AN: I'm still around, promise! As I mentioned a few chapters back, I'm going to have to go back to updating weekly rather than every couple of days. Work and life is getting in the way. But I promise it will not go unfinished!

Special thank you to DarylDixon'sLover, BetaGirl09, goshbirdie, Carowen, 2carlaa, rckyfrk, UltimateBethylFicList, heartherrk, fieryandpassionate, Reignashii, SirensCalling, An Amber Pen, Trixieviv, jessieborton, Daryl Dixon's Redhead, caseydoll5, Gabs, Mirsa, and karaburnes! You're feedback means the world to me! Now without further ado…

Chapter 23

Daryl woke the next morning, to a tangle of limbs and sheets. Beth was still asleep and he didn't have it in him to move for fear he might wake her. She looked like an angel lying next to him. He brought his hand up to the back of her head and gently ran his fingers through her golden strands.

He still couldn't believe she was willing to be with him. He didn't know what, in his fucked up life, he did to deserve this, but he was done questioning it. As long as she wanted to be with him, he would be everything he could for her. He wasn't going to try to sabotage this again by his own cowardice.

His fingers caught a knot in her hair and the slight tug caused her to shift and moan softly as sleep began to leave her body. She stretched against him, her hand brushing against his morning erection. He gasped at the unexpected contact and his body stiffened. She didn't retract her hand as she looked up to meet his gaze.

"Morning." She said with a smirk. Daryl took her hand with his free one and moved it up to rest on his stomach. Her smile seemed to widen at the simple touch.

"Best not start somethin' we can't finish." He mumbled.

"Who says we couldn't finish?" Her voice was devious and sensual and Daryl felt the blood rushing through his body to further harden his manhood.

"Want ya sister hearin' us? Think Michonne would shoot me on sight." Daryl joked as his fingers continued to play with her hair.

"I can be quiet…" She pressed her lips against his neck as she spoke, her voice laced with lust. Daryl turned her face up to look at him and ran his thumb across her bottom lip.

"Got plenty of time for that. Ya got a big day tomorrow." The fact of the matter was, while he would love nothing more than to bury himself inside her and relive the night before again, he wasn't ready for the consequences that might come from that. The sun had been up in the sky for a while now, and he assumed others in the hotel room were probably already up and about. She nodded with a smile and climbed out of bed without a word. She wasn't upset, she seemed to understand. Daryl released a long sigh and mimicked her actions.

"Ain't got a shirt." He complained. She turned and looked over at him, a slightly horrified expression on her face. She rounded the bed and put her hand on his marred back, her fingers gently rubbing the scarred flesh.

"Want me to go get one out of your room?" She offered. Daryl was grateful at the offer but simply shrugged.

"Nah, gotta shower anyway." He turned to face her, her hand falling from his back as he did so. The worried look faded from her eyes as she stood on her toes to kiss him softly. He didn't hesitate to bring his hand to her face and keep her against him longer. After a moment of delicate kissing, he released his hold on her.

"Thank you for last night. I had fun." She said quietly. He nodded, not entirely sure of what to say.

There was a soft rapping at her door, followed by Maggie's voice calling her name. Beth sighed and waited for Daryl to finish dressing the best he could before she opened the door. Maggie watched with wide eyes as Daryl tossed the soiled shirt over his shoulder and walked out of her room. He heard the door close behind him and he could only assume the older sister had pushed Beth back into the room to grill her on what she just saw. Daryl made his way to the other side of the suite, thankfully unseen, and closed his door behind him.

XxX

"Beth, what was that about?" Maggie asked with a knowing smirk. Beth sat back down on the bed and grinned at her sister. "Were those scars on his back?" Maggie took a seat next to her sister while eyeing the mess on the bed.

"Yeah, he didn't grow up like us Mags. He grew up like daddy." Beth's lips turned to a frown and she dropped her head down sadly. She wished he could have known the childhood that they had growing up. Beth had never known anything other than love and support. She wasn't naïve to the fact that people in the world didn't have it as good as she did but she also never imagined herself caring for someone so much and having to fight through the barriers such a life had caused the person to erect.

"His dad?" Maggie asked softly. Beth nodded. Maggie reached over and took her sisters hand, knowing she was welling up with sadness just thinking about a small boy being beaten by his father. "What happened last night?" Maggie moved the subject back to something that would hopefully distract her sister from the sorrow threatening to drown her. It worked because Beth's eyes lit up and the goofy grin returned to her lips.

"I asked him to take me to The Dove after you and Michonne went to bed. We had a few drinks, talked, came back here… and, well I think the rest is pretty obvious." She giggled as a blush rose to her cheeks. Maggie's scrutinizing look faded as the infectious giggles took hold in her chest as well.

"Yeah, I can see that. So, are you guys a couple now?"

"Yeah. We are, Maggie. I'm nervous because I care about him. I just don't want anything to happen to him." Beth felt the sorrow well back up in her chest as she remembered the last time she saw Jimmy. She didn't know why she was irrationally thinking that Daryl would end up like Jimmy but she couldn't help but fear for her happiness. It always seemed to be short lived, no matter how hard she tried to hold onto it. Maggie remained quiet for a few minutes before releasing Beth's hand and standing up.

"Go get in the shower." Maggie ordered. Beth looked up at her with a confused look on her face. "I'm gunna go get Michonne. We're all going to the Today Show tomorrow, right?" Beth nodded. "Well, we're going to need new clothes and this will give us girls a chance to talk about this new man in your life." Beth stood and embraced her sister, a wave of gratitude washing over her.

"Thank you, Maggie, for understanding."

"You're my sister and I love you, Beth. He might not have been my first choice for you since Jimmy died, but he came back. I was wrong. He didn't use you like we thought and I'm sorry I didn't listen to you. I sometimes forget that you are a woman old enough to make your own choices." Beth wiped at the tears falling down her cheek as she pulled out of her sister's arms. "Now seriously, get in the shower. You smell like sex and alcohol." Beth laughed through her emotions and slapped Maggie's arm.

"I never say anything about you and Glenn."

"That's different. I'm older and married." Maggie said playfully. Beth scoffed at her sister and headed to the bathroom to get cleaned up as Maggie walked out of the room muttering something about giving the maids a tip for cleaning up this mess.

Beth emerged from her room thirty minutes later to find Maggie and Daryl on the couch talking. Beth was surprised to see that Daryl didn't look scared or angry. He was just listening to Maggie ramble on about this, that, or the other, and he would nod and mutter something back at her. Beth closed her door to make her presence known causing them both to look up at her. Beth didn't miss the way Daryl's eyes scanned her body or the tremble she felt when she noticed the look of desire behind his eyes. She could feel her cheeks heat up instantly.

"Bout time, Bethy! I was just telling Daryl about the time you took Stargazer out by yourself and got lost in the woods behind the farm for the night." Beth rolled her eyes and sat down next to Daryl. His hand rested on her leg as he chuckled at her embarrassment.

"I'm so glad to see you two getting along now." She grumbled.

"No worse than the time I got lost for nine days in the woods when I was a kid. Ended up wipin' my ass with poison oak or somethin'." Maggie erupted with laughter loud enough to draw the others into the living room.

"What's going on?" Glenn asked upon seeing the sisters doubled over with tears in their eyes and Daryl sitting there looking annoyed.

"They're laughin' at my itchy ass." Daryl spat lightly.

"I don't want to know." Michonne said immediately as Beth wiped at her eyes to keep the tears from smudging what little make up she had put on. "When do you want to go?" Beth waved a hand in front of her face to cool the burning in her cheeks as she took deep breaths. Maggie was having similar difficulty but controlled her laughter.

"I'm ready. Beth?" She nodded and stood up to get her purse.

"What are you two going to do today?" Beth asked the men. They glanced at each other and shrugged. Beth looked back at Maggie and together they both said "Velocity" in unison and rolled their eyes.

"What, we don't get this channel back home. And I like car shows." Glenn shot back. "Besides, it's better than talkin' about Daryl's itchy ass or the latest gossip on the Gilmore Girls or whatever the hell it is you guys watch these days."

"Oh, that reminds me! I haven't seen the newest episode of Pretty Little Liars. You gotta fill me in, Mags." Beth said dramatically and purposefully. Both Glenn and Daryl groaned immediately.

"You got it. Let's head out." Beth nodded and stepped back to Daryl and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. She noticed the color rush to his face immediately and couldn't help but giggle. She moved back to the door and the three of them walked out of the hotel and down to the street.

"What are you thinking about wearing tomorrow?" Michonne asked, clearly not interested in talking about anything Maggie had planned just yet.

"Something simple. I was thinking jeans and a shirt." Beth said with a shrug.

"I don't think so!" Maggie gasped. "You're going to be on the Today Show! You need to look great! I'm thinking a denim skirt and a white shirt with your cowboy boots. It's still casual enough so you don't look like you tried too hard but also has the sweet southern country girl side that the record label loves about you. Now if only we could find a hat." Maggie said thoughtfully. Beth knew it was best not to argue with her sister. When it came to clothes, Beth was merely a Barbie doll and Maggie was the tween girl obsessed with matching the perfect outfit together for the big date with Ken. "Don't give me that look! Just imagine what your new man will think about it." Maggie said wickedly with a nudge.

"Ok, I have to know. What changed since yesterday? You were throwing threats at him and now suddenly, you've accepted him like he's your new brother in law." Michonne growled. Maggie sighed and told her about finding Daryl in Beth's room this morning and the conversations that followed. Beth eyed Michonne closely, watching as her expression seemed to soften only slightly. For her, that was something.

"So he comes back and you two are dating, now?" Michonne asked skeptically. Beth nodded. "Be careful, Beth."

"I'm not marrying him tomorrow, Michonne. We're just dating." Beth responded as they stopped in front of Macy's. Maggie looked like she wanted to say more but didn't. Michonne gave a clipped nod and walked through the door. Maggie looped her arm through Beth's and squeezed gently.

"For the record, I might be happy for you because you have been so mopey since Jimmy's accident, but I am still your big sister. While I accept your decisions, if he messes up, he'll have to answer to me." Maggie tried to put on her big sister stern face but it was muted by the laugher in her eyes and Beth couldn't help but laugh.

"Just wait until he has to meet daddy." Beth groaned.

"Yeah, I've been there too many times. Good luck with that."

They browsed through the store finding several options to choose from for tomorrow. Two skirts, three shirts, and a denim beanie, of all things, that Beth had insisted on. Nerves began to flutter in her stomach at the thought of tomorrow, and for once they didn't have anything to do with the Today Show or any upcoming gigs.

Hours passed and the girls ended up eating dinner in one of the many hole in the wall restaurants along the busy New York streets. As the sun set and a chill set into the air they made their way back to the hotel, arms full of shopping bags. They hadn't kept track of time because, to Beth's surprise, even Michonne seemed to thoroughly enjoy their time together. She didn't have to keep a close eye on Beth this time so she allowed Maggie to pick her out a few outfits. They all swapped stories about men, Beth learning more about her brother in law than she wanted to. Beth had laughed until her sides hurt and her cheeks ached. She couldn't remember having a more perfect weekend.

Daryl and Glenn were still right where they had left them that morning, sitting on the couch watching car shows. There were pizza boxes and beer bottles sitting on the coffee table and toddler toys scattered around the room. Michonne excused herself to tend to her son before he went to bed. Daryl stood the moment he saw Beth and took her bags from her. She smiled gratefully and rubbed the spots on her hands where the weight of them had pressed into her skin. Glenn sat on the couch, unmoving, and Maggie just sighed and tossed the bags aside.

"Obviously, the honeymoon phase is over for me." Maggie muttered and Beth snickered. Glenn grunted a response but Beth was sure that he had no idea what was said. Daryl returned to the sitting area and sat back down next to Glenn. Maggie was clearly aggravated because she quickly snatched the remote and shut off the table. Glenn gave her a knowing smirk.

"Oh, hey! You're back!" He rose and kissed his wife while Daryl and Beth tried hard not to laugh.

Shortly after, Michonne rejoined them and they mapped out their plans for the morning. With Zach gone, there wasn't a whole lot of precaution that needed to be taken, so the conversation was short. Maggie and Glenn excused themselves for bed, Beth already knowing they wouldn't be sleeping any time soon by the look on her sister's face, and Michonne followed suit.

Beth curled into Daryl's side once they were alone and he immediately wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

"Ya should get some sleep. Got an early day tomorrow." He whispered into her hair.

"Don't know that I'll get much sleep any time soon. My sister and manager are not as considerate about other people as we seem to be." Beth grumbled. Daryl choked on the last sip of beer he'd brought to his mouth.

"Yeah, heard them the first time she was here." He said with mirth. "Ya could always stay with me. Pretty quiet back there." Beth raised her head and smiled widely. She hadn't been expecting it but she was thrilled that he had offered. She would be lying if she said she hadn't thought about sleeping alone in her bed tonight knowing he was in the other room.

"I'd like that. Thank you." He responded by dipping his head to give her a quick kiss. They pulled themselves from the couch and made their way back to his bedroom where they tested both of their resolves by doing exactly what they had intended, sleeping. She couldn't remember a time when she was this happy in her life.

AN: Hope you enjoyed! Let me know what you think, please!