A/n: Hey all, I am so sorry for the delay and the shortness of this chapter. I have been in the hospital for quite some time and extremely ill. I'm getting back on my feet now so I'll have more time to set aside for this. I really hope you all aren't too angry that I haven't updated in a while. I appreciate the reviews they really keep me motivated. I hope you enjoy this chapter.

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Chapter 6: Wake Up With Me

Beth was running.

Reaching toward a figure ahead of her; angel wings spread across his back.

Her fingers stretched forward and a sob escaped her mouth.

"Wait!" She cried her voice distant and echoing in her ears, he did not turn to look at her. "Please!"

I won't leave you!

A rancid smell filled her nose and she gagged just as hands, gray and rotting, began to slide across her face and shoulders, pulling her away from him.

She woke suddenly and inhaled sharply, the rancid smell filling her nose again.

She saw Daryl's figure sleeping next to her, his face so close she could see every single detail.

He was shirtless and she could see every muscle in his arms and chest, white scars dotted his shoulders, and she could barely make out some small swirls of black ink embedded into his skin. She felt her face grow and hot and lifted her head only to realize she was barely dressed too.

Oh my god.

Bits and pieces of the night came back to her; she had gone unconscious, feeling like her insides had been on fire. The cold water Daryl splashed on her body and the smell of soap. He had asked her not to die when he pulled her to him; she had been freezing then, and remembered the feeling of warmth spreading through her body and wished she could promise him she wouldn't.

He saved her.

She gently dislodged herself from him, trying very hard not to wake him. He turned slightly and mumbled in his sleep, his hair fell into his face.

She pushed herself from the bed and came face to face with what was causing the terrible smell. She felt her heart contract in her chest and a sudden feeling of nausea wash over her.

Her hands trembled slightly and she had forgotten how to breathe. What was this place?

Putting her hand over her nose she tip toed to the window and cracked it slightly and a fresh breeze filled the room. She could smell pine and wild flowers outside. The air was a bitter cold and she shivered. The room had barely begun to fill with the gloomy first light of day. The sky outside was a pale purple, small dark gray rainclouds formed overhead.

She sighed heavily and pulled the small sheer white curtain over the window and it swayed lightly in the breeze.

Beth grabbed a dry pair of cotton pants from the duffle bag. They looked a little too large for her and she had to roll up the legs but it was better than standing in her underwear. The tank top she wore was stiff from being damp and cooling overnight but it had dried at least. She shook it out slightly to give it some life before pulling it back over her head.

She chanced a look in the mirror and saw that she looked a lot healthier than she did two days ago. She had bruises on her face from the gunshot wound and dark circles under her eyes, but there was life in her cheeks and she felt better than she had in days.

She walked back out of the bathroom and stopped near the bed. Daryl still slept soundly, lightly clutching the sheet.

She felt so grateful he had taken care of her so far. Whatever promise he made to her sister it must have been a really personal one. Maybe he was in love with her sister.

After all he was Maggie's type. Maggie always liked rough looking boys who seemed to have a bad streak; while Beth usually went for the clean cut, church going boys.

But Daryl didn't seem like he had a bad bone in his body.

She turned back to the scene across the room. The smell had lessened as the room filled with cool air from outside but the sight was enough to make her head swim. She scurried back to the bed and gently crawled in next to Daryl, pulling the sheet up over both of them.

She was facing him and reached out to touch his jaw; curious to see if he was as rough as he acted. He wasn't.

His eyes slowly opened the minute her fingers brushed his skin and she froze.

"What're you doin?" He asked his voice husky with sleep.

"I don't know." She confessed in a quiet voice. They were whispering and she wondered if it was out of respect for the dead or the close proximity or both.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes," She didn't move her hand away from his face when he didn't pull away she continued to brush her fingertips lightly along his jaw. "Thank you for helping me last night."

"You would have done the same."

He was right, she would have. She didn't know why but she felt a deep connection to him in that moment and her heart ached to know who he was.

"I dreamed about you, or I think it was you…"

"What was it about?" His eyes searched hers, dark as the ocean and haunting.

"You were walking away and I was trying to keep up."

He didn't respond and her fingers had reached his neck and she now absently played with the hair that curled around his ear.

"We were close before weren't we?" She asked him suddenly. He seemed a bit surprised and his eyes darted away briefly.

"I guess we were…"

"Why can't I remember you?" She felt hot tears form behind her eyes and she couldn't figure out why she was suddenly so upset.

"Hey, it's all right…" He reached up and brushed her hair away from her face and swiped a tear from her cheek.

She felt her heart beat faster at his touch and before she could think to stop herself she closed the small distance between them, pressing her lips against his.

He froze instantly and she paused briefly, wondering if she had crossed a line. She wasn't sure what came over her but she had the overwhelming urge to feel as close to him as possible.

Gathering her courage she pressed herself slightly closer and her fingers slid up into his hair and with that small gesture he curled his arm around her and pulled her flush against him.

If Daryl hadn't known any better he would have thought he was dreaming. He was currently lying in bed, wrapped in a passionate embrace with Beth Greene.

If things had been different he would have thrilled at this moment but as it was, she was just a confused girl who had no clue about their past or even her own; it didn't seem fair.

He responded anyway against his better judgement, pulling her against his body and gently cupping the back of her neck, careful to avoid putting too much pressure near her injury.

She sighed blissfully into his mouth and it took all he had to keep the kiss gentle and patient; savoring every second of the softness of her, memorizing every detail. Perhaps she just needed to feel close to someone given her circumstance.

Before all of this happened he hadn't even gotten a chance to fully understand what he was feeling for Beth let alone act upon it.

The closest they ever had gotten to such a situation was interrupted in the worst way imaginable.

But this…

"Beth I can't…" He pulled away suddenly; she looked slightly startled and bit her lip. He wanted nothing more to dive right back in and capture her mouth and take back the words that just came out of his own.

But he really couldn't…not with her condition. He wanted her to know him, remember everything, and know what they had been through.

Not like this.

"I-I'm sorry I don't know what I was thinking." She sat up quickly, her face flushed with embarrassment and shame and he felt his own trickle into his stomach.

"It's nothing you did," He said turning away from her. "I just need to think and you don't even know who I am."

"I do though." She whispered turning back, "I just can't remember."

"Well we can talk when you do…"

She turned away from him again and stood up from the bed and faced the mess in the room around them.

"Can we bury them?"

He studied her for a moment, wondering if he had just made the biggest mistake of his life, and then nodded.

"I'll just go get changed…" She mumbled walking toward the bathroom.

Once she was gone he sighed and ruffled through the duffle bag for some clothes. They'd have to make a run soon as they were low on supplies and they wouldn't live on what little they had left.

He heard her rummaging around the bathroom but didn't want to disturb her. He'd tell her about the run to find supplies when she came out.

He set to work wrapping the corpses in sheets so that Beth wouldn't have to see them anymore and picked up the first child to bring it downstairs and out into the cool morning.

A/n: I apologize for this chapter being so short but the next one will be longer. I just wanted to get this out so you guys didn't think I forgot bout it or abandoned the story. Much love, please read and review.