A/N These two.. 16 years between them, but they are both lost when it comes to navigating this relationship. The thing is they both know it's different and it matters, let's just hope they can find their way... Oh, I apologize in advance.

The bar is empty, but it is Tuesday afternoon. The ride over was quiet and not in the way that the quiet usually is between them. It felt uncomfortable and Beth really wanted to say something, anything to go back to how it was between them before, well before that woman had practically thrown herself on Daryl in the store. Which is ridiculous because that hadn't changed anything. She could tell that Daryl didn't like what had happened. But did he not like it because there was something going on there or did he really just not like it? Beth had glanced over at Daryl a couple of times on the drive over, trying to figure it all out. But she had no idea where to start and honestly, she just didn't have the energy to do it now. Not with all that had happened to her that morning.

So she hadn't said anything. Just rode along in silence and now she is walking into the bar beside him and he's biting on his thumbnail, something she thinks is a nervous habit and again she wants to do or say something to ease his discomfort and hers. But she just sighs and steps through the door he's holding open for her. Rick is already at the bar and he waves them over.

"Took you guys long enough." Rick teases and motions the bartender over.

"Had ta get a couple things at the store." Daryl mumbles.

"And visit with old friends." Oh god, why'd she say that? She feels her face heat up and she peeks over at Daryl, he looks pretty miserable. Rick just considers them with a confused expression on his face.

"Ok, well first round is on me. What are you having Beth?" Rick's smile makes her feel even worse. He's being so nice and he definitely knows something is going on, she can see it written all over his face.

"Um, a shot of whiskey please." After giving her order, she pushes away from the bar almost tipping the stool over, but Daryl is quick and he grabs it before it falls over. "I, uh, I'll be right back, bathroom," she stammers and turns and hurries towards the back of the bar where the restrooms are at. Once she's inside the cramped little room, she splashes water on her face and gives herself a good talking to, well mentally anyway. She's going to go back out there and let this all go. It's not fair to her or Daryl. She doesn't know what the deal with Andrea is and if he wants to tell her he will, but he doesn't have too. It's not her business. Is it? Beth growls at her reflection and fixes her hair before taking a deep breath and heading back out to the bar.

X X X

Rick keeps looking over at him and it's really getting on his nerves. Finally, he looks pointedly at his friend and takes the shot of whiskey he ordered.

"Wha'?" he grunts slamming the shot glass on the bar.

"What's going on?" Rick glances down at Beth's empty seat.

"Don' know. Fuck. Women are so damn hard ta understand!" Daryl signals the bartender and points at his empty shot glass.

"Well yeah. That ain't nothing new brother." Rick doesn't press him and Daryl appreciates that but maybe he can offer some advice, anything would be appreciated really.

"Andrea came up to us in the store. Was huggin' me like.. shit and I know it made Beth uncomfortable. Hell, it pissed me off! After that everything jus' kinda, I don' know, changed or somethin'. She got all quiet." Daryl takes the new shot the bartender sat in front of him and downs it, wiping his mouth with his hand.

"Oh.. shit, that's.." Rick starts. Daryl clears his throat as Beth comes back and climbs up on the stool.

"Everthin' okay?" Daryl cringes inside, probably shouldn't be asking her how her trip to the bathroom was. But Beth laughs, a small soft laugh, but still a laugh and he raises his hand to the bartender again.

"Yeah Daryl, it was just the bathroom." She looks at the empty shot glass in front of him and then rests her blue eyes on his. "You started without me?" Oh hell! Was that the wrong thing to do to?

"Oh, I'm... got another comin'." He says as the bartender sets another one down. He thinks he better slow down or he'll start telling her things that will embarrass him later, like how much he likes her and how he hopes she isn't a dream. Oh, he remembers the things he said Saturday night, can't forget them, try as he might.

"I waited for you, Beth." Rick chimes in, holding up his shot glass. Daryl leans over and flips him off behind Beth's back. She's giggling though and it's a nice sound. And he can't help but smile a little. She raises her glass and looks over at Rick and then her eyes rest on Daryl.

"To my shitty morning!" She says it with a big smile on her face, a smile like before the grocery store. So he raises his glass too.

"Watch yer mouth girl," he growls and is delighted to hear her giggle again. They all three clink glasses and he watches Beth's face, waiting. She always wrinkles up her nose when she takes a shot. He noticed that early on hanging out at the bar with her and he likes it.

They make small talk, catch up on things at Rick's house, ask Beth what happened on her on vet visit and Daryl rests his hand on the small of her back when she is visibly trying to hold back the tears as she tells them about the horse they had to put down. Rick asks Beth about her Daddy and the farm, promising to stop in soon. It's good and Daryl feels like maybe he isn't going to have to do much to make things ok between him and Beth, maybe it's gonna work itself out.

Or not.

A small group comes into the bar and they are laughing and loud and have obviously already been drinking. Daryl sees Andrea and he sees that Beth sees her too. And the way her face falls is all the incentive Daryl needs. He reaches for the seat on Beth's barstool and scoots her closer, resting his foot on the rungs next hers.

"I want ya a little closer, 's that ok?" he asks softly leaning in towards her. He sees something in her eyes, something like hurt.

"Why? You need help gettin' rid of her?" Beth doesn't have to say Andrea's name, Daryl knows exactly who she means.

"Ain't nothin' ta get rid of. I was jus' thinkin' if yer my girl ya really should be closer. Shoulda been earlier too." In the store. And they both know what he's referring to. She reaches out and rests her hand on his knee.

"Am I your girl?" It takes a minute for what she says to register in his brain because her hand is on his knee and she's close enough now that he can see how her eyes are still a little pink from crying before and he hopes she wasn't crying in that damn bathroom. Not over him and what happened in the store. Because he ain't worth crying over and that whole incident is definitely nothing to cry about.

"I want ya ta be if ya want to." She must've requested another shot because the bartender is back with one he sets in front of her. She downs it quickly. And there's that little nose wrinkle.

"Daryl I wanted to call you or text and make sure you were okay on Sunday. I was thinking about you." She's a little breathless and if the fact that Andrea is laughing way too loud across the bar bothers her, she isn't letting it show. Rick somehow made his way over to the jukebox and it's just him and her sitting here now.

"Never gave ya my number, shoulda." He lays his hand on hers. And it's so much smaller than his, but he likes that, likes that he can wrap her hand up in his.

"I, well I got yours from Rick, but I wasn't sure.." She's blushing on her cheeks all the way down her neck and across her chest, a soft pink blush. Daryl tears his eyes away and raises an eyebrow at her.

"Ya had my number all this time and ya never called?" He watches her face fall. "Hey, Beth.." He was just teasing. He probably would have done the same thing on account of how nervous she makes him. Unless he's had some whiskey. And he has had some whiskey. He puts his finger under her chin and tilts her head up so he can look at her. " 'M jus' teasin' ya. 'S ok. But ya got my number now ya gotta gimme yers."

X X X

The building could fall down around them and she probably wouldn't even notice much less care. He'd scooted her stool even closer to him, as close as it could be and her knees are between his and he wants her to be his girl. The fact that the woman from the grocery store is here doesn't bother her. Well, not much anyway. He hands her his phone and she gives him a small smile.

"Go on, put yer number in there," he says. Smiling up at him she puts her number in his contacts and hands the phone back to him and he tucks it into his pocket. She scans his face, his split lip is healing up, it's just a small, red mark now. He hasn't been favoring his ribs either.

"It looks like you're healing up okay. How are your ribs?" The look on his face is part wonder and part discomfort. She knows he doesn't like to be put on the spot, but this isn't that, it's like he isn't used to having someone care about how he's doing.

"Good. All of it's good. Toldja I was tough girl." He is trying to glare at her, but it isn't working because she can see the smile in his eyes and that makes her chuckle. Tentatively she reaches out again and cups her hand over his knee. He starts a little at that and they make eye contact.

"Thought we wasn't sitting on these barstools no more?" He's getting brave cause he leans in and takes her other hand lacing his big fingers through hers. Before she can answer him Rick comes back the jukebox.

"I gotta take off, which I'm sure will break both your hearts seeing as how us having drinks turned into you two staring into each other's eyes all afternoon." Rick teases. "But since Beth is smiling again, that's alright with me."

"We ain't staying neither. This place is a little too loud." Beth gazes up at him and she's pleasantly surprised that he seems to think leaving is a good idea. He stands up next to her stool.

"Okay then. Michonne's been texting. I promised her dinner tonight. You guys gonna be here this weekend? I was thinking I'd bring her with me."

"Nope. No barstools." Beth shivers as Daryl's arm settles around her shoulders.

"Good! Come on by. I can put something on the grill." Daryl is nodding at that and it makes Beth feel good. That's like a date right? Kind of. Or is it?

Rick waves as he heads out and Daryl takes care of the rest of their tab.

"I'll get ya ta yer place and call Caesar, see what's up with yer car. You gonna need a ride or somethin' ta work?" Beth can't be sure, but he almost looks hopeful. She can walk to work if she has to, but she just can't hurt this man's feelings. He seems to like helping her out.

"If it's no problem, I really could use a ride, Daryl." Her cheeks ache from laughing and smiling so much. That's a good thing though. And so is the way his face lights up.

"Alright. I can do that. Com'on let's get outta here." Together. Like a couple. Beth likes this, she likes it a lot. This feeling that Daryl is so much more than any other man she's been involved with, although there haven't been many. Not at all. It's terrifying and exhilarating all at once.

Andrea saunters over as they head for the door and she's a little wobbly on her high heels. Beth doesn't think it has much to do with the shoes and more to do with what she's been drinking. She doesn't come in all close like she did at the Kroger. But then it's pretty obvious this time that Daryl is there with Beth. She has her arm around his waist and he's got one wrapped around her shoulders.

"Y'all gonna come out this weekend?" Andrea asks it's obvious she's just fishing for details. She could care less if they're out. Well, she might care if Daryl is out somewhere where she can find him.

"Nah. Got plans with my girl. Don't include the bar," Daryl says. Beth feels her heart lift. If she's honest with herself, Andrea's presence has bothered her, but she's been doing her best to ignore it and any nagging feelings she might have had about the whole deal.

"Oh? Well y'all enjoy yourselves!" It's so fake and it turns Beth's stomach. It also gives her a little bit of courage. She's tired of women like Andrea being catty and mean. She can absolutely turn the tables.

"We will! You have fun too Amy!" She pulls Daryl along and hears him chuckle behind her as they head out the door.

X X X

Daryl called Caesar on the way to Beth's apartment and the damages on her car are minor. Daryl can take care of most of them tomorrow. One part will have to be ordered and it might take a day or two to get it. But he'll get it taken care of. In the meantime, he'll make sure she gets where she needs to go. He likes the way that makes him feel. Taking care of Beth, taking care of anyone besides himself and Merle is different, but this feels good.

He follows her directions to a little apartment complex just off the main road. He saw the veterinary office where she works and the fact that it's within walking distance, but she still wants him to take her. It's like when she smiles at him or wrinkles her nose, there's a little warmth deep down in his belly. Feels good. That's definitely a foreign feeling where Daryl is concerned. But then again this whole idea that he could have something with a woman, something more than a one night stand is brand new too.

"Just park anywhere Daryl. They aren't strict with the rules here." So he does and she opens her door then looks over at him. "You're coming in right?"

"If ya want me to." He just assumed he'd go in. Now he's not so sure. It would be really great if this whole thing could come without all the uncertainty. That drives him crazy and amps up his anxiety. But she's smiling and shaking her head.

"Course I do Daryl." He watches her slide off the seat, in another pair of jeans that fit her so well and he wants to slide his hands over those back pockets.

A little path leads to a small townhouse apartment. It's bright and sunny with hardwood floors and the first thing he sees is a soft grey corner sofa covered with all different shades and varieties of yellow pillows. Beth must have noticed him staring because she laughs softly.

"I like yellow. But my sister took it a step too far for my birthday this year. Twenty-one throw pillows, all with the color yellow in common." He smirks and somehow thinks this fits Beth. Especially the pillow that is shaped like a sun complete with sparkly yellow rays. "Just push them out of the way and have a seat. Can I get you anything to drink? Water, sweet tea? I have whiskey, but I think I've had enough for a Tuesday." That laugh again. He can't see her, she's behind the fridge door, but he can imagine her smile.

"Water's good. Thanks." He pushes a few of the pillows out of the way and sits down feeling really out of place in the middle of all the friendly, fluffy, yellowness. There's a polka dot pillow, a sunflower pillow, a fuzzy pillow, a bee pillow and who the hell knows what else is buried underneath. He doesn't think he's ever seen so many pillows on one couch. She's laughing as she walks over to where he sits and hands him a bottled water.

"Ya laughin' at me?" He snaps the cap off the water and takes a big drink.

"You just look so outta place there in the middle of all those pillows!" Now she's giggling and he thinks he'll get her back, poke at her a little.

"Want me ta leave or something?" he growls and her smile softens as she sets her bottle on the little coffee table.

"No Daryl, there's nowhere else I'd want you to be except here." She pushes the pillows between them onto the floor and scoots over next to him. He lets out the breath he's been holding while watching her face and her eyes and her mouth, god her mouth. He's been fascinated with that part of her since meeting her. Her lips always look like she's just licked them and they need to be kissed. And her smile is the prettiest he's ever seen.

"Don' wanna be anywhere else." She's right up against him and it isn't like earlier at the store when she just needed him to comfort her and be there. This is something else. He slides an arm around her shoulders and pulls her in closer and then she's right there and he brushes his cheek against hers hoping she turns just a little, just enough and she does. Their eyes meet and her small hand finds purchase on his neck as he lowers his head just a fraction to brush his lips softly against hers and then it's like they've been waiting to do this since the first time up against his truck. Her mouth is open just a little and he sucks her bottom lip into his mouth reveling in the tiny moan this elicits. Everything about this girl is so soft and warm. She lets her hand slide from his neck to his chest and that makes him shiver.

"Daryl.." she breathes his name and he takes advantage of the fact that her mouth is open and slides his tongue between her lips. She surprises him by sucking it into her mouth even further and just that little bit of suction has got his mind going all kinds of places and he growls shifting his body trying to get her even closer. She takes care of that annoying little fact by straddling his lap and wrapping her arms around his neck. He slides his hands around her, neatly cupping her small ass and holding her against him creating a nice friction that has him moaning in her ear he's nibbling on. Lifting his hips just a little, he takes advantage of the fact that she's wiggling around in his lap. He leaves a trail of kisses down her neck to her collarbone, loves the way her chest is heaving, loves that he can make her feel like this. And that she can make him feel- wait what the hell! His pocket is vibrating and that's followed by an annoying ringtone, like an unwelcome visitor. Beth pulls back and looks down between them, where she's pressed up against a certain part of him.

"Deja vu?" she whispers as she moves onto the couch beside him. Her lips are wet and swollen and he can't take his eyes off of them or off of her as he digs his phone out of his pocket and looks at the screen. He doesn't recognize the number, but of course, he doesn't. That's his luck, he can't seem to get past kissing this girl without something interrupting it all. He has to answer though because with a brother like Merle you never know what could be going on.

"Yeah?" he growls into the phone and hears Beth giggle. He sucks in a breath as he hears the voice on the other end and Beth lets her hand drop from where she was playing with his hair. Fuck, she must have heard it too.

"The fuck ya get my number?!"

Andrea. Laughter and shouts in the background.

"Oh you know Merle!" she slurs into the phone.

"Don't fuckin' call this number again." The phone drops into his lap and it's silent. He thinks he can hear Beth breathing, soft beside him, but he's afraid to look, knows what he's gonna see in her eyes, even though this wasn't his fault. He's gonna kick Merle's ass when he sees him. He looks instead at her legs, tucked up underneath her, tight jeans, probably warm to the touch and he wants to touch her so badly, but now there's a whole lot of weight between them.

"Beth, I-" He isn't sure what he's going to say. But she interrupts and he feels his teeth click together at what she asks.

"So did you date her or something?" Why is she going there? Well, he knows why, understands, but he's tired of being interrupted and a little, tiny bit annoyed at the fact that she can't just let it go. But would he? He'd told her though, told her he isn't any good at this relationship stuff, hasn't really dated, well not like normal people do. But he'll say it again. And he'll keep saying it if it helps.

"Toldja I never dated much.." Why does it look like he just told her the one thing she didn't want to hear. Wait- the comment, 'It was jus' about sex.' Ok so she remembers. It shouldn't bother her. If she only knew how much this isn't an issue. But she doesn't and maybe it's gonna bother her because she's Beth, she's different. She's a nice girl, a kind girl and she isn't like any other woman he's ever been with.

But once again things are weird or fucked or, goddammit! Is it always gonna be like this, this navigating and trying to find his way without a map? That's what it feels like, like he's lost his way and needs some direction.

"Beth." Her blue eyes look so fucking sad and he can't take it- "Don' do this." Maybe that wasn't the best choice of words.

"Me? I didn't do anything, Daryl. Seems to me this is all on you." That stings. She's hurt, but obviously still got a little fight in her. Ok.

"Was a long time ago."

"You didn't date her, but you fucked her?" A little flash of anger that he doesn't like, but can't seem to deny has him on his feet in front of her. He can't see how his past sexual history matters at all. Not really.

"I did. Wanna know everyone I fucked girl?" He can't read what's on her face although he does note that there is a little shock there behind something else, a sort of stubbornness he is starting to recognize in her, which would be sexy in any other situation. He's towering over her and he doesn't like it, but he is pretty damn stubborn too and he isn't gonna back down just yet. "How about ya tell me all the guys ya fucked huh?" She finally stands, and she's so close to him, close enough for him to just wrap his arms around her and beg her to stop.

"Two." He feels like he's gonna puke or pass out. "There's only been two Daryl." She pushes past him and starts up the stairs. He spins around and stands at the bottom, hand on the rail, not sure if he should follow her up or leave or sit down on the floor and cry out of frustration.

"Why? I mean, I jus' thought... Yer beautiful Beth. Fuck, I don't fucking know." Leaning against the banister he runs a hand through his hair and wonders again why he even bothers with women. Especially one like Beth. But that's it right there, he bothered because it is her, it's all her, why he's doing this. He doesn't know a thing about love, but if that's what this could be he doesn't want to let it slip away. " 'M sorry. I'll jus' go.." He looks up then because he hears her footsteps on the stairs. She's coming back down and she sits on the step that puts her eye level with him and she's looking at him and he hates it, but he can't turn away, he won't turn away. So he doesn't.

"I'm sorry Daryl. Maybe I should tell you a few things." Like it's over ya dirty old redneck? Nah, she wouldn't. Not her. Not like that. She's kind, but his gut feeling is telling him to get out now. Usually, his instincts are correct, sometimes though, they are Merle's mean-spirited voice just goading him on. Pushing him, teasing him. 'Darylina'. Merle's a bitch and Daryl isn't and god she's so perfect sitting there on the stairs and he wants her to be his girl. Even if it's hard. And she wants to be his girl, she does, she said so.

He rests his chin on the banister and waits.

A/N And y'all will have to wait too! Happy Easter.. angst, I needed a little cause it makes the happy stuff so much happier right? Ok. I am sorry. It really just worked out this way. I didn't plan it. I swear! I have a week of free time so I promise to have an update soon!