b015. Audience [4]

It's a give and take
Kind of love we make
When the line is crossed
I Get Off, Halestorm

Beth rocked softly, a smile on her face and a song in her voice as she swayed with Judith. The tiny girl had enjoyed her time outside and had refused to even settle until Beth sang her something, fussing and whining in demand.

It made her heart swell to know she could give this little girl something to enjoy. Although the world was wild and dangerous now, and yes Judith was just a baby and didn't know any better, Beth couldn't help the feeling of satisfaction every time the tiny child craved one of her songs.

iThere's lots of things along the road, I'd surely like to see. I'd like to lean into the wind, and tell myself I'm free…/i she sang, Townes Van Zandt carrying voice soft in her ears and familiar.

Judith sighed softly and seemed to finally drift off, her head resting on Beth's shoulder. She'd had a long day, the little one. She'd enjoyed her time in the sun and getting to play outside in the refreshing air. Being cooped up all the time may be safer, but for someone so little it wasn't healthy… Wasn't healthy for anyone.

So with the sun being so high and it not being as hot as usual, Beth jumped to take a walk. She carried Judith around and it felt heavenly. The exercise felt nice and carrying Judith around the prison grounds was indeed an exercise, as the girl wasn't as small and light as she'd once been. It had tugged a smile from her.

That and feeling Merle and Daryl watching her.

Oh Beth had felt the two men's eyes on her. It was kind of hard to not notice the way they could track down someone with ease. Merle had been doing it for awhile now. Ever since she'd caught him watching her, she found she felt safer. Odd all things considering…

"She asleep?"

Beth almost squealed in surprise, biting it down as she straightened, having just placed Judith in the crib Carl had helped bring back for her with Michonne and Rick's help. Patting at her chest – where her heart felt like it was gonna jump out of her throat – Beth turned to Daryl, who had a brow raised at her, leaning against the entrance to Rick's cell with his arms crossed.

"Yeah," she sighed in relief, smiling at him.

Daryl didn't smile back, though. Instead he stared at her awhile before making a motion with his head and stepping back. Beth paused in her spot before going after him, hoping she read his motion right… Sometimes Daryl's lack of talking could be really confusing.

She caught up to him as he stopped her at her cell. Beth stared at him before glancing into her cell. Surely he hadn't just meant to walk her to her cell. She could walk from Rick's cell to her own. Sure Rick's was bellow her but she'd made the trip alone in the dark before

"Daryl-"

"What's goin on between you an Merle?"

The question cut he off, startling her. For a second, a wash of embarrassment and dread washed over. For a moment she wondered if Daryl was aware of the fact that her and his brother – even if said brother was unaware of her participation – had been…

But then she saw his expression. Confusion, concern... And a hint of unease. That made Beth pause as she looked back at him, tilting her head. He shifted – uncomfortable and twitching at her gaze – before she decided to answer him.

"Daryl… I don't know what you're talking about. I hardly speak to your brother… he's kind of hard to want to talk to," she answered truthfully.

Merle Dixon may help make her toes curl and earn her relief where she needed it but he was a hard, crude man. She hadn't said more than maybe ten words to the man. Maybe less! He was always making to much noise to get a word in and she really didn't have much to say. Oh sure she was curious about him. He was an enigma… But he was also a bit intimidating; even more than Daryl had been when she first met him.

Daryl took in he words as he bit down on his thumb; his sign that he was uncertain and worried or thinking too much. Traveling and being around the man as long as she had was enough to tell her these signs of the youngest Dixon… Funny enough, she'd seen Merle do it once or twice as well. Though his thing to go to was to suck his teeth loudly she'd learned in the months he'd been here.

"Hmph," Daryl grunted, his features relaxing more as he nodded.

"Why would you ask that?" she asked, confused and very curious as to where this was coming from.

"Catch you lookin' at him all the time," Daryl answered after a few beats of silence.

That was it? So she'd looked at merle and Daryl assumed something was up? Beth knew Daryl could be paranoid and overly cautious at times, but this? Beth opened and closed her mouth before sighing and smiling at him, shaking her head.

"He's… Interesting. Your brother, I mean… He likes to draw attention… It's kind of hard to not look at him, even when he's not being loud. He's got this… It's…" Beth tried to explain, but she saw Daryl nod her way.

"Always been like that. Merle's just… Merle…" he shrugged, seeming to think that was the best answer and the only answer.

Beth nodded in agreement before reaching out and touching his arm. Daryl stiffened a little but she didn't pull away and neither did he. He stared at her and she had him.

"If anything ever goes on between Merle and me – as likely as that is – you'll… You'll be the first to know," she said firmly.

Daryl searched her face silently before nodding again and she lowered her hand from arm. They stood in a comfortable silence before Daryl murmured about needing to do a final sweep of the area in and out and ducked off, shucking his crossbow over his shoulder.

Beth watched him leave before ducking into her cell, pulling her sheet down just enough to cover but still see out. She shimmed out of her jeans and tank-top. It was humid in the cell and she was sweaty and having the layer removed felt like heaven as it allowed for a little coolness to wash over her.

She sighed in content, feeling a little embarrassed at how just the slightest change of temperature to her body had her nipples harden under her bra. Pulling off her socks, Beth's ears perked as the familiar sound of metal on metal reached her ear.

Merle was back from watch and making some noise like always.

She heard him snicker as someone growled something at him, but otherwise she didn't glance out to see where he was. She heard his cell shut just enough to have something to close and she heard his sheet shift into place before silence.

Then she felt goose bumps across her flesh, the familiar sense of eyes on her exposed skin making her stomach twist and tighten and pull with heat, skin flushing. And Beth smiled shyly at the sinfully familiar feeling, knowing exactly what was going to happen as she stretched and laid back onto her bed in her bra and panties, deciding to skip wearing her pajamas.

And as she eased into herself, her hand skimming lower and lower past the waist of her panties, a second pair of eyes followed her hand and their breath caught in their throat at the show.

R&R Plz :D