They weren't sure what to do – after. They were laying in the bed next to each other, but they might as well have been worlds away. Beth was on her side, her bare back to Daryl and he was on his, looking up at the ceiling. He kept trying to think of something to break the silence, but every time his mind would wander to much more appealing thoughts. It was hard not to think about it. It was awkward, but maybe not as bizarre as either had anticipated. There were definitely fumbles, pauses and confusion on her part; and heat of their bodies, mixed with the heat of the summer, made their skin stick together. But, somehow, the sound of her breathing his name as she buried her face into crook of his neck, made it all worth while.

But, what did it all mean? The tension was there, they dealt with it. But, even laying there now though, he could feel that it hadn't gone away. Maybe "dealing with it" hadn't solved as much as they thought it would, given that neither one of them could find the words for what they'd just done. They both knew the dynamics of their friendship had forever changed. The real question was if it was for better or worse.

It was a few moment later, after the thought crossed his mind, that Beth sat up; still facing away from him as she swung her legs over the side of the bed. She was looking for her things to gather; and trying to flee the silence. Maybe waiting for a new day to talk. But, apparently, Daryl saw that as his cue to speak up.

"You can stay..." he mumbled. "...if you want."

Beth looked over her shoulder at him. "What?"

"I mean you can sleep in here if you want." Daryl explained. "If that is a thing…you wanted to do."

"Like…sleep in the same bed as you?" Beth let out an awkward laugh, which made Daryl consider the entirety of his life choices up and to that moment. That is until she simply said, "Okay."

Unlike her perfectly made bed, Daryl only had to pull his duvet up from the wrinkled pile it sat in to be underneath it. Beth hesitantly crawled under the covered herself, but, her getting back in that bed didn't change a damn thing. There was still silence as she laid on the pillow next to him, almost a foot away. Daryl rolled his eyes and reached over her body, hooking his hand onto her waist.

"Come here." He grumbled and he pulled her into his body. He wasn't one for spooning, he didn't like a pile of hair in his face, or sharing a pillow, and he certainly didn't like the weight of another human putting his arm to sleep. But, given the circumstances – given that it was Beth – he would make an exception.

Beth finally released the breath she'd been holding and let her body relax into his. He closed his eyes and tried to find the optimal position for his head to rest (basically where he got the least hair in his mouth) and relaxed himself as well. He even thought, for a little bit, that she had actually gone to sleep. But then she spoke into the dark.

"Who's Blake?"

"Can we start with an easier question than that?" Daryl stopped himself from groaning, he knew she'd heard about Blake. Was that her idea of pillow talk?

"You sure?" Beth asked. "You won't be mad?"

Daryl clued in right away to what she was about to ask. "They're from a belt."

"All of them?" Beth sounded flabbergasted, like she was hoping the scar had come from a motorcycle or hunting accident.

"Yeah, all of them." Daryl replied. "My dad wasn't the nicest around and it made him feel real big to beat someone real small."

"Is he still alive?"

"Don't know." Daryl yawned. "But he's probably still out there. If roaches can survive apocalypses, he can survive a failing liver."

"Do you wish he was dead?"

Daryl considered his answer carefully. "Maybe. If it meant he took the place of my mom."

"Did you love your mom?"

"Yeah, I did." Daryl yawned again. "Are those all your questions about my family?"

Beth rolled other to face him, even if you couldn't fully see her, he few her face was only a few inches from his. "Are you going to tell me about Blake?"

"Maybe another time." Daryl found her persistence almost amusing. "I don't wanna talk about my dumb ass brother while I'm naked in bed. Do you?"

He could feel Beth cringe as she answered rather quickly. "No, thank you."

"That's what I though." Daryl laughed. "Now go to sleep."

"One last question?" Beth pleaded.

"Fine."

Beth hesitated for a moment before asking. "What was this?"

Daryl should have known she wasn't really going to let it slide for the night. She needed a label to what had just happened between them. But, he didn't now how to label it. He knew he cared for her – that much was obvious – but he didn't know in which way she needed him to. He didn't know how much heart she wanted from him, and he didn't know how much was available to give to her; and he sure as hell didn't know how to put all that into words without sounding like a total ass.

"You can say it was a one-time thing." Beth said when he didn't reply. "I won't be mad."

"Just disappointed?" Daryl teased, bumping up against her.

"Well, I wouldn't mind, testing the waters again." Beth chuckled.

"Oh, that'd what you were talking about?" Maybe Daryl had been wrong about her wanted anything to do with his heart.

"Yeah? What were you think I talking about?"

. . .

Beth knew very well what he thought she was thinking. It was definitely on her mind, right along with want to be pressed up against a wall again. But she was trying to play it cool, because if there was one thing she'd learned from her sister's wisdom, it was to expect too much; especially right after sex, or you may seem clingy and crazy. The last thing she wanted to do was drive Daryl away.

So, she told herself she was fine with being nonchalant about what ever direction their friendship was now heading, at least for the time being. At least until she woke up, and realized she was still in Daryl's bed and it all hadn't happened in some dream.