A/N Thanks so much for reading along! We're going to spend a little time on Daryl's POV as he's picked up at school and taken away, but it won't be long and we're going to get back to adulthood and Daryl and Beth at the coffee stand.

So much emotion.

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When he realized what was about to happen he didn't stop to think, he reacted. Dammit, why did that big ass football coach have to ruin everything? Daryl was sure if not for Coach Ford he could have gotten away. He would have made his way up in the hills to his Dad's old moonshine shack. He could have hidden out there for years and no one would ever find him.

He'd live off the land, hunt and fish for his food and he could somehow get word to Beth. She could come there to visit with him. It wouldn't have been perfect but it would be a whole lot better than him being stuck in this shitty place, alone. Him and Beth could be together like it was always supposed to be. Her and him forever.

So he fought like hell to break free. He had to. Every part of his being was screaming to get away and get back to Beth. Wasn't it just his shitty luck? He finally had a good life and he was happy then these assholes come along and want to take everything away from him.

He couldn't just give up and do things their way, he couldn't go along quietly.

It was all his fucking Dad's fault. He always managed to ruin everything whether he was around or not.

The doc and deputy Grimes didn't seem like bad people, they were probably okay guys. But he still wasn't telling them anything about how he got the scars or admitting to anything about his old man. And even if they had proof positive he was never going to tell them he'd been living on his own the past two years. He'd been well-schooled by his Father and he knew better than to ever tell the authorities anything.

The old man had raised him and Merle to keep their mouths shut no matter what, and Daryl knew he wasn't safe from his Dad just because that bastard was behind bars. His sonofbitching father always managed to figure a way out of every scrape. He'd get out of this one too. And when he got out, if he thought for one second Daryl had squealed on him, there was no doubt in the boy's mind his father wouldn't think twice about killing him for talking.

So fuck it, all he cared about was busting out of the stupid place, and even if he never was able to he still wasn't telling anyone anything about anything.

The kid was tough as nails, there was no one who doubted that. But the truth remained, Daryl Dixon was still a boy. A boy who had been beaten and abandoned.

The shot doc gave him did calm him down, physically at least. It was his mind that never would stop going.

As soon as he was medicated they loaded him up in a med-transport van and hauled him to some other place. It wasn't another hospital, it was some kind of damn institution where the big attendant escorted him to his small stark room. There was a bed, toilet, sink. Just like prison. The guy handed him a pair of scrubs to sleep in and Daryl defiantly threw them in the corner. He wasn't going to be wearing a damn pair of pajamas when he finally busted out of this joint.

The boy was exhausted and emotionally drained When he laid on the bed with his face toward the wall and his back to the attendant, and when young Daryl Dixon heard the man shut and lock the door, he cried himself to sleep.

Eight Years Later

He's been with the State Highway Department for two years working out of Columbus. Last month he was caught totally by surprise when the senior supervisor approached him about transferring to the concrete batch processing plant just outside Clausenville, but he didn't hesitate. He didn't take the transfer because of the new important-sounding job title they were going to give him or the pay increase. He took the job because he thought maybe it was a sign.

He loaded his motorcycle in the bed of his pickup and packed up everything he owned in the bed, in the cab and in his travel trailer. He hitched the trailer to his pickup and hit the road for Clausenville, not knowing exactly what might happen next.

He's got his travel trailer all setup in what seems to be a pretty nice little RV Park. It's clean, there's grass, trees and picnic tables and best of all it should be mostly quiet. RV living can be an inexpensive lifestyle and it's obvious the place isn't just a travel stop. The folks he sees around are older, probably retirees. He'd bet most of the folks at Clausen's Shady Oak RV Park live here permanently.

There's a big building in the center of the park with a laundry room, bathrooms and showers, a recreation room and there's even a small swimming pool. The lady in the office is real nice, she smiles at him when she says, "Every Friday evening we have happy hour in the rec room. There are drinks and snacks and some of our guests play music. It's lots of fun. You be sure and join us Daryl."

He smiles at her and promises, "I'll try'n do that, thank you Ma'am," and hands her his debit card. He's paying for a month's stay, he'll see what shakes out from there.

She hands him back the paper with the codes to get in all the facilities, along with the WiFi code and a list of the TV channels. That's that. Home sweet home.

He's been living in the travel trailer a long time but now he's thinking about maybe finding himself something more permanent. Maybe a place to rent, or maybe he'll find a place he can afford to buy. Maybe. But if things don't work out with Beth he figures what's the point, he'll just live in the travel trailer the rest of his life.

He knows he's taking a big chance moving back to Clausenville and he's aware he's setting himself up for major heartbreak. Yet he has to give it a try, he has to see if Beth is still around and if she's still with that guy.

Maybe it isn't right to hope her marriage broke up, but that's the only hope he has to hang onto. If she's single then maybe, just maybe her and him can try again. He isn't worried about the child either, he'll happily take on Daddy duty. He'll do anything to get Beth back in his life.

The bosses gave him a week to find housing and settle in, so the past couple days he's gotten everything setup. The 32' trailer is all tidied up and there are groceries socked in. He was able to find a good used shed and he set it up at the rear of the trailer. It houses his bow and his fishing and camping equipment.

The last two things he does is take the pickup to the car wash, then polish his bike.

This morning he figures he's as ready as he's ever going to be to set his plan in motion. He's going to get on his bike and ride out to the farm, and this time he'll actually stop, like he should have done the last time he was in town, six years ago. He'll be enough of a man to go to the door and speak with her Daddy and her Mama. He'll apologize for not contacting them these past years, and he'll give them long overdue thanks for how good they always treated him.

He noticed when he drove to the car wash yesterday, right up the road there's one of those drive through coffee stands. It's a little early to go calling on folks but he's up and he needs to be doing something. He'll stop by that stand with his Thermos, get it filled and drive out by the lake.

Why not torture himself by visiting one of his and Beth's favorite spots?

He grabs the metal Thermos from the cabinet, his helmet from the chair and he's out the door.

What are the odds he'd pull up to the coffee stand and come face to face with the woman he's been in love with since he was 14 year's old? Beth. Damn, can this really be real? And how can it be that she's even prettier than she was? He can almost feel the soft texture of those shiny blonde curls, and she's still got those beautiful blue eyes and that million dollar smile, and her sweet little body hasn't changed a bit.

Of all the things he aches to tell her, and all the things his heart wants to say, all he can come up with is, ""Beth. It's been so long since I seen ya girl. How ya been?"

What an idiot.

He can see she's stunned; shit he is too. He quickly dismounts the bike and walks as close to the little window as he can get, "Is it really you girl?"

How can this be? How can Daryl be standing here now? Oh my gosh, and he's gotten even more manly. His shoulders are so broad, and although he always had a muscular build, the last time she saw him he was still so young and slim.

His body has filled out and she thinks he looks like some kind of modern day Adonis. The body, the shaggy hair, the scruff of whiskers and that crooked little half-smile. He's the whole package.

But her head is all turned around and she can't seem to think clearly as quiet tears begin rolling down her cheeks, all she can manage to ask is, "Where have you been?"

No sooner is the question out of her mouth than Daryl sees the Asian man getting out of his car and approaching them. A little boy is walking by the man's side. He recognizes the guy immediately, he's her husband. Shit, they're still together. He doesn't know how the guy might react, and he damn sure doesn't want Beth getting in trouble for talking to some old high school boyfriend. He's ready to jump back on the bike and take off.

Before he can make a move the man who Daryl thinks is her husband is right there looking and sounding concerned when he asks her, "Is everything okay Beth?"

She looks at the man as she hurries to wipe the tears from her cheeks and answers, "Yes, yes I'm okay. I guess I must look shocked, I am shocked. This is someone you've heard me talk about a million times Glenn. Daryl Dixon, meet my brother in law Glenn Rhee and my nephew Hershel."

Daryl's head is spinning, everything he thought was true he now realizes wasn't ever true at all.

Meanwhile, Glenn's thinking fast. He sees the enormity of the situation and quickly suggests, "Beth, why don't you let me and Hershel take over here so you and Daryl can go somewhere and talk."

Daryl looks at her with those same piercing blue eyes she was never able to forget, and in the voice that still sends a chill skittering up her spine he whispers, "Please. Beth...Please."

Her mind goes to a safe, practical place, "No, I can't possibly. It's my first day, I just started. I can't just leave."

Glenn and young Hershel are already in the small booth and her brother in law rests a hand on her shoulder when he says, "Sure you can. I'm the boss and I just told you to go." Then he looks at Daryl and says, "Try not to screw this up, and whatever you do, don't hurt her again. She's been through enough."

Daryl's practically stuttering when he answers, "No, no, I won't. Beth takes the lead."

For eight long years her heart has ached to see this man, to feel his arms around her and to hear his raspy voice whisper the words, "I love ya girl." Now, after so many years suddenly here he is. Her thoughts and emotions are tied up in knots, right along with her tummy. Her whole body seems to be trembling and her heart is pounding so hard she's certain everyone within a mile of her can hear it.

Glenn hands her her sweater and small purse and quietly says, "Just tell him all those things you've waited so long to say, he deserves a good ass chewing." She's not sure she can move at all and if she does she's afraid her legs will give out or worse, she'll faint.

Her tension eases a little when her nephew reprimands, "Daddy, you said a bad word!"

Daryl's waiting for her just outside the shop door. All he wants to do is sweep her up in his arms and never let her go, but he doesn't do those things. There's one thing he's pretty sure of, if this happens between them at all it's going to take some time.

Worst of all, now that he realizes his mistake and that she wasn't married, he knows she must have thought he just blew it all off, forgot about her and went on with his life. He's fully aware of just how badly he fucked up and he's sure she must hate him.

Still, everything he's ever wanted is riding on this and he's ready to gamble, so he ventures, "If ya want we could go for a ride up ta the lake, maybe talk there, or we could go ta my place. It's just right down the street. Anywhere ya wanna go girl, just name it."

She's firm, "I'm not going to your house and I'm not going to the places we used to go. I'm not going to be fooled by you again Daryl."

It's a punch to the gut but he isn't going to get pissed or push the situation, she's mad at him and she has every right to be. All he wants is a chance to try and redeem himself. He doesn't argue or beg, he simply suggests, "How bout we walk? I can push the bike and we can walk back to my place, not go inside, we ain't gotta do that. I just wanna lock the bike up. After that you're in charge, you tell me whatever you wanna do and that's what we'll do."

What she wants is for him to hold her and tell her something that will make everything alright, anything that will convince her that him going for so long without contacting her was justified. She wants to believe his story, then she wants him to kiss her, she wants him to make love to her and she wants them to live happily ever after. But she answers, "Okay, we'll walk to your place. Then we'll see."

It's a start and for now he's happy with that. He tries to smile as he nods and says, "Yeah, sure, let's walk." He should stop talking right there, but his lips keep moving and the words keep coming, "Beth, whether you believe me or not, I'd walk anywhere with you. My feelings ain't changed."

She stops in her tracks, turns to him and in an angry tone says, "You stop that Daryl Dixon, you don't get to say those kinds of things to me."

He meant what he said and he's hurt by her response, but he's still not blaming her. He knows how badly he fucked up that day he came back to town for her. He should have approached her, he should have been man enough. He would have known then the Asian man he saw her with wasn't her husband and the baby she was holding wasn't hers.

So for now he'll take whatever she dishes out. She can verbally beat him up as much as she wants and needs to. All he wants is a chance to make everything up to her. He desperately needs this to work for them but he can't even imagine how that's going to be possible.

With every fiber of her being Beth yearns for him to hold her. She wants to tell him that wherever he's been and whatever he's done doesn't matter, it's okay, they're together now and that's all that matters to her. But that's not true, nothing's okay. She has to protect herself, both her heart and her mind. She can't allow Daryl to put her through again what she barely made it through the first time.

As they enter the RV park and approach his trailer memories come flooding back to her. It's like the way he used to live got a massive facelift. That place was old, rundown and half scary. This place looks pretty and kind of tranquil.

But his old place had one thing about it that was very special, it's where they made love for the first and only time. She shakes her head to clear the thought, she has to quit thinking about that kind of stuff. She can't be remembering the sweetness and the love. She'll weaken. She has to be firm. Yet for some reason she's unsure of, she asks him, "Do you have any cokes?"

"Yeah, I can go in and get ya a coke."

And even though she knows she's a fool for doing it, she tells him, "No, let's just go inside and have one."

He's trying not to let on how happy he is to hear those words. He has so much to tell her and so much to apologize for and it feels like it might be easier if they were sitting alone together. Maybe once he tells her everything she'll understand. Maybe she'll even forgive him. Maybe they can try and resurrect their love.

He reaches around her to open the trailer door and for a brief moment their bodies are so close they almost touch. It's all he can do to keep from taking her in his arms and kissing her, what he doesn't know is that's what she wants too.

She's surprised by how cute the trailer is, or maybe cute isn't exactly the right word. It's really nice. She's had the picture of his old place in her head all these years and this place is so modern and bright. She takes a look around and although the size of things is scaled down, there's everything a person might need. There's a kitchen area to the left with a small refrigerator / freezer, a stove and oven, there's even a microwave.

In the center of the space is a dinette table with bench seats to either side, and next to it are a pair of chairs. To her right is a small sofa, and at the back of the space is a built in cabinet with a TV in the center. There are books on the shelves but at this distance she can't see the titles.

She sees the closed door just beyond the kitchen and when he notices her looking that way he says, "The bedroom's through there."

He tries to act like he didn't just say that word, and she tries to act like she didn't just hear that word.

He switches gears quickly, "Um, have a seat…anywhere ya like." She sits on the sofa, just as close to the arm as she can get and trying hard to avoid eye contact, while he tries to keep up the act, "So, ya want that coke on ice?"

She still doesn't quite look at him, "Yes, I would please, and thank you." So formal and stilted, but he doesn't blame her for being on edge, he's on edge too.

Their fingers barely touch when he hands her the glass of pop and it's all he can do to pull his hand away. He takes the chair across from her and sets his own glass on a small side table. His mind is racing with the million things he wants to tell her, and the million things he wants to ask her.

He's desperate to break the ice, but all he can think to ask is, "So that's where ya work huh? The coffee place?" Geez, of all the things he could have said or asked, no one has to tell him how lame that was.

He'd like to reel it back but she answers, "I've done a few different things since high school. For a while I was the receptionist at a construction office, but when I started having trouble with someone there I quit."

She pauses to take a sip from her coke while he's feeling an angry adrenaline rush. He wants to ask who the asshole is that bothered her so much she'd quit a job, but for now he stays quiet and waits for her to speak.

"My last job was as a receptionist at a real estate office, but I quit to go to work for my brother in law and my sister." She laughs nervously and adds, "Amy just keeps telling me not to worry, I'll find my niche."

That makes him smile, "Amy. So you and Amy are still friends huh?"

"Yes of course, Amy will always be my best friend. She's been through everything with me."

He feels the guilt stab at his heart and he wants to say, "yeah, after your boyfriend turned out to be a complete shithead, huh?" Instead he asks, "Do ya have any idea whatever became of Caesar?"

"Sure I do, Caesar and Amy are married and they have a baby on the way." She looks down as her cheeks turn bright pinks and she adds, "For them it really was true love."

Ouch. The knife just twisted but he doesn't back away, "I had that comin' Beth. I'd like to try and explain it all to ya, everything that happened. At first I had no way ta come back to ya. I tried so hard. I had more attempted escapes than anyone else ever did, they just kept tightening the security and I just kept trying. I didn't get out til I turned 18. Then I came right her ta Clausenville and back to you Beth."

She's feeling a mix of shock and anger, why would he say that? And if he really did come back, why didn't she see him? "What do you mean you came back to me? I sure as heck never saw you Daryl Dixon."

"I know girl. Shit that was on me. But I…I did see you. You just didn't see me. It was two days after I got out. I'd been talking to this doc for a while on account of they thought I was troubled and suicidal and shit, when all I wanted was out."

"Anyway, Doc Denise, she's a headshrinker. It turned out we got along pretty good and besides shrinkin' my head, she did a lot of other stuff for me. She made sure I got tutored and I got my high school diploma. Then one day a couple months before I's supposed ta get out she told me she had an uncle who's a big deal in the Navy. She talked to him about me and he promised if I signed up he could make sure I got in the Seabees. During my four years of duty I could learn a good construction skill."

"Anyhow, I told her I couldn't agree to nuthin' without talkin' to you first." He bows his head and continues, "I don't have some big fabulous excuse Beth, just my own dumb ass. I was young and I was stupid and I screwed up everything, but that wasn't my plan - my plan was ta come here and talk to you."

She watches him chewing his lip and for some reason she feels sorry for him, like he's the one who got hurt. She wants to tell him to just forget his stupid story and kiss her, but she doesn't, she wouldn't. She just listens as he tries to explain, "I had what I thought was a really good plan, and not just for me. For us. And not just for the time being, but for our future and stuff."

He's shaking his head and chewing the side of his thumb, all the same old tics that she remembers so well. He's older, he's a man now, but he's still the boy she'll always love. He continues, "I still had a couple weeks to make my decision and I thought I'd come here and we'd have that time together, then I'd go ta boot camp up in Great Lakes. But we'd see each other girl. I'd have time off and I could come here. You could come wherever they sent me and stay a while."

His voice gets deeper, huskier and she knows it's his emotions coming through as he goes on, "I hoped as soon as ya graduated we'd get married and you'd live with me wherever they sent me." He shakes his head and laughs mockingly at himself, "Yeah, I had it all figured out alright."

He sighs and his shoulders shrug and he tells her something else, "I thought after four years, when I got out, I could get a job and we'd settle wherever ya wanted to. We could start having babies like ya always wanted. That's what I wanted too. For us to be a family Beth."

At the mention of babies her tears start to fall and he can hear the hurt and anger in her voice when she says, "I knew there was a chance there was going to be a baby after what we did, and after they took you away from me I prayed so hard there would be. I never wanted anything more than to have your baby. When it didn't happen, when I wasn't pregnant and you were gone I...I...I thought about just leaving too, but Maggie broke the bathroom door down and stopped me."

Although her story's not real clear he understands exactly what she's saying, and he can no longer control his impulses. He's out of his chair and dropping to his knees in front of her. His arms wrap around her waist and he holds her tight, his head resting in her lap as he pulls her closer and says "Dammit Beth, I'm such a worthless piece of shit. I just never stop hurtin' you."

She can't keep herself from running her fingers through his hair as she bends down, softly kisses his head and whispers, "Daryl…no…"

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A/N Don't be mad, we'll pick up right there next Friday. In the meantime, please leave a comment and also check out the chapter photo on my tumblr blogs gneebee and bethylmethbrick. Next chapter they'll hear more of each other's stories and we'll see if they decide to give it all another try. Thank you so much, stay safe and remember, I love ya large! xo gneebee