I apologize that this chapter is shorter than usual. I just really wanted to get this chapter out so that I didn't keep you waiting as long as last time!

Beth was quiet for the rest of the day, only giving one-word responses when Daryl asked her something. Daryl knew she was upset that he didn't even give following the tracks a chance, but it really was too big of a risk to take. He had to look at the facts. Both of them really had no idea who had made it out of the prison, and if anyone had made it out, they had no idea where their group could have gone. They could be many miles away or nearby. Daryl and Beth had been surviving alone together with no sign of their group for over three months. But since they had no concrete evidence that any members of their group were still alive, presuming human tracks to be theirs seemed like just a pipe dream to Daryl. They did, however, know for a fact that dangerous people had been nearby just a little over a month ago. To Daryl, that evidence was stronger than the hope that the tracks could have been made by their group, or even by decent people. In Daryl's mind, it was safer to presume that those who had made the tracks were dangerous and should be avoided at all costs.

He had tried to explain this logic to Beth, but she had stonewalled him and refused to even look at him. He could see that she had resigned herself to not following the tracks, and she didn't even try to fight him on the matter any further. Daryl was relieved that Beth wasn't going to go marching off on her own after the tracks, but he had expected her to argue with him more. He wasn't expecting her to shut down as she had done. The morose expression remained fixated on her face, and overall she just looked defeated. He wished he could say or do something to bring the light back to her eyes, but it seemed that she just needed time to accept the situation. Beth had always been such a positive, hopeful person, and the reality that Daryl believed their group to be long gone was a hard thing for her to accept.

As the hours passed by, the palpable tension in the cabin was bothersome for Daryl. Beth had been sitting on the couch staring blankly into the fire for several hours, and he was practically wearing a hole in the floor from his pacing. He kept stalking to different windows and searching the woods around the cabin, looking for signs of the people who had made the tracks. The absence of Beth's usual cheerful chatter was driving him crazy, which was ironic considering that three months prior, he would have given anything for her to keep quiet like this. By the time evening rolled around, Daryl was unable to stand the oppressive silence any longer. He stalked over to the couch and knelt before it, grasping Beth's hands in his own somewhat forcefully.

"Beth, please talk to me," he pleaded.

Her sad eyes met his and she sighed. "What do you want me to say?"

"Anything. Just talk to me, girl."

Beth dropped his gaze and looked to their intertwined hands in her lap. She was silent for a few moments, but thankfully soon opened her mouth to speak.

"I just . . . I'm having a hard time coming to grips with the fact that you don't think we'll find our group. And I'm having a harder time coming to grips with the fact that you're probably right."

Daryl sighed and squeezed Beth's hands. He hated how crestfallen she looked.

"Maybe we'll find 'em. I ain't sayin' it's impossible—"

"We won't find them if we aren't even looking," Beth cut him off. "I know we can't really do much with winter upon us and all, but we've been too busy living our own comfortable life to actively do something to find them."

"We'll start lookin' again come spring."

"I know," Beth sighed. "I know we will. But I can't help feeling disappointed in myself for not even thinking about looking for them the past several weeks. I've just been so happy living here with you that I put our group on the back burner."

Daryl knew that this conversation shouldn't be about the two of them, but he couldn't help feeling his chest swell a little upon hearing that Beth was so happy living with him. He tried to push the feeling away and looked at her sincerely.

"We'll look for them, Beth. As soon as we can. Ain't nothin' wrong with enjoying what we got until then." He cleared his throat a little awkwardly. "I really like livin' with you, too. You . . . you make me happier than anyone ever has."

The corners of Beth's mouth turned up into a slight smile, most of her sadness vanishing, which made Daryl feel victorious. He could feel the tips of his ears turning red at his admission, but he tried to ignore it and hoped Beth didn't notice. It was embarrassing that she could still make him blush.

"That's why we gotta be as careful as we can," he continued. "We don't know who made those footprints, and I ain't willin' to risk anything happening to you. I can't lose you, Beth. Not again. What if I couldn't get you back this time? What if you were gone for good? I . . . I couldn't take that."

"I'm not going anywhere," Beth said, shaking her head determinedly. "And neither are you. We'll keep each other safe."

Daryl nodded. "Yeah. And to do that, right now that means avoidin' other people. I know it's hard to let the possibility of it bein' our group go, but you gotta do that, Beth. I couldn't take it if somethin' happened to you. You mean too much to me. Fuck, Beth, you're everythin' to me."

Daryl looked away from Beth's eyes, and he almost looked shy. Daryl never talked about his feelings, and hearing him express these sentiments warmed her heart. Beth gave his hands a squeeze, afraid of saying anything that might ruin this moment of vulnerability, but at the same time wanting to take full advantage of this moment between them. Her breathing felt shallow in her chest and she could almost hear her heart thumping in her ears.

"I love you, Daryl," Beth said quietly, surprised at how firm her voice actually sounded.

Daryl's blue eyes snapped back to hers, blinking a few times as if he wasn't sure he had heard her correctly. Beth saw several emotions pass over his face, moving from shocked to unsure to hopeful.

"You . . . what?" he croaked out, his voice breaking a little.

His eyes were wide in disbelief, and Beth suddenly realized that this may have been the first time anyone had ever said those words to him, especially in this context. Her heart swelled with emotion, and she was overwhelmed by her feelings for him. She smiled earnestly down at him.

"I love you," Beth repeated, louder this time.

Daryl's stunned expression remained, but his stare slowly became intense and fierce. He leaned into her, pulling her from the couch and into his lap on the floor. His strong arms held her tightly to his chest, squeezing as if he never wanted to release her. He pressed a firm kiss to the top of her head and Beth's eyes fluttered closed in his embrace. Though he had said nothing in response, this was the only reply Beth needed.

They stayed still for several long minutes, both clutching one another as if their lives depended on it. The way Beth was enveloped in Daryl's arms eased away most of the melancholy she had been feeling earlier, and she sighed contentedly. The disappointment over their lost group was still there, but it was manageable. She still desperately wanted to find them, but right now, Daryl was more than enough. He was everything Beth needed at that moment.

Suddenly Daryl's head quickly rose from their embrace, and Beth looked up to see what had prompted his sudden movement. His eyes were narrowed and he looked as though he were listening for something. Frowning, Beth disentangled herself from his arms and stood, Daryl following suit. He quickly moved to a window and peeked through the gaps in the boards covering the glass. Beth's heart began pounding.

"What is it?" she asked quietly.

Then she heard it, too. Voices. They were faint, but they seemed to be growing louder. A mixture of panic, hope, and anxiety filled her. She needed to know who the voices belonged to. She hurried to the window and stood next to Daryl, both of them scanning the trees around the cabin. For a few moments, they saw nothing, but then the sources of the sounds emerged through the trees. Three men, each with automatic weapons slung across their bodies, were approaching the cabin. Beth clutched Daryl's arm in fear as she watched them evaluating her and Daryl's home. Her blood ran cold when the men started toward it, their guns raised.

"Beth," Daryl hissed, his voice rough and strained. "Hide."

I know, I'm evil for ending it here! I hope you can forgive me. Reviews will help me write the next chapter faster! *hint hint* ;)