Hey guys, here's the next chapter! Thanks for your opinions! :)

So I don't want to spoil anyone, so if you didn't watch the finale yet, please skip the following passage!

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SPOILERS

FML, is this even possible? I totally freaked out! I mean did you look at Daryl? It fucking broke my heart, how did that man change! And when Rick asked him about Beth... I wanted to rip my heart out... besides I loved Rick's development. He's gone badass! I really liked how tough he were even though it was pretty shocking at the same time. Whatsoever, I really don't know how I'm supposed to survive summer without knowing where Beth is... Probably continuing on writing is the only option.

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Okay so now here's the next chapter! It's the last "sweet" one for now... There's pretty much action lying ahead. :) But I don't think I'll be able to update before the weekend, there's lots of work for me to do this week. :/

Enjoy!

7.

Intermission

Neither of them had really slept that night. They had ended up in a mixture of cuddling, kissing and teasing each other and Beth thought it was about time when the morning finally came, because there were no excuses to stay in bed any longer. Not because she didn't enjoy it – rather because her lips started to get sore and besides the whole night had been a bittersweet torture that she couldn't bare any longer. When the morning light brightened the room she made an attempt on getting up.

"I have to look after Rupert," she said causing a frown on his face but he didn't stop her.

She put on some clothes and quickly brushed her hair, Daryl sat upright on the bed and watched her.

"We need t' talk this through," he suddenly said.

Beth raised her eyebrows at him in played surprise.

"What happened to you, Dixon?" she replied teasingly. "You wanna talk?"

He smirked.

"I don't fancy it, jus' think it's necessary."

"So what do you propose?"

He sighed and shrugged.

"He can't stay with us."

"Why not?" she asked.

"We need t' leave soon."

Now it was her turn to sigh.

"Daryl, he's been injured badly. We can't just let him alone. He'll die."

"You dressed his wounds and even gave him some fuckin' precious medicine we'd better kept for ourselves. He can have some cans and then he can look after himself."

"But he's got no weapons, and he's all alone. If he won't die of his injuries he'll certainly die because there's no chance for anybody to survive without any armor or supplies."

Daryl shrugged again.

"Still, he can't stay with us" he insisted.

Beth rolled her eyes at him.

"How about we first get to know him a little before we decide?"

He frowned for a moment but then nodded reluctantly.

"I've locked his door for the night."

Beth rolled her eyes again. "What an overreaction."

She snatched the key from his hands, left the bedroom and crossed the hall to knock at the guest room's door. She let a moment of silence pass, when a weak voice from inside the room told her to come in.

"Good morning," she said.

Rupert had propped himself on his elbows and looked overall pale and exhausted. She reckoned he had lost a lot of blood and she could tell by the sweat on his forehead that he was having a temperature. She sat down next to him.

"How are you?"

He looked at her his eyes wide. She saw that he was afraid and confused.

"I er... I feel pretty sick" he replied, his voice trembling slightly.

"I'll fetch some paracetamol for you to reduce the fever."

He nodded and lay back on his cushions.

"Thanks."

She went to the bathroom and searched the med kit for the pills. Daryl showed up in the doorframe.

"Wastin' some more medicine?"

She scowled at him.

"Just stop it."

When she returned to the guest room, Daryl followed her, his crossbow casually thrown around his shoulders. Beth saw that Ruperts eyes widened in fear when he caught sight of Daryl.

"Just ignore him," Beth said kindly and shot a warning look towards the older man. "Here, drink up."

She handed the pills and a bottle of water to the boy and he swallowed it quickly.

"So Rupert, will you tell us what exactly happened to you?" she tried to let her question sound kind but determined.

"Ah errr..." she said. "I've already told ya... Our camp got overrun by walkers and probably everyone died, but me."

"Where was your camp?" Daryl asked.

Rupert's eyes scampered from Beth's face to Daryl.

"Ugh I don't know, I just ran. It was about a day's march away... maybe less, since I've been a little restricted..." he made a weak attempt on a smile.

"Why were you unarmed?" Daryl inquired.

"We got overrun man..." the younger man replied. "It went all so quick, I didn't even have the time to think things through. I mean I had a knife, but I must've lost it somewhere. Can't remember."

"Who were you with?"

"Look man, I'm no threat to you ok? I was just with a bunch of people, men, women, children... Nothing to worry about. They're dead anyways."

Daryl frowned and Beth tried to arbitrate between the two of them.

"Look, Rupert," she said. "We've just been through some serious stuff and we need to know if we can trust you."

"I told you already, I'm no threat to you."

"I believe you," she replied. "But still we need to get some things clear."

"I don't believe him," Daryl interfered.

She rolled her eyes at him in frustration.

"Can you just leave it for a moment?" she asked irritated.

"So Rupert, tell us how did ya get injured?" the older male ignored her.

"I ran into some barbet wire."

"Where?"

"I don't know, somewhere in the forest. Why does it matter?"

"I know guys like ye," Daryl replied. "I've been hangin' 'round with'em my whole life. Ye're lyin' and lyin' to get ya ass saved and when we turn our back towards ye, ye'll stab us with our own knives."

Rupert's face grew even paler than it was before.

"What are you talkin' about?" he asked. "No, that's not true! I'm not like that! I... I didn't..."

"I've heard enough," Daryl interrupted him. "Ye can talk to him if ye wanna, but I don't need t' hear no more."

He turned around and left the room. Beth gaped at the open door for a moment and then returned to face the younger man.

He stared at her, fear in his eyes but when he saw her mild smile hope flickered in his eyes.

"Please, believe me... I'm not dangerous."

"We'll see, I suppose," she replied.

"Don't let me die, please!" he begged and she pitied him.

"Surely we won't do that. He.. errr..." she hesitated. "He's just a little grumpy sometimes."

A moment of silence passed.

"Is he... your boyfriend?"

Beth felt her cheeks flush.

"Err, I... Yes... no... I don't know." She didn't even know why she answered his questions since it was none of his business, so she stood up quickly.

"I'm... sorry," Rupert said. "I didn't mean to..."

"It's okay," she interrupted him, face turned away. "I'll look after you later."

She paused for a moment.

"I think I'll need to lock your door."

"Do whatever you want, man." Rupert sighed.

She left the room and locked it. Was Daryl right? Was the guy lying? She found his story plausible, yet she had to admit that he was sparing with information. But even if he was lying – he was badly injured and unarmed and how could he even threaten them? She went to the kitchen where Daryl was chewing on some cereal that he ate directly from the box.

"Why don't you take a bowl?" she asked but then grabbed the box herself and poured some cereal on her hand.

"We shoul' go for a run t'day and leave tomorrow in the mornin'" Daryl replied.

She sighed.

"I say we go for a run tomorrow and leave the day after."

He scowled at her. "Why?"

"Then he can rest for another day. If you're really determined to leave him behind, he should at least regather some strength before he's on his own again."

"I tell you what; that guy's no good. He'll get us into trouble."

"He's half dead and locked in his room."

"Why do you even care 'bout him?"

She looked away.

"The day Rick showed up on our front porch, his half–dead son in his arms, we didn't send him away."

"That was different."

"It was by no means different and I still have faith in humanity."

He made an uncertain noise and shrugged.

"There's still good people, Daryl."

He snorted. "I don't think the good ones survive."

"Yeah they do. I do. You do."

He stared at her for a moment but didn't reply. Instead he put some more cereals into his mouth.

"Come on, let's go hunting today. Then we can stay close and watch him." She winked.

He gave her a quick smile.

"If needs must."

She beamed at him. "See? There's still good people."

xxx

By dusk Daryl had hunted down a rabbit and two squirrels and he showed Beth how to skin and paunch them. He knew she didn't like it but he was proud on her because she tried.

He still couldn't quite understand what had happened last night, but somehow he felt it had made things easier. Her sanguinity was catching and even though he didn't trust the boy, it gave him hope to see how hard she tried to make things good. They cooked the animals over the fire in the chimney and he thought that it tasted awesome. When they finished their meal, Beth told him that she would bring the guy some food. He let her do so, but told her to let the door stay open, just in case.

His back leaned against the couch he recalled the events of the last night. Again she had succeeded in pushing him to a point he had never gone to without her. And he still didn't understand why she made him do things like that. Of course had made out with girls before but it had never had anything to do with feelings. It hadn't been romantic. Romantic. Instinctively he had to laugh at himself. Romance, what a bullshit. Still, he couldn't decline it. He had fallen for her and she made his head all dizzy. It was not as if she was the only girl to ever have fallen for him. But he had never let anyone close enough to tell him. Maybe it was because he was afraid of getting hurt. Or maybe, because everyone he knew had told him that love was bullshit and only for weak people.

His friends had treated women like shit anyway. Not that he had been any better.

He sighed and wondered if he could do better this time. The thought of her made his heart skip little beats. But he was also afraid of hurting her. He rubbed his lips deep in thought when he suddenly heard her soft giggle. He raised his head and tried to listen to their conversation, but could only hear muffled voices. He got up to check what they were doing. When he walked up the stairs he heard her say, "We lived in a prison. We had pigs and chicken and beds. Actually... it was pretty awesome."

"And how did you secure the place?" Rupert asked her.

How could she tell him thing like that? He took the last steps quickly and rushed into the guest room.

Rupert jumped at his sight but Beth beamed at him. However, her smile dropped quickly when she saw the expression on his face.

"What is wrong with you?" she asked.

"Don't tell him anything. Come now." he grabbed her arm to pull her out of the room.

"Hey!" she said. "Relax!"

"Hey man, she didn't do anythin', we were just chattin'." Rupert tried to interfere.

"Ye keep yer mouth shut," Daryl snarled at the younger man. He pulled Beth out of the room and pulled the door shut.

"Why would ye tell him anythin' about the prison?" he blamed her. "What else did ye tell'im?"

She gaped at him with an angry but hurt expression on her face.

"Why are you so mad at me? Like he said, we were just chatting."

"Beth, ye don' know that guy! Ye can't just tell him anythin'."

"It makes no difference whatsoever!" she snarled back. "The prison is gone!" She pushed past him and headed for the bedroom.

He sighed heavily. It seemed as if all of their conversations would finally end in an argument. He decided to give in to her this time. Maybe he was overreacting.

He followed her and laid a hand on her shoulder.

"I'm sorry. I didn'a want to shout at ya." She faced him, a hurt expression still drawing her face.

"Why are you always so petulant?" she asked.

He didn't know what she meant with the question so he just shook his head.

"I'm jus' tryin' to keep us alive."

She nodded slightly.

"I know. Thanks for that."

He drew her into a close hug.

"Let's go downstairs, sit a little more at the fire."

She smiled shyly.

"Yeah let's do it."

xxx

They lay on the hearthrug in front of the chimney, she was on her back and he propped himself in his elbow next to her. She had made him play a game, she had just invented, because she thought it was a nice time filler.

"Ok, it's a little bit like truth or dare, you know? But then it's different. Like, I'll ask you a question and then you answer, but you have to answer for me, ok? If you're wrong you get to ask the next question, if you're right I'll have to ask another one, ok?"

"See if I can handle tha'."

"Come on, it's fun. Besides we're not drunk, so..."

He smirked.

"Ok, ye go ahead."

"So... what's your favourite kind of music?"

"Ugh... tha's a difficult one for the start."

She giggled.

"Just try."

"Ugh hm... Dunno... Pop music?"

"Hell no!" she replied. "Now it's your turn."

"How do I know you ain't lyin'? he protested.

"You don't, just trust me." she beamed at him.

He scratched his neck.

"So... What's your favourite food?"

"Well... I'd kind of go for squirrels," she giggled. "But maybe it's rather... pizza?"

He shook his head and she sighed in played frustration.

"Ok, let's see. When was your first kiss?"

He stared at her closely.

"Sixteen."

She laughed again.

"You ain't got a clue Mr. Dixon."

"Tell me, how old were ye then?"

"That's not part of the game," she protested.

He scowled at her but she saw that he wasn't serious.

"Your turn."

"What would you like do most in this moment?"

She looked him deep in the eye as if she was looking for a hint. She then bit her lower lip and swallowed hard.

"Kiss me?"

He smirked.

"Wrong."

"Oh come on, you can't be serious." she jabbed him in the ribs. "What is it then?"

"Can't tell ya, it's not part of the game."

She rolled over and pushed his shoulders to the ground.

"It's a rather stupid game. I don't want to play anymore."

"It's just because yer loosing."

She smirked playfully.

"No it's because I just made up another game," she teased and lowered her lips onto his.

xxx

Any opinions?

Also do you have any idea what Rupert is up to?