So...I really have only one excuse for this being so horrifically late.
I've been trying for my disability for over a year and finally got it three weeks ago so my days have been full of doctor's appointments and paying bills I've owed for years.
I'm more excited about insurance weirdly enough.
Once more I dedicate this to everyone who's favorite and followed.
You are sexy and I am honored to share sexy fantasies of Daryl with you.
And to Jaimek45 for being the one person I don't mind having dibs on Reedus.
She'll have his ZA babies.

As Daryl opened her door Beth's scent hit him like a sledgehammer. It was so pure, so concentrated that he couldn't think beyond laying down at her feet for the rest of his days so he could breathe her in until his lungs burst. Her stuttered, hesitant greeting brought him back to himself. He smiled at her politely as he almost crushed the doorknob in his anxiety.

"Hello Beth"

Beth's room was somewhat surprising to him. While he didn't know much about petite 19 year old farm girls he did expect something….frillier. Daryl wasn't upset though. He might not have been the best conversationalist but he could read people fairly easily and what Beth's room spoke about her was heartening. It was clean and orderly without being anal. Music must have been one of her great loves. There were hundreds of cds and albums in the corner next to a keyboard and a weathered guitar. The whole room just left him with a sense of warmth and comfort….especially the bed. Daryl refused to let himself think too long on how soft her sheets would feel on his skin or what it would be like to sleep with his face buried in her pillow.

This night (or was it morning now?) was really trying Beth's nerves. She was woken up by a loud angry ass with a mouth like a sailor, dismissed like a child and now the extremely sexy man who managed to somehow anger her while making her heart beat too fast was standing in her doorway…staring at her things like they were something new and foreign.

"Um are you ok?" Seriously, he was pretty but the way he zoned out made her slightly worried. She just didn't have it in her to deal with anymore drama before she got at least some sleep. Stupid farms and their stupid early mornings.

"I uh…..",

'Shit!' Daryl inwardly screamed. He wasn't exactly suave but he'd never turned into some blushing, stuttering schoolboy before. 'Get your shit together and speak!"

Squaring his shoulders he tried again.

"Sorry. Been a long night. Just….wanted to 'pologize for my brother, Merle. He's kind of an asshole and he's never really thought bout anyone but himself and sometimes me."

Beth was charmed. It might just be the beginnings of exhaustion or delirium or both but this big brawny man actually seemed bashful and damn that was adorable.

"It's ok. One of my old boyfriends from school was even louder when Daddy had to do stitches on his arm. He was crying and everything. Daddy almost had to take a break because he was shaking from holding in laughter!"

While Daryl felt an inexplicable sense of relief she had forgiven him he had to hold in a growl at the thought of her with boyfriends.

Plural.

They couldn't have treated her like she deserved but he took comfort in the fact that everything was past tense.

And it just wouldn't do to start beating up every boy she'd ever held hands with.

Men didn't do that.

Probably.

"Well still…Can…can I make it up to you?"

At her big, rounded eyes and the smell of her shock Daryl braced himself for rejection.

He didn't get to have nice things, he didn't get the girl. He was a Dixon and everyone knew-

"And how would you do that Mr…I didn't even ask your name! I'm so sorry. I'm tired and babbling and now I've been rude!"

Almost giddy with relief that he hadn't been shot down Daryl quickly blurted out his name and for some godawful reason walked closer to her and stuck out his hand. He was really batting a thousand tonight.

He was just being polite.

He did not just want to know how her skin felt.

That would just be creepy.

A little shocked at his gesture Beth gently placed her hand in his. He shook her hand like she was some delicate thing and his big calloused hand made her feel like she was.

"Nice to meet ya Beth."

Oh hell. He was creepy. He had to hold in an audible whine of pleasure at the feel of her soft, small hand. She was so damn pretty and small and smelled so good and he wasn't ever going to be worthy but he couldn't let her go.

Literally.

Flushing a little he realized he'd been holding her hand for too long but neither of them moved to let go.

"So about me making it up to you…how about breakfast?"

Daryl Dixon was a lot of things but he did not fidget if he was any less of a man people would say he was graceful but God help him he could barely stand still waiting for her answer.

"You know Daddy and Mama are going to stuff you silly in about 3 hours. Mama can't stop herself from trying to feed everyone who walks in. You'll probably be sent home with doggy bags but….I would never turn down the offer of copious amounts of Chinese food for lunch."

Peaking shyly up at him through her lashes she blamed her forwardness on the 97 minutes of sleep she'd gotten.

This was a grown man and even though he'd asked first she'd kind of commandeered the whole situation.

Daryl knew there was a silly grin on his face and before he could help himself he stooped and laid an impulsive kiss on her cheek.

"I'd like to eat some Chinese food with you Miss Beth. I'll take Merle home after breakfast and get him situated and then come back and pick you up."

Flushing almost as red as the sweatshirt she wore Beth nodded silently and watched as he straightened up. The smile on his face made her feel fluttery and she vaguely required something from Bambi.

'What was it?' She thought distractedly. 'Flutterpated? I'm flutterpated!'

She squeezed his hand once more and reluctantly let go.

"Well…I've got to get some sleep but I'll see you in the morning, right?"

Beth was taken aback at how much she actually wanted to see him. They'd had one conversation and she was already nursing the beginnings of a crush but not a crush. Crushes were all giggles and secretive notes back and forth. This was different somehow.

She just didn't know how exactly.

Forcing himself to turn away from her Daryl absently raked a hand through his hair.

"I'll see you at breakfast Princess, I'll be here."

This had gone so well he was almost afraid. Things like this didn't happen to Daryl Dixon but he was going to grab what he could and hold on with everything he had.

She could make him happy and he could love her like no other.

Shutting her door gently behind him he let out a breath he didn't know he was holding.

He hadn't screwed up.

Beth's dreams were strange. There was a moon like she'd never seen, even in the country. Pale and huge it loomed over her but she wasn't afraid. She felt safe and happy.

Daryl's didn't dream. His dream was upstairs.

Yawning as she brushed her hair Beth thought about the night before. She hadn't gotten much sleep but she was strangely well rested and then there was Daryl, just downstairs. She knew he had to be quite a bit older but what did that matter. She'd always been mature which is why all her previous relationship (all three of them) had never really been serious. Beth was thinking of school and building a career and they were thinking of sex and partying.

Slipping into a serviceable tank top and some tight jeans (she wasn't a saint and she was rather proud of her ass) Beth shoved her feet in her boots and walked downstairs to the kitchen for breakfast with a light heart and a sense of anticipation.

Daryl was barely resisting the urge to muzzle his brother. The Greene's were a close family and even with guests they didn't eat breakfast until everyone was gathered at the table.

Beth being a little late this morning, which was understandable, was keeping Merle from the piles of amazing smelling food and he was rather…vocal about his opinion on the matter.

"'M healing. Need ta eat ta heal. Isn't that right Doc?" he grumbled loudly.

Hershel just ignored him and continued to read his paper as Annette pattered around the kitchen keeping everything warm.

Hearing the click of a door upstairs and the subsequent creak of the stairs themselves Daryl sat up a little straighter.

Before Merle could badger him about being so damn eager Beth breathlessly took her seat.

"I'm so so sorry everyone. I was sleeping so well and...well I'm here now. Let's eat!"

Seeing the look her father gave her Beth corrected herself.

"I mean good morning everyone."

Manners must never be forgotten. Especially in company.

As her mother served up a variety of breakfast food Beth was uncomfortably aware that she was the center of everyone's attention. Her father and Daryl were being somewhat sly about it but Daryl's brother was not.

"So, Little Red" he smirked. "Why don't you tell ol' Merle what you think 'bout baby brother here."

It seemed everyone was interested in the answer and it felt faintly like she was facing a firing squad.

Buying herself some time by nibbling on a strip of bacon Beth collected herself and, staring Merle dead in the eyes, she found her courage.

"Daryl is really sweet and he doesn't seem like he'd scream like a girl all night and keep people up, you know?" Her smile was saccharine sweet and after a second it transformed into an almost gleeful grin at the dumbfounded look on Merle's face.

"Little girl's got some claws Darylina. Best watch yourself."

Knowing this was, in Merle's own way, an endorsement Daryl was strangely pleased that his brother was going to try and be welcoming to Beth.

She was his and that made her pack.

You don't turn your back on family.

Hershel, sipping his coffee, looked to his youngest. She was glowing and glancing every now and then at the younger Dixon boy.

'Well, not so much a boy, ' he thought wryly.

"So Bethy, what are your plans for today?"

Flushing a bit Beth looked at Daryl and said plainly, "Daryl's going to take me to lunch to make up for last night."

"Is that right?" Hershel felt a little bad watching Daryl almost visibly start to sweat but he'd have to get used to a little good natured ribbing.

Shoveling eggs into his mouth all Daryl could do was nod. He knew he had what amounted to Hershel's blessing but he was still wary of pressing his luck. He couldn't screw up his one given chance.

Next up, Chinese food and grumbly puppy Daryl!