A/N: Just to clarify, I haven't been getting any bad comments from anyone about this story. I'm just letting people know what if you're big fans of Daryl and Beth and this story isn't what you like, don't say I didn't warn you. :D

Shorter chapter tonight. Enjoy.

4.

Daryl walked until the barrel of Rick's gun was pressed against his head.

He could feel the cool metal of it there and his eyes never left Rick. He was daring him to do it, not afraid to keep moving, force rick's hand if he had too.

And around them, no one dared to move a muscle, afraid of what would happen by any movement they made.

It was Rick who gave out first, lowering the weapon because he knew there was no way he was going to shoot Daryl. Rick looked down and away from Daryl for a moment.

"Pussy," Daryl muttered.

"Keep your mouth shut," Rick barked at him, hearing enough anger from The Greene's and now Carol's weeping to push his patience with Daryl to the limit.

"Or what? You'll blow my head off?" Daryl said, mockingly, smiling at the former sheriff.

It was in that moment that Rick realised that Daryl could have that exact same shit eating grin that Merle had.

With Daryl in this mood and the tension from the others this was a dangerous situation and he had to treat it carefully.

"You owe my daughter an apology," Hershel said.

"Carol too," Glenn added.

Carol muttered she was fine as Maggie comforted her.

"Blondie? For what? Letting her live a little," Daryl asked.

"She's seventeen, for goodness sake!" Hershel protested.

"Right, so she'll have something to be grateful for when she dies..."

"Shut up," Rick shouted, as he grabbed Maggie and stopped her from going towards Daryl. Glenn took hold of her and Rick kept his body between Daryl and Hershel, certain the older man would try something at any moment.

Beth was stood beside her Father during the confrontation so far, upset by the whole thing. She thought that the others behaviour was why Daryl was lashing out, but what Daryl said was so heartless she couldn't believe it. She stepped forward, away from the other's reach, wanted to see Daryl, certain he couldn't look at her and say much a cruel thing.

"You don't mean that," she said.

His eyes slid across to her and he looked at her blankly. There was no warmth, no feelings at all being shown.

"You love me, I know you do. Just tell them you do. And then it'll be okay. They'll be okay with us if they know," Beth pleaded with him. Part of her saw the truth as she stood there looking at him and he did nothing but glare back at her. "Daryl, please?"

"Beth..." Maggie said, not wanting her sister to embarrass herself in front of the others.

"You're just a little girl," Daryl said, eyes on her. "You think we were gonna get married? Any port in a storm, ya know?"

Rick pushed Daryl back as a flurry of movement erupted behind Rick and he struggled to hold the others Daryl had angered back. "Hey, just stop," Rick called, trying to control everyone.

"I'm not going to tolerate any more of this," Hershel said and for a moment, Rick worried that he was going to try and get to Daryl again but instead he turned away and walked back towards the prison.

Beth had moved away a little and when Hershel tried to move her along with him, she moved away from him angrily, walking back over towards Rick. She stayed a distance away from the others though.

Maggie and Glenn followed Hershel inside and despite her best attempts, Maggie couldn't convince Carol to follow her.

Maggie was grateful to see Michonne at the bottom of the watch tower. She'd left Carl on watch and she kept her distance, let the matter be dealt with by the others, but if she needed to intervene, she could.

Rick turned back to Daryl. Somehow, this had to be resolved before Daryl stepped back inside the prison.