AN: Just my many many thanks up here. Longer note at the bottom. Thank you to UlitmateBethylFicList, SirensCalling, Suzisnowflake, Guest, Trixieviv, 2carlaa, Carowen, DarylDixon'sLover, An Amber Pen, fieryandpassionate, rckyfrk, BetaGirl09, heatherrk, Gabs, Mirsa, and Daryl Dixon's Redhead for leaving reviews! I love them all!

Buckle up this one is two chapters in one.

Chapter 22

They walked several blocks to the bar. The stairs led below street level and opened up into an extravagant and sophisticated seating area. There were couches lining the walls with tables and chairs on the across from it. The walls were lined with red and gold wallpaper and your eye was drawn to the large fireplace that was against the wall opposite of the bar. If Daryl hadn't just left the suite at the hotel, he would have assumed this was the nicest place he'd ever been to.

A woman greeted them at the door and told them to take a seat anywhere and someone would be by to take care of them. Beth took his hand and dragged him over to a corner seat, those seeming to be her favorite, and sat down on the couch. Daryl sat down across from her and before he had a chance to get comfortable a perky waitress appeared seemingly out of nowhere next to them.

"Hi! Welcome to The Dove! What brings you two out today?" Daryl looked from the waitress to Beth who was beaming from ear to ear.

"Our first date." She stated matter of factly.

"Oh! That's great! The Dove has seen many first dates at these tables! We'll make sure you two are well taken care of." The girl smiled down at them. "First round is on the house. What can I get you?"

"Vodka and diet, please." Beth responded and looked at Daryl.

"Bourbon on the rocks." The waitress nodded and skipped away happily. Beth watched her walk away and turned back to Daryl laughing.

"That was interesting." Daryl muttered, clearly embarrassed.

"I've read up on this place after someone told me about it. It's said to be the best place in all of New York for first dates and offers reservations for engagement parties. I liked the name, obviously." Beth smiled sweetly. Daryl nodded, understanding completely.

The waitress came back over with their drinks and stooped down to Daryl's ear. "The house band is going to start playing soon. You might want to sit next to her on the couch so you can hear her better." She stood and winked at him and hopped away again. Daryl shook his head with a smirk on his face.

"What'd she say?" Beth asked curiously. Daryl chuckled at her and stood up from his chair. Beth watched his movements closely and he couldn't stop the smirk from turning into a smile when her eyes widened a bit when he moved to sit next to her. Without hesitation, she moved over to make room, pushing her into the corner.

"House band will be playing soon. Said I'd hear ya better from over here." Daryl tried not to notice the hand Beth placed on his leg as she leaned closer to him.

"How thoughtful of her." She giggled. "So, tell me what happened after you left." Beth wasted no time in getting right to the point. Daryl grabbed his drink and downed it quickly.

"Why ya wanna know?" Daryl said, trying to dodge the question.

"I'm just curious. You don't have to tell me if ya don't want." She said reassuringly.

"What about you? What'd ya do?" He wanted to turn the attention off of himself. She took a deep breath and took a small sip of her own drink before she looked back at him.

"If I tell you, you have to tell me." She proposed. He shrugged his shoulders and nodded his head. "Ok. Well, when I got out of the shower Michonne cornered me and demanded that I tell her that you took advantage of me. We argued for a while and I damn near fired her for making it sound like you raped me. When I finally got her to calm down a bit she told me Zach died. I called Maggie and she came up to keep me company while Glenn dealt with the press and label. I told Michonne to keep Andre out of the hotel during the days for a little while and enjoy the town. So Maggie and I sat around talking. I tried to call you once, to let you know I was sorry after Rick told us you quit but you didn't answer. Then I just stayed inside and waited for the concert. It was about all I had to look forward to. Kinda pathetic, I know. But I just didn't feel like doing anything since I assumed I'd made you feel cheap."

"Don't sound like much of a good time." He muttered shamefully. The waitress came back over with a fresh bourbon and sat it down with a wink in front of him. Beth thanked her before she could make her retreat. "Guess it's my turn." She took another sip, this one much larger than the last, and placed her hand back on his leg waiting for him to continue. He assumed it was her way of making him feel comfortable.

"Rented a car and drove back to Georgia. Had Rick meet me at the condo and told him everything." He stopped and chuckled for a moment. "Worst conversation I've ever had. Ain't never told no one about sleepin' with a woman before. Not even my own brother. So, I told him I was gunna quit and went back to Kentucky. Dave's got the framework up on the bar."

"That's great!" Beth exclaimed.

"Yeah, he should have it back up in another month or so. But he…" Daryl trailed off, not entirely sure how he wanted to tell her this next part, the part that was shamefully eating away at him. That the reason he came back was because he had no other choice and it wasn't solely about her. "Shit…" He mumbled.

"It's ok, Daryl. Just tell me." She squeezed his thigh which caused his breath to hitch in his throat. He put his hand on hers and moved it further down his leg.

"Dave said I needed to get back to ya. Said I didn't have a job with him anymore. I didn't have anywhere else to go an' I sure as hell didn't wanna go back to Georgia. So I came back." He waited for his words to sink in and the slap to the face that was sure to come.

"So it wasn't because you wanted to?" She looked like tears would fall from her eyes at any second.

"I did." He squeezed her hand tighter. "Hated myself as soon as I got on the interstate. I took the easy way out and Dave called me on my shit." Her face changed from one of hurt, to one of understanding.

"He gave you the push you needed." Daryl nodded. "Alright, let's try this thing again, shall we?" Daryl looked at her with a quirked brow. He didn't understand what she was getting at. "Let's leave this all behind us and start fresh. We both made mistakes, so let's just forget it and enjoy the night."

"Yeah, a'right." He nodded and grabbed his drink, taking a long pull of the amber liquid.

"Excuse me, sir? Do you mind if I have a word?" A tall man in a suit walked up to the table and grabbed Daryl's attention.

"What for?" Daryl asked defensively.

"It'll only take a moment, I promise." He smiled and extended an arm so Daryl could come with him. He looked at Beth nervously, not entirely sure what this was about, but she only smiled at him and nodded for him to go. She seemed to know something he didn't.

Daryl put his drink back down and stepped around the suit, away from the table. "What's this about?" He demanded once he was out of earshot of Beth.

"I apologize, sir. I didn't mean to interrupt the date but we at The Dove like to make sure that the experience is all that it can be. We'd like to give your date some flowers compliments of the house from you, if you don't mind. Ms. Greene seems like a woman to appreciate fresh cut lilies." The suit explained.

"Ya know her?" Daryl only heard her name and nothing else.

"Yes, my daughter is a fan. She just came from the concert. Now, I hope you don't mind us assisting with making your evening as romantic as possible." Daryl looked at him completely flabbergasted.

"Uh sure." He moved back to the table and sat back down next to Beth.

"What was that about?" She questioned. Daryl shrugged.

"Guy's daughter is a fan. Think he was trying to get an autograph." Beth tried to hide the smile that was threatening to spread across her face. A few moments later their waitress stepped up with a bouquet of fresh cut lilies and handed them to Beth. She murmured something to Beth before slipping away quickly with a promise to bring them fresh drinks.

"Autograph, huh?" Beth smirked at him. Daryl just shrugged and took another sip of his drink, his mind beginning to feel fuzzy from the bourbon flowing through his veins.

The remainder of the evening was spent talking and touching; small conversations that meant nothing in at the end of the day, with hands running up and down arms and legs.

They decided close to midnight to head back to the hotel. She laughed most of the way back; the numerous cocktails drank during the date making her giddy.

"Ya drunk, girl?" He asked with a smirk. She looped her free arm through his, her other holding onto the bundle of flowers.

"I feel good." She admitted. "I'm happy." He glanced down at her for a moment and then turned back to guide them through the thinning New York City crowd. "I could be dead right now. I'm alive and I feel alive. But to answer your question, I'm buzzed."

They walked another block to the hotel and stood out front. He kept himself from glancing over to the park where everything changed. She moved to stand in front of him, her hand resting on his arm and his hand on her hip.

"Just buzzed, huh?" She nodded in confirmation and lifted on her toes to bring her mouth to his. His grip on her hand tightened as their lips moved against one another and their breathing became shallow at the increased urgency. Her tongue teased the seam of his lips and he pulled back before allowing her entrance.

"Should head back up." He growled. Beth gasped at the look in his eyes, clearly sensing the feral and primal desires racing through his every thought. She nodded and they moved back into the hotel and to the elevator. Daryl kept space between them in the elevator as he tried desperately to cool his raging hormones. It didn't help that he was acutely aware of the smell of her perfume, mixed with a hint of vodka coming from her corner of the box.

A soft ding rang and the doors slid open. He extended his hand to hold them open and allow her to slip past him. They walked quietly to the room and through the door. The lights were out and they were met with nothing but silence. He was thankful he didn't have to answer any questions from anyone waiting up for them. She looked over her shoulder at him and she tossed the flowers on the table, the corner of her lip between her teeth and her eyes hooded, and his resolve shattered.

He moved over to her and wrapped his arms around her waist, lifting her feet off of the floor. He was thankful that she didn't laugh or squeal at his actions. He moved them out of the living area and to her door. She moved her hand from his shoulder and behind her to push it open for them. Once inside, he kicked the door shut and pushed her up against it. Her feet hit the floor and his mouth claimed hers within seconds. His tongue forced its way into her mouth and they fought each other in the passion driven kiss. He broke away to move to her jaw, her neck, and then up to her ear.

"Guess yer the kinda girl to put out on the first date." He growled again into her ear and he felt her shudder beneath him. A shaky laugh escaped her throat.

"I think we're well passed that, don't you?" He nipped at the delicate skin below her neck and was rewarded with a breathy gasp.

"Ya want this?" He whispered in her ear, softer this time.

"God, yes." He didn't hesitate a moment longer. He lifted her up and her legs quickly wrapped around his hips. Her body lined up with his perfectly and from this position, he knew she could feel the way his body reacted to her. Her hips moved involuntarily against his and he groaned at the increased heat radiating from her body. He quickly dropped her down onto the bed and pulled her boots off. His hands moved slowly up her legs, exploring and teasing. He smirked when his hands tickled the back of her knees and she let out a small giggle.

"Daryl, please." She begged.

"Not tonight." She looked at him curiously, her concern evident on her face. "Ain't no need to rush tonight." He dipped his head and let his mouth and chin follow the path his hands were making. She seemed to understand and she trembled again beneath his touch. "Lay back." He instructed. She quickly shrugged out of the leather jacket, tossed it away from the bed, and lay down on the bed. He watched her chest rise and fall quickly and he felt his own anticipation developing deep within his body. His hands moved further up her legs and bypassed the place he knew she needed him to touch the most. Her frustrated groan made him smirk again.

His fingers worked at the button and zipper of her skin tight jeans and he quickly stripped them from her legs. The cool air of the room hit her burning flesh and he could see the goose bumps pucker her skin. His hands repeated the motions from before, his mouth once again following the trail. He nipped and licked her calf, her knees, and the inside of her thigh. The soft mewing and moaning filled him with enthusiasm for what he had planned for her.

He moved up her body and pushed her shirt up to kiss the skin just above the top of her panties. She took a sharp breath in at the contact and he had to follow her skin as it pulled away from him. He moved one hand to her hips and the other up her shirt and to her breast where he teases and pinched at the erect nipple beneath her bra. She didn't say a word but she didn't need to. Her ragged breath was all he needed to hear. He dipped his fingers under her panties and began to pull at them agonizingly slow. She lifted her hips and moved to help him push them down. He wanted to stop her but his need to taste her, to make her squirm, overcame him. Once she'd reached as far as she could he moved his hand from her breast and his mouth from her stomach and pulled them down the rest of the way.

She instinctively closed her legs as he looked on at her hungrily. His hands moved to her knees and gently eased them open. He kept his eyes locked on hers as he did; waiting for any sign that she might not want this. He knew not every woman enjoyed this sort of thing. When he had her fully spread she nodded her head and relaxed as her eyes slipped closed.

"Ya wanna stop just say so." He whispered against her knee, his eyes still fixed on her face. He saw her nod and finally tore his eyes down. Her sex was glistening and it took everything he had in him not to tear off his clothes and push himself into her. No, tonight everything needed to be slow and sweet. Not desperate and fumbling like the first night. He kissed his way down her bent leg inside her thigh and to the top of her folds. He didn't bring his mouth to her just yet. He looked up at her face to catch her eyes watching him curiously. He wondered if her fiancé had ever done this for her before, but it wasn't the time to ask. Their eyes once again locked, he dipped his head and let his tongue slip between the folds and felt more than satisfied when her head dropped down to the bed, her hands tangled in his hair, and she let out a low moan.

He moved one hand to the top of her slit and used his fingers to spread her open while the other hand rested on her stomach under her shirt. He blew a quick puff of air against her clit and chuckled when she gasped and shivered against him. His tongue moved flat against her until he reached the top where that sensitive bundle of nerves pulsed wildly beneath her skin. He twirled the tip of tongue around it and against it, causing her hips to buck and her moans to come out louder and faster.

"Oh, god. Daryl… that feels amazing. Please… don't stop." She panted and he could only nod against her legs. He had no intention of stopping until she convulsed under his ministrations. The hand he was using to hold her open moved underneath his mouth. He used one finger to circle her entrance as his tongue continued lapping at her clit. His other hand pushed firmly on her stomach to try and keep her body pinned to the bed. Her quivering began to increase and he knew she was getting close. Her gasps came out shorter and quicker than before and despite his efforts, her hips moved forward to meet the rhythm his tongue created.

He withdrew his tongue and sealed his lips over the pulsating bud and pushed two of his fingers inside of her. As he suckled on her, he felt her walls tighten around him as she practically screamed at the orgasm rocked her body. His hand moved from her stomach to her mouth and his fingers brushed over her open lips in an attempt to silence her. She seemed to get the hint because she took his index finger in his mouth and bit down gently. Her hips rocked against his mouth and fingers as she came down from her explosive high. After a moment, she released his digit and dropped her head back down breathlessly. He extracted himself from between her legs and kissed his way up her body bringing her shirt up with him. When he was eye level with her again she opened her eyes with a sated smile on her face.

"Like that?" He asked smugly. She could only nod. "Ain't done with you yet." He whispered against her cheek. She shook her head and pushed him off of her.

"You are right now. My turn." She said with a seductive smile. She pushed him flat on the bed and stripped her shirt from her body leaving just her bra covering her breasts. Her hands moved down his chest as she straddled his legs. Her fingers worked quickly to undo the belt buckle, buttons, and zipper of his pants. She pulled them down, allowing his engorged member to spring free of its confines and stand ready and at attention for what she had in mind. Just the thought of her mouth wrapped around him was enough to make his balls tighten in anticipation.

"Ya ain't gotta do that." He assured her. Again knowing not all women liked doing this and he didn't want her to feel like she had to.

"I know. I want to." To reaffirm her desire to please him, her small hand wrapped around his hard on and began to pump slowly on it. He groaned at the contact and draped his arm over his head to cover his eyes. He didn't want to watch her, he just wanted to feel. After a minute or so of her pumping him he felt her tongue lick across the tip of his head collecting the pre cum that had gathered there. She hummed softly and Daryl moved his arm to look at her. She wore a smile and nothing else. He was surprised to find that while he wasn't looking she had removed her bra and tossed it aside. He watched as her head lowered again and gasped as her tongue licked up the underside of his shaft until it was back at the head. He couldn't remember a time when a blow job, just starting like this, had felt so good. His mind stopped mid thought when he felt her mouth wrap around him and began to suck on him gently. Her hand worked the parts of him that didn't fit in her mouth. Her head bobbed up and down over him, her tongue running flat against him as she pulled him from her mouth. Her teeth would occasionally rake across his sensitive flesh causing him to hiss. It wasn't uncomfortable in the least. He allowed this to go on for several minutes before he felt the tale tell signs of his impending release. His hands snaked in her hair and tugged gently. He didn't want this to end but he wanted to be inside her now, driving her to yet another release.

"Stop." He murmured. She pulled her mouth away from him with a pop and looked up at him questioningly. "Said I wasn't done with ya." He grabbed her hand and pulled her up his body. Her legs straddled his hips and he wanted to bury himself inside of her as soon as he felt her heat hovering over him. Instead, he pulled her mouth down to his and tangled his hands in her golden tresses. He felt her center drop closer, until he was positioned right at her opening. He tore his mouth away and tried to push her off before he lost all control. However, her hands pushed firmly down on his shoulders to stop him.

"It's alright. I'm on the pill, remember." She lowered herself further, to allow his head to slip in. His eyes rolled back and his lids slipped closed. His hands moved down to her hips and pushed her down roughly. She was slick and ready so he glided in effortlessly.

They both sat still for a moment. Beth was adjusting to his size once again and Daryl was biting his lip to keep from exploding into a thousand pieces right then and there. She felt amazing and the sensation was everything he remembered from the few seconds' taste he got the first time. Finally, she began to rock her hips against his tantalizingly slow.

"Damn, girl. Yer gunna be the death of me." He grunted. "Ya feel so damn good." His hands guided her hips to move against him quicker. He was rewarded by the soft sounds of her whimpers. He knew from this position her clit was rubbing against his hip bone, creating a delightful friction she needed to bring herself up and over.

"Mmm…" She hummed between soft pants. His hands began to move from her hips and over her body sitting atop him. Her breasts were soft in his hands and he sat up to take one pert nipple in his mouth. He nipped gently at it causing her to gasp and move quicker. It didn't go unnoticed to him that her inner walls clenched around him when he did that. His hands ran down her back and back around her stomach as she slipped up and down his cock. He loved watching her shiver against his hands and the small bumps that rose in his wake. He concentrated on the feel of her beneath his fingers rather than the building tension in his abdomen. He wanted to fall, yes, but he wanted her to fall with him.

He pushed her back slightly, her clit losing the friction the position was giving her. He didn't miss her small whimper but he knew if she sat back further he could fill her deeper and improvise with his hands.

When she fell back down onto him he couldn't help the long moan that burst from his chest at the new feeling. Beth seemed to appreciate it as well as the leverage placed from her arm behind her allowed her to rise and fall more quickly on him. He placed his thumb at the top of her slit and allowed her movements to set the pace for her. After a few moments she began to move against him erratically. Daryl pulled his thumb away knowing the momentum building would keep her on path. He reached around her back and hooked his hands up over her shoulders and flipped them over.

Her legs circled his hips and his mouth descended on hers and he thrust harder and deeper into her. Her trembling gave way to wave after wave of released bliss and her body began to milk him for everything he had. He pushed faster, her pants against his mouth turning to gasps and muffled screams of pleasure. Finally, the tightening ball building in the pit of his stomach snapped and his own orgasm ripped through his body with a terrifyingly sinful jolt. He groaned against her mouth, the sounds of their passion only slightly muted. In the back of his mind he knew that someone probably heard them but in that second he didn't care.

After a few additional seconds of rocking through the afterglow he pulled his arms free from underneath her and pulled off the shirt they'd forgotten to remove. He was thankful, actually, and not for the normal reasons of hiding. He reached it behind him and used it to catch as much of his seed as he could without making a mess everywhere. He sat back on his haunches and gently dabbed the spilt semen from her opening. She smiled up at him tenderly as he discarded the shirt and flopped down beside her.

She curled into his side the moment his back was on the bed. His arm wrapped around her and his thumb drew lazy circles on her arm. She hummed contently and placed soft kisses against his newly exposed flesh.

"Hell of a first date." She giggled. He grunted in response and chuckled softly.

"S'pose so." He shrugged playfully causing her to smack his chest softly.

"So, this how all our dates are gunna be? Cause a girl could get used to this." She turned her head up to face him. Daryl responded by pressing a soft kiss to her waiting lips. Suddenly, her words rang through to him and he realized she wanted more of this. Of them. So did this make them official? He wasn't sure but he wanted to know.

"We datin' now?" He asked gruffly.

"Do you want to?" Her voice was timid but her smile never faltered. He thought about it for a moment and gave her a clipped nod. Her grin widened. "Then yes, we are." At her admission his arm tightened around her, pulling her practically on top of him. He realized in that moment that this wasn't as terrifying as he thought it would be. He could do this. He could love her. And he wanted to when he was ready.

AN: Well, I hope you enjoyed it. This is the first time I've actually written something like this solo so I really hope it didn't disappoint. For those sticking with me, this actually prompted the best conversation I've ever had about the names of male genitalia. Stacey and I were giggling like children and both our husbands thought we were crazy. Keep in mind, we've never met in person and we live a thousand miles apart.

Anywho… let me know what you think cause I'm super nervous.