"Wake up." Beth's soft voice interrupted his sleep; her breathless whispers would always wake his mind from fleeting dreams-nightmares would be the better term. Sweat trickled down his forehead, but he could feel Beth's fingers caressing and wiping away hair from his eyes. He was embarrassed. A hint of shame molded onto his face as he looked around to find them being watched by a few pair of eyes. This RV was not working for him and he'd be damned if he spent another week stuck between unfamiliar bodies on a floor without a proper bed.

He stroked the scruff forming on his chin without looking at Beth. His mind was still hazy, but his thoughts jumped straight to the days after escaping Atlanta. It wasn't bad leaving the city; it was a miracle they had made way past the crowding Walkers and destroyed vehicles, but they did. Bill was surprisingly skilled and maneuvered past rotting flesh with ease and a lit cigarette in his mouth at all times. Yet here they were, a little under a dozen people crammed into a vehicle fit for four. Daryl didn't know what bothered him more: the fact that they couldn't find any decent and secured living quarters or the constant disruption of peace and quiet in his personal space at the moment.

Beth was fine and she kept to herself when he was on edge, but the others didn't. Andrea had her moments of completely faltered dominance and clashed constantly with Shane and Rick. It was a thick tension most the time between the three, especially Shane and Rick. Daryl would watch the way both men stared each other down if one or the other would interact with Lori. It was pathetic to Daryl, but Merle sure got a kick out of it.

Merle would get a kick out of anything really. The other Dixon brother made matters even more difficult to deal with since he had nothing better to do than piss off three cops, two sisters, and a housewife in the process. His own troubles were spilled onto the others. It wasn't a full blown issue just yet and that didn't set well with the younger Dixon. He didn't want his brother pissing off anyone, especially Bill. They were safer in numbers, even if that meant dealing with people like Shane. The chances of getting kicked out of the group and surviving off of the land alone was too high for his liking. He didn't want Beth to worry either.

He closed his eyes before looking back up at her. She didn't disturb his thinking since she was also deep in her thoughts most of the morning. The only thing that had snapped her out of worrying was Daryl's grumbles in his sleep. His body moved sharply away from her on the waded up blanket between him and she knew. She knew he was dreaming again.

The nightmares started up the first night they had crammed together and attempted to sleep in a cleared out and abandoned grocery store parking lot. She remembered waking up after finally shutting down her brain to a sharp pain on her side. His body jerked towards her violently while he mumbled incoherent words. She remembered waking him up and holding him close. Beth couldn't stop him from apologizing the next morning for bruising her stomach. It wasn't acceptable to her, but he insisted and she humored him with accepting. His nightmares worried her even worse than before.

They hadn't come just for nothing. Daryl was just as stressed as her and she was stressed as much as everyone else. She kept quiet most of the time, talking with Lori and Amy, while helping out with Carl was her place. She wanted to help with guarding the RV, but Daryl insisted she would only watch when he was with her. It was frustrating, but she accepted it just to ease his mind.

They would often venture out of the RV and off on their own or with Merle in the early hours. Before the others would wake, Daryl and Beth would usually and quietly make their way to the top of the vehicle and relieve whoever was on watch duty prior. It at least helped to get away from the crowd for a few hours before meeting back up with everyone.

Beth looked up and saw Daryl's eyes on her now. He had calmed down from his dream, but his face was stiff and weary still. She watched with quiet eyes and pursed her lips when he roughly got up to stride away from where they had slept. For a little while longer Beth sat in the mess of blankets and quilts on the floor. Andrea watched her from the front seat of the RV.

She had seen the way they silently communicated to each other through nothing more than a few looks and nods. Though her main priority was protecting her sister, Andrea started to take a liking to the timid blonde. The only thing that confused her was the odd pairing. Daryl was gruff and quite vulgar, just like his brother when they both were upset about the decisions of certain things. Beth was nothing more than kind to everyone and hid her frustrations well. If it were true, opposites did in fact attract and Andrea wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not.

"Everything alright?" Beth looked over to see Andrea's slouched posture while she held her shotgun, looking at Beth with concern.

"Yeah," Beth nodded slowly, "It's just getting a little cramped in here is all."

"We need to find a place to settle down."

"I know."

Beth could hear Lori's murmurs in the only other room besides the bathroom that was closed off. Everyone was waking up now; it was time to get off the floor and get something-anything-done to feel just a little bit more productive.

"Morning Beth." Bill flicked his cigarette and half heartedly smiled towards her. He leaned against the vehicle while Merle sat next to him. Both men were obviously bored out of their minds. Beth smiled towards them and sat down next to Merle. She glanced towards the screen door and watched Lynn make her way out with Sophia. They looked rough, but who didn't?

"Where's Daryl?"

"Off somewhere with Officer Friendly and the black woman. Recon you better go find him before he gets a little comfy with those two. Been stuck up their ass ever since this all started." Merle stood up from his chair and impaled his knife into the fold out material he was sitting in. Bill raised an eyebrow at the way the older Dixon walked away from the two in an angered hurry, but didn't question anything.

"I think he's jealous." Beth blurted out once they were alone.

"Man's got some issues that's for sure. Don't we all?" He smiled, making his insult seem a little accepting.

"Yeah, I guess. This whole thing has everyone a little messed up. I miss home," Beth chewed her cheek, thinking of the times where Daryl and her would actually have time to themselves. It was completely different being with a group of people 24/7, "I like everyone here, but I miss my alone time. It gets a little crowded in there."

"You're tellin' me. I'm getting sick and tired of sleeping in that driver's seat. Hell, I'm not too far off from sleeping in between you two on that damn floor."

Beth laughed and Bill cracked a smile. He made things a little better to deal with. It was if she had a father again…

"When are we going to get out of this place and find a real home?"

"Darlin', I don't think we'll ever have home, but I'm sure we'll find something good enough. Rick mentioned something about raiding the store today and getting anything we can before we head off to who knows where. I'm just hoping we'll avoid the walking dead out there." Bill dropped his cigarette and crushed the remains with his foot.

Beth sat in silence and thought about what they would be doing today. She wanted to leave, to find a place to stay put for a while. It felt like forever since she had called a place her own, yet it was only a week ago since she had lost all of her material things.

...

A few more hours passed before Beth had her sights back on Daryl. She had just finished folding up the remainder of laundry when Michonne and Rick made their presence known by shrugging heavy bags from their shoulders. Daryl followed close behind with two duffle bags in his hands. She smiled at him and he pursed his lips back at her. The three looks tired and unfortunately, it was only a little after noon.

The sun hung above their heads, making the asphalt radiate heat from below. Dirt ridden clothes clung to sweating bodies; there seemed to be no escape from the heat that accompanied their frustrations.

Rick looked around, examining the worn out faces that looked to him for answers.

"We got what was left of the store," No one answered his statement. He looked down at the ground for inspiration, "I know we need to leave here and find a proper place to stay…"

"Damn straight." Shane crossed his hands over his chest and laughed. His voice was strained and forced.

"I talked it over with Michonne and Daryl. It'd be best if we got on the road again and find something-anything that looks somewhat decent."

"I'm vaguely familiar with this area," Eugene scratched his head, "I thought there were a few farmhouses south of here. Maybe."

Beth looked down at her shoes and bit her lip. She had lived in a farmhouse once; it seemed like ages ago that she had once lived her life in such a place. Once her father had passed away she wanted nothing to do with any type of rural housing. There was no question in her mind now and she indeed did not want to make it a big deal, but any other place would be better.

"There's a motel around here." Beth mumbled while she chewed her nails.

"Yeah, Stay n' Rest. 'Bout five miles out of town," Merle chuckled, "Been there plenty of times. I can't believe I didn't think of that before."

"It'd give us more room," Lori squeezed Rick's arm, "Everyone wouldn't be crammed into one room. We could actually have some privacy and space."

Daryl looked at Beth and smirked sympathetically. She had vaguely told him about her father and what had happened, but when she was on the verge of tears he kissed her softly and silenced any harboring sadness in her mind. He eased the pain for her, and she was thankful for that.

"I ain't spendin' another night stuck with all you son of'a bitches in that RV. Let's get movin'." Beth watched a smile crawl up Merle's face at the idea of new scenery. Everyone didn't disagree with him, so they all picked up their things from outside and slid back into the RV one by one.

…

"Still lookin' shitty as ever." Merle stepped out of the vehicle with as much grace as a Dixon owned. Daryl followed behind; his eyes traced the abandoned building with more suspicion than his brother.

The motel stretched decently with two stories that held five rooms each. The balcony seemed to slouch and frown at the new comers. Some windows were shattered, but it would be good enough for the time being.

"Think anyone's here?" Daryl looked towards Rick who shared the same suspicions as he did.

"I hope not. Wanna take the first couple of rooms? Shane, Michonne, and I will follow suit. I figured if we get this place cleared out before sundown we'll have a pretty good setup." Rick shrugged his shoulders and Daryl nodded.

"I'll be more than glad to help you guys clear out the place," Eugene stepped away from Lynn and Sophia. He scratched his head nervously, "I can handle a knife pretty well."

"How's 'bout you stay here with the ladies. You'll keep 'um real safe now." Shane patted the man's side a little more rough than Eugene was used to, sending him stumbling forward a bit. He mumbled something towards Shane and received nothing but a harsh chuckle his way.

"Be safe." Beth grabbed Daryl's arm as he walked towards the motel's main entrance. Her eyes burned into his deeply. She hadn't asked him to be safe, it was a statement.

"I will." He pulled her in for a quick hug before nodding and walking off with his brother.

Beth watched the small group separate into pairs-Shane wandered into a room alone-and she kept her eyes glued on Daryl. Bill walked up next to her while he fumbled with his pack of cigarettes.

"I hope they find me a new pack."

"You're really worried about cigarettes right now?"

"I'm worried about you worrying about them," He smiled, "They'll be fine. Daryl wouldn't go to hell and back without putting up a fight for your safety. All's I'm saying is it'd be nice if they'd help an old man out with a bad habit."

"Yeah, right." She half heartedly smiled up at him and once again turned her attention to the opening and closing of doors.

She was surprised to only hear a few complications while they searched the place. Daryl and Merle dragged a few bodies outside of a room on the balcony, but other than one more Michonne killed, they seemed to have hit the jackpot.

"Clear!" Shane yelled from the last room on at the top. Lori shook her head at his loud voice. He could send Walkers flying towards them if he really felt like it.

"Home sweet home." Andrea playfully hit Beth's shoulder as she walked by. Amy grabbed her hand right after, squealing at the new found place.

"We can finally get out of that rusty old thing!" Amy couldn't contain her laughter.

"Hey now, that rusty old thing is my baby. I'll gladly be staying in it without all the extra bodies." Bill flicked a hand towards them before climbing back in his RV.

"Found a room," Daryl walked towards Beth side and she swear she could see a hint of a smile, "Only downside is Merle's next to us."

"I think I can handle having your brother in a different room again. It was getting awfully annoying hearing his snores in the middle of the night." She laughed and couldn't remember the last time she had felt this relaxed. A sense of relief wiped over her and it had been so long since she could relax her shoulders and loosen the tension in her facial expressions.

They settled in. It wasn't much, but the dusty sheets and worn out beds were more than they could ever have imagined. The comfort of knowing a familiar body was just next door and not invading their space was a gift from above to everyone. They could make this work, even if it was just for that night, they would make it work.

Beth stretched out on the queen sized bed with her hair sprawled out in all sorts of ways. She stripped off her dirty clothes that had been worn to bits in such short amount of time and replaced them with fresh clothes found in a room raided by Lynn and Sophia. Beth smiled at the comfort in sweats and a t-shirt-she had missed lazy days in her pyjamas.

She closed her eyes and felt the other side of the bed sink in. With her eyelids shut still, she reached out to Daryl, brushing against his bare back with cold fingers. Beth felt him flinch slightly and then slouch into the bed more. After more than a year he still had his moments of brushing her off accidently.

"Are you alright?" Beth opened her eyes to see Daryl's back towards her and his eyes glued to the closed blinds.

"Yeah."

"You don't sound too convincing to me," She propped herself up on and elbow and pursed her lips, "What's wrong?"

"Just worried this is too good to be true."

"You really think so?"

He turned his head, looking at the wall across the bed, but his attention was on her. He nodded slowly and she couldn't bare to see him uncomfortable with worry. Daryl didn't flinch the second time he felt the light pressure of hands wrapping around the back of his neck and onto his shoulders. Blonde hair brushed against his neck and fell lightly, tickling his back just enough to not bother him much. Her grip tightened and pulled him down with her gently.

"I wish you didn't worry so much."

"Someone's got to." Daryl felt her fingers brush away the growing hair around his face and he shut his eyes to her soft humming.

"I miss Maggie." Daryl opened his eyes and looked at Beth. She kept on drawing circles on his bare chest; her eyes were on her hand, but her mind was elsewhere.

"I'm sorry I couldn't do anyth-"

"Don't. You couldn't do anything. And who knows what would've happened if you tried to save her. I couldn't have lost you both."

"I'm just tired of losin' people."

"You won't lose me, Daryl Dixon." He swear her smile could wipe away any worries or troubles he had. Even in the midst of an apocalypse, she still could conjure up heat within his chest and bring him back to the right mindset.

The look he gave her made color crawl up her cheeks like a schoolgirl getting a kiss from her first crush. He had a way of doing that to her. It was nothing new, but every time he gave her that strong gaze of affection, she couldn't help but revert back to those butterflies and new satisfaction of love. She caressed the side of his face, pulling him in for a soft kiss. His fingers snuck into her hair, pulling her in closer.

They had been alone for just a short amount of time now, and it was enough to give them the satisfaction of losing each other in mixed sheets and bodies. Their guard was down, and everything was going to be okay.

A/N: I would like to apologize for taking extremely long breaks in between chapters! I have been having such a hard time to come up with inspiration to write my lovely muse. I hope you all understand and thank you to everyone who has stuck with me on this! I definitely want to keep this going and I don't want to stop right here, so bare with me. Again, thank you so much and if you have an suggestions you would like me to add in just tell me :)