Sorry it has taken a bit to post. I actually had to divide this chapter into two separate entities. It was getting rather lengthy, but I just couldn't stop the Bethyl train. This chapter is all about their growing relationship. Pretty flippin' sweet if I do say so myself. Hope you agree!

Chpt 8: Gestalts

It's too quiet at night to sleep. Every little pop and creek has him on high alert. Sleeping during the day is easier. Daryl finds comfort in the familiar cadance of life in the prison. It helps him rest. If he's lucky, Beth will find him napping and curl up next to him for a bit. Sometimes she brings Judith too. The three of them cuddled up together feels pretty damn good if he's being honest. He thinks that's when he sleeps the best. When they were on the run, before the prison, he hardly slept at all. They scavenged during the day, endlessly walking door to door, rested at night. Sleep was nearly impossible for him to find. Then they stumbled upon the prison. A life-saving gift. No one seems to remember that it was Beth that saw the prison for its potential. He would have gone right back to the group and never mentioned it. The people at the prison, and there are a lot of them now, thank him all the time for the deer meet, for keeping watch, for patrolling and fixing the fences, for just doing shit that needs to be done. It's Beth they should be thanking. She's the one making this place a home. She's the one doing the shit that lasts like tending the garden, teaching the kids, leading a book club, and writing down on paper their new family's journey. Judith will want to read that shit someday. Understand where she came from, what she survived, and who loved her through it.

Daryl is in the tower on watch. It's spring, but the days are heating up fast. The Georgia humidity is already a reminder that another long, hot summer is just around the corner. The sun is setting later and later. There's just enough light left for him to make out a couple of deer on the edge of the woods. He figures he may as well snag one as soon as his shift is over. Maybe grab Beth and take her with him if she's awake.

He hears footfalls on the steps. Turns to see his girl appear in the doorway. She smiles when she sees him, that sweet, contented smile that puckers the little lines at the corner of her big blue eyes. Makes his heart ache. He holds his arm out, an invitation, and Beth flows to his side. He wraps his arm around her shoulder, hugs her close and kisses the top of her head. She has a blanket and a mug of coffee, cream and sugar, just the way he likes it. She gave him all kids a' shit when she found out he likes his coffee all dolled up. She takes hers black. Life's surprising that way sometimes.

Daryl takes her blanket and shakes it out. Wraps it around her shoulders, spins her, and pulls her back flush to his chest. He points past her cheek to the tree-line edging the woods. "See there?"

Beth follows the line of his arm and squints at the setting shadows of dusk. It takes her a second, but then she spots them. Three deer are grazing without a care in the world.

"Wanna' go get one of 'em with me after shift?"

"Uh, yeah," she says, "duh"

"Hmmm." He isn't sure what to do with her when she says shit like that. She makes it seem like wanting to be with him is as ordinary as brushing your teeth. He doesn't think he'll ever figure that one out, but he ain't dumb enough to look a damn gift horse in the mouth. He props his foot up on the lowest rung of the railing and thinks about lighting a cigarette to calm his nerves. Beth awakens things inside of him that he didn't know existed. Still makes him a little nervous sometimes, but only in the best way. Beth snuggles into him, easy as you please, and settles her head beneath his chin. "I thought your brother might be up here with you."

"Nah. Carol's workin' his ass off. She's got him buildin' shit, fixin' stuff all day."

"She said he's a good carpenter."

"Yeah. He's always been good with his hands. When we were little, he used to carve cars and trucks out a' wood from the back porch. We'd play with 'em for hours, runnin' 'em through the dirt and mud. He tried to teach me how, but I never could get the hang of it"

Beth smiles at that, pictures the two Dixon boys playing in the woods with their homemade hot wheels. Rolls it around in her head. Stumbles over one of the details. "Wait, he took wood from the back porch?"

"Yeah," Daryl says and takes his time fishing a cigarette from his pocket. He lights it, without letting go of Beth, and draws a long hard breath through the filter. Turns his head and blows the smoke in the direction of the wind. "Our pop was drunk. Got mad over who knows what and started blastin' holes in the back porch with his shot gun. Stupid ass got his boot lace caught on the edge of one of 'em. Ended up fallin' through the door. Slammed his head on the way down. Knocked himself clean out." He takes another long draw from the cigarette. "Thought he was dead for sure that time."

Beth, to her credit, doesn't miss a beat. "He do stupid stuff like that a lot?"

Daryl nods, "Only when he was drunk. So, yeah, all the time."

"That sucks. I'm sorry." And that's why he always ends up telling Beth more than he means to. She doesn't pity him. Doesn't try to make him feel better about things that have long since been buried. She accepts his scars as a part of him, as a part of who he is, and seems to care about him all the more for sharing.

"You know I think Merle might be a little sweet on Carol," she says.

"Pfff. Like a damn romance novel… Just as long as he keeps it in line."

Beth giggles a little under her breath. "I don't think he has a choice with Carol. Think he might be a little scared of her too."

"Good"

"Think she might have a soft spot for him?"

"No idea. Don't pay attention to shit like that, girl."

"Yes, you do," she says. He can practically hear her eyes roll. Another reason he's falling in love with this girl. She calls him on his bullshit. "You notice everything. It's one of the things I love about you."

Everything around them seems to freeze frame. Beth realizes she has just all but told him, straight out, she loves him. Maybe he's not ready to hear that yet. Maybe she's not ready to admit that yet, either. No, that's not true, she tells herself. She knows she loves him, but Daryl isn't moving at all behind her. She's not even sure he's breathing. She's digging deep for something to say, something that won't sound terribly awkward… when Daryl plants another kiss on the top of her head.

"I love your smile," he mumble -whispers in her ear. Beth squeezes his forearm where it rests lightly across her chest, so thankful that God dropped this man in her path.

They are both content to let the quiet do the talking and pass the time. Beth isn't even sure when the song she's been singing in her head becomes a soft hum in the back of her throat. When she finishes, Daryl squeezes her shoulder. He thinks about how tiny she is to be so fierce. Doesn't think she's afraid of anything.

"Beth, I gotta' talk to yer dad,' he says out of nowhere, but the way he says it makes her think he's been contemplating doing so for a while now.

She frowns and leans away from him, enough to turn her head and see his face. As usual, it betrays nothing.

" 'bout what?"

" 'bout this. Me and you."

Beth turns to face him. Leans back against the railing. "You know he already knows, right? Pretty sure everybody knows by now." She watches him carefully to judge his reaction. They would both prefer to keep this thing, their thing, just between the two of them. It's too important. But when you live on top of each other the way they do, privacy is the first casualty. He starts scratching at his thumb, but outside of that, he doesn't seem affected.

"Yeah, I know. I just think I oughta' tell him I ain't palyin' around. Make sure he knows I'm serious about things. 'bout you. Ya' know? Be respectful."

Beth tucks her bottom lip between her teeth. She really isn't sure what to say to that. It's unexpected. But it's also very Daryl. She knows how he feels about her daddy. Knows his opinion matters to Daryl. She knows too exactly how Daryl feels about her. She can feel it every time he looks at her. So, she nods and asks him if he wants her to go with him.

"Nah. Better talk to him myself."

Beth slides her arms around his middle. Puts her ear to his heart. "You're a good man, Daryl Dixon. I'm lucky to have you."

"Pretty sure I'm the lucky one, girl."

He tugs gently on her ponytail and Beth peers up at him. He only hesitates for a moment, eyes slipping from hers, to her lips, then back. Beth smiles and rolls to her toes. His kiss is sure, almost possessive, and Beth has no problem with that. Her hands slide to the back of his neck. She pulls him closer, deepens the kiss. She isn't used to being the aggressor, but she knows what she wants. Knows enough to know that what she feels for Daryl is vastly different than anything she has ever felt before. She can read his heart. Aches when she isn't with him. She is his partner, and he is her best friend. They talk, and she falls more in love with him. But they can be quiet together too, and it's comfortable. She sings and he listens and smiles. He teaches her to slow down and to be observant. Teaches her how to read people and situations. She teaches him to trust. To let go and have a little faith. She tells him he is "good", and he believes her.

They break apart, breathless. "You gotta' help me keep things in check, girl. Ain't good at it when I'm with ya'"

"Yes, sir, Mr. Dixon"

"Don't start that shit," he warns her, but there's no bite in his growl.

Beth laughs at that and presses her lips to his for a quick kiss. "Tell me something good, Daryl."

He smiles at her. Knows exactly what he wants to tell her. Decides it can wait until they both need to hear it. "You know," is all he says.

Beth nods and smiles, pleased with his response. She does know and it sends her heart over the moon.

^TWD^

Daryl finds Hershel checking the plants in the garden. It's early afternoon and the sun is beaming down on a beautiful day. The garden is coming along nicely. Little bits of color are sprouting up in rows. It stirs hope. Maybe they really can make a life here at the prison. Something lasting. Rick is pulling weeds at he far end of the field. He gives Daryl a wave before turning back to his task. He has left the leadership decisions entirely up to the council. He spends most of his time working the soil and helping with chores around the prison. "It's the damnedest thing," Daryl thinks. He still can't get used to it. He's thinking about how much things have changed, about how far his family has come when he hears Hershel say his name.

"Something on your mind, son?" Hershel's got that twinkle in his eye. Daryl has seen it before from the old man. It's like he's just waiting for everyone else to catch up. One hell of a poker face.

Daryl blinks at him and grunts. He wonders why he has to be so damn awkward all the time. Hershel smiles kindly. Waits for Daryl to organize his thoughts.

"I, uh… I wanted to talk to ya' 'bout somethin' "

"Alright… shoot," Hershel says. Daryl gets the feeling Hershel might be playing with him. The way a cat bats at a mouse before it goes in for the kill. It makes him nervous. Even more nervous than he already is. He starts to scratch at his thumb and Hershel has to squelch a chuckle.

"I guess you know 'bout me and Beth?" He tries not to be defensive, but history has taught Daryl to brace himself for the worst.

Hershel's lips pucker like he's just bit into a lemon. "I reckon I know you two spend a lot of time together. I know she cares about you. Best I can tell, you make her happy. Is that what you mean?"

"Yeah… Me and Beth, we're together… I don't mean like Maggie and Glenn. We ain't like that. I mean we are… I care about her, but we ain't… We don't…" Daryl huffs out a frustrated breath. Looks Hershel square in the face. Finds his footing. No turning back. "She's the most important thing I got, ya' know?"

Hershel respects what Daryl has come to do. Feels a rush of tenderness toward him. He has watched him change in the last year and a half. Knows it is love and respect… family, that has transformed him from a hot-tempered clodhopper into the big-hearted, brave and selfless man he was meant to be.

Hershel nods. Smiles warmly. But, Beth is his heart, so he has to ask. "What exactly are your intentions when it comes to my baby girl?"

"Just wanna' take care of her. Keep her safe. Love her for as long as she'll let me."

Hershel softens at that. Knows Daryl means it. Daryl always means what he says. Truth is, there is nobody he would rather see Beth with than the man standing in front of him.

"Then you have my blessing."

Daryl wipes his hand on his jeans and extends it to Hershel. Hershel takes it gladly. Claps Daryl on the shoulder and gives him a single reassuring nod. Daryl thinks he sees a shimmer in the man's eyes that wasn't there a few minutes ago. He nods back at Hershel and turns to walk away.

"Daryl?"

Daryl's heart seizes. He figures Hershel has changed his mind. Thinks he's fixin' to tell him to stay the hell away from Beth like he probably should have done in the first place. But he turns back to Hershel anyway, expecting the worst, but ready to fight for Beth all the same.

"When the Governor comes back, and you know he will, you do what you can to get Beth out of here."

It takes Daryl a second to switch gears. To realize what Hershel is saying. What he's asking. "I will," he promises, with every fiber of his being.

"I want you to promise me something else too, Daryl. I know you'll do everything in your power to keep her safe, but you're only human. There comes a time when somebody or some thing takes her away? Promise me you won't let it kill ya'. She wouldn't want that."

Daryl frowns at that. Shakes his head. Knows he can't make that promise. Just the thought of losing Beth makes his heart hurt. Hershel must know he would willingly die to keep her safe. He watches Daryl chew on his words… patiently waits for Daryl to read between the lines. Daryl considers what the older man has said. Realizes Hershel is making him promise not to give up… Why the hell would Hershel care if he gave up? Then it hits him… Hershel cares about him. Cares enough to make him promise to keep on living even if Beth is gone. He realizes too that Hershel gets it. Gets how he feels about Beth.

Hershel nods at Daryl. Knows he has figured it out. Turns and gets back to the garden. Daryl isn't exactly sure how he feels. He is grateful for Hershel's blessing. Humbled that Hershel would approve, that he would care enough to tell Daryl to keep on living. But he is also a little on edge. A bit angry that her own daddy figures Beth will disappear from this world before him. A world without Beth is not something Daryl chooses to think about. It's too painful to even consider. No way he's gonna' let anything happen to Beth. Hershel is right to think it might kill him. Daryl isn't sure he could do a thing to stop himself from dying right along beside her.

He finds Beth and Judith on a blanket on the front lawn. Beth is on her back, flying Judith in the air like an airplane above her. A long string of drool is inching closer and closer to Beth's nose. Daryl steps between the girls and the sun. Casts a long shadow across the two of them. It takes Beth's eyes a second to adjust and focus on his face. When she does, the smile she shoots him is brighter than the sun at his back. Heats his skin like a burn. Lil' Asskicker kicks her feet and squeals. Her chubby little arms reach for him.

"Hey, Babe," she says, and it takes Daryl a second or two to realize she is talking to him and not to the baby in her arms. No one has ever called him anything other than Daryl, At least not anything nice any way, not even his mama. She called him Daryl too. Sometimes she called him Sweet Baby Daryl, but that was only when she was drunk. His dad called him dumbass. And Merle called him whatever stupid play on his name he could come up with. But nobody has ever called him anything other than Daryl because they cared. He thinks he likes it coming from Beth. Thinks he'd like to hear her say it again and again.

"Hey," he answers back with a smile of his own. He plucks Judith from her hands and plops down next to her. Stretches out on his back with a contented sigh. Judith snuggles into his chest and starts gnawing on her little fist. Beth rolls to her side, props herself up on her elbow, and takes to playing with the fine, baby curls on Judith's head. Her sweet girl needs a nap. Daryl settles one arm around Judith, the other behind his head. Turns to look at Beth.

"I talked to your dad."

Beth's hand stalls on Judith's back, but only for a second. "Oh yeah?" she asks. "What did he say?"

Daryl looks back to the sky. "He said he's a'ight with it. With us…" He peaks at Beth. Sees that impossibly wide smile of hers. "Said some other stuff too. Got me thinkin'."

Beth's smile changes. Twists from giddy to curious. Nobody ever smiled much where Daryl was from. At least not that he ever noticed. But lately, Beth's smiles have become a near-on fascination for him. Seems like she has a smile to match her every mood. She even has a sad smile. Who the hell has a "sad" smile, and when the hell did he start noticing shit like that? He isn't sure, but he knows that ear splittin', happy grin of hers is his favorite so far.

He's lost his train of thought. That too has been happening a lot lately, especially when Beth is around.

When the quiet goes on too long, Beth can't help herself. "Daryl," she whines. "What did he say? What are you thinkin' about?"

Daryl turns back to face her. The tips of his ears are red. He blinks and half smiles, looks a little smug Beth thinks. "That's 'tween me and yer dad."

"Daryl!" she scolds him lightheartedly and pinches his arm for good measure.

"Ow, girl! Let me finish. I was gonna' say, 'I'm thinkin' I'm a lucky som' bitch. Don't deserve ya' ', but now I'm thinkin' yer a lil' bit mean."

Beth's smile grows. Morphs into a breathy giggle. Daryl watches the cotton candy pink blossom across her cheeks. Prettiest damn thing he's ever seen. She tugs on the scruff at his chin. Lays a small kiss against his lips. "I think we're both pretty lucky."

Daryl's hand slips behind her neck. Pulls her back to him gently. It's getting harder and harder to maintain control when they're together. She's as addictive as cigarettes, worse he thinks. Cigarettes, he can live without.

^TWD^

Beth finishes reading "Pride and Prejudice" to the book club. She found three copies in the prison library. They were supposed to share the books. Each read a chapter over a few days, and then pass it on to the next person, so on and so forth. But somewhere along the way, they all decided to meet three days a week and have Beth read the book aloud instead. She happily obliged. It is one of her favorite books after all. But reading formal English out loud, for that long at a time, makes her jaws sore.

It's nearly supper time, and she hasn't seen Daryl since yesterday morning. They've all been busy. There is always a flurry of activity when the council announces a run. Today is the same for Beth as most days though. So far, she has taught an hour of math, an hour of music, and an hour of history, followed by lunch prep and cleanup, a fussy Judith badly in need of a nap, and then the book club. The prison is no Pemberley, but the library is beyond anything she thought she would ever find again. It is well-stocked with some of her favorite classics and a generous helping of guilty pleasure books too. There is also a fairly large section of educational texts. She's using those, and some books Daryl brought back from a run not long after they settled into the prison, to teach the kids. He found the books in a small K-6 school along the way. Thought Beth might could use them for Judith someday. She hopes she's giving the kids a solid foundation. Something they can use to rebuild this world one day. Hopefully make it better than it was before the turn.

She's looking for Daryl. Working her jaw back and forth when she hears the motorcycle's engine rev. She finds him in the side yard, hidden behind stacked pallets and hundreds of 2x4's. He's tinkering with his bike in what must have been the prison's wood shop storage port. She's not surprised to find him here. It's the first place he goes when he starts preparing for a run.

"Hey, Babe," she says and hops up onto a sturdy looking, wooden work table. He stands up, notices her opening and closing her mouth, rubbing at the corners of her ears.

"You a'right," he asks.

"Yeah, I'm good. Been readin' to the book club. Guess my jaw's a little tired."

She invited him to join the book club months ago. Caught him carrying a copy of "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance." Seemed impressed with his choice. He didn't have the balls to tell her he grabbed it thinking it actually was a book on motorcycle maintenance. Figured he was stuck reading it so he might as well try and enjoy it. It was mostly bullshit wrapped up a fancy word package. All he really got from it was the guy telling the story liked his bike better than he liked most people. Found peace when he was working on his motorcycle. Daryl could understand that at least. He's doing the same when Beth finds him.

He grabs the rag he keeps in his back pocket and ambles over to her. He's better at keeping his hands clean these days. Touching Beth with dirty hands just doesn't feel right even though she's never complained. Said something one time about liking his hands. Crazy girl. He fits himself between her knees and leans down for a quick kiss. Beth smiles up at him sweetly, taps his legs with her toes. He starts to back away, but Beth is having none of that. She traps him with her legs. Locks her ankles at the back of his thighs and draws him playfully to her.

"I've missed you," she says, voice silky and sincere.

"Missed you too," he mumbles.

Beth tugs on his neck. Stretches up to meet him for another kiss. Only this kiss isn't quick or chaste like the one before. They've gone from zero to sixty in seconds. Daryl grips her thin hips a little tighter. Briefly thinks about getting her to eat more before all rational thought fades away. Beth is kissing him like a woman possessed. She nips at his bottom lip. Teases his mouth open with her tongue. Daryl pulls her flush against him. Slides his hands roughly up her ribcage and takes the kiss deeper. Beth matches his fervor. Uses her grip around his legs as leverage. Lifts her but off the table and rocks against him knowing he would never let her fall. Daryl's hands slip to her rear. He drags her center against the tops of his jean clad thighs. Settles her against him, right where he wants her. Beth moans and her mouth falls away from his. Daryl doubles down on her pleasure. Trails a litany of kisses from her jaw to her chest. She sucks her bottom lip between her teeth. Presses harder into him. Her eyes are closed, but her face is the picture of concentration. Daryl nearly loses his mind at the sight of her. Beth whimpers at the loss of his lips against her skin. She whispers his name, breathless and heady. Warning bells tickle at the back of his brain, but he pointedly ignores them. Finds Beth's lips and reclaims her mouth. Her fingers scrape against his scalp. Tangle in his hair. The warning bells grow louder and his lips falter. Beth feels the shift. Knows instantly he's pulling back. She leans her forehead against his. They're both panting. Hearts pounding. Daryl eases her back onto the table. Drops his head to her shoulder and nearly collapses against her. His palms are flat against the table, one on either side of her hips, bearing most of his weight. Beth finds one of them and weaves their fingers together. With the other, she draws lazy figure eights up and down his back.

"I'm sorry," he whispers against the crook of her neck.

Beth cups his head and lifts it from her shoulder. "For what," she asks, her voice still a little shaky.

Daryl looks away in shame. Grips the edge of the table at her knees. "Shouldn't 'a lost control like that."

"Hey," she says and tries to catch his eyes. "Daryl, look at me." His eyes are jumping from one thing to another. Landing on anything but her. Beth brushes the hair back from his brow and says his name again, a little firmer this time. "Look at me, please."

He finally does, and Beth smiles. A closed lip, comforting gesture that helps him relax. "You gotta' quit apologizing for kissin' me. I'm startin' to think you regret gettin' tangled up with me in the first place." She's teasing of course, but Daryl looks stricken by her words. "I'm kidding, Babe," she quickly clarifies, "but you do need to stop apologizin'. You're not forcin' anything on me. I love kissing you." Beth shrugs, and her smile turns shy. "I love the way you make me feel, you know? I want this with you as much as you do."

Daryl shakes his head. Frowns like he can't understand the words coming from her mouth. "I jus' want ya' to be sure, Beth. I can be a real asshole sometimes. You need to know what you're gettin' yourself into with me."

"Daryl," she says so gently it nearly breaks his heart. "We've talked about this before. I know exactly what I'm getting myself into. How long have we been together now?"

Daryl shakes his head, "Couple a months or so."

"No," she sing-songs, "it's been a couple of months since you finally kissed me. How long have we been together? Me and you against the world," she teases. "When do you think that started?"

He looks her over. Wonders what she's getting' at. "I dunno." He thinks back, and the answer appears pretty clearly. "Guess it started for me that night I climbed your treehouse. Back on the farm."

He knows he nailed it when Beth lets loose the biggest, brightest smile he's ever seen. It washes over him in waves. Blasts away the grease and dirt that covers his self-conscious doubt. Doubt as to how someone as amazing as Beth could love a nobody like him. But, he knows she does. It goes against everything he's ever been told, but Beth makes him believe he matters. His heart is hers, for better or worse, that's never going to change. He loves her with everything he has. Knows the only thing he wants to do is make her happy. When she's happy, he's happy, and he likes the way that feels.

Beth is talking and her eyes are shining, but he can't quite make out what she's saying over the pounding of his pulse in his ears. She says something about that night in the treehouse. Thinks that must be when this whole thing started for her too. He draws in a deep breath. Concentrates on calming the hell down. Wishes he had a damn cigarette between his fingers. He settles for chewing on the inside of his lip. Tries to focus on Beth and what she's saying. Beth lifts her eyebrows, and he realizes he's missed something important.

"You okay?" she asks.

"Shit, Beth" he grumbles. "I love you. That's the only damn thing I know for sure right now."

Beth's jaw goes slack, and her big blue eyes grow impossibly wide. She freezes. Stares at him for the longest beat before she remembers to breath. She draws in a quick, hard breath. Starts blinking against the moisture pooling in her eyes. "Oh," she whispers. Tucks her lip between her teeth and grins around it. She's on him in an instant. Nearly knocks him over when she slams against him. Arms and legs wrap around him like a spider monkey. She hugs him as tight as she can. Hols on to him like he might evaporate. He's never been hugged like this before. Thinks he could get used to it with Beth. Thinks he could get used to a lot of things with Beth.

A/N: Thanks for reading! Reviews are always appreciated!