A/N Thank you to everyone who follows and faves, and to those who just quietly read along with us. And thank you too for the comments and reviews, I always enjoy reading your thoughts. I appreciate you all. Let's go on a date with Beth and Daryl - FINALLY!

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He was late for Sunday dinner and Beth was getting real worried, he was never late. Mama and Daddy were just as uneasy but they tried hard not to let on they had concern, their daughter was panicked enough.

Mama tried to reassure her, "I'm sure everything is fine Bethie, we'll hold dinner until he gets here. I just know it's nothing, he probably misjudged his time." But she and her husband exchanged a worried look.

When, at nearly two o'clock they finally heard the Bike approach it was hard to say who was most relieved, they all hurried to the front porch. He was standing by the bike and trying hard to brush dirt off himself. One arm was covered in what looked to be tiny rocks embedded in the skin, plus there was dirt, scrapes and cuts, and his pant leg was torn open.

Beth got to him first, "Daryl what happened?" Even her voice was trembling as she asked him.

"I's ridin' back from my camp an I guess it was a soft spot a dirt, it felt like the bottom fell outta the road when my rear tire hit it. I lost control an dumped the Bike, but its' fine I's goin' slow. I'm fine too I'm just mad at myself is all. I'm real, real sorry ta be late, I didn't mean ta be."

Mama was a Mama and she hurried right over to him, taking hold of his uninjured arm. "Don't you worry about that. You come with me and we'll get that cleaned up then we can have our dinner. I'm sure you're hungry." Mama always assumed, and rightly so, if he didn't eat with them he probably didn't fare too well.

He wasn't used to having someone fuss over him the way her Mama did, and he kept telling her, "Ya don't gotta worry bout that Ma'am I'm fine, it ain't nuthin'."

But Mama being Mama and all she just said, "I'll decide about that Daryl, you just let me get these cuts cleaned up and some peroxide on them. I don't want you getting an infection."

He knew he couldn't argue with her and if he was honest with himself, it felt nice to have someone care about him like that, tend to him a little bit.

Beth hurried along to the kitchen with Mama and Daryl, but Daddy stood contemplating the situation. It was then he made a decision.

At dinner Daddy said an extra prayer of gratitude that Daryl had been kept safe from serious injury. As much as the young man appreciated all the thoughtfulness, the attention still embarrassed him. But he and Beth both smiled when Daddy said they could go walking after dinner.

They waited until they were far enough away that her folks couldn't see them, and then they did what they'd been longing to do. He hugged her close and they kissed and they told each other how each had missed the other, how all they'd been able to think of was holding each other and kissing.

They held hands and walked down near the water and she told him how scared she'd been when he was late. "I'm sorry Sunshine I didn't mean for ya ta worry. Did this scare ya too much, ya havin' second thoughts bout the ride next Saturday?"

"At first it did scare me a little but I still want to go. I still want to ride on the motorcycle with my boyfriend." She smiled that smile for him and between that and her words, well he just had to kiss her some more.

"I'ma be there waitin' right out front when your Mama brings ya but the Bike'll be stashed 'round back. I'll have your boots, helmet an jacket in my backpack. We'll be good ta go Sunshine an I can't wait ta share my spot with ya." He was so happy and she was glad for that. But she often wondered about where he really lived, with his Dad, and what that must be like, but she never ask him. She knew it was painful for him to even think about and he sure didn't want to talk about it. She just figured someday he'd be ready to tell her all about it and she'd be ready to listen when he did.

"I feel bad bout lyin' ta your folks Sunshine, but it seems that's the only way we're ever gonna get ta do the things we wanna do."

"I know Trouble, they just don't understand we're mature enough to make our own decisions and that we'll be careful. It's because they're old and they don't get it. But as long as they never find out they'll never be hurt that we lied to them."

"Yeah an we won't get caught cuz we're gonna be real careful. We'll get back in plenty a time ta get ta Goodies an call your Mama."

This time when he took her in his arms he told her, "I ain't gonna let ya get hurt. I love ya Sunshine an I'ma always be real careful with ya, take good care of ya too. Forever."

"I love you Trouble and I know. I trust you."

After he'd left Daddy told her again, "I'm sorry for what happened to Daryl, and I'm very thankful he wasn't more seriously hurt. But these kinds of accidents are exactly the reason I can't let you ride on the motorcycle with him. If you'd have been on the back you could have been badly injured."

"I understand Daddy." And she did understand, but that mean she didn't want to go with him.

When she saw him Monday morning she was caught completely by surprise. She thought later she really shouldn't have been, it wasn't like his situation had changed. It had only changed with her family. His Dad was still his Dad.

He saw the way she looked at him, "I'm fine Beth, I promise. He wasn't that mad an it don't even hurt, really. Don't be upset, I ain't. It was my own fault, I made him mad. Remember what ya promised, don't ya tell no one, k?"

"I won't tell if that's what you want. I would never betray you. But Daryl don't you think you should tell someone the truth, someone who maybe could help?"

"There ain't no one can help with this Sunshine, they'll just end up makin' him madder an he'll do worse. I just gotta live with it til I turn 18 an break free. He won't want me round then anyway. I won't be bringin' in no money for him."

"You give him your money?"

"Nah it ain't exactly like that. He don't even know I got a job. I'll explain it ta ya at lunch."

"Alright, but are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah sure I'm fine, I been hurt much worse than this."

She took no comfort in his words.

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Rosita sat next to her on the bus ride home, "Can I come home with you Beth? My Mom can pick me up before dinner. I just want to talk to you."

"Of course you can, you know that. You haven't come over to visit in so long." She smiled, "I miss you but I know you're busy with Caesar."

Rosita blushed, "You know how it is you're the same about Daryl. I'm sorry for those things I said about him Beth. I know now it's not true. I'm so happy for you."

Always the southern hostess, Mama insisted on giving them a snack in the kitchen and they hurried through it, Beth could see her friend had something she was dying to talk about.

They went to Beth's room where she turned the music on to muffle their conversation. As the two young women sat cross legged on the bed, Rosita begin speaking in a soft whisper, "It happened Beth and I just had to talk to someone about it, someone I knew I could trust. I still just can't even believe it."

Beth felt concern for her friend, "What? What happened Rosita?"

"Me and Caesar we, well you know, we did it."

"It? You mean, you and him…?" Beth couldn't quite get the words out.

"Yes Saturday night, right in the back seat of his Dad's Buick. I know it was probably wrong and the back seat of a car isn't the place a person should do that stuff. But it happened and it wasn't just him that wanted it to. We're in love Beth and we've been holding out on this a long time. It's just that I can't believe it we really did. I was scared, but I kind of really wasn't."

Beth had a million questions but the only one she could bring herself to ask was, "Are you happy about it? I mean do you regret it?"

"No I don't think I do. What about you, do you regret it?"

"Me?"

"Yes, you and Daryl you guys have, haven't you?"

Beth could swear her face felt like an inferno, "No, no why would you think that? Gosh all we've ever done is little things, kiss and hug and hold hands."

"Really? Because the way you two act around each other it just seems like you're close like that."

"We are real close but well, we just haven't done those other things. We haven't even talked about that stuff."

"We didn't talk about it either but sometimes it just happens."

Beth embarrassed herself when the words came out, "Did you like it?"

"Not a lot at first, but later that night, when it happened again. That time it was better. We knew more about what we were doing."

"What if you have a baby Rosita? Then what?"

"Don't worry we won't, Caesar said so."

By the time her friend left Beth with more questions than answers. Her biggest question was to wonder if Daryl would start pushing her for that. As much as she liked touching him when they hugged and kissed, she wasn't at all sure she was ready to move passed that. And if Rosita, her best friend in the whole world thought they were doing those things, did that mean everyone else thought that too?

She was feeling so confused, but then she heard the motorcycle come in the driveway and felt better. Seeing Trouble always made her feel better.

Mama and Daddy exchanged a worried glance when they saw the fresh bruises on Daryl's face. Daddy knew well enough to know he probably wouldn't talk about it, so he just said, "Remember son, I'm ready to listen any time you're ready to talk."

Daryl just chewed that lower lip and nodded. "I'm fine, just a accident at home is all."

Daddy wanted to punch Will Dixon himself, and he often thought if he were a younger man it would be hard not to go to that old shack and just do it. He hated feeling so powerless to help this boy he'd grown to care about so much. All he could do was provide the things he'd been providing, be a safe haven and try to set a good example.

After dinner, as they sat at the dining room table doing their schoolwork, Beth slid a note to him. "Today has been so strange and I feel like I miss you so much, I wish we could hug. I need one of your hugs."

His brow furrowed and he started chewing the side of his thumb as he looked over at her. His eyes locking hard onto hers, trying to guess what was causing her to feel "strange." He was pretty sure it wasn't something he did, at least he didn't think so, not if she wanted to hug him. He glanced quickly to where her Daddy sat reading in his chair, making sure the coast was clear before reaching for her hand and giving it a gentle squeeze, whispering, "In the mornin'."

She was looking for him as the bus pulled up to the school, happy and relieved to see him. He held his hand out for her like he always did, and as soon as she was off the bus he looked around before pulling her close. "What's wrong Sunshine? What happened?"

It made her feel bad, "I'm sorry I worried you, nothing bad happened it's just something I hadn't expected. Can we talk at lunch?"

"Course we can, ya know that. Are we okay? You an me? Are we okay?" He was nervous and worried, she could clearly see.

"I'm so sorry Trouble it's not that, of course we're okay. You know I love you."

As long as she loved him that was all he really cared about, everything else would sort itself out.

xxxxx

Finally it was lunch and while he rushed that sandwich down, she told him not what Caesar and Rosita had been doing, but what Rosita had assumed she and Daryl were doing. She saw his ears turn a little red like he was embarrassed, but he spoke in a rough tone, "If they're thinkin' that bout us it's probably cuz that's what their doin'. Are ya worried bout that Beth? Bout what other people think? That someone might think you'd let some no good redneck touch ya like that?" He'd grown up thinking, knowing really, that everyone thought the worst of him. So his mind just naturally went there, to that place that told him he didn't deserve someone like her and that deep in her heart she knew it.

What at first she'd taken for embarrassment and concern she now saw was really anger, and a kind of defensiveness. His walls were going up. She rushed to reassure him, "No Daryl, not at all! I'm proud to be with you. I'm proud you care for me and that everyone knows it. But it just surprised me to think that's what people thought about us, that we were doing that stuff. That's all."

He was calmed but still tense and fidgety, once those old feelings surfaced they couldn't always be quieted easily. "Told ya before I wasn't never gonna make ya do nuthin' like that if ya didn't wanna. Have I even tried, pushed for it? Shit."

"No, no Daryl that's not it, please. I'm not mad, especially not at you. You're my everything, you know that. I know you would never force me into something. I guess I just couldn't believe people were talking about us that way."

"Cuz they can't mind their own business, too busy mindin' ours." He still had the edge of an angry tone in his voice when he asked, "Ya still gonna go with me on Saturday?"

"Of course I am you know that. I hate that you're mad at me."

And right then Daryl Dixon spoke words that held volumes of the truth he lived, "Ain't mad at ya Sunshine, I'm mad at the world. Mad it wants ta keep me down an I don't wanna bring ya down with me."

She threw her arms around his neck, pulling him close, "Don't you talk like that Trouble, not ever. You don't bring me down, you make me happy." She couldn't believe what she told him next. Maybe it was easier because with her arms wrapped around him that way she was talking in his ear, not looking in his eyes. The words just came out, "And it's not that I don't ever want to do those things with you, someday I do, its' just that I'm not ready yet."

His arms tighten around her as he whispered in her ear, "I'm gonna do everythin' I can ta make ya happy Sunshine, everythin' ta try an make ya proud ta be my girl."

"I am proud."

The brief but meaningful exchange brought the young couple even closer. It was true, others could see it by just looking at them, they had a bond.

xxxxx

Saturday finally came. She was on pins and needles all morning. Mama scolded her for not eating her breakfast, "I don't want you just filling up on movie snacks Beth, you know Daryl shouldn't be wasting his hard earned money on those overpriced treats for you." Mama's sweet and trusting nature was again making her feel that twinge of guilt, but it wasn't powerful enough to make her change her mind about the Bike ride.

He was glad he had work to concentrate on that morning. One of the older machinists was showing him the basics of operating the CNC machine and he wanted so much to learn everything he could. He wanted to prove to himself he could master it. Still his mind couldn't seem to help wandering to thoughts of her. He was so excited to get her on the Bike and share with her what was to him the most important place in the world.

As soon as the quitting buzzer sounded he rushed to clean up. Using the restroom to wash as best he could and change into the clean shirt he'd brought. He got to the movie theater ten minutes early, plenty of time to pace the sidewalk waiting for his girl.

She'd hurried Mama out of the house and it wasn't two minutes after he arrived that they pulled up front. He hurried to open the car door holding out a hand to help her. His politeness always made Mama smile, so many young people just didn't have good manners these days. She worried a lot about these two and the things they might get involved in, but the fact that she loved Daryl helped her feel more comfortable about them spending time together.

He was so excited he nearly grabbed Beth in a hug, but he waited until Mama drove away. "C'mon Sunshine let's get on that Bike an go." He lead her around to the back alley and there it was, she could feel her excitement building. He had the backpack bungeed to the seat and he quickly removed the cord. "Here's your boots." He was smiling that great big smile that was so rare.

"Here you take this while I put them on." She smiled right back as she handed him the paper sack. "Mama packed you a sandwich and stuff. She was worried you wouldn't have eaten and you'd just have popcorn for lunch."

"Your Mom's the best Sunshine. I's starvin'."

By the time she had the boots on and laced up he'd downed the sandwich and was smiling again, "Ya look pretty damn cute, an sexy too." She giggled as he helped her with the jacket, and then the helmet. "All set?"

"Yes, I'm ready and I'm so excited."

He explained to her how she'd hang onto him to get on the Bike, and how she'd hang onto him once she was on. "Some guys they don't have their girl hold onto 'em but I want ya holding onto me, always, k?"

"Yes, always."

She felt that little jolt as he pulled out of the alley and took it up to speed. It was all so thrilling, and she was hanging onto him and she couldn't remember anything ever being as exciting as this ride with him.

It was only about twenty-five minutes until they reached what he called his real home. It was a beautiful spot, there was no denying that. Striking old-growth trees, pretty wildflowers and the water was so close.

But it was just an old tarp hanging from a rope, over a sleeping bag, this place that he called home. She felt the sadness of that, that wherever his own house and his own father were, this was so much better. "It's gorgeous here Trouble, so picturesque."

"I know it's relaxin'. An now that you're here with me I got everythin' I need right in this spot."

He kissed her then and they hugged, but he pulled away just enough to say, "Let's go for a walk, k?"

"That sounds perfect." He grabbed a thin old blanket from atop his sleeping bag, and when she gave him a questioning look he said, "In case we sit down I don't want ya gettin' all dirty, they'll suspect sumthin' for sure."

After some exploring he did lay that blanket down at the water's edge, and they sat staring at the peaceful water and holding hands. They talked about how perfect the spot was and he told her someday he'd like to have a real cabin there. "I could live here forever Sunshine. Ya think ya could ever live out like this, ya know in the woods an all?"

"Yes I think I'd like that. I would want to have a little house of some kind, but it would be so pretty and so quiet, and private. I can see why you love it here."

"That's what I'd want for us too Beth, a little house we could live in with a couple kids an a dog." Even at her young age she saw it clearly, underneath all of his roughness and in spite of his hard life, Daryl was a dreamer, a romantic.

It didn't take long and they were laying on that blanket. In this place where there was no one to watch them, no one to walk in on them, where they were really alone, they were much more free to express themselves physically.

The kissing became more intense than it had ever been and he was lying almost completely on top of her. It wasn't long before she felt his hand as it moved up to her chest. It was over the clothes, still his hand went to her breast and he touched her there and she didn't stop him. But it wasn't long and he stopped himself. He wrapped his arms around her tight. "I'm sorry. I know I shouldn't be doin' that stuff Beth, an I don't wanna upset ya."

She stopped him right then, taking his face in her hands, "You didn't upset me Daryl and if I had wanted you to stop I would have asked you to. And I know you'd listen."

He didn't say anything at first, he just wrapped his arms around her tighter. "I gotta take good care of ya Beth, you're everythin' ta me, everythin'."

They made it back to town and he parked the Bike behind the theater before they walked down to Goodies. She hurried in the restroom, doing everything she could to fix her helmet hair. She'd put it in a ponytail that morning so it wasn't too bad, she just wet it down a little and re did the pony.

When she walked out he handed her a vanilla ice cream cone, "We best have one, huh?"

"Thank you Daryl." And she called Mama from the payphone. She was sure she was the only person in her school, besides Daryl, who didn't have a cell phone, Mama and Daddy wouldn't allow it until she turned 16, just a few more weeks.

Daryl rode his bike and followed them back to the farm. Of course on the way home Mama wanted to hear all about the movie and Beth was prepared. They'd watched the trailer online, they'd read all the reviews and checked Imbd. Mama was never going to watch it anyway so they figured they knew enough to fool her, and Beth did.

They'd gotten away with it and had their first big date. They couldn't wait to have another and Daddy and Mama had said they could the weekend of his birthday.

It was two weeks later and his birthday was just two days away. Beth was far more excited than he was. "17 ain't no big deal, it's 18 I'm really waitin' for."

"Well it's a big deal to me and I'm excited. Mama wants to fix whatever your favorite dinner is, so what should I tell her?"

"I liked her chicken an noodles best, with biscuits, a lotta biscuits."

That was just what Mama made that Thursday for his birthday dinner, plus a chocolate cake and homemade ice cream for dessert. "Thank ya Ma'am. This is the first time I ever had a birthday dinner an it was delicious. I appreciate it a whole lot."

Beth gave him a black leather Biker's wallet with a chain, and he was so happy he was wishing her Mama and Daddy weren't right there so he could kiss her. "Thanks Sunshine, this is perfect, I been wantin' one real bad. But ya shouldn't be spending your money on me. I got savins."

"It's a gift Daryl, for your birthday. I wanted to buy it for you." But Mama and Daddy were still looking at each other, thinking the same thought, "Sunshine?" It was the first time they'd heard him call her that.

Daddy cleared his throat and the two young people both looked over at him. "Daryl, Beth's Mama and I have a little something for you too. It's not new and shiny, and I know it needs a lot of work, I also know you can do it, you have the skill and the determination." Right then he reached it his shirt pocket, pulling out a single key, "We're giving you the old farm truck, the '56 Chevy. Happy Birthday Son."

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A/N They managed to sneak a date on the Bike, and now he's had his birthday I suppose they'll be going on another date soon. A lot went on this chapter and if you've read my fics before, you know most everything happens for a reason. I'd appreciate you leaving a comment or review. x gneebee

Please check out the chapter photo on my tumblr bethylmethbrick, Daryl's giving Beth quite the look. Please follow me here or there or both! Thanks so much and remember, I love ya large! xo gneebee