Hellloooo all I am back, well for now I have another op coming in the near future (Waiting on a date) so will be off for a while then too but, here is a long awaited chapter, it's a few things that needed to be said, thanks for hanging in there with me, love to you all xxx

Beth stood on the porch looking out across the fields that made up her fathers property, the wisps of her breath playing in the cold night air, memories flowing over her swiftly, but she had no reason to shy away from them, so she embraced each one, Shaun showing her how to throw a football, Daddy leading her on her very first pony, Maggie and her playing in the pond, spending Sunday's after church preparing the family meal with her mother, it all seemed like so long ago, she sighed.

There was a sudden heat around her shoulders and she touched the cardigan where her father had placed it around her shoulders, she smiled at him gratefully.

"Are you going to stand out here all night Bethy?" he asked her, she looked back across to the tree line, he had been gone for three hours now, she knew he didn't even want to go but Merle had demanded it, so Daryl had gone to drop some gifts off to his family.

"He will be back soon" she wrapped her arms tighter around herself bringing comfort and warmth, she could feel her father's eyes on her but she refused to look away from the treeline.

"Are you happy Bethy?" he asked her cautiously, she thought for a moment, was she happy? Was she in love? Was this everything she had ever expected to get from her life? Then she saw a shadow exiting the tree's and moving slowly towards them and her questions were answered with the flip of her stomach, the urge she had to control to throw herself from the porch and run to him.

"Yes Daddy, I have never been happier" she felt a smile caress her lips, then she looked up to him and touched her small hand to his paper thin skin "You don't need to worry any more Daddy, he is everything you ever wanted me to have" She watched her father raise a questionable eyebrow at her so she continued "Oh I know he will never be a doctor or a vet" she flashed him another wide grin "but he's kind, he's gentle, he works really hard and he protects me, Daddy I love him" it was the first time she had spoken those words to anyone else out loud, well apart from Daryl, her father lent down to her and placed a small kiss to her cheek.

"Go to him then Bethy" she watched as he turned and walked away into the house, then she shrugged the cardigan of and ran, she sprinted as fast as her legs would carry her, she just needed to make sure he was alright, that his father hadn't done anything to him, as she came towards him she didn't stop she just let her feet leave the ground and leapt into his arms, feeling his strength there made her suddenly feel safe, as she wrapped her legs around his waist she kissed him deeply. Daryl lent back and looked into her eyes.

"What's gotten into you?" he asked her.

"You" she smiled and lent in to kiss him again noticing a small cut on his lip, so she placed her finger lightly on it "Did he?" she asked him.

"Nooooo" he placed her feet on the ground and she took her place next to him as they walked towards the house.

"You going to tell me what happened?" she asked him and he paused before the steps.

"No point, you know the routine, I walk in he shouts, throws a punch, the presents got broke, same as same as." he went up the steps and into the house leaving her stood there, staring in his wake.

Beth picked up the cardigan from where she had discarded it and wrapped it back around her shoulders then sat down on the swing, allowing her memories to take over again and wrap her back up in the safety blanket that was her childhood.

twd#twd#twd#twd#

Daryl made his way up the stairs to Maggie's room, opening the door and closing it swiftly behind him, he kicked off his boots and made for the bed. He knew he should have stayed with her, wrapped her around him and made himself feel better, but he wanted to wallow in his own self pity, he wanted the pain that seeing his father brought him, self torture, Daryl had become an expert in it, he led down on the bed and throw his hand up to his face reliving everything nasty word his father had spoken, letting the words embed themselves into his brain.

"You turn up on my doorstep, bringing your little pussy presents. Who the fuck have you turned into Darleena?" Daryl stood looking at his father knowing instantly that it was all a big mistake, Beth had said perhaps since they hadn't seen each other for a while he would be different but he should have known, shouldn't have listened to his stupid asses brother, either.

"Got nothing to say? She really does control your girlie arse then?" his father taunted him.

"Look Ol' Man, I came to bring you these not to have an argument" Daryl put the parcels on the thread bear couch and walked towards the door, he had forgotten how fast the Old bastard really was and the next thing he felt was his father's hand on his shoulder pulling him round but Daryl pulled his head back quickly and his father's punch on skimmed his face, Daryl pushed him against the wall and he stared at him eye to eye.

"You ever lay a hand on me or mine again and I will kill you" Daryl made his way to the door then turned back to his father. "Merry Christmas Pa" as he went out he heard the parcels colliding with the door and rolled his eyes, stupid bastard would have loved that hunting knife if he had taken the time to be grateful.

Daryl was brought back to the here and now with a small but assertive knock on the door, he waited to see if they would go away but it came again.

"Come" he growled in no mood to be nice, he just wasn't in the mood to play footsie with Beth right now, the door opened and to his surprise Hershel was stood there staring at him.

"Son, I think we need to have a little chat" he didn't wait for Daryl to answer, he just walked over and sat on the bed next to him. Daryl took a deep breath, he really wasn't ready for the whole father talk, not now, not today, he rolled his eyes at the deep breath Hershel took. "I ain't here to ask ya what your intentions are for Beth, I am here for one reason and one reason only Daryl, I understand your father is a wronged man, that he has waisted his time with you but I have a daughter who is sat outside on the porch worrying herself to death about you, she is my little girl and I do not like to see her in pain, she loves you I understand that and I know you love her too, weather you want to admit it or not" Daryl went to open his mouth but was almost as grateful when Hershel held his hands up to silence him. "She needs you as much as you need her Daryl, don't loose her now" Hershel stood up and placed a friendly hand on Daryl's shoulder and he felt himself jump then settled under his touch, Hershel didn't speak again he left as silently as he came in pulling the door up behind him, Daryl sat and stared at the closed door.