure while he sank in, his body tensing as he tried to keep his composure. It was unbelievably hot to watch Daryl try to keep in control when he was so obviously being overcome with pleasure. The muscles and veins of his neck became prominent and his breathing increased against Beth's jaw where he was biting and kissing.

Beth moaned deeply, a full and building pressure inside of her. She rocked her hips up to meet Daryl's deep thrusts, her breasts bouncing against his own chest. Daryl was pressed so close that Beth could feel his erratic heartbeat and it made the moment even more intimate and thrilling.

"Fuck, Beth," Daryl whined lowly when he hit a deep spot and made Beth tighten around him. He reached between them and started stroking Beth's clit desperately, feeling his own orgasm start to build quickly.

Beth was a slave to the sensation and her hips moved accordingly with the strokes and thrusts, their breathing and moaning becoming an orgasmic symphony that only heightened the arousal. Beth scratched her short nails down Daryl's back and nodded quickly. "I'm gonna come.."

Daryl let out a groan of appreciation and kept his pace with his hand on Beth and started thrusting with more abandon, no longer needing to delay his orgasm. Beth clung to him and her body tensed up, holding her breath as she released hard between them, rough jerks of her hips pulling Daryl in deeper.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck," Daryl let out a deep and satisfied moan, pushing his hips forward in staccato movements with each burst of release. His cock was still pulsing inside of Beth when he collapsed carefully on top of her, their lips meeting in a wet kiss.

Beth lazily slid her tongue along Daryl's, sucking on the tip and trying to catch her breath through her nose. Daryl's body shook a bit in the aftereffects and Beth smiled into the kiss. It had been even better than the first time.

However, when Daryl pulled his lips away to spread wet, sucking kisses along Beth's neck, Beth was left with an available mouth and way too many thoughts to hold back. "Daryl...I have to know what happened tonight.. Please tell me."

"God dammit, girl," Daryl growled and lifted his head, carefully but abruptly pulling out of Beth and kneeling between Beth's legs. Beth propped herself up on her elbows and her brow creased apologetically.

"I can't focus on relaxing right now if I'm worried about you, Daryl." Beth murmured and reached out for Daryl's hand, tugging on it gently.

Daryl's hand lay unresponsive in Beth's for a moment, his face laden with consternation. With a sigh, he let his fingers wrap around Beth's and he moved to slip the condom off, tossing it in the wastebasket and laying on his back by Beth's side. They stretched out and Beth squeezed Daryl's hand, staring at the ceiling and waiting to see if she had pushed her luck too much.

"We might have a problem.." Daryl mumbled and Beth's head turned in response. "Merle, he.." Daryl wet his lips, closing his eyes and tightening his jaw. "The asshole looked at my phone while I was takin' a piss."

Beth's heart paused its beating for what felt like minutes. "What did he see?"

"I mean, we're pretty good 'bout not talkin' 'bout stuff like this in our texts," Daryl motioned between them. "So, it ain't anything he read that made him mad.. It's how often we call an' text. He said there ain't no reason fer that now that yer not trainin' wit' me."

"I guess.. From his perspective, that makes sense.. What did he assume from that, then?" Beth questioned shakily, unsure if she wanted to know the answer.

"What do ya think?" Daryl raised an eyebrow high. "Even if he didn' read anythin' incriminatin', he automatically assumed 'm fuckin' ya."

"Holy shit.." Beth started to panic, raising up on her elbow quickly. "What did you say to him?"

"Well, he started layin' into me," Daryl motioned to his eye and his chest, "'fore I could even try ta explain. There ain't a lot he hates more than people fuckin' 'round on him."

Beth wanted to say what she knew about Merle, she wanted to go over to his house right then and give him a piece of her mind and a piece of her fist, but before she could launch into all that, Daryl spoke up again.

"I had ta tell him somethin' ta git him off my back, literally an' figuratively.." Daryl looked at Beth with a purely guilty expression.

"What did you tell him, Daryl?" Beth spoke with hesitance.

"Look, 'm sorry but it's what came out an' it seemed like the only way to cool his suspicions.." Daryl frowned and closed his eyes and Beth remained quiet and tight-lipped; waiting.

"I kind o' told him that ya have a thing fer me an' 'm jus' humorin' ya...'cause we need ya on the team, ya know?" Daryl mumbled and sat up on the bed. "An' I feel like the biggest asshole, 'm sorry," Daryl groaned.

Beth blinked and processed the information. It was exactly what Merle had assumed when they talked before Beth's fight. He had accused Beth of having a thing for Daryl and told her that it was a waste of time because Daryl would never want her. It made sense that Daryl would tell him that. In fact, she'd probably tell Merle that too, if she was cornered. But somehow, Daryl saying that to Merle as an immediate reaction made Beth feel sick.

She sat up slowly and brought her knees to her chest, biting down on her lower lip. "Darlin', please say somethin'...'m really sorry," Daryl put his hands on Beth's arms, his voice remorseful.

"I'm not mad," Beth shook her head slowly. "I just.. I guess that's pretty easy to believe."

Daryl furrowed his brow, tucking his chin down but keeping his gaze on Beth's face. "What do ya mean?"

"I mean.." Beth puffed out her cheeks and ran her hand through her hair. "Why would you want me? It's easy to believe that it'd be one-sided on my part."

Daryl dropped his hands into his lap, tilting his head in confusion. "Why would I want ya? Yer not bein' serious, Daryl rolled his eyes. "Listen.. Thank ya fer not gettin' mad. I said the only thing I could think o' and well, he backed off fer now," Daryl sighed, figuring the conversation was over.

"He said something similar to me, before my fight.." Beth continued on and Daryl paused. "He accused me of being into you and told me that you'd never reciprocate. He told me that you fuck people and leave them. That it's what you always do.."

"Okay, wait a second.." Daryl held his hands up. "Ya don' actually believe anythin' that comes out o' that asshole's mouth, do ya?"

Beth shrugged her shoulders lightly. "I don't know.. He's your brother, and I'm not going to assume that I'm a different case. I'm not that egotistical."

"Na, yer right, yer jus' stupid," Daryl spat and stood up, grabbing his boxers and putting them on jerkily.

"I'm stupid? For not thinking so highly of myself that you'd change your ways for me? I'm realistic, Daryl. That's what I am," Beth glared and grabbed her bra and underwear, putting them on with rough movements. "So, please, calm down."

"Yer sittin' there an' tellin' me that ya believe Merle over me! How am I supposed ta remain calm? Ya know how much I hate that asshole an' what a hell he's made my life. Did it ever occur ta ya that he might have said what he said jus' ta try ta drive ya 'way from me? He don' want me ta be happy, Beth! He don' want me ta have a life outside o' fightin' fer him, God. Think 'bout shit 'fore ya say it 'cause this is pissing me off," Daryl growled and brought his hands to the back of his neck.

Anger flared inside of Beth and brought her to her feet. "Then why did you just feed his fucked up perceptions of you by saying that you're just stringing me along? It's exactly what he wants to hear, Dar! You just proved him right."

"What the fuck else was I supposed ta say, Beth?" Daryl looked at her incredulously. "I said the best thing I could think o' ta protect us both."

"Yeah, by making me look like some obsessed and pathetic girl that's just fawning over you. Please," Beth pushed past Daryl to go to the bathroom and collect her other clothes while Daryl followed after her in frustration.

"Do ya think it woulda been better ta tell him the truth an' risk everythin'? Wow, I thought ya were smarter than that, sweetheart," Daryl crossed his arms over his chest, his jaw tight.

"I don't even know what the truth is! I don't know what everything is. I have no clue if this is just fucking, or what. I don't know if everything I'm feeling is just in my head and I'm the only one feeling it!" Beth admitted, her hands out to the sides and her cheeks flushed from her insecure words that she never wanted to say out loud.

"An' here I thought ya were good at readin' people, idiot," Daryl sighed loudly but his tone seemed a bit calmer.

Beth shrugged her shoulders, looking at Daryl with a slightly broken expression. "When it comes to you, I never know. You don't know how much that frustrates yet excites me at the same time.."

Daryl leaned against the wall of the hallway as Beth stepped out of the bathroom, looking over Beth curiously. "Why do I do that ta ya..."

Beth mussed her hair and tugged on the ends of it before dropping her hand with a resigned sigh. "I'm used to knowing what people are likely thinking and being able to predict what they'll do next. It can get really boring, but it's something I can count on. With you.. It drives me insane that I can't know what you're thinking, but it makes me feel alive too," Beth smiled wryly. "That probably made no sense, right?"

"Not a lot o' it.." Daryl's lips quirked up into a faint smile. "But I still understood ya. I guess the only confusin' part fer me is, how can ya not know?" he stepped closer to Beth, gently taking her hand and swallowing thickly.

"Know what?" Beth murmured and let her gaze drift up to Daryl's face, noting the tenseness along his jaw that was no longer due to anger.

Daryl slowly met Beth's eyes and wet his lips in deliberate thought, his voice shaky but sure. "That I fuckin' love ya."