It started to rain later that night. Daryl went outside to park his motorcycle inside the garage. He found it a week before. He took it out for a ride a couple of times already. It helped him keep his mind off things. As he was walking back to the front porch, he saw someone approaching. He put his hand on his knife handle and started to walk towards the person. It didn't move like a walker. He was about to ask who it was when he recognised the blond girl. They both stopped and stood there for a moment, just looking at each other, getting wet but not caring.

"I didn't go."

"Jesus, you're soaked…"

"I went for a walk…a long walk…alone…" She seemed a little lost and confused.

He took her hand and brought her inside. He left her standing in the living room, shivering. He came back from his bedroom with dry clothes; a PJ's bottom and a flannel shirt. He dropped them on the couch, took off her coat and saw her hair dripping.

"Wait."

He walked to the bathroom and came back with a towel. He gave it to her.

"Thanks."

He turned around to give her privacy. He went to the kitchen to make some tea.

"Ya' need somethin' else?"

"No, I'm ok…you can turn around." She sat down on the couch and brought her knees to her chest.

He opened a drawer in the kitchen and took out more candles. He brought them to the living room and lit them.

"Don't need much for myself, but…maybe it'll make ya' warmer."

She watched him do all that from her spot. When he met her gaze he quickly looked down before sitting on the other end of the couch.

"Thank you."

"S'nothin'." They went silent for almost a whole minute.

"I'm sorry", she finally said.

"Fo' what?"

"For rushing you. Didn't have the right to make you feel bad."

"I'm an asshole. I can't do things right. Ever."

"You're just a bit clumsy, that's all…and I think I like that about you."

"Stop."

"Ok."

There was a comfortable silence between them. She didn't want to break it, but she couldn't help herself. She felt the need to talk to him.

"Now you."

"Me what?"

"Your turn. Tell me something you like about me." He looked intensely at her. He was startled by her confidence.

"I dunno…" he shrugged.

She didn't want to rush him. She just smiled and waited, wrapping her arms around her legs. They heard the kettle's whistle. He got up, went to the kitchen and brought them back some tea. He was about to sit down when there was a knock on the door. Daryl went to see who it was.

"It's Glenn." He opened the door. "Hey, man…"

"Hey you guys, Maggie sent me, she was looking for you." He smiled at Beth.

"Still givin' ya orders, bro?"

"Yeah…well she's not feeling well. But she's fine, just tired. I offered to come instead."

Beth felt bad "I'm so sorry I didn't tell you."

"She was soaked from the rain. Didn't want her to catch a cold or somethin', didn't send her back outside."

"It's ok, we figured you were here."

Beth felt a bit embarrassed by what Glenn said.

"Ok then, good night guys."

"Ya' wanna stay for a drink or somethin'?" Daryl offered.

"Nah…thanks, I better get back to Maggie."

"Thanks Glenn", Beth said.

"You got it."

Daryl closed the door and went back to sit on the couch. Beth smiled at him nervously. Then she remembered what they were talking about. He probably forgot, she thought. She didn't mind. But then he spoke.

"I like the way ya' see things. The way ya' think... Ya' fuckin smart."

Her smile got wider. She was flattered and tried to hide it behind her mug while she took a sip.

"And ya' have a good heart…like your pa'." She raised her eyes from her beverage and stopped smiling. He gave her a warm look.

They shared their tea, talking about him for a while. When he saw her yawning, he got up.

"You can sleep on the bed."

"No, I'll sleep out here, I don't mind...or I'll just go home."

He has already gone to his bedroom. He brought back a pillow with him. He laid down and pushed her off the couch with his feet.

"Hey!"

"Good night, smart ass."

She got up and walked to the bedroom. "Good night, clumsy."

He was the first one up. A bright sunbeam came through the window and woke him up. He was never going to get used to it. The truth is, Beth didn't know, Daryl always slept on the couch. He felt safer there, closer to the door. He's never been used to a big comfy bed anyway. He walked to the kitchen, rubbing the night off his eyes. While the water was heating up, he turned around to look at his bedroom door. It was slightly open. He approached it to check on her. He leaned on the door frame for a minute, trying to recognise her shape in the dark. He heard the water was ready and didn't want to wake her up, so he ran to take it off the stove.

"Hi."

She made him jump. He was sure she was still fast asleep in bed. He took a second to look at her morning look before answering.

"Hi." It came out all rusty. He cleared his voice. "Uhm…m'sorry if I woke ya'"

"You didn't, been awake for a while now…"

He wasn't expecting that. He wondered if she caught him staring at her from the doorway.

"Uhm…did ya' sleep a'right? "

"Yeah, was more tired than I thought. Needed it, I guess. You're bed's really comfortable. Thanks again."

"Don't mind…Can use it whenever you want." And then he just realized what he just said. "I mean..uhm…if ya' have to, some other time…lookin' for a place to crash. I never sleep in there anyway."

"You always sleep on the couch? Isn't your back a bit sore?"

"Mmh…" He just shrugged his shoulders. He wasn't used to someone caring about how he felt physically. "Want som' coffee?"

"Sure."

"Sorry, don't have any sugar or powdered milk like those guys do…drink it black."

"It's perfect." She took a sip and looked back at him. "What?"

He realized he's been staring at her again.

"Nothin'."

"Coffee's good."

He was feeling nervous and he didn't know why. They finished their coffee in silence. He was standing next to the window, looking outside. She was walking around the house, wondering what he moved around himself and what was already that way. She finished her cup and brought it back to the kitchen.

"I think I'm gonna go…"

He turned around quickly, surprised by her words. He gave her a little nod.

"Can hum…can you tell me where my clothes are?"

"Yeah, they're hanging in the bathroom, next to the…the shower curtain."

She turned around, walked to the bathroom and closed the door. When she was done, Daryl wasn't around anymore. She left his clothes on his bed before heading for the door. She found him sitting on the front porch, finishing his coffee, his crossbow next to him.

"Thanks for everything." He didn't answer. He just looked at her seriously. And then from head to toe. His intense, scanning look sent shivers down her spine and that tempest was awake in her stomach again. She didn't know what to do, so she just closed the door behind her and left.