Ok, in my defense in the last month, I've had to go across country on a business trip, deal with a -shall we say- less than savory employee, and oh yeah, move! So its been a busy month. But I'm back with a new chapter. Huzzah!

To make up for the delay, this chapter is fluff on top of fluff, coated with a nice even layer of fluff, with a big cherry fluff on top.

As always, I don't own the walking dead.

Beth rolled her neck from side to side as she tugged her new shirt over her head. The soreness she felt throughout her body was nothing but a distraction from the pounding of her heart in her ears. It wasn't that she hadn't meant to kiss Rick Grimes; she had very much meant to. The moment she saw the boots, it had been decided in her head. Watching his blue eyes trace her movements, and hearing him ramble nervously only sealed the deal in her mind. There wasn't really any question that Rick cared about her- no, more than cared about her. He had been patient with her, protective of her, and had even found ways to make her laugh when there was nothing at all in her life to laugh about. Her feelings were a little less clear, but in that moment, she knew she wanted to kiss Rick.

So she had.

It had been quick- too quick. It was only a gentle touch of their lips together really. It was beyond chaste, to any random passing walker, it would have looked like a thank you-friendship kind of kiss. Beth might have convinced herself that's what it was, save for the feeling in her stomach at that very moment. Beth pulled her pink plaid button up over her white undershirt and begrudgingly identified the sensation as butterflies.

Beth allowed herself a minute. She wrapped her arms around herself and sank down to the floor, her head falling back against a shelf. She was determined not to over think this. If Rick had been angry, he would have said something, and there had been blissful silence since she had all but run away from him. She knew Rick wasn't angry, but more than that she knew that was what he had wanted. Now the question was what she wanted. She wasn't ready to plan out their future just yet, but she admitted to herself with a heavy sigh that being next to him, and tasting him, and feeling him…. Well, it all felt damn good. That was enough for now.

Beth chewed on her pinkie nail as she stared at a crushed can of whole kernel corn in front of her. The label had pulled back from the can, and was torn while the can itself was dented. She reached out with her foot, and rolled it towards her. It was still good. It was still corn, at least. That made dinner easy. She rolled the can between her hands, letting her fingers run over the rough edges that were covered with a thin film of dust. She sighed, and wiped the dust on her new jeans. The irony wasn't lost on her that she had just sullied the only clean thing she owned.

Beth groaned as she stood up, and stared at the blood caked beneath her nails. There wasn't much she could do about that at the moment, unfortunately. Even if there had been a handy shower nearby, she had now taken about half an hour to change clothes, which she knew was ridiculous, but more importantly, she knew Rick would know it was ridiculous as well. It was time for her to suck it up and go back.

She walked slowly down the aisle, her hand dragging along the dust filled shelves. The grime flew into the air, cascading through the sunlit room, and tickling her nose. She smiled as she peeked around the corner to see Rick lying on the bed. He was humming to himself, and reading what appeared to be the back of a box of laundry detergent. His foot was tapping the air to the somewhat offbeat rhythm of his song.

Beth walked quietly up behind him, and reached out to him. She had meant to just gently touch his shoulder, but instead found her hands threading though his dark curls.

"'M afraid I don't know that song." She laughed softly, as he turned his full attention to her with a brilliant, if not cheeky, grin.

"I refuse to believe you don't know the Eagles." Rick held out his hands in mock offense. He turned slowly with a grimace, making room for her on the bed, before taking in her new outfit. "Pink suits you, Beth."

If Beth hadn't known better, she would have thought that the color on his cheeks somewhat matched the color he had complimented. "Don't think you can change the subject, and make me forget how out of tune you were." She added, before gently lowering herself onto the bed next to him, as not to hurt his back.

Rick scoffed, and Beth held her breath as his arm snaked around her, and pulled her close to him. "First time I'm hearin' you complain about my singin.'" He smirked, and Beth swallowed roughly.

"I brought corn." She stuttered suddenly, pulling slightly away from him, and Rick quirked an eyebrow up at her.

"Corn?"

Beth produced the can from her grasp, her thumb sweeping across the label, removing another vestige of dust. "Corn."

Rick took the can from her gingerly, and inspected it slowly, seemingly trying to deduce that it was, in fact, corn. Apparently satisfied, his eyes flicked up to hers again. "I like corn."

"Good."

"Good."

Beth sighed, and Rick laughed. "What do you reckon, the most times corn has been said in a 20 second interim?" Beth shrugged, not even attempting to hide the way her eyes stared at the ceiling in a silent prayer to whatever deity might be listening to just go ahead and kill her now if she was always going to be this awkward. This, however, just produced a harder laugh from Rick.

Rick groaned suddenly, and grasped at his back, while Beth nodded triumphantly. "Do you see what you get when you laugh at me?" she glared at him, but he only arched, attempting to stretch his back.

"It's not my fault the faces you mare are so damn cute." Before Beth had timed to be horrified –yet pleased- at that assertion, he handed the corn back to her. "You cut it open. I can't assert any kind of force, lest my back break in two."

Beth couldn't help but grin. She loved Rick's dry sense of humor. People who didn't know him would never have any clue he was making a joke half the time. The other half he gave away by a slight twitch of his lips, a look that, even Beth had to admit, was easily swooned over.

She sighed dramatically, just to see him smile again, but then proceeded to reach for her knife, and carefully cut the lid off of the corn. They ate in relative silence, but just as often as Beth felt Rick's eyes on her, she caught herself tracing the little lines of juice that trickled down his hands.

"What are you thinkin' about so hard over there?" He broke the silence, and Beth took a moment to compose herself.

"Just Maggie." She partially lied. It wasn't completely inaccurate; these days it felt like every thought she had was informed by her sister. She had more than once thought about what Maggie would think about how close she and Rick had become. Beth smiled knowing Maggie would probably put her hands on her hips and lecture Rick for a while.

Beth's attention turned back to Rick who had paled suddenly. "I know how you feel." He added succinctly.

They didn't say anything else; they didn't need to. Both of them had discussed this before, and knew how relatively lucky they had been. Even as bad as they had it, at least they had each other. They both knew what kind of things were out there, even worse than Joe. Beth spared a moment to be grateful that Rick had at least relayed to her that The Governor was dead. At least Maggie and Carl wouldn't have to worry about someone with a vendetta chasing them. Beth scowled as she thought about the fact that there was once a time when she pitied the Governor. But that time had come and gone when he beheaded her father.

Beth gently placed her sticky hand on Rick's, and he smiled wanly at her. The sun had been setting during their dinner, and the last vestiges of purple sun had begun to fade, yielding only darkness.

"What do you think, bed?" Rick whispered roughly, the worry evident in his voice. Beth nodded silently, and gripped his hand, as he let his weight fall on her as he shuffled down the bed with a groan. They turned towards each other at the same moment.

Beth felt Rick's heavy breathing on her skin. His face was close to hers as he carefully placed his hand on the small of her back. Beth allowed him to pull her flush against him, causing her breath to stutter in her throat. Quite without her permission, Beth's hand fell to Rick's waist, her fingers carefully investigating the thin patch of skin that was exposed when his shirt came untucked from his jeans. His skin was hot to the touch, and he jerked slightly at the contact.

They're mouths hovered over each other, and they were locked in that stasis for a long time- almost, but not kissing. Beth felt Rick harden against her, and she couldn't deny that her body had a similar response. But it was still enough to jolt her into reality, and she pulled away from him slowly.

Beth heard the soft sigh leave Rick's throat, but was relieved to hear it wasn't one of anger, merely frustration at the sudden loss. He rolled slowly onto his back, and then pulled Beth into his chest.

"Rick?" Beth was surprised at the softness in her own voice.

"Hmm?" Beth chuckled to herself at the sound of his half asleep musing, but continued on.

"That song you were singin' earlier? Could you sing some more? It helps me sleep I think." Beth felt Rick's chest reverberate against her body in his throaty chuckle.

Beth played with the button on his shirt absent mindedly as he kissed the top of her head. "I thought you didn't like my singin'?" he teased, and Beth rolled her eyes, a gesture she was sure he could see even in the dark. But he didn't wait for an answer, just softly sang the words in the dark.

I was standing
All alone against the world outside
You were searching
For a place to hide
Lost and lonely
Now you've given me the will to survive
When we're hungry, love will keep us alive

Don't you worry
Sometimes you've just gotta let it ride
The world is changing
Right before your eyes

Now I've found you
There's no more emptiness inside
When we're hungry, love will keep us alive

I was standing
All alone against the world outside
You were searching
For a place to hide
Lost and lonely
Now you've given me the will to survive
When we're hungry, love will keep us alive
When we're hungry, love will keep us alive
When we're hungry, love will keep us alive

Beth sighed contentedly as the words lulled her eyes. She was just now realizing how tired she was. It had been days since she'd really slept, and Rick's soft baritone meant she was falling asleep feeling safe, warm, and loved.

/

Beth woke with a start, unsure of what exactly had woken her. It was not unusual for even the smallest of noises to jerk her awake in the apocalypse, but the thrumming of her heart told her it had been something much more momentous. Still, Rick slept soundly, unmoved by whatever had alerted her.

Her eyes darted around the black room, even as she reached for her gun. Her hair had fallen out of its trademark ponytail in her sleep, resulting in wild curls that blocked her vision. She quickly wiped them out of her face, before aiming into the darkness with her gun.

A sudden creek brought her up to her knees, her gun swinging around the room looking for her target.

"Beth?"

You guys scared the hell out of me last week. Usually the bulk of my reviews come within roughly 48 hours of posting, but at that benchmark for last chapter I had one. And that was after the first kiss! I had a mini meltdown. But the normal amount of reviews trickled in, and I was grateful for each and every one so I thank you all again!

I hesitate to give a timetable on the next chapter, because its kind of a benchmark chapter, and I want it to be done right. But I'll try to be reasonable. Thank you all for continuing to read and review! How fitting is that Eagles song, huh?