Hi! so, before you start reading, I want you to forget about the fact that technically Beth should already know Aaron and Erik since she got to Alexandria with the rest of the Group in this scenario. I mean, I guess she wouldn't have paid attention to Erik since he was injured and resting in another room in 5x11. So yes, Aaron and Erik are in this chapter because I've tried not to love them but it was kind of impossible, they're amazing (especially Aaron!). Thanks for reading!

Beth had never been at the warehouse but her co-worker Aly had taught her how to get there. They had all sorts of supplies, from food to weapons, so maybe they also had some spare detergent to clean up the green paint that the kids had accidentally spilled all over the classroom floor. She walks in and hears people talking in the distance. As she gets closer she sees a chubby dark-haired woman with kind features dealing with a lanky man with reddish hair. The woman turns briefly in her direction. "I'll be right there" then she gives her full attention back to the man. "So, pasta and tomato sauce. I gotta tell you that we're running out of that."

The redhead brings his hands to his chest as if he's just heard the worst news ever. "Pasta or tomato sauce?"

"Which one would bother you more?"

"Both"

"The sauce." she shots back placing a hand to her hip. "I'm going to do what I can. In the meantime you are gonna have to make it work until restocking" and with that she pushes a door open and disappears in another room.

Beth isn't sure if she should find the look of discomfort on the guy's face funny or absurd. After all, her group had battled with way worse situations than the lack of tomato sauce. Back when they were hungry and searching for a place to stay they would have given anything for a bowl of pasta, with or without flavoring. On the other hand, Beth needs to remember that these people have had it pretty much easy since the virus took over the world so she couldn't judge them. Oh, and they are also the ones who gave them a more than decent new home.

She steps further and decides to initiate a conversation. "Big plans for dinner?"

The man turns to her. "Oh, nothing fancy. It's just that sometimes I hate that we don't have grocery stores anymore. It's all so limited now" he answers, lost in his memories.

Beth tries to sympathize. "Yeah, I get it. But you have more food than I've seen since forever here so it's not that bad either, right?"

The guy nods. "Absolutely." he takes a good look at her face. "You're the girl who's working at the school, aren't you?"

"Yes, I'm Beth" she leans in and shakes his hand. "Do I have one of your kids?"

He bursts a laugh. "Oh no, I've just heard about you, that's all! People talk, that's practically the only form of entertainment here" he explains rolling his eyes. "I'm Erik."

"Nice to meet you Erik" she decides she likes him.

"So what brings you here? If you're craving chocolate I must warn you: not enough of that either" he adds.

"No, I wanted to see if they have a bottle of detergent, I've got a mess to clean up at the school."

"Oh dear, I can give you mine. I don't think there's any of that stuff here anyway." he offers like they're already besties.

"Really? That would be awesome!" she agrees thankful.

"No problem at all. Just let me get my sauce and pasta and then we'll go. Hey, if you want to come to dinner tonight maybe I can convince Olivia to be more generous..." he gets all mischievous like he's already planning the whole thing in his head. Beth chuckles next to him.

Erik's house is not too far. She quickly discovered that he's sharing it with Aaron, the man that brought them to Alexandria, so she guesses that Daryl might still be with him now. By the time they get to the driveway Beth knows all about their story; it sounds like they're a solid couple, Aaron and Erik, and she finds herself wondering if she and Daryl could be fortunate as they are, staying together through it all. She fights a smile just thinking about how good it had felt to wake up next to him in the morning. She isn't fast enough to hide it, though and Erik see it. "How about you? Have you noticed someone you like in our town?"

It's like talking to Maggie all over again, but she was more discreet. Sort of. Beth gives a non-committal shrug. "Not really. I just got here" technically it isn't a lie.

"Are you sure? Spencer is single, for one. And there's a couple more guys I could set you up with."

He's on a roll, and Beth should stop him. "Thanks but I'm not looking for anyone right now" 'cause she is already in the middle of something, she might add but she won't.

Although she wanted to sound cool it must not have been so convincing because Erik stops right in front of the picket fence surrounding the house. "How silly of me, maybe you're already involved with someone from your own group! Are you?"

Game over for Beth. She awkwardly shoves her hands in the pockets of her jeans and looks at Erik without saying anything. This only fuels his curiosity. "Which one? I haven't met everyone in your group, unfortunately..." he's deep in thoughts for a few seconds, like he's scrolling through an imaginary database. Beth must say it's kind of funny. Suddenly he gapes. "Could it be Daryl Dixon?"

Wow, he got it. Not that it was too hard to figure out, since they aren't a very large group. Her silence is enough to confirm it. "He's a keeper, I'm telling you. I mean, I just hope he'll say yes to go with Aaron on our trips instead of me. He's certainly more used to the woods than I am."

Beth frowns. "Trips? What trips?"

"The recruiting." he says it like it's obvious. His face falls when he realizes it's not. "Oh, I thought you knew..."

Right at the moment the front door opens and Aaron exits the house followed by Daryl, his forehead creasing trying to understand what she's doing there. So that's what he was going to see Aaron about. Beth wonders if he already knew the details when they had talked in the morning. He opens his mouth but nothing comes out. Aaron takes over. "Hello, you're Beth right?" as he says so he steps up.

"Yeah."

"I've heard about your singing abilities, it's a bummer we weren't at the party to assist personally." he continues being just as welcoming as his boyfriend.

She forces a smile, too caught up in her thoughts to fully commit to the conversation. "Thank you"

"Beth was looking for some detergent for the school floor, I told her she could borrow ours" Erik steps in.

"Of course! Erik and I will go grab it for you" Aaron signals for his partner to follow him inside; he must have sensed the tension in the air, that's why he's leaving Daryl and Beth alone.

She avoids to look at him, keeping her eyes to the white fence. She's feeling mad, disappointed, worried...

"I was going to tell you" he says.

She slowly nods, still refusing to raise her head. So he did know before he came.

"There's nothing else for me to do here. It's this or they kick me out."

She bites her lip. Of course she doesn't want that. This is something that can make him fit in, something that he can help with. Still, she's torn.

She finally looks up. "OK"

He appraises her expression. "OK..?"

"Yeah. It's your call." she doesn't want him to see she's upset.

Aaron returns with a bottle of detergent. She gets it from him and says thank you one more time. She's already whirling around when Erik's voice stops her. "So do I count you in for dinner tonight?"

Beth's eyes dart from him to Daryl. She smiles politely at Erik. "My brother in law is not feeling well and I should stay home for support. Rain check?"

"Whenever you want" he agrees friendly. He waves while she makes her way to the school, refusing to look back.