There we are starting the main storyline. We are in Atlanta and we are going to meet a lot of people we already know, still in this story everybody is OOC and not matching the age they might have or had in the series.

Thanks to BethylAddixon, Vaciliant and BethylLove for the reviews on the last chapters :)

Four years later …

Daryl had started to push Beth out of his mind after she didn't appear anywhere anymore. The rumors were true, the Dixons left the town, leaving their parents behind. From what Daryl heard the mother had tried to find them and wanted to go to the police but the father didn't want her to. For him, Beth was just a slightly painful memory, an unanswered crush but even though, his first kiss and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't forget how it felt to kiss her lips.

Daryl sat in a bar with his friends Rick and Glenn. They were all going to the same university, still not studying the same though. Rick was going to be a policeman, he was Daryl's age, while Glenn was studying something about photography, he was some older than Daryl and Rick since he decided to study after already working a couple of years as a pizza deliverer. Somehow, when Daryl brought his friends home with him the last summer, Glenn and Maggie had started dating. Daryl didn't mind that in any way. He liked Glenn.

Rick also had a girlfriend who was pretty annoying in Daryl's opinion. Her name was Lori and she was practically glued to Rick about twenty-four hours.

Daryl was glad he finally found some friends in Atlanta, before he went to the university he was already scared he would end up like in high school.

Rick liked to visit new places so they ended up in a pretty run-down bar in a darker corner of the city.

This place had a live show every Friday night and even though Rick and Glenn had their girlfriends they couldn't help but stare at the scantily dressed dancing and singing women. Pouring down one drink after another time passed by. Daryl was not interested in staring at these women wiggling their hips. He liked a few woman's voices but that was all.

'Hey, look at that one!' Rick said scuffing Daryl's shoulder and pointing on the stage.

'Nah, not interested.' Daryl muttered.

'Come on, don't be such a bore. You could need a girlfriend.'

'I am fine, Rick. Right now, I should be studying instead of drinking actually.'

Rick rolled his eyes and turned back to watch the stage. All women who performed first were gone, instead one single woman appeared, being an extreme opposite to the former ones. She looked a lot younger, too, maybe around 21. Also her outfit wasn't as short of material as for the others. This girl had something dark about her, something Rick couldn't quite put his finger on.

'Really, look at her, Daryl. She's completely different.'

'Hell, Rick, you are annoying!' Still Daryl averted his gaze off the table to have a look on the stage just for Rick to stop bugging him. Daryl dropped his drink as he glanced at the woman.

She was dressed in black plateau heels and a strapless, short and tight black leather jumpsuit. The light blonde hair hanging down to the middle of her back in smooth curls, her eyes outlined by a lot of black eyeliner and eyeshadow forming a sharp contrast to the pale creamy skin. The clear voice from her song didn't match her appearance at all but the song she was singing was as dark as her, just like her dance. She wiggled her hips smoothly to the rhythm of her song, making a lot of men whistle in sensation. The people here liked her a lot more than the other women and that probably was the reason why she got the stage for herself.

Daryl didn't trust his eyes, he blinked a couple of times before actually realizing it was Beth Dixon. He didn't think he would ever see her again, especially not in Atlanta. He tried to tell himself it couldn't be her but his attempts were pointless. There was no way to deny who she was.

'I'd bet my ass she's high.' Glenn said, ripping Daryl roughly out of his thoughts.

'Why should she be high?' Rick asked before he glanced at Daryl and the dropped drink. 'What's wrong, man? Did you have one too many or do you like that girl so much?' With a grin he turned back to the stage.

'Who would put that loads of makeup on if they wouldn't be trying to distract from their dilated pupils?' Glenn explained also looking up the stage where Beth was still singing and sexy dancing around. A huge black man was just pulling some man outside the club for whatever reason.

'Nah, I bet she's not even 21 yet and the makeup covers that up well.' Rick muttered not averting his gaze from Beth.

'Maybe you two should take your eyes off these girls since you both have a girlfriend.' Daryl sighed and took out his smartphone to read a little. His mind screamed to go home but Rick and Glenn would ask why and he had no answer but to avoid Beth.

Like half an hour later the show came to an end and all the women went to sit at the bar. Daryl stared on his phone hiding his face with his hair. Beth wasn't far, she sat with a dark haired woman and enjoyed a cocktail. He just hoped she didn't recognize him yet or avoided him on purpose.

'Are you in need of a charger or why are you so tensed up staring at your phone?' A voice behind the bar asked. Daryl jumped and looked straight in the face of a black woman who apparently was the bartender. Rick and Glenn next to him burst out in laughter while Daryl's face got a touch of pink on his cheeks.

'I-I-I just-' Daryl started stuttering but snapped his mouth shut again.

'The name's Sasha. Did you enjoy the show?'

'Yeah, we did. I'm Rick and that's Glenn and pinky here is Daryl.' Rick grinned and gave Daryl a scuff on the arm.

'Why don't ya go and chat with the girls? Once they are off stage they enjoy some company a lot. Just don't talk o Beth, she doesn't like that.' Sasha said and pointed her chin at her while cleaning some empty glasses.

The door opened and some cheers were to hear. Curious about who the crowd cheered at, the three men turned around. Daryl swallowed hard when he watched Merle Dixon making his way through the guests and he quickly turned back at Sasha.

'Who's that?' Rick asked and ordered a new round for him and his friends.

'That's Merle. Beth's big brother. He doesn't like guests talking to her, to be honest he's not even fond of her here. But we all know he would dislike it even more if she would help his business out.' Sasha explained as she refilled their glasses.

'His business?' Glenn asked.

'He's running something with Officer Walsh and with a guy who calls himself The Governor. Don't ask me what exactly that is. Are you guys new in town? I've never seen you here before.'

'Daryl and I are here for around two years yet, we're studying with Glenn but he's from here.' Rick answered after he swallowed his drink in one sip.

'Your friend's not really talkative, is he?' Sasha grinned and handed Rick a new drink.

Sasha went on talking to Rick and Glenn while running the bar as Daryl glanced over to Beth and Merle. Beth had thrown on a leather jacket and exchanged the high heels with boots. Daryl tried to hear what they were discussing about but they were too far away.

A moment later Merle was pulling Beth forcefully out of the club by her arm.

'I am able to go home alone, Merle!' Beth snapped at her brother.

'Told ya to be back by midnight and you're still here.' Merle rolled his eyes and smacked the door shut behind them,

Daryl realized it was past midnight already and got up to leave since he was working at Carol's Cafe on Saturday mornings to earn some extra money.

'I gotta go.' Daryl said to Rick while he put his jacket on and searched for his money to pay his drinks.

'Already? It's ten minutes after midnight!'

'Yeah, I have to work in the early morning.' He put fifteen dollar on the bar and left without waiting for Rick and Glenn. He wanted to hear what that whole thing was about and why Merle and Beth appeared here in Atlanta all of a sudden. He was there for over two years already and he never saw them anywhere. Of course, Atlanta was a lot bigger than his home town but he visited most of the places with his friends already.

Daryl stood still once he was out of the door, trying to make out where Merle and Beth had gone.

'Fuck ya, Merle. One day you'll get caught and then I'm all alone again.' Daryl heard Beth snapping from around a corner where the parking lots were.

'That's why I asked you ta be there. I wish ya would quit that job.'

'I will not! We need that money and it's the only money we make in a legal way.'

'Not really, Bethy. You aren't 21 yet, so yer not allowed ta work in a bar. Hell, hop on, we are too late.'

The fight was followed by the growling sound of an engine of a motorbike rushing past Daryl far too fast.

It was interesting, Daryl thought, the Dixon's left to Atlanta and apparently Merle had pulled Beth into his criminal activities without her actually wanting it.

At exactly 6:00am Daryl entered the little cafe of Carol who was already busy baking bread and croissants for the people who would come for breakfast. Daryl was helping her out on Saturday mornings and on Wednesday afternoons for some money. Saturdays even Carol's daughter Sophia helped out, she was just fifteen but the people loved her and her service.

'Good morning, pookie.' Carol waved at Daryl when he walked around the counter.

'Good morning, Daryl.' Sophia greeted with the usual smile on her face while kneading dough probably for some cookies for the afternoon guests.

'Good morning, you two. I open up once I'm ready!' Daryl knot the white apron around his hips and threw on the baby blue polo shirt he was wearing for his shifts here.

'No rushing, it's just six.' Carol smiled and put the baking sheet with the croissants on in the heated oven.

'How was your week, Daryl?' Sophia asked as she added chocolate chips to the cookie dough and went on kneading it.

Daryl set up the coffee machine and got the already finished pastries neatly positioned on the counters before he opened the doors of the cafe and carried the small tables and chairs outside when the first people already arrived to have some breakfast. When Daryl was done he went to the guests inside who sat down at the tables and asked for their orders. Eventually he went back behind the counter and told the orders to Carol while he got the coffee and tea ready.

When he just delivered the orders to the tables he was roughly being yelled at.

'Hey, do I get served here as well or are ya ignorin' me on purpose?!'

Daryl jerked and turned around facing Beth. She looked like crap if he was honest. From the messed up make-up and her still wearing the black jumpsuit from last night he could make out she probably didn't sleep yet. Frightful Daryl glanced behind the counter to see if Sophia was rushing to her already but the girl was busy with another costumer and so he had to go and serve Beth if he wanted or not. As he made his steps closer to her table he told himself he would not look at her and he would not talk to her apart from asking for her order. And so he did, keeping his eyes on his notepad he stood right in front of her seat and waited for her answer.

Beth didn't look at him either, she was totally sunk into her smartphone and typing something in it.

'A triple espresso with a hell lot of sugar and a damn chocolate croissant. Fast! I have appointments.' she snapped not looking up from her phone. Glad about that Daryl nodded and returned behind the counter.

'What's wrong, pookie?' Carol asked concerned when she saw how pale he was. 'Do you feel sick? You can go home any time.'

'Could you bring that order to that woman at table three? I know her and I am really not into her recognizing me. Haven't seen her in four years and to be honest, I don't want to. So could you, please?' Daryl had a frown on his face and he hoped Carol wouldn't ask too much.

'Of course, no problem. Calm down, pookie.'

Beth really went away without seeing him although he ran around the cafe the whole time. Daryl still kept his face hidden from her just to be sure she really wouldn't notice him. Beth brought so much chaos into his life with her sudden appearance everywhere he went.

At midday Daryl met up with Rick, Lori, Glenn and Maggie and he instantly hoped to get a chance to talk to his sister alone. After all, Daryl and Rick had no clue about Beth and Daryl wanted it to stay that way.

They had lunch at pizza hut and of course Lori was glued to Rick again and so they soon ended up kissing each other and forgetting the world around them.

'Excuse me a moment, please.' Glenn said and got up heading to the restrooms and Daryl immediately took the chance of Rick being distracted and Glenn being gone.

'Maggie, Beth is here in Atlanta.' he said lowering his voice just as much that Maggie could still understand him.

'Beth Dixon? Are you sure? What would she do here?' Maggie raised her eyebrows and looked pretty much like not really believing Daryl.

'She's got a job at some tiny club we saw her last night and this morning she appeared at Carol's.'

'Did she see you? Did you talk?' Maggie asked a little upset.

Daryl shook his head no. 'She didn't notice me yet and I don't want her to. I'm done with her, Maggie.'

'Done with whom?' Glenn asked and sat back down next to Maggie.

'Doesn't matter.' Daryl muttered and leaned back in his chair as also Glenn and Maggie got lost in a kiss. Daryl rolled his eyes and sighed annoyed. He knew why he didn't like going out with couples but he was also not liking Rick's and Glenn's plan for the night.

So what do you think? Daryl doesn't really like Beth appearing and what is she getting into with Merle?

I hope you liked it, drop me a review and check out the stories by BethylAddixon and BethylLove, they slay!

:)