Warning: There is explicit sexual content at the end of this chapter.
Also: this chapter is long af but I won't apologize for it. I have a specific plan for the next few chapters and I won't allow that plan to make me skimp on the details!
So get comfortable, maybe grab a snack, and make sure no one is reading over your shoulder when you get to the last couple thousand words ;)

you're the leaky sink of sentiment

Beth finally returned to apartment 3A shortly before Malachi woke up from his nap. She and Carol had thankfully wound up ending their conversation on a much lighter note, during which Beth's anxiety receded and she felt pretty sure that, even if Carol knew something, she wasn't going to do anything. Why, Beth didn't know, but she wasn't going to question it. When she left, Carol sent her home with a small plate of cookies and well wishes for their camping trip. She even reminded Beth to watch out for poison ivy and poison oak – though she admitted that she was pretty sure Daryl would be adamant enough for the both of them. And Beth agreed.

Beth didn't even realize she had a new text message from Daryl until she had gotten inside the apartment, taken off her shoes, put all her things away, and sat down on the couch to watch some TV. She checked the timestamp and saw that he'd texted her while she was engrossed in talking to Carol, and she quickly opened it to read:

Want me to pick up something for dinner? I'm starving. Worked through lunch today.

Beth furrowed her brow, wondering why he'd worked through lunch, and typed out a quick response to assure him that she would have a big dinner ready when he got home, asking if he had any requests. She didn't hear back from him again and assumed he was having a particularly busy day. So she relaxed on the couch and watched a couple reruns of Bob's Burgers, grateful for a brief chance to zone out and stop dwelling on her massive pile of problems.

Once the sun started sinking lower outside and Beth could see the sky changing colors through the half-open window, she got up and began preparing dinner. With the TV at a low volume and the hum of rush hour in the city drifting in from outside, she sang to herself while moving around the kitchen. Her mind bounced around everywhere, dwelling on her talk with Carol, past conversations with Daryl, and distant memories of her momma. She thought about Dale and Irma again, reminding herself to call them and catch up. Maybe Irma would be happy to hear that Beth had found someone like Daryl to fall for. She could certainly use some reassurance about now. Obviously, her deepest desire was to call Maggie and speak to her again. Or better yet, to hear some good news from Jesus. But she knew that neither of those were happening anytime soon.

The clock in the kitchen read 6:04 when the front door opened and Daryl and Mal entered the small apartment. Just as Beth had planned, dinner was nearly ready, and the entire apartment smelled like spices and cooking oils. She set the stove on low and stepped away to help the boys unload from their day, offering Daryl a hand with the toddler, who was overly excited to be home, as usual.

Daryl took a loud whiff of the air and commented, "Damn, smells good in here. Whatcha cookin', good lookin'?"

Beth blushed lightly and giggled as she helped Mal out of his backpack straps. "Told ya I'd have supper ready when you got here. Why'd you work through lunch?"

He shrugged, hanging up his vest and picking his motorcycle helmet up from where he'd set it on the carpet. "'Cause me an' Dwight wanna leave a li'l early fer the trip. Gonna work through lunch tomorrow, too."

Beth furrowed her brow, frowning in disapproval. "So you guys just don't eat lunch? That's over eight hours without food, Daryl, that's not good for you."

Daryl chuckled like she was joking, reaching out to take Mal's backpack from her hand. "'S only one meal, it's fine. Worth it ta get a head start. I would like ta get the camp set up before midnight, ya know."

Beth was about to argue but Mal quickly chirped up, tugging on Daryl's pant leg, "Dad, I'm hungwy! Rosie, did you cook?!"

Daryl put the backpack in Mal's hand and urged him toward the hallway. "Supper's ready, bud, but you ain't. Get back there an' change so we can eat. And put yer stuff where it goes."

Mal quickly nodded and grabbed his backpack before rushing off down the hall. The light in the bedroom at the end of the hall came on immediately after. Daryl moved to walk toward the hallway, pausing and facing Beth.

"Had yer appointment today, right?" He asked.

She nodded. They'd talked about it briefly over the last couple of days, and obviously Daryl had overheard her and Carol talking about it. But he hadn't pressed her about it or asked questions. Though he appeared concerned now, like he might've thought that something had gone wrong. She responded, "Yeah. It went well – an' I got on uh, birth control."

She lifted the hem of her T-shirt and lowered the waistline of her leggings to briefly show Daryl a peek of the small, flesh-colored patch stuck to her lower abdomen, half-covered by her panties.

He gazed down at it curiously, leaning down a bit to get a closer look, squinting like he was studying it. "That's it?"

She stifled a laugh and nodded, "Yep. I change it every week an' go without for the week of my – uh, monthly." She let the elastic of her pants snap back against her waist and the hem of her T-shirt fall back down.

"Hmm. Cool," he nodded and leaned back again, looking down at her. A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth and he raised his eyebrows, "So yer all good now…?"

Beth smiled back and nodded again. "Yeah, good as new – pretty much." She felt the heat beginning to rise to her cheeks again as she and Daryl exchanged a look that said they were both thinking the same thing.

He glanced away from her, down at the helmet in his hand, and muttered, "Good. How was the boy? He went with you an' Carol, didn't he?"

She laughed softly when she thought back on her day with Mal. "Yeah, he was good. We had lunch in the Bronx."

He met her gaze again and smirked. "Oh yeah, he told me. Sounds like he had a blast gettin' ta tag along."

Beth shrugged. "Can't say I didn't enjoy myself, too."

Without another word, Daryl reached out and gently took her arm, pulling her in closer to close the distance between them until their mouths were meeting in a soft kiss. She smiled against his lips and he snaked his free arm around her waist, kissing her deeper. She could tell this was what he'd really been wanting to do – and she did, too. Then there was a rustling and a clatter from the bedroom at the end of the hall, and they quickly broke apart.

She giggled and playfully pushed him toward the hallway. "Hurry up an' get ready fer supper, it's about done."

The three of them sat down together at the small dining table several minutes later to plates full of food. Mal chatted excitedly about his day, even happier to have an experience that he had shared with "Rosie" and could tell his dad about. They all talked about the camping trip some more, sharing their mounting excitement for the next day. Beth tried not to let Carol's words resurface in her mind as she sat with the boys, smiling and enjoying their company. And for the most part, it worked. The constant pain in her gut felt relatively non-existent when she was with them.

After eating dinner and cleaning up, Daryl sat Mal down and practiced writing letters and numbers while Beth sat back and watched, offering encouragement whenever the toddler would turn and show her what he'd written. When he got bored with that, he moved on to playing with his toys, and Beth happily agreed when he asked if she would be the "majestic queen" for his imaginary adventure with Daryl. The three of them played together for what felt like not very long at all, and right after "Queen Rosaline" knighted the loyal "Werewolf Daryl" and "Elf Wizard Malachi," Daryl announced that it was officially bedtime. Mal whined a bit, but with some help from Beth, Daryl managed to coax him into putting his toys away and heading to the bedroom.

Beth did her final headlines check of the day while she waited for Daryl to join her on the couch. There was nothing new, as she expected, and by now, Jenny Jones' latest article had been bumped down and was no longer visible on the front page of the Georgia news' website. With every day that passed, Beth grew more curious as to why the national media wasn't picking up on her family's story. But she also reminded herself not to jinx it, and to just be thankful. Whatever reason it was keeping her face off of everyone's TV screens and social media newsfeeds, she was grateful for it. The only problem was that she couldn't help but wonder how long it would last.

Was the lack of media coverage temporary, too, just like most everything else? Or were they waiting until the story got really good, and they had enough details to catch the attention of the masses? If that was the case, she could only pray that she was out of the country by then.

When Daryl joined her on the couch, all her worries quickly faded away. Before long, she was melting into the couch, and his arms, focusing on nothing else but the movie they were watching and the way he smelled. She'd anticipated a night of intimacy, seeing as it would be her first night officially healed. But Daryl seemed more tired than usual, and even though they kissed a few times, they didn't do more than cuddle as they lay together on the couch. Beth assumed he was extra tired from work and didn't push anything, reminding herself that they would have all weekend together. And surely, they'd have a chance to get alone for a little bit during that time. So when she glanced back at him, halfway through the movie, and saw that his eyes were shut and his mouth was hanging open, she smiled to herself and let him be. He snored softly while she finished watching the movie, and when it was done, she gently woke him up and led him to bed with her.

He followed and within seconds of his head hitting the pillow, he was back to sleep. Beth slept soundly beside him, awaking a few hours later to find him gone. She rolled over and breathed in the scent he'd left behind on the sheets and pillow, and then quickly fell back asleep.

When she awoke in the morning, the smell of coffee was filling the apartment, and she could hear the boys getting ready in the bathroom and their bedroom. She got up and helped Daryl make breakfast before seeing him and Mal out the front door for the day. She had wanted to ask him what his exact lunch plans for the day were, but he seemed preoccupied with getting himself and Mal ready for the day, and when he was walking out the door, he was still muttering about a checklist of things he had to get done before they could leave for the trip. She reminded him to let her know if she could help somehow, but he assured her that it was nothing for her to worry about and that he'd see her that evening.

Once the apartment was quiet and empty, Beth relaxed with her coffee and watched talk shows on TV before cleaning up and getting ready for the day. When she was done with that, it took less than twenty minutes to gather together everything she was going to pack for the Catskills. Daryl had told her that he had an extra duffel bag she could use, since the only bag she had wasn't big enough (and it was already full of money and evidence). So she set everything aside, prepared to be stuffed into a bag, and returned to sitting on the couch and watching TV.

The morning breeze coming in through the half-open window was cooler than it had been all week, filling the apartment with the faint scent of autumn. Beth checked the headlines, as was her routine once again. There was nothing new, and no notifications on her phone, which left her thinking about Dale and Irma.

She checked the time, assuring herself that they would be awake in their time zone, then dialed their number. She didn't know why, but her heart beat faster while she listened to the ringing on the other end, waiting for an answer.

At first, she thought she might've miscalculated the time difference and tried to call while they were sleeping. But then the ringing stopped, and Irma's voice came from the other end.

"Rosie? It's so good t'hear from you!"

Beth's heart immediately slowed and she smiled, phone pressed against her cheek. "Hey, Irma. I didn't wake you, did I?"

Irma chuckled. "Oh, goodness no! It's nearly nine a.m. here, we've been awake for hours!"

Beth laughed, a familiar warmth spreading through the inside of her chest. It almost felt like talking to someone back home. "Oh, good. I jus' wanted t'see how you guys were doin' – where are you right now?"

Dale's voice called out from somewhere near Irma on the other end, "Hi, Rosie!"

Irma chuckled and said, "That was Dale, if you couldn't tell. We're visiting some friends in Colorado – still in the Midwest. It's so beautiful out here, Rosie, I wish you could see it!"

"Tell Dale I said 'hi' back!" Beth swallowed back a small knot forming in her throat, still smiling. "I wish I could see it, too. What's it like? Are you close to the mountains?"

She listened and "mm-hmm"ed as Irma described the beautiful house out in the country that she and Dale were visiting, talking about how they could see mountains in every direction and going on about how perfect the weather was. Then she explained that they were leaving in two days to head for Nevada, where they would be visiting a family member outside of Carson City for a few days, and then they would be spending a couple of days on the Las Vegas Strip while they did their tourist activities before staying with a friend who lived in a "very large mansion" on the outskirts of Las Vegas. Beth asked Irma if she and Dale planned on gambling and Irma giggled, admitting that they just might indulge a little bit.

Then Irma turned the conversation toward "Rosie," asking her, "How're things goin' in the big city? I was sure worried about ya for a bit there."

And now that Beth knew how much fun Dale and Irma were having and how smoothly their life was going without her, she wasn't sure that she wanted to burden the older woman with any sort of negative news. She'd probably worried the poor woman more than enough with their last phone conversation and her little bout of emotional turmoil. Even though part of her craved that connection – if her momma were alive, she'd ask her what she was supposed to do when it came to telling Daryl the truth and helping the boys cope with losing Lucy. But the closest thing she had to someone like that now was Irma, or Carol. And she'd already decided not to let herself get attached to Carol like that. Or to trust her like that.

Beth figured that she could just tell Irma the good parts. Maybe the older woman would still have reassuring words for her, like last time. So Beth replied, "Yeah, sorry about that. Don't worry 'bout me, though – I tried ta text more often, but it's been a busy couple weeks."

"Good busy? Or overwhelming?" Irma asked.

Beth smirked to herself, clearly picturing the look of concern that was almost certainly on Irma's face right now. "Good busy. Promise. Um, remember that guy I told you about, with the kid? The ones I'm stayin' with?"

"Of course," Irma chirped. "Sounded like you an' that little one were becoming good friends!"

Beth chuckled softly. "Yeah, we are. Um, me an' that little one's dad – well, I… got a boyfriend now." She blushed saying it aloud, hoping Irma wouldn't disapprove.

But Irma sounded genuinely excited. "Really? Oh, that's wonderful! He sounds like such a nice man – is he still nice? Does he treat you well? Is that why you moved in with 'im, 'cause you thought he was cute?"

Beth laughed. "Yes, he's still nice. Actually, he's only gotten nicer since I moved in. And he treats me really well, that's – it's why I fell for him so quick, I guess. But no, I didn't really think he was that cute when I first met him. He's… not really my type, honestly."

Irma chuckled and said, "They never are, honey. Types don't matter. But sometimes, it's like they say: 'opposites attract.' It was certainly true for me an' Dale! What about this guy's son? Is he okay with it?"

Beth's smile faded but she tried not to let her voice reveal it. "Yeah, he's um, adjusting. But… we're all real happy when we're together."

"That's what matters," Irma said cheerily. "I certainly didn't expect t'hear that you already had a new boyfriend, but it sounds like it just might be what you needed."

Beth scoffed. "I dunno about that. I definitely didn't intend ta get all wrapped up in another relationship. But… I dunno. I felt like I'd be kickin' myself if I didn't, ya know – admit that there was somethin' there. Like I'd always wonder what coulda been."

"What we really need never seems t'come around when we think we need it," Irma said confidently. "But God brings everyone into our lives for a reason. As long as he treats you well an' you both are better people together – then who cares about the timing? You gotta grab it when it's there, 'cause it doesn't come around often."

These words weren't the advice or reassurance that Beth had quite been expecting, but they permeated her soul in exactly the way she was craving. And her chest felt a little lighter for the moment. It was almost like talking to her momma again.

And then she heard Dale pipe up in the background, "Preach it, woman!" And she and Irma shared a laugh.

Beth spent the next fifteen minutes telling Irma all about the romantic date Daryl had taken her on, as well as talking about how fond she was growing of their small circle of friends. Irma sounded much happier when their conversation ended and far less worried about "Rosie's" well-being, seemingly convinced that Beth was doing well and getting happier each day. And Beth felt noticeably comforted once they hung up the phone, promising to talk again soon. Irma also promised to send photos of the mountains.

Beth had wanted to mention that she hadn't been exactly, completely, one-hundred percent honest with this new boyfriend. She'd wanted to ask if Irma had any experience with fixing mistakes, in a sense. But she didn't ask. Irma was a saint – she wouldn't have the slightest clue what to tell Beth when it came to explaining a month-long lie to the guy she was dating and living with. Beth couldn't even imagine Irma lying at all, not even when she really tried. So the words had remained in her head and half-formed in her mouth, and she let the conversation end on a miniscule feeling of relief, but without the advice she'd really been seeking.

A few minutes after they'd hung up, Beth received a handful of photo messages from Irma. There was a photo of a beautiful mountain range in the distance, and a photo of Dale and Irma standing with another old couple in front of a large, blue house with the mountains in the background. Then there was a photo from before they'd reached Colorado, of Dale and Irma standing with a small group of friends in front of a large, beautiful, green field, with a multi-colored sunset in the distance, and Irma had captioned it, "This is from our time in Kansas!" She also sent a couple of photos from their travels through West Virginia, and Beth marveled at the lush, green trees and seemingly endless miles of wilderness.

A part of her longed to be back in that RV, constantly travelling and never having to worry about running into someone she knew, or who might know her. But she knew that Irma was right, and God was leading her wherever it was that she was supposed to be.

She just hoped that place wouldn't end up being prison. Or on a table, receiving a lethal injection.

She sat on the couch and watched TV for a short time, finding herself unable to zone out anymore and right back to dwelling on Daryl and the… situation. She wondered what he was doing at the moment, and if he was pushing himself too hard at work while she was sitting around the apartment, uselessly waiting. She pulled out her phone and sent him a text message, simply asking how his day was going and if he was still planning on skipping lunch. Surprisingly, he responded almost instantly, though his message was brief. He told her that he and Dwight were having a busy day but that they'd be on track to leave on time as long as they worked through lunch. Once she read that, Beth made up her mind.

She got up and put on some shoes, then headed across the hall and knocked on the door to apartment 3B. She could hear the faint sound of cartoons and Mal's voice coming from inside, and then the door was unlocking and opening to reveal Carol. The older woman smiled down at Beth, obviously surprised by this random visit.

"Hey – everything okay?" Carol asked, glancing Beth up and down.

Beth smiled reassuringly and nodded. "Yeah, nothing's wrong. I was jus' wondering if you happened t'know where Daryl works exactly?"

Carol furrowed her brow, becoming more confused. "Yeah, it's a shop up in East Harlem. Why?"

"Well, he an' Dwight worked through lunch yesterday 'cause they wanna leave early today for the Catskills," Beth explained. "An' they're skippin' lunch today, too, so I wanted ta take 'em some sandwiches or somethin'. So they're not just like, starving themselves."

Carol's eyes lit up with interest and a smile formed on her face once she understood. "Ohh, okay. That's a nice idea! But why didn't you just ask Daryl for the address?"

Beth shrugged sheepishly. "I wanna surprise him. An' I know if I tell him my plan, he won't want me to. He'll think I'm goin' outta my way or somethin'."

Carol chuckled and nodded, then stepped aside and motioned for Beth to enter the apartment. "Yeah, that sounds about right. Here, come in for a second an' I'll write down the address for ya."

Beth stepped inside and Carol closed the door behind her, then went over to the kitchen bar and grabbed a pad of paper and a pen. Mal quickly spotted her and rushed over from where he'd been playing on the floor in front of the TV.

"Rosie!" He cried happily, running straight into her and wrapping his arms tightly around her legs. "What you doin'?! Are – are you still comin' camping?"

Beth chuckled and ruffled the toddler's blond hair. "Yeah, of course I am! I jus' had ta get somethin' from Carol. Are you being good today?"

"Yes! Dad said um, he said if I'm real good today, we can make s'mores tonight!" Mal grinned up at her.

Beth smiled back. "Well, that sounds like a pretty darn good deal t'me. I hope you stick to it, 'cause I really wanna make s'mores with you!"

Mal laughed excitedly and hugged Beth's legs again.

Within minutes, Beth was back in apartment 3A, small piece of paper in her hand with the address of Daryl's motorcycle shop written on it. She typed the address into her phone and saved it, then went into the kitchen and set about preparing four sandwiches. She sang to herself as she spread condiments on the sub rolls and then stacked them with lettuce, tomato, meat, cheese, peppers, and onions. She remembered Daryl mentioning how much he loved olives and dug around in the cabinets until she found a small can of sliced olives, which she added before completing the sandwiches and carefully wrapping them up. Then she dug out the two thermoses sitting in the back of the cupboard and filled them to the brim with the sweet tea she'd made the day before. Finally, she carefully packed the thermoses and sandwiches into a large paper bag before heading to her bedroom to grab a few necessities for the trip to East Harlem.

It was already past eleven, so Beth decided against navigating the public bus system and chose to take a cab instead. She slipped on her leather jacket, white knit cap, and sunglasses, stuffed her phone and a little money into her pocket, then grabbed the paper bag and left the apartment. She didn't pass anyone on the stairs, and the lobby was empty except for a couple of tenants checking their mailboxes.

When she stepped outside, she realized that the cool breeze blowing into the half-open window all morning had been only a taste of the autumn weather that had overtaken the city in the last day-and-a-half. She was immediately glad to be wearing her jacket and hat, because it was like the weather had finally gotten the memo that summer was over and now it was playing catch-up. The sky was overcast and gloomy, a faint scent of rain and ocean water in the air, and the temperature hadn't even reached the seventies despite how long the sun had been up. A chill ran through Beth as she strode down the sidewalk and chilly air hit her cheeks and neck, and for a split-second, the realization of just how much time had passed since leaving Georgia suddenly hit her. But she quickly brushed it off and focused on hailing a cab from the sidewalk.

It didn't take long to hail down a cab, and a couple minutes later, she was sitting in the back of a yellow taxi as an older Hispanic man drove her through the East Village, loud Spanish music playing on his radio. She appreciated the lack of conversation, and even though she was functionally fluent in Spanish, she didn't make it known. The driver remained silent after asking where she was going, and so did she after giving him the address.

Beth watched the neighborhoods and businesses pass by outside her window, noticing more and more Halloween decorations popping up on every block. Traffic wasn't terribly congested, like during rush hour, but there were more people out on the road and on the sidewalks for lunch time. The drop in temperature seemed to be bringing more people outside, too, with their jackets zipped up tight and closed umbrellas in hand for the rain that was threatening to appear. She thought about Daryl, growing a bit nervous as she got closer and closer to the shop.

What if he was upset that she bothered him at work? She assured herself that, if nothing else, she could drop off the food and leave. The logical side of her said that Daryl would most likely not be upset, because when had he ever been upset to see her? But in her experience, every man in her life had become very angry when she'd surprised them while they were working, and she'd eventually been trained to understand that it was completely inappropriate to surprise someone like that, "especially while they're busy working."

But Daryl works on motorcycles… not drugs, she reminded herself.

The motorcycle shop that Daryl worked at was located in a neighborhood that was noticeably nicer than most of the neighborhoods surrounding it. It was still pretty obviously part of Harlem, but when Beth paid the cab driver and stepped out of the car, she didn't feel completely out of her element – nothing like the place she'd gone when she'd met Jesus. It had taken about twenty minutes, with traffic, to travel from the apartment, and she wondered if that was the route that Daryl took to and from work every day.

She was standing on the sidewalk, in front of a brightly painted motorcycle shop with glass front windows and a large, white sign overhead. The sign read: Ride Rehab, with a design to the left of a circle with two R's inside of it, and on the other side was a cartoon motorcycle, flames emitting from the tailpipe. The shop was set up in what looked like two conjoined buildings on the end of the block, and was much larger than Beth had expected. Around the corner, on the other side of the building, was a huge, white garage door, and about a dozen different kinds of bikes parked out front in the street. She peered in through the glass front windows, searching for a peek of Daryl or Dwight. But she could tell that they wouldn't be working in the front part of this shop.

She approached the front door, which had an Open sign posted above a list of their hours, and pulled it open, stepping inside with the paper bag in hand. Once she was inside, she pushed her sunglasses up farther on her nose and glanced around – two security cameras in the corners of the ceiling. The front part of the shop was like a display room and a store in one area. There was a counter in the corner with a cash register and an employee standing behind it, and the whole room was filled with shelves and display racks and cases. There were helmets, jackets, and accessories on one side, and various shiny bike parts on the other. And it all looked sparkling clean, not at all the greasy shop that Beth had imagined. Though it definitely still smelled like a repair shop. She spotted a door in the far corner labelled "Employees Only." It looked like it led to the garage.

Beth waited for the man that was already at the counter to step away before she approached, staring intently at the young white guy in a red "Ride Rehab" polo shirt from behind her sunglasses. He couldn't have been much older than she was, probably in college or recently graduated from high school. He smiled when she reached the counter, and she glanced down to see his nametag that read: Zach.

"Can I help you, miss?" He asked.

She smiled but didn't take off her sunglasses. "Yeah, is Daryl here? Um – I brought him lunch." She held up the paper bag in her hand, still smiling.

Zach looked her up and down for a second, a slightly quizzical expression on his face, and replied, "Daryl Dixon?"

Beth nodded.

She saw him suppress a laugh, then he asked, "You his sister or something?"

She narrowed her eyes behind the sunglasses, but maintained her polite smile. "Girlfriend, actually. I don't think he has a sister."

Zach's eyes widened and his cheeks went pink. He quickly tried to hide it, nodding and smiling apologetically. "Oh – right. Sorry, I didn't – I didn't know he had a girlfriend. Uh yeah, he's back in the garage, want me t'get him?"

Beth smirked, a bit more satisfied with his reaction than she would've liked to admit. She shook her head. "If it's okay, I was jus' gonna go drop this off an' say hi. Am I allowed in the garage?"

Zach shrugged, jabbing his thumb in the direction of the "Employees Only" door. "Sure, why not. It's through that door. Gets a little loud in there, though, so you might want some earplugs or somethin'."

She arched an eyebrow and replied with a stiff smile, "I think I'll be okay. Thanks so much." He nodded and she turned and headed for the door to the garage.

As soon as she opened the door and stepped inside, she was overwhelmed by the smell and the noise. The kid behind the counter had been right – it was loud. The garage was large, with a tall ceiling and gray concrete everywhere, and bright, fluorescent lights hanging from the exposed rafters. The walls were covered with posters and pictures and advertisements, and the sound reverberated off every surface. It was a mixture of engine noises, power tools, men yelling to each other, various kinds of music playing from several different speakers, and the never-ending clatter of metal on metal. The smell was twice as strong as it had been in the front of the shop, like grease, dirt, leather, and cigarette smoke.

There were about ten guys in the garage, all of them wearing clothing similar to what Daryl usually wore, as well as looking similarly dirty. Most of them were working on bikes, or the frames of what might've once been a bike, and carrying heavy parts back-and-forth to different parts of the garage, cigarettes dangling from their mouths and small clouds of smoke fading up into the air. Now Beth could see how Daryl had gotten so buff without any time to go to the gym – if he was picking up these heavy bikes and parts and tools all day, for forty-plus hours a week, it was no wonder his arms stretched the fabric of every sleeved shirt he owned.

She stood in place and searched the garage for Daryl or Dwight, heart thumping in her chest. But no one had even noticed her come in, let alone glanced in her direction. As she grew accustomed to the noise and the smell, her pulse slowed, and she lifted her sunglasses to place them atop her head and get a better look. Then she spotted the back of Daryl's head across the room, towards the left. She reflexively smiled and her heart leapt, and she began quickly walking across the hard floor toward him.

As she got closer, eyes set on the back of his head, the sound of an old NWA song became clearer. And then she was approaching him, and she realized he had a portable Bluetooth speaker set on a small metal table, next to his open box of tools and a half-full ash tray. His shoulders flexed beneath his black, sleeveless shirt, stretching the thin fabric across his broad back. He nodded along to the song and Beth wondered how she hadn't known that he liked 90s rap.

She waited a couple of seconds to make her presence known, intrigued by watching him work. He was completely focused on the task in front of him, a neglected cigarette burning in the ashtray nearby. He was leaned down close to the bike, squatting beside it with a tool in his hand as he carefully adjusted something that was too small for Beth to recognize. When he leaned back and inspected his work, she spoke up, loud enough that he could hear her over the noise and Eazy-E's rapping.

"What's cookin', good lookin'?" She grinned as he spun around in surprise. His eyes widened briefly and then he quickly stood up, smiling and setting down his tools before reaching over and pausing his music. He grabbed a stained rag sitting nearby and wiped off his hands.

"What're you doin' here?" He asked, and for a split-second, Beth was afraid his smile would turn to a frown and that he'd ask her why she felt the need to interrupt him. But he didn't. He actually seemed pleasantly surprised. His smile remained, and he set down the rag and gestured to the paper bag in her hand. "Whatcha got?"

She grinned and lifted the paper bag to hold it out to him. "I brought you an' Dwight lunch – just sandwiches, but I thought maybe you could eat 'em while you worked. I made sure they wouldn't be messy or nothin'."

Daryl glanced her up and down with a pleasantly surprised expression on his face, mixed with a hint of something else – adoration, maybe. He stepped closer and took the bag from her hands, opening it to briefly peer inside. He smiled a little wider and nodded. "Didn't have ta do that. You come all this way jus' ta feed us?"

Beth shrugged. "It's not that far. I got the address from Carol so I could surprise you. Are you surprised?"

He chuckled softly and closed the paper bag again, setting it down on the small metal table so he could close the distance between them and circle an arm around her waist. He gazed down at her with a smirk and said, "I usually hate surprises but this is the best one I've had yet."

She grinned up at him and then he was leaning down and kissing her, and the fluttering came to life in her stomach. She suddenly felt stupid for thinking that Daryl would be angry that she surprised him at work with lunch. Where had she even gotten that idea anyway? He'd made it pretty clear that he liked seeing her just as much as she liked seeing him.

Brainwashed, brainwashed…

"Woah, now! Since when did this become the Motel Six?!" Dwight's voice abruptly interrupted their passionate kiss, and Beth and Daryl pulled apart to turn and see the blond man standing a few feet away, hands on his hips and a playful smile on his face.

"Hey, she brought lunch fer our worthless asses, think the least I could do is show my appreciation," Daryl barked back teasingly.

Dwight laughed, then looked at Beth. "'Our'? You brought lunch fer me, too?" She nodded and he grinned in surprise. "Damn, you really are too good fer him. Thanks, ya didn't have ta do that."

She shrugged and chuckled, glancing over and exchanging a smile with Daryl. "It's no big deal. Daryl said you guys were workin' through lunch, but that's too long ta go without eating. I made sandwiches an' brought some sweet tea."

"In my thermoses, which I'll want back before we leave," Daryl added, looking pointedly at Dwight.

Dwight laughed and nodded. "Gotcha. Well, ain't that an awfully sweet thing ta do."

Beth blushed lightly, then glanced around the large garage. "Can't say I wasn't a little curious t'see where you guys work, too."

"Welp, this is it," Daryl said flatly, shrugging. "Ain't nothin' special."

"Pays the bills," Dwight added, stepping closer as Daryl picked up the paper bag and opened it to reach in for a sandwich and a thermos. Dwight took the bag and grabbed his own sandwich and drink right afterward.

"Met your – uh, guy at the counter," Beth said, looking back and forth between the men as they opened their thermoses and unwrapped their sandwiches. "Up front. He thought I was your sister."

Daryl furrowed his brow but Dwight laughed.

"Zach?" Daryl asked, and Beth nodded. He rolled his eyes and took a sip of tea, sandwich held in his other hand as he prepared to take a bite. "He's only workin' here 'cause his daddy told 'im he had ta do somethin' besides play video games while he's goin' ta school part-time. Kid ain't the sharpest tool in the shed."

"He comes off kinda pompous sometimes," Dwight commented through a mouth half-full of food, sandwich gripped in his hands as he stood and ate. "'Spect he'll quit here 'fore too long."

"Mm-hmm," Daryl agreed as he chewed on the big bite of sandwich he'd taken.

Beth shrugged. "I think he was just surprised that you have a girlfriend."

Dwight chuckled, but Daryl shook his head and said, "Yeah, right. He was checkin' ya out, huh? Did he try flirtin' with ya or somethin'?"

Beth laughed, sensing a hint of seriousness behind his joke. But she assured him, "No – I mean, I dunno if he was checkin' me out. But he definitely didn't flirt with me."

Dwight shrugged and looked at Daryl, who was scowling. "We could still scare 'im a little bit. Just for the hell of it," Dwight grinned mischievously.

Daryl shrugged and took another bite of his sandwich, which he was already nearly finished with. When he finished chewing, he looked at Beth and said, "I'll let it slide this time. Can't really blame the kid fer lookin' – hard not to when yer walkin' around lookin' like that." He gestured vaguely to her body and she blushed, rolling her eyes playfully in response.

"Oh, hush, this is how I always dress," she said through a smile.

Daryl raised his eyebrows like she'd made his point for him. "I know."

"Alright, I'm tryin' ta eat here, can you guys save it for the wilderness? Where you can go be gross behind some trees and not subject me ta sufferin' through the show?" Dwight grinned.

That comment earned him a playful punch in the arm from Daryl, and Beth was glad she'd decided to come and surprise them. Even at work, she could see that they had fun together. And it only made her that much more excited to spend two whole days with them, and Sherry and Mal, without the loud noise of a motorcycle shop, or a bar, or the city itself.

She kind of hoped Dwight was right, too – maybe she and Daryl could "sneak off." Because when she started thinking about that, her excitement peaked. And she quickly began counting down the hours until they'd be driving far away from Manhattan.

Daryl and Dwight finished their sandwiches even quicker than Beth expected, both of them returning to work halfway through their meals. And after kissing Daryl goodbye and hailing another cab home, Beth returned to apartment 3A less than two hours after she'd left. She was even more antsy about the trip, the hours ticking by slower than ever since Daryl and Dwight had briefly explained their plan for leaving.

Now she was waiting for Daryl and Dwight to show up in Dwight's truck – Daryl explained that he'd be leaving his bike at work for the weekend, inside the garage. And then he'd get Mal, they'd all quickly pack up, stop at a storage unit to pick up Daryl's camping equipment, and finally stop by Dwight and Sherry's apartment to pick Sherry up and head out of town. Beth triple-checked everything in the apartment, especially everything she planned on bringing, and made sure that the place would be ready to lock up and leave by the time the boys arrived.

She lounged around for a while, snacking and sipping an afternoon coffee. She didn't even have dinner to occupy herself with, as the boys planned on stopping at a McDonald's drive-thru on the way out of town, so they could eat without losing time. Of course, Mal would be perfectly happy with that plan.

Beth pulled out her phone and ran through the headlines for the hundredth time that day. At the moment, she wasn't sure if the aching in her gut was a warning that she should be prepared for something big coming, or if it was just her anxiety settling into its usual resting place. She decided to tell herself it was the latter, and as she was setting her phone aside and moving to occupy her hands with something more productive, it vibrated with a new text message.

She sighed and checked the screen, but her heart skipped when she saw that it was from Daryl. Why? She'd be seeing him in just a couple hours. Nevertheless, she opened it and read:

Thanks again for lunch. Can't wait to share a tent with you.

Even though she was alone, Beth blushed just reading the message. Smiling stupidly to herself, she quickly typed out, "No problem. I can't wait either! I'm counting down the minutes." Then pressed Send.

She tried to watch TV, but she kept gazing out the window and wondering what the weather would be like in the Catskills. So then she looked up the weather forecast for the general area she thought they might be going to, and after that, she went to her bedroom and switched out a few items of clothing that she intended on packing.

Then, just because she was in the room and digging through the dresser drawer, she pulled out the bag full of money and opened it. The Beretta still lay inside, wrapped in its plastic sack. Beth reached in and plucked out the photo from where it peeked out between wads of cash. She held it before her, gazing at it and taking in the image one more time… just in case. At this point, though, she was pretty sure this particular picture of her family was burned into her brain.

She returned and secured her little bag of evidence, piling some shirts on top of it in the back corner of the drawer where it rested. She was only taking a few hundred dollars, and only because she never liked going anywhere without emergency cash these days. She was also bringing her daddy's pocket watch and her phone, though both of them would probably spend the majority of the trip at the bottom of her bag. And of course, her necklace was always on, where the rest of her remaining family heirlooms hung. For once, she wasn't terribly paranoid, though; she didn't necessarily feel the need to bring along the bag and the Beretta, like she probably would've two weeks ago. They were going out, away from the city, away from people and the cameras and the police. She'd finally be safe, really safe, for a change.

And what were the chances that anything major or newsworthy would happen over the weekend? It would probably be good for her mental health to stuff the phone away for a couple days and try to forget about the media, Jenny Jones, Rick Grimes, Jesus, and the rest of the shitshow that her life had become. Just for a couple days, at least.

A quarter before five, Daryl, Dwight, and Malachi entered the apartment, chatting excitedly and greeting Beth cheerfully. Mal was the most excited of all of them, and Dwight had to help wrangle him while Daryl headed to the bathroom to quickly clean up and change. Beth lent a hand, pulling out some of Mal's toys and inviting him to play with her. Dwight sat down on the living room floor and joined them, and less than ten minutes later, Daryl reemerged with damp hair, asking everyone to help him get ready.

After some digging in his bedroom closet, Daryl pulled out a yellow-and-black duffel bag for Beth to use. She quickly took it to her bedroom and packed up her prepared things while the boys packed up the last of Daryl's and Mal's things in the bedroom. She was stepping out of her bedroom, bag hanging from her shoulder, when Daryl approached her in the hallway first. He looked past her, into her bedroom, then down at her face. She glanced over his shoulder and saw Dwight at the end of the hall, trying to stuff something into the backpack on Mal's back.

"Ready?" Beth smiled, looking up at Daryl.

He gestured toward her bedroom. "Ain't ya gonna bring yer guitar?"

She shrugged, glancing behind her at the guitar sitting in its usual spot. "You want me to?"

Daryl smirked. "Hell yeah. Ain't many radio stations out there, we're gonna need some music."

With a laugh, Beth turned back into her bedroom and grabbed her guitar, slipping the strap over her head before joining Daryl and closing her bedroom door. A few seconds later, Dwight and Mal were ready, and they were all gathering in the living room and heading out the front door, leaving the apartment tightly locked up behind them.

Daryl and Dwight were constantly ribbing each other, but they worked well together and seemed to communicate without words most of the time. They loaded up their bags into the back of Dwight's dark grey Ford Explorer, which looked fairly new and freshly washed. He folded down one of the two rows of backseats to make more room for their equipment, leaving room for Daryl's equipment and Sherry's bags. There was already a collapsed tent strapped to the rack on the roof, along with two fishing poles, and Beth spotted a large tackle box beneath Dwight's duffel bag in the back, as well as a big cooler, a few cases of beer, and a case of bottled water. She hadn't thought about the possibility of going fishing – wouldn't she need a license for that? She was far too excited to worry about it right now. She placed her guitar down carefully next to the tackle box.

They all loaded up into the truck, and after Daryl securely strapped Mal into his carseat behind the passenger's side and then buckled himself into the front passenger's seat, they were on their way. Beth sat behind the driver's side seat in the back, next to Mal, and the toddler was over the moon about having "Rosie" so close for the drive.

Dwight was playing a classic rock station on the radio, front windows rolled down as the cool breeze blew in and ruffled everyone's hair. They drove through the East Village and Beth gazed out the window, listening to Mal's chatter and responding when he asked a question, passively listening to Dwight and Daryl casually chatting in the front seat. But she was mostly daydreaming about what the Catskills would look like. She couldn't wait to look up and see open sky instead of more steel.

They didn't drive very far to get to Daryl's storage unit. Dwight parked outside of a large building with a bright orange sign that read: 2 MUCH STUF. Daryl assured them all he'd be right back and hopped out, jogging up to the front door of the building and disappearing inside. Dwight turned up his radio as a Black Sabbath song began to play and Mal clapped excitedly, recognizing the song. While they waited, the toddler sang along, and Beth quietly joined him. Two songs and a commercial break later, Daryl reappeared with three fishing poles in hand, a tackle box, and a large, collapsed tent that he was carefully lugging along behind him. Dwight quickly hopped out to help, and together, they strapped the tent and poles to the roof rack with the others, then put the tackle box into the back. Beth glanced something resting on Daryl's back, a strap across his chest – she turned in her seat to get a better look as he unloaded everything he was carrying, and then he was unstrapping it from his back. A crossbow. He placed it carefully in the back, then returned to his seat as Dwight started the engine.

"Is that – you have a crossbow?" She asked, peering over the back of her seat to get a closer look at the large weapon.

Daryl turned in his seat to look back at her, smirking. "Yeah. Keep it in storage most a the time. What, ya think I'm gonna go campin' and not hunt somethin' while I'm there?"

Dwight laughed and Beth smiled, shrugging as she relaxed back into her seat. "Guess not. Jus' didn't know you were a crossbow kinda guy."

This brought another chuckle from Dwight, while Daryl shrugged and grunted. "Always have been, I reckon."

She was trying to picture Daryl using a crossbow. How had she never known that? Well, it wasn't exactly something that would've come up. Now she was even more curious to see him in action, out in the wild.

Then they were off again, in the direction of Dwight and Sherry's apartment.

A few minutes later, they pulled up to an apartment building that looked slightly nicer than Daryl's. Dwight mentioned that he'd already texted Sherry to be ready and, sure enough, she emerged from behind the steel front door of the building before Dwight could even shut off the engine. The brunette had a large, green duffel bag hanging from her shoulder, which Dwight jumped out of the truck to help her load into the back. Daryl got out, too, and moved to the backseat, where he instructed Beth to scoot over to the middle of the bench seat since she was smaller. She happily agreed, and once they were all buckled in, with Dwight in the driver's seat and Sherry in the passenger's, they were off again. Mal was even more excited to have "Rosie" right beside him and his dad on the other side of her.

After spending ten minutes in a McDonald's drive thru, it took them a little over half an hour to get through traffic and out of Manhattan, and then they drove over a bridge that crossed into New Jersey. Beth marveled at all the green, as well as the dark blue of the Hudson River as they drove alongside it for a while. Then the city faded, gradually followed by the neighborhoods, until it was more nature than urban sprawl outside the window. Everyone finished their dinner, with Daryl helping Mal to be as clean as possible while he ate. The excited chatter and singing in the truck eventually quieted as they drove down the highway, passing through small towns here and there, with the mountains in the distance growing closer and closer. The trees were a blur of green, orange, yellow, and red along the side of the highway, and cars became fewer and farther between as they drove on.

Once Mal was occupied with a couple of toys, his eyelids drooping during their long drive, Daryl rested his hand on Beth's leg and relaxed against her. She immediately smiled and interlaced her fingers with his, letting their hands rest together on her leg. When she glanced over at him, he was gazing down at her with a smirk, and she smiled back bashfully. Then he leaned down and stole a quick kiss, and she giggled softly. She could see Sherry from the corner of her eye, briefly watching them in the rearview mirror with a small, knowing smile on her face. Beth pretended not to notice, but her stomach fluttered. They had barely left the city and she was already feeling lighter, more care-free. Almost normal.

They talked about their plans for when they got to the mountains, the sun sliding lower in the multi-colored sky outside. Sherry asked Beth if she'd ever been camping before and Beth said yes, of course she had, but it had been a while. Which got everyone into a conversation where they ended up sharing stories about past camping trips and fishing adventures. Beth could still remember the first time she'd gone fishing, back when her family was whole and happy and normal. She could still remember the smell of the soil when she would hunt for nightcrawlers with Shawn and Maggie. She glanced over at Mal, whose head was lolling on his shoulders as he struggled to stay awake in his carseat, and she wondered if he'd like to dig for worms with her. She was almost certain he would.

They didn't take a conventional route to the campgrounds of the Catskills, though Beth hadn't expected them to. Dwight led them down backroads, past overgrown wild grass and lush, multi-colored trees. The sky grew dark as they got farther out, and by the time they were pulling up to a dark clearing set away off a dirt road, on the edge of what looked like a vast forest, the sun had disappeared behind the horizon and the stars were twinkling brighter and brighter overhead.

Before they parked, Dwight and Daryl explained that they knew a spot that they didn't have to hike very far for, but it was still a decent place to camp undisturbed. Obviously, they knew better places, but everyone agreed that they didn't want to lug a toddler that far into the wilderness. Daryl mentioned that there was a small town about fifteen miles away, just in case anything happened. Beth didn't bother asking which direction it was in, she just hoped they wouldn't need to visit any towns while they were here.

They were far enough away from the well-populated campgrounds and the rest of civilization that the darkness was very dark. There was no light except what came from the sky, and Dwight left the headlights and domelight on so they could gather their stuff from the truck. Mal woke up with renewed energy when he realized they were out in the wilderness, and he eagerly helped grab the stuff from the back – as much as he could, anyway. Daryl strapped the little backpack to his son's back and handed him a fishing pole to carry, which was a smaller pole designed for children. Mal grinned happily and jumped around, chattering away, while Beth helped unload the truck and carry what she could.

With all the truck's doors still open, lights flooding the small clearing, everyone prepared to lock up and begin heading through the trees. But Daryl stopped them and pulled out a couple of bottles from his bag – tick spray, he explained. Dwight nodded in agreement, shrugging and explaining that he was just going to wait until they got to the campsite, but Daryl said he refused to take any risks. He quickly grabbed Mal and helped the toddler spray himself down with repellent, clothes and all, then helped Beth do the same and finally gave himself a brief once-over. Dwight and Sherry decided to do the same to themselves, and once everyone smelled like tick repellent, they locked up the Ford Explorer and grabbed the handles of everything they'd be lugging along. Beth had to admit that she'd kind of forgotten about ticks, and she was already grateful for Daryl's extreme caution.

If the clearing had been dark, then the woods itself was pitch black. Dwight and Daryl led the way through with confidence, though, shining bright flashlights along the path and moving slowly to make sure everyone was watching their step. Daryl had his crossbow strapped to his back and lugged the heaviest things, like the cooler that was now full of beer and bottled water, while Dwight carried the tents, and Sherry and Beth carried as many bags as they could each handle, including Beth's guitar strapped to her back. Mal stopped several times to look at bugs or pick up sticks, and Daryl repeatedly reminded him that there'd be more than enough cool bugs and sticks at their campsite. Beth grabbed the toddler's hand and tried to occupy him while keeping him moving, and it seemed to work, eliciting a brief look of gratitude from Daryl.

They walked for about twenty minutes through dense trees and grass, and Beth noticed that it was cooler out here than it was in the city. And the darker the sky got, the chillier the air became. Then the trees began to thin out until they were approaching a clearing, like an open area just large enough for a small group of people to set up camp. Sherry marveled at how perfect it was as they stepped out of the tall grass and woods, boots crunching across a thin blanket of dead leaves and dying grass. Mal tugged on Beth's hand, begging to run free, and once Daryl gave his nod of approval, she let the toddler go and they watched him run ahead, jumping around in the big, open area and staying within the light of the flashlights. He quickly became occupied with inspecting all the cool bugs and sticks that his dad had promised would be there.

With loud sighs of relief, everyone unloaded the equipment and bags that they'd hauled, and Beth's legs burned from the excursion. She didn't think she'd done that much physical activity since the two days she'd spent running from the farm. There was a cramp in her side and she silently scolded herself for falling out of an active routine and becoming out-of-shape – just another thing to make her vulnerable. She started to wonder if she should begin a new routine of jogging or something to keep up, but then Dwight and Daryl were asking the girls for their help in setting up the tents, and she quickly forgot about those other problems for the time being.

Sherry unpacked some solar-powered LED lights she'd brought along, which she turned on to illuminate their campsite. It was a huge improvement from the flashlights, especially once she set out all four of the dome-shaped lanterns. The four adults worked together to set up their tents about twenty feet apart, with the openings facing the middle of the site, where there was a large, dark circle burnt into the ground from past campfires, and plenty of open area around it for eating and playing. Mal tried to help where he could, but he mostly gathered bugs until Daryl set him onto a task of finding the perfect sticks for their campfire. Once the tents were up, Sherry hung a string of solar-powered lights across the poles they'd stuck in the ground. They reminded Beth of Christmas lights, but they gave the campsite a warm glow and a cozier feeling, as well as more light to work by, especially since the moon and stars weren't nearly bright enough.

Dwight and Sherry prepared the inside of their tent while Daryl began helping Mal find adequate kindling and firewood. Beth grabbed the sleeping bags that Daryl had brought along and set up the inside of their tent, which was just large enough for her and Daryl's sleeping bag to sit comfortably with walking space between, and then Mal's child-sized sleeping bag, as well as a small space in the corner where their bags sat with her guitar. When she was done, she unzipped Daryl's sleeping bag and lifted it up to peek inside, realizing it was plenty large enough for the both of them. She smiled to herself, already anticipating getting to sleep in their cozy tent together. And it would be the first time they were technically sharing a room with Malachi – which might prevent any other activities, but they could work around it.

Before she left the tent, she dug through her duffel bag of clothes until she found her phone near the bottom. She pulled it out and unlocked the screen to find that she had no signal whatsoever. There probably wasn't a cell phone tower for miles and miles. But she smiled to herself again and shut the phone off completely. No point in wasting the battery life to leave it on when there was no signal. Then she stuffed it back into her bag, clear at the bottom beneath all her clothes.

Her chest felt lighter as she left the tent and joined the others. She couldn't explain it, but something felt different up here – like she was truly free for the first time since she'd left Georgia.

Beth wanted to help the others build the campfire, hoping she remembered what her daddy had taught her so many years ago. But by the time she was done setting up the inside of their tent and had reemerged, Dwight and Daryl were already sparking the kindling while Mal watched with wide, eager eyes. Sherry emerged from her and Dwight's tent shortly after Beth, and the two women watched the firewood catch fire and slowly build into a glowing flame as it consumed the kindling and sent dark smoke up into the night air.

There were several dead logs lying about the clearing, and it was fairly obvious that there had been dozens of people camping here in the recent past. Dwight and Daryl moved a few of the longer logs over next to the tents, so that they were surrounding the campfire. Then they pulled out a couple of big, soft blankets they'd brought along to set out on the tops of the logs, scooting the cooler in closer and pulling out beers and waters. Before he sat down, Daryl insisted on doing a tick check on Mal, who objected at first but gave in when he realized there was no getting out of it. Then he got sprayed with a little more repellent. But right after that, he was quick to remind Daryl about his s'mores promise, and Daryl chuckled before pulling out all the ingredients and assuring the toddler that he was a man of his word.

The stars winked overhead as the small group of friends sat around the burning campfire, toasting marshmallows on wire sticks and sipping beers. It felt like finally getting to relax after a long day of work, especially for the guys, who really did have a very long day of work before trekking heavy equipment through the woods and setting up tents. Sherry turned down a beer, and Dwight reminded Daryl that they were trying to get pregnant, so she had officially cut herself off from drinking. Beth, however, was more than happy to accept an ice cold beer. Mal was having the time of his life cooking marshmallows until they were black and then stuffing them between graham crackers and chocolate, smooshing them together and making an awful mess before he shoved it all in his mouth. Of course, he made a few particularly messy s'mores for "Rosie," which she accepted happily. Daryl let him make at least five s'mores for himself before he realized the toddler actually did not have a personal limit when it came to chocolate, and was forced to cut him off from sugar for the night. Despite some protest and a little whining, Mal eventually obeyed, and soon enough, he was occupying himself with throwing dead leaves and small sticks into the fire, just to watch them burn up. His face was still smeared with chocolate as he laughed and jumped around.

Beth and Daryl sat close together on a thick, dead log with beers in their hands, while Dwight and Sherry sat across from them on another log, Dwight's arm around his wife as he sipped a beer, and she sipped a water and made s'mores for the two of them. Beth mostly sat and listened as the three old friends reminisced on past camping trips, fishing trips, and hunting stories. Daryl clasped her free hand in his, rested atop their touching thighs, and squeezed it occasionally. Then they'd exchange a glance that felt like assurance that he was happy to have her there. Or maybe she was reading too much into it.

As evening faded into night and they passed Mal's usual bedtime, the sky above got darker but the stars continued twinkling. Their campsite was well lit by Dwight and Sherry's solar-charged lights, warm with a glowing fire and their generously-sized tents blocking half of the chilly breeze that blew through the trees. The bugs got louder as it got later, and for a second, Beth could've swore she heard a wolf somewhere off in the distance. Then she asked herself if there even were wolves out here – or was it bears that she should be worried about? For the first time probably ever, she was more threatened by nature than by her fellow humans. That was a refreshing feeling.

After a handful of beers, and bathroom trips into the dark edge of the trees – by both the adults and Mal alike – Sherry grew tired of s'mores and suggested they lay out the blankets beside the fire, where there was no log set out, to look up at the stars. The others agreed, with Mal immediately beginning to chatter about all the books he'd read on constellations and the exhibit about stars and galaxies that he'd seen at the museum. Dwight, Daryl, Sherry, and Beth laid out three big, soft blankets over the dead leaves and dirt on the ground, a few feet from the campfire, and sat down. Mal quickly sprawled out in the middle, between Beth and Sherry, while Daryl and Dwight sat near the edge with beers and cigarettes in their hands. After a few minutes of stargazing, Dwight suggested they'd get a better view with less lighting and Sherry agreed, so they shut off half the lights that hung around the campsite. They were right – dozens more stars became clearer in the sky as Beth gazed up at it.

Mal pointed out the constellations he recognized, and Sherry and Beth quizzed him on them, pointing to some of the particularly bright ones and asking him what they were. Then Sherry began telling the stories behind the constellations, and though Mal was asking a lot of questions at first, he slowly grew quieter and quieter. Before long, the only sounds around them were Dwight and Daryl's quiet voices a couple feet away and Sherry's soft voice finishing her story, surrounded by the low hum of insects and the faint sound of trickling water somewhere in the distance. Beth glanced over and realized Mal's eyes were closed and his mouth was hanging open. She smiled – he was a tiny replica of Daryl in that moment. Sherry stopped talking and Beth looked up to see that the other woman had noticed the sleeping toddler, as well. She chuckled softly before sitting up and getting Daryl's attention.

Daryl carried Mal to their tent and put him to bed inside his little sleeping bag, returning a few minutes later to sit down next to Beth. Sherry and Dwight had moved to cuddle up close together on the other half of the blankets, whispering and laughing with each other. Daryl grabbed another pair of beers from the cooler and opened them, handing one to Beth before getting comfortable close beside her. Then he leaned back against one hand, gazing up at the sky and sipping his beer with the other hand. His leg rested against Beth's and she followed suit, leaning back to rest on one hand and sip her beer with the other. She leaned closer until their arms were touching, too.

"One thing I miss 'bout back home," he mumbled, eyes locked on the night sky overhead. "Wasn't all that damn artificial light an' smog ta block out the stars."

Beth smiled weakly, gazing up at the sky for a moment before turning to watch Daryl instead. Her eyelids were getting heavy and she felt more relaxed than she had all week. "Me, too," she replied softly, trying not to think too deeply about Georgia. But the beer was already getting to her head – and maybe her stomach, too, because that old, familiar pain in her gut was back. She set the can down on the ground a few feet away and decided she'd had enough tonight.

Then she heard Dwight's voice and turned to see him and Sherry standing up. "We're gonna hit the sack. Think you'll be up before sunrise?"

Beth glanced over and saw Daryl looking at Dwight, then he replied, "Most likely. Holler at me if I'm not."

Dwight shrugged. "Alright. 'Night."

"Goodnight," Sherry waved at them.

Beth and Daryl returned the waves and "goodnight"s, watching their friends disappear inside their tent as the night grew even quieter without their low whispers nearby. Now it was just the two of them, sitting together on the blanket-covered ground with a slowly dwindling campfire burning a few feet away and millions of stars winking down at them. A few clouds were lazily drifting across the sky, briefly hiding the moon.

Daryl heaved a tired sigh and set his beer aside, then laid back on the blanket to continue gazing up at the stars. Beth looked over at him, stealing a glance at the little bit of exposed skin where his shirt had lifted when he laid back. But really, she was thinking about Georgia. And that pain in her gut.

"You ever… think about goin' back?" Her voice came out soft, and she didn't realize she'd decided on vocalizing the question until she heard herself saying it. But it was innocent enough, so she watched Daryl's expression carefully.

He turned his head lazily to look over at her, hands folded together across his middle. He knew what she was talking about without needing her to specify. "Never… Why? Do you?"

All the fucking time. And I don't know why, Beth thought.

"No," she quickly replied. "Just wondered… y'know, if you ever thought about leavin' the city. Movin' somewhere else."

Daryl shrugged, turning his head to look up at the sky again. There was a hint of contemplation in his voice, but Beth couldn't be sure. "Sometimes – not really. I'ono. Guess I'd like t'live somewhere else eventually, jus' ain't a priority anytime soon. But I'll be movin' forward, not backward."

That's a better answer than what I expected, she thought.

"Yeah… forward," Beth mumbled thoughtfully, slowly lying back next to him until their arms were touching and she was gazing up at the black sky and twinkling stars. She sighed, a small breath of relief from finally laying down. "I always had this, like… fantasy. About movin' somewhere like France, or Italy or somethin'. Maybe Ireland."

Daryl grunted in a sleepy half-chuckle, and they were both gazing wistfully up at the sky now, arms touching as the warmth of the campfire washed over them. "Heh – Ireland, huh? Buncha drunks that slur all their words together."

Beth giggled quietly. "They probably think the same about us, ya know. Our accents aren't always the most clear – an' I dunno, I was just thinkin' somewhere beautiful. All the pictures look beautiful. A seaside cottage, maybe…"

Daryl chuckled, but not like he was mocking her. He almost sounded like he was actually beginning to weigh the options. "Seaside brings more problems'an it's worth. France is a li'l fruity fer my taste – 'spose Italy might not be so bad, though."

Beth was smiling as she listened to him talk, recognizing the tone in his voice and the way he relaxed beside her. Maybe he really was entertaining the idea…? Of course, it wouldn't be Daryl if he didn't voice his honest opinion on all her suggestions. But she liked that about him. Even more so, she liked that they could do something normal like this – talk about the future, even if it was a very distant and not-entirely-possible future. That was something boyfriends and girlfriends did…

But so was sharing secrets, and being honest about who you really are.

A part of her wanted to ask him, flat out. To leave. To flee the country with her. She wanted to tell him that she had no choice but to leave the city, and that she wanted him and Mal to come with her when she did. That she needed them to come with her when she did. But that was a far reach from daydreaming together about moving to a foreign country. The larger part of her – the part that was so fucking relieved to finally be away from the city and away from other people – told her not to ruin this moment, or this night, by letting herself slip up and pour out her soul after a few beers. They were just fantasizing about a distant, far-off future together. A possibility that most likely would never come to fruition, but that amused them for a brief moment.

A fantasy. Nothing more.

"Maybe… Micronesia?" She suggested, her smile slowly fading as she continued gazing up at the stars. "Morocco?"

She heard Daryl grunt, then he rumbled, "Not as nice as the pictures make 'em out ta be. Well – nice ta visit. Not ta live."

Nothin's ever as nice as the pictures make it out to be, she thought sourly. The photo of her family popped into her head. And then she hastily rubbed her eyes, frustrated with where her mind was drifting. Maybe she should finish that beer.

"Does it gotta be outside of America?" He mumbled dreamily, still looking up at the sky. "Always thought Hawaii might be nice. Met a few Pacific Islanders that told me 'bout growin' up there – sounds like my kinda people."

"Bet yer right about that," Beth chuckled and looked over to see him turning his head and meeting her tired gaze with a smirk. "Not to mention, your love for Moana."

He chuckled softly.

I wish it didn't have t'be outside of America, she thought, gazing into the dark depths of his eyes. But it does.

Even though she was trying not to, she was already picturing Daryl learning how to surf in the clear blue waters off a beach in Hawaii. Why was it so easy to imagine a future with him, no matter the setting?

"You gonna run off without me?" His low voice rumbled, and it wasn't what she'd expect to come from his mouth at the moment. But she saw a mischievous glint in his eyes, and then the corner of his mouth tugged upward into a faint smirk.

She smiled back and giggled. "Yeah, right. If I run off, I'm takin' you with me – both of you." It sounded like a joke, but she was being honest.

His smirk grew into a half-smile and he laughed quietly, then leaned up to rest on his elbow and look down at her. Without hesitation, Beth reached out and grabbed his hand, pulling it over to rest with hers between them before interlacing their fingers together. She could see his eyelids growing heavy, like hers, but they were both enjoying their time alone too much to care about sleep right now.

"'Member that kid ya met at my shop today? The one that works up front?" Daryl asked, still smirking lazily.

Beth furrowed her brow, Zach's face popping into her head at the mention. "Yeah. What about 'im?"

Daryl raised his eyebrows and said, "'Bout had ta kick his ass this afternoon, after you left."

She let out a laugh. "What – why? I thought you guys were jokin' about that."

"We were. But then he made a comment 'bout how ya look," he explained. "Dwight wanted ta kick his ass, too. That kid really don't know how ta read a room."

Beth laughed again, thinking back to how Zach had been so shocked to find out that she was Daryl's girlfriend. "What'd he say? He's just a dumb kid – he would never say that kinda stuff t'my face. Y'don't gotta hurt him for it."

Daryl scoffed, smirking again. "We barely trust his stupid ass, he'll be gone by Christmas. Might teach him t'watch his mouth if he faced some consequences fer once…"

"Daryl, what'd he say?" Beth repeated, studying his face and realizing he was at least partially serious about taking offense to whatever comment Zach had made.

His smirk disappeared and he briefly furrowed his brow, his voice a low rumble. "He came back an' asked me if you really were my sister, 'cause there was no way a girl as hot as you would want anythin' t'do with some ol' redneck like me."

Beth felt a light stab of guilt in her chest. Even as he repeated it now, she could see the hurt in Daryl's face. He tried to hide it, tried to play it off like it was just an unnecessary comment that had gotten on his nerves. But she could see that he took real offense to it. And now she kind of wanted to kick Zach's ass.

She furrowed her brow, frowning, and muttered, "Maybe you should kick his ass." Then she smiled weakly, but Daryl's eyes had drifted downward, to gaze at his hand as he absent-mindedly traced shapes on the back of hers. She spoke softer, "Not really, though… Who cares what some stupid kid said? You said yerself he's not the sharpest tool. An' he's not even cute, so he really has no room t'be talkin'…"

Her attempt to get a small smirk from him worked, but only for a second. Then he shrugged and scoffed, but continued looking down at their hands. "'S not that I care – I know he was jus' talkin' out of his ass. But it might do him some good t'learn that he can't just say whatever he wants ta some people."

Beth frowned again and hesitated, then said, "I'm not sayin' you don't make a good point, but… you know he's wrong, right?"

Daryl's fingers paused their fidgeting on the back of her hand and she watched him blink thoughtfully before he finally lifted his gaze and met her eyes. She could see him chewing on the inside of his cheek, and he gave another half-shrug. Then he muttered, "Not entirely. Ain't like I try ta hide that I'm some old redneck. But that don't mean he's gotta talk about you."

She couldn't suppress the small smile tugging at the corner of her mouth, though it faded as she spoke, "'Cept I don't care what some dumbass at yer job has ta say about us bein' together. Or about me, in general. I care that you think it's true – that you think you're not good enough for me or somethin'."

He furrowed his brow and she could see that he hadn't expected her to pick up on his little tell-tale signs. But she was learning how to read him better every day – just like he was learning how to read her. She could see that, too.

He grunted and scrunched his face disinterestedly, but he was looking down at their hands again. "That ain't it… 's just – I'ono. I sure as hell ain't gettin' any younger."

"Who is?" Beth remarked. "Don't worry, I'll keep you young."

Daryl finally chuckled softly, a half-smile cracking his wary expression, and she felt her heart skip happily. He met her eyes and squeezed her hand. "Sure hope so. 'Specially if ya plan on draggin' me halfway across the world."

They laughed quietly together and then he leaned down to kiss her softly, and she closed her eyes and kissed him back. But the aching in her gut was making itself known again.

Wait, she thought. Was he being serious about that?

She didn't think on it too long, though, because their kiss was growing deeper and Daryl was discreetly scooting closer to her. She reached a hand up and gently took hold of the back of his neck to pull his face closer against hers, a delicious heat building between her legs as his tongue parted her lips and invaded her mouth.

Then he was letting go of her hand and she felt his warm palm moving to rest on her tummy, the thin cotton of her T-shirt the only border between their skin, and she could sense his desire to touch her. The heat between her legs was rapidly building, intensifying, and the aching in her gut had evacuated to make room for a growing tightness that she recognized all too well. She dug her fingers into the back of his neck and pressed her mouth to his a little harder, eliciting a low groan from his throat. His hand tensed briefly, but then his fingers began inching downward, quickly finding the hem of her shirt and lifting it just enough to trace feather-light shapes across the skin above her waistband. She shivered at his touch and kissed him hungrily, softly nibbling on his lower lip. He groaned again and his fingers drifted lower, briefly grazing over the small, square patch stuck to her skin.

Then he was slipping his fingers beneath the waistband of her jeans, smoothly unbuttoning and unzipping the fly until he could comfortably slip his hand into her panties. She grinned against his mouth, shivering again and running her tongue across his lips before giving another provocative nibble. He wasn't wasting any time tonight, but she liked that.

She was almost certain he was thinking the same as her: that their time alone was probably limited and they should take advantage of it while they could. He growled low in his throat and leaned farther forward, his body pressed against hers now as he propped himself up beside her on one elbow, his other hand snaking into her panties. He continued kissing her hungrily, nipping at her lip whenever she squirmed.

Daryl's fingers found her clit with no trouble, pressing down against the rapidly swelling mound and teasing with small, circular motions and intermittent pressure. Beth gasped against his mouth and her hips reflexively bucked up into his hand, fingers inadvertently digging into the back of his neck. He seemed to swallow her gasps before kissing her harder, nipping at her lower lip again. She squirmed at his touch, pushing herself up against his hand, silently begging for more. The tightness at the very bottom of her stomach kept growing, and the more Daryl's fingers pressed into her clit and teased it, the more intense it felt. Until she could feel the dampness forming in her panties, inches away from his hand.

Everything else around them fell away. Beth forgot about everything except Daryl's hot breath, his warm fingers, the low buzz of insects around them, and the heat of the campfire. They didn't even need the fire anymore, their bodies were producing enough heat that tiny beads of perspiration were forming on the back of her neck. His heavy breathing and soft grunts were the only sounds she cared about, barely audible over her own racing heart and raggedy gasps.

His fingers worked faster, building a pace that sent shivers down Beth's legs. She gripped at his neck, a soft squeal escaping her lips as she tried to resist squirming so hard against his hand. But that only made him smile and kiss her harder, pressing two fingers down against her swollen clit and teasing fiercely. She groaned with frustration, unable to pull away or interrupt the rapidly mounting climax that had taken her by surprise.

Daryl could tell she was getting close already, and with a devilish smile pressed against her lips, he stopped rubbing her clit and swiftly slipped his fingers down, farther into her panties. She gasped in surprise – and anticipation – and kissed him desperately, sinking her teeth into his lower lip. He grunted in response but restrained himself, snaking his index finger down to tentatively swipe at her entrance with the very tip, quickly finding the wetness waiting for him. She shivered and her hips bucked up, pressing her clit against the palm of his hand. He pressed his mouth harder against hers, effectively silencing any protests as he teased her soaking entrance with his fingertip, even though she writhed and squirmed and silently begged him to slip inside.

He broke their kiss and Beth took in a deep breath, submerged in the waves of pleasure washing through her as she gazed up and watched Daryl open his eyes, their faces inches apart. His eyes were hooded and licentious, and his voice came out low and husky, just barely loud enough for her to hear. "Jesus, yer wet – been waitin' fer this, huh?"

She nodded weakly, lips still parted as she took shuddered breaths and pushed against his hand, urging his finger to go farther. Then he leaned down and began kissing her neck, trailing his lips up the most sensitive part of her skin until he reached her ear, breathing heavily into it, "So have I."

Her eyes drifted shut and her mouth was frozen in a small 'o' as he trailed more kisses along her neck, and then her hips slowed their rhythm so Daryl could slowly and tentatively slip his finger inside her. She gasped and it caught in her throat, overwhelmed by the sudden intensity of pleasure. It felt like her body had been patiently waiting for him to return and reacquaint himself. Her tight walls slowly relaxed, though they felt extra sensitive after two weeks of anxiously waiting.

She hadn't even realized how hard she was digging her nails into the back of his neck until he grunted and nipped at her lower lip. She loosened her grip and relaxed against him as he continued to kiss the softest part of her neck and slipped his finger in and out, gradually building a rhythm. Beth's breaths were coming in shorter gasps, the heat and tightness quickly mounting to its limit. She could feel Daryl's erection poking her in the thigh now, but it was the very last thing on her mind, especially with his hot breath on the nape of her neck and his middle finger teasing her entrance.

"You want more?" He breathed against her skin, immediately followed by a gentle suck on her neck.

She nodded desperately, gasping out, "Y-yeah." And without any more hesitation, his middle finger slipped in beside his index, carefully stretching her walls and sending more waves of pleasure washing up from between her legs. She bucked her hips up to feel his palm pressed against her clit again as he hooked his fingers inside her and navigated his way to that one particular spot.

"Yer gonna come for me, baby," Daryl growled into her ear, his hot breath sending shivers down her spine.

Beth nodded again, any semblance of a response getting caught in her throat as he sped up his rhythm. He pressed his palm down against her swollen clit and continued provoking the building storm that lay past the walls of her entrance, causing her to dig her nails into his skin once more. The bubble was so full, it would burst any second. And his voice had only ensured that.

"I'm," she gasped out, eyes shut tightly and mouth fallen open as her muscles tensed up. "I'm gonna – come, baby…"

He nipped at her earlobe and growled again, speeding up the rhythm with renewed energy as he pressed against that spot inside her with his fingers, both of them frozen in place for a moment. And then it was bursting, and the tightness was suddenly becoming a relief.

Beth tried to quiet herself and stifle the moan, but it escaped her lips as a low, breathy whisper. Daryl quickly pressed his mouth over hers to silence her, kissing her hungrily and slowing his pace as her muscles relaxed all at once, a floodgate opening somewhere deep inside her. She let out a long, deep breath of relief.

As she pulled away from his hand, laying back while he slipped his fingers out and then his hand, she felt his erection poking her in the leg again. She opened her eyes to see him lifting his head away from her neck with swollen lips, face pink and damp with sweat as he gazed down at her. He smirked and an aftershock ran through her body, causing her to shiver. She could see in his eyes what else he wanted to do, and she was eager to return the favor and finally end their bout of abstinence.

"You bring a condom, or…?" She whispered, smirking up at him with her hand still loosely holding the back of his neck.

He raised his eyebrows, pausing and glancing away briefly. Then he replied, "Yeah, actually – "

"Da-ad! I have ta pee!" Malachi's voice called out from the tent on the other side of the campfire, and Daryl and Beth both froze.

Then they heard the sound of the tent's zipper being opened and Beth watched Daryl close his eyes and sigh with frustration. But he quickly shrugged it off and gave her an apologetic look, which she returned. She quickly pulled her hands away and began buttoning her pants back up while Daryl groaned and sat up, struggling to adjust the growing problem in his own pants.

She sat up and he turned to face her, grabbing her hand and leaning in to plant a quick kiss on her lips. Then he whispered, "Ta be continued…"

She giggled quietly and nodded in agreement, then watched him stand up to rush over to the tent and help Mal open the flap. She already knew they wouldn't be trying to "continue" tonight – she certainly wouldn't be, knowing that Mal could wake up again and interrupt them at any moment. So while the boys disappeared into the edge of the trees, Beth slipped inside the tent and changed into pajamas.

When Daryl and Mal returned to the tent, she was getting comfortable inside Daryl's sleeping bag. He put Mal back to bed, then gazed down at her with a sleepy half-smile while he quickly changed into pajamas, seeming almost excited to get inside the sleeping bag. And when he did, they quickly cuddled up together, finding plenty of warmth and just enough room for both of them.

They lay together inside the sleeping bag, waiting until Mal's soft snores were coming from the other side of the tent. Then Daryl rolled over to face her, wrapping an arm around her middle and pulling her closer against him. She wrapped her arms around him and rested her head against his shoulder and the pillow.

"Sorry," he whispered.

"Don't be," she whispered back, turning her head to plant a soft kiss on his neck. "We got time. We'll sneak away soon."

He grunted and squeezed her, holding her tighter.

With the sound of the crackling fire gone, and brief moments between the chirping of crickets, Beth could hear the faint sound of trickling water again. She thought about the fishing poles and found herself wondering about fishing licenses again.

"You plannin' on goin' fishing?" She whispered.

"Mm-hmm," he whispered back. "In the mornin'. There's a river nearby."

"Don't you need… licenses? For that?"

"Hah. Never really worried much 'bout the paperwork…"

She nodded against his shoulder and remained silent this time. What else would she have expected?

A few moments later, she felt Daryl relaxing again, and then his breathing became steady and he started softly snoring. His arm was still loosely wrapped around her.

Beth lay against him with her eyes closed, feeling more peaceful than she had in a long time. Even if they didn't get the "alone time" they both wanted, it was still worth it to get away from the city – and everything else – for a couple of days. So far, the only thing she didn't like about being out here was how much it actually reminded her of home. Of her family. Of being a kid and feeling normal, and happy.

She'd anticipated something that felt like an escape from reality, like she was putting even more distance between herself and the past that was actively haunting her. She was hoping for that clarity of the mind that mountain air was supposed to bring. But so far, all it had really done was disturb the dust.

And now that she was lying in a tent, cuddled up close to Daryl and trying to fall asleep, hidden away somewhere in the Catskill Mountains, she knew that the aching in her gut should be non-existent. It had gone away temporarily, but it was back. Already. She didn't want to think about why. But at this point, it could be a number of things… Her guilt from holding so much back from Daryl and Mal. Her guilt from the burden of the lie she carried everywhere. Or a knot of anxiety, leftover and built-up from religiously checking headlines every two hours, searching for her family's name and half-expecting her father or sister to be sentenced to death. Or maybe it was a pain of warning, telling her to be ready for that other shoe she'd been waiting to see drop.

Before she drifted off to sleep, she silently prayed, Please, God, just let it be an ulcer.

to be continued…