A/N Thank you all so much. We heard Daryl's story and this chapter we hear how both feel about it. We'll also have Beth's story. Plus, a little something special at the end. Enjoy!

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"Bullshit? That's what ya think? Bullshit?" He was startled, a little pissed and also confused by her reaction.

She wanted him to understand how she felt but doing that in a mean way was the last thing she wanted. She clutched his hand in hers while she explained, "Daryl, please. I'm not making light of how terrible it all was for you. I can't even imagine what it was like to see your own Dad standing there, and to have to do what you did. You must have felt so betrayed by him and by people you thought were your friends. It's honestly the worst thing I've ever heard. But Daryl, it wasn't you. None of it was you. It was done to you and it happened to you. You didn't cause it. I wish you could see that."

He gave her that hard, hard stare as he stood and said, "I need a drink. Ya want one?"

"A drink of what?"

"Jack n coke. Ya up for it?" He didn't exactly sound mean or mad, it was more like drained and kind of frustrated.

"Sure, I like Mister Daniels. Can I help?"

He abruptly answered, "No," as he walked toward the kitchen, then worried he sounded too harsh. He didn't want to be that way with her, ever, not for any reason. He glanced back over his shoulder and softened his tone, "No thanks, I got this."

He handed her the glass, sat down, stood again and paced a minute, then lifted his glass to his lips and drained half of it in one swallow. She found no fault in that, she got it. When he sat back down she laid her hand on his forearm and she didn't hold back, "Daryl do you even know what an incredible man you are? Everything about you amazes and kind of fascinates me. I don't know how you do it. You've been through some of the most horrifying experiences, I can't quite comprehend it all. I don't even think it's all sunk in yet. I could never have dealt with those things like you have. Just look at yourself, you rose above it all."

"Why not think about all the good things you've done? You had something you wanted and you worked hard to get it. You're doing the work you want to be doing. How many people get to say that? Then you took the money you made and followed a dream when you bought this place, and you improved it in such a unique and awesome way. I swear I think every time something bad happened in your life you just fought harder. I have so much respect and admiration for you."

On that he swallowed the rest of his drink, "Don't ya see it Beth? The stuff that happened was cuz of me. After those things I had ta survive. It ain't about bein' special. I'm not. And all this time, I ain't really been livin' life, I see that now. I's just puttin' one foot in front a the other. I wasn't really livin', I wasn't havin' fun, I wasn't lettin' anyone close. I know that now. I's survivin' cause I had to, I didn't have any choice but ta go on."

That's when she swallowed her drink, all of it, "Yes you did, you had a choice. Your choice was to live. Not everyone makes that choice, I didn't."

His brow furrowed and his eyes narrowed as he asked, "Whaddya talkin' about?"

"We all have our past and our story Daryl. We all handle the things that happen in life differently. I wish I could have been more like you."

Now came that hard stare, "What Beth?"

"I think we're going to need another drink."

It was like he was studying her as they walked to the kitchen and made the drinks together. Then out of the blue he took her in his arms and kissed her. It was deep and passion-filled, but it was so much more. It was also full of a different kind of emotion and need to be close. That was fine with her because she knew she needed him close too. They needed each other.

"I never thought I wanted anyone here. This is my place, my hideaway, but I want you here Beth Greene."

The full weight of what he was saying didn't escape her, and it meant everything. She told him, "This is exactly where I want to be. With you."

He kept his arm around her shoulders as they made their way back to the couch. When they were settled in he asked her, "Will ya tell me, please?"

"I will but before I do I want to mention something I just realized. It's been 12 years since your father died Daryl. Has anything terrible happened since?"

He gave her that look, but she was sure he was also fighting a smile, "Ya always gotta argue with me, have things your way, don't ya?"

"Maybe." She just smiled as she waited for his real answer.

"No, everythins' been chill, but that don't mean sumthin' won't happen."

"Daryl, something bad could happen at any time to anyone, anywhere. Quit thinking you're so important and powerful that you're responsible for it all."

"Ya just cut right ta the bone, don't ya?"

"You know that's not what I'm trying to do. I just want you to try hard and quit blaming yourself for all these terrible things Daryl, you're not responsible."

"Maybe I know I shoulda done things different."

"Maybe if you had done things differently things would have turned out even worse. We'll never know, will we? For the record, I can't find any fault in anything you did."

"Then we're at a standoff. So now, ya put it off all day, it's gettin' dark out already. Let me turn on a lamp and then you tell me your story."

He saw her take a hardy swallow of her drink but he didn't say anything, he just turned on the lamp and sat back down with her.

She held her arm out to him and him, "You see this cuff?"

"Yeah it's cool. I notice ya always wear one."

"I do, you're right. I have a whole wardrobe of these. The only time I don't wear one is when I'm in bed or in the bath. Otherwise I keep the evidence hidden." He was pretty sure he knew then what must be hidden under the wide leather bracelet.

She started to loosen the cuff's small buckle, then it was like she froze. Her head lowered and he knew, she was struggling to keep from crying. He laid his hand softly on the side of her face and spoke in a quiet voice, "Hey. Hey Beth, c'mon girl. Like ya said, we all got our past. I ain't here ta judge." It was breaking his heart to think of her hurting herself.

She nodded and he waited patiently while she regained her composure, just like she'd done with him. She took in a breath and opened the buckle, letting the cuff slip off her wrist. "I was so stupid Daryl."

"Hey, don't you be doin' that. Don't you change the rules Beth Greene, that ain't playin' fair." The edge of his finger was under her chin and he tilted her face so they looked in each other's eyes. "Ya don't want me talkin' about myself that way, I ain't lettin' you talk about yourself that way. C'mon now. It's just us and we're just talkin', k?"

"Okay." She reached for her drink and took another swallow and he took one from his glass.

"I was 16 at the time. I didn't have trouble in school with the other kids or with my classes, everything was pretty normal. But I wasn't exactly social, I was so wrapped up in my jewelry making. Things changed when I started dating a boy from a neighboring farm." She smiled softly, "Sorry."

He smiled and pulled her toward him, close enough to give her a quick kiss on the forehead, "I was pretty sure you musta had at least one boyfriend in your life."

She playfully punched at his arm and went on, "It was fun and kind of exciting an I thought I was all grown up. But all sorts of terrible things just seemed to start happening around me. There was a real bad accident and my Daddy was seriously injured. He lost his leg and he was laid up a long time."

"Shit, that's awful. I'm sorry."

"It was awful and I felt guilty. You're not the only one with guilt feelings. I was supposed to be home and working with him, helping with the baling. Instead I was out riding around with my boyfriend. So I do know what it's like Daryl, to blame yourself."

She swallowed what was left of her drink, looked at him and said, "Maybe just one more of these, okay?"

"Yeah sure, just so ya know though, that puts us passed the limit. We can keep drinkin' all night if that's what ya want, but we ain't drivin' anywhere."

"Oh." She thought about that a minute, shrugged and said, "Well at least we have an awesome place to stay."

He couldn't help laughing, "Yeah, there is that. Here, lemme get ya that drink. I better have one too."

He came back with the fresh ones and when he held the glass out to her he teased, "Ya gonna be able ta get through the rest a the story without slurrin' your words?"

She stuck her tongue out but she smiled when she answered, "I hope not."

He reached over and wrapped his hand around hers, "Alright then Beth remember I ain't judgin', I'm just listenin'."

It was her turn to chew on her lip a little and take in that very deep breath before continuing, "My Mama was running herself ragged, trying to do her chores and Daddy's chores. Maggie helped when she could but she was in her first year of college. She drove over on the weekends. The neighbors helped too but they had their own farm. Shawn was away at college in New Orleans. He offered to take a year off and come home but Mama wouldn't hear of it."

She took a sip of the drink and went on, "I was such a selfish brat, I was running around with my boyfriend and being a jerk, instead a being home helping Mama more. I should have expected the boyfriend to pitch in and help too. Well I didn't and I know what happened could have been avoided if I would have been more thoughtful. Mama got real sick."

She wiped a tear away with the back of her hand and again Daryl leaned in and kissed her forehead. "She had this infection, it was some kind of staph thing. They just could not seem to get rid of it. The doctor thought maybe she got it from working around the pig pen. Anyway, it got so bad she had to go to the hospital, she nearly died. I was responsible for that Daryl. I should have been home more doing my chores."

She took another sip from the glass, "I changed my ways then. For the next three weeks, except for going to school I was home all the time. I didn't make jewelry, I didn't do anything but work hard on that farm. I had a lot of making up to do. When Maggie got there that Saturday afternoon she said, "Bethie go have a little fun. Take a break for a couple of hours and go get a coke or something with your friends. Bring back a six pack, I could go for one myself.' I told her no I had to keep working and then she got tough and said I hadn't had a break in three weeks and I needed to."

She paused and then wrapped her arms around his neck, laying her head on his shoulder, "I hate telling you this, I hate having you think I cared that much about him. I don't really believe that I did. I think it was just the last straw that made me do something I've regretted ever since."

"Beth, shit, I ain't gonna think anything bad and I ain't concerned about your feelins for this boy. It was a long time ago. Please, you gotta know, I think you're nuthin' but good."

His words encouraged her, "Well I'm happy to know you still think that. So anyway, I took Maggie's car and I drove to the drug store to get a fountain coke, they're my favorite. There was that boyfriend of mine and he had his arm around another girl. I got there just in time to see him kiss her. I thought the world had come to an end. I hurried out, jumped in the car and drove back to the farm. I was crying like a baby and could hardly see. I was lucky I didn't wreck."

He couldn't help himself, "That guy musta been one dumb bastard ta be messin' around on you."

She smiled, "That's so sweet, thank you Daryl."

His fingers were lightly running up and down along the outside of her arm while she continued. "I ran in the house and up the stairs to my room. I didn't even really think about what I was going to do. I guess it was just all the things piling up and my immaturity. I didn't have a plan to hurt myself. I heard Maggie coming up the stairs and I didn't want to talk. I wanted to be miserable all by myself." She laughed then, like he had done. A laugh that held no humor. "Anyway, I locked myself in the bathroom and that's when I thought about it. It would be so much easier for me, so much easier for my family if I wasn't around. I was nothing but a burden. Oh my gosh I was dramatic. I wish I could have been more like you."

"Nah, don't say that. You're better'n me."

"No, not true. Anyway, Maggie was banging on the door, asking me what was wrong and stuff. I told her to go away, to just leave me alone. I looked around for something sharp, scissors or something." She felt his hand tighten around hers, "I couldn't find anything I thought would do the job so I took a jar, one that hand lotion or cream or something came in, and I broke the mirror. I took a piece of the glass and before I could change my mind I made the cut. Then I made one more."

She had to stop then and he was glad she did. They were both shaken up. He pressed his forehead to hers, "Sorry Darlin', sorry." It was a confusing moment for her. She was so emotional bringing up all these bad memories, and worrying he might not want to have anything more to do with her, and now he'd used this term of endearment for the first time. She wondered if he was even aware.

She cupped his face in her hands and whispered, "I don't want you to think I'm a loser."

"Ya kiddin' me? Ya think I could think that about ya? Nah. You gotta trust me Beth like I trust you. It's a two-way deal."

She nodded her head and pulled back a little, she picked up her drink and took another swallow. "I could hear Maggie trying to break the lock on the door, but just before she got in I guess I passed out. She saved my life Daryl. She put pressure on the wound and hollered for Daddy. He's a vet so he knew what to do. Glenn, Maggie's husband, he was her boyfriend then, he came running in too. He and Maggie got me on the bed and Daddy got me stabilized while we waited for the ambulance."

"Maybe the worst thing is, in my immaturity I told myself I was doing it for them, all I did was make them miserable. I made things worse. So anyway, I obviously survived and of course I had to go to therapy. For the longest time everyone was walking on egg shells around the poor weak girl. Everyone wanted to make me happy all the time, do everything my way. They were all scared to upset me, all scared I'd go over the edge again. It was hard on everyone."

He saw she was struggling, he knew exactly how she felt. Bringing those old demons up was nothing but painful. "Maybe ya just thought they was goin' outta their way for ya. Maybe it's what they wanted ta do, maybe for them as much as you. Maybe they felt guilty too. Maybe they thought they shoulda seen you was startin' ta crack long before that thing with the boyfriend. Like ya said, that wasn't what caused it, that was just the final straw."

"Well I think it's good I left home when I did, right after high school. It gave me a chance to prove to them and myself that I could do it. That I could live and I could be happy and I could make my way. Of course I couldn't have done it without their love and support."

"The point is ya done it. Ya don't even see how strong ya are, but I do. You're the one who made a success out of a mess. All the talent and the skill, that's you, all you. I know I'm impressed with it. What ya do is dynamite stuff. I ain't seen one a your pieces I didn't think was a work of art. And I like the idea ya start with something someone else didn't see the value in, only you did. That's cuz you're special Beth, ya don't just see what is, ya see what could be. That's some kinda talent, that's real art."

She hugged him around the neck but then teased, "Wait, you broke the rules. If I can't say you're special then you can't say I'm special."

The little laugh they shared was a good tension release for both of them. "It seems like we both got a guilt problem, ya feel guilty and I don't think ya should, I feel guilty and you don't think I should. It's another stand off."

"So now what?" for some reason she was just sure he'd go somewhere good with it.

"How bout I carry your guilt and you carry half of mine."

"Why only half Daryl?"

"You're smaller and not as guilty." She gave him her hard stare and he smiled, hand on her cheek he spoke the truth, "We ain't gonna solve this or fix it tonight, but at least we both know what we're dealin' with. Ya still think ya wanna see if we can have sumthin' together?"

"More than anything."

He smiled and she smiled and she was in his arms. They kissed and they felt that warm glow coming on, and his hand slipped up her shirt and she moaned in pleasure when he cupped her breast. He stopped before it went any further. He didn't want to rush this. "We best have some kinda dinner, then we can finish drinkin' all night."

"I was perfectly happy right here."

"Yeah, well so was I but, yeah, we best eat."

He opened the pantry, "Sorry, I wasn't plannin' on cookin'. I mostly got crappy canned foods for 'just in case'. I got some meat out in the shed, frozen game, but that ain't thawin' out anytime soon."

They settled on a big can of stew and some crackers. "I'ma owe ya a decent meal after this but I guess this'll take the edge off, and I got a box of girl scout cookies in the freezer for dessert."

"It feels like gourmet dining to me."

They had one more drink after that gourmet dinner and then the bedtime dilemma was upon them. "I'ma sleep on the couch and you'll have the bed."

"That's not fair, I'll take the couch and you take the bed."

"That ain't ever gonna happen Beth. I'll go sleep out in the truck first."

"So now who's the stubborn one?"

"Both of us but I win this time."

He got in the dresser draw and handed her a thermal t-shirt, "This oughta be big enough ta fit like a nightgown. I'm sorry I don't have an extra toothbrush, but you're more'n welcome ta use mine. I ain't scared if you ain't."

He saw her glance around nervously and he smiled again, "Yeah I gotta go out and check around, make sure I locked that shed and stuff. That oughta give ya time ta do what ya gotta do. If I'd known you was gonna walk into my life I'd have built a wall or two, or at least hung a curtain."

She hurried to get undressed and get the t-shirt on, use the toilet and had just finished brushing her teeth when he called from the entry, "Okay?"

"Yes, okay."

He walked close to her and for some reason she felt nervous standing there in his t-shirt, "This isn't my prettiest nightie but that you. It's soft and comfortable."

"It may not be pretty but it damn sure wouldn't keep me from wantin' ta get close."

"That's good to know." He kissed her and they both wanted more, but again he pulled away. He was trying so hard to do the right thing, but man it was killing him.

He'd brought in a sleeping bag from the shed and she felt so wrong. "Are you sure Daryl?"

"Yeah, I'm positive. Get ta bed now."

The bed was every bit as dreamy and comfortable as it looked. He leaned down and kissed her, smiled and said, "Sweet dreams Darlin'."

"I like that Daryl."

"What?"

"That you call me Darlin'." He just nodded, smiled and went to the sofa. The last thing he did was turn out the lamp.

As warm and comfy as the bed was she was restless, and she heard him, he was restless too. She knew exactly what was wrong with both of them.

It was twenty minutes or so after they laid down that she called out to him, "Daryl?"

"Yeah, whaddya need?"

"I need you. This is ridiculous, come to bed with me."

"Beth, I…I"

"Don't make me beg for gosh sake, just come here."

The next thing she knew he was slipping under the covers with her. The ambient light in the tent provided just enough illumination that, as he propped himself up on one elbow he could see her face and she could see his.

"Are ya sure it's what ya want?"

"Yes Daryl, I'm sure. It's soon, and we're both a guilty mess and I don't care. I'm willing to take the risk. Do you know why Daryl?"

"Why?"

"Because I love you."

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A/N Thank you so much for reading along. Please leave a comment / review. As always, there's a chap photo on my tumblr blogs gneebee and bethylmethbrick. I hope to see you back here next Wednesday for more of Dark & Dangerous. Until then remember, I love ya large! xo gneebee