Senoia.

Her home town. That is what he had said, wasn't it? Was Daryl so scared that he thought it was a good idea for the two of them to go there? Beth wasn't sure what to say. Never in a million years had she thought those words would come out of his mouth. She always thought that maybe, one day, she would feel homesick. But, she hadn't yet and she didn't know if she ever would. Sure, facing a drug lord had left her shaken. Yet, facing her family, she was sure it might break her. Beth told Daryl she needed time to think about it. She hoped he would think about it too.

Daryl had to know what he was asking her to do and she didn't know if she was strong enough to do it. It was so close to Christmas…the Greene's first Christmas without Hershel. Beth had already cause so much pain and suffering by taking him away and then she upped and disappeared. After almost half a year of silence was going back even an option? Beth knew she couldn't just show up. Especially not with Daryl…and maybe even Merle. Her brother, or worse, her mom, would have the shotgun out with a bullet in the barrel before she could say a damn thing. But…maybe is she called Maggie…

As she walked to the river, Beth tried to play the conversation out in her head. Talking to Maggie might be enough to convince her to go home. However, it may also be enough to cement her decision to stay exactly where she was. Which is why almost hung up the phone the moment it started ringing. She didn't know what she wanted. Would Maggie even answer? Beth took a deep breath a pulled the phone away ready to press "end". But, then the ringing stopped. For a moment, Beth thought the call has disconnected. But the silence was simply Maggie considering what to say.

"So, you're alive then?"

"Yes." Beth answered quickly. "I am very much so alive."

"For now." Maggie sounded so angry. It was gutting. But, it wasn't like Beth didn't deserve it. "Should I tell mom you're on the phone? I ran out of the room when I saw your name."

"No! Mags please – I reallywanttocomehomeforChristmas!" Beth spoke as quickly as she could. She was scared Maggie might hang up on her if she didn't get it all out right away. But she talked so fast and stuttered so hard there was no chance Maggie caught it all.

"What?"

Beth took a deep breath. "I said I really want to come home for Christmas."

There was a long pause after that. Beth could practically hear the long list of swear words Maggie was stringing together in her head. Maggie was the one that had to deal with all the backlash and the guilt was probably eating her up. Beth hated herself for that. Sure, Maggie was the one who told her to keep quiet about the truck, but Beth was the one that took it too far. Now there she was begging to come home…which would create a whole lot of chaos.

"Who is he?" Maggie asked flatly. "Is he coming with you?"

"What?" Beth croaked and, for a second, she thought she heard her sister chuckle softly.

"We both know there were reasons you didn't wanna come home…" Maggie went on "…but I'm guessing a big one was a guy?"

"His – his name is Daryl." Beth finally spat out.

"So I was right!" Maggie sighed. "Beth, I had to talk mom out of calling the cops…I had to talk Shawn down from hiring a PI!"

"Maggie," Beth started, "I am so, so, so sorry. I never meant to hurt any of you! I was only thinking of myself and my pain and it was so selfish! I wanted to find some sort of happiness but I never wanted it to be at the cost of everyone else's."

"…I really thought you'd come home…"

"I had planned on it" Beth replied. "But I got so caught up in everything, Maggie."

"How do I prepare them?" Maggie's question was referring to Daryl for sure. "Please summarize your…boyfriend?"

Beth almost broke then and there and was about to tell her sister never mind. She had spent lot of time worrying about what a town of strangers though of her relationship, yet she hadn't even though what her family would think about him. Her brother in particular. Shawn once threatened Jimmy, and they were friends! She honestly couldn't even imagine what he'd say about Daryl Dixon. But, hearing her sister's voice, it was so reassuring, and after everything she'd done and gone through maybe she should go to Senoia.

"Well…he's a little rough around the edges…but incredibly kind…to me! And...he owns a body shop….yeah…" Beth hesitated when it came to the most obvious and concerning bit of information. "And he's…older."

"You're joking right!?" Maggie burst into laughter.

Beth didn't respond.

Maggie stopped laughing and repeated herself "Right?"

"Uh."

"I'm not entirely sure how I'm supposed to work with that." Maggie sighed. "It going to be a shock no matter what I say versus what they see, isn't it?"

"I think, he's just, y'know, introverted and…and an entrepreneur…" Beth tried to think of another verb synonymous to old "…AND mature…"

"How mature is mature exactly?" Maggie asked. "And for the sake of my sanity, and my stomach, do not say anything over fifty."

"Late thirties." Beth sighed, was her sister about to chew her out?

"Well." Maggie's voice dropped to a whisper and the next question to come out of her mouth took Beth completely off guard, "Is it good?"

Beth was filled with a feeling of relief. Her sister just wanted to be a sister and gossip. "Well…yeah."

Beth's reply sent two into a frenzy of giggles.

It took a while for their laughter to die down. Maggie wanted to know so much more than Beth could possibly tell. Beth wanted to know what was being said about her back home (spoiler alert: after ghosting an entire town it was nothing good). Beth didn't dare mention Merle. After Maggie's reaction to Daryl, Beth had decided idiot brother really would be too much. Not that it mattered. Even if they did leave him to fend for himself, he was like a cockroach, and would just keep on keeping on.

It took a long time for them to get down to what really mattered. Beth knew Daryl wanted to get out of there as soon as possible. But she wanted to give Maggie enough time to prepare everyone their arrival. . So, they decided on three days (Daryl wouldn't be able to say shit about that after springing the suggestion on her). Then, it was almost time to say goodbye.

"Maggie," Beth started, "I want you to know I did almost make it to the line."

Maggie scoffed. "Yeah, yeah, but instead you joined a biker gang and started dating Mick Jagger!"

"Who?"

"You're not that much younger than me you should get the reference!" Maggie practically yelled. "I bet your boyfriend will."

"I'll be sure to ask him as soon as things are sorted." Or not.

"Oh, I'm sure he'd love that."

Beth laughed "And just to be clear I did not join a biker gang." She wished her Maggie knew that she as actually trying to avoid being part of a gang by coming home. But that was definitely a conversation for another time. "But I gotta go now, Maggie."

"Alright, so back to your old man," Maggie teased but Beth nearly gagged. "Rest up, it's a long road back."

Maggie wasn't wrong there. The road back to Senoia was going to be a long in a lot more ways than one.

…

The three days came and went quickly and all Beth could do was hope for the best as they packed up the truck to kept quiet on where they were going. They didn't tell Merle or Lori. No one. It was safer to say they were going on a road trip. No real destination in mind. Which honestly seemed a lot better. Beth didn't want her courage to waver. But the last few hours of the road trip were really getting to her. She couldn't keep herself still. Sitting in the old Ford for five hours looked like nothing for Daryl but it was agony for her. One moment she'd be sitting quietly beside Daryl reading then the next she'd be sliding across the seat and rolling down the window. Beth practically froze them out a few times. But she was so jittery that her nerves might make her sick if she didn't get some air.

Beth wondered how her family would look at her after she betrayed their trust. She wanted so desperately for them to understand how sad she truly was in Senoia. She felt like a rock stuck on a beachy shore. Sure, it sounded great. But the waves of the ocean were beating against her and wearing her away. Could she explain how the waves were only eased by leaving? By finding Daryl.

Beth glance over at him, he sat so calmly in the driver's seat, eye forever forward. Around the same time, the static from the radio station she grew up on starting coming through Her fight or flight response was kicking in and she was trying to damnedest not to take flight. But, Beth wondered, if she suggested it if Daryl would just keep on driving. Passed Senoia, through Georgia, and across the border to Tennessee. She believed he would. He was on a mission. He was her protector. As long as they were together where they went didn't matter.

…

Daryl knew Beth was nervous. He hated that he even had to suggest Senoia. But, he wanted her to be safe and he couldn't think of any place safer than the family she had described. They all seemed pretty hopelessly devoted to one another. That didn't mean the anticipation was killing her though. On the long stretches of highway, he'd been able to take his hand off the gear shift to hold hers and try to calm her down. But when they started getting on the winding backroad, all hope was lost. She couldn't stop fidgeting for the life of her. It was kind of driving him nuts, but he wouldn't say shit since he was to blame for it all.

For Beth's sake, he also wouldn't dare admit he was nervous too. It was a different town, but the same old shit. He'd have to explain himself, she'd have to explain herself, and even if they did it in the most eloquent way possible, judgements had already been passed before they even said a damn word. And, from what he'd heard from her, the fear of God was a lot strong here. He was a walking sin tempting her and leading her to damnation…basically.

Beth began quietly giving direction once they hit the town. Their property was a lot further out than he had thought. With every "turn right at the big boulder" and "left at the broken fence" her voice wavered ever so slightly. Daryl tried to ignore it but he couldn't. Daryl quickly surveyed the area then signalled over to the ride of the road and stopped the truck.

"What are you doing?" Beth turned her body towards him.

"If you want," Daryl sighed, "we can turn around and go anywhere else."

Beth's eyes widened. He guessed she'd been thinking the same thing. Probably for the majority of the drive. She looked like she was on the verge of tears. God, he hated himself doing this to her. All of it. "Daryl, what if they hate me?"

"Look…you're a real pain in the ass, Beth Greene." Daryl reached over and cupped the side of her cheap. She immediately rested herself into his hand. "But I don't think anyone could ever hate you."

Beth laughed, then rolled her eyes, and the tender moment between the two passed. She told him to get back on the road and pointed out the last two turns. As they drove down the long driveway, Daryl caught his first glimpse of the picture-perfect house he'd always imagined she came from. There was even a group of smiling faces waiting to greet them on the porch.

"Alright, uh…I guess I'll get out of the truck first?"

Beth slipped out from the passenger seat and to his surprise took off toward the porch. As he'd expected, she was welcome home with arms. The girl he guessed was Beth's sister launched herself after the blonde and they met halfway. There was a series of shrill screeching from the women and a sullen boy met Beth with a hesitant hug. As the hysteria died down, Daryl knew he best get out of the truck. He could hear her mom mention Beth's "beau." But Daryl was stuck in his seat. This family looked like everything he resented growing up. Even if he knew better.

"Daryl…?" Beth called after him and circled about the truck. She opened the door and leaned in. "Are you getting out?"

Daryl nodded and, with a deep breath, finally stepped out of the truck.

In all his years, he's never quite made the first impressed he did at that moment. Maggie, who knew almost everything about him, was trying to pick her jaw up off the ground. Her mother couldn't stop blinking. And Beth's brother turned the colour of a tomato. Beth let out a laugh then quickly interlaced the fingers.

"Mom…Maggie…Shawn…" Beth glanced up at him. "This is my boyfriend, Daryl."

AN: and I oop….pls don't come for me. Happy New Year.