First Impressions

*Please read*

Timeline for the story just to make clear:

Harley and Beth have known each other 5 years, before the first year they met Harley and Daryl's mom got sick so Daryl went up to Richmond (more on that later) so Daryl has never met Beth until the beginning of our story. Harley always went to Richmond to visit her parents and Daryl until about 2 months when Daryl and Harley's mom passed. Daryl and their dad moved back down to Atlanta.

Hopefully if anyone was having trouble with the timeline that cleared things up! Sometimes I know I can forget to explain things enough to make sense.

Here's another chapter for all you lovely people!

I don't own the Walking Dead, if I did there would be so much more Bethyl.

"Hey Daryl, I want you to meet someone!" Harley exclaimed as she made her way over to the table where Daryl and Beth sat. A woman with a short pixie cut hair was walking over with Harley, the young tattoo artist seemed to be in a much better mood.

"Oh, hey Carol." Beth smiled at the woman she had known most of her life. Carol smiled brightly back at Beth, hugging the girl as Beth got up to greet her. Daryl got up as well, surprised that instead of shaking hands like he thought she would Carol hugged him as well.

"It's been a while Bethy, how've you been?" Carol asked.

"I've been pretty good, work's kept me busy and so has this one over here." Beth laughed and nudged Harley who stuck her tongue out at her roommate.

"So Daryl, you know how Jacqui and husband have been wanting to move closer to their kid?" Harley asked her brother. Daryl nodded his head, remember the family friend who had offered to take over their ma's bookstore after she passed. "Well I talked to Carol here and she said that she's been looking for something new to help get on her feet."

"I'll talk to Jacqui about it and see what she wants to sell it for." Carol explained, Beth excused herself while the siblings talked with the older woman. The blonde walked over to her sister and hugged her.

"I can't believe that I'll be getting married soon." Maggie smiled, Beth looked over at Glenn who was entertaining some of their younger relatives. Beth knew that Glenn was good for Maggie, the two balanced each other out well.

"It still seems like just the other day you and I were still living at the farm and you told me you were seeing someone." Beth smiled. "Shawn and I placed bets on how long it would last, neither of us won. I'm pretty sure I still have nightmares about Glenn's ass from the time I caught you guys in the hayloft."

"What about my ass?" Glenn asks as he wedges himself between the sisters. Beth rolls her eyes at the goofy grin on his face.

"I was just telling your soon to be wife how I still have nightmares about that pasty thing." Beth laughed. Glenn starts tickling Beth and she starts retaliating, knowing from Maggie how ticklish he is.

"Children, may I remind you that there are people here that I work with." Maggie tried to be stern but couldn't help but laugh. Glenn fixed his clothes and Beth straightened her hair, promising each other a rematch.

"Sorry Mags." Glenn said as he kissed her check. He took her hand and the two walked over to one of Maggie's co-workers.

It wasn't long before dinner was served, somehow Beth ended up next to Maggie with Daryl right next to her. Harley was across from Beth, a smirk playing on her lips so the young blonde guessed her best friend had something to do with it. As the first course was served Beth couldn't help but feel slightly awkward. She and Daryl did have a nice conversation earlier but didn't know how long that truce would last.

"So, Shawn is your brother?" Daryl asked suddenly. Beth took a drink of water and nodded.

"Yeah, Maggie actually postponed most of the wedding events because Shawn was in an accident." Beth explained. Daryl looked confused and she realized that Harley may not have explained to her brother what had happened. "Shawn was taking one of the horses out to ride when it got spooked. I hadn't gotten off my residency yet, Daddy and Mama had left for the day, and Maggie just left right as Shawn was saddling the horses. Shawn got thrown off the horse and hit his head when it got spooked. Harley came by early since I asked her over for dinner with the family."

"She never told me about that." Daryl looked down at his plate.

"Shawn was hurt pretty badly and if Harley hadn't found him, we don't know what would have happened." Beth looked over at Shawn and Amy laughing at something Harley had said, there was no doubt something shared with Shawn and Harley but it was almost like a survival bond. "I think it's a reason why Maggie doesn't get along with Harley. If Maggie had stayed just a little longer then she would've been there to help Shawn."

"She needs to quite blaming herself and taking it out on Harley." Daryl whispered to make sure Maggie didn't hear, though he knew she wouldn't since the woman was too wrapped up in her husband to be. Beth sighed, she had tried to talk to her sister about it but Maggie was too stubborn for her own good.

"I know, hopefully she'll see how she's not just hurting Harley but others too." Beth said.

The rest of the time they ate silently, Maggie eyed them a few times but she spent most of her time talking to her coworkers and Glenn. Beth was grateful that Harley was across from her, they were able to talk and have a good conversation which was something that they hadn't had in a while since Beth was working the night shift. By the time dinner was over, everyone was in a good mood and Beth could tell that this night was a success. Beth saw her parents and walked over to them, she hadn't seen them in a while with her busy schedule.

"How's work going Bethy?" Her dad asked. Beth smiled as she hugged both her parents, taking in the familiarity of both.

"It's going great. The night shift is a lot busier than the day but I like it. There are a few new patients, one of them needs to be watched because if she doesn't slow down with her work then she could go into premature labor." Beth explained. It worried her, the woman knew the risks yet still wanted to continue to work.

"Sounds like a woman I know." Harley said as she slung her shoulder around her best friend. "That woman is stubborn as a mule and so are you."

"Oh Harley Belle, don't tease poor Beth too much." Annette chuckled as Beth rolled her eyes. Annette loved Harley just like a daughter and was the only one the young artist let call by her full name. Annette was also the one that Harley talked to besides Beth. Harley looked to Annette Greene as another mother figure, especially since her mom had died. "Harley how are you doing?"

"I'm doing well Annette. I've been meaning to tell you that Daryl and I are going to be featured in a magazine next month. We were just interviewed and everything." Harley exclaimed, her eyes shining with excitement.

"That's wonderful!" Annette hugged Harley, the two started talking about the article.

Beth and Hershel talked more about her job and how it was going. Soon it was time to go, Harley looked around for Daryl only to see that he slipped out. Beth could see the look of disappointment on Harley's face before it quickly was replaced with a look of indifference and detachment, a look that Harley usually wore. It made Beth furious, Daryl cared about Harley going off without saying anything yet didn't care how she felt about him leaving. Beth dropped Harley off then drove over to the shop. There was only the night manager but Beth didn't acknowledge him, she stormed into Daryl's room. Beth was thankful he didn't have a client but that pissed her off even more.

"What the hell are you thinking?" Beth stood in Daryl's doorway, hands on her hip and almost shaking with anger. Daryl turned to look at Beth, surprised to see her there and even more surprised to see her so pissed off.

"I could ask you the same question." Daryl grunted. Daryl couldn't figure out this woman and it frustrated him. Most people were easy to read, except for his sister but he chalked it up to being a Dixon woman. Beth however, with her long blonde hair and bright blue eyes, constantly managed to surprise him the few times he had met her so far. He thought that she was some spoiled princess when Harley first introduced them but now he was starting to think he was wrong.

"Look, I get that you love your sister but dammit can't you see how you're hurting her!?" Beth glared at the man. Instantly his features went from confused to cold, any of his previous thoughts changed.

"You don't have a fucking clue what you're talking about princess." Daryl snarled, his voice low and intimidating. Most would've backed away and apologized but Beth stood her ground.

"Oh I think I do jackass. I just saw it back there with my own eyes. You're the only family Harley has besides her father. Merle isn't half involved as you are and she sure as hell doesn't look up to him the way she does with you yet I saw the hurt and the disappointment on her face when she couldn't find you back at Maggie and Glenn's party." Beth looked at Daryl and saw him shake his head, scoffing at her.

"I knew she'd be fine. You were there and would be able to take her home." Daryl said like it was an easy explanation.

"You could have at least done the right thing and told her you were leaving dumbass!" Beth yelled at him. "This is the exact same thing Harley does and I know Merle does it too. That doesn't make it right, you know that. Dammit Daryl I care about Harley like she's my sister, I don't want her to feel hurt because her own brother's an idiot."

Daryl cut Beth off. "You better stop princess, you don't know anything. Harley's tough. She don't need me. She's better off without me."

Beth wanted to scream in frustration or punch the man in front of her. She stalked up to Daryl, his eyes widened by her actions.

"Now you listen here Daryl Dixon, Harley is not better off without you. I don't know how many nights I spent while you were away sitting outside of her door listening to her cry herself to sleep. I would talk to her hoping she would talk back. It took me a full week sometimes before she would even utter a word so don't you fucking tell me that she's better off without you because you are sure as hell wrong." Beth seethed with anger. Daryl didn't know what to say, this girl shocked the hell out of him.

"I just thought that because she went off so suddenly…" Daryl trailed off, still unsure to say. The look on Beth's face softened slightly.

"That's what Harley does, it's something that she works out on her own. I suggested it one day to her, instead of blowing up and getting so angry at everyone. I don't know where she goes, you obviously do since you know her so well but it gives her a good chance to calm down." Beth explained. "Look Daryl, I didn't mean to come in here and accuse you of being a bad brother. I just saw Harley hurt and the times I've seen those is when Merle comes to town and takes off suddenly. She looks up to you and I know how close you two are, I didn't want anything to happen and I know that girl won't say anything. She'd act like nothing was wrong until Harley would disappear again."

"I understand, I'll talk to her about it." Daryl shrugged then looked down at the ground. "Uh, thanks for knocking some sense into me I guess."

"No problem." Beth smiled, Daryl was shocked when it seemed like for the first time he noticed how pretty Beth's smile was. "Now if you'll excuse me, I've got to go and try to get some sleep. I have an early shift at the hospital tomorrow. See you later Daryl."

"Yeah, see you later Beth." Daryl thought about Beth Greene. He never expected her to have such a spitfire attitude and such passion towards those she cared about. Daryl couldn't remember if he'd ever seen anyone with eyes like hers, big soulful blue. Inwardly he cursed and pushed back all thoughts of Beth Greene. He had work to do but those blue eyes and blonde hair kept rising up to the forefront of his mind.

Yay, another chapter! So I've been meaning to put this up but I'm currently staying at my aunt's house while my family's house is being renovated (long boring story to that lol) and for some reason my laptop won't detect the wifi my uncle has set up there. So I finally was able to put this chapter up when I had class! Hope you enjoyed it lovelies, until next time!