Enjoy!

"I love you Greene."

Daryl knew what he was feeling for a while now, but to say the words out loud was never part of the hunter's plan. It was a secret he would have been quite content to take to his grave. Ever afraid that if he spoke the words out loud he would put a hex on the whole damn thing. Daryl never had anything important before, certainly nothing as good as Beth Greene, and all things being equal that is what scared him most. Good things never lasted long, and Daryl couldn't help but worry that if Beth were to be ripped from him again he might never recover. He barely survived it the first time.

But it was Beth...and she deserved to know.

From the very first moment she wrapped her arms around his body that day in her cell, Daryl had sub-consciously made it his mission to learn her every happiness, every scar, every look. Each part making up the story that wrote on the soul of who this woman was and is; And Daryl wanted to know all there was to know of the tiny, blonde, blue eyed vixen who ever so carefully snuck up on him, and altered the way he saw himself so entirely. He wants to make her happy, even if it takes him ten lifetimes to do so, and in fact he hopes it will. For with every experience they've shared, Beth has not only changed his mind. She has changed his heart as well.

And really, what else could it be?

At first Daryl didn't have a label to attach to the feelings he feels for Beth, but reflecting back now, he thinks he probably should have. The signs were all there. It is common knowledge that Beth's cheeks turn pink when she is embarrassed. Given the right circumstances, anyone can do that to her. Daryl discovered long ago that if he just looked at her in a certain manner, or stood a tad closer than he normally did, her cheeks would blaze bright red. A well known occurrence that amused the hunter to no end back at the prison. What was surprising to Daryl however, was that Beth, and Beth alone could create the same effect on him. Daryl thinks back to the training session from which he accidently put too much power into his kick. When Beth doubled over, Daryl could literally feel the heat creep up his neck and onto his ears. It happened again in the car just this morning after Glen teased him about Beth, and then again on the front steps of the church only an hour ago, when she made that joke at his expense.

So she was definitely somethin'.

But beyond his sudden tendencies of shyness and blatant physical attraction for the girl, Daryl found it to be the small neuances in her expression, most specifically her smile that grabbed his attention, and pulled at his heart. For when Beth smiles it not only lights up her face, but illuminates the space around her in varying degrees, depending on her mood. It casts a warmth to her fine features that make it seem as though Beth herself embodies the light that shines through her large sparkling orbs; And with each of her smiles Daryl takes note of how the soft lines that form the plains of her face change in different ways. Quite often the changes are subtle, but they change none-the-less, and so he memorizes them into the back of his mind, making a point to remember the event, large or small that has caused a particular smile to occur. He is crazy for her smiles and given the opportunity, thinks he could easily lose himself in them for days.

And once Daryl made up his mind, the words were so easy to say. Beth makes it easy with her laid-back and accepting nature.

To Daryl Beth is an open book laid out before him, and as corney as it sounds, she makes him want to read every page. It's no longer just a driving urge to keep her safe that motivates him (hasn't been for a long time). He wants to take care of her as well. Every tear Beth sheds, is a tear he would gladly take upon himself to shield her from the sadness that all to often injects itself into their lives now. And every time Beth smiles, Daryl hopes it is he who puts it there. He enjoys listening to Beth ramble on with her naïve optimistic hope, because when she does, he hopes right along with her, and for Daryl... that is beautiful.

The last five minutes happened in fast forward and slow motion and all at once.

First Beth was singing and Daryl couldn't help the obvious manner in which he is staring. He knew it to be dark and full of blatent intent, but then again, she didn't seem to mind any, and so he continued. Then before he knew what was happening, Beth was moving towards him, almost gliding across the soil without so much as a care to who was watching, and make no mind, they were all watchin'. Daryl's pulse is still, even now thundering in his ears from moments before when Beth, brazen as all hell took a seat on the ground in front of him. It was an automatic reaction to wrap his arms around her. He told himself it was because he didn't want her to be cold, but he knew that wasn't the reason. When Beth leaned back against his chest, he met her halfway. Daryl closed his eyes for a split second and the words came tumbling right out of his mouth. There was no pause, no hesitation. Daryl said exactly what he wanted to say, the exact moment he wanted to say it.

/

The wood crackles and sparks in the fire, as the night air grows cold around them. Soon the days will follow suit and summer will bleed into fall. The flames flicker down, and it's days like this that bond them, and remind the group of their own mortality. The hunter and the farm girl sit comfortably in each others arms, and aside from a few curious glances from Bob and Sasha, and a tell-tale glint in Glen's eye, nobody comments. Daryl has a sneaking suspicion however, that he will be teased relentlessly about this later.

Glen is on his third and last chance at telling a decent joke, when Beth leans forward to grab a stick that rests near the fire pit. She begins moving the log about the coals as she attempts to keep it burning for a bit longer. "It's too bad we don't have any marshmellows. The coals are just about perfect for roasting them." She says, turning to take a look at Carl, who is just now polishing off one of the last chocolate bars she used to purchase his silence. "Could have had smores too."

Carl casts Beth a wicked grin, then licks the chocolate off of his fingers one by one, smacking his lips together as he does. "Ahem. Don't you mean I could have had smores."

Maggie lets out a knowing laugh. "He's got you there Beth."

"Oh, shut-up Maggie!"

"Sure thing Dew drop."

Beth scowls at her sister. She hates that nickname, but says nothing more about in a quiet attempt to change the subject.

Glen leans into his wife's ear and in a low voice asks, "Am I missing something Maggs'?"

Beth quickly cuts in, "It's nothing, honest." Near panic is forming on her face now.

Glen cocks his head to the side and studies her for a moment. Something foul is a foot here, he can smell it a mile away.

The young blonde spares a glance at Daryl and then turns back to Maggie and Carl, silently begging, pleading with them to keep their mouths shut. She knows it is a small thing, a quirk really. Maybe one day Daryl will find out about it on his own and they will share a laugh, but now is not that time. He has just said he loves her and Beth does not need anything as stupid as this, ruining the tone of the evening.

"You sure it's nothing?," Glen continues.

A gruff, gravelly voice joins the conversation. "Yah Beth, you don't look so well." The hunter shoots a smirk at her from over her shoulder. A boyish glint now playing on his face. "You're as skittish as a cottontail. What's up?"

"Jumpy like one too." Glen adds.

Beth covers her face in her hands, shaking her head. This is not happening.

"Just make her laugh really hard sometime Daryl and you'll find out for yourself."

"Carl, you promised! I gave you all four bars and you promised you wouldn't tell."

"What? It's not like I actually told the guy you snorted or anything...Oops! Besides, what do you care anyway."

The group can't help their level of surprise upon the revelation. It's not so much the information, but Beth's reaction to it. She is mortified, and nobody there other than Maggie has ever seen her so angry. Beth has always presented herself in a quiet and polite manner, exhibiting wisdom beyond her nineteen years, but now her face is burning red and it certainly ain't no blush. She is ready to murder the teen in cold blood. At the very least torture him a little. With clenched fists Beth starts to make her way over to Carl, ready to snatch the last chocolate bar out of his hand and then beat him over the head with it. She is a hairs breath away from doing just that when an unfamilar sound stops her dead in her tracks. It's laughter... Gut busting, side splitting, cramp in your side type laughter, and it is coming from the one person who very rarely ever cracks a smile.

"You snort when you laugh!" Daryl manages to get out as he tries to catch his breath. "That's your big secret." He finds it adorable.

Beth can feel the tears that are welling up in her eyes. She is ready to cry... or die of embarrassment. Either way.

"Oh, come on Beth, It's nothing to be ashamed of." Maggie says in an attempt to console her sister, all the while speaking between a flurry of giggles. "Daddy use to do it too."

And just like that the tone around the campfire changes. With Hershel's mention, the group suddenly becomes somber and reverent. Daryl watches from across the fire as tears instantly form in Maggie's eyes. With everything that has happened, the sisters have never been given a proper chance to morn the passing of their beloved Dad, and all joking aside, Daryl gently squeezes Beth's shoulder so that she knows he is there for her. He doesn't need to see the expression on her face to know it will match Maggie's.

A soft smile plays at Beth lips, while the knot in her brow speaks to a different emotion entirely. "He did, didn't he Maggie."

"He sure did. Annette always said he sounded like a foghorn." The girls let out a mix of both laughter and tears.

"Falls almost here. Would have been his birthday soon."

"Shaun's too," Maggie whispers.

"Their birthdays were close together, I take it?" Michonne asks.

"Same day actually. Sept 8th.," Glen answers back while wrapping his arms tightly around his wife. Daryl observes the married couple with increasing respect, noting just how bonded the two of them actually are. Daryl secretly wonders to himself how many stories Glen already knows about the Greene family, and he hopes that one day, he will know those stories as well.

With exception of Abraham, Rosita, Tara and Eugene (who never had the privilege to know Hershel personally), the group lets out a collective sigh. Hershel was a dear friend and mentor to them all. To Daryl and Rick, he had been a surrogate father, always willing to listen and eager to give advice. With his Yoda like wisdom, Hershel could tell a parable nearly as well as the Lord himself. Holding his bible in hand, he had the unique ability to pull stories from his youth, then relate them to a random bible passage (to which he miraculously always had earmarked the right page), and somehow be able to draw a direct correlation between the verse and the issue at hand. Like magic, the answer would become clear. But whether or not they listened, well that was up to them.

Daryl briefly wonders what Hershel would think of his baby girl with the likes of a redneck like him. Then quickly reminds himself that knowing wouldn't change his feelings for her in the slightest, and so he decides to let the matter drop.

Rick stares at this little group surrounding the fire. There are so many faces that aren't here now. Nobody needs mention it. The elephant in the room is aways present.

Carl's voice emerges out of the silence. "Dad, do you think we'll ever find somewhere safe again? You know, somewhere we can be a family, like at the prison?"

Michonne shares a somber look with Rick. She more than anybody can understand just how hard it has been on the Grimes' men. She had bared witness to it everyday of the last six months. Rick's sorrow over losing Judith has only added lines to his face, and he rarely lets Carl out of his sight for very long. Even though the little boy she first met back at the prison is no more. Following his Dad's lead, Carl has also hardened due to the horrendous experiences he has lived through. It makes her so sad for them both.

All eyes are glued on Rick. Everyone patiently waiting for his response to the question that Carl had asked, but that they all think about. Rick doesn't look at the rest of the group when he answers because in this moment he's not their leader... he can't be. Right now he is simply Carl's Dad. "I don't know son. We will just have to wait and see. But Carl..."

"Yah Dad?"

"We are still a family. It's been tough, I know, but we still have each other, so do me a favor and remember that ok. We're strong 'cause we have each other's back. That is how we survive." Rick smiles and picks the sheriff's hat off Carl's head to muss his hair in affection.

"Dad!" Carl whines.

All whining aside though, Carl gets what his dad is saying, and nods his head in response.

Beth chooses this moment to let out a quiet yawn.

"Don't do that Bethy." Maggie struggles to say while yawning herself. "hasn't anyone told you that yawning is contagious."

"Sorry." Beth giggled.

"I reckon it's time we all get some sleep." Rick says. "Come on son, It's getting late."

Before they head in Daryl makes his way over to Rick. "I'm just going to walk Beth back, then I'll take first watch."

"You sure?"

"It's fine."

Abraham and Rosita take off for some alone time in the church, while Michonne and Rick walk Carl back up to the cottage and Tara walks back with Eugene. Bob and Sasha also start to head over, but their pace seems slower, and Glen and Maggie don't move at all until Beth and Daryl start walking. Then they speed up, but only to stay a few footsteps ahead, quietly giggling to themselves. Daryl and Beth casually slow their pace to that of a turtle's, while they wait for the others to go inside.

Sasha and Bob seem to be mulling around the entrance when Glen and Maggie finally stroll up the cobblestones to the front door.

When Daryl realizes that they have no intention on going inside, he kicks the dirt on the ground for something to do as he stands in front of Beth looking remarkable shy, yet incredibly put out. With one hand is in his pocket, and the other drumming at his hip the hunter clears his throat loudly, then darts quick glances at the open door. Beth reaches for his hand, slowly threading her fingers through his. "They're just having a bit of fun," she reassures him. "Ignore them. They'll get board in a couple of days and move on."

"The way they're gawkin', you'd think they were in kindergarten," he gruffs out, obviously annoyed at the situation. Daryl has been dying to get Beth alone, but he can now tell from the shit-eating grins plastered on Maggie and Glen's faces, and the wide eyed stares coming from Bob and Sasha, that these people are not going to make it easy for him. He really doubts they'll get board of it either.

So the hunter stays quiet, leaving Beth to wonder if she should just head in. She starts to turn towards the porch, when he finally speaks.

"Hold up a sec. I got an idea." Daryl gently tugs on Beth's arm and pulls her around the side of the cottage, determined not to let this night end before giving Beth a proper kiss goodnight. And there is no way he is gonna do it in front of an audience.

"Daryl, what are you..."

"Trust me."

She does.

They round the side wall, and as soon as they are out of sight Daryl plants both palms flat to the brick on either side of Beth's head and leans in, gently gliding his mouth across her own. This is not like before. Daryl isn't cautious or careful, just determined as he gently skims her mouth, adding only the slightest amount of pressure to her soft lips. She is eager, and quickly finds rhythm with his movements. Their lips sync up as if they were one and the same, and Daryl pours every bit of himself into the kiss. Every unwanted emotion buried deep down inside, every want and need, all the pent up frustration and the building desire, all of his fears, and all the love he has ever known, wrapped up in Beth... And it leaves him floating. Beth's mind goes blank in response to Daryl's driving passion. She can barely stand as her world suddenly explodes into a thousand vibrant colours, nearly blinding her. Their tongues collide and slow dance together in a moonlit haze, leaving her breathless and shaking. With Beth, Daryl has never felt so free. His shackles have finally been cut, and she is giving him a new start. Beth moves her hands into his hair, hoping it will help to support her trembling limbs and also squelch the desperate yerning she has to be closer to him. For a brief moment she is, and then slowly Daryl pulls away, ending the kiss amidst heaving breaths and hooded eyes.

"Night Beth." He tucks a piece of hair behind her ear and trails his callused fingers along her jaw causing her head to tilt into his hand. "God your beautiful." He whispers.

Beth steps closer, tilting her head up to look him dead in the eye. She wraps her fists into the leather of his vest, and pulling him to her, with brilliant smile displayed just for him says, "I love you too Dixon."