"Never Give Up (On Each Other)"

Author: carmen_085

Disclaimer: I do not own any Walking Dead Characters. I do own all original characters.

Summary: In the months before the beginning of the apocalypse, Daryl finds himself homeless, alone, and with no direction. An adult Beth is struggling to balance her job, sick parents, and the farm. Feeling like the world is suffocating her, will taking a chance on a stranger change everything ? Can these two find what they need in each other before life as they know it ends and they must do anything to survive. AU but eventual ZA with full cast.

Chapter Six

Beth squatted down in front of the wood structure pushing her face against the slats trying to see inside. The smell coming from the box was heavenly and her stomach growled.

"How much longer you think ?" Looking up from the arrow he was whittling on the picnic table Daryl shrugged.

"Smells like it's almost done." The corner of his lip tugged up at the sight of her petulant vigil. "Bout another hour I'd say." Beth huffed in frustration as she turned around to throw a glare at him that held no malice behind it.

"This is taking forever…" Turning back to the box she pressed her nose against it inhaling the smell of smoked pork.

"I told you…takes all day." Daryl turned back to the arrow feeling a blush spreading across his face. She had no idea how cute she was. The mere thought made him go a few shades redder as he bit his lip- hard. Over the last few weeks they had gotten to know each other better and Daryl was beginning to realize that he had a crush on her…a small crush. And he was damn embarrassed to even admit that a man his age could get a crush but as days turned into weeks he began to realize that this woman was pretty close to perfect. And he just couldn't help himself. There was no way she felt the same, and these feelings of his would never see the light of day but still…..it was something nice to think about. Having nice thoughts were entirely new to him and he found he didn't really mind it much at all.

The wind shifted and smoke blew out of the box into her face as she coughed, falling backwards onto her ass. This time Daryl couldn't stifle the laugh that escaped his lips.

"Hey…" Beth pushed herself off the ground pretending to be insulted before a smile broke out across her face. It was Memorial Day weekend and Beth was off from work all weekend and Monday included as she explained that she would in turn be working Labor Day weekend; the two holidays went together at work switching off year after year. She had no plans for the weekend except working around the farm and Daryl wouldn't tell a soul but he was happy that she would be spending it mostly with him. At first it seemed like she forced herself on him riding out to his campsite every night to have dinner but then after a short time he found he liked her company and missed her when she had to work and he was alone. Again, something he would never admit.

A couple days ago she mentioned to him that she bought a pork shoulder for the holiday weekend wishing that she had a way to smoke it but probably having to settle for just throwing it in the crock pot instead. Taking stock of some of the scrap wood they had lying around, Daryl assured her that he could build a smoker if she wanted. Wouldn't be nothing fancy but it would get the job done. The instant the words left his mouth she burst into a smile and he knew from that moment forward even if he had to go chop down a tree he would build this girl the best smoker she'd ever seen. When she asked if she could help him, he felt a warmth bloom in his chest. So that had been their project all day yesterday, building a smoker near the picnic bench out under the grove of trees just in front of the house. Hershel had come out and watched them for a while remarking that he couldn't wait to taste whatever they made. Daryl watched as Beth tried to be happy. She wanted her daddy to be her daddy, but between the two of them stood his addiction and Daryl knew all too well what that felt like. Before long Hershel disappeared back into the house and the smile on Beth's face faded. Daryl did his best to take her mind off of it keeping her busy with building because God knows he had no idea how to make conversation.

"I'm going to check on the mac and cheese and greens. I'll be back with a bowl and some BBQ sauce and we're eating…I don't care if it's done or not."

Daryl's mouth watered at the mention of food. Beth could cook…like really…better food than he ever ate in his whole damn life. In addition to the hundred in rent he gave back to her for living in barn he kicked in an extra hundred for food. It was only right, and despite her protests, huffs and sighs he wouldn't hear it. He wasn't a mooch and this was fair; Dixons didn't take no hands out. So she could be as pissed as she wanted to be; he wasn't going to take advantage of her.

He looked up at her retreating toward the house as he yelled after her. "You'll care when you're shitting your brains out later." He cracked a smile, an honest to God smile, as she spun around wrinkling her nose.

"Oh my God. You had to go there…" Teasing; it had kind of become their thing over the last few weeks. At first it was mostly Beth, then he joined in and found she could take it just as well as she gave it. It kept things light between them and it made their days working side by side go that much faster; so fast, in fact, that Daryl often wished they wouldn't end. Yet one more thing he would never say out loud. Jesus Christ, what had this girl done to him? She disappeared into the house as he cast a glance toward the woods. Even if her cooking tasted like absolute shit he still wouldn't have had much choice but to eat it anyway. In the last few weeks Daryl had hardly been able to find any game. A squirrel or a rabbit here and there but nothing like it had been since all the dead birds starting showing up. And now even those were gone; their rotting corpses decayed back into the earth and hardly a living bird in the sky. A warm breeze ruffled his hair as his eyes wandered toward the collection of bird feeders Beth hung from the front porch. Annette loved birds, she explained, and when she brought her mama down from upstairs to sit on the porch it was one of the last things that brought her any happiness. They had all been full for the last week; not single bird swinging off of them taking advantage of the free meal. It made Daryl's stomach clench and not in a good way. Something wasn't right. Taking a deep breath he pushed the dread from his mind as he opened the smoker poking at the pork and finding that it was falling apart. He was about to enjoy one of the best damn meals he'd had in a long time with one of his favorite people in the whole world and he wasn't going to ruin tonight with some stupid worries no matter how unsettling they were.

Beth buckled her seat belt as she looked over to Daryl in the passenger seat. He'd been working on the farm for almost a month now and this was the first time he'd left, for any reason. Frankly she was surprised when he asked the night before for a ride. Well, first he asked her if she minded him taking the afternoon off, which was ridiculous as she had already told him he could have the weekends to himself. Six days a week was too much, everyone needed rest. Sunday was off limits she had explained to him on day one; it was the Lord's Day and while he didn't put much stock in that he also didn't see the need to offend her. Daryl now had almost two thousand dollars; minus the two hundred he insisted she take for renting the hayloft and food. Which she still thought was absolutely ridiculous but she knew he was a proud man despite never getting much of a break in life. With that amount of cash he thought maybe he should open a bank account, lest something happen and it go missing. Stashing it in the barn wasn't the worst idea and the farm was safe but still it wasn't a sum of money that a person wanted to lose. Beth thought it was a great idea and said of course she wouldn't mind taking him to town.

Except they weren't going to town right now as he directed her toward the highway heading south. Beth's eye brows knit together in confusion, where on earth were they going. Daryl, however, was silent not saying much more than he would tell her when to exit. Ten miles later Beth was slowing the Camry to a stop near what amounted to a dirt path that led back into the woods. Looking around she saw nothing around but miles of Georgia farmland.

"Daryl this isn't town." Under normal circumstances he would think that she was teasing him but this time her voice carried a note of concern…concern for him. He didn't want to get carried away thinking things that surely weren't true but he also couldn't stop the warmth that flooded his body.

He was quiet for a moment before answering, "I'll walk from here."

"What?!" She put the car into park ready to shut it down. "I'll come with you." This time he couldn't stop himself from looking at her. Yoga pants, a tank top, and flip flops.

He smirked. "You wouldn't get far dressed like that." Her own lips twitched at that as she smacked him in the shoulder.

"You told me we were going to the bank, you asshole. Not on some goddamn hike." Touching…that had been something he didn't think he would ever get used to with anyone. But working side by side it happened and he found he didn't hate it. Far from it. Still, it didn't mean anything; he touched plenty of men on job sites and that sure as fuck didn't mean anything. But this…playful touches like this, well he really didn't hate those. And that was damn strange. Because three weeks ago, after she saw his back, and he tore into the forest like a wild man because of it, he thought he would never be able to look her in the eye again much less let her touch him. And yet here he was and that was mostly due to Beth. She never mentioned it, never changed, never acting like anything was different. He was still just Daryl…not the broken man she had to save.

Just Daryl.

He shrugged as their eyes met for a moment. "Have to go someplace else first."

"Ok, how long are you going to be? I can just wait here." Daryl opened the door shaking his head.

"Just go home. I'll be back before dark." Swinging the crossbow onto his back he leaned down looking at her.

"Daryl…." A look of unmistakeable worry crossed her face. "I don't just want to leave you here…in the middle of no where."

"Beth..I just gotta do this..alright. I'll be back, I promise." He shut the door leaning in the open window for a moment.

"OK…but you have my number, right ? In your wallet on that piece of paper. Call me, if you need a ride or anything, ok?" She was rambling and she didn't know why. Daryl was clearly more than capable of taking care of himself. Still, though, they had become friends over the last few weeks and she didn't want anything to happen to him.

Daryl would be lying if he didn't admit that he felt touched by how much she cared what happened to him. Frankly, he was touched that she cared at all. Nobody else ever had and that was the truth. Biting his lip he nodded his head, "I'll be fine. I'll call you if I need a ride." If this little side trip panned out, hopefully he would have his own ride from now on.

Beth stared at him for a moment before nodding. "Ok. I'll see you later." Putting the car into gear she pulled out leaving him there standing on the side of the road. Looking in the rear view mirror she kept her eye on him until he disappeared into the trees. Taking deep breath she tried to calm her racing heart, he would be fine and he would come back. He would. Daryl would be back tonight and everything would be fine. And if that was true; then why was she so worried about him ?

Daryl watched as she drove away catching her eyes flicking to the mirror more than once. He almost didn't know what to do with her concern for him; nobody ever cared what happened to him before, not even when he was a kid.

His mother had just died a couple of months ago and his old man was already off on a bender with some waitress. Merle was locked up, and for all intents and purposes he was on his own right now.

He was nine.

Stumbling through the woods Daryl crested a hill and instead of seeing the shitty trailer he just saw more trees. Panic built inside of him. He had been out here for two days and he was starving, cold, and wet. He tried to build a fire more than once but rubbing two sticks together was hard for a grown man, never mind a small child. On top of that everything was wet, a non stop drizzle blanketed the area.

He just wanted to go home. He didn't really even have a home but he knew he didn't want to be out here anymore. Branches slapped him in the face as he began to run, the panic in his chest overflowing and threatening to strangle him. Not for the first time, Daryl wondered if he might die out here. There were no animals or anything that might eat him and he surely didn't believe in monsters or the boogie man. Fearing shit that like died real quick in a house where there actually was something REAL to fear. He knew enough about survival to know that he could die from exposure; all he had on was a a pair of jean and a ratty old sweatshirt. Both of which were now soaking wet and stuck to him as he shivered his teeth chattering so hard his jaw ached.

"Help!" He didn't know why he just yelled that out, God knows nobody was out here to hear it. Tears stung his eyes as he blinked furiously. Why the hell hadn't he just stayed in the trailer where he belonged? Reaching up to touch his face he moaned in pain. The swelling over his right eye was still tender from where his old man had laid into him. Coming to a small ditch Daryl crawled beneath the undergrowth, taking shelter from the rain as he forced himself to calm down.

He needed to think. What would Merle do right now? Well first of all Merle wouldn't be lost in the woods right now. Wouldn't have even set foot out here in the first place; preferring to hang out in town with his buddies and smoke weed when the old man was on the war path. Shaking his head Daryl tried to concentrate. It was overcast, there was no sun or moon or stars to guide his way. What else could he use to find his way ? When he set out from the trailer he had gone north with some crazy notion that he would walk all the way to Atlanta and find a safe place for kids like him. There was no place for kids like him, though, and he should have known that. Only place he belonged was that shitty trailer just waiting for his next beating. If he took off north that meant he needed to go south to get back home; he thought he had been doing that but had gotten turned around so many times he wasn't sure where the hell he was now.

Thinking to all the things his brother had told him his brain settled on one thing as relief flooded his little body. Moss grows on the north side of the trees; so that meant if he just kept the mossy side in front him he would be headed south. Taking a deep breath Daryl crawled out from beneath those bushes as his eyes scanned the forest. It didn't take long before he found the a tree covered in moss and then another and another. Feeling a flicker of hope he began heading south.

Hours later he crested a hill and the trailer came into view. Breaking out into a run he was so relieved he nearly cried. Bursting through the door he couldn't stop himself from yelling out.

"Daddy?! Merle ?!" His mouth made those words without his brain thinking about it. He hadn't called his old man daddy in just about ever and he knew damn well Merle was locked up in the County Jail. He was met with silence as he took a few steps into the trailer looking around. Nobody was home. Nobody had even known that he was gone.

Going straight into the kitchen he found the refrigerator empty save for a six pack. Opening the cabinets a loaf of bread, some peanut butter and jelly was just about the only thing left. Making himself a sandwich, Daryl's wet clothing formed a puddle on the floor. He could have died out there, and nobody would have even noticed. Nobody would have cared. Not then…not now…not ever.

"Well goddamn….Daryl Dixon in the flesh." Daryl had been so lost in thought he hadn't realized that he had arrived at his destination. Bout three miles from the highway back in the the woods was a trailer- sounds familiar, right? Looking up he saw a man with long graying, dark hair standing on the porch leaning against the railing. The front yard, if you wanted to call it that, was filled with automotive parts, appliances, and other random shit that had been chopped and sold for easy cash.

"Hey Joe…" Taking a long sip of his beer he regarded Daryl with a glare. Joe had been one of Merle's oldest friends, a weed smoking buddy from high school. The two had done time together and ran around getting into all sorts of shit when they were on the outside. Joe and a few other guys were in a motorcycle gang called the Claimers, Mere included. Daryl hung around with them when Merle said that's what they were going to be doing that day but he never really cared for it. They were rough men, with no regard for crossing the line and while Daryl had nothing going for him he also didn't want to end up in jail. The thought of being locked up and pressed against a bunch of strangers make his insides shake with fear.

"Haven't seen you or your brother in a while…where's that son of a bitch at ?" Looking over Daryl's shoulder it seemed Joe expected Merle to come walking out of the trees any second. Looking down at the ground Daryl didn't see no sense in lying.

"He's dead." The bottle dropped and shattered on the porch.

"What the fuck ?!" Putting a hand on his forehead Joe shook his head. "Ohhh…Ohhh..Oh my God…when did that happen?"

Daryl shrugged not sure how this was a surprise; Merle was always taking it too far. "About a month ago. Overdosed in a Motel Six…by the time I found him it was too late." He was careful to leave out the part about donating his organs knowing what that information would get him.

Joe leaned on the railing shaking his head. "Damn…well I sure am sorry to hear that." Right, this asshole did just as much Meth as Merle, and every time his brother got out and was clean this piece of shit was right there to help him get hooked on that garbage all over again.

"Yeah…well.." He played with the strap of his crossbow not sure what else to do right now.

"You didn't come all the way out here just to tell me that, did you ?" Joe walked down the two rotted wooden porch stairs coming to stand in front of Daryl giving him a perusing once over; no sympathy behind his stare.

"Naw…I'm here for Merle's bike." A reasonable person would ask why Daryl even thought the bike was still here and not sold for the next high. It was here, though, he knew it. Bikes were like religion with these assholes and Joe would never sell Merle's bike without fearing the beat down of his life.

Joe hummed as he looked Daryl over breathing in his face and making sure he knew who was the bigger man right now. "You look pretty clean, Daryl. What you been up to the last month? You got some money?"

Daryl felt himself stiffen. He wasn't stupid he knew this was going to happen. For that reason alone he wore his shirt inside out tucking the envelope with his earnings into the breast pocket right over his heart. Nobody was getting that; they would have to kill him first. Exhaling he played it cool. "Been working on a farm…nothing special and they don't pay me shit…..wanna get my brother's bike and get the hell out of there, find something better."

Joe stared at him for a moment before a smirk tugged up on the corner of his lips. "A farm, huh…." Slowly he began leading them both around the back of the trailer. "Any farmer's daughters you can get your hands on…you know, settle the debt they owe you some other way?"

Daryl felt his stomach churn as he hoped Beth was far, far away from here right now. He found he wanted to beat Joe's ass for saying it; just for thinking it. But he wanted to get the hell out of there even more. Schooling his face to be blank and neutral he shrugged indifferently. "Just some old man with the shakes and his sick wife…nothin' special."

Joe snickered at that as he pulled a tarp back revealing Merle's bike looking just the way he left it. "Well….here it is. Not sure it's gonna start." That was fine with Daryl as long as the bike was here and Joe was willing to part with it. He could make it run; he could make anything run. Walking past Joe, Daryl went to the bike straddling it and turning the key. It coughed and sputtered but eventually turned over and for that he was relieved. Coming to stand right next to him; Joe leaned over so that Daryl could hear him over the rumble of the engine.

"It's only right you pay me for keeping it here…keeping it safe." Daryl met his eyes and he didn't look away.

"No." Joe's eyebrows raised in surprise. Grinding the words out low and deadly Daryl wanted to make no mistake that this shithead understood him. "I already paid you. Lost my brother, the last family I had, to the shit you kept giving him." Joe stared at him playing with the hem of his shirt. He probably had a gun under there and suddenly Daryl wondered if he was really going to make it back home to Beth tonight. And if he didn't what would she do? But more than that why did he care so much? Thankfully he wouldn't have to find out as Joe's face spread into a smile.

"Oh come on, man. I was just kidding." He wasn't kidding but that didn't matter anymore because Daryl's foot was already on the throttle. "See you around, Daryl." Not bothering with the farewell he gunned the engine finding his way back to the dirt road not looking back.

Beth sat on the wooden rocker next to her mama, not able to help herself from staring at the driveway. It was almost six pm; five hours since she had left Daryl standing on the side of the road. Checking her phone for the twentieth time she made sure there were no missed calls or messages. She didn't want to but she started to worry.

"Bethy will you get my pill and I think I'm ready for dinner." In the low Adirondack chair, Annette sat propped on pillows as she stroked her face tenderly. Nodding Beth was actually grateful for the distraction. Door slamming behind her, Beth's eyes landed on her Daddy sitting at the kitchen table reading his bible. He hadn't done that in so long and she wondered what made him do it now although she didn't have the heart to question it. With Daryl still gone and her worried sick about him, it gave her some sense of peace to have both of her parents calm and content for once.

"I do declare, Beth, this is the best pulled pork I've ever had." She smiled at him happy that her and Daryl's little project had paid off.

"Thanks daddy." They fell silent as she went about chopping a piece of meat for her mama in the food processor. The mac and cheese she could eat the way it was and she didn't like greens so Beth opened a little container of applesauce and put it on her plate. When she was done she carefully dropped one white pill onto a napkin and took the tray out to her mama.

The day had been warm and still was as she figured she had at least another hour before she had to take her back inside and get her up to bed. "Aren't you going to eat?" Her mama looked up at her as Beth shook her head nervously.

Eyes flicking to the driveway she exhaled a shaky breath. "I"m not hungry yet mama." She needed to be busy, that's what would help loosen the nervous ball of energy in her chest. Taking the watering can she filled it up with the hose connected to the house and began to water the hanging baskets they had lining the front porch.

"What happened to all the birds?" If Annette was noticing that there were no birds then it must be pretty obvious as Beth bit her lower lip. Daryl had told her that all the wildlife in the area had mysteriously disappeared. It was unsettling and more than a little strange.

"I don't know mama, Daryl said they were dead all over the field a few weeks ago. Maybe a bird flu or something…" Beth was interrupted by the hum of a motorcycle engine and it was getting closer. She didn't know anyone that had a motorcycle as her head began to spin with all sorts of terrifying possibilities. Just as she felt panic rising up in her throat, her eyes landed on Daryl. He was straddling a motorcycle that she has never seen before. When he was a the hospital it had always been the brown truck, never this. Coming to a stop in front of the porch a cloud of dust kicked up around him as Beth could only stare.

Somewhere along the way he'd given himself a makeover. What a silly, ridiculous word to apply to Daryl Dixon but at that moment Beth could think of nothing else. In fact she couldn't think at all. The grungy black jeans and green work shirt had been replaced with a new pair of gray cargo pants and a flannel shirt that he been cut off to make it sleeveless. The shirt was a deep blue color that complemented the blue in his eyes; wait…when the hell had she noticed what color his eyes were ? And if the clothes were all that Daryl had done she still would have been left speechless but that wasn't the half of it. As the dust settled, Beth heard herself gasp. His long, dark, grungy hair was gone and it was now trimmed short and swept to the right side. It was lighter and cleaner and it made his face look about ten years younger. She felt her lips part in shock.

"Who the hell is that?" From behind her she heard her mama's voice as she shook her head slowly.

"It's Daryl." The words came out breathless and like a whisper; reverent almost as if she was beholding a miracle.

"Damn." If Beth wasn't completely paralyzed she might have found that funny. He began walking toward her and she felt her heart race. Not paying the slightest bit of attention to what she was doing she held the watering can up to the basket missing it entirely. Water splashed off the porch railing soaking the front of her shirt as she put the can down clearly embarrassed beyond belief.

Daryl stopped at the bottom of the porch stairs, the ghost of a smirk on his face. "I'm back." As if she hadn't noticed.

"I see." Two pathetic words stating the obvious were all that she could form as she prayed that she remembered to put the right bra on this morning. Crossing her arms over her chest she covered her wet shirt, suddenly self conscious.

He shrugged and she couldn't take her eyes off his arms; tanned, strong, and cut like could have never imagined. "I promised." Beth swallowed so hard she felt a click in her throat. "Anything I need to see to right away?" She shook her head still thoroughly dumbstruck. It wasn't until he was back on the bike heading toward the barn that she snapped out of it and realized what a complete idiot she must look like right now. Just the thought of it caused blush to explode all over her as she turned on her heel opening the screen door.

"Well….he cleans up good." Annette mumbled to herself as she continued to eat not missing the way her daughter had lost all sense just now. She knew Beth had been unhappy for a long time and she was glad that something around here had her smiling again.

Beth tore through the house and up the stairs straight to her room. Slamming the door like she was a teenager she stripped her wet t-shirt off and threw it on the floor. She had just made a compete idiot of herself; standing there, mouth agape just because Daryl had cleaned himself up a bit. He was the farm hand, yes they had become friends, faster than even she could have imagined but that didn't mean anything. It couldn't mean anything. Daryl was a private person, but even with that in mind, she was sure that she hadn't misread him. He wasn't interested in her, not like that anyway, she was his employer. Forcing herself to take a deep breath she pulled on a dry t-shirt. The setting sun cast long slats of light in her bedroom as, against her better judgement, she wandered to the blind parting the slats. Even from a hundred yards away she could see his muscular arms in the hazy, late day glow. He disappeared into the barn, a few Wal-Mart bags in tow as she felt her stomach clench.

Throwing herself on the bed she stared up at the ceiling running a finger through her hair. After the day when she saw Daryl's back down by the barn, she was sure that it was over. In fact, she wouldn't have been surprised if she came home from work the next morning and he was gone all together. But he wasn't and he met her in the driveway with a sheepish look on his face. He'd slept in the barn, the storm that night too severe to be out in the open, and he wanted to pay her for that. Give back some of the money she just gave him. It was absurd to pay rent to live in a hayloft and shower with a hose but Beth knew that was the way it had to be. Daryl had been stripped of nearly everything meaningful in his life and she wouldn't strip him of his pride too. Along those lines she also acted like seeing his back was no big deal, which it wasn't. She'd seen worse on many patients, Daryl's own brother included. What a person went through as a child didn't need to define the rest of their life. And she wasn't going to let it define how she felt about him. He was still Daryl…just Daryl.

As she had originally thought, Daryl was a good man. Getting to know him better and working with him most days had only proven her right. He was quiet- so so quiet, and she did most of the talking but if he had something to say she learned that it always meant something. He chose his words carefully and never opened his mouth without considering it first. Beth found that she never wanted their time spent together to end. Closing her eyes, a faint smile spread across her face. Somewhere along the way she had developed a crush on Daryl Dixon. Maybe it had happened a long time ago when she went stalking into the woods to offer him a job. Maybe it happened his first day here when he built her mama that ramp. Or maybe it had been happening all along, slowly and carefully just like him. She sighed, she knew that these thoughts were the product of a lonely mind but still it was something nice to think about. She hadn't had a lot of nice things in her life lately and, while she was sure he would never feel the same, it still didn't mean she couldn't indulge her mind once in a while.

Beth wasn't sure how long she laid there but as the shadows began to get longer she knew that she needed to get her mama back inside. Her daddy disappeared to the basement and not wanting to bother Daryl she managed to tilt Annette back and roll her up and over threshold into the house. The whole time she was washing her mama up and getting her ready for bed her mind was racing about Daryl. To her credit Annette didn't say a word about her daughter's obvious distraction although she would have been blind not to notice the flush on her face. Once her mama had been settled into bed, Beth had a moment to see to herself warming up the pulled pork from the night before. Sitting at the kitchen table alone she listened to the cicadas and tree frogs outside. Maize was at her feet laying on the white tile floor waiting for a morsel of anything to fall. Sighing she realized how much she missed not spending the day with Daryl. How much she missed him. Shaking her head a semi-crazy idea came to mind as her lips spread into a small smile.

Daryl's spot in the hayloft wasn't nothing special but it was warm and dry and that's all that mattered. He made a bed for himself and on one of the crossbeams he lined up his few possessions which didn't really amount to much. After today, though, he had a few more things, mostly essentials. Proper shampoo, Dial soap, and a stick of deodorant that he couldn't have been more grateful for. He also bought a pack of underwear and socks, and two new pants and shirts. Daryl certainly didn't want to get carried away and his goal was to save most of his income for a place of his own. Not that he wanted to move away from the farm but he also figured that staying in the hayloft indefinitely might seem a little strange.

At Walmart he had also found some new bolts in the sporting good's department and something else…something for Beth. Fingering the impromptu gift he wondered if the gesture was too forward. It wasn't anything big but it was most definitely something she needed. Daryl wasn't even sure what prompted him to buy it but when he saw it he knew it would be perfect for her. He reasoned it was a way to say thank you after everything she had done for him and all the kindness she had shown. He would feel stupid giving it to her, and he was sure his ears would burn bright red but he was going to do it. Wouldn't do no good sitting here in the barn.

"Daryl…" He froze at the sound of her voice seriously wondering if she had just been reading his mind. Peering over the edge of the hayloft he laid eyes on her standing below; a blanket under one arm. She bit her lip looking as if she might be reconsidering whatever brought her out here in the first place. "It's too hot in the house right now." A bold faced lie. "I'm going to lay out in the field and look at the stars if….if you want to come." He swallowed hard. He wanted to come…like really…wanted to come. But he also couldn't help but wonder why she was asking in the first place. Surely she couldn't feel the same way about him that he felt about her. Still….

"Yeah. Too hot in here anyway." Another lie but what did it matter at this point as Beth burst into one of her smiles. Sliding the gift for her into his pocket he carefully climbed down the ladder landed next to her on the dirt floor. Their gaze met for a moment and before Daryl could become anymore uncomfortable he grunted pointed toward the door. "Lead the way."

Hershel's fields were dark as can be at night and Daryl knew that for fact having slept out there his first week here. Findings a spot where their view of the sky would be unimpeded by trees, Beth laid out the blanket and Daryl stood by awkwardly. This….laying on a blanket looking at the stars with a beautiful girl…..woman…well that wasn't something he had ever done before. Wasn't even something he entertained a thought about and yet here he was right now most definitely wanting to do this even though he didn't have the slightest idea how.

"I have something for you…"The words tumbled from his mouth before he could stop them. Even in the dark he could see the way Beth's eyes sparkled. A surprise. She hadn't had a good surprise in so long. Not wanting to prolong any awkwardness, he reached into his back pocket producing a hunting knife in a sheath. Beth gasped as she took the blade from him inspecting it in the meager light. Removing the sheath she found that it fit her hand perfectly; not too heavy but with the right amount of weight. The handle was sturdy and made of wood while the blade was silver and reflected the light of the stars. Beth had to fight the urge to throw her arms around him and instead she simply looked up at him and smiled.

"I love it. Will you show me how to use it?" More than a few times over the last few weeks he had seen her struggle with one thing or another that could have been made exponentially easier with a good knife. Besides that, she should know how to protect herself; a sweet, beautiful girl like Beth…was an easy target for people who had less than honorable intentions. She could take care of herself, there as no doubt about that, but he would just feel better if she had a weapon too.

"Course I will." Daryl was glad it was dark as he felt his entire body burst into a hot, red blush. Satisfied with his answer, Beth wasted no time securing the the sheath to the belt of her denim shorts.

"How's it look?" Daryl didn't want to look, Christ he didn't want to look but he did anyway knowing full and well what he was about to see. The knife and the sheath fit her perfectly, sitting at just the right angle on her hip. And then not for the second time in two minutes Daryl was glad that it was dark right now because as his eyes wandered to her milky white thighs he felt his face begin to burn. He'd seen her legs before but this was the first time she had asked him to look her. Her skin was so perfect and creamy and even by the light of the stars he could see the way her thigh curved in and her calf curved out; the type of muscle you might expect to find on someone who spent long days on their feet. Licking his lips he found that his throat was suddenly dry as he forced himself to nod although the only thing on his mind was how soft her skin might be.

Inhaling sharply he shook his head. What in the actual fuck was he thinking right now? "Looks good." The words came out of his mouth for no other reason than to stop her from staring at him. Completely oblivious to his turmoil Beth settled herself on the blanket reclining back so that she could see the sky. Laying down next to her would surely not help the thoughts in his head but at least he wouldn't have to look at her anymore. Shrugging the crossbow from his back, Daryl sat down on the edge of the blanket as he slowly laid back. Bringing his right forearm to rest on his forehead he stared up at the billions of tiny white lights above them.

"Thank you for the knife. You didn't have to do that." He was quiet for a moment choosing what he was about to say next carefully.

"You needed it….and I wanted you to know that I appreciate you giving me a chance and all…" Surprisingly the words weren't that hard to say.

Beth laughed that light, airy laugh of hers as she stared up into the night sky. "You have no idea what you've done for me the past month, Daryl. Before you got here, I was just barely hanging on." He was quiet not wanting to argue that, it was true and he saw how desperately overwhelmed she was on day one. "Last September right around the harvest time, my brother Shawn and my daddy were out in the fields. The tractor got stuck on a tree root. It was almost dark and they were trying to free it quickly and get done. Shawn was on the ground pulling the root, my daddy was up behind the wheel. It was stupid and they both knew better but comfort breeds complacency. When the thing started to tip there as nothing anyone to could do to stop it. My daddy lost his leg and Shawn was crushed. It took them six hours to get him out…." She trailed off and Daryl didn't know what to say so he just remained silent. Beth's breaths came in short little puffs and he knew that she was fighting back tears. "My mama wasn't doing great before that but afterwards she just gave up. My daddy found an old friend in the bottle. And I was left to hold this entire place together alone…" Sniffling Beth swiped at her face. This was not what she wanted when she came out here and yet here she was babbling like an idiot. "I'm sorry." She whispered a hint of shame in her voice; she wasn't the only one here who had lost a brother.

They lay there quietly for a while before Daryl's rough voice broke the silence. "What was he like..your brother?"

A little laugh escaped Beth's lips as she shook her head, "He was an asshole." Daryl smirked up at the sky as she giggled. "Always tormenting me, telling me what to do; coming in with all his one liners and smart ass comments. Shawn was my mama's son from before she married my daddy. He was still young when they got married, he always thought of my daddy as his own." She paused getting quiet she she bit her lip. "He promised my mama he would always look after Shawn, always take care of him. And I think that's why he can't look at her now, why he drinks so much." Beth trailed off letting her words hang in the humid night air. Daryl offered a low grunt to let her know that he heard every word. Even if he was a talking man there wouldn't be much that he could say to that.

After a while her soft voice broke the stillness, "What about your brother? What was he like?" Daryl couldn't help but to scoff. Who in the hell would ever want to know anything about Merle? Beth hummed a questioning sigh as his eyes reluctantly slid toward her. Her eyebrows raised and there was nothing but honesty in her face. Turning back toward the sky, Daryl rubbed his forearm across his eyes. Beth would want to know, of course she would, she was the same person who wanted to know him.

"He was an asshole." Beth giggled and Daryl smirked. "No. He was a real asshole. Didn't care about nobody but himself." Beth's smile faded. "Every morning we'd wake up and he'd tell me what we were going to be doing that day and that was it. Didn't have no choice but to do it."

"You could have always stayed home." It seemed obvious to Beth and she meant absolutely nothing by it and Daryl knew that. Had anyone else said something like that and it would have pissed him off. This was Beth, though, and she didn't have an unkind bone in her body.

After a few moments Daryl grunted, a difficult acknowledgement coming from his lips. "Didn't have no home. Merle was my home. A shitty idea of home but the only one I ever had." Beth hummed softly letting him know that she understood.

"Do you miss him? I miss Shawn…all the time."

When Daryl spoke his voice was rough and full of emotion. "I miss him. Miss him more than I ever thought I could."

In the dark Beth scooted closer to him reaching over and laying her hand over his. Daryl's face was covered with his right forearm but she could see that he was tense. She could feel that he was tense. And yet he didn't pull away. So they stayed that way for a while, motionless and silent. Daryl trying to comprehend that she was actually touching him like this. Beth memorizing the way his rough knuckles felt against her palm. Slowly he began to relax as she felt the muscle and tendons of his hand loosen. Beth was content to not take this any further; feeling an undeniable tingle just the way they were. But much to her surprise, she felt Daryl move his hand around until their fingers interlaced as he gave a gentle squeeze. And in that moment she knew that she could definitely get used to this.

TBC…

Author's Notes:

I hope everyone is happy with how I moved things along here. I don't want this to be totally slow burn but with Daryl unless you're going out of character it kind of has to be.

We still have a little time left before the ZA hits but I want to focus a large portion of this story on how Beth and Daryl cope with the very beginning of the ZA and how they inevitably turn to each

Rick and crew will make an appearance later on but they are not the main focus of this story. This is all Beth and Daryl

I am not rewriting the beginnings of the apocalypse as the bird flu. I just wanted to put an ominous tone out there. When major shifts happen the first clues are often found in nature.

I really thought that Jimmy's last name from the series was Campbell. Turns out he had no last name and I think I picked that up in a fanfic I read. My apologies. I was not trying to rip off anyone's work.

Thank you !

To everyone who has read and faithfully reviews ! I love hearing from each of you and I read every last word numerous times. To those who have identified with Beth's dilemma as a caregiver know you are not alone and taking care of a sick or disabled person every single day is the hardest job in the world. Hang in there.