"Brought you some lemonade." Beth smiled sweetly and handed Daryl the cup of pale yellow liquid. "It's not real. Carl found some of the powdered stuff in the pantry."

Daryl drained it. "Don't matter, darlin'. It's still damn good." He licked his lips. "Beats that powdered milk shit by a mile." He handed her the cup when he finished and she sat it carefully on the wall. She was looking at him with her I-wanna-jump-your-bones smile. "Shit, girl," he said and pulled her to him, lips meeting in a passionate needy kiss. Tongues tangled, teeth clicked and Daryl felt the familiar tightening in his groin. He came up for air. "Ya killing me, baby," he said, slightly breathless.

"Then do something about it," she challenged, though she smiled sweetly.

Daryl grinned and propped his crossbow against the wall, inside the guard tower. These little make-out session were becoming more frequent and he discovered that he looked forward to them. He settled into one of the chairs and patted his lap. Beth sat right down, arms encircling his neck, lips finding his again. She shifted on his lap against his hard erection. His hands went to her hips "Ya know the rules, sweetheart. No wigglin'," he warned, mouth never leaving hers. She pulled away and met his eyes "What's the matter, darlin," he asked, voice husky, wanting to feel her lips again.

"I need to ask you something, Daryl," Beth said a little hesitantly.

"Okay, baby." I still have the condom if that's what you're thinking...but we ain't gonna need it tonight. He was starting to feel nervous but this must be important because he usually had to pry her off of him. Clearly, she was uncomfortable about whatever she was going to ask which was unusual. Beth pretty much said whatever came into her pretty little head to him. Daryl pushed her hair back over her shoulders and cupped her cheek. Shit! Maybe she was dumping him. Fuck! Already? We ain't even done it yet!

She looked at her hands which were now folded primly in her lap. In a small voice, she asked, "Daryl, are you a virgin?" She exhaled in relief. There, she finally got the nerve to ask him.

"Holy fuck, Beth! Where'd ya get that idea?" he sputtered. "Did my brother say somethin'?" I'm gonna kill him!

"No. He didn't say anything. I just thought, that maybe..." She picked at one of the buttons on his shirt, plucking at it, distractedly. "That's why...maybe...you were afraid to have sex with me because you've never done it before. Please, don't be mad at me, Daryl."

Holy shit. Fuck! Damn! Am I so fuckin' pathetic that a virgin thinks I'm a virgin? Holy fuckin' hell. "Beth, honey..."

She looked at him with those damn big blue eyes so chock full of fuckin' understandin'. "It's okay if you are. Don't be ashamed," she said softly and cupped his cheek. "We can figure it out together."

Holy fuckin' shit and damn it all to hell. Daryl took a deep breath and pressed her palm against his lips. He tried to calm his voice as he explained. "I ain't no virgin, darlin'."

Beth ran her hand over his cheek and down his shoulder reaching for his. "It's okay. Really."

He willed her to shut up. Please, please, please shut up.

"I don't care, Daryl."

Apparently his will wasn't strong enough because she was still talking, so he kissed her. He shoved his tongue in her mouth maybe a little too rough but she didn't skip a beat and met it with her own. There that's better. No more chatter or embarrassing questions. He'd rather kiss than talk and hopefully she would to.

A virgin? Me? He almost snorted. It had been a long damn time but still...a fuckin' virgin? Daryl held her hip tightly with one hand and moved the other to her thigh where he worked it into the leg of her shorts wishing she had worn the skirt today. He could work with it though. They were loose. He'd never touched her there...afraid it would be too much, not just for her but for him. He could already feel the heat between her legs before he reached it and his brain shut down while his fingers sought it out.

Beth gasped when he reached the velvety wet folds...She was so fuckin' wet he was gonna come right then especially if she didn't quit doing that thing she did with her tongue in his ear. Fuck. He stroked her slow and gentle, not entering her yet. Her mouth stilled and she gripped his shoulders as his fingers encircled her opening, spreading the moisture...she was so fuckin' hot and wet...he found the tiny sensitive bud and damned if her nails didn't break through his skin. "Breathe, baby, ya gotta breathe," he said against her ear.

Beth nodded wordlessly and let out a trembling breath. "Atta girl," he said stroking her loose blonde hair. He loved the feel of the long golden strands falling through his fingers.

She gasped when he applied a little more pressure with his thumb while sliding a finger just inside. Oh fuck, she was so damn tight. She started to move against his hand.

Shit! Control yourself, Dixon. "Easy, darlin', not too hard."

Little moans escaped her sweet lips each time he dipped his finger in, traveling just a bit deeper which each trip. He sped up and so did her panting. She buried her head in his neck. "Oh, Daryl, please..."

His fingers slowed. "Want me to stop?'

"Oh God, no...please don't."

Good...I don't wanna stop. He kissed her hair and brought his other hand up to pull her head back. Her eyes were glazed and her lips swollen from his kisses. She was fuckin' his. "I wanna taste ya, Beth," he whispered.

"Hmmmm." She leaned forward for a kiss but he held her head. "Already tasted ya there, baby." She blinked and almost frowned until he slipped his finger in deeper, curling against her walls and dragging it out...she shuddered and her body clenched trying to bring him back in. He smiled, and then he stuck his finger in his mouth and sucked off her juices. "Your pussy tastes so fuckin' sweet." Her heart raced faster, her face flushed. She never heard such dirty words used so intimately.

He put his finger back into her dripping core and sealed his mouth over his. She was surprised at her own taste on his tongue, but he teased hers without mercy, matching his finger's movement while his thumb was now working her clit. Her hips moved against his hand on their volition. It wasn't enough. She still needed more. She wanted him to touch her breasts. They were tight and aching for attention but she wasn't sure how to tell him. She reached for the hand on her hip and pulled at it.

Concern filled his voice. "Am I hurtin' you?"

She shook her head. "My breasts...touch them."

He grinned. "Don't need a hand for that." He leaned forward and sucked a small hard nipple through her thin shirt.

"Oh god," she whimpered, arching into him.

"Hush baby, don't want anyone to hear," Daryl warned with her nipple in his mouth. He tugged it harder and she almost came off his lap. He stroked faster, trying not to go to deep, barely able to stop himself. He felt her spasm against his finger so he pulled her to his chest smothering any cries or screams her climax might have produced. She gripped his shirt with her small hands and bit down on it, shuddering against him. He wrapped her in a protective embrace and held her until she came back down.

It was well after midnight when Merle woke up. He smiled as he heard the pitter patter of Cherry Blossom's soft-soled shoes making their way back to her cell. He'd give the girl credit. She was very quiet and he'd be surprised if anyone else heard her. The rest of group slept like the dead. He chuckled at his own joke. Rowan rolled over, reaching out for him. "What's up, baby?" she asked sleepily. "Time for your watch?"

"Almost," Merle answered. "I have enough time to take care of you." He pulled Rowan on top of him and her lips automatically found his in the dark. He ran his hand across her back. It had been almost two long weeks since they fucked and he was sure his balls were about to fall off. She was getting a little more meat on her bones since he and Daryl came back last week with a deer. Her ass was filling out nicely. It felt good, so good against his palm. "Fuck, baby, hurry up," he said, trying to push her pants down.

"Wait a minute," she hissed.

"What?" he half-asked, not really hearing her words as he tugged on her clothes.

She swatted his hands away and sat up, straddling his hips. "I hear something..."

He grabbed her hips and pressed up. "It's my dick come knockin'."

"Hush, Merle." She stood up and he tried to pull her back down but she stepped out of his reach.

"Baby, please," he pleaded.

Rowan shook her head. "I think Amanda's having a nightmare."

Fuck! He stood, pulling his pants up. "Fuck!"

Rowan skipped silently down the stairs and padded barefoot to Amanda's cell. Merle was close behind. She stepped into the cell and almost ran in to Rick. "Oops, sorry. I didn't see you."

"No problem. I got her…go on back to sleep," he said sitting down on the side of Amanda's bed.

"Um, you sure, Rick?"

"Yeah, Rowan. I'll be fine."

"What the fu-," Merle started in.

Rowan covered his mouth. "Shhh, you'll wake everyone up."

"But…"

"But, nothing. He's got it." Rick had stretched out on the bunk beside Amanda, with his arms wrapped around her and was whispering in her ear, chasing the bad dream away.

Merle tried to squeeze by Rowan. "He ain't…"

"Baby, stop it!" It took all the strength the slender woman had but she shoved him back outside of the cell.

Merle still attempted to get past her, hell-bent on yanking the bastard out of his daughter's bed "I ain't leaving with that prick in…"

"Yes you are," she said and reached down to cup him through the front of his pants. "I believe you and I have unfinished business to attend to before your watch."

Merle smiled and stretched as he made his way to the tower to relieve Daryl. He was smiling because Rowan was back to her old self and he finally got laid and because his brother may have finally got some himself, as well.

"Hey, little brother." Merle slapped Daryl on the back.

The younger man yawned and stretched. "That time already?"

"Yep. Finally popped that cherry, huh?"

"What? Fuck, Merle. No." Daryl said shaking his head, pretty sure his brother's grin couldn't get any wider.

"Well you did something cuz I can smell her on ya."

"Ya shittin' me?" Daryl sniffed himself. "Fuck."

Merle laughed. "No, bro, I ain't," he said patting his back. "Maybe ya oughtta shower or take a swim in the creek 'fore you go back in, in case Daddy Greene is awake."

"Goddamn, Merle. Fuck." His brother was right. He hated when Merle was right. Fuck it.

"Just lookin' out for ya, brother. Hate for the ol' man to put a bullet in ya when I just found ya again." Merle propped up on the tower wall and scanned the dark landscape before him. Same ol' shit. A few biters wandering around. Looked half-starved. He should go out tomorrow and take care of 'em, a knife through the eye socket. "What ya worried about? The old man is probably asleep, anyway."

It was too dark for Daryl to do anything now. "Go get my sleeping bag, will ya? I'll stay here 'til it's light enough to rinse off in the creek.

"Ain't your errand boy, Darylina. Get it yourself."

Daryl shook his head. "Thought ya were lookin' out for me, bro. I ain't going in there yet."

"Pussy."

"Shut the fuck up, asshole." Daryl flopped down in the chair and tried to get comfortable. Shit.

Just as the sun cleared the horizon, Daryl woke up in the guard tower grumpy as hell and with a crick in his neck. He rolled his head around trying to pop it but to no avail.

"Ask Rowan to work it out for ya," advised Merle. "She's good with her hands like that."

Daryl rolled his shoulders back and turned his head from side-to-side. "Don't want your bi- woman's hands on me not after they been all over you."

"Hell, she probably ain't gonna wanna touch you after where you been." Merle snorted. "She could work that crick out in no time but ya better say pretty please. She don't like ya much."

"Forget it. Ain't gonna happen." Stupid bitch was as mean as a rattlesnake. She'd probably try to break his neck rather than pop the kinks out. He didn't know how his brother put up with her. A piece of ass couldn't be worth that much trouble.

The older Dixon just shrugged at his baby brother. "Your loss, ya stubborn jackass." Then his demeanor changed from aggravated to amused, never a good sign. A wide, toothy grin spread across his craggy face.

"What the fuck you smiling at?" Daryl snarled.

"Not a damn thing baby bro. Not a goddamn thing." Merle smirked. "Enjoy your breakfast."

Judith sat in the high chair and slapped happily at her oatmeal while babbling to anyone who'd listen. Rick tried patiently to feed his daughter with a spoon but she preferred to eat with her hands. Carl had excused himself as soon as he was through eating, claiming his sister's disgusting table manners had made him lose his appetite. Amanda and Rowan chatted about cleaning up another cell block for more living space while Beth mostly yawned and daydreamed. Hershel and Caesar discussed building a coop for the newly acquired chickens. They didn't have enough hens yet to provide eggs for everyone but they were hoping to round up a few more on the next run.

They had just about finished the morning meal when a freshly-scrubbed Daryl came in, his wet hair, slicked back.

"Good mor…" Amanda gasped and covered her mouth stifling a giggle. Rick turned to greet him but his greeting froze on his lips and he just nodded at his friend and turned back to give Amanda a shocked look. He was trying not to laugh.

Caesar slipped up and said, "Oh shit!" Carol put her hand on his forearm, eyes wide but she didn't say a word.

Hershel turned red, coffee cup paused halfway to his mouth.

Beth was the only one that spoke. "Morning, Daryl," she said with a dreamy smile.

"Morning, Beth," he said warily, eyeing the group around the table. What is wrong with these people? "What're ya'll looking at?" he griped, rubbing his aching neck.

"Young man. I think we need to have a talk." Hershel said.

Caesar was the first to stand up. "Carol," he said, tugging on her hand. "C'mon, let's take a walk. I'll help you with the dishes later." She didn't argue and followed him out of the cell block, lightly touching Daryl's forearm on the way, giving him a look of pity?

What the fuck? Daryl watched them leave.

Rick picked up Judith. "Let's get you cleaned up, Punkin." He patted his friend on the shoulder and said, smiling, "Good luck, man."

Amanda started to warn her uncle of the impending doom but all she could say was, "I love you," and she kissed his cheek.

Rowan was the last to leave. She smiled at Merle's brother as she passed. She leaned over and whispered in his ear. "You have a hickey on your neck."

Holy shit! His hand flew up to the spot he remembered Beth paying extra attention too last night. Fuck! It was too much to hope for that Hershel didn't see it. By the look on her old man's face and the color of his skin, he'd seen it already and knew exactly who put it there. I am a dead man.

Beth still sat in her chair with a fuckin' sweet smile on her face. She didn't look worried at all. In fact, she looked quite pleased.

Hershel sat his cup down. Without out taking his eyes off Daryl, he said, "Beth, let us talk in private, please."

"But Daddy," she started to protest.

Hershel turned his furious gaze toward his youngest daughter. "Now, young lady."

She pouted. "This involves me, too."

He nodded. "And I will deal with you later, young lady. Go. Now."

By the stubborn set of her chin, Daryl was afraid Beth was going to refuse. "Go on, darlin', er Beth. Let me talk to your daddy."

She looked at Daryl, gave Hershel her pissiest look, and then she looked back at Daryl and smiled a smile full of sweetness and innocence. "Very well, Daddy." She stood up and placed her napkin on the table but instead of going straight out she went over to Daryl and kissed him on the cheek. "Be strong, baby," she said and left.

"Let me get one thing straight to begin with. I'm going to do all the talking," Hershel said. "Understand, young man?"

"Yessir." I am so fucked!

"Then have a seat." Daryl did.

Rowan made her way to the tower to meet Merle. He greeted her with a kiss and grabbed her ass. "Ready for round two, baby doll?"

Rowan put her hands on his shoulders. "You let him walk in there like that, didn't you?"

Merle chuckled and pulled her close for another, more passionate kiss. "Do ya really care?"

"Why would you do that to him?" she asked, kissing him back and wrapping her arms around him. "I thought you loved your brother."

"I do. That's why I told him you'd take care of that crick in his neck."

"Merle! Why would you do that to me?" she asked, trying to pull away.

"Cuz, my woman and my brother oughtta like each other. Fix his neck and he'll come around," he said nibbling at the hollow at the base of her throat.

"I don't care if he likes me," she complained, "And, what about me? Rubbing your brother's neck doesn't do a thing for me. Ugh."

"Was the ol' man mad?" he asked, changing the subject.

"What do you think, Merle? He was so red I thought his head would explode." Rowan laughed. "I thought Daryl was going to bolt!"

Merle just laughed. "Good. Now, the pussy can finally have that talk I told him to have with the ol' man over a month ago."

Daryl felt like he was a boy in the principal's office, again. Except this "principal" carried a gun. Hershel sat there for what seemed like an eternity before he spoke. "My daughter, my teenage daughter, has had a crush on you for some time. I saw it and said nothing because you appeared not to return the feelings. However, now, it seems I was mistaken."

Daryl shifted uncomfortably under the man's unwavering gaze. The hickey he didn't realize he had until he walked in the room now burned like someone held a match to it. He started to speak, "Sir, I…"

"I'm not done yet." Hershel interrupted. "This group has been through a lot together over this past year. You've been instrumental in keeping us all safe and fed. I believe you to be an honorable man who would not take advantage of a young girl, who doesn't know her own mind." The Greene patriarch paused and sipped his coffee.

The younger man nervously ran his hands through his still damp hair. Shit!

"That being said, I understand the physical needs of a young man sometimes interfere in his decision-making ability. I know the world is different now and perhaps the lack of women available to fill that need has left you no other option in your mind except my youngest daughter."

Fuck! "Sir, I ain't some teenage boy. I'd never use Beth like that."

Hershel raised his hand to silence Daryl and continued. "Beth is young and naïve and where you may see someone to scratch an itch, she sees man to build her new life with. If you think you can be that man, we'll talk again, with Beth present. If not, stay the hell away from my daughter." Hershel reached for his crutches and pulled himself up and left Daryl sitting alone in the cellblock to contemplate his words.

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