A/N: Aah! Last chapter a part from the epilogue! Oh, y'all cannot know how much I have appreciated and treasured every single one of your reviews! Thank you from the bottom of my heart - Thank You! I hope you enjoy!
Beth wakes to the sensation of someone breathing against the back of her neck and an arm flung over her middle. She smiles and curls up against the warmth.
After a second go round that'd had Beth collapsing into breathless, blissed out laughter on Daryl's chest, they'd gotten dressed, eaten what they could find, and gotten some sleep with their weapons close by and the door barricaded.
Outstanding, mind-blowing sex notwithstanding, they are, after all, still living in a zombie apocalypse; and now that Beth knows what it feels like to have happiness right at her fingertips, she isn't about to let it get snatched away from her due to carelessness.
But she'll give herself these few moments of peace, where she can hear the birds outside and match her breathing to the man behind her.
As seems to be her wont these days, a snippet of a lecture from her science teacher floats through her mind.
Fusion, he'd said, is when things come together and energy is either created or expended.
Well, I think we did a bit of both last night, she thinks holding in a giggle.
Lips press a kiss to the back of her neck and Daryl mumbles, "Better get up and get on the move."
"I know," she says running her hand over his forearm, feeling the cords of muscle under his skin, and wanting to start up round three. "Guess it'd be pretty selfish of us to stay here and just make love all day long."
"Damn selfish of us," he says against her skin before sucking a kiss at the juncture of her neck and shoulder.
Beth sighs and leans her head back to meet his lips. After a lovely few minutes of lazy kissing, he sighs and rolls to his back, propping his arm on his forehead.
"This can't be natural," he says, staring up at the ceiling. "You're some kind of witch, making me all lazy. Sun's up and I should be out doing something and I'm in here kissing you."
Beth grins. "Yeah, you seemed really upset about it a second ago."
He growls and lunges, rolling her underneath him. She giggles and threads her fingers through his hair.
"We gotta get up," he says, looking her in the eye.
"I know," she says softly.
He leans down and kisses her hard and then he's on his feet.
She makes a face and then gets up.
They pack up what they have, make sure their weapons are ready, and then slip out the front door. The day is sunny compared to the storm they'd had the day before and they walk carefully past all the debris on the ground. Beth can hear walkers somewhere in the distance, but they don't actually see any as they head out of town.
"Need a car," Daryl says eventually, "if we want to catch up to everyone. Keep an eye out for a garage or something."
Beth just nods. They go several blocks and are just about to the edge of town when Daryl spots a car dealership. It looks to have been looted at some point, but they go inside anyway, staying as silent as possible.
Daryl eyes the cars that are left and shakes his head. "That Honda'd probably do."
"Okay," Beth says, not really seeing the difference between one car and the other. They look around a bit more and Daryl opens the door to the garage in the back of the dealership.
"Now we're talking," he says with a grin, sauntering into the garage.
One of the garage doors is open and sunlight streams in. The dealership backs up to an open field and Beth can see the state highway in the distance. She also sees what's made Daryl so cheerful.
It's a Bonneville Triumph, all black and silver and looks to be in decent condition. Well, as far as Beth can tell. He walks up to the motorcycle and crouches down to check out the engine.
"Why someone hasn't grabbed you right up, I cannot say," he mutters, running his fingers over the metal. He frowns. "Needs some brake pads."
"Can you put those on?" she asks. She rolls her eyes at the look he gives. "Okay, okay! I didn't mean to insult your mechanical prowess."
"Show you prowess," he says under his breath as he brushes past her to look at the wall of the garage. He rummages through various boxes and bins and finds what he's looking for. He nods at the door. "Keep watch, all right?"
Beth nods and goes over to the door. She leans against the doorway and scans the area. Nothing appears to be stirring and she can see the damage the tornado wrecked on the town. An entire strip of houses looks to have been mowed down and several buildings are missing their roofs. She glances up at the sky and eyes the bright sun. A chill is in the air and she breathes in the crisp, fresh scent of fall.
Looking over at her shoulder, she sees Daryl on his back as he removes bits and pieces from the bike. He's taken off his vest and long-sleeved shirt leaving his arms bare. Beth watches the play of the muscles in his forearms and remembers clutching at said arms the night before. A flush builds in her cheeks and spreads throughout her body.
She stares for so long, it's only when he clears his throat that her eyes snap up to his face. He's got a knowing smirk on his face and she knows she's been caught out.
"See something you like, girl?" he asks sounding amused.
"Oh, hush. You're just a big, fat distraction, Mr. Dixon," she says turning away to look at the area.
He chuckles and goes back to work.
The sound of rasping breath makes Beth stand up straight, turn, and take aim. Two walkers stumble around the corner of the garage and spot her. They stretch their arms out and the rasping sound gets louder.
She fires an arrow and it hits one in the eye. The other one stumbles towards her a bit faster and she doesn't have time to reload, so she steps out of the doorway and swings the crossbow. It connects with the walker's head with a crunch. The walker falls to the ground. She eyes her crossbow and marvels at the strength of steel. She turns to see Daryl, propped up in the doorway, his own crossbow at the ready.
She raises her eyebrows at him and he lowers his bow.
"You, Miz Greene, are a big, fat distraction," he says to her, a corner of his mouth curved upwards.
Beth grins at him. "I sure am. Now back to work, Dixon."
He salutes her and goes back to the bike.
An hour later, after eating a can of fruit and a lone packet of beef jerky found in one of the desks inside the dealership, the bike is ready.
Daryl stands up and walks around it, looking it over. He holds his hands in the air and then nod, clapping silently just once. Beth hides a smile. She's seen him do that same move before, whenever he figures something out and makes it work.
"We good to go?" she asks.
"Yeah, yeah, I think so," he says. He gets on to the bike and after a brief hesitation, he starts it up.
The engine turns over and the rumble makes Beth sigh in relief.
"Boo yah," Daryl says loudly over the sound of the engine. He looks over at her and beckons her closer with a jerk of his head. "You ever ride before?"
"Depends on what you're referring to," she says thinking of the night before.
The man actually blushes and ducks his head. "Shut up. I mean, one of these?"
"Nope," she says, bouncing a little on her feet. "What do I do?"
"You get on and hold on tight," he says.
"I can do that," she says, putting her backpack on her back and adjusting the straps so that it rests tight on her back. She hands him his jacket and vest. Once he's ready, she eases herself onto the bike and scoots so that she's flush up against his back.
"Wrap those arms around me, baby," he says, putting his hand on her thigh and pulling her closer.
She hugs him from behind and she flashes back to that moment outside that old shack in the woods and she presses a quick kiss to his cheek.
"Let's go, Dixon," she says against his ear.
His answer is to let the brake off and they slowly drive out of the garage and around the dealership. It's slow-going getting out of town as they dodge the mess the tornado made, but soon they're on the highway and Daryl speeds up some.
They pass the spot where they'd stopped with the group before going into town and Daryl slows down to look at something on the side of the road.
Beth squeezes Daryl tight when she sees the sign in Maggie's handwriting that reads: Beth and Daryl – Catch the last train to Clarkesville. Beth feels her eyes sting with emotion and her chest feels tight.
Thanks, Maggie, she thinks.
Daryl reaches back and squeezes her thigh and she nods happily. "Let's go."
There's still debris scattered across the roads and he never goes too fast but still, being on the motorcycle is like nothing Beth's ever felt before. It feels like freedom made tangible. The wind whips her hair around her face and the engine rumbles steadily underneath her.
They drive until the sun starts to set and then they look for somewhere to spend the night. Due to the mess on the roads, they haven't gotten as far as Daryl would have liked, but they're moving and that alone makes Beth content.
Daryl spots a small structure in a field and turns off the road towards it. It looks devoid of all life, including walkers and he rolls the motorcycle inside. It's more of a storage shed than a barn as it's not very big and has just enough space for the motorcycle. There are a few plastic tubs filled with feed for cows and some horse tack hanging on the walls. There's a small ledge with a ladder leading up to it. Beth climbs up and finds a musty horse blanket. She wrinkles her nose, but it's better than the rough, wood floor. She rolls it out and peers out the small window at the empty field.
They decide not to bother with a fire and just eat what they've got. Afterwards, they rig up the usual alarm system of empty cans, this time lined up just in front of the door to the shed. Daryl walks the perimeter of the field a few times.
When he comes back inside, he closes the door and sets to propping one of the tubs in front of it.
Beth shifts her weight from foot to foot and looks at him. "All clear?" she asks.
"Looks like," he says shoving the tub into place.
"Think we'll be safe here?"
"Safe enough."
Beth fidgets a little then asks, "Are you tired?"
He glances up at her and shakes his head. "Not especially. Why?"
She doesn't really know how to come right out and ask him for what she wants. Despite everything they did the night before, she feels downright shy. Beth looks down at the floor and then back up at him; which is when she sees it.
A small smirk has crept on to his face. A smirk which plainly states that he knows what she's dancing around about asking.
She glares and puts her hands on her hips and says, "Oh, shut up and get me naked, Daryl Dixon."
"Ma'am, yes ma'am," he says bending down and throwing her over his shoulder in a fireman's carry. She shrieks quietly and smacks his butt but he just walks her over to the ladder and sets her down.
She scurries up the ladder as fast as she can and crawls onto the horse blanket, Daryl crawling up right behind her. His body covers her and the kiss he gives her makes her tingle all over.
Her hands pluck at his vest and jacket and while he tugs her own clothes off her as best he can without removing his mouth from hers.
She spreads his jacket down on top of the horse blanket and pulls him down to her. Like the night before, his hands travel all over her and his mouth follows his hands. He gives her a look that she can't quite read and watches as he moves down her body, pressing open-mouthed kisses as he goes.
He kisses her belly and her hip bones. When he shoulders himself between her thighs, she sits up to look at him and says, "What are you – oh."
His mouth moves over her and her head falls back to thud on the floor as her hands clutch at his hair.
"Oh."
Afterwards, once they've gotten dressed and crossbows are close to hand, Daryl sits up just under the window, so he can keep an eye on the field. Beth curls up against his chest and runs her fingers along his hands and arms.
"Hey, I, uh, want to stay like this with you," he says gruffly, catching her hand with his. "When we're with the others. Don't want to give this up. All right?"
"More than all right," she says smiling at their hands.
"Think anybody's going to mind?" he asks, interlacing their fingers together.
"I doubt it," she says. "Besides, you saved their bacon from, well, becoming bacon, so I don't think they're going to fuss too much." She snickers. "I mean, Glenn might want to have a chat, so be nice."
"I'm always nice," he says against her temple.
"Of course, you are," she says while nodding. "A veritable ray of sunshine."
"Smartass," he mutters holding her close.
Beth sighs in contentment and falls asleep in his arms. Naturally, when he wakes her for her turn at watch, she returns the favor and he curls up like a big ole cat, head resting in her lap.
The next morning dawns crisp and cool with a low-lying mist on the field. The dew on the high grass wets the bottoms of Beth's jeans and her boots as she watches Daryl roll the motorcycle out of the shed.
She looks over the shed and then looks behind her and spares a moment to marvel at how far she's come. Not just in terms of miles, but in terms of everything. She rests her hand on her crossbow where it hangs across her chest and breathes in the morning air.
"Hey," Daryl call to her. "You ready to find the others?"
Beth smiles. "Yeah, I am."
There's power and safety in numbers, she thinks as she walks over to where he sits on the motorcycle, looking strong and steady and ready to go. But this...us...this is good. This is better than good.
Daryl must know what she's thinking because he nods and reaches out his hand to her. She takes it and he presses a quick kiss to her palm. Beth grins as she eases onto the bike behind him.
He starts the engine and Beth holds tight to him as they take off down the highway.
The end.