Prompt: "Maybe something from the beginning like it's Beth's first motorcycle ride and she's scared and Daryl convinces her she is safe with him." (This is set two weeks after their first meeting, obviously this is backstory, before they ended up in their tiny apartment.)

By six in the evening, the day care center was quiet. The children had long since been picked up by their parents and Beth, scheduled for the closing shift today, had spent the last hour or so tidying the place up for the weekend. She'd picked up the toys, cleaned out the fridge, cleaned up the bathrooms, and then began to sweep the kitchen floor. As she worked, Beth simply enjoyed the silence that came after a long day. It was peaceful, filled with nothing but the sounds of her own footsteps, and occasionally her soft singing. It was only as she emptied the dust pan into the trash can and moved to slip the broom back into the closet that she was interrupted by a knock at the front door.

Brow furrowed, Beth moved through the open space towards the entrance. She could see a tall shape vaguely silhouetted through the glass as she drew closer, calling out as she reached for the handle, "I'm sorry, we're closed, were you-" But just as she pulled open the door, the dark shape beyond the glass became unexpectedly familiar. Beth blinked in confusion but only for a moment before a warm smile curved up her lips. "Daryl, what are you doing here? Lori came to get Judy over an hour ago…"

She couldn't help but remember that, and not simply because she paid attention to each of the children and who picked them up at the end of the day. She'd noticed Lori in particular tonight, because it had been the first time in two weeks that Daryl hadn't come for her.

For the past two weeks, ever since that first day he'd come to the daycare to drop Judith off, she'd seen him every single day. Sometimes he dropped Judy off and picked her up, other times he had to go into work early so he only picked her up at the end of the day instead. But healways came, especially for pick-up. So when he hadn't showed up this evening, she'd admittedly been a bit confused… and perhaps even a little sad.

It wasn't like they were in a relationship or anything. Far from it, actually. It had so far never been anything more than a casual acquaintence, despite the fact that he had unexpectedly started dropping off and picking up Judith even though the little girl's parents were more than capable, despite the fact that she flirted sweetly with him whenever he came in, and that she'd even managed to get a smile out of him a few times. They'd never seen each other outside of the day care center, hadn't even exchanged phone numbers yet.

Frankly she would have given up, if it weren't for the butterfly sensations she got every time she looked at him or even thought about him. If it hadn't been for how she smiled every time she heard the jingle of the door in the morning or afternoon, in the anticipation that it'd be him. That… and something Lori had said to her the other morning when she'd dropped Judy off. Beth had mentioned Daryl and how good he was with Judy, and Lori had replied something like: "It took me awhile to realize what a good man Daryl is. He's so quiet. People think he's a big grump or something, but he's really just private and shy."

It had been something Beth had guessed on her own, but it was nice to have it reaffirmed by someone else who knew him better than she did. And it helped, to set that idea of him being private and shy against the voice in her mind that whispered that he just wasn't interested.

It was a voice that had nonetheless gotten louder today when he hadn't come by to pick up Judith, though. A voice that whispered that maybe it had only been a passing fancy, that maybe he'd found someone more interesting than a sweet little farm girl turned glorified baby sitter.

Yet here he was, standing outside the door to the daycare. He was dressed nicer than she'd seen him before; his jeans clean and without a single hole, and his flannel shirt still containing its sleeves for once. His hands were stuck in his pockets as he rocked back on his heels, peering down at her through a fringe of hair to remark, "I know. I, uh… this morning, you said you'd be the last one here closin' today, and I thought…"

He trailed off into silence for a moment, but Beth didn't push him. She stayed quiet, despite the hint of excited impatience bubbling up within her, making her ache to know what was on the tip of his tongue. Instead she leaning against the edge of the open door, curling her fingers around it and looking up at him with a soft, inviting smile, until he made himself speak again.

"Was wonderin' if, uh, if maybe you might like t' go out with me tonight. To dinner, or somethin'. I mean, if you ain't got plans." By the time he got the words out he was looking firmly down at the ground, scuffing his booted foot against the sidewalk. He cleared his throat and then peered up at her a bit as he finished lowly, "If you got plans, or you just don't want, I understand. S'fine."

"I don't have plans." Beth's reply was without hesitation, soft and sure.

Seeming surprised, his head darted up, and his eyes widened as they fixed on her. "No?"

"No." Her lips curved up wider, and she reached out to him, briefly squeezing his arm. The contact made her fingers tingle as she replied, "I'd love to get dinner with you, Daryl. Just let me turn off all the lights and grab my bag?"

"Sure. Yeah, sure. Anythin'. I'll, uh. I'll be right out here." Despite the way he fumbled over the words, Beth could see a change in him. A hint more confidence, a glimmer of a smile at the corners of his lips as he looked up at her and stepped back from the doorway.

God, the sight of him made her stomach go all fluttery. Butterflies riding a rollercoaster, she thought to herself with a giggle as she slipped inside, quickly shutting off the lights and grabbing her purse before heading out again. She wasn't at all nervous as she locked the door behind her and turned to face him. She was excited, happy, bubbling inside at the realization that she'd been right all along. He did like her. All he'd needed was a little time, and patience.

Beth only felt that stirring of nerves when she glanced around Daryl and realized that his usual truck was nowhere to be seen. Instead it was a motorcycle, parked directly behind him, a helmet resting on the seat and another in Daryl's hand.

"You rode your bike here?"

"Yeah. Figured, well… I ain't got Judy, so I don't need to use the truck. Thought maybe you'd, uh, like this maybe?" He seemed to doubt himself the more he went on, twisting the rim of the helmet in his hands as he watched her, and Beth felt something in her lurch. She hated seeing him doubt himself.

"I've just never ridden one before, that's all. And I…" She took a step closer to him, biting her lip as she peered up at him. He was so much taller than her, despite not being overly tall compared to some men. It helped that he seemed so strong and muscular, which only made her feel tinier around him. She liked it. The thought made her flush and duck her head, a nervous giggle slipping free as she said, "Promise not to laugh, okay?"

"Ain't gonna laugh at you, Beth. Promise." The solemnity in his voice and his gaze made her breath hitch as she looked up at him.

Reassured by the way he gazed at her, Beth hesitated only a moment before she admitted, "They just… scare me a little. I just worry I'll fall off or something… Don't laugh!"

"I ain't laughing," he said again. But his voice was low and warm, and he held her gaze with his own as he took a step closer to her. He seemed to hesitate for a moment as if debating what to say, but his quiet only lasted a moment before he murmured, "D'you think I'd let you fall, Beth? That's the last thing I'd ever do. I'll keep you safe. I promise."

Beth had grown up in a loving family who always took care of her, sometimes even too much, to the point that she felt coddled or smothered. But Daryl didn't make her feel coddled, and he definitely didn't make her feel like he was speaking down to her. In fact, she was pretty sure she had never felt as special- almost cherished, in a way- as she did when he was looking at her like that, sounding as if hurting her was the last thing he would ever do. As if it were something he would never allow to happen, no matter what.

He made it easy for her to breathe out simply, "Okay."

And when the corner of his lip quirked up into a smile to ask, "Okay?"

She just smiled and murmured right back at him, "Yes. I trust you, Daryl." With his smile making the butterflies in her stomach ride a loop-de-loop, Beth reached out to take the helmet he was offering her. She was so flusteredly happy that she kept wanting to giggle, and to stop herself from making a fool of herself, she teased as she secured the helmet on her head, "But you have to promise again not to laugh if I scream, okay?"

"Well I already promised not t' laugh," he remarked, reaching up to adjust her helmet. His nearness distracted her, making her breath hitch almost as much as it did when he smirked faintly at her and teased, "Can't promise I won't smile a bit, though."

"Yeah?" She grinned in return, tipping her heavy helmeted head back to peer up at him and add playfully, "Well I won't complain about that. I like when you smile."

Though he was the one to duck his head at that, Beth couldn't stop her own giggle from slipping free, making her blush again. Her flush lingered as he climbed onto the bike, straddling it in one smooth and decidedly swift motion. And of course it was impossible not to continue to feel all flustered and warm when he directed her to climb on behind him, meaning that she had to press herself closer to her back and wrap her arms around his waist.

This close she felt all full up with the scent of him; warm leather, a hint of cigarette smoke, that undeniably masculine hint of musk, and something she suspected might be aftershave or perhaps, in his case, simply whatever soap he used. The scent was simple, but instantly and undeniablyDaryl. It only made the butterflies in her stomach swoop and soar as she held on tightly and pressed herself right up against his back.

But the swooping butterflies couldn't hold a candle to how it felt seconds later when the bike began to rumble beneath them and Daryl, with one last pause to make sure she was ready, revved the engine and took off to peel across the parking lot.

Slipping free around the edges of her helmet, her blonde hair whipped in the breeze, and her hands tightened instantly around him, hands pressing flat to his stomach to hold on tight. But Beth didn't scream. Instead, as they flew down the street on top of his powerful bike, she tipped back her head and just laughed.

In that moment she didn't even care where he was going to take her for dinner. This right here, riding her first motorcycle while holding tight to Daryl Dixon? This was the best date Beth had ever had in her life.

She could drive forever like this, just holding onto him.

I keep forgetting to catch you guys up here with the ones I've posted on tumblr, oy! Just because I've got writer's block, doesn't mean you have to suffer! (Plus I wrote a new one tonight and I need to catch up so I can post it here.)