What Beth Greene Really Wanted From Daryl Dixon

Chapter 2

It was early, dawn had only just started to break but Daryl was already awake. In fact, he'd been awake for hours. He'd slept for a while last night, a sated feeling like he'd never known before pulling him into a restful slumber, but he'd spent most of the early hours watching the beauty beside him. He'd held her close and stroked her hair, not quite understanding what had happened between them, and not quite knowing what was going to happen either.

He hadn't expected last night to end as it had, in fact he'd done his best to resist it. Beth had planned it though and that was what was confusing to him, why would Beth Greene want him? Even if all she'd wanted was sex, there were other, better choices in the prison that could've given her that. Nobody, let alone someone like Beth, had ever wanted him for anything.

The morning sun was now streaming brightly into Beth's cell. Daryl could feel his skin warming under it and Beth's body appeared golden in the yellow haze, her hair spread out over both the pillow and his chest like a halo.

The prison was still sleeping, but he knew they would all be awake soon, and last night, what they'd done, would be gone. Glenn and Rick would be back from the guard tower soon to change shifts with Tyreese and Sasha. Carol would be up with Judy, Maggie would be ready to welcome Glenn back from his shift, and the rest of the group would be eating breakfast. And he would be... what the hell would he be doing? Going back to his perch alone after he'd been given the brush off by Beth? He knew she would let him down gently, that was just how Beth was, but he would still end up alone, Beth barely acknowledging his existence. Nothing less than he deserved though, he knew sleeping with Beth was never going to end well. What the fuck did he have to offer her? Nothing, except a shit load of problems, a bad attitude and a tendency to screw up any relationship he'd ever had.

Beth interrupted Daryl's self- pitying thoughts as she started to stir. The single bed had been a tight squeeze last night. She'd spent most of the night draped across the top of the archer, chest down, head nestled in the crook of his arm with her legs entwined through his. Not that Daryl was complaining one bit, he'd liked it; the closeness and the warmth from sleeping with another person, a soft comforting body to stop the emptiness and loneliness that he'd accepted long ago would be his life.

Beth opened her eyes, tilted her head upwards and looked at him shyly, hiding behind strands of her messy tangled blonde hair.

"You're still here?" Beth asked sleepily, more than a little surprised, but trying not to let it show in her voice.

"Uh huh, said I weren't goin' nowhere." Daryl sounded offended that she even had to ask, although if he was truthful it was the first time in his life he'd ever stayed the whole night with anyone.

Beth laid her head back down on his chest and tightened her grip around his waist, pulling herself closer, although without climbing into him, that wasn't really possible. As she moved her legs around, sliding her knee up over his thighs towards his abdomen, she bumped into something warm and hard and familiar.

"I see you're ready to go again," she whispered breathily against his neck in the sexiest voice she could find.

Beth honestly couldn't believe he was still here... in her cell, in her bed. She thought he'd have slipped away into the dark as soon as she'd fallen asleep last night, like she'd said he could. She also still couldn't quite believe Daryl Dixon had agreed to have sex with her in the first place.

When Daryl showed up at her cell door last night, the blonde had decided she was finally going to make a move, never imagining it would work. Granted the circumstances hadn't exactly been perfect. Beth even felt a little ashamed of herself for showing so little respect for Zach, but she also knew you couldn't wait around these days, if you wanted something you had to go for it, you might not have a tomorrow. Zach didn't have a tomorrow.

Beth had had the biggest crush on Daryl since the very first day he'd arrived at her daddy's farm. Despite his obvious anger issues and awkward ways, he was still the capable, strong, faithful, crossbow carrying, walker killing bad-ass that every woman wanted, and every man wanted to be. They'd never really had the opportunity to interact much, except over Lil Ass Kicker, she supposed he just saw her as a stupid kid that was only good for looking after other kids, but that didn't stop everything about him intriguing her. His quiet demeanor, his shyness at mixing with the others, although he had gotten better with that she'd noticed, the way he said so little but could still make his feelings clear. And obviously there was the fact he was totally hot, sexy and brooding… even if he was way older than her.

Daryl Dixon also had muscles everywhere, and after last night she really did mean everywhere. He was handsome as well in his own way. He had deep soulful, if a little sad, eyes, dark hair that hung sexily around his face, strong defined features and stubble that always managed to look perfect, although Beth knew that wasn't planned. She knew Daryl Dixon didn't give a damn about what he looked like.

"I can get rid of this for you again if you want," Beth offered, now rubbing her small hand along the silky soft warm skin of his hard cock, mimicking last night.

Daryl had no idea how to respond so just closed his eyes, trying to stifle the groan that was rising in his chest. Of course, he wanted her to touch him again, he wanted what had happened last night to happen a thousand more times. She was the most beautiful thing his sorry ass would ever have the chance to look at, to touch. And god could she suck cock, he briefly wondered how much practice she'd had. He brushed those thoughts to the back of his mind, not wanting to ruin the moment by thinking of her with anyone else... Zach, Jimmy or any of the other younger, better looking men that hung around her. He'd always thought Carl had maybe got a crush on Beth, too, but at least he was still way too young to have done anything about it. He hoped.

In frustration of being ignored Beth swung her leg over his waist and sat straddling him, her hands grabbing for his and pulling them upwards onto her breasts, holding her own over the top of his and squeezing his fingers so they were massaging her. She felt his cock twitch under her ass cheek and heard the tiniest moan escape his lips. Beth knew then she was winning.

"Everyone's awake... Don't ya just want me to leave before people see?" Daryl asked softly, his voice full of regret, sadness too maybe.

Beth couldn't tell if he was giving her the brush off, or if he really did think she wanted him to leave.

Just as she was about to tell him she was happy he'd stayed, that she wanted to do it again, that she'd had the best night of her life, that she never wanted to do it with anyone else ever again... there was a knock at her door.

"Who is it?" Beth shouted impatiently. Couldn't she get any peace around here? It was like living in a goddamn fish bowl sometimes.

"Beth, it's Carol, I got Judy for you."

Shit, she'd forgotten she was supposed to sit for Judy and the other kids this morning.

"Okay, I'll be out in a minute, see you downstairs." Beth was panicking now, she hadn't worried about anyone hearing them last night, she was too preoccupied. But the realization of what had happened was scary now. Beth knew her dad and sister wouldn't like it one bit, and she hadn't really thought about the others. How it would affect Daryl's relationships with Rick or Carol. She knew they would give him a hard time and felt bad for him. She didn't even know what his relationship with Carol was, nobody did because nobody dared ask. She just hoped he wasn't sleeping with her as well, or things would get really messy.

Beth leant forward, moving Daryl's hands back to the mattress, her now hardened nipples brushing over his chest as she pressed her soft lips into his in a lingering regret-filled kiss. She then jumped off, searching the cell for any discarded clothing she could find from last night.

"I gotta go before Carol comes back, you should leave after I'm gone, everyone should be downstairs by then so they won't notice." Beth's breath was ragged as she darted around the room, hopping and jumping around to get into her jeans and boots.

"I'll see you later?" Beth asked. She didn't know if she meant it to be a question or a statement. She supposed she wanted it to be a statement. She wanted to finish what they'd just started, but somehow knew it wasn't going to be that easy. She wasn't even totally sure Daryl even wanted to see her again.

"Hmmmhmm," Daryl muttered in reply as he chewed nervously on his thumb, the fading taste of Beth's kiss still on his lips.

"I'll come find you later when I'm done with Judy," Beth added as Daryl rolled onto his side and watched her intently. His dark eyes following her every movement from under his messy bangs, taking in every tiny detail about her. He'd never wanted to kiss someone as badly as he wanted to kiss Beth Greene right now. He'd never wanted to stay locked away with another human being as much as he did right now either. But he knew when she walked out that door it would be over, and he could hardly breathe as panic took over his entire being.

"Beth…" Daryl gasped. He wanted to tell her 'yes' he'd see her later, and 'yes' she should come find him. He wanted to tell her that he didn't regret staying and that he did want to see her again, whatever the consequences. He wanted to tell her he'd never felt like this about anyone before. But he didn't have either the words or the courage.

"Yeah?" Beth asked, her heart banging wildly in its cage. She knew he wanted to tell her something... his face was etched with so many emotions, she just couldn't tell if it was good news or bad.

Daryl hung his head in defeat. "It'll keep… go get Ass Kicker," he huffed, sounding frustrated at his own cowardice, and sad that because of it, he probably wouldn't be seeing her again. He wouldn't be kissing her, holding her, sliding himself into her, or curling up with her for another night either... he wouldn't be doing anything with her ever again. It would just be one more failed night in a long-line of failed nights. The story of his life. He didn't know why he expected anything different this time, happy endings weren't meant for someone like him. He was too old, too useless, too damaged and un-loveable.

Beth didn't have time to talk right now though. She didn't have the time to get Daryl to open up or tell him how she felt. She needed to get downstairs before everyone figured out what was going on. Beth tried to disguise her disappointment as best she could. She finished tying her hair back and left, giving him one last smile as she disappeared, closing the door behind her.

As soon as the door clicked shut, Daryl got up, found his clothes and dressed himself. He had no idea what to do now. He felt lost and alone and, if he was truthful, stupid. He was sure Beth regretted what had happened, and even if by some miracle he was wrong and she did want to see him again, it wasn't going to be that easy. It was all so complicated, and he had a feeling as soon as he left this room it was going to get a whole lot worse.

Daryl managed to get as far as the yard without being screamed at, so he was hopeful that perhaps nobody had heard them last night after all, and maybe the whole thing would just disappear. He could see Rick and Glenn crossing towards him from the guard tower. At least they wouldn't know, they'd been outside all night.

"What y'all still doin' out here, yer shift finished an hour ago?" Daryl shouted towards them.

"You better run, man, Maggie wants your balls… preferably on a silver platter," Glenn shouted back, grinning and sounding a little bit too smug for Daryl's liking.

"What the fuck are a tallkin' about?" the archer asked, trying to play innocent, but knowing that the shit storm he'd been dreading was just about to hit.

"Maggie and some of the others heard you and Beth last night… you know... in her room." Glenn's voice was a quiet stutter. Now he was standing next to the menacing archer he'd suddenly lost the confidence that distance had given him and thought better of winding him up any more than he already had.

"What were ya thinkin'? She's just a kid. Did ya really think no one would find out? No one would care? Jesus, Daryl, Beth, of all people." Rick now joined the conversation, the disappointment in his voice crystal clear. Rick had thought upon Daryl as a brother for months now, and he thought Daryl would have known better than to mess up the good thing they had going at the prison. It was going to make things difficult with Maggie, Hershel, Carol, and just about everyone.

"Ain't nothin' to do with any of ya. Beth ain't just a kid and she can do what the hell she wants," the archer snarled sarcastically. He was trying to keep his anger under wraps but he was getting more wound up with every second that passed.

Who were they to judge him? Glenn was at it with Maggie every damn chance he got, everyone in the prison was fucking someone, or more than 'one' someone... it was like a goddamn brothel the way some of the women threw themselves around... and Rick, well he let his wife fuck his best friend and then took her back when she was knocked up by god knows which one of them. No one passed judgement on any of them, no one said a fucking thing.

Daryl knew exactly what the problem was though. Her age. Or his age, depending on how you looked at it. If he'd fucked anybody else no one would have given a shit, in fact he could have had a damn orgy with every other woman here and they'd have probably slapped him on the back, and congratulated him.

"I s'pose ya'll think I'm gonna explain myself? Well I ain't cos it ain't no one else's goddamn business. I didn't force her to do nothin' she didn't wanna do, and she ain't underage so I ain't apologizin' for nothin'," Daryl growled, throwing his arms around and almost losing control. As if his mind wasn't screwed up enough about what to do, they were just screwing with it a bit more. Then he had the sickening thought that maybe Beth was underage and that was why everyone was baying for his blood. Christ, she had to be eighteen, didn't she?

"No, ya ain't gotta explain anythin' to us Daryl. But I think Hershel and Maggie deserve to know what's goin' on between you and their lil' girl." Rick's voice was as level and calm as ever. As his rage took hold, Daryl randomly wondered how the hell Rick managed that.

"I'm goin' on fence duty, kill me some motherfuckin' walkers for a few hours," Daryl snarled, looking to the ground. With that Daryl re adjusted the bow on his shoulder and stomped off, leaving the two men stood there watching him walk away.

"I don't think Hershel knows, Maggie hasn't told him, and between his hearin' goin' and him sleepin' like the dead, I don't think he heard anythin' last night," Glenn whispered, sounding optimistic that perhaps the situation wasn't that bad.

"Ain't no way he's not findin' out though, especially if they carry on seein' each other." Rick knew as well as Daryl that the shit was going to hit the fan at some point, so there was no point in denying it.

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Beth had managed to get through breakfast without anyone saying anything about last night, so perhaps people hadn't heard after all. She started to calm down at the thought they'd gotten away with it, although if they were going to carry on, sooner or later people would find out, people like her daddy and Maggie.

Everyone finished up their breakfast and went about their jobs for the day, leaving Beth with Judy and some of the other kids. She set some questions for the older ones. They'd been learning math, long division and their multiplication tables. Beth had always been top of her class in science and math, and she he was planning on teaching them the periodic table next, which she'd memorized years ago.

"Elizabeth Louise Greene, I wanna word with you… and now if ya don't mind," a deep serious voice cut through the atmosphere. It was Maggie. Beth's heart missed a beat. Her sister knew. There was no other reason she was using Beth's full name like that.

Beth turned around to find Maggie stood with her hands on her hips and her head cocked to the side, lips set in a straight line.

"Finish your questions and I'll be back soon, okay?" Beth addressed the children as she picked up Judy, she didn't want to leave her on her own, plus the baby would be protection if Maggie turned nasty. Then Beth started the long torturous walk towards her big sister.

She knew what was coming, but she didn't think Maggie had any idea what was coming in her direction. Beth was determined she was no longer going to be the baby of the group that was never allowed to grow up.

She'd just spent the night wrapped around Daryl Dixon, that fact alone should earn her some respect. If he didn't think she was a child, then why the hell should anyone else?

"What do you want, Maggie?" Beth asked innocently, hoisting Judith into place on her hip.

"I wanna know what Daryl Dixon was doin' in your cell last night, Beth." Maggie's voice was raised, but at least she wasn't screaming. Yet.

"Well, we weren't playin' scrabble. And I don't know why you're askin' me when you obviously already know the answer?" Beth managed to keep her voice low, even if it was laden with sarcasm.

"'Cause I'm hopin' the noises comin' from your cell weren't actually you and him… screwin'!" Maggie spat out the last word almost silently.

"Well, they were, and we were, and I liked it, and I ain't sorry. It's nothin' to do with you or anyone else. Nobody complains when all they hear is you and Glenn goin' at it like rabbits do they, so why is it a big deal if I get to spend time with someone I like?" Beth asked calmly.

"Because it's him… he ain't good enough for you. He's mean and rude and moody and uncouth… And he's goddamn ancient!" Maggie didn't know how old Daryl was but she thought he had to be at least twice Beth's eighteen years.

"I'm not a kid anymore Maggie, I'm a grown woman, and he didn't force me to do anythin'. In fact, it was all me, I made the first move. It wasn't my first time neither, so don't be tellin' everyone he took advantage, or that I didn't know what I was doin', 'cause I did know. I knew I wanted him to fuck me." Beth's voice was raised now as she became angry at having to explain herself. Angry at the way her sister had just described Daryl, when she didn't even know him. Beth carried on though, trying to remember to quit the cussing for Judy's sake.

"And he isn't any of those things you just said he is, he's more than good enough for me. You don't know him, none of you know him, not like I do. He's kind and gentle and he cares about me, about all of us... and he… well, he just needs someone to want him, same as everybody else. So, what if he's a bit rough around the edges, that's what's saved our asses plenty of times when we've been in trouble." Beth spoke more softly now, as if she was finally seeing Daryl and everything he was for the first time herself.

"Well you ain't seein' him again, daddy'll never let you, not when he finds out," Maggie snarled. The older Greene was really testing her little sister's patience now, she was acting like a spoilt brat. Everyone treated Beth like she was the child out of the two of them, when most of the time it was Maggie that needed to grow up.

"When he finds out what, Maggie? Huh? That someone has made me happy, that someone wants to look after me, care for me? Why is it alright for you to have that but not me?" Beth knew this argument was just going to go around in circles, her sister was never going to accept it, and right now Beth didn't even know for sure if Daryl did want to care for her… or even want to see her again.

"I gotta go back to the kids… I don't wanna talk about it no more. Tell daddy what ya want." Beth sounded exasperated as she turned around and went back to the children, shifting Judy around on her hip as she played with Beth's necklace, gurgling to herself.

"You like Daryl don't you, Judy? You know what a good man he is, how sweet he is," Beth cooed as Judy carried on giggling and gurgling, oblivious to everything.

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It was almost lunchtime and time for the kids to stop school for the day. Beth was glad because she hadn't been able to concentrate on anything since her run in with Maggie. She needed to see Daryl, she needed to sort out whatever was or wasn't happening between them.

"Carol, can you take Judy for a while, there's somewhere I need to be?" Beth asked as she handed Judy over to a smiling Carol.

Everyone from all areas of the prison were piling in for lunch but Beth couldn't see Daryl amongst them. Beth had a pretty good idea where he'd be though, she smiled to herself as she realized she probably knew more about him than she first thought.

Beth went outside and started to cross the yard, towards the perimeter fence, where, as she expected, sat Daryl.

"You killed enough walkers yet then?" she teased. Beth knew immediately that somebody must've said something to him about last night to have made him spend the whole morning taking out walkers and to sit sulking by himself.

He didn't even look up at her. Beth sat down on the ground next to him, her knees pulled to her chest, mimicking his posture.

"You gonna speak, or just leave me sat here talkin' to myself like a crazy woman?" Beth knew she would have to do most of the talking here and she really didn't mind that, as long as he helped her out a bit.

"Reckon ya must be crazy to want anythin' to do with me," Daryl mumbled. He didn't look at her just kept staring straight ahead.

"So, you have realized that I do want somethin' to do with you then?" Beth nudged his arm with hers in an attempt to get him to look at her. "Guess that's a start."

Daryl turned to look at her, a slight smirk on his lips.

"So, who said what to you to get you so angry?" Beth asked.

Daryl looked to the ground and stabbed his knife into the earth, twisting and turning it around. "Rick, Glenn… the usual. Yer too young, I'm too old, yer family's gonna kill me, I've ruined ya, I've fucked up every relationship in the prison…. Ya want me to keep goin'?" Daryl asked. His mood lifting a bit as he realized how stupid it all sounded when he said it aloud.

"I got the same from Maggie, I'm too young, apparently yer goddamn ancient, I don't know what I'm doin', yer a miserable uncouth old man… You want me to keep goin'?" Beth echoed.

They both looked at each other and smiled, Beth letting out a giggle as she gently knocked her knee into his.

"Can I ask you somethin'? I promise I'll be okay with whatever your answer is." Beth wanted to get things sorted one way or the other.

"Hhhmm, guess so." Daryl shrugged. He had no idea what Beth wanted to know and only hoped he could give her an answer that didn't make him sound like a complete imbecile.

"Do you regret what happened last night?" Beth held his gaze as she asked him, her eyes searching his for the truth, although deep down, she already knew his answer. He wouldn't have been sat here talking to her if he regretted it. He wouldn't have still been there when she woke. He would have run from her, retreating into his usual awkward quiet self, hiding himself away.

"Nah, I don't regret it… but… you do. Guess this is the bit where ya let me down gently, huh?" Daryl shook his head until his bangs covered his eyes and dropped his gaze to the ground.

Beth ignored the last part of his answer and carried on, lifting his chin and making him look at her. "Do you think I'm still a child?"

"Nah, ya know I don't... ya ain't a kid, not the way ya..." Daryl stopped abruptly mid-sentence. He started to color up as he remembered last night, the memory of having Beth's pretty pink lips wrapped around his cock. Beth Greene was definitely not a child, and probably hadn't been for a while.

"Not the way what, Daryl?" Beth asked teasingly as she smiled at him, raising her eyebrows questioningly and letting go of his face. She had a pretty good idea what he was thinking about, and wanted to see him squirm.

"Nothin'," Daryl murmured as he held her gaze, his eyes shining with happiness for the briefest of moments despite his embarrassment.

"I guess I just need to know one more thing... do you wanna see me again?" she asked, but with more trepidation than the other questions. She was certain what his answers to those would be but she wasn't so sure on this one. Especially after everything that had gone on this morning. She wasn't sure he thought she was worth the aggravation that was still to come if they decided to make a go of it.

Daryl was quiet for a moment, staring back out over the yard as he ran his fingers through his hair. Beth braced herself for rejection and promised herself she wouldn't cry. Not here. Not in front of him.

"Hhhmm..." Daryl finally mumbled, nodding his head. Honestly, he'd never wanted anything more. He'd never felt this way before either… ever. As much as it scared him, he desperately wanted to know what it'd be like... to have someone, someone of his own that truly wanted him.

"Despite what you seem to think, I don't regret it either, Daryl. I don't think you're too old, or I'm too young. I wanna keep seein' you more than anythin'." Beth took hold of his hand and laced her fingers through his, squeezing tightly. They sat for a while looking out at the few remaining walkers the other side of the yard. Daryl returned her gesture and squeezed his hand around hers, but either wanted to be the first to speak. As if none of it would be real if they did. Minutes went by but it seemed like hours and Beth couldn't take the suspense any longer.

"You gonna kiss me then or have I gotta do all the chasin'?" Beth asked, looking at him and rolling her big blue eyes as a huge happy smile crossed her lips.

Daryl lifted his fingers to her face and stroked her cheek as he gently pressed his lips to hers, kissing her slowly and holding her face between both his hands like she was a precious gift he never wanted to put down.

Beth pulled away, slowly peeling her lips from Daryl's. "I think we should finish what we started this mornin'. Wanna come back to my place?" Beth was almost giggling she was so happy, her breath fast and heavy as she tried her best to tempt him.

Daryl didn't answer her, just stood himself up, taking Beth's hand in his and pulling her to her feet. He suddenly didn't care one bit about anybody else. Beth wanted him, for now anyway, and he wasn't about to turn her down. They walked back towards the prison, fingers linked as they passed a few people that were now starting to file back into the yard. They walked past everyone eating lunch, they walked past people on the stairs and people on the landing. Nobody seemed to care or even notice that they were together.

"See, it's not as bad as you thought, is it? No one cares, Daryl. It doesn't have to be complicated. Maggie will calm down, and if she doesn't… well, it's her loss. And daddy, I'm gonna talk to him later, but I think he won't mind too much, he only wants me to be happy." Beth spoke quietly to Daryl as they walked along, trying to put the best positive spin she could on things, but knowing it probably wasn't going to be that easy at all.

"Not on yer own, I'll come with ya… if he's gonna kick my ass may as well get it over with. And what kinda man let's his girl take all the heat anyways?" Daryl squeezed her hand and smiled at her, a genuine happy smile that took Beth's breath away. That and the fact he'd just said out loud that she was his girl.

They stopped as they reached her cell. Beth lifted her head, reaching up to kiss him as she snaked her arms around his neck. Daryl pulled her close, allowing his hardening cock to press into her stomach.

"So, you want me to get rid of that for you now?" Beth asked sexily. She chewed down on her bottom lip as her eyes roamed down his body, settling on his cock, before flashing back to meet his.

"Only if ya let me..." the archer's voice tailed off as he whispered the rest, running his tongue around the shell of her ear and blowing warm air down her neck in between each filthy word. Beth's eyes became dark and wide, her breath rapid as her heart pounded and her body bristled with arousal.

"You know that now people know about us, I'm not gonna be quiet... especially when you do that to me," Beth gasped.