A/N: So I've had this chapter partially finished on my computer for weeks, but I finally just sat down and finished this chapter tonight. I felt like I had to get something out there. This story is going to start going the way of AU. There will be no burning down houses cause I keep seeing Smokey the Bear shaking his finger at Daryl and Beth going "You were supposed to prevent them not start them?"

Disclaimer: As always I don't own any of it. Just borrowing them.

Beth was motionless. She knew her face showed the utter shock of his past. Looking over at him she noticed that he was closing himself off to the pain his story had caused. "There was nothing you could have done….."

"I could've saved her!" He yelled at Beth not caring what kind of attention he drew, " I could've saved them both….."

Beth always knew that there was more to Daryl, but what he'd revealed was more than she could have ever have imagined. She got up from where she sat and after taking a moment to steady herself. The alcohol in her system finally starting to really wreak havoc on her system she stumbled over to Daryl and placed herself in his lap. He didn't even have time to react before she placed her hands on his face and looked straight into his eyes. "It was not your fault Daryl Dixon. You are a good man and don't you ever let anyone else tell you differently. Understood?"

He looked into her eyes and simply nodded.

"Good" she said trying to get up so quickly she started to fall backwards and flail her arms. He was up automatically and grabbed her around the waist before she could fall.

"Woah there girl. I'm amazed you're still standing. I figured a few swigs of shine and you'd be out cold.

"Yeah well maybe it's just cause I'm that good," she said as he started to direct her inside.

"Yeah well you ain't gonna be feeling that good in the morning." He said placing her in the chair.

She was fading fast. The moonshine was hitting her in full force now and she kind of wished that she had paced herself. There was no place for her to go in this world if she got alcohol poisoning. Looking up Daryl as she started to close her eyes, "See Mr. Dixon….you are the last man standing."

He stared down at her face with a look of fear. He refused to be the last man standing. He refused to be alone. In that moment he realized that this girl was all he had left and he would protect her at any cost.

-B/D-

Beth didn't want to move. She could hear Daryl moving around the room, but she was hoping that if she pretended to still be asleep he'd just let her sleep this one off. Everything hurt. She was fairly confident that sometime during the night she had thrown up the contents of her stomach over the side of the chair. Movement at this point might not be the best course of action.

"Girl we need to get going'" he said giving her shoulder a nudge. He didn't want to wake her, she looked so peaceful when she slept. More than a couple times in the night he caught himself looking over at her wondering "How?" How could the world do this to someone as pure and innocent as this girl? How could so much be taken from her and yet she still has hope that there are still good people out there? She caused him to question things he thought he knew with certainty. She stirred feelings in him that he'd buried deep. Feelings that he didn't want to admit. But his biggest question was how in the world has she survived this long? He knew the answer to that though…she had been sheltered. At Hershel's farm they had sheltered her especially with her suicidal tendencies. At the prison she'd always been helping with Lil' Asskicker or been helping with chores. She'd never been allowed to go on runs, take care of fence duty. She'd never actually been allowed to go outside the gates. He'd decided that she needed to learn how to survive on her own. Not that he was planning on leaving, but if anything were to happen he wanted her to have a fighting chance in this fucked up world. She seemed to handle herself pretty well with the walkers in the forest and the country club. For someone who really was never allowed around walkers she showed real promise.

Beth stirred in the chair, "Just five more minutes….."

"Sorry girl. We're burning daylight. We've gotta get moving. Maybe find a few things along the way. It's gonna start to get colder one of these days….need to find a few more clothes. Maybe if we're lucky find you some aspirin for your situation," he said with a small chuckle knowing that by the time they found something it would be too late for it to help her current situation.

She struggled to get in a sitting position, "Don't start with me…..ohhh….." grabbing her head and laying back down. "Hey Daryl…"

"Yeah?"

"Don't ever let me drink again…..okay…."

"You keep on saying you're not a kid….I can't make decisions like that for you."

"I hate you," she said reaching a hand out for help.

He reached down and grabbed her hand to help her up, "No you don't." smiling as he brought her to her feet.

She was still a little wobbly, but he placed his hands on her hips to try and help her stay upright. Once she was still she looked up at him with eyes that could bring any man to his knees. Daryl was captivated for a moment before he let go of her and took a step back. 'Don't go there Dixon' his subconscious said to him. He continued his backward retreat, grabbing his bow, until he walked out the door mumbling something about meeting her outside in a few, leaving Beth more than a little confused about what in the world just happened. She started to sway back and forth. The room wouldn't stop spinning. She stumbled over to the door frame and leaned heavily against it for support. She looked out in the yard to see Daryl waiting for her. Oh this is going to suck, she thought as she started to walk down the stairs towards him.

A/N: This is short I know, and it's kind of a filler chapter. Not much happened. I am going to start updating more frequently. My goal is for weekly…we'll have to see how things go.