A/N Sorry for any typos or errors, my muse likes to show up at 3 am and well we all know how that goes. Enjoy bbs. (:

"I'm trying, but it's heavy."

"Here lemme help ya, ya gotta bring yer elbow up." Daryl's said coming up behind Beth and helping her adjust her arms so she held the crossbow correctly. He had to shrink down slightly to be at the same level as her. He had set up a target on a nearby tree. As soon as they got home from school they headed out into the woods.

"Just like this." Daryl said quietly against her neck, causing Beth to involuntarily shiver.

She was afraid to move her head, because if she did his lips would be on her neck. Which would be weird, she was use to closeness with him but it felt far too intimate at the moment. She was trying to learn after all.

"Okay now just relax and pull the trigger back don't jerk it, nice and slow." He finished still standing closely behind her.

Beth did as he said. The bolt released and hit the tree, not exactly where she had been aiming for, actually it was nowhere near she had aimed but it did hit it. She looked back at Daryl for input smiling, she was still proud of herself for even hitting the tree.

"Not too bad for your first time Greene." Daryl smirked.

Beth gave him a beaming smile which always made him fill with warmth, because he knew she only smiled like that at him.

"Pretty soon I won't need you at all. I'll be the big bad hunter of these woods." She grinned.

"You say that until ya find a spider on ya or something…" Daryl raised his brows at her smugly.

Beth giggled. They both recalled the times when they were younger and would go bug catching and Beth had made it very clear that Daryl was to not catch any spiders. He remembers catching one and trying to get her to hold it and she had screamed loud enough to wake the dead and almost started crying. They both knew she hated them.

"I guess you're good for something then." She teased poking him in the ribs. It was useless because he didn't have a ticklish bone in his body.

"Greene you couldn't live without me." Daryl grinned.

He had meant it as teasing, but Beth looked to him attentively. She smiled warmly before nudging him lightly her eyes never leaving his. He could see the appreciation and admiration in them.

"So this bonfire tonight…What's it gonna be like?" She asked changing the topic.

They started walking back towards their houses.

"Uh just a bunch of idiots getting drunk and calling it fun." Daryl said plainly.

Beth laughed; she really didn't expect it to be much more than that though.

"So why are we going then?"

"Because there's free booze." He joked.

"So… were going to be those idiots?" Beth laughed at him.

"Mhm." Daryl nodded.

She shook her head at him giggling.

Beth shuffled through her closet trying to find something to wear. It was already eight thirty and Daryl had said he would be over to get her a little after nine. It was her first high school 'party' she's ever been to if that's what you wanted to consider calling it. She found a white sundress that had pretty flower cutouts all over it and put on her cowboy boots and her favorite light wash jean jacket. It still looked casual, but cute. It was still September and the nights in Georgia were warm, so she didn't worry about getting to cold in it. She left her hair down in waves and only put on a little bit of mascara for good measure.

"Where are you going dressed all nice?" Maggie smiled from the doorway of Beth's bedroom.

Beth turned to face her, slightly startled.

"Oh, Daryl and I are going to the movies." She lied.

"Oooh like a date." Maggie teased with devious look in her eye.

Maggie had teased Beth and Daryl ever since they had gotten older and still had spent most of their time together. Beth rolled her eyes at her sister.

"Yeah it's a date." Beth said sarcastically.

Apparently Maggie hadn't caught the sarcasm of her reply…

"Wait? Are you serious? It's really a date!?" Maggie asked with excitement.

Beth laughed at her sister's eagerness.

"No Mags, It's not a date. You know if Daryl ever heard those words he'd keel over." Beth smiled at the thought.

"So it's an unofficial date?!"

"No! Maggie!" Beth laughed grabbing a pillow from her bed and throwing it at her sister.

"Okay okay!" Maggie laughed too dodging the pillow.

"Well have fun; I'm heading over to Glenn's. I love you." Maggie came and gave Beth a kiss on the head.

"Love you too."

"Don't wait up." Maggie added while heading out of Beth's bedroom.

Beth finished up getting ready and before she knew it she heard a small knock on the front door before hearing it open. He always still knocked slightly, but Daryl had gotten to the point where he just came in. Beth grabbed her phone tucking it into her boot and heading out into the living room where she found Daryl sitting on the couch with his feet propped up on the coffee table.

"Hey." Beth smiled.

Daryl looked up and his eyes widened.

"Uh-hey." He mumbled standing up.

"Ya ready?" He added.

"Yeah." She smiled before leading them out to his truck.

They drove for about five minutes neither of them saying anything.

"Ya look nice…" Daryl spoke up first.

Beth looked over at him amusingly.

"Since when do you give so many compliments?"

Daryl looked at her quickly before looking back to the road.

"I believe the proper term yer looking for is thank ya." He said smugly.

"No, I know- thank you." Beth giggled.

"It's just- You just never say I look nice unless I ask you if I do? So I just-" Beth added before trailing off.

Daryl shrugged awkwardly not really knowing what to say. Beth continued to watch him for a few moments smiling to herself before looking forward as the fell back into silence.

They drove for another ten minutes before Daryl pulled down a windy dirt road into the Georgia backwoods.

"People actually come all the way out here just to party?" Beth asked surprised.

"Yeah, were far enough out the cops never get called." Daryl replied.

"So I take it you've been here before?"

"Yeah, don't worry." Daryl smirked at her.

He could sense that she was slightly nervous, and that was okay. It was her first time ever doing something like this. He felt bad in a way since he was the one accompanying her but he would make sure she was okay.

Suddenly trucks and cars and the large bonfire came into view. There was country music blaring from one of the cars and there were people with cans and bottles in their hands talking and laughing, and the occasional couple eating each other's faces.

Beth got out of the truck and followed Daryl closely as he made his way over to a few guys who seemed to know who he was. Beth spotted her friend Tara and told Daryl she was going to go talk to her.

"You stay where I can see ya." Daryl chided her.

Beth rolled her eyes at his dominance and waved him off.

"Hey!" Tara said as she saw Beth approaching.

"Hey good to know at least one person here." Beth laughed looking around only seeing a few people she knew.

"Yeah, my sister dragged me here with her." Tara laughed as well.

"Who are you here with?" She added.

"Daryl." Beth smiled.

"Oooh. Lover boy…Figures." Tara smirked.

Beth swatted at her blushing slightly.

"You know it's not like that…"

"Well when will it be? I mean it's about time, it's not like you guys don't already act like an old married couple." Tara laughed.

Beth just rolled her eyes playfully at her. The more she thought about it though, Tara had a point. Most people that knew them probably thought they were a couple, because they were always together. Labels didn't really matter to Beth though, it is what it is.

"You want a beer? My sister's dumbass boyfriend brought like three cases." Tara rolled her eyes smirking.

Beth eyed the one Tara had in her hand she was drinking and debated on whether she should or not, but she had never had a beer. Well she had, but only tasted it and nearly puked…Daryl had snuck one from his house, she had to have been only twelve at the time and she remembered taking a sip and spitting it out like it was poisonous. She was older now maybe she wouldn't mind it so she nodded as Tara went and grabbed her one out of the back of a pickup.

She popped the cap off and took a sip trying to mask her face of disgust, it still tasted just as horrible as the first time she had tried it but she managed. After a few more sips, the taste became tolerable.

"It's the cheap shit but ya know it's all the same so." Tara shrugged nursing her own.

Her and Tara talked for a while, before Beth's internal clocked told her to check for Daryl and she started to search for him with her eyes while still listening to Tara's story she was telling. She spotted him laughing and talking to what she assumed was one of his 'friends' he claimed weren't really his friends. They were throwing knives into a tree, and somehow Beth felt that intoxicated teenagers and weapons didn't mix it still made her happy to see him laughing. Any day where Daryl was smiling or laughing was a good day in Beth's eyes.

"Hello? Beth are we still on planet earth?" Tara's voice brought Beth out of her thoughts.

"What- oh yeah. Sorry." Beth blushed tucking her hair behind her ear.

"Oh looking for lover boy, its fine. Go ahead I'll find some other drunk to talk to…" Tara smirked at her.

"Oh no. He'll come find me whenever, I better just leave him to his knives." Beth rolled her eyes laughing before looking to Daryl again. Almost as if he sensed her watching him, he turned and their eyes met before he grabbed his beer and headed her and Tara's way.

"Well it looks like he found you first." Tara double raised her eyebrows suggestively before leaving Beth standing there alone.

Daryl watched Tara as she walked away.

"She not like me or something?" Daryl laughed.

Beth blushed furiously but hoped he didn't notice in the orange light of the fire.

"Uh no, she just had to go find her sister…" Beth was a terrible liar and it sounded forced and awkward but Daryl didn't seem to care.

"Oh are ya have a good time?" Daryl raised his eyebrows at the beer in her hand.

Beth giggled and shrugged.

"It's still as disgusting as the first time I had tried it…"

"Such a girl…" He rolled his eyes nudging her.

"You seem to be though…" Beth laughed at his unusual demeanor that was all smiles and laughs.

"Yeah should probably cut myself off... gotta drive ya home." He said setting down the bottle on a random tailgate.

Beth smiled at his responsibility. She always admired that about him, he was good like that.

Throughout the night Beth mingled with her friends and people she knew from school, she hadn't drank that much until someone pulled a flimsy camping table out and had started a game of peer pong. Tara had somehow talked her into it, but of course Beth had never played before and her opponent had been very skilled. Which resulted in a large consumption of alcohol and Beth had begun to feel it. She felt incredibly happy, and just wanted to hug everyone she saw. She was blabbing on and on about her dead hamster 'Mr. Nibbles' to some kid she barely knew, so Tara had grabbed her and said that they were going to go find Daryl. Beth was a little disappointed she didn't get to finish her story and whined at first, but as soon as she caught sight of Daryl she was much happier.

Tara held on to Beth to prevent her from tripping until they reached Daryl who was standing around a group of guys and eyed Tara and drunk Beth with his brows furrowed.

"What the hell happened to her?" Daryl asked looking to Tara stubbing out the cigarette in his hand.

"She might have been involved in a game of beer pong or two…" Tara pursed her lips.

"Tara said we should come find you because I won't quit talking to strangers…" Beth looked at Daryl with wide eyes before giggling uncontrollably.

Daryl's mouth went agape as he watched Beth amusingly.

"Bro she's smashed…" A kid standing behind Daryl laughed in which Daryl turned a gave him a glare.

Tara looked at Beth again before pushing her in Daryl's direction.

"Well she's all yours now…" Tara smirked before patting Beth's shoulder.

Beth latched onto Daryl wrapping her arms around his middle and burying her face into his chest.

"Hi." She murmured not moving.

Daryl laughed shaking his head looking down at her.

"Come on Greene let's get ya home…"

Beth gave him an exaggerated pout pulling back.

"I don't want to go home yet…I was havin fun."

"Yer drunk…"

"Hey I only had a few, I am fine!" Beth made a shocked expression.

'Mhm c'mon." Daryl couldn't help the small tug at his lips before leading her towards the truck.

"No, no, no. Wait can we please just go for a walk or somethin. I really am havin fun…" Beth turned to face him putting her hands on his chest stopping him from moving further. She batted the lashes on her incredibly large and slightly glazed over eyes...

How the hell could he say no when she looked at him like that. He never could. So he nodded his head.

"Fine Greene, but no more ta drink." He tried to sound stern but it was hard when looked at him like he put the damn moon in the sky.

"Are you my chaperone now?" Beth smirked before trying to skillfully walk back few steps without falling.

Daryl snorted.

"Where ya think yer going?" He asked as she walked further into the woods.

"You coming?" Beth hollered out while walking in a somewhat straight line.

Daryl reluctantly followed behind her. Why she had wanted to venture off into the woods in the middle of the night was beyond him. He supposed it had to do with the fact she was an intoxicated teenager, but he followed her anyway. The moon was almost full out providing a decent amount of light to the backwoods. They walked for a while before she stopped and sat against a tree lookin up at the sky. Daryl slowly made his way over sliding down next to her. It was quiet for a few minutes only the noises of crickets and cicadas filling the night.

"Thank you for taking me here tonight…"

Daryl eyed her oddly.

"To some stupid bonfire? Ya yer welcome." He said with sarcasm dripping from his voice.

"No really. I needed this." Beth spoke softly with her head still leaned back against the tree looking up at the sky. The moon giving her face an luminescent glow.

"Needed what?"

"To forget for a little bit."

Daryl eyed her with intent. He knew what she meant. He craved it as much as she did if not more. To just forget about everything that makes life difficult, all the responsibilities and emotions that eats away at you every day. To be able to just be for a little bit and forget. Thing was is he didn't need alcohol coursing through his veins to feel like that, every minute he spent with Beth is the time he felt like he could just be. His time with her was when he forgot and everything slowed down for a little bit. With Beth it was simple. She noticed his silence and looked to him, he noticed her eyes were red and glassy like she was about to cry.

"What's wrong?" Daryl asked with more softness in his voice then he was usually capable of.

"You're all I've got Daryl; please don't ever leave me…" The dam broke loose and streams of tears made their way down her face.

"Hey- Hey I aint going nowhere…" He watched her carefully surprised by her sudden mood swing.

"And you got Maggie? You aint alone you know that?" He added looking her in the eyes with conviction.

She shook her head looking to the ground.

"Maggie's gonna end up marrying Glenn and she's gonna leave. She can't play mom forever…" Beth sniffled.

Daryl then realized that now she had been having fun and had forgotten about all of the shit that happens in her life, it was all now coming back to her. The high was wearing off and everything seemed more real in the dark of the forest without the blaring music or distraction. Beth hardly ever talked about her life at home and even though it was all very clear and out in the open for Daryl to see she never talked about it. He figured mostly because she knew about what happened at his house behind closed doors and she felt her problems were pity compared to his own. She was always happy, and trying. Beth was always trying and he was aware of that. This time though she had given it up, she was letting it go.

"Everyone leaves. But I don't want you to leave me Daryl… I don't think I could handle it." Beth looked at him with sad eyes while grasping his hand.

…

"Beth I aint never gonna leave you. You're all I've ever had."

And just like that his lips were on hers. He made the decision quickly and without hesitation because he knew what he wanted. It was chaste and quick at first. She pulled back but her eyes never left his before she re connected her mouth with his with more pressure than before. God was that a good feeling. She wanted him back or at least she thought she did at the moment. Yeah she was drunk and sad and in the worst possible condition to be making a choice like that right now, but god did it feel good. The kiss was slow and warm and she tasted like alcohol but so did he. His hands found her hair as he held her in place just wanting a few more moments before he reluctantly pulled back.

Beth blinked up at him a few times, her lips were slightly swollen and her cheeks were flushed but a small smile ghosted over her lips before she breathed out.

"Oh."

A/N Did I give you a case of the feels? I hope so. Please review as much fun as I have writing stories like this, your guys feedback really does mean the world to me. xx