Beth woke up, sprawled out on a bed made with crisp white sheets. She smiled and started to stretch her arms and legs but then realized she wasn't alone.

Daryl was laying on his side next to her, propped up on one arm, looking down at her intently. It was only then she realized he was fully clothed and she was naked, but she wasn't embarrassed. If anything, Beth wished he would look at her, but he didn't. He remained focused just on her face.

She wanted him to touch her, though, and started growing frustrated when he kept his free hand on his hip. Reaching up to run her hand through his hair, he gently took it and laid it back at her side, leaning his mouth close to her ear and murmuring in a low voice. "What do you want, Beth?"

She shivered as his lips ghosted across her earlobe and moved her head so his cheek grazed against hers. Daryl moved back just enough that their lips were nearly touching and she looked up into his piercing eyes, pleading. "You. I want you."

Beth licked her lips, expecting him to kiss her but he just nodded and brought a finger up to her mouth, tracing around it gently and, at his touch, her breaths turned shaky. She watched his face as he trailed his fingertip across her mouth and Beth parted her lips with a moan, wishing he'd put it in further so she could taste it but instead he brought his fingers down the side of her neck and across her collar bone.

The feel of him barely touching her skin was driving her crazy. Her chest was heaving up and down and she felt desperate for more. Desperate for anything he was willing to give. Her nipples were painfully hard, and Daryl's fingers were so close that Beth thought she'd go out of her mind if he didn't touch them soon.

She brought her hand up to try and guide his to her breast but he wouldn't be rushed, and she whined in frustration as he whispered in her ear. "Sshhh. Just wait."

Beth squeezed her thighs together, feeling how wet she was getting as Daryl dragged his fingers along her side, her breath hitching with anticipation as he grazed her breast with his thumb briefly, but kept going. He traced down and across her stomach lightly, up the other side again and in between her breasts, only to repeat it several times until she was trembling with need.

She grabbed the sheets and almost sobbed as she begged for more. "Daryl, please."

Daryl smirked playfully at her, suddenly dragging his thumb back and forth over one of her nipples and she gasped, arching her breast into his hand. As he rolled it between his fingers he leaned down and took the other one in his mouth, sucking on it and flicking it with his tongue. Beth tilted her head back and felt the muscles between her legs clench, her mouth gaping open as he tugged on one of them slightly. "Ahhhhhhhhhh."

Beth squeezed her legs together again, feeling her juices dripping down onto the sheets, trying to get some relief as she watched him suck hard on her nipple and release it one last time.

Daryl looked down at her, watching her face as he trailed his fingers lower over her curls. She groaned out loud as he continued on to the inside of her thigh, tracing light patterns there even though she spread her legs slightly in invitation. He brought his hand slowly up to her center once more but only brushed there lightly before moving his fingers down the other thigh, coming so close to her wetness a few times but always dragging his fingers away again.

At last, he brought his hand up, resting it on her soft mound and she whimpered, waiting impatiently for him to relieve this unbearable pressure that was building up inside her. He finally pressed his middle finger down, sliding it through the wetness between the folds of her pussy and Beth spread her legs further apart, crying out. "Oh, god. Daryl…."

He ran the tip of his finger back and forth through her juices, trailing it around the entrance to her vagina and back up again around the outside of her clit but not quite providing the pressure she craved there. Daryl was teasing her, and god it was so damn cruel but so fucking good at the same time that Beth almost couldn't stand it.

She was shaking now, torn between screaming at him to stop and pleading for more, but she spread her legs wider, needing him to take this ache inside her away.

Just when Beth thought she was at her breaking point Daryl brought his index finger together with his other one and swirled them over and around her clitoris and she lost control.

The orgasm pulsed outward from her core and she threw her head back, riding out the waves of pleasure, rocking her hips against his hand and moaning loudly with each pulse that went through her body. Another satisfied moan escaped her lips when he…

Beth awoke with a start in the church, hearing herself making some kind of strange noise as she did.

She froze, remembering her dream, and made to disguise the tail end of the moan with a cough but was horrified when she realized her hand was between her legs and it felt like she had actually made herself cum in her sleep.

Feeling the last remnants of her inner muscles clenching she rolled over on her side quickly and stared at the wall with wide eyes, mouthing, "oh my god," and listened to see if anyone else in the church was awake.

After a few seconds listening to the various snores and deep breathing from the others she relaxed slightly, glancing over at Daryl's blanket and thanking her lucky stars that he must be outside on watch.

Her heart still pounding from the dream, Beth squeezed her thighs together, her eyes widening further when she felt how wet she was. She'd never had a dream like that before in her life. Hadn't even had an orgasm like that before.

Sure, she and Jimmy had fooled around quite a bit when they dated, but it was more out of curiosity for her than attraction. He'd never been able to get her off like she was able to when she masturbated, and finally Beth got tired of him not being able to take any direction she'd offered and broke up with him. Nobody else knew that was why. They just thought it had run its course.

And Zach, well, he was cute but he didn't know what he was doing either. Beth had actually gone all the way with him once, hoping to feel something earth shattering like Maggie gushed about feeling with Glenn, but it had mostly hurt and he'd finished so fast that Beth regretted the effort she put into stealing the condom from her sister's cell.

But this, this was something else. Now she had some idea of what everyone talked about, only Beth knew she was just setting herself up for disappointment, longing after someone who didn't see her that way.

She sighed and closed her eyes again, but then the door opened and she heard Daryl approach. Beth looked up at him over her shoulder and he bent down to whisper something. "Sun's just about comin' up. Thought ya might like to see it."

She smiled and nodded, accepting the hand he offered to help her up, and followed him outside. Daryl sat down on the top step and Beth did the same, only scooting over as far away from him as possible. She wrapped her arms around her knees and out of the corner of her eye saw Daryl glance down, puzzled at the space she'd put between them.

He shifted in his seat casually, inching a bit closer to her, and Beth swallowed nervously, watching the sunrise until being distracted by a faint whiff of something she couldn't identify.

Looking around and sniffing, she couldn't figure out what it was until dropping her gaze to her lap and realizing with a start that it was her.

She was so wet after that stupid dream that she could smell her own arousal through the thin material of her scrubs.

Beth had a sudden revelation, thinking back to the musky aroma in the guard tower she had complained about a couple times to Maggie and Glenn after they spent the night there, and they had just looked at each other and laughed like it was a private joke. But that was it. That's what sex smelled like, and now it was on her.

Not wanting Daryl to catch her scent Beth leaped forward in a panic and ran down the steps onto the grass. He looked startled and put a cigarette between his lips, watching her fold her arms and turn beet red.

He brought the lighter up to the end of his smoke and took a drag. "You alright?"

Beth rocked her weight back and forth, attempting to be casual, and nodded. "Yup."

"'Cause you been actin' a little weird since you came out here." He narrowed his eyes at her, trying to figure it out. "You have a bad dream last night?"

She froze and looked up at him. "Why do you ask?"

"Heard you moan a couple times." Daryl shrugged. "Figured ya needed the sleep, though, so I let you be."

If Beth could have chosen to disappear at that moment she would have, but instead she shook her head. "No, it was actually a good dream."

She gulped, trying to think of a good lie, blurting out, "I dreamt I was eatin' a hamburger," and rolled her eyes at herself internally as Daryl raised an eyebrow. "It was really good."

"Must've been," he took another drag and exhaled, "from the sounds you were makin'. Don't think I've ever had one that good, myself."

Beth leaned against the railing and looked up, momentarily fascinated as he flexed the fingers of his left hand. "Me either." She looked up at him sheepishly. "First time for everythin', though."

Daryl dropped the butt of his cigarette and ground it out with the sole of his boot, eyeing her suspiciously. "Why do I get the feelin' you're pullin' my leg?"

She smirked back at him and grabbed the railing, leaning her weight away from it. "I would never do such a thing, Mr. Dixon."

"Uh huh."

They were interrupted when Rick came through the door. He waved the map and looked around. "We'll get goin' in about half an hour. Just want to feed Judith first."

Daryl nodded and Rick stepped back inside to get his daughter. Beth looked at him, confused. "Where are we goin'?"

"Glenn and Maggie and those guys left a map of the route they were takin' to DC. Guess we're supposed to follow them and catch up." He shook his head. "Still think it's a waste of time."

Beth opened her mouth to say something but the sound of an engine made her turn toward the road.

A large red firetruck was driving toward them, and it swung into the yard, coming to a stop abruptly. One of the side doors opened and Maggie jumped out, crying and running toward them at full speed.

She slammed into Beth and wrapped her arms around her, sobbing her name over and over. "You're alive! Oh my god, I can't believe it. I'm so glad you're safe, Beth. I was so worried about you!"

Beth held her arms at her sides in shock at first, staring over her sister's shoulder as Glenn approached them with a smile, but she grew impatient with Maggie's crying and pushed her away. Her sister held her arms out like she wanted to hug her again but Beth took a step back and levelled a stare at her.

Rick came out with Judith in his arms and looked at Glenn, surprised to see them, and Glenn just shook his head wearily, "Eugene lied. There's no cure."

Rick's face fell at the news, and he glanced over at Daryl, who just shrugged a shoulder like he wasn't surprised.

"But we've got you back now, Beth. They saved you, that's all that matters." Maggie wiped her nose and stepped toward her again for another hug but Beth wasn't having it.

"First of all, I saved myself, Maggie. No thanks to you. You took off on some long shot instead of stickin' around to see if Daryl figured out where I was." Beth folded her arms and glared at her sister.

"Beth, I…we thought he had a cure and I had no idea where to look for you. I just…I thought we lost you. I couldn't stand to think of you out there on your own." Maggie shook her head, fresh tears falling down her cheeks.

"So, what, it was easier for you to just not think of me at all? Poor little Beth, there's no way she could survive, is that right?" Beth was seething now, and she clenched her hands into fists. "And it's some nice that you could put more faith in a complete stranger than your own sister!"

Beth's heart was racing in her chest, and she realized her hands were starting to throw off an incredible amount of heat so she took another step back, suddenly afraid of what she might do if she didn't get away from the situation.

Maggie made to follow her but Daryl blocked her path as Beth walked across the lawn and into the woods.

Maggie looked at Daryl and grabbed his arm, sobbing. "I've gotta talk to her. Make her understand."

Daryl held his ground, biting back his own anger toward Maggie over how she'd given up on her own flesh and blood. "Nah. You need to give her space on this, Maggie. She ain't the helpless little girl you thought she was, and if she needs time," he pointed a finger at her, "you're gonna give it to her. Understand?"

Maggie drew back and looked at Daryl's face like she was seeing him for the first time. There was a different look in his eyes that she hadn't seen before, and she dropped her hand from his arm and nodded, watching him closely as he turned and followed Beth.

Beth strode into the woods, looking for an outlet for her anger. She wasn't more than a couple hundred feet in when she heard the unmistakable snarls of walkers, and her hand moved automatically to her hip, searching for the knife that was no longer there.

Feeling vulnerable for a brief moment, she shrugged it off, determined to channel the energy flowing through her veins and handle them on their own. If she knew Daryl, he wouldn't be far behind her anyway.

She saw the first walker, a man with wispy grey hair missing his left arm. It lurched out from behind a tree, one hand reaching for her as it stumbled over the roots protruding from the ground. Beth didn't let it get any closer.

She took in a deep breath and exhaled slowly through pursed lips, blocking out everything else as she fixated on the walker's head, lashing out with her mind and striking it against the tree from where she stood twenty feet away. Black ooze ran down the tree trunk as the walker's skull cracked open, and it dropped to the ground, lifeless.

Another came from the same direction, this one a woman, her clothes torn to shreds and hanging off her thin frame. Beth looked down at the walker's feet, closing her eyes briefly in pity as she noticed its shoes were lost long ago and most of the toes were gone, causing it to lose its balance as it plodded toward her.

Beth drove the walker's head into the same tree, letting it fall next to the other one.

Beth waited and listened for more but the forest was quiet except for the familiar sounds of Daryl's footsteps approaching.

He came up beside Beth, taking in the freshly killed walkers, and lowered his crossbow. "You do that with your…?" He waved his hand in the air, not knowing what to call it.

"Yeah." Beth turned and looked at them. "I will need to get a knife, though. Just for appearances or whatever."

Daryl nodded and took in her expression carefully. "I told her she needs to back off. We'll see if she listens."

Beth swallowed thickly, the anger having dissipated only to leave raw hurt behind in its place. "Is it possible to feel happy but extremely pissed at seein' someone? I know I should just be glad I have my sister back, but it really stings that it seemed so easy for her to give up on me."

She looked up to find Daryl watching her intently. "I would never give up on findin' her."

"I know."

"And what was with the 'I couldn't stand to think of you out there' crap? You don't just write off the people you care about, and I'm not a kid anymore. I can take care of myself."

Daryl held her gaze. "You might be sisters, but Maggie's got to realize she don't know you like she thinks she does. You ain't weak. And you ain't no kid."

Beth huffed in annoyance and thought over what he said. She turned to face Daryl, folding her arms and squinting at him. "You don't think I'm a kid?"

"Pfft. You're about as much a kid as I'm a fairy princess."

She stepped closer, right in front of him, and looked up into his eyes, curious about something. "You think I'm a woman?"

They were only inches apart now, and Daryl swallowed nervously, staring into Beth's eyes and, unable to help himself, darting his own down to her mouth just long enough to betray how he felt.

He blinked and stammered his reply, meeting her gaze again. "Y…yeah. You're a woman, I guess," and cleared his throat, looking away and breaking the moment.

Beth watched him fidget, feeling relief and a sudden giddiness course through her that she hadn't imagined something between them before. She wished they could stay out here longer but knew someone would come looking for them soon. "Come on, we should head back, I guess."

They turned to go, and Daryl glanced over as they walked, catching the smile plastered across her face and snorted. "Thinkin' about that hamburger again, or somethin'?"

Beth laughed out loud, shrugging and grinning even wider. "Maybe," making the corners of his mouth twitch up, too.

Poor horny Beth. Sometimes a woman's just gotta take matters into her own hands. Ahem. *cough*

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