'What's that?'

'What?'

Beth looked up from the plate of her late lunch to look into her sister's brown eyes that were staring hardily at her. She had woken up later than usual this morning, her mind and body needing time to recoup after the last few days, and she was groggy. Beth was surprised to find an angry suspicion in Maggie's dark eyes.

'That!' Maggie said, leaning across Beth to grab her left wrist, knocking her plate from in front of her. It clanged as it skidded across the metal table top.

'It's nothing!' Beth gasped, but Maggie had grabbed her arm and pulled her sleeve back, clearly revealing the now healing tattoo that was infuriatingly beginning to itch. Maggie looked up from it, her eyes inches from Beth's, blazing.

'You're hurting me,' Beth said, snatching her arm away from Maggie.

'That's a tattoo.' Maggie said.

'It's just a drawing,' Beth shrugged, picking up her fork that had crashed to the floor.

'Don't treat me like I'm stupid Beth,' Maggie snapped, dramatically rolling her eyes.

'I just drew it on with pen.' Beth said, pulling her sleeve down.

'Did you do that to yourself?' Maggie was incredulous, 'how did you learn to – was it a form of self harm, again?'

'No!' Beth shouted, before looking down and blushing, afraid of having caused a scene.

'How did you get that, Beth?' Maggie asked, leaning in close.

Beth gulped, feeling like a small, cornered animal with no escape.

'He gave it to you, didn't he?' Maggie sat back, leaning away to glare at Beth with as much distance as she could to make sure every inch of Beth felt the full impact of her anger.

Beth didn't say anything.

'That bastard,' Maggie spat.

Suddenly she had gotten up from the table, the metallic scraping of her chair against the floor jarring.

'Where are you going?' Beth hissed, attempting to reach out and grab at her sister.

'To put an end to this once an' for all!' Maggie snapped down at her, tearing her arm away from Beth's attempted grip.

Beth jumped up from the table and chased after her sister who had sped off out of the canteen with uncanny speed, anger setting the determined pace of her walk.

'Maggie!' she called, panic flaring up in her chest. Her face felt clammy, her mouth garnering too much saliva for her to keep in check.

Maggie did not let up. She tore through the prison until she was outside, throwing open the heavy double doors with ease, knocking them back as if they were made from paper.

Beth saw as Maggie zeroed in on her target, her already hellish pace quickening until Beth had to jog to keep up with her.

'Hey! You!' Maggie nearly screamed.

Daryl, who had been working on keeping the walkers at the perimeters at bay again with Carol turned to look, his face furrowed in confusion as his blue eyes, covered partially by his hair, flitted from the over spilling anger of Maggie Greene's flushed face to the fearful, apprehensive eyes of Beth Greene, who was currently trying her hardest to portray how sorry she was through them.

Maggie stormed over to him, her boots crunching down on the frost hardened ground, until she was face to face with him. Daryl had the physical advantage of height over her, but he seemed to shrink in the face of Maggies' rage as it rolled out from her in unprecedented waves; he took a step back, his face darkening under a confused frown.

'Explain this!' She spat, grabbing Beth's arm from behind her and pulling her forward into view. Beth stumbled under the pressure, falling beside her sister with nothing more than a pathetic whimper. Maggie yanked up Beth's sleeve with more force than was necessary, exposing the tiny tattoo to the air. She saw Carol peer over.

'Why y'askin' me for?' Daryl said.

'Don't play dumb with me, Daryl,' Maggie spat, his name sounding venomous as it rolled off her tongue. She forcefully let Beth's arm drop from her iron grip. Beth instantly clutched her sore wrist to her chest, her bright eyes wide as she looked from her sister to Daryl.

'She didn't do this to herself she don't know the first thing 'bout tattoo's and you damn well know it! Who's the only one round here with plenty a' tattoo's fo' himself and with the goddamn redneck enough background t' know just how to do them with no training!'

'Maggie!' Beth hissed.

'Moonshine and prison tats in the moonlight, that your idea of a date, Daryl Dixon?' Maggie had firmly planted her hands on her hips, meaning she was going no where. She glared at Daryl, her chin pointed upwards and firmly set, her light brown hair flying about her face and her chest heaving with angry breaths.

'Huh? Cat got y'tongue?' she snapped, 'What you ain't satisfied with ruining my sister in one way you gotta do it in some other way too? Taking her innocence weren't enough for ya? You needed a more physical, literal way of ruining her body?' Maggie ground her teeth as she took a step closer to him until she was as close to him as she could get without touching him. 'You some sort of sick, messed up creep who's got t' leave his mark on his girls, is that it? This your way or marking your territory?'

'Maggie that's ENOUGH!' Beth yelled, grabbing her sister and pulling her around to face her. Maggie pushed hard at her sister's chest, knocking her away from her.

'I've had just about enough of you – I tried t' swallow my feelings and let you be but this – this is too far!'

'She's her own person I ain't make 'er do nothin'.' Daryl said in a low growl that had the hairs on the back of Beth's neck stand on edge. It was like the warning growl of a cornered predator, offering their assailant one last chance to leave before all hell broke loose.

'Maggie,' Beth pleaded, sensing the way Daryl's body had tensed, seeing his hands curl into fists, spotting the subtle changes of his breathing. She was suddenly frightened for her sister.

'I want you to stay away from her.' Maggie said, and Beth was surprised to hear a similar tone in her own sister's voice.

'It ain't up to you and it ain't about what you want,' Daryl said, his eyes narrowed, 'You might be able to keep me away from her but you ain't gon' keep her away from me.'

He looked over Maggie's shoulder then to Beth, who suddenly felt rooted to the spot. Her whole body felt paralysed, held beneath the intensity of Daryl's penetratingly deep blue gaze. His eyes were like two icy cold lakes that Beth stood at the edge of, teetering on the precipice, her sister behind her holding out a hand to safety, but she could not step away from the waters.

'She makes up her own mind and she does her own thing. Ain't neither me nor you gon' change that.' Daryl's eyes left Beth then and returned to Maggie's, and Beth thought Maggie could sense the change in them too, could see the deep danger that lurked beneath the calm, bright and enticing blue of the surface.

'I ain't gon' apologise.' He spoke so calmly and so simply that Beth realised then it had all been an illusion, a last ditch attempt at a dream – there was no being saved; she had already drowned long ago.

Grinding out her frustration in a shout of anger, Maggie turned away and stormed past Beth.

'I give up with you! Do what you want, but don't expect me to pick up any of the god-damn pieces when it all falls apart!' she said in deep exasperation as she passed Beth. 'And it WILL fall apart!' she yelled over her shoulder as she stormed away.

Beth stood where she had always been, staring at Daryl. She felt as if all of her blood had drained from her body and bled down into the earth her feet were now rooted to - she was rooted and could never move from that single spot.

'Y'told her,' Daryl said to her, his voice low and calm, but Beth could detect the menace behind the words.

'I – she guessed.' Beth spluttered.

Daryl's eyes were dark as he looked at her, and the intensity of the glare frightened Beth. It was almost as if she could feel the anger radiating from him, the feeling of betrayal at Beth having told Maggie.

Daryl turned away first, turning around and plunging his knife directly into one of the walker's head's.

Beth looked at his back for a moment before slowly turning her head to look at Carol, who was watching her with an uneasy look of uncertainty. Beth nodded to her before slowly walking away. Everything that had just transpired could be dealt with later, Daryl could be dealt with later, right now she needed to sleep and to think.

She needed to try and get her head above water.

. . .

Beth wound her way through the corridors, a basket of clean and dried washing in her arms. Carol had asked her to help her organise the washing with her; Beth suspected it was a rouse to ask her about the confrontation she had took witness to, but Beth didn't mind, she had nothing better to do and keeping busy kept her mind occupied. Carol did ask what it was all about and Beth, not seeing any point in lying, told Carol the truth, the moonshine's effects on her good reason and Daryl's home-made tattoo on her wrist.

'I have no right to reprimand you but I can have a word with him,' the older woman had said, shaking her head, 'that's a damn stupid thing to have done and he should know better than that – you opened yourself up to all sorts of potential infection.'

Beth knew she was right, but she was too stubborn to admit it, and she didn't need two people telling her off in one day. Carol was very close to Daryl and Beth did not expect her to say nothing to him – perhaps she already had in fact – but Beth decided that was their business. Carol kindly kept out of her relationship with Daryl, often turning a blind eye or pretending not to see if she walked in one them acting a little closer than they should be in public, so Beth deigned to keep out of theirs.

She was pondering this as she made her way through the corridors to the cell block when Carl caught her attention.

'If you wanna help out around here you could start by teachin' ya boyfriend some manners!' Carl shouted.

Beth stopped infront of him, shifting the weight of the basket onto one of her hips.

'What?' she frowned.

'He's in there smashing things up and yellin'.' Carl said, jerking his thumb in the direction of the canteen, 'told me to fuck off and mind my own, called me a petulant child who's – what was it – desperate need for attention is pathetic and my mother is probably glad to be dead to not have to deal with me.'

Beth gasped, her hand flying to her mouth.

'Are you serious?' She asked.

'Nah I made it all up – why would I lie?' Carl snapped, 'he's a fuckin' jerk and I hate him, we'd all be better off without him here, everyone acts like he's some sort of hero 'cause he brings a deer or two back once in a while, he's useless and he's trash,' Carl spat the word out angrily, his face flushed, 'my dad's jammed too far up his ass to see it fo' 'imself!'

'Carl Daryl is just in a mood,' Beth said quickly, 'he shouldn't have said that I can't condone that but he's upset – he probably didn't mean to take it out on you.'

'Oh go fuck yourself Beth,' Carl spat, 'I'm so sick and tired of every stupid person around here, you're all so blind and pathetic!'

He turned away from her and stormed off, muttering angrily under his breath, curling and uncurling his fists as he walked. Beth looked after him with a deep, gnawing worry. She almost felt sorry for Carl lately; he had been through so much, he was bound to act out. He seemed unstable, but would he have lied about something as serious as that?

Timidly, Beth turned to look at the canteen doors, calm and quiet as they shut out whatever it was that was behind them. She took a deep breath and swallowed to steady herself, then pushed them open.

Daryl spun around to face her as soon as she entered and Beth knew instantly it was a bad move on her behalf. His face was dark and there was an entire storm raging behind the usually blue eyes, which were now a deep black. Beth bulked.

'What d'you want?' he snapped, 'come t'get me int' trouble again?'

'Daryl I'm sorry I never meant to -' Beth began.

'Just shut up will ya,' he snapped, 'f'once in yer goddamned life just shut up.'

Beth blinked.

'I was fine – jus' fine by m'self,' he spat, 'I ain't never had nobody and I ain't never needed nobody neither. I always got by and it weren't no big deal was it? No. But then you came along and y'fucked it all over and y'fucked with my mind.' He slammed the palm of his hand against his forehead so hard Beth winced.

'Daryl what has happened?' She said, gently putting the basket down on one of the tables, 'why are you acting like this?'

'This is who I am girl!' He shouted. 'Ya think yer somthin' special cause y'got close t' me well guess what it was a fuckin' mistake this whole goddamn thing was a mistake it's all a fuckin' mess an' now I got ya sister screamin' at me an' pretty soon yer dad'll come down on me and this – all o' this will be ripped out from under me and I'll be out there in this godforsaken piece of shit world that I ain't used to no more and I ain't got no brother to find an' this fuckin' family will turn their backs on me all cause I couldn't control myself.' He stopped, breathing heavy, his chest heaving painfully.

Beth stared at him and realised with an intense sensation of pain that he was scared; she could see it in his eyes, the way they darted around the room, the way his chest heaved and his breath hitched. He was afraid. However cool he had been with Maggie, she had frightened him. He didn't want to be outcast.

'No one is going to make you go any where.' Beth said.

'Oh they will baby,' he spat, 'y'can be ya sweet ass they will. They ain't gon' want me in their precious little camp now, are they? Y'think yer dad'll think it's fine t'have me here... some sick pervert in their camp? Nah.'

'You haven't done anything wrong, Daryl,' Beth said, 'you're not a pervert – I'm eightteen.'

'It don't matter,' he shook his head, turning from her, 'it ain't gon' matter.'

'Forget Maggie,' Beth said, her voice taking on a tone of pleading, 'forget her. Rick knows, he's fine with it.'

'Rick ain't yer dad,' Daryl said, his back to her.

'No, but my dad trusts him – and my dad trusts you! Maggie always make more of a fuss than him, anyway.'

Daryl still wouldn't look at her.

'Daryl you were okay earlier – what happened?' Beth pushed.

She saw his shoulders sink.

'Maggie went t'Rick,' Daryl said slowly, 'she told him she ain't happy and she told him bout yer wrist, he came to me and he told me that weren't smart.'

'What's it got to do with Rick?' Beth asked.

'He's worried yer dad'll kick off,' Daryl said, 'an' he's got every right t'think it – I've been fuckin' stupid.' He punched the wall with a sickening crunch. Beth groaned.

'He wont,' Beth said, 'I know him, he wont. I'll speak to him. Daryl, I'll speak to him. You don't have to go anywhere, you wont.'

Daryl turned to face her.

'Did Rick say anything about you having to leave?' She asked.

Daryl shook his head.

'Then there's no problem. Rick wont let you go and no one will make you. If they do, Daryl, I'm coming with you.'

'No-'

'Not a question,' Beth folded her arms over her chest 'Daryl I'm not leaving you. I'm sorry you feel like this and I understand you're scared and I'm so sorry for putting you in this position but I'm not leaving you.' She glared at him, setting her jaw in defiance, daring him to tell her otherwise. He just looked at her.

'I'm in love with you.' Beth said.

Daryl bulked then. He blinked, his mouth opening to say something, but nothing came out. His shoulders seemed to sag as a mixture of emotions seemed to swim over his features. Beth took a step towards him and he stepped backwards. She saw the pain in his eyes then and noticed the awkward way he was holding himself, leaning down further on one side that the other. Slowly, her eyes dragged down to his side.

'Are you hurting?' she asked.

'Nah,' Daryl said, but he said it through gritted teeth.

Beth went to him then, ignoring the protestations he seemed to make with his body. She took the fabric of his shirt between her small fingers and gently pulled it up to see the bandage beneath the fabric. New blood was starting to soak through the bandage. Beth glanced up at him before peeling the bandage away from his hot to the touch skin, ignoring his low hiss of pain. His physical exertion had pulled his stitches loose and the skin was starting to tear away from itself again, forcing the wound to bleed.

'You need fixing up and this needs changing.' Beth said, letting the shirt fall back down.

'I'm fine,' Daryl said.

'You are not fine.' Beth said. 'Come on. To the infirmary. Now.'

Daryl looked at her, swallowing. Then he sighed and nodded.

. . .

As Beth took Daryl into the infirmary and set to work patching him up, talking lightly to him and reassuring him he was okay and that she really would stop him from going anywhere, a furious and hurt Carl stole into Daryl's empty cell room. He looked around the room, anger telling him to do something that would make Daryl as upset as he had made him. His eyes drew to his bedside cabinet; a pack of Daryl's smokes. He could take them and that would upset Daryl, he was addicted to them. He stole through every single house and car and backpack they came across in search of them. That would bother him. Carl picked it up and came back disappointed as he saw it was empty. As he turned around, he spotted a single bolt from the crossbow lying on top of the bedsheets. Obviously, Daryl had his crossbow with him, but this one bolt lying on his bed had been left there because the tip had broken and Daryl intended to fix it. Carl took it in his hands, inspecting it for a moment. An idea formed in his head then and a smile drew across his lips as he took both the bolt and the empty pack with him as he left the room.

. . .

Beth fixed Daryl back up, replacing the bandage with a fresh one. She stood looking at him, a smile playing on her lips.

'You got to take better care of yourself,' she said softly, 'I can't keep patching you up.'

Daryl nodded.

'Thanks,' he muttered.

'You're welcome,' Beth said, tilting her head to one side, smiling at him. He was calmer now.

'M sorry 'bout earlier,' he grunted, avoiding her eyes.

'It's fine,' she said, shaking her head, 'but you need to apologise to Carl.'

Daryl sighed heavily and nodded.

'Yeah,' he ran a hand down his face.

Beth watched him for a little longer, watching as the anger was replaced by regret.

'I meant what I said earlier,' she said softly, 'I will talk to my dad, tell him all about us.'

Daryl looked up at her, is eyes widening. Beth shook her head.

'Why not?' She asked. 'So there's an age gap, big deal. You're a good guy and he likes you. And it should come from me. From us.'

Daryl swallowed.

'Okay.' He said.

Beth took his hands in hers, holding them against her chest and resting her chin on them.

'I meant what else I said, too.' She said.

'What's that?' Daryl asked.

'That I love you,' she said, looking up through her lashes to his eyes.

Daryl huffed out a small laugh.

'Mm,' he nodded.

Beth leant in to kiss him then, a gentle caress of a kiss pecked onto his lips.

'I love y'too,' he said, his voice so low Beth almost didn't hear him.

She leant back, looking at his face.

'Really?' she asked.

'Yeah,' he shrugged, 'been try'na hide it and repress it but wha's t'point?'

Beth's heart soared and she bit down on her lower lip as it broke out into a grin. Daryl took his hands from hers and placed both of his at her neck, his thumbs gently stroking circles across her jaw line. Beth's heart rate picked up again as the closeness of him struck her and the emptiness she had felt after their last encounter came flooding back along with the burning embers within her.

'Can I spend tonight with you?' she asked quietly.

Daryl frowned as he looked at her and Beth could see a denial forming on his lips, but his eyes showed conflict. It wasn't fair what Beth did next, but she knew if she leant in and pressed her full lips to his he would melt.

'Okay,' he said slowly as she pulled away. She bit back a grin. Daryl climbed down from the bench and took her hand, walking her back towards the cell block. Beth could hardly breath as she walked beside him, the warmth of his large hand radiating through her own as he held it so firmly. She was unfoundedly nervous; this was calculated and her mind threw various scenarios at her as she walked, simultaneously terrifying and hot.

Daryl took her into his own cell block and closed the door. They stood in the room and looked at one another, both visibly unsure. Beth swallowed – it had been her idea – and stepped forward, closing the space between them. She wrapped her arms around his neck, tangling her fingers in his unruly hair, and pulled him down to kiss her. He obliged with an unusual amount of greed, capturing her lips and instantly deepening the kiss. He wrapped his own arms around her waist and pulled her towards him by the small of her back, drawing her in. Beth pushed her small frame against him, moaning lightly at the contact; she had missed and craved him so much she could hardly help herself.

Daryl broke away first, his hands moving to her chest to undo the buttons of her shirt, his eyes on hers. Beth stroked his cheek as he did this, watching him as he revealed her cupped breasts as the fabric fell away from them, revealing her bra. Daryl's hands continued on the track down until all the buttons were undone, his knuckles forcing small gasps from her as they brushed against the soft skin of her stomach. He pushed the shirt away from her shoulders and let it fall to the floor with a soft thump before bringing her back in for another kiss. The kiss sent shivers through Beth's entire body, leaving her gasping, when Daryl pulled his own shirt off over his head then pulled her over to the bed. He pushed her down onto it and moved himself over her, leaning down to kiss her as Beth felt the growing prominence in his pants press lightly against her lower stomach as her legs picked up to wrap around his hips, drawing him down again to her.

Daryl moved himself down her, kissing along the crevice of her body, down through her bra across her small cleavage, down to her navel, ending at her waistband, which he then unbuttoned. Beth watched him, breathing heavy, biting her lower lip. She watched as he pulled her jeans down over her legs, stopping to pull off her boots so she could kick them off and then kick off her jeans. Daryl parted her legs and began to kiss up her inner thighs with excruciating slowness, his stubble rubbing her sensitive skin until she was whimpering, the pooling wetness in her underwear gathering traction as the heat seared from there. Daryl flicked out his tongue and gently licked at the pale expanse of skin inches away from her underwear; Beth's back bucked unwittingly and she gasped out, unable to help herself. Gently, Daryl sunk his teeth into her thigh as she groaned, twisting her head into the pillow beside her to stop herself from crying out loud, the burning in her groin almost painful.

'Y'okay?' Daryl asked softly.

'Mhmm,' Beth drawled, closing her eyes. There was a pressure in her stomach and the apex between her legs was throbbing painfully. With deliberate slowness Daryl peeled the simple underwear down from her to expose her to the cold air of the bedroom, pulling them down her thighs and then off completely, letting them drop to the cell floor. Beth squeezed her thighs together to cover herself but Daryl pulled them apart again and firmly held them apart.

'Ya want this?' he asked, his voice gruff and Beth felt like she was sinking into the bed below her; there was an unusual fierceness about him this evening, a dominance Beth had not seen before. She guessed the heat of the day had riled him up, and she was more than happy to allow him to let off steam.

'I-' she didn't know what to say, but she didn't need to, because Daryl had lowered his hot mouth to the section between her thighs, suddenly capturing her and engulfing her in a heat she could never have expected.

'Oh god,' she cried, jamming her knuckles into her mouth and whimpering around them. She felt Daryl chuckle against her, which only served to make her buck again. His mouth gently embraced her for a moment longer before he withdrew, much to Beth's whimpering protestations, but he replaced it with his tongue, which he drew all the way up her most sensitive area as she squirmed; keeping his tongue flat and wide he continued this tactic until she was wriggling beneath him, her fists kneaded into her eyes as she gasped. She had never experienced anything like this before and her body had no idea how to react to it. Her tired brain struggled to keep up with such a sensation and she feared it would send it into a fever with the intensity of the intimacy she was experiencing. Never in a million years would her mind have ever conjured up such a scenario between herself and Daryl Dixon -

Then he took her most intimate spot between his teeth and gently sucked on it. Lights exploded behind Beth's eyes and her head jolted up from the pillow, her hands pushing at Daryl's head; but he did not move. He slowed down, but he did not let up, and instead Beth's hands found their way to the back of his head. She tangled them into his hair and found herself pulling him closer, tightening her thighs around his head.

'Oh my god...' she gasped, her chest heaving, 'I can't – I don't -'

She began to groan as Daryl continued his assault, speeding up and taking more of her in to his mouth. Beth took one hand from his hand and bit down, hard, on the back of it, fully away that if she didn't, she would scream.

Daryl's beard rubbed against her as he adjusted himself and Beth felt the familiar sensation building up within her, her area beneath Daryl's mouth starting to throb painfully as she felt about ready to implode.

'Daryl,' she gasped, but he just hummed knowingly, which only served to send her over the edge.

'Jesus christ!' she cried, bucking her hips up from the bed. Daryl grabbed her hips and pushed her down into the mattress as he drunk her in, riding through her orgasm with her as she panted, twisting her sweating body in an attempt to regain control of herself, her legs shaking uncontrollably.

Eventually it resided and she could breath again. Slowly, Daryl crawled up over her, grinning sheepishly down at her as his tongue gently swept over his bottom lip.

'I didn't know you could – 'she groaned, her eyelids fluttering shut as her breath shuddered.

'There's a lot y'don't know 'bout me,' he said in a low, rough voice that had Beth shivering again. Daryl leant down to kiss her, allowing her to taste herself on his lips. He ground himself into her sensitive area, revealing the hardness of himself to Beth, who groaned lightly into him.

Daryl broke away from her to undo his own jeans, but Beth heard him groan in a way she understood to be pain. She looked up at him as he lay half on top of her, propped up by one elbow.

'Are you okay?' she asked.

'Yeah,' he grunted, 'jus' m' side.'

'Here,' Beth said, gently placing her small hands on his firm chest, feeling the heat that radiated from it. She pushed him back until he lay on his back, then set herself over him. He looked up at her with surprise, his eyebrows raised. Then he grinned in the most delightfully shy way as she pulled his jeans down, one hand pressed to his side to ensure it didn't come under any more damage.

Beth followed his lead and kissed up his thigh as it lay against the bed, her legs straddled either side of him. She kissed along until she came to the protruding fabric of his boxer shorts, slightly damp from anticipated excitement. Slowly, Beth pulled them down, allowing him to spring free. She looked up at him through timid blue eyes, watching him watch her. His face was carefully set, but Beth could see the lust in it, in the way he chewed on his bottom lip, the way his chest rose and fell. Shyly, she wrapped her small hand around his generous length and began to stroke, watching as his eyes fluttered closed. They soon opened, however, as she pulled him into her small mouth.

'Fuck,' he groaned, his eyes snapping open to look at her, 'Beth I-'

Beth looked at him but did not respond, instead bobbing her head down to take at least half of him into her mouth, her hand around the half she could not.

Daryl closed his eyes and let his head fall back onto the pillow, groaning in appreciation of the warmth her mouth generated as she pressed the flat of her tongue against the under length of him, drawing out a long moan from his own lips. He never thought he would find himself in such a position of vulnerability as this, especially with Beth, but he did not have the strength to tell her to stop. Nor did he really want to.

Beth moved up and down a few times, her saliva coating him, until her jaw began to ache; she had never done this before and had no idea whether she was doing it correctly, but she assumed from the noises Daryl was making that she was doing okay. Her cheeks were flushed and her hand shook slightly against him, but he didn't seem to mind. The more she did it and the more he moaned, the more her confidence grew.

Once the ache in her inexperienced jaw grew too much, Beth let him from her mouth and sat back, her own crotch wet against his thighs as she stroked her hand up and down his length.

'Do you have protection?' she asked softly, her voice hoarse.

'Condoms?' Daryl grunted, 'Yuh – uh – top drawer.'

Beth nodded, not questioning, and leant over to grab them. She rooted through a few packets of cigarettes and lighters, some candles and socks until she found them. She handed it to Daryl.

He smiled as he took it from her, accepting without speaking that she had no idea what to do; Beth was grateful he didn't mention the fact. Instead he pulled it down over himself and then placed his hands on her thighs, gently stroking them.

The risk in this situation was higher than ever before; the prison was quiet but there was the very real possibility of them being caught in the act. But Beth did not care as she moved herself over him, positioning herself so that she was directly above him. Daryl held his breath as she slowly lowered herself down onto him, stopping on occasion to make sure she was comfortable. He ground his teeth together, squinting in an attempt to keep his cool. Slowly, Beth lowered herself down until he was entirely engulfed within her warmth, a feat she was quite proud of. She paused once she reached the bottom, breathing heavily, her eyes on his. They stayed like that for a while, their eyes locked, then Beth reached around to unclasp her bra, letting it fall away. Her movement caused Daryl to jerk which in turn elicited a groan from her. She very slowly began to circle her hips, seeming to follow her instincts and chase the feelings as they came. She closed her eyes and lightly leant her head back as she did so, stirring the deep seated primal lust in Daryl. It took all of his energy not to thrust up into her, hard, but was was evidently enjoying herself too much for him to do that. As inexperienced as she was, she was obviously learning her own body and her own pleasure through him, and Daryl was more than happy to lay back and let her do that, let her use him. He was rock solid inside her and his jaw was starting to ache from how hard he was grinding his teeth, but he was more than happy.

'Gosh you feel good,' Beth breathed, her eyes shut, and Daryl wondered whether she was even aware she had said it.

Slowly, she began to move herself up and down, gently stroking him with her body, and Daryl leant back and closed his eyes, prepared to ride out the feelings with her. Daryl moved his hands to her hips and dug his fingers in, deeper and harder than he should have, but it was essential to ground himself as Beth rocked on top of him, gathering speed as she began to moan, biting her lower lip in the way that drove Daryl mad. Was he seriously going to leave this in search of the governor soon? He must be mad.

Beth rocked harder, pulling up and down as Daryl joined her, thrusting his hips up into her, every hit making her gasp. She leant forward, pressing her hands down on his chest, eliciting a grin from him as he watched her. The prison was silent around them but the cell room was full of the sound of their damp skin colliding, the squeak of the mattress beneath them and their own breathy groans, but Daryl couldn't stop himself. It was likely her father was going to kill him, anyway. Why not go out on a high?

Daryl tightened his grip on her hips, slowly pulling her up and down as she circled, groaning. His entire body was on fire, every single nerve ending sparking, barely able to control theirselves.

'Jesus Daryl,' she whispered through a whimper as she lowered herself right down. She leant forward again then, grinning down at him.

'I thought y'were a god fearing girl,' Daryl groaned.

Beth glanced down to where their bodies met.

'I think it's a bit late for that,' she said, gently rocking her hips until he was moaning again.

'Is your side okay?' she asked, breathless.

'Fine,' he nodded, 'fuckin' fine.'

'Good,' Beth nodded, leaning forward again as she tried to reposition herself. 'There,' she murmured, almost to herself.

'There?' Daryl asked, thrusting himself up into her. He could feel her contracting around him as he pushed against her, could feel the heat pulsating through him.

'Uh huh,' she groaned, screwing her eyes shut.

'Sure?' Daryl grinned, reaching one hand up to caress her breast.

'Yes,' she breathed, her breath hitching.

Daryl grinned as he saw her face change, a deep frown cutting into her soft features as she bit down hard on her bottom lip, her eyes scrunched up so tight they were barely there.

'Goshhhh,' she breathed out in a breathy drawl, her body shuddering in a way that had Daryl holding his own breath.

'Alright?' Daryl asked.

'More than -' she shook her head, showing him she was unable to speak. So instead Daryl increased his speed, rocking into her and revelling in the noises they produced as she began to groan, softly moaning his name with every thrust. Sweat tickled down between her breasts and beads appeared on Daryl's own skin as he kept himself at bay.

Her features began to change again then, her mouth dragging open and her breathing came in deep, ragged gasps and the moans became more and more desperate.

She's going to wake the whole damn prison Daryl thought, but it didn't matter. She had began to roll her hips on him as he thrust into her, and he could feel her contractions deep within her.

'Daryl,' she gasped then, and he dug his nails deep into her soft flesh as she pushed herself down onto him, a deep, inner orgasm suddenly tearing through her with velocity as she cried out loud, louder than she should have. She pushed herself down onto him and Daryl held her in place as he began to pump into her too, speeding up himself as she unintentionally squeezed him, panting as his own climax built. Beth's lasted long as she rode through it, her small body shuddering under the pressure as she came down hard all around him, leading him into his own, which he groaned loudly into, digging his nails so deep into her skin he was sure he would draw blood. The room was a cacophony of stuttered groans and gasps and broken cries as they crashed around one another, their bodies hot and aching and throbbing through the pleasure that was so desperately needed by both of them.

Slowly and with deep, shuddering breaths, they came down, and Beth fell shakily off of him, her thighs burning and her legs shaking.

'Damn,' she whispered, listening as he chuckled lightly into the darkness that had drawn around them.

'Yeah,' he agreed, 'yeah.'

'I love you, Daryl,' Beth said softly, snuggling herself up close to him and stroking a shaking hand across his damp chest.

'I love y'too girl,' he murmured, gently placing a light kiss on top of her head.

'I'm happy when I'm with you – happier than I ever have been before,' Beth said quietly, her eyes closing against her will as fatigue wore over her, 'and I don't want to give that up.'

'Then don't,' Beth felt Daryl shrug beneath her.

'We shouldn't hide what makes us happy – that will make us sad.'

'Get some sleep, princess.' Daryl chuckled softly.

'Mm' Beth murmured into his neck, breathing out a contented smile.

Daryl lay looking up at the ceiling for a little while after she had fallen asleep, thinking over things. How had they gotten here? It was one of the biggest mistakes he had made in his life – but it didn't feel like a mistake. Nothing about it felt wrong as Beth lay beside him, her body warm and soft and a little damp, but fitting perfectly against his skin. He would face hell for it – damn he already was – but it didn't matter. Not really.

Daryl pulled the blankets up and over them, making sure to tuck Beth down in warm as she readjusted herself against him. He gazed at her sleeping face, so peaceful and young in slumber, then gently kissed her cheek. It was weird to feel loved by Beth Greene, but it was also wonderful.