Daryl was walking the yard, checking the fence and overseeing the crop labor, when he came upon the place. The place where Logan had attacked Beth. He had known from what Rick told him where it had happened, but had not had a reason to be over in this part of the yard since. There had been no rain in the month since the incident and so there was still a small spot of her blood on the ground where Rick had found her.

Daryl knelt down, putting his crossbow on the ground. Things sure had changed a lot in that month.

First everyone was real careful and quiet around Beth, like they thought maybe she was going to lose her mind or something. Those people from Woodbury had no idea what crazy looked like. Sure they had seen the Governor, but he put a real good face on his insanity. They hadn't been here when Rick had lost his mind. Hadn't seen the wild look in his eyes, or had to wonder if their friend and brother-in-arms would come back or be lost to the darkness of his own mind forever.

Then it came out that Logan was the one who had attacked Beth, and suddenly everyone watched Daryl like HE was crazy. He had to admit he had given them a fairly good reason to watch him, beating the boy almost to death like he had. And he knew the whispering was still going on behind his back. He just didn't care. He would protect what was his, kill to protect it. And the small group of people he had come to think of as his family was all he had in this world.

So let the rest of them talk. Just as long as they understood what happened when you crossed that line.

Speaking of crossing lines….Beth was trying her hardest to shove him over the line he had drawn between them. Damn girl was stubborn. She went after what she wanted with the ferocity of a lion.

And she had decided it was him she wanted.

He was doing his best to slow her down, protect her from herself, but she was determined to push their relationship (just the thought that he was in a relationship with her brought a small smile to his face) over the line. Into bed.

There was a part of him that thought she would realize one day that he wasn't good enough for her and run screaming. That part was what kept him from giving her what she wanted. If he didn't do anything irreversible then she wouldn't have to live with the regret of it later, when she left him.

He was getting used to their evening walks together, and had even begun to expect her to sneak into his room and lie down beside him at night, as she had been doing almost every night since the day he had beaten that scum that hurt her.

He had been sleeping in the outbuilding he was using to build Judith's new crib, Merle had taken one of the empty cell block rooms inside and no one was really comfortable with Daryl inside right now, anyway. But he realized too late that removing himself from the watchful eye of others gave Beth exactly what she wanted…privacy.

He couldn't complain too much, though, he slept well with her in his arms and when he couldn't sleep he listened to her breathing. She had been content at first with the gentle, easy kisses they shared and had drifted off to sleep in his arms so easily that he was amazed to realize that she truly believed that he would keep her safe.

Then she had began to get a little more demanding with her kisses, a little bolder with her caresses. One night she had pulled his hair and scratched him in her passion and he had almost lost control of himself, his body responding like an electric current had passed through it. He had seen the devilish look in her eyes in that moment and known he was in trouble. She had figured out how to get past his defenses. Twice now he had made himself leave the bed to escape what she was doing because she had gotten too close to pushing him over his own boundaries.

But she wasn't giving up. He knew it was time to make a decision, while he was still the one who got to make it.

He picked up his crossbow and headed back inside. There was someone he had to talk to.

As luck would have it, the man he was looking for was looking for him, too.

Hershel was coming around the side of the building, a solemn look on his face.

"A minute of your time, Daryl?"

Well, it was now or never.

Daryl had never had to deal with anyone's father before and didn't know what to say, so he just nodded.

"I know Beth has been spending her nights with you lately."

Daryl nodded again, waiting to see where this was going.

"Now I understand that you are both adults and that's not any of my business, but my little girls heart is my business, and I don't want to see her hurt."

"Are you asking me what my intentions are, Hershel?"

Hershel smiled "Yeah, I guess I am."

"I'm not sure what's happening with Beth, but I can tell you I won't hurt her, or let anyone else hurt her. She's the only good thing I have right now and I know you might not think I'm good enough for your daughter

"Quiet the opposite" Hershel interrupted.

"What?"

"A father wants his daughter to be happy, Daryl. And she is happy when you are around, a blind fool could see that. There is little joy in this world now days, it would be foolish not to take what small bit of it comes our way. I can rest well at night knowing you will protect her with your life. There is no better man for my little girl. Just know that she will always be my little girl, and don't give me a reason to regret giving you my blessings."

Hershel turned and walked away from him, leaving Daryl stunned.

Damn, he was spending a lot of time with his mouth hanging open lately.