Chapter 12

Rick, Daryl, and Glenn had pulled the survivors together and set to work clearing the bodies. They agreed to toss the wolves over the walls and burry the Fallen Alexandrians. Slowly more people emerged from their homes and began helping. Enough people showed up that Rick turned to Daryl and mumbled to him that perhaps he should go check on Beth.

He slipped away and headed back towards the house, wiping the sweat from his face with a red slip of cloth. Beth hadn't woken up when he laid her out on the couch and cleaned her wounds earlier; her body had simply molded into the couch and stayed that way. Daryl crossed the threshold and moved towards the couch, taking in her peaceful face, and realized that by the looks of it she hadn't moved or murmured through her sleep, her body still heavy. He watched her for a while until Maggie showed up and tried to urge him to get some rest, settling into a chair next to him and across from Beth.

"Don' think I can handle bein' apart from her…" he admitted sheepishly. He felt bad suddenly. He didn't even know or understand the full extent of what exactly it was with him and Beth, and he could only imagine how it must look to everyone else, especially Maggie; but he just couldn't bring himself to care about how they felt on the matter, even though Maggie is Beth's sister, her approval or lack there-of meant nothing to him.

Just Beth. She was the only thing that mattered to him anymore. Had been since the day the prison fell and every day since, even after Grady. But now he's admitting to Maggie that he's scared and doesn't want to leave her side, fully expecting her to blow up on a whole new level on his stupid ass. But she didn't, she simply smiled softly and reached over and gave his hand a small squeeze.

"I know," she said simply, and they both just sat like that, hands gripped and waiting, praying that Beth will wake up soon.

The others had slowly started showing back up at the house, trickling in a few at a time, but still Daryl stayed by her side. He shifted and moved to have her head in his lap when space started becoming sparse, absent mindedly stroking his fingers through her short hair. They were all quietly talking about the attack, about their luck that Beth had been able to provide a warning. Glenn started spewing ideas, ways they could better prepare for an attack like this and it turned into a meeting when Rick sent someone to find Deanna and Aaron and a few other important members. Daryl lifted his fingers and continued to drag them through Beth's short hair as he watched the new council forming around him.

Suddenly Beth shifted in his lap, murmuring or purring her approval of his hands ministrations, Daryl couldn't quite be sure. She slowly opened her eyes and looked up at him, sleep still lingering in the depths of her iris'.

"Hey," he smiled down softly at her, her face scrunched up in a kittenish way as she stretched, mewling against the couch cushions and making the frame creak as she pushed her feet into it. She settled back into a curled in shape, side-eyeing him from his lap, "5 more minutes…"

He laughed warmly and tugged on her short locks, "Sounds like this spur the moment meetin' thing will be important. Ya might wanna wake up a bit for it."

She grumbled but still sat up, bringing her knees up in close to her chest, Beth tucked herself in as close to him as she could manage, unabashedly stealing his body heat. Daryl tossed his empty little plastic cup of water Maggie had gotten for him earlier at Glenn's head, who flinched and turned to look at the archer.

"The hell, dude?"

"Quit yer bitchin' an' hand me that blanket," Daryl grinned at the mockingly disgruntled young man.

Glenn sighed dramatically and got to his feet, lifting and unfolding the blanket as he approached the pair and raised the blanket up to settle primarily over Beth. Glenn couldn't help but smile at the view as Daryl tucked her in to his side. The two were certainly an odd couple, but he couldn't deny how well they fit and worked together. It seemed odd on the surface, but it was more and more natural the more he saw it. He sat back down with Maggie, who smiled sweetly and took his hand, she leaned in to whisper to him "Am I a bad sister for being okay with them bein' like that?"

"No," he answered simply, kissing her temple and wrapping her up in his arms, "He's kinda perfect for her." Maggie hummed her agreement and let her head rest against him.

More and more people began showing up, and the more people that Beth didn't know entered her space, the more rigid she grew next to Daryl. He rubbed his knuckles into her back, trying to keep the tension to a minimum, but she started flinching in pain so he switched to just rubbing with his open palm.

"The first thing I want to point out; is that if it were not for Rick and his people, none of us would be standing here. So, for those of you who still have reservations about these people? You owe them your life." Deanna stared at certain people pointedly, and Beth noticed those people shift awkwardly on their feet. They murmured words of appreciation and cleared their throats stiffly.

Deanna seemed entertained by this, but finally continued, "We need better defenses. On both sides of the wall, so what can we do?"

Deanna was not one to beat around the bush, she seemed to consistently be straight forward and get to the point every time. Beth found she greatly admired that about her, it was refreshing to see someone who didn't care about the bull shit or want to feed into it. Deanna wanted to cut through it and push it out the way, in fact.

People started chattering to those closest to them before standing and giving their opinions and thoughts or ideas. It seemed like everyone had something to say, even if it had already been said. Trenches, extra walls or fences, maybe even an electric fence. There were great ideas being tossed around, that old warm familiar feeling of hope bubbling up in Beth's belly again, bringing a big smile to her features.

Daryl poked her side, one eyebrow raised curiously at her. She giggled lightly and scooted up to whisper in his ear that it made her happy to see this again, to see people working together to survive, and more than just that, but thrive too. He hummed his agreement then turned back to the meeting, Rick calling his attention.

"Wha'dya think? Any input we haven't heard yet?"

Daryl scratched under his chin, "Think we could do with more look-outs. S'pretty big place, need eyes in every direction, really."

"I agree," Beth said, looking out to everyone else, "I think we need to barrel down on weapons training, and anyone that shows potential with the rifles should be trained by Sasha and whoever she thinks has enough skill to help her. We need snipers inside and outside the walls and a secure line of communication to and from both points, protocols for safety measures, and not just round the clock guards in towers but at least two people to walk the perimeter continuously." She trailed off at the end when she realized how much she was saying and that everyone had gone silent to listen to her, all eyes on Beth and it sent shivers through her spine. Daryl dipped his fingers into her hip reassuringly, but she still shrank herself back against him.

"It's really not a bad idea," Sasha spoke up, "I'm definitely willing to teach people, she's right, can never have too many snipers in a group."

"I'm not too shabby with a rifle, m'self, 'm sure I could help you," Abraham added, nodding towards Sasha. She nodded in agreement. "I can also round up the construction crew, get 'em working on some more towers at measured locations around the wall. Get the geeks workin' to figure out what's the best layout." Abraham finished, looking to Deanna, who Beth finally realized had not stopped staring at her. She shifted under Deanna's beaming gaze until the woman finally nodded and looked away from her. The meeting dwindled to an end as people decided on their next move and left to see it through. It wasn't long before Daryl and Beth had not only the room to themselves, but the whole house. She let her head fall back and looked up at him, a sly smile on her face.

"Daryl Dixon."

"Yes, ma'am?"

"I would like very much to take a shower now."

His face drew into a slow grin, his eyes sparkling with mirth, "Oh, would'ya now?"

"Yes." She said, lifting her head to give him her most serious face, and pouty lip, "Please?"

He chuckled darkly, briskly lifting her into his lap and standing from the couch, she squealed as he lifted her to his chest and turned to the stairs. He walked up slowly, his heart pounding in his chest, words he didn't know how to say dancing on his tongue.

"Beth, I…" he sighed, his eyes falling. But then her tiny hand moved up to cup his cheek and he brought his eyes back to hers and she was smiling so sweetly at him, "It's okay, Daryl. I know."

It was his turn to stare at her questioningly until he finally saw it in her eyes and he exhaled a small breathy 'oh'. Beth Greene loves Daryl Dixon and Daryl Dixon loves Beth Greene. That was all it had to be for the both of them. She didn't need him to stress over pretty words for her and he didn't need her to worry about not being equally understood. They fit together and this was natural, the only thing that felt natural since even before the world turned to hell. Daryl crashed his mouth over hers, heatedly claiming the bottom lip he watched her continuously trap between her teeth, and now he pinned it between his.