Oh my another one, we are on a flow people, thank you for all the messages lets see what Hershel has to say about them? Thank you for the follows, favourites and reviews much love xx

Beth sat in the middle of a great debate during her English literature class, they were debating classic novels verses modern novels, this was something she felt passionate about her love for the classics, she had read many dime store romance novels but they just weren't like works such as her all time favourites.

Beth was a mixture of excitement and apprehension today it was the last day before their Christmas holidays, her stomach was doing back flips, she was going home for a long weekend with Daryl, this was a big thing for him as he hadn't been back to their home town since the day he came to her rescue, Merle had said he was going to stay, as Carol and Merle had big plans with her daughter Sophia for Christmas and they needed to work on them before the big day, she had brought and wrapped all her gifts, she just wasn't sure how to tell her father about her and Daryl, she knew he didn't really approve of Daryl as he was low educated but surely her happiness was all that mattered? She sighed a little, then she caught her name being called and she looked up as Professor McManus stood before.

"Beth, what is your opinion?" shit she hadn't been listening to them close enough.

"Sorry?" Beth asked and the room chuckled.

"I asked you, if you could find a modern day book that was equal to Bram Stokers Dracula?" he coaxed her.

"I am not sure, as you have the whole perfect love issue and I am not sure there is such a thing as perfect love, there are books I can think of that involve relationships where they declare undying love for another but I can not think of another book that is the equivalent but I could give you a book, were the vampire is tormented both for his love of his friend, for his love of his dead family and for the family that he is now given but not through choice, that being Anne Rice's Interview with a vampire." she wasn't sure there was a right answer to what the professor had asked her but he winked at her so she guessed she had done ok and breathed out a sigh.

"Good choice Beth, as you have said this wasn't about an on going true love relationship, however it was about a huge change in his life, his ability to adjust, his love for a young girl who grows into a woman in all sense of the word but will never be one so they can not have they affair they would both want." he turned away from her, as Beth's face flushed red.

"Ummm Sir" she said to gain his attention "But it was also about his inability to let go of his past and move on to his future, his incapability to see the good in his new life, his own insecurities towards his ability to continue on his own, it took the climatic death of his female companion for him to realise that he could make it on his own." she smiled up at her Professor, who looked almost astonished at her.

"Your insight is deep Beth" he turned back to the rest of the class as she flushed red again "What does everyone else think? I know if you have not read either of the two books we have just spoke about I suggest over the holidays you seek them out and try them and we will continue this discussion when we all return, enjoy your holiday's and I will see you back here and refreshed in a fortnights time" the bell rang then and Beth stood packing her things into her bag, she left the room quietly making her way to the front entrance, Daryl had told her he would be late back tonight, he had to stay on at the garage to help Dale with the back log before the holidays came in, she made her way to the grocery store, so she could purchase some bits for tonight's dinner before they left, Daryl had wanted to drive through the night, save on traffic he had mumbled, she pulled items from the shelves as she came around the corner and ran head first into Merle and Carol, to her surprise Merle was pushing a shopping trolley chattering to Carol and Sophia was running back and forth between isles collecting things she wanted for the holidays.

"Carol" she said happily and the pair hugged she turned to Merle and smirked "Domesticated" she said giggling Carol smirked with her.

"You start blondie and I will not be held responsible for my actions" he glared at her.

"Oh Merle, it's ok really I knew one day you would stop being a puppet and become a real boy" she teased as Sophia came running over grabbing Merle's hand he looked down at the little girl.

"Merle there is something on the top shelf and I can't reach it would you mind helping me?" she asked him, he nodded.

"Sure squirt" he walked off with her.

"I never thought I would see the day" Beth smiled at Carol who looked a small bit confused "Oh Big Bad Merle Dixon, turning into a domestic god" she laughed.

"I wouldn't say a domestic god and I wouldn't say he has lost or left all his past vices behind, I am not altogether sure I will ever know why he is the way he is but he works hard and he has done more for my little girl than her father ever did in his whole life." she smiled fondly as she watched Merle lifting Sophia on to his shoulders to reach down the object she had wanted, she could hear the child giggling.

"They are not my secrets to tell Carol, but I am sure one day he will tell you, once he is sure not just of you but of both of you" she said wisely, Merle might be the elder of the two but in some ways he was even younger than Daryl, she felt Carol's hand on her arm and looked into the older woman's soft eyes.

"May I ask you one thing Beth?" she seemed nervous "My husband he was, he was an abusive man, he would hit me and sometime Sophia, he would try and ….." she swallowed hard this conversation was obviously difficult for her.

"If you are going to ask me if Merle Dixon would ever touch you out of anger I would put my life to say no, he is a lot of things, the ultimate red neck, sometime the ultimate teenager, he has made some seriously bad decisions in his life but his is a good man at heart and when he loves he does it with his whole heart, but be gentle with him because the thing about Merle is, I don't think he has ever been in a serious relationship before, he is so not sure of himself." Merle arrived before them squinting his eyes as he realised they had been talking about him.

"I hope your saying good things blondie" he stated lifting Sophia to the ground.

"Oh Merle as if there is anything I could possibly say that would be bad, I mean there is the whole Christmas tree story that I am sure you haven't told Carol yet, have you got a Christmas tree yet Carol?" she asked innocently.

"Beth Greene if my brother wasn't being a pussy over you, I swear I would slap you here and now" he growled.

"Puff ball" she teased him "Now remember Merle, Daryl and I are leaving early in the morning I will leave you something in the freezer so all you gotta do is heat it up, well if you go home that is" she winked at them both and she swore she saw Merle blush a little.

"Will you go now before you ruin my reputation any further" he growled and she giggled.

"See you all after the weekend" she called as she started to walked away she heard Carol ask Merle about the Christmas tree then she heard a really loud laugh, that made her smile.

twd~twd~twd.

Beth sat waiting for Daryl to be home he was later than he said he would be she had done them some food and washed the dishes placing several meals in the freezer for Merle, their bags were stacked neatly by the front door and she was sat on the couch attempting to re read Dracula, but not being able to concentrate, where was he? She picked up her phone and started to type a text to him.

Hey just wondering where you are? Times getting on and I would very much like to well get gone really. Hope your safe.

She pressed send and waited for a reply, half an hour later she got one.

On way see ya in a minute

She frowned at her phone it was nearly ten at night, he must have put in some serious hours today, Dale must have got them to clear the whole garage, she stood up and placed Daryl's dinner in the microwave, ready for one he got home then went back to the couch, she picked her phone up and sent a quick text to Andrea.

Hey Andy have a good Christmas holiday, I will catch up with you after, if your not going home feel free to come to ours for the day, miss you already.

She got a reply almost instantly.

Hi Beth, thank you for the offer but I am going to see my little sister, I haven't been home in ages and I missed her last birthday and the one before that so I thought I would make the effort to be with her, she misses me, see you for the new year, we should all party.

Beth smiled.

Sounds good to me, I will talk to Daryl about having a party instead of going to the bar, we can get some drinks in have us a real shindig.

She pressed send just as the front door opened Daryl came in, she rose from her seat and went over to him wrapping her arms around his neck and dropping into a kiss, breathing his scent in deeply the usual scent of grease, smoke and that woody smell hit her relaxing her into his arms, but there was something else had he changed his deodorant to something sweeter? Probably not, just her mind playing games he was a man of habit. She pulled away from him "Good day?" she asked him as she made her way into the kitchen to zap his dinner, he nodded placing himself on the other side of the work surface watching her work.

"Yeah have I got a couple of minutes to grab a shower before I eat?" he asked her and she nodded at him taking cutlery out and laying a place at their small table he walked away and into the bathroom, she heard the shower start up and pushed the buttons on the microwave, then went to the fridge to collect the salad and a soda for him, she placed them down on the table, she picked up his work bag that seemed stupidly heavy today, she was about to undo the zip to take out his flask and lunch box when his voice stopped her.

"No" his voice was edgy "I will do that" he grabbed the bag before she had a chance to answer him and unzipped it then it twigged he had her Christmas present in there and he didn't want her to see it he was so sweet. After he had eaten and she had cleared up, she watched Daryl carry their things to the truck, she turned the lights off on their lengthways Christmas tree and closed the door behind her, a small lump of apprehension in her throat as she got into the truck next to Daryl