A/N Thank you all so much - you make me smile. I know what you've been waiting for so here we go.

There were just two more weeks until graduation and it was hard to say which of them was the happiest, the most excited, and the most nervous.

They knew leaving high school was the ending of what had been a huge part of their lives, their school years together. But it was also a new beginning, they'd be adults, working, paying their way and continuing to save every penny they could.

It was Saturday and he'd just gotten to her house. She and her Mama both seemed excited. "Hey y'all what's goin' on?" He asked.

"Daryl, Mama and Daddy are having a party for us right after the graduation ceremony. Everyone's coming even Shawn and Maggie will make it. Daddy called Merle and he and Carol are coming too. It's going to be so fun to celebrate with our families, and since its afternoon we won't miss our Grad Night Party!"

He nodded to her Mama and looking serious he said, "Thanks that's real nice n all. I can't even believe I'm gonna graduate, I guess they just kept passin' me along ta make room for the next guy."

When he spoke like that it worried her Mama. "Daryl you're a very bright young man and don't ever believe any different. You've worked hard for this and you've earned it."

He just shrugged and said, "Yeah okay, well thanks for giving the party. Its' gonna be a big day for me n Beth for sure."

They drove up to their little spot by the creek he stopped the truck and put his arm around her. "Damn Baby we're almost there. I can't believe I'ma graduate an I can't believe I held out this long with you. That's been the toughest part. I'ma try real hard ta make the first time special Beth. I got a plan for the night after the Grad Party. Tell yer Mama yer stayin' with Amy or sumthin', k?"

She was bright pink, "I will but what's this plan?"

His own ears were a nice shade of pink when he answered, "I ain't tellin' ya Beth. Tryin' ta make it a surprise."

They'd gone out the night before graduation and gotten home a little late but for once her Daddy hadn't scolded them. "You're both going to be tired in the morning." That was all he said. They knew he was right but they just didn't care. They craved time together. Life seemed so busy between finishing up school and working, they wanted every available minute they could get with each other.

They'd almost crossed the line again that night, but they'd made that promise to themselves and each other and as hard as it was, they'd kept it.

Graduation Day finally arrived and it was exciting for her to be feeling like she was a big deal, a center of attention as they all came into the school auditorium in their caps and gowns. Boys were on one side, girls on the other and she and Amy walked side by side. They were holding hands and smiling ear to ear. This was it, the day they'd waited for.

Beth looked to the boys' side and immediately spotted him just as he looked to her. They waved and smiled and she nearly fainted when he made kiss lips at her. Sometimes he broke right out of that shyness of his and when he did it never failed to surprise her.

Amy spotted Caesar, "Oh Beth look, Caesar's so good looking and he's really going to be handsome in his uniform." She and Beth squeezed hands, they were young, happy and in love.

Amy and Caesar had been a couple since eighth grade and like Beth and Daryl, they had a plan for after graduation. They'd be getting married in two weeks and two weeks after that Caesar would be on his way to Army boot camp.

A shy boy that none of them knew well was the class valedictorian. His name was Milton Mamet and judging by the speech he gave, he seemed to think they were all pursuing college degrees and professional careers. Daryl hoped he could stay awake until the guy was done. He just wanted to get his diploma and get the hell out of this place for good.

He was surprised to see Merle and Hershel right there by the stage when the principal handed him his diploma. They were snapping pictures and he felt self-conscious, but he managed to give them the thumbs up.

Her folks put on a real nice late afternoon lunch and her Mama had made all of his favorite foods. He still marveled at how they treated him like one of their own. Like he was special to them. It was a good feeling but it was also a little uncomfortable. It was hard enough for him to accept that Beth loved him, much less that her family accepted him and cared for him so much.

Her Mama and Daddy gave him a leather wallet with his initials on it, and inside were two one hundred dollar bills. He was surprised and appreciative, but also embarrassed. Just like her Mama had said at Christmas, Daryl had a hard time accepting gifts.

It was then Merle said, "I gotta go get yer present kid, I left it in the barn." He went in the big building and two minutes later came roaring out on his motorcycle.

Daryl was sure his brother was screwing with him. Merle couldn't possibly be giving him his Bike could he? It was a chopped '60s Triumph Bonneville TR6C, and Daryl had admired it for as long as Merle had owned it, which seemed like always.

"Serious Merle?" He looked to his brother in disbelief.

"Hell yeah I'm serious kid. I know how bad ya want a bike an I know ya got a special fondness for this one. You're the first Dixon ever ta graduate from High School, that deserves a special gift. Enjoy it kid, ya earned it." Merle clapped his brother on the back.

"But what about you ain't ya gonna miss it?"

"Well I'm sure I woulda but I'ma be gettin' myself a little newer version." Merle grinned that big old shit eatin' grin of his and Daryl just laughed. His brother could be meaner than most when the mood struck him, but he'd also come through for Daryl more times than he could remember.

Then Carol shocked him with the gift of a gleaming black Scorpion helmet. That's when all of it got overwhelming for him. His head was down and he was working the side of that thumb. Merle put an arm around his shoulders and quietly said. "Let yerself enjoy this kid, ya deserve it. Believe that."

His brother clapped him on the back, stepped away and said in his booming voice, "I got a little sumthin' for you too girl." Carol was smiling and handed her her own Scorpion Mariposa helmet. It was black with a design of bright pink scroll work and butterflies.

Beth was a little overcome herself, "Wow Merle, Carol thanks so much, this is so special. I hadn't expected anything, thank you."

Daryl still looked uncomfortable and Beth put her arm through his and got as close to him as she could. She softly whispered, "C'mon Daryl be happy for yourself you earned this moment."

Hershel and Annette had their concerns about Daryl and Beth riding around on a motorcycle, but they trusted Daryl to be careful with her. And Merle had promised he'd make him pass the motorcycle safety test at the sheriff's department before he let him ride. They still had their concerns but there was some comfort in that. And they knew they had to accept that the kids were young adults now, they were going to be spreading their wings a little.

Still her Daddy planned to talk to them both before they ever took a ride together on that bike.

xxxx

The big downtown hotel had donated use of their ball room for the Grad Night Party, and the junior class and the senior Mom's had gone all out decorating it. The big room was filled with balloons, streamers and banners. Plus enlarged photos of High School events the seniors had participated in during their past four years of school.

A D.J. had been hired, there was a big dance floor set up, and the class had been buzzing about the karaoke machine for a month.

This was intended to be a "sober party" to keep all the young grads out of trouble, while still letting them celebrate together. There was plenty of food and lots of sodas and waters and fruit drinks. But the graduates were resourceful and there were also plenty of hip flasks and mini bottles that had been smuggled in in the tops of socks, inside boots, and tucked inside shirts then and held in place with belts that were buckled extra tight. If a person thought about it for a minute they could figure out how to sneak a little alcohol in. Most everyone in the class had brought a stash.

Beth had worn a sundress with a tight waist and a full skirt. It concealed hers and Daryl's pint tucked in the top of her pantyhose. As soon as they were inside she went straight to the bathroom, put the bottle in her purse and threw the pantyhose in the trash.

Daryl wasn't usually an overly talkative guy but he couldn't wait to tell Rick and Caesar about his new Bike.

Rick punched him in the arm, "Shit all I got was a card with a hundred dollar bill in it and my old man saying, 'how soon are ya goin' ta work kid?' I wish had an older brother instead."

"Fuck Daryl, how did you rate?" Caesar chimed in, "Course even if someone had given me a Bike I s'pose they wouldn't let me take it to bootcamp, and I can't see Amy riding a chopper to the grocery store." He laughed good naturedly and they turned their attentions to their girls.

The D.J. had played two sets and everyone had been dancing and singing along. The graduates were in the mood to celebrate and the party was well underway. That's when the D.J. announced, "I think it's time we got this karaoke started!" And the group began cheering, whistling and clapping.

The first couple to take the stage was Sam and Bonnie. They were married now and the parents of two month old Randy. That hadn't prevented them from completing high school, mostly due to Bonnie's folks being real supportive allowing the couple to live with them, and taking care of little Randy while they went to school.

When the young parents began to belt out "I Got You Babe" it brought the house down in a chorus of laughter, cheering and shouting for an encore.

No one could believe it when Milton came on stage and sang Flo Rider's My House. Maybe he wasn't quite as big a nerd as they'd all thought he was, in fact a couple of the unattached girls were giving him all their attention.

Beth, Amy and Lori had just enough "sips" to feel brave and they took the stage next. They chose the theme song from Friends. They'd binged watched it together in their junior year. The three friends danced and goofed to the song just like the characters on that old show.

Daryl marveled at her bravery. He'd never be able to get up in front of a crowd and do something like that. And the amazing thing was she was having fun doing it. He would sooner die.

No sooner did he have that thought than Caesar and Rick made a valiant effort to get him to join them on stage. "Nah, y'all go on I can't be embarrassin' myself or you and especially not Beth."

While they were trying hard to talk him into it Andrea took the stage. Everyone could see by the way she stumbled up there she'd had more than a few "sips." And when she started performing "Hands to Myself," things got raunchy fast. She was gliding her hands over her breasts and the her hips, but when she lifted her skirt and rubbed her hands up her inner thighs, one of the chaperones was up on that stage and pulling Andrea off of it just that fast.

The guys were trying hard not to laugh and make remarks, the last thing they wanted was to piss off their girlfriends, hell they were trying to pretend they hadn't even noticed anything.

Amy and Beth were as red as a couple of tomatoes, but Lori had started kissing on Rick, getting maybe just a little too affectionate for public display. He was kind of confused by this sudden affection, but not enough to try and stop her. The chaperone had other ideas and was soon telling them this was not the time or place.

No one noticed the look that passed between Lori and Shane.

Daryl had only had one drink and that was when they first got there. He didn't want to have to call Merle to come for them, he wanted to take her home himself.

The party officially ended at 2am but they'd managed to sneak out at one. She had to be home at 2:30 and they wanted some time by themselves.

He drove to the woods where they'd danced when they left the prom. His arms were around her, holding her tight and he was speaking in a soft voice, "Damn Baby I can't believe we made it, well I can believe you did, but shit I graduated from High School. I just hope I can make it now, be a good man n not fuck up."

She pulled back just a little to look in his eyes, "Daryl you've been a good man for years. You take care of yourself, you finished school, you work, you take care of me. You're more grown up than most grown ups I know. Now kiss me because I have to be home in a little while."

That brought him out of it.

He walked her to the front door and whispered, "I'll pick ya up at the diner at 3:30 tomorrow, k Baby?"

She smiled and nodded her head and he gave her one last kiss goodbye.

As tired as they were from the big day and the party, they both had trouble falling asleep knowing that tomorrow night they would make another big change in their lives.

She finally fell asleep and it was noon before she woke up.

She was a nervous wreck thinking about what would happen later. She couldn't eat anything and she couldn't sit still, "Bethie I've never seen you so fidgety, what in the world has come over you?"

"I don't know Mama. I just can't relax." It was one of the few things she couldn't talk to Mama about.

"Well you're probably just wound up from your big day yesterday. Why don't you take a warm bath? That might help."

"Oh that's such a good idea Mama, that's what I'm going to do right now." Of course she was also thinking a nice warm bath was part of the perfect way to get ready for their first time.

She took her bath, shaved under her arms, shaved her legs, jumped in the shower and washed her hair, got out, plucked her eyebrows, polished her toenails and her fingernails and tried hard to straighten her hair.

She finally felt like she could eat a little something, and she sure didn't want her stomach growling right in the middle of a romantic moment with Daryl.

Mama gave her a bowl of her homemade chicken soup; that ought to do the trick. "Thank you Mama I'm sure this will make me feel better."

"Well maybe you shouldn't go to Amy's, maybe you should just stay home and rest."

She panicked then, "Oh no Mama I'll be fine I promise!"

"Alright but don't overdue tonight, get to bed early. Amy's probably as exhausted as you."

She packed her bag with all of her toiletries and make up, including that brand new nightie she'd bought and hidden, it was a little on the flimsy side. Last she put in fresh clothes for morning.

When her bag was packed she slipped into her new white lace bra and pantie set. She put on a casual skirt, a tank top that was as tight and tiny as Mama would permit, and a pair of sandals. She was ready.

"Thanks for letting me take your car Mama, I'll give you a call in the morning." And she felt just a little guilty, Mama was always so sweet.

He couldn't believe how fucking nervous he was, shit it wasn't like they hadn't done damn near everything else. But this was different this was the biggest deal of all. Once they did this they were bonded forever. They'd made that commitment to each other, they were going to be each others' first one and only one, forever.

That's what he wanted and she said she wanted it too, but he always had that little voice in the back of his mind, the one telling him he wasn't quite good enough. She deserved so much better than him, and so much more than he'd ever be able to give her. But that didn't mean he wasn't going to accept this, if she wanted him, wanted to settle for him, he'd take that. He wasn't a good enough person to walk away from her.

He got to the diner 10 minutes early, nervous as a cat and sweating bullets thinking maybe she wouldn't show. But she was right on time and she parked the car back behind the place, where no one could see it from the street, just in case her folks came to town.

He opened her car door and immediately wrapped his arms around her. "Hey Baby, ya look so pretty an damn ya smell delicious. Ya ready ta go?"

She smiled up at him and her face felt so warm she knew she was flushed, "Yes."

He put her little bag in the truck and they were on their way.

"Are you going to tell me where we're going?"

"Headin' over ta Markton."

Markton was a town just short of an hour's drive away. "Markton? We don't know anyone in Markton."

"That's kinda the point Baby. We ain't gonna see anyone we know or that knows us. I heard a guy at work talkin' 'bout a little Motel over there that has cabins on the creek, thought that might be nice for us."

When he glanced her way his neck was pink and so were the tips of his ears, she was every bit as pink as him. "Oh."

They pulled up to the small office and she waited in the truck while he went in. Ten minutes later he came walking out with a smile on his face and the key in his hand. "We got the cabin on the end."

He drove the truck the short distance to the cabin and pulled in front. It was pure rustic charm. "This is so cute Daryl."

"Well I wasn't really goin' for cute, I's goin' for romantic." He snickered over at her and she smiled back.

He helped her from the truck, opened the door to the cabin and smiled at her, "I feel like I'm s'posed ta carry ya in or sumthin'."

She spoke softly, "Well you can if you want but I think that will come after the wedding, when we have our own house."

"Well shit maybe I feel like practicin'." And he picked her up, carried her through the door, and set her down in the little overstuffed chair. She was giggling at him, "Daryl you're the most romantic man in the world and you don't even know it."

He just snorted, "Yeah well I'ma get my romantic ass back ta the truck n get the rest a the stuff."

It was one large room with a little kitchen area at one end. There was a stove so small she thought it should be in a dollhouse, an ancient compact refrigerator, and a little table with two chairs. The bathroom was small and efficient – toilet, sink, shower. The bed was big and looked comfortable enough with what looked to be a homemade quilt on top. One of the best things about it, there was a backdoor that led out to a small patio. There were two chairs and a little table there and it was right on the creek.

He had a small cooler and he smiled as he opened it. "I's thinkin' this might help us relax some." He had hard lemonade for her and beer for himself. He opened them each a drink, found her a glass in the cabinet, and they went to the patio.

"This is so pretty and peaceful, I love it here Daryl. I'm so glad you thought of this."

They didn't really talk, they just drank their drinks and stared at the creek, enjoying the peace and the beauty.

When he'd finished his beer he took a deep breath, stood from his chair and moved in front of her. He held a hand out to her and she put her hand in his. He helped her from the chair and they moved silently back inside.

He put his arms around her waist and pulled her close to him, he kissed and sucked lightly on her neck. "Ya sure Baby? Sure ya ain't got no doubts, no second thoughts?"

"I'm sure Daryl. I want this with you, you're my one true love."

It choked him up to hear those words, "Yer mine too Baby, I love ya more'n anythin'."

He kissed her then and their mouths were moving together. Her lips parted and his tongue explored. His hands moved to her hair then and his kiss had even more force, more passion than usual. Her want increased knowing how much he wanted her.

His hand slid up the back of her tank top, and the feel of his rough skin rubbing her soft skin increased their desire. She mimicked his actions, sliding her hand under his shirt and softly rubbing her hand on his back. There'd been a time he'd tense when she touched those scars, but he'd grown to believe what she told him, that they didn't bother her. And her soft touch on his rough skin felt so good.

Standing there with their lower bodies as close as they could get them, and while continuing to kiss her, he moved his hand around to cup her breast. As he fondled her breast, tweaking the nipple and circling his calloused thumb along it, he again moved his mouth to her neck, licking and sucking the sensitive skin there. When she sighed with pleasure her arousal gave him confidence.

He pulled his face back enough to smile that little half smile at her as he carefully lifted the tank top off her. He smiled bigger when he saw the pretty little bra, the lace didn't hide the skin of her small breasts and taut pink nipples.

It was then he removed his own shirt and moved them both to the bed. They lay there and he kissed her for just a minute before unclasping the bra and gently tossing it aside, he moved his mouth to her breast. He used his tongue now to tease at her nipples and his lips to gently suck on them. She could feel the excitement growing in her, it was a heated mix of desire and anticipation. She'd always loved feeling his hardness pressed against her, letting her know how much he wanted her.

He slowly moved his hand up between her legs, gently running the rough tips of his fingers along the tender skin of her inner thighs, further heightening her anticipation of what was to come.

At first he touched her over the panties but when he felt how damp they were he moved to lean above her. He took her skirt off and smiled at the sight of her, laying there in just those tiny white lace panties that did nothing to conceal her blond curls.

He kissed her on the tummy and kissed her down to the top of those panties, before slipping a hand into them and sliding them off. He put his mouth on her then, kissing and sucking and licking at what he knew was her most sensitive spot. Her hands were laced through his hair and her almost humming moans were a huge turn on for him.

He only pleasured her with his mouth for a few moments, they were going beyond that today. He lay on his back just long enough to pull his own pants off, and again he leaned above her. He kissed her mouth and her neck while playing with her breast and then he slipped a finger in her. She was breathing hard and his breathing matched hers.

"Ya ready Baby? Still okay?"

"Yes, I want you." He was flooded with both love and desire at her words, he grabbed the condom and quickly slipped it on.

"That was fast," She smiled, he smiled back, "Yeah I practiced," and they both laughed softly. But just for a second because he got serious again.

He was propped on his knees between her thighs, his mouth on her breast when she felt the tip of him begin its' entrance into her. He went slowly, not rushing it, determined to not make this painful for her.

At first she was tense but she made herself breathe deeply and relax into him. When he felt that tension lessen, he entered her fully. They both felt the cherry pop and it was only mildly uncomfortable and only for a few seconds, he'd gotten her more than ready to accept him. He felt a mix of relief and intense pleasure.

He moved in her with slow and steady strokes at first, but as they both became more and more aroused he quickened his movements. She was moving her hips in unison with his and he whispered "Damn Baby ya feel so good."

"I love you."

"Love you Baby." And the friction and the movement, and the emotion of it all flooded over her and she came harder than she'd ever come. When she did there was no chance of him prolonging his own climax, it started before hers was over.

They laid there on the bed, his arm around her shoulders and her head on his chest. They were exhausted, breathing hard and amazed by what they'd done.

In that little cabin on the creek, somewhere just outside of Markton, Georgia, their lives had changed forever.

A/N I hope it met your expectations. The next chapter will pick up right where we've left off. Thanks so much for reading, please leave a review / comment xo

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