Note: Hello everyone! Once again life managed to get in the way of my writing, both when it comes to this fic as well as Endurance. Either way, I finally finished this chapter today and I decided to post it immediately so I apologize for any spelling mistakes that might have made their way in there. I really hope it makes up for lost time, even though there's quite a bit of dialogue in the beginning of it. However, towards the end, I let Beth and Daryl do their speaking with actions rather than actual words, he he he...
Also, special thanks to I. A. Turner who read Blink and suggested I listen to the song "Silhouette" by Aquillo. I can without a doubt say that the song fit perfectly to the story and served as a source of inspiration for my feels as I wrote the final scenes of this chapter. I strongly suggest you listen to it, because it was on repeat as I wrote a certain scene! ;) If any of you have any suggestions on songs, feel free to sent them my way!
Please enjoy and thank you once again for your support and understanding!
A Sharp Intake Of Breath (And A Memory Forgotten)
Chapter 9
It took a while for the gates to open and Beth waited with anticipation. She came to stand next to Daryl, wanting nothing more than to reach out for his hand, but she knew that they needed to be alert now more than ever. The sound of children laughing and playing could still be heard and it made Beth feel funny inside. It was a good sign, of course, but she still couldn't shake the fact that it all seemed too good to be true.
Aaron walked around the two of them and stepped closer to the gate.
"It's me, Aiden! Open up!" he called out.
Beth listened intently, hearing voices and whistles on the other side of the wall and then, finally, the gate was being pulled open. She held her gun tightly in her hand and Daryl kept his crossbow aimed at the two men who appeared on the other side of the wall. They were carrying weapons as well, but by the way that they were holding them, Beth was sure that they weren't the best at using them. There was something about their stance that told her that they were uncertain about them but at the same time, they both carried smug faces which she assumed meant that they thought they were better than others.
"That's Aiden and Nicholas," Aaron explained to them quietly. "Aiden is Deanna and Reg's oldest son and he thinks he runs the place just because he stands guard at the gate. Nicholas is his right hand man."
Beth frowned, "They look confident."
"They're harmless asshats," Aaron declared, shaking his head. "As I said, Deanna is the one in charge and she doesn't let them get out of hand."
"We jus' s'posed to take your word on it?" Daryl asked.
"Yes," Aaron nodded. "I promise that you'll be treated right."
"This ain't prom night," Daryl told him. "We're checkin' this place out for our family, not just for us. Y'all gotta treat us like ya normally would. Don't want no ass-kissin' bein' done just to get us to stay."
Aaron chuckled at that, "Trust me. No one here is going to kiss anyone's ass."
Beth hadn't known Aaron for very long, but so far he hadn't lied to them. She didn't think he'd have a reason to start now.
"Aaron," Aiden said as he approached them. Beth narrowed her eyes slightly when she noticed his eyes flicker over to her as he took her in. Aaron's assessment of him being an asshat sure seemed right so far.
"Aiden," Aaron nodded at him. "Has everything been okay here?"
"Calm as always," Aiden answered. "Had a run-in with a couple of rotters during a run, but we all made it back all right."
"Good to hear," Aaron said. "This is Daryl and Beth. I met them a couple of miles back. Brought them here so they can check the place out and have a talk with Deanna."
"Mom has been in her office all morning," Aiden told him. "I'll take you to her as soon as you hand over your weapons." He looked pointedly at the gun Beth was holding and then turned his attention on Daryl's crossbow. "All firearms must be handed over," he said. "That's one of our main rules here when it comes to new people."
Beth glanced in Daryl's direction. He was still watching Aiden and Nicholas with a suspicious glare. She had known that this wasn't going to be easy; not for her and certainly not for Daryl. They had been on their own for so long and before that, they had only had their family. The only people they had come across before they had headed out on the road had been bad people. Beth was still haunted by bad dreams about John and his group who had attacked them on the farm. The encounter had been what had finally made her realize her deep feelings for Daryl, but back then, he had denied her out of fear. Shortly after that though, they had found their way to one another and after deciding on being together, they were never separated again. She was tired of the small arguments that they had been having and she couldn't help but feel grateful over the fact that Aaron had somehow managed to push them together again. When he had shown up, Beth had already told Daryl that she wanted to stop fighting, but the stranger's presence had made them reconnect as a unit again. She knew very well that her and Daryl would be uncomfortable in Alexandria at first, but if they were going to make things work for their family, they would need to fit in.
"Okay," Beth nodded at Aiden. She looked at Daryl and he gave her a look. He was searching her face like he always did. He didn't even look away from her as he spoke.
"The crossbow stays with me," he told Aiden.
"As long as you don't shoot someone with it and unload it, that should be fine," Aiden said.
"Mhm…" Daryl hummed, lowering the bow and removing the bolt that he had been keeping secured there. "Y'all gonna let us in or are we gonna stay out here all day long?"
"Right," Aaron cleared his throat. He reached out to Beth and she placed her gun in his hand.
"I'm keeping my knife," she told him and he nodded.
"Understandable," he said. "It's just guns that we don't like people having inside the walls. There are reasons for it too, but you'll see that you won't be needing weapons here."
"Weapons are always needed," Daryl muttered, but if Aaron or anyone else had heard him, they seemed to ignore his comment.
"Follow me, my lady," Aiden said, lowering his head in a half-bow toward Beth. She frowned, not knowing whether he was mocking her or something else.
"I'm not a lady," she glared at him. "At least not yours." Her thoughts traveled to Morgan and her heart suddenly clenched painfully in her chest. She missed him, so much and despite knowing that they had a job to do, she could hardly wait until the moment they would be reunited again. Although, she hoped that they were all doing okay back at the farm, since they hadn't been able to keep in contact with them through their radios.
She heard Daryl snort behind her and she knew that he must have been amused by her comment. Aiden looked a bit taken aback while Aaron seemed pleased. Nicholas, who had remained quiet, actually laughed, but Beth kept her face perfectly impassive as she followed them through the gates.
-§-
Daryl followed after Beth and the smug looking bastards. He had loved the way that Beth had handled the situation because he knew that she had put Aiden in his place instantly. A part of him couldn't wait to get her alone and talk to her about everything that was going on, but he knew that he needed to stay focused. Aiden, Nicholas and Aaron were taking them to meet with the woman in charge. Aaron hung back a bit with him and told him that he'd be talking to Deanna first. He would explain the situation to the woman and after that, she would probably want to talk to Beth and Daryl separately.
"It will be like an interview for a new job," Aaron explained.
Daryl clenched his jaw, "We ain't gonna be separated. Ya best tell her that."
"Okay," Aaron said. "I'm going to vouch for you guys, so I really hope that I'm right about you."
Daryl nodded at him and fought the urge to reassure the man that they weren't going to stab him in the back if he really had put his faith in them. There was something about Aaron that made it easy to trust him, but that only made him even more dangerous. They couldn't let their guard down.
They were taken to a big house. Daryl took in the surroundings, silently noting all the houses in his mind. It was a big community, that was for sure. As they walked through the streets, children who had previously been playing stopped to look at them curiously. Some whispered, clearly intrigued by the strangers coming in, but Daryl tried to pay them no mind.
Once inside, they were instructed to wait in the hallway. Aaron was inside Deanna's office for a good twenty minutes before he exited. He told them that they were welcome to go in and that he would wait for them outside. Daryl looked at Beth who thanked Aaron and then reached out for his hand. He let her take it, wanting to feel connected to her in some way. They were going into that office as a united front and even though Deanna would be asking them questions, they were going to get their answers as well.
As they stepped into the office, Daryl instantly put his focus on the older woman who was sitting behind the desk in the middle of the room. She looked up at them, removing a pair of reading glasses as she stood up, offering them a smile.
"Beth and Daryl," Deanna said. "My name is Deanna Monroe."
Daryl tightened his grip on Beth's hand, feeling as if he had been taken to the principal's office all of the sudden. He wasn't really sure what he was supposed to say to her, but he knew how important it was to find out more about the Safe Zone.
"Welcome," Deanna said, nodding at them again. She didn't look awkward at all. In fact, she looked as if she was in her own element. It was clear that she was a person with authority in the community. "If you would please follow me, we can step over to the couch. It's far more comfortable," she told them.
"Yes, please," Beth said politely, but Daryl could hear the reservation in her tone. It was barely there, but he was so in tune with her now that he just knew.
"Follow me," Deanna smiled at Beth. She led them to the couch on the far side of the room. In the middle of the table, there were a couple of cups and containers as well as a teapot. "Would either of you like some tea?"
Daryl grimaced as if she had just offered him a cup of poison. He shook his head quietly, his fingers tightening around Beth's.
"No thank you," Beth said, still keeping her tone polite.
"In any case, please sit down," Deanna said, sitting down in one of the armchairs. She motioned to the couch so that the two of them could sit down next to one another. Beth took her seat and Daryl followed, not taking his eyes off of Deanna as she prepared a cup of tea for herself. The smell of chamomile filled the room and Daryl tried his best to ignore it. He had never liked tea, but after not seeing it in years, the aroma was inviting. He looked around the room before once more settling his eyes on Deanna.
She was a small woman, looking professional and what some might have considered proper before the Turn. They had had a good thing going back at the farm, but even then, most of them worked so hard around the house that they dirtied up pretty quickly. Deanna looked as if she hadn't spent a single day out in the wild since the Outbreak had happened and Daryl didn't feel entirely comfortable with it.
"We don't usually do interviews like this," Deanna said, glancing over at them to observe them for a moment.
"So we've been told," Beth nodded and Daryl couldn't help but notice how terse she sounded all of the sudden. He wondered if Beth too had picked up on the look that the other woman had given them. It had only been there for a split second, but disappeared quickly behind a facade of politeness.
"I'll have you know that if it wasn't for me trusting Aaron's judgment, I would never have agreed to it," Deanna stated, taking a sip of her tea. "Now, would you two mind if we record this conversation? It's protocol because we like having something to look back at when we evaluate later on."
"Who's 'we' an' what are y'all gonna be evaluatin'?" Daryl wondered, wanting to get straight to the point.
Deanna looked at him and her lips twitched. "Well, in this community, everyone pulls their weight one way or another. We make things work by giving everyone a job. A social structure is important to have in every functioning community. Alexandria is no different," Deanna explained.
"So this will be like a job interview then?" Beth asked.
"In a way, yes," Deanna said. "It will help me and my husband, Reg, decide on where you'll be fit to work, based on your history." She gave Daryl a pointed look, as if trying to tell him that she had answered his question too regarding who she was referring to. "So, do you mind if I record?" she asked again, holding up a small remote as she pointed at a camera that had been placed on a stand behind her, pointing at the couch.
"Go ahead," Daryl muttered. "We ain't gonna stop ya."
Deanna smiled, pressing a button and Daryl watched as the camera began blinking red. "Now, Daryl and Beth. Any last name I should put to your names?" she asked.
"Dixon and Greene," Daryl replied. "Daryl Dixon and Beth Greene."
"Not related?" Deanna wondered, quirking an eyebrow at her.
"Related in every way but blood," Beth said, giving Daryl another reassuring squeeze with her hand that was still clutching his. "We're family."
"I see," Deanna said. "Did you know one another before the Outbreak?"
"No," Daryl responded. He hated being asked questions like this but he had told himself time and time and again that he was going to play along.
"Remarkable," she noted. "You seem awfully close."
"Have ya ever been out there?" Daryl asked, narrowing his eyes at her.
"Me, my husband and out two sons came to this place shortly after the first reports of the Outbreak came out," she shared. "This was a planned community with it's own solar grid, cisterns, eco-based sewage filtration."
"Sounds too good to be true," Beth pointed out. "It looks picture perfect, the way you're making it out to be."
"It is what you see," Deanna assured. "I was a congressperson in Ohio, 15th district. My family and I were on our way back to Ohio when the army stopped us on a back road and directed us here."
"The army?" Daryl watched her carefully, trying to see if she was lying or exaggerating anything. She was a politician, after all. Or she had been, before.
"They were supposed to come later," Deanna told him, a dark look briefly crossing her face. "They didn't." Silence filled the room for a moment while Deanna reached for her tea and took another sip. She turned back to Daryl and watched him for a moment. It was clear that she was already evaluating him. "What did you do before the Outbreak?" Deanna questioned.
Daryl's stomach felt as if someone had forced him to eat a giant stone, but he tried to stay neutral. "Why's it matter?"
"Oh, it matters," Deanna said.
"Daryl's good with his hands," Beth said before he had a chance to speak again. "He's good at fixing things, I mean." There was a slight blush to her cheeks and for a brief moment, his mind went back to all the times he had used his hands on her.
He swallowed thickly, trying to force the memories away because this was not the time to start sporting a hard-on.
"Like a mechanic or a carpenter?"
Daryl shook his head at Deanna's question. He wasn't going to hide who he had been. The truth always had a way of coming out and he knew that if they were going to make Alexandria work for them, he would need to show Deanna just who he was.
"Nah, I ain't ever had no fancy degree or nothin'," he told her. "Picked up things easily. Learned along the way. Did an odd job every now or then just to keep food on the table."
"Did you have a family? A wife? Children?"
"No," he said, clenching his jaw. "It was just me an' my brother. He's dead, but I got family now. Beth's my family."
"And the others of your group," Deanna added. "The ones that you left behind somewhere. Aaron wasn't able to give me any information on them, but from what I've gathered, you want to see if Alexandria would be a sustainable place for all of you. Am I correct?"
"My sister is pregnant," Beth said. "We've had a good place for a long time, but it's not going to work out much longer. There's not much left in the woods to hunt among other things."
"Hunt? You hunt?"
"We both do, but Daryl is the one who taught me," Beth said, a genuine smile showing up on her face as she turned to look at him. He glanced at her and his own lips twitched. He wasn't able to help it; she'd always have that effect on him.
The conversation continued for a while. Daryl gave enough answers but Beth gave more. They told Deanna what they wanted and the fact that they weren't completely comfortable with sharing everything about their family. The main facts, such as numbers of people and how many women, men and children were with them had to be disclosed. At the end of the interview, Deanna was looking more and more pleased with them, which actually surprised Daryl. He wasn't exactly sure what the woman would gain in having them in the Safe Zone, but if she was willing to give them a house to stay in for the time being, he would be happy enough.
"Well then," Deanna said, clasping her hands together. She pushed off the couch and walked over to the camera, turning it off. "I believe I have everything I need for now. Reginald and I will look at the footage, but from what I can see so far, Aaron was right about the two of you."
"Does that mean that our terms will be met?" Beth asked.
"Yes," Deanna nodded. "You and Daryl will be able to stay here for as long as you want until you decide that it's safe for your family. After that, you're free to leave and bring your people back."
"Really? Jus' like that?" Daryl frowned.
"Yes, Mr. Dixon. Just like that," Deanna said. "I think you'll be a great fit if you just give yourself some time to adjust. I understand that it will be different here than anywhere else you've stayed before, but I can promise you that you won't regret it."
"Deanna," Beth said, "we've been through a lot and so has our family. We understand that it'll take time, but we need to know that you're really goin' to keep your word."
"I swear on my life," Deanna told her.
"What's in it for you then?" Daryl asked her.
Deanna looked away for a moment, crossing her arms over her chest. "To be honest with you, I have been thinking for a good while to step down as a leader," she admitted. "Unfortunately, the people inside the community are not strong enough to be put in such a position. I need strong people to help me."
"Ya wanna take in people from the outside? People ya don't even know?" Daryl's frown deepened.
"I know how it sounds," Deanna said. "I'm not saying that I will be giving away the control of Alexandria to anyone, just that it would be a good thing to have people from the outside, inside. Who's to say that you or Beth won't be the ones in charge of the community in two years? There's no way of telling, but what I do know is that I need capable people. I need people who know what's out there and who will be willing to defend what is theirs." A look of suspicion must have crossed his face because Deanna smiled again, "It's a figure of speech, Mr. Dixon."
Daryl offered her nothing more than a curt nod. It all still seemed too good to be true, but for now, he would roll with it.
Deanna told them that she had already assigned them one of the smaller houses since it was only the two of them. Aaron was going to show them there and before they left, Deanna once again expressed how glad she was that they had come to Alexandria. Daryl followed Beth's example and thanked the older woman for her kindness in the politest tone he could muster, but even that one was gruff. It didn't seem to matter much though, because Deanna still smiled at him and nodded appreciatively.
Aaron looked a bit nervous when he first saw them after they walked back out into the hallway. It was apparent that he hadn't been entirely sure about how Deanna was going to receive them, but as soon as Beth told him that they had been permitted to stay, a smile spread across his lips. He held up a pair of keys and told them to follow him once more and Daryl made no noise as they walked through the streets. His crossbow was still draped over his back, but from what he had been able to see so far of the community, there didn't seem to be much of a threat there. Sure, the Alexandrians had numbers, but none of the people that Daryl had seen and met so far screamed 'fighter', which was why he could understand Deanna's concerns for the community. If they were going to last and make things work, they would need strong people who knew how to fight and protect the weaker ones inside the Zone. Not only that, but bringing in people like Beth and himself would mean that they could train the ones that who were strong enough to fight, but had never had the opportunity to. Daryl knew that it would take time to get used to everything in Alexandria. Having a bigger community to protect made him think about the prison and all the things that had occurred there. He didn't want to get attached to new faces, but it was inevitable. Sooner or later, depending on whether they stayed or not, he would begin to take responsibility for the people of Alexandria. If and when that time came, he knew that he would do all that he could to not lose anyone, although, Beth and his family, would always be his first priority.
-§-
Beth walked up the steps to the house that Aaron had led them to. It wasn't at all as small as Deanna had made it out to be. Sure, there were bigger houses inside the Safe Zone that she had seen, but the house in front of her could surely fit a whole family and not just two people. Her stomach felt heavy as she walked up the steps to the porch, thinking about her sister and the others that they had left behind. The more time she spent inside the safety of the big wall, the more she wondered if they were still all right.
The keys that Aaron had given her were a weight in her hand. Daryl was following behind her and Aaron had told her that someone would come by in a bit with some supplies. He had also told her that he and his partner Eric lived two houses down from them. Strangely enough, it made Beth feel more comfortable to know that there was someone close by who she knew wasn't a bad person. She had yet to meet Eric, but if he was anything like Aaron, she knew that she was going to like him as well.
She turned the key and let the door swing open. Daryl's hand came to rest on her shoulder and she glanced at him, but his eyes were set straight ahead. He pulled her back slightly and Beth felt too tired to object as he walked inside and made a quick sweep of the place. She waited patiently until she heard his signal whistle, which told her that it was safe.
It was a two-story house, with a big living room that was connected to the kitchen. There was a fireplace in the corner that made Beth think about the cabin back home; the place where she and Daryl had first gotten together. In the kitchen, she turned on the sink, looking up at Daryl when she realized that they had running water as well as electricity. So far, what Deanna had told them had been true. She continued walking through the house, as if in trance, taking it all in. There was one small bedroom downstairs as well as a bathroom. Upstairs, there was one big bedroom which Beth assumed was the master bedroom as well as a separate office room. The bathroom upstairs was bigger than the one downstairs and contained a bathtub which could be used as a shower as well. Beth almost sighed to herself as she imagined soaking herself in hot water, but instantly, the guilt crept back into her as she thought of her family.
She walked back into the master bedroom and opened the closet, surprised to see that there were actual clothes there. Reaching inside, she grabbed one of the sweaters and held it up to inspect before holding it to her nose and inhaling deeply. It had been washed recently, but she could tell that it had belonged to someone once. It looked familiar and she closed her eyes for a moment, sorting through the memories that had returned to her a while back. There were still blind spots, things that she wasn't sure of and things that she didn't know if she would ever get back.
Feeling eyes on her, she turned around and faced Daryl, who looked uncertain. He was dirty, far more than she was. She had gotten used to it, but now that they had running water and were supposed to try to make this thing work in Alexandria, she knew that they would need to get clean too.
"I think my mom had one of these," she told him, voicing her earlier thoughts.
Daryl met her eyes and she knew that he could sense the wave of sadness that rolled through her. Slowly, he walked up to her and reached up to take the sweater from her. He looked at the colors and his lips twitched, "'S pretty colorful." Beth couldn't help but let out a small laugh, leaning into him so that she could press her forehead against his chest. He rested his chin on the top of her head, his hand coming to rest on her hip. "We should clean up," he said after a moment. "Some woman was just here an' gave us a bunch of shit. Soap, shampoo… Fresh towels."
"I didn't hear anyone," Beth said.
"I was checkin' the back when she came knockin'. Said her name was Jessie an' offered me a haircut. Told her I didn't need one," he muttered.
Beth laughed again, shaking her head at him. She knew he was right though. They didn't know anyone inside the Safe Zone properly yet, so it would be wise not to let anyone get too close with a pair of scissors during their first day there.
"She say anythin' else?" Beth asked.
"Jus' that Aaron was gonna help me get some of our stuff into the house," he replied. He pulled back a bit and looked at her, "Ya can have a shower first, if ya wanna?"
Beth paused for a brief second, her fingers finding purchase in Daryl's belt loops. "Was thinkin', you should join me," she said, pulling slightly so that they were more firmly pressed against one another.
"Ya really think this is the time?" he asked, but she didn't fail to notice the way that his eyes darkened and he leaned into her a bit.
She thumbed the skin of his stomach, just above his jeans for a moment before putting both her hands flat against his abdomen. "I think now is as good a time as any," she admitted. "We're safe."
He looked as if he wanted to say something to counter her, but Beth knew that there was nothing to be said. Instead, she let her hands roam to his back for a moment, feeling his hot skin beneath her palms as she pushed up on her toes and pressed her lips to his.
At first, he didn't do anything but tighten his grip on her hip and press his lips back against hers. She moved her hands slowly over his back, tracing the scars that she had memorized as he opened his mouth, allowing her to deepen the kiss. Her insides fluttered as soon as his tongue met hers; she had missed him, so much. Being able to be intimate with him without having to rush anything and just take their time with one another… It made her feel more than she would ever be able to express. She brought her hands back to his front, pushing off his leather vest as she began walking him backwards to the door that connected the bedroom to the bathroom. Daryl let out a groan against her lips as he reached for her own jacket, unzipping it and removing it from her body. Beth pulled away from him for just a moment, grabbing her own shirt by the hem and lifting it off of herself. Daryl quickly did the same to his and started on his belt. Beth kicked off her boots and struggled with her pants for a moment. She heard Daryl chuckle and looked up at him, her cheeks crimson as he watched her. He was down to his wifebeater and boxers already and she wanted to punch him for looking so smug just because he was faster at undressing than her.
"Your pants aren't as tight as mine," Beth glared.
He only chuckled again, reaching inside the shower. Turning on the water, he pulled off his wifebeater and reached over to the small basket of things which Beth realized he must have brought in there while she had been in a daze. He pulled out a bottle of shampoo and an unopened box of condoms. Beth blushed when she realized that someone must have instructed the woman Jessie to bring them those. They hadn't been explicitly clear to Deanna regarding the nature of their relationship, but Beth was sure the woman had understood enough.
Beth shook her head, not wanting to think about Deanna or Aaron or anyone else. All she wanted was Daryl and he was right in front of her, waiting for her. Finally, she got her jeans and socks off and instantly, she moved closer to just her bra and underwear she smiled at him as she stepped past him, pulling her hair tie from her hair as she walked straight into the shower, releasing her hair as she went. They would need to change out of their dirty clothes anyway and wash them, so she wasn't bothered by the fact that she got soaked through the moment she walked under the spray of water.
She heard him open the box of condoms, but she turned her back to him as she stepped into the shower after her. He held the square foil pack in his hand, putting it on the small shelf inside the shower as well as the bottle of shampoo and the soap. She watched him over her shoulder as she reached up to unhook her bra, but his hands found hers and pushed them away lightly. His rough hands moved over her shoulder blades, pressing gently and Beth's head dropped back as she released a low moan. His touch set her ablaze and his heat along with the warmth of the water cascading down on her made her feel relaxed and wound tight all at the same time. Daryl's hand brushed away her hair as he leaned closer to her, pressing his lips to the exposed side of her neck. She felt him unhook her bra and then slowly trail his fingers up her arms to her straps. Slowly, he pulled them down, releasing her breasts as she turned her head to him so that he could press his lips to hers. Her hands found his and she guided them up to her chest before she reached behind herself, grabbing the elastic band of his boxers, pulling on them. His arousal pressed hard against her lower back as his hips jerked forward. The last time they had been together had been in the car after they had both almost lost their lives. Back then, it had been all about making sure they were still alive. Now, it was about living, together.
She managed to push his wet boxers off of his hips and as he stepped out of them, she turned in his arms, wrapping her arms around his neck. He reached down and tugged off her panties. Before she could step out of them though, he gently pushed her backwards, wrapping his hands underneath her thighs. Daryl lifted her up and Beth found her back being pressed against the cold tiles of the shower wall. She hissed, but he silenced her sounds by kissing her, deeper than before, his tongue moving languidly against her own. He was using his own body to keep her up and Beth sighed against him as she felt him pressing against her. She could feel heat low in her belly and she smiled against him when she remembered that he was yet to touch her where she most wanted him to. The way he affected her amazed her sometimes.
"Daryl," she breathed against his lips, pulling away so that she look at him. She grinned, reaching up to push back his hair that had plastered against his forehead. He shook his head and leaned back a bit so that the water from the showerhead could soak him fully. "I'll wash your hair soon, but first…" Beth trailed off. Daryl slowly loosened his grip on her and her feet once again met the bottom of the tub. He stepped back and she drew her lower lip between her teeth as she watched him observe her. His gaze felt like fire licking her skin; making her even hotter than before. He walked over to the shelf and grabbed the foil pack, fumbling to get it open. She wanted to tell him to leave it because she needed him too much and it was taking too much time, but they had already been reckless once and they couldn't risk anything now. Maybe some day.
Daryl finally managed to open the condom package and rolled on the rubber over his hard length. He let out a sound that once again almost made Beth laugh, because he sounded so relieved and she couldn't remember a time when she had last heard him sound like that. His predatory look stopped her mid-laugh though and he quickly closed the distance between them again, kissing her hard and needy.
"Ya need more, or…?" he whispered against her and Beth was quick to shake her head.
"I just need you," she told him. He nodded and kissed her lightly again before lifting her once more. Beth wrapped her arms around him, pressing her face into the side of his neck as he lined himself up. A low moan escaped her lips when he began pressing into her, one glorious inch at a time. By the time that he was fully buried inside of her, she felt ready to burst. It had been too long since she had felt this connected with him. He panted heavily against her ear, whispering questions to her about whether she was okay or not. She wanted to cry, feeling ready to combust from the raw emotion she was feeling.
"I love you," Beth said. She needed to say it because she had never felt it more deeply than she did now. "I love you so much."
"Love you too," Daryl returned, pulling out of her painfully slow before entering her again with a quick, hard stroke. Beth cried out, her nails digging into his back and his hair as she held him tightly. There was hardly any room to move because she had her legs wrapped tightly around his waist, wanting him as close as possible, but somehow, they were making it work. Feeling his thick length slide in and out of her, the hotness in her core kept building. She felt as if she was on fire and she closed her eyes, taking in the sound of their wet skin slapping together, the water hitting the shower floor and Daryl's low groans by her ear.
His hands found her ass and she gasped as he gripped her tightly and pushed into her harder and faster than before. He was close, she could feel it. She was soaking wet, both from the shower and from Daryl's ministrations. Her toes curled as he hit that one spot deep inside of her and she threw her head back and let out a deep moan. Daryl pressed his lips against her throat, his movements quick as he pounded into her, chasing his own release. His thrusts became harder until she felt him reach his climax inside of her. He kept thrusting, but his movements were shallow and more of a way to draw out their pleasure than anything else. Beth tightened her grip around him and pressed her forehead to his shoulder. Daryl mirrored her as he rested his against her bare chest, his hips still pressed tightly against hers as he stopped moving. They panted and breathed one another in for a moment and when Daryl softened inside of her, Beth kept holding him tightly against her, not wanting to let go just yet. And Daryl, he didn't seem to mind at all.
-§-
Daryl observed Beth quietly as she pulled on one of the only clean shirt he had left. Aaron had dropped by shortly after they had finished with their shower and offered to accompany Daryl to their car to get whatever it was that they needed there. Daryl was only glad that the man hadn't come by sooner, because he and Beth had been too preoccupied with one another in the shower to have heard anyone knocking.
He had brought back their two bigger packs, but left all the supplies they had gathered along the way in the truck. Whenever they decided on heading back to their family, the supplies would be safely locked in there. Aaron had assured him that no one would be going near their truck.
Beth had put on his shirt as soon as she had seen that Aaron had brought clean clothes with him for the two of them. Daryl knew that he was exhausted, but he wasn't sure whether he would be able to get any sleep tonight. Still, the only thing he hoped now was that Beth would rest up. Before they had had sex, he had found her staring at a sweater and he couldn't help but feel for her when she had shared that the clothing item had brought back memories of her mother. He had been able to feel her sadness and he had wanted nothing more than to comfort her. She had taken the reigns though and they had ended up in the shower together. Daryl had no regrets. He couldn't have any because he realized that he had needed to feel her close as much as she had needed him. He had pulled on a pair of sweatpants that Aaron had brough him and a cotton t-shirt. His crossbow was on the side-table next to the bed, close enough to reach if anyone broke in or tried to kill them while they slept. He would be damned if he let his guard down tonight, but he wasn't going to say anything to Beth about it. Sure, Aaron and Deanna had seemed like people who could be trusted, but he hadn't liked the way that Aiden had looked at Beth and he didn't even know anyone else in the Zone. It wasn't worth the risk to relax too soon.
Beth pulled back the soft comforter and laid down under it finally. Daryl sighed to himself and stood up so that he could pull back the cover on his own side and slip into the bed next to her. He laid on his side and she rested on her back. Leaning down, he kissed her softly.
"It feels too good to be true," Beth said when they pulled apart, voicing his thoughts, He nodded but kissed her again before she turned to lay on her side. He pulled her closer, wrapping his arm around her. His hand found the skin of her stomach, feeling her warmth as he closed his eyes and breathed in the scent of her clean hair which she had put up in a braid for the night. Her shirt had slipped down her shoulder, exposing her skin and he couldn't help but kiss her shoulder, trying to reassure her.
"We'll be good," he said, not fully knowing whether it was for his own comfort or hers.
Note: Phew! So, what did you guys think? I always get so nervous about posting smut, but I hope that it was okay enough. I have to say one more thing though. I'll be going on vacation on June 27 and I'll be gone until July 6. That means that I won't be able to do any actual writing until I get back. Even then, I'll be working every day of July, but I'll try my best to write every night and morning until I finish this story and Endurance as well. My goal right now is to post another chapter of Endurance before I leave on vacation, so any word of encouragement is highly appreciated. I love you guys. Thank you so much for all of your support! Until next time! :) xx
P.S. Blink was a part of the Bethyl Book Club this year in UltimateBethylFiclist's forum. The re-read has already been done, but you can still go into the discussion and post your thoughts as well as ask any questions regarding the fic! Check it out if you have time. There are a bunch of great fics being discussed there! ;) Otherwise, you can always PM me on my tumblr (author123456) or contact me on my twitter (Sugar_Pepper666) to ask questions or keep up with what I'm doing! :)
