Daryl woke up because of a very familiar touch.
Beth had done this every time, when she had woken up first, back when they were alone so many years ago. She was stroking softly Daryl's head, while he was still asleep. Not because she wanted to wake him, no, she wanted to let him know, that she was still here and that he was safe, that he could sleep a little longer.
At the beginning, when they were not so close yet, he really did. One time he had even slept three hours more. When they had found the funeral home, and they were still sleeping in the same bed, he always opened his eyes, because he couldn't wait any longer to see her beautiful face, to see her smiling at him.
When Daryl had finally told Beth, that she had changed his mind and they already became intimate, he opened his eyes and kissed her. And most of the time he ended up with making love to her.
Today Daryl had his eyes still closed, when he thought about that, making love to his girl. Damn, he could already feel his erection and it was getting uncomfortable in his pants. Since Beth got back he thought about it more often with every day, having sex with her again, but he sure as hell won't do it, while Rose was sleeping next to them. He didn't know how he would explain it to her, when Rose would see them. Maybe she would be worried then, that he did hurt Beth. No, no way, he won't do that.
And Daryl didn't know, if Beth wanted it too. Yeah, he knew that she loved him, but they hadn't seen each other since years and he didn't want to rush anything. But he also knew, that the time will come and until then he was just glad that he had his Beth back.
But sometimes he couldn't suppress the need, like now. There were too many beautiful memories in his head. So he quickly opened his eyes, before anything could happen.
Obviously Beth had watched him the whole time and Daryl was praying that this time she couldn't read his thoughts. Her smile was getting bigger, when he was looking her deep in the eyes. "Good morning Daryl." How much he loved it, when her beautiful lips formed his name. "Good morning sweetheart." He response. "I have missed this touch." She gave him a compassionate look, but nether of them said something more.
Only then Daryl noticed that Rose wasn't in the middle between them, like when he had fallen asleep last night. Beth saw his worried look and said "She came closer and closer during the night, till I hadn't any space left, so I switched places with her." With a smile Beth was looking over her shoulder, where their little daughter was sleeping peacefully. Daryl was watching Rose's little body too and finally his eyes found Beth again. Just then he noticed, that they hadn't any time alone since she was back. There were still so many things he wanted to ask her. So he began "You gave her my surname." It wasn't a question, but Beth answered him anyway "Because she's your daughter Daryl." Beth stroked his head again.
"I still can't believe it. You are back. We have a beautiful daughter together. Every night, when I close my eyes I'm afraid, that when I will open them again you and Rose will be gone. That this was all just a dream. I can't live without the two of you any more, I never could." Daryl whispered to Beth and he could feel how his eyes began to swim.
"Daryl, please listen to me. We aren't going anywhere without you baby. We will be forever by your side. The time you weren't by my side, by our side, was the worst in my whole life and just the little of hope, that you are maybe alive somewhere kept me going. The voice in my head that sounded like you told me, that you are waiting for me, for us. And that I will make it, that I'm strong, like you have told me such a long time ago. I am strong. We are strong Daryl. The three of us will make it. I promise you that." Daryl couldn't speak any more, but the tears, which were running down his cheeks, were saying more than all his words ever could.
Beth took his forehead to hers and whispered "I love you Daryl Dixon." He couldn't answer her by now, but after he calmed down, he kissed her long and between he whispered as often as he could "I love you so much."
Finally Beth was resting her head on Daryl's chest, while he was stroking softly her cheek with his fingertips. Daryl had already thought about this before, but he didn't want to destroy anything, so he hadn't said a word about that, till now. "We three, we all, need a safe place to be. This place here isn't safe enough, not for Rose and you. We need fences, food, water and stable accommodation. Winter is coming soon and we can't stay here any longer."
"I know, I have also thought about this before, but where should we go? The whole time Rose and myself were on the road, there wasn't one place that would had been safe or big enough for all of us." Daryl thoughts were running in his head. "I don't know sweetheart, but we will find something and until then we stay safe here." "I know that you will protect us against everything." Beth lifted her head, while she said this. She was trusting him and this warmed up Daryl's heart.
He looked down at her, she was still wearing that grey shirt Maggie had given to her and Rose was still wearing clothes from Judith. Then he knew what he wanted to do next. "I will go on a run. I will get you and Rose new clothes and other stuff you need. At least I can do that."
The night before Daryl left his girls for the run with Glenn and Abraham, he laid awake in their tent. Beth had her back pressed against his belly and she had fallen asleep with sleeping Rose in her arms. Daryl had his chin on top of her head. Her hair was tickling him sometimes, but he didn't care, because he couldn't sleep anyway. He was too damn nervous, because he will leave Beth and Rose for at least three days, because they didn't know where to find the stuff they all needed. He didn't like the feeling about leaving them alone, but he wanted to be the one, who will find the things for his two girls.
At first Beth was very worried and she quickly said that she wanted to go with him, but they both knew that they couldn't leave Rose behind and there was no way to bring her with them. So they both desided that Daryl will go alone, not alone at all, but without his girls.
Finally Daryl fell asleep somehow, but he wasn't sleeping long, when something was hitting his leg and he quickly opened his eyes. For one second he though that maybe he had just dreamed it, but then Beth moved again in his arms. Daryl looked down at her, but her eyes were still closed. She was dreaming. Beth also began to whimper and he could see, that some tears were running down her face. "No, no. Don't hurt them." She cried.
Daryl sat himself up and tried to wake her . "Beth. Wake up Beth." After some soft shakes, Daryl gave her shoulders, she finally woke up. "Beth. Hey. It was just a dream. Are you okay?" But she couldn't answer him, because she was already sobbing much. Daryl took her in his arms and tried to calm her down, while he was stroking her back and he whispered into her ear "It's okay sweetheart. It's over now. You are safe. I got you."
After some time she said "They hurt you. They hurt you and Rose and they didn't want to stop. I couldn't do anything." "We are safe. You are safe Beth. Nobody will hurt you or Rose, ever. I'm by your side." When he said the last words, he remembered, that he wanted to leave them tomorrow. "Do you want me stay? I don't have to go on the run, if you don't want. I can stay." Daryl knew that her heart wanted to say yes, but instead she shook her head and said "No. It's okay. Like you said, it was just a dream. I will be okay." Damn, she was really his strong girl.
Daryl kissed her forehead lovingly and said "But for tonight I won't leave your side sweetheart. I promise you that."