Good Things

Chapter 2

AN: The follows and alerts for this are already amazing! Thank you! Please review :)

The group sometimes forgot that she wasn't a little girl, that she had been 17 when things had gone to hell in a hand basket about what she guessed was two or more years ago now. They didn't see her as an adult, as a valuable member of their developing family or anything more than an added responsibility that kept the more valuable ones free from caring for Judith. Not that she wasn't grateful to be alive at all, because she sure was, but she wanted to be aknowledged as an adult at least, if not a strong woman.

She wasn't sure she would ever be as strong as Maggie, or Sasha, or Carol. Or even Lori, who had fought and given her own life to see her daughter brought into their hellish world alive. That had taken strength. Keeping that baby when everyone had seen the strain it put on Rick during her pregnancy had taken strength. Helping them kill walkers and find food and keep watch and contributing to the group more than they had ever expected or allowed Beth to, even as her pregnancy advanced, had shown that Lori Grimes had been a strong woman.

But Beth was mostly content. Even if she wasn't as strong as those women, she had been entrusted with a life. Possibly the most important life in the group, for all little Judith represented-the hope, the good, the light, God, the future- in their darkened world. And when little Judy looked up at her, Rick's eyes shining with all the light that had been in Lori's eyes, and smiled that gummy drool dripping smile Beth saw that the future was bright. Beth saw that she wanted someone to share that eventual future with.

So her attention had turned to the man who had sent a storm of butterflies crazy in her belly the first time she had seen him, and every time since. She was sure he hadn't paid her much mind- seriously, he was older and could have had his pick of women, why would he notice her? He probably thought of her as a little girl.

She knew little about his past, about what had shaped him into the man he was now. Beth had watch his evolution from the farm to now, where he was looked to as a leader second only to Rick. She saw his uncomfortable shifting any time he was praised, or thanked for something he had done for the group. The way he avoided physical contact, even with Carol whom he was close to. The way he seemed constantly restless indoors, but outside his shoulders relaxed even as he faced off with walkers.

Beth had watched him for months before mustering up the courage to approach him. Of course they had talked before, had interracted, but never with her current intent in mind. Daryl was a good man, and she believed if he gave her the chance, she could make him see it like no one else could. Perhpas she could even make him happy, like a woman should make her man. She hoped he wouldn't laugh in her face and send her scurrying off like one of the children.

She had scrubbed extra clean in the shower that night, humming under her breath in attempt to calm her nerves. Talking to Daryl made her nervous, made her ultra aware of how her body awoke and responded to his. Goosebumps errupted when he spoke, the raspy southern drawl playing her body like an instrument. And that was just his voice.

Beth was by no means completely inexperienced, she and Jimmy had experimented with some things, but she had only ever felt Jimmy's touch on her body. Never a man, never a man like Daryl. If her body came alive with only his voice she knew that his touch would send her to the moon.

As she dried off, rubbing the last of the pretty scented lotion Maggie had brought back for her onto her body, Beth wished she had pretty clothes to wear too. She had found her cleanest, what she imagined most evocative clothes- a little pair of black shorts that she used for pajamas, and a tight ribbed white tank top. The top offered just enough cleavage to hopefully tempt him, while still staying modest. She left her hair down, towel drying it as much as she could, before she gathered her things and took them back to her cell.

Drawing in a deep calming breath, Beth made her way quietly down the cell block and up the stairs to the one Daryl had claimed. Her arguements for why swirled in her head as she pulled the sheet back and stepped inside. Daryl's back was to her his cross bow laying just next to him, his hand wrapped around the hilt of his knift. Her throat tightened at the sight of long jagged purple scars peeking out of his shirt. No wonder he slept with a knife.

"Daryl?" she whispered softly, cautiously approaching the bed. She saw his back tense as he came awake. "It's me, Beth," she added quickly for fear of being on the receiving end of his blade in the dark.

He grunted as he sat up, his eyes sharpening as they came to rest on her. Beth held her breath, feeling like his blue gaze was scorching her body. "What're ya doin here?" he all but growled, looking away and chewing on his thumb.

Beth stepped closer, hesitating a moment before sitting slowly on the bunk next to him. "I wanted to talk to ya," she said softly, looking down at her hands.

"Well, get ta it girl, don't got all night," he grumbled.

Nodding, Beth took a deep breath, her verbal arguements leaving her as she leaned forward and pressed her lips to his.

AN: I know, cliffhanger! It was asked if their history would come out, and here is part of it. I'm starting to get a better idea of where this will go. I will probably finish up their history, bringing it back to Daryl in the first chapter and continue on from there. Please review!