Beth stood at the top of the prison grounds, her small hands wrapped round the wire of the fencing, looking down through to the commotion taking place below.

Her sister, along with Carl, was running down the walk way, banging pots and pans and yelling.

The air was full of the sounds of their shouting and screaming, the tinny noise of the pots and pans as they banged together, the snarls and groans of the walkers.

It wasn't long before the sound drew out Rick, who came running out with his gun, looking startled. He spotted Beth and stopped, walking over to where she stood. He stood beside her, looking down at the scene.

Michonne, the morning sun glaring down at her and glittering off of her sword, had stepped out into the grounds overrun by the walkers and was taking them out one by one as Maggie and Carl drew them over. It was a tactic to keep them away from the jeep which was being used to distribute spikes along the road.

The two of them watched in silence; Glen and Daryl pulled down the spikes, chucking them on the ground, then jumped up into the back of the jeep.

It was interesting to watch them work, the determination on their faces, and Beth could sense the impressed gratitude that came from Rick as he stood beside her, understanding the scene below. Beth was equally impressed by them, by the gusto of her sister, but also of the physicality of Daryl. Watching him work caused butterflies to flutter in her chest, the way his arms moved, the muscles working beneath the tanned skin, the sun shining off of the sweat the exercise had generated. He was never more attractive to her.

Rick left her as the jeep approached them, going to open the gates for them. Glen jumped down from the vehicle.

'They try to drive up to the gate again, maybe some blown tires will stop them.' Glen said, walking over to them, panting slightly from the physical exertion.

'That's a good idea.' Rick said.

'It was Michonne's.' Daryl said, approaching them. He looked pointedly at Rick.

'We don't have to win.' Michonne said, arriving from behind them, 'We just have to make their getting at us more trouble than it's worth.'

Rick looked at Michonne, and Beth thought she saw some sort of anguish on his face, although she couldn't place it. He nodded.

Maggie headed over, smiling at Beth, then left with Glen.

'Hey,' Michonne said to Beth as the rest of the group began to disperse, 'I wanted to thank you for looking after me when I first arrived.'

'Oh,' said Beth, 'don't worry about it. You needed help, I helped.' she shrugged.

'Well I appreciate it,' Michonne said, 'not everyone is as forthcoming with kindness.'

'I'm beginning to understand that,' Beth said.

Michonne nodded, then walked away.

Beth turned back to the fence, lacing her fingers back through the fence.

'Y'okay?' Daryl's voice drifted over to her.

'Yeah,' Beth said without looking round, 'was the world always so messed up?' she sighed.

She heard Daryl come over to her, standing beside her.

'Yeah,' he said, then he nudged her in the shoulder, making her look up at him. 'wha' happened to ya positivity?'

'There are reanimated dead trying to get into us, to eat us alive,' Beth shuddered, pointing down to the shambling walkers who had moved back out into the full of the grounds, wandering around and tripping over their fallen comrades. 'yet here we are,' she said, turning to look into Daryl's eyes, 'laying down spikes again human beings.'

Daryl's eyes searched hers.

'People are runnin' scared.' he said, 'fear does crazy things to folk. Jus' don't let it happen to you.'

Beth sighed, nodding.

'We need ya positivity,' he said, 'I need it.'

Beth looked at him, then offered him a smile.

'Tha's better.' he nodded, 'c'mon.'

. . .

Beth followed Daryl into the common room where Carol was just putting Judith down in her crib.

'All sorted?' she said, looking up.

'Yeah,' Daryl said, 'Jus' gotta see if it helps.'

Carol nodded.

'How's Judith?' Beth asked, approaching the crib quietly. She leant over it, placing her hands on the soft walls.

'She's good,' Carol smiled, 'I think she missed you.'

Beth chuckled, reaching in to hold Judith's little hand. She wrapped her tiny fist around Beth's little finger, her big eyes looking up at her.

'I always wanted a baby,' Beth shrugged, smiling down at the little girl.

'Still time yet,' Daryl said from behind her.

Beth turned to look at him as Carol raised an eyebrow that Beth did not see. He shrugged.

'You're still young,' he said.

'I might not live that long,' Beth said, smiling, but solemn.

'You will.' he said.

'Beth,' Carol said, drawing the attention back to her, 'if you're okay with Judith, I need to go speak with Rick.'

'Sure,' Beth nodded.

She gently reached into the crib to pick Judith up, cradling her in her arms and holding her to her chest. Daryl wandered away to sit, placing his crossbow on the table. Beth walked over to him, Judith in her arms. She stood in front of him, neither of them speaking, Judith laying softly.

Daryl reached up to stroke the baby's head, her soft dark hair.

For a while, Beth almost forgot that the world was turning to hell around them. It was warm and quiet within the common room, the baby in her arms was soft and warm, her big, trusting eyes trained on Beth's face, making Beth feel needed.

And Daryl was here. Daryl made her feel safe, secure.

She looked down at him, smiling. He looked back up at her, his face serious but soft. She loved that his barriers were falling a little more with every moment they spent together. His eyes were not so guarded and he smiled more now.

'Are we going to be okay?' she asked him.

He leant one elbow on the table top, gently stroking his beard.

'Yeah,' he said.

'Always the optimist, little brother!'

Beth spun around to see Merle descending the stairs, a huge grin on his face.

'Wha're y'doing?' Daryl grunted at him.

'I been hanging about, watching ya,' Merle grinned, 'saw what ya did out there,' he jabbed his thumb back over his shoulder towards the windows that looked out onto the grounds.

'Y'think that's gonna stop a man like t' governor?' he chuckled.

Beth looked down at Daryl.

'What's your place here then, Blondie?' he directed at Beth, stopping near her, crossing his arms.

'I – uh – I look after the baby mostly,' she said, biting her lip.

'Must be more y'do,' Merle said, looking her up and down, 'I reckon you do more than jus' that for m'brother, anyway.'

'Wha' the hell is wrong with you?' Daryl snapped as Beth blushed.

'He's a friend,' Beth said.

'Now I know that's a lie,' Merle laughed, 'm'brother aint got no friends.'

'I'm his friend,' Beth said defiantly, jutting her chin out.

'I don't think so,' Merle shook his head, 'cute little blonde thing like you aint gonna be friends with no trash like him,' he nodded towards his brother, 'he treat you right?'

'Get out o' here Merle!' Daryl shouted, standing up.

'Hey, hey,' Merle said, raising his hands, 'I'm jus' checking is all, I'm a good guy. Can't have my baby brother taking advantage of one so... fragile.'

'We're friends.' Beth snapped, 'nothing more.'

'Now I can see straight through him,' he laughed, 'but whatever y'say Blondie,'

He stood there for a minute, grinning, looking from both Beth and Daryl.

'If you wan' a real man you come find me,' he said.

'Okay, tha's it,' Daryl said, grabbing up his crossbow and storming round the table to Merle.

'You gon' point that at me again, baby?' Merle spat, as Daryl grabbed his brother's shirt.

'I'll beat ya ass,' Daryl shouted.

Quickly, her heart racing, Beth put Judith down in her crib, then tried to get between the two brothers.

'Stop it!' she cried, 'we have more important things to worry about!'

She put her hands to Daryl's chest, pushing him back.

'Listen to ya girl,' Merle said.

'Don't,' Beth warned Daryl through gritted teeth. Finally, his eyes dropped from Merle to look at her. He breathed out.

'Go find something productive to do,' Beth said to Merle over her shoulder.

Merle chucked, shaking his head.

'Alright boss,' he said, walking out.

Beth and Daryl stood where they were, Daryl's chest rising and falling heavily against Beth's palms.

'Everythin' he said-' Daryl began.

'Don't,' Beth shook her head, 'It doesn't matter.'

Daryl looked at her, then nodded.

'Don't let him wind you up,' she whispered, 'it isn't worth it.'

But it was worth it to Daryl, as he looked down at the young girl before him, the brave young girl who had stepped into between two grown men about to go at each others throats. Merle knew just how to get under his skin, always had. It wasn't the first time he had brought up his relationship with Beth, and that worried him. No doubt he knew it would wind him up, but he couldn't help but worry whether there was any truth to what he said. If Merle thought there were something between them, what if others did?

Of course they don't his brain scolded him because there isn't.

Daryl didn't understand his emotions when it came to Beth, but he was aware that there were emotions there. Beth was a kind, loving girl who was more than willing to give anyone the benefit of doubt – she had jumped between two burly, angry rednecks, if that didn't show you her faith what did? But that didn't mean she felt anything stronger than friendship towards him and he would have been an idiot to think she did.

At the end of the day, he realised, he liked spending time with her, liked being around her, and he didn't want Merle to make her feel awkward about it, to scare her off. He did a good enough job of that himself.