DPOV

"We'll call the cops, have them come by and do something." I said. Beth shook her head with such force I thought she was gonna break something.

"The cops can't help me. He has connections everywhere."

"What are you going to do?"

"Run. There is nothing else I can do. I have to get as far away from Georgia as I can. I didn't think this was going to happen, I had hoped he would just let me go." She said her voice shaking. "I have to go. I have to leave everything behind."

"Whoa Beth you can't just run every time."

"Daryl last time I ran because I couldn't deal with my own guilt, this time it's not guilt its fear for my life. I am scared, Martinez will kill me and anyone who tries to hide me. Daryl I have to go." She said grabbing her stuff from beside the door. I walked to her grabbing her arm.

"I'm going with you."

"No I can't let you risk your life for me. I will be fine."

"Not a debate Beth, I am going with you I won't let you do this alone." I said cupping her cheeks with my hands. Her face inches from mine, her breathing coming in ragged as she tried to stay calm. "You won't have to do this alone." I whispered. Leaning in I placed a soft kiss to her lips. Pulling away I looked into her deep blue eyes that looked like a clear sky and a hot summer's day.

"Where should we go?"

"I aint never been outta Georgia but now's a good a time as any." I said going over to the counter. I flipped open my phone to shoot Shawn a quick message.

D*Come to the apartment

He replied almost instantly.

S*Be there in 20

I took the few steps to my bedroom and tossed a few things into a bag before rejoining Beth in the living room. She had her cell in her hand and I could hear her quiet goodbyes to her friends. "Ready."

"Let's get out of here." I scribbled a note for Shawn to find when he showed up.

Shawn, you can have the apartment. Beth and I are on the run. Don't call the cops they can't help and leave your family out of it. Will contact you when we can. Daryl

The wind whipped past us as we drove through back country roads on our way out of Georgia, the roar of the engine the only sound. Beth laid her head against my back between my shoulder blades, I could feel her heart beat as she leaned against my back. Her breathing evened out as she fell asleep with her arms wound tightly around my waist. Soon we crossed the state line into Alabama, the early morning commuters making their way onto the roads. A few hours later we were one more state over.

I pulled off to the side of the road at a gas station, Beth roused behind me and slowly stepped off the bike. "Mornin'."

"How long was I out for?" She questioned rubbing her eyes. I stood next to her and stretched out my sore muscles.

"All of Alabama." I chuckled. Her eyes grew huge as she looked around. "We are in Mississippi."

"Damn and I was hoping to see your face as we stepped over the state line for the first time." She laughed.

"Well it looked like my normal face."

"No fun."

"I figure we get some food here and fill the tank and then keep going. We can stop and sleep tonight."

"Daryl you need to get some rest I don't even know when the last time you slept was." She said. I rubbed my hand over my face. "We can stay here for a little while get some proper sleep then keep going. I think we should do the driving at night."

"Alrigh' um lets fill the tank get some food and find a motel."

"Oh god we can't use credit. He can probably trace that and I'm sure he gonna be looking into you as well."

"Don' worry I got tha covered" I told her. After filling the bike we walked across the street to the local diner.

"How far west should we go?" She asked sitting in the booth across from me. The waitress showed up to take our order. After she left I looked up at Beth to reply.

"California maybe."

"Wow all the way." Her big blue eyes shined in the bright florescent light of the 50's style diner. "This is actually kind of exciting. I aint never been to California before."

"You're runnin' for your life and it's exciting?" I questioned confused. Her eyes were bright as she laughed slightly.

"Well I don't think his reach is that far and I am actually really happy you are here. I mean I know you barley know me but…"

"Mmmhm." I replied. The drinks and food arrived in a timely fashion and we kept quiet as we ate.

Finding a motel was pretty simple in this small one light town. "Oh look it's so cute." She said sitting down on the lumpy bed.

"You drinkin' girl?" I chuckled.

"Oh come on. Our situation is pretty dire right now so it's good to see the silver lining in things. Like the fact that we are alone." She dragged her finger nails down my hair lightly sending a shiver through me. Her blue eyes flashed up to me, a darker shade than normal. "I want you Daryl." She said it like a prayer and I could feel myself melting.

Her hands found their way into my shirt, undoing the buttons as her slim fingers moved down towards the button on my jeans. My lips found hers as my hands twisted in her long blond hair. She moaned against my mouth as she removed her own shirt. Snapping the clasp on her bra open she let it fall to the floor. Soon the remainder of our clothes joined the others on the motel room floor.

It didn't take long for us both to find our release. We lay there with our legs tangled together, our lips finding each other's as the light shone through a crack in the curtain. "I could get used to this." She murmured.

"Ya, same here." She looked up at me her smile larger than life itself. She reached up and placed her lips on mine.

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"For coming with me, you could have just let me run off into the night never to be seen or heard from again. No one would blame you for letting me go, I mean it's only been just over week since we met. Even Shawn wouldn't have blamed you for letting me escape." I grunted at her before responding to her.

"I aint gonna let ya go Beth. I aint got the words to really explain it and hell I don't understand it much but I care to much about ya to just let ya go. You're real important to me." I confessed, my face heating up and I'm sure red as a tomato.

"No need to be embarrassed by it Daryl. I feel the same way. I can't really put it all into words but I don't know what I would do without you." We fell asleep shortly after, the sounds of her even breathing lulling me into a dreamless sleep.

"Beth gotta wake up and get on the road." I said shaking her shoulder. I turned to the bathroom to get ready for a long drive tonight. "Beth?" I called when I heard no movement. I zipped my jeans as I went back to the bed. I pulled the covers down and shook her shoulder once again. Gasping she shot straight out of the bed. I caught her before she could hit the floor. "Beth. Beth you okay?"

"Daryl?" She gasped out as a question. "It was so awful, he… he found us and he… he killed." I pulled her into a tight embrace and kissed the side of her head.

"Shh. Beth he aint gonna kill ya." I soothed. Her shaking slowed down.

"He killed you." She said deadpan.

"He aint gonna kill me. I won't let him." I told her, looking into her eyes. "I'm gonna keep you safe Beth. I won't let anything happen to you." I vowed.

She quickly made her way into the bathroom to get dressed. I walked to the window and pulled the curtain back slightly to view the parking lot. Two men stood near my bike clad in black leather jackets and dark jeans. They scanned the area looking for any sign of us. "Shit."

"What's wrong?"

"Two of his men are outside."

"What are we gonna do?" She questioned the fear returning to her voice.

"We need a new vehicle and we need to find another way out of here."

I don't think I have ever updated a story so often before. I hope you all enjoy this chapter as things are heating up in the drama department. I originally thought this story would only be about 7 or so chapters, however now that it's basically writing it's self it will be longer. Now let's see if our favourite couple actually make it to the great state of California.

Let me know what you think. I love your reviews they apparently make me write faster.

Tell me which of our fave characters you want to see pop up in this story at some point on their journey.

Also thank you to arrowsandangles and daryldixonslover and lizziekat15 for their faithful reviews each chapter. I love opening my inbox and seeing a review from you. For those who haven't checked out their stories I highly recommend you do!

Much love fellow readers and writers