The Southern Belle and the Redneck

by vegetasbubble

She was the sweet southern belle, daughter of a religious man. He was the hardened hunter, abused and unloved. A series of one-shots focused on the relationship of Daryl Dixon and Beth Greene from The Walking Dead. Rated overall M but each chapter is rated independently. Based on a number of songs, quotes and pictures. To see the songs and pictures check my wordpress account.

9. The Trunk

Beth climbed into the back of the trunk quickly, quick enough that the herd of walkers didn't see them, as Daryl squeezed into the small space beside her and latched the trunk closed.

Their quick breaths were the only sounds for a few moments before the shuffling of feet and the banging of bodies against the car could be heard. Beth closed her eyes, concentrating on positive thinking: Walkers can't open trunks. Another loud bump against the side of the car made her jump slightly and if not for Daryl stern look towards her, Beth may have sighed heavily in relief.

They settled in against the car, waiting for the herd to bypass them and when the faint sound of a car engine could be heard, Beth's face showed excitement. Daryl grabbed her arm as she went to grasp the tie that held the trunk down.

"Stay put," he mouthed to her, another little thing the two had managed to learn together. Beth wanted to ask why, to jump out of the trunk and hope the people in the car she could hear were their people. Their family.

The shuffling of feet seemed to return and Beth grasped Daryl's hand. In a very un-Daryl like move, he linked their fingers together and tugged her closer. She eyed him in the darkness and wondered what he was doing but before she could even ask, the sound of gunfire and screams and Walkers eating people rang through the trunk.

Daryl clutched her hand tightly, his other hand firmly holding against the trigger of his crossbow, knowing that at any moment, anyone could open the trunk and find them and he wanted to be prepared. Beth couldn't take the screams, not again, so she pushed her face against his chest and under his neck, tears threatening to fall as the sounds slowly died down and the shuffling and snarling turned to munching and eating.

Beth felt sick, people were being eaten, just on the other side of the trunk. Daryl's hand on the crossbow lowered, letting it rest against him as he touched Beth's face gently, "Beth, 's okay, try and git some sleep," he whispered.

Beth simply nodded and stayed against his chest, the sound of his heart beating, a sign that he was living and here, lulling her to sleep soon enough.