A/N Thanks so much you guys, you keep me inspired for this one. Fasten your seat belts!
Before, when Daryl went camping by himself, he'd take a bedroll a couple of cans of beans and peaches, his toothbrush and an extra pair of socks. He'd plan on eating peaches for breakfast, and for supper a rabbit or squirrel with those beans, no problem. He wouldn't be worrying about creature comforts.
But he wasn't going by himself this time, he was taking Beth with him and he was going to make this more about her and less about him.
He was so damn anxious to restart his life. It seemed like so long since he'd really been living at all. He wanted to try and catch up on what he'd missed. He wanted to start enjoying life again, and he wanted to start enjoying life with her.
So he'd called Merle first thing Monday morning and asked if he still had his camping gear. He scored a two man tent, sleeping bags, a big cooler, a small camp stove, and a couple of beat up frying pans. He went to the sporting goods store and got a couple of camp chairs and a small collapsible table. That ought to do.
Next stop was his counseling session with a new therapist. He'd still be seeing Doc once a week, but the Doctor also wanted him to go to counseling with a Vet who'd become a licensed therapist. This first session seemed mostly about him and this new therapist getting to know each other. The guy had Daryl's chart, and Daryl had been given the guy's professional bio, but that's not quite the same as face to face. So they spent the time familiarizing themselves with one another, and Daryl liked the guy, a Desert Storm vet named Rob.
From there he met Tom for lunch, he'd been looking forward to that. This man may never fully understand how much he'd done for him. He'd gotten him to talk, made him think, showed him he could overcome this thing that had him so far down, and the biggest gift, he made him realize he wasn't alone in the fight. Daryl would never forget that.
Instead of being a lot of serious talk, and a lot of rehashing of what Daryl had been through in his treatment, lunch turned out to be fun. They'd reconnected and for the first time had some laughs.
Daryl mentioned he was going camping, and Tom had given him some great tips for local places a guy might actually want to take a woman. Places that were quiet and serene, with lots of great hiking and not too heavy on the "roughing it" factor. He told him about a small lake they could drive to. It was visited by very few, in fact Tom told him since it was mid-week they'd probably have the place to themselves. That suited Daryl just fine, the only person he wanted to see while he was out camping was Beth Greene.
They planned to leave first thing in the morning so after lunch he went home and got the gear together. With all the stuff they were taking there was no way to take his bike, they'd be taking her Wrangler.
He knocked on her door and when she opened it they just smiled at each other, until he stepped in and quickly hugged her. "I think I got everythin' we're gonna need, ya know, except the food. I got the tent, and the sleepin' bags and stuff. And if you're ready for it I got a big cooler from Merle."
"I'm ready, I think I have all the food we'll need, and if we run out maybe I can get us a rabbit or a squirrel." She smiled but he looked more serious.
"I'ma see if I can't get back in on that this trip, get you a big old rabbit and cook it for you too." He pursed his lips and looked in her eyes, "I wanna be able to hunt again, it always was a relaxin' time for me, bein' out in the woods, trackin', gettin' my own dinner. I want that again."
She didn't say anything she just took his hand and gave it a light squeeze. He'd always appreciated that about her, how she'd just let him know that whenever he figured it out, or even if he never did, she was there for him.
They both had a group that night and met back at his place after. He poured her a glass of wine and cracked himself a beer. They sat on the sofa holding hands. The TV was on but they weren't really paying attention to that.
"I feel bad. I know you're a guy who likes to go into the wilderness to camp, and it seems like you're changing everything and bending over backwards just to try and make me comfortable. I'm pretty sure I'd be okay in the wilderness, I mean as long as you were with me. I don't want to spoil this for you." She was looking right at him and he could tell she meant every word of that.
"Hey girl, I'm doin' this just the way I wanna. It's about me an you goin' out there and just chillin'. Doin' some hikin', maybe even some swimmin' and just havin' fun. We ain't seen each other in eight weeks, this is our time to get reacquainted and more acquainted." He smiled at that, then gave her hand a reassuring squeeze, "We can do a pack in wilderness trip another time. I'm lookin' forward to this more than you know."
They didn't even talk about it, they both just knew. He walked her to her place and waited while she got her pajamas on and brushed her teeth.
He crawled into bed and she slid in after him, her head resting on his shoulder and his arm tightly around her, he whispered, "You feel so good right here next to me." She didn't speak she just moved to hold him tighter.
He kissed her forehead tenderly, then her cheek and then moved his lips to hers. The kiss got heated, passionate. His fingers lightly stroked her neck and then his hand moved to her breast. She made no objection. Soon his hand found its way up under her pajama top and he hesitated just a moment, but again she made no objection. Things got hot. He pulled that pajama top up and moved his mouth to her breast, she was whimpering and moans were coming from him.
Her hand had moved to the back of his head and her fingers were entwined in his hair, pulling him even closer and whispering his name. He lifted his face, and replaced his mouth with his hand on her breast, as he moved to kiss her mouth again. That's when his hand slid under the waistband of her pajama bottoms, and that's when he felt her tense up. He immediately stopped, "I ain't gonna push it Beth, if you're not ready you're not ready. I get it."
She grabbed onto him and held him tightly, "It's not that I don't want you Daryl, I do, I have, it's just that, oh I don't know, I'm just nervous, it's such a big step."
"If you're worried this is just a game for me, it ain't. You know I got feelins for you Beth. It is a big step and I'm okay with waitin' 'til you're ready."
"I'm not worried about you Daryl, I know you're not the kind of guy who plays games. And I think I've told you enough that you shouldn't have doubts about my feelings for you. We'll get there, and soon."
He pulled her into him as close as he could, she hung onto him as tight as she could, and they slept.
They were up before six, both excited to start their little adventure, both anxious to spend time with just the two of them. They'd eaten breakfast, loaded the cooler in the Wrangler, and they were on their way.
They'd arrived by nine. It was everything Tom said it was, pristine and quiet, like it was untouched by humans. There were green trees and grasses, colorful wildflowers and a beautiful crystal lake. "Oh my Daryl, I love this it's so beautiful, I'm so happy you invited me."
He got the tent up quickly and she couldn't help it, she laughed. He was puzzled, "What? Did I do sumthin' wrong?"
"No I was just thinking if two men slept in that together they'd have to be really good friends."
He smiled, "Well I don't think Merle ever let anyone sleep in there with him. Shit, he'd take me campin' and sleep in it by hisself, while I was just layin on the ground next to it."
When they finished setting up camp he grabbed his bow and took her hand, "Let's go explorin', see if we can't find us a bear or a mountain lion."
"Stop it Daryl or I'll be sleeping in the car." He just smiled and squeezed her hand, "You know I wouldn't let nuthin' hurt you."
They stopped frequently while he explained what they were observing, then he'd question her about the signs. He let her know how good she was getting, and that he was impressed by how much she'd retained. The tracking fascinated her, "It's kind of exciting to figure out the signs and know what animals have been here." She was smiling broadly and he was thinking she probably couldn't get any cuter.
She led them to a warren and he was determined this time he could do it, he'd shoot the rabbit. And when he did she clapped like he was a rock star, he laughed out loud, "Damn girl, I'da showed you that sooner if I knew you were gonna be so impressed by me."
"Oh Daryl I'm impressed by you all the time." Her cheeks and her neck were both bright pink but she was smiling. And she was happy she'd told him.
He bent down and kissed her softly on the lips, "Ain't ever known anyone as sweet as you Beth Greene."
When they got back to camp he dressed the rabbit, wrapped it and stuck it in the cooler, it was getting hot out and he planned on serving her that rabbit for dinner. "What do ya think about goin' for a swim?"
"I plan on it, I even brought my suit." She was smiling.
"Well damn, I was hoping we were gonna be skinny dippin' but alright, if that's the way ya want it I'll keep my boxers on." He was smiling at her, just a little, but still, he was smiling.
"You seriously didn't bring a suit?" She wasn't sure if he was teasing.
"Shit I don't even own one. You gonna be embarrassed?"
"Well not if you have those boxers on." She wasn't going to admit she was nervous. She went in the little tent and put on her suit. When she came out there he stood so handsome and so muscular and wearing only those boxers. He looked so damn sexy.
"Last one in is a rotten egg," She yelled, while he hung back a little just so he could watch her.
He'd never seen her in so little, and she looked hot. It wasn't that her suit was some sexy string thing; on the contrary it was a modest two piece deal. Maybe that was the appeal, it left a little something for him to imagine. There was no denying she was thin and small, but damn she was shapely.
She screeched when she hit that water, "Oh my God it's cold!" He laughed and ran in after her. Oh and they had fun, splashing each other, chasing each other, showing off their swimming skills, and then he went underwater. When he didn't come right back up she started to get scared.
She was splashing on the top of the water and calling for him, "Daryl? Daryl?" And suddenly he came up behind her like a torpedo, clutching her hips and pushing her whole body up and out of the water. They both crashed back into that water with a huge splash.
He grabbed her around the waist holding her close and laughing. "Daryl Dixon you scared the holy crap right out of me! That was so mean!" But she couldn't stop laughing, until he put a palm to the back of her head, pulled her lips to his, and kissed her with heat.
Her arms were around him and his were tightly around her, then she wrapped her legs around his waist and he moved his hands to her bottom, holding her to him. He began walking slowly back to their small camp, while she kept those legs and arms wrapped tightly around him. He never broke that kiss.
He laid her down on the big beach towel she'd spread out and he lay down next to her. He reached around to her back and untied the bathing suit top, "You okay with this?" She nodded. He slipped it from her and put his mouth on her breast, sucking, nibbling softly and flicking his tongue on her taut nipple. She was moaning with pleasure and in a low raspy voice he told her, "You got a beautiful body Beth."
They were both nearly naked and she could feel his arousal. She had her fingers in his hair and she whispered, "That feels so good." He was kissing her flat stomach and caressing her bottom, then his mouth was back up on her breast. He moved his hand to her pussy, she flinched slightly and he immediately stopped, "Sorry."
"Don't be sorry Daryl and don't stop."
"You sure Baby?"
"Yes."
He put his mouth back to her breasts and used both hands to slide the bottom of her suit off. He kissed, nuzzled and licked her tummy, then did the same to the inside of her thighs, just before he slid a finger into her. She let out a gasp and again he asked, "Okay?" She assured him again.
He was moving his finger in her while kissing and nibbling at her breast, her tummy, her lips and her neck, and then he began to work that magic little nub and she came hard. He pulled her close to him clutching her fanny and kissing her neck. "You all good Baby?" She nodded and touched a hand to his cheek.
He reached over to his backpack and pulled out the little packet, got it on, and went back to fondling her, peaking her arousal and his own. He touched her entrance with his tip, looked her in the eyes and asked, "You sure Baby?"
"Yes Daryl I want this."
He slowly began to enter her and as soon as he hit it he knew, and mumbled "Shit." She had her hands on his shoulders and she was looking in his eyes, "Please don't stop." He kissed her firmly on the lips, and moved his mouth to suck her earlobe, nuzzle at her neck and her breasts while he entered fully. He put his hands firmly on her low back, and in one fluid motion he lifted himself to his knees and leaned back on his heels, pulling her up with him.
She was now straddling his lap. He'd shocked her with his strength. She was turned on by the look of his naked body, and by his movements, amazed at how good it felt, how he knew where and how to touch her, and she never wanted this to end. And then she came again and he whispered, "C'mon Baby, that's it, aw girl you're the sweetest." And he reached his own climax.
He was holding her tightly to him, and his face was in the crook of her neck, "Why didn't you tell me Beth?"
"I'm sorry, I should have and I know that. I was just so afraid you wouldn't want me, that you'd stop, and I didn't want you to stop."
He held her close, "I'da tried to make it more special for you. Not out here like this, and dang, now I took that from you and that's a real big deal. Shit, I'm sorry."
"It couldn't have been more special Daryl, it was perfect. I never expected it to be so wonderful. I just, well I guess I never knew how we'd connect. How good it would feel, and I don't just mean the physical part, it really was like we were part of each other, and I didn't want that to end. I don't want this to end with you ever. I love you Daryl."
He pulled his head back a little, looking in her eyes, "Really Beth, are you sure?" He was filled with emotion and almost afraid to believe her, afraid she'd change her mind.
"Yes I'm sure. I could never stop loving you Daryl. You have my heart."
And he realized it then, his own feelings suddenly all made sense. He pulled her to him again, he kissed her tenderly then whispered in her ear, "I love you Beth, and I ain't ever gonna stop lovin' you. You got my heart girl."
A/N A Very Happy New Year to All! Thank you so much for reading this story, I'd appreciate reviews/comments xo