Woah, thank you all so much! The favorites and alerts exploded literally since the last chapter I am amazed, really!

Well, this chapter took me ages, I'm sorry for that but I started my apprenticeship as a paralegal and I was so tired all days, additionally I have a second job in a store I am in Fridays & Saturdays so I am a lot of busy! Well, my body is slowly getting used to a the work so expect chapters to come faster now. Also I started on a new Bethyl fanfic I will post sunday I think. It will be AU again but not as crazy as this one.

Okay, enjoy this chapter now.

It was Friday evening when Rick knocked the door to Daryl's bedroom in their apartment and opened it after nobody answered him. Daryl had his headphones plugged in and was sitting on the floor in the middle of his room surrounded by books and sheets he wrote full with stuff. That's the way he used to study, Rick had seen it often enough since they moved into the apartment. Daryl's hair hung in his face, his glasses were askew on his nose, he had a pencil stuck behind his ear and one between his lips chewing on it as he read in one of the books. Rick knew he was probably listening to some country music on a high volume so nothing would distract him. Anyway, his friend was worried. Daryl didn't leave his room for anything other than for his classes, his shift at Carol's Cafe and to get his ordered food from the door and that behavior worried Rick. Usually they sat on the couch and played video games or watched movies together and Daryl only went away to study when Lori was around. Something changed since the last Saturday and Rick really needed to know what. Daryl had left the club immediately after Beth and her brother and Rick had seen the obvious pain on his face but he hadn't answered any questions, he had just rushed home and locked the door and ignored an attempt of Rick or Glenn to make contact. The only one he talked to was Maggie but whatever his problem was it was save with her since not even Glenn had any idea. Rick was standing behind Daryl a few minutes before he pulled the headphones out of his ears. 'Earth to Daryl, do you have a little time?'

Daryl jerked and threw the book aside. 'Hell, Rick. Don't scare me like that. I don't have time, if you noticed, I am studying and it's really necessary.' Rick rolled his eyes and pulled out a cover of a video game from behind his back.

'I got the new game. Thought you wanted to play with me. You studied the whole week and it's Friday, time for some fun.' Rick saw Daryl sigh and glancing between the game and his books before he muttered 'Well, so then.' and got up, taking the game from Rick and rushing into the living-room. Rick just grinned and went after him. Quickly Daryl set up the PlayStation and soon the men ended up playing their new video game. But when they paused to order pizza Rick just had to ask Daryl about last Saturday. Daryl looked for an excuse but he had none. He didn't want to let Rick know all these things but still he had no way to come out of this talk otherwise.

'I know Beth. We went to High School together. I-I had a crush on her back then and we have been something like friends until she joined a group of badass bullies and changed to what she obviously still is. One day she asked to meet me alone and we did and I took Maggie because I was scared she wouldn't come alone and she noticed Maggie and ran off but the same night I found her sitting on our porch pretty much beaten up by whoever, she never told me. Anyway, I cared for her and let her sleep over at our house because nobody was there and all was okay until the next morning we had a little play fight and I was so stupid to kiss her. I screwed it up big time and got the painful answer on that. I never saw her again after that until now. And really, Rick, did you see her face? I have been such an idiot.' The same painful expression came to Daryl's features when he told Rick their story. He couldn't quite believe all this.

'Wow, never would've thought you know her. It's such a coincidence we met her here, I mean Atlanta is so big.'

'I know, she was pretty much out of my mind already and then we went to that club and she was there.' Daryl let out a deep sigh, he still wasn't sure if he should like the fact that Beth was back in his life or not. Everything seemed messed up again after he had sorted all out so well.

'Do you still have feelings for her?' Rick asked straight out and took a close look in the eyes of his friend, they often said more than he expressed with words.

'No, of course not.' Daryl muttered and averted his gaze back to the video game.

'Daryl, honestly, you all act like it. I think there are still feelings left. Your face was pure pain when she fled out of the club last Saturday. You can't fool me here.' Rick noticed Daryl sighing and putting away the controller of the PlayStation before he looked back at his friend.

'Fact is, Rick, she likes to play games and she's a bitch and my so called feelings are probably just chemical reactions of male hormones on her appearance. I had a crush on her when I was fourteen and seventeen. I am done with that. I am twenty-one now and one day you need to make a cut and my cut happened when I went to college. Can we go on playing now?' Daryl used to explain things scientific when he got protective about his own behavior and mind. Rick decided to leave it with that and they went on playing.

The doorbell rang and Rick went to open the door. 'Hey guys!' Glenn said once Rick opened the door. 'Here's your pizzas and mine as well. Thought I get them to you since my shift was over. What are we doing tonight? Going to Sasha's?'

Rick shrugged his shoulders. 'I am in but persuading Daryl could become a challenge.'

'Just tell him he can take one of his books. No challenge and he's happy.' Glenn grinned and went inside with the pizza boxes.

An hour later the boys arrived at Sasha's bar. It wasn't as stuffed with people today but still well-attended. Apparently the show was just about to start since Sasha was standing up on the stage. Tyreese was talking to some people next to the door as Rick, Glenn and Daryl sat down at the bar listening to Sasha.

'Today is only a small show scheduled due to Beth getting injured. Later the mic will be open for everyone, I hope you all have fun tonight!'

Rick glanced at Daryl and gave him a significant look. Something inside Daryl calmed down and he took out his book and began to study while Sasha already was back to bartending and gave out their drinks to them.

There didn't pass a lot of time until the bar door was smacked open and Beth entered the club with two men on both her sides. She made her way through the crowd quickly, the men not leaving her, and sat down. Daryl glanced at her and couldn't help but smirk when he noticed she was wearing the exact same clothes she used to wear back then in high school. A black top with the angel wing vest over it, the short black leather skirt, the ripped black tights and the leather boots. Her hair was as messy as usually and her makeup as black as always. 'Three Jack and Coke.' Beth ordered as she typed on her phone without looking up.

'Good evening to you, too, Beth. Shane, Phillip.' Sasha nodded to the men and poured their drinks in.

Daryl saw Beth's hand wrapped in a bandage and he wondered what happened but he quickly looked back into his book, still not studying but making out what she talked about with the two men.

'We've got half an hour to enjoy ourselves, then we are back to business. You got the stuff, Phillip?'

'Of course. Where's Merle anyway?' The man called Phillip asked, he wore an eye patch and Daryl wouldn't want to meet him alone on the street in the dark.

'Merle got in trouble with the police. But as usual, Shane will get him out of this, ain't I right?' Beth gave the other man a glare before she emptied her drink.

'Yeah, for sure. Business's not same without Merle.' Shane mentioned.

At a certain point of time Beth asked Sasha for the time and gave Shane and Phillip a significant look before she emptied her drink quickly and got up from the bar stool. Since she had had a lot of drink she was slightly stumbling but none of the guys she was with made any attempt to take care of her. They disappeared out of the club and Daryl couldn't help but to get up and excuse himself to need a little bit of fresh air just to follow Beth unseen. They had been talking about business and since Merle had always been into illegal business he surely bound Beth into it as well and Daryl was dying to find out what their business was about. He followed them through some narrow alleys until they arrived at a dark alley with barely any lights apart from one single one above a door. It all looked like straight out of a mafia movie. As soon as Beth and the two men stopped Daryl hid behind a corner and was just far enough away not to be seen but still to hear what they were saying.

'Where's your courier now, Phillip? You know exactly Merle and I need the stuff.' Beth gave Phillip a glare.

Daryl watched Shane retreat from them, not noticed by Beth obviously. Suddenly a dark figure appeared in the shadows of the high buildings and before Daryl could do something or even realize what was going on he noticed Shane running past him and the person storming out of the shadow knocking Beth down with a strong hit to her head. With a thud Beth landed on the cold stony ground. The man kicked her in the side just to be sure she was really unconscious before Phillip bowed down and took her purse. He opened it and pulled out a handful of money. Quickly he counted the bills and stuffed them into the pocket at the inside of his jacket as he pulled out some tiny plastic bags out of Beth's purse as well. There was some white powder inside and Daryl could tell it probably were drugs. Beth was unconsciously coughing and blood trickled from the corner of her mouth. Daryl didn't know what to do but he knew he couldn't fight Phillip and the other man if they would notice he witnessed everything. Daryl was scared and so he kept in his hiding no matter how much he wanted to help Beth right now. To be honest, he would want to help anyone in that situation but earlier that evening Rick had hit a point and he knew he had been right but he had to let go of all of that. Beth didn't want him in her life or she wouldn't have just left four years ago, neither would she have acted like she did a week ago. Daryl pressed his back to the stone wall when Phillip and his accomplice walked through a crossing alley and disappeared. He waited a minute to see if Shane was coming back but he wasn't and so without a lot of thinking he made his way to Beth and knelt beside her unconscious body. He examined her face and head where he found a small bleeding cut on nearly the same spot one had been four years ago when he found her sitting on his porch. There also still was some blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. It looked a little artsy since her lipstick color matched the shade of red the blood had perfectly. Daryl shook her shoulder carefully but she didn't move. He had to bring her into his apartment. It wasn't too far but a taxi would surely be a good help.

When Daryl carried Beth up the stairs to his apartment she came back to consciousness although she appeared drowsy a lot and still not really back with her mind. She batted her eyelashes like a million times and it looked like she was trying to focus.

'Where 'm I?' she nuzzled through her barely opened lips while she clutched the collar of Daryl's shirt. If he didn't know someone just knocked her out he would even assume her being high or heavily drunk by the way she acted.

'Sh, it's alright, Beth, you are safe here.' Daryl muttered when he finally made it to pull his keys out of his pocket. Still he couldn't unlock the door with Beth on his arms and since she was in her half-awake state he carefully placed her on her feet but still kept one arm wrapped around his waist as he was sure she wouldn't be able to keep herself in an upright position right now. And just like he had known it, Beth dropped her weight against him, unexpectedly she even wrapped her arm around his shoulders and brought her face close to his own.

'Ya grew a beard. Like that.' she nuzzled again and placed a finger on his beard, softly caressing the scrubby chin of him.

'Beth, please, stop that. You don't know what you're saying, neither what you're doing.' Daryl finally made it to unlock the door and he carefully guided her into his bedroom where he sat her on his bed. 'Stay here, I get a band-aid and some water. Do not even try to get up, got me?' Daryl gave her a strict look she answered with a very wild nodding.

When Daryl got water and band-aid he returned to his bedroom and found Beth either asleep or unconscious again lying on his bed. He let out a sigh and took off her boots before he carefully pulled the quilt over her. After he took the cloth he got and dipped it into the warm water. Softly he dabbed off the blood from her face and from her mouth before he placed the band-aid on the cut over her eyebrow. She looked very peaceful when she was asleep. Her skin was pale but it suited her just as perfectly as her delicate features and the curly blonde hair. Daryl stroked a strand of hair behind her ear and took another close look at her.

She didn't change a lot since the days they studied together for tests. Under all the makeup she still was the same girl, her badass behavior was just facade, Daryl was sure. He wanted to touch her but he didn't dare to since if she would wake up she would probably freak out. Daryl took a chair next to the bed and sat beside her, his eyes glancing all over her. He knew she would be mad when she woke up in Daryl's bed in his apartment but where else should he have brought her. There was no place he could think of apart from a hospital but he knew she would like that even less. He still had feelings for her buried deep inside him, he wanted to forget them but it just didn't work out. At first he thought he would just need more time but after four years she was still present in him although they barely ever had anything to do with each other and now she was as screwed up as she could be, dealing with drugs, acting like a goth bitch, working for a show in a bar, presenting herself to drunk people. When Daryl thought back to when they used to study together when they were around 13, he would have assumed her to turn out a professor for biochemistry or something but surely not what she was this day. Daryl couldn't understand how she turned out to be like that now and he instantly hoped someone would come along for her one day to change her back to the girl she was one day. He wished it would be himself but he doubted that highly since she was obviously hating him.

The hours passed and Daryl kept watching and thinking about her. It was 4AM in the morning when she finally opened her eyes drowsily. Her eyes came to focus on Daryl and she immediately sat up in the bed, fully awake now by the shock that drove through her facing Daryl right beside her.

'Oh my god, Daryl!' she whispered with a very familiar scared expression on her face.

Alright, how will Beth react? Whats going to happen? I have to thank BethylAddixon for the help on this chapter because I was missing on a bridge and she had just that cute idea about Daryl watching Beth and that was so amazing.

Go and read her stories by the way, they are great!

Anyway, drop me a review please!