"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 17

Beth's hand flew to her mouth as she laid eyes on the approaching herd. No…herd wasn't even the right word, it looked like the entire population of Atlanta had turned into the walking dead.

"Daryl…." It was high and pleading and ground out between teeth clenched with fear. He didn't wait as he grabbed her hand and they ran for the door. He didn't have a better plan, didn't have a better idea; they just needed to hurry. She wasn't sure if her feet were touching the steps as their heavy footfalls thundered downward. Daryl was tugging her along and a few times she thought she might trip and go flying into him but he always kept her steady. Her heart was racing as she searched for air, anxiety manifesting itself in short gasps.

"Gonna be ok… gonna make it outta here." She knew his words were purely for her benefit and she appreciated hearing his gravelly voice right now. It brought her back to the present. They were going to be ok. They just had to stick together.

Beth looked up, floor two. They were almost there and they would beat the herd to the bike and they would be on their way back to the farm. It was going to work, it had to work. Daryl let go of her hand and swung the crossbow up as they burst out of the stairs and into the lobby. Beth felt a surge of relief.

They were going to make it

Running across the lobby, Daryl saw daylight and he didn't stop. They were just too damn close. The heat of the day smacked him in the face as he threw the glass doors open and realized how stupid he had been.

Too much noise

Didn't check

Let her out of his sight

He'd go over these three potentially fatal errors over and over in the days to come and chastise himself endlessly for being so stupid.

They were barely out the door when he heard her scream. A group of walkers had been right around the corner and immediately seeing a fresh meal lunged. Daryl's heart surged into his throat. One of them had a hold of Beth's pack, climbing up the brown leather toward the soft, sweet flesh of her neck. Teeth gnashing, moaning and hissing Daryl brought the bow up and fired.

A miss.

Even he gasped at such an unusual mistake. Thankfully the arrow sailed wide left. Had it missed in the other direction he would have simply knelt down and let the dead have him. Eyes wide with fear, Beth shook herself right and left hoping to throw the walker off its feet and also keep her pack. They came a long way and risked their lives over and over for these meds, she didn't want to lose them that easily. Unsheathing his knife, Daryl lunged into the walker sinking the blade deep in its rotten skull. Once counter tension on her back was lost, Beth plunged forward hitting her knees hard on the ground. She wasn't there for long though as Daryl roughly grabbed her under the arm and lifted her up pushing her back toward the building. But there was too many of them and before long they were swarmed. Daryl having to let go of her in order to fight them off.

She heard his knife puncture wet, rotten skulls over and over. Turning a walker lunged towards her and she swung the machete planting it heavily in the its rotting skull. Problem was it was stuck there, firmly. Beth's heart surged into her chest as she tugged with no give. The distraction, however brief, was just enough time for two more walkers to latch onto her pack again. Their sudden weight causing her to stumble backwards falling nearly right into their waiting arms. She hated to do it, fucking really hated it, but she had to- there was no other choice. Slipping her arms from the loops of the pack it fell off her shoulders and the walkers with it.

If she was alone she might have stood there and mourned the loss a bit too long. The walkers she'd shirked off quickly realizing she was the meal they so desperately wanted. But it didn't happen, was never going to happen, not with Daryl. Every second of every minute he was making strategic moves to survive.

Spin right. Kick left. Push. Shoot. Reload. Knife. Knife. Knife. Push. Shoot. Push. Push, PUSH.

She slammed hard into the glass door struggling to get her fingers around the handle and open it. Daryl was between her and all of them. Holding them off just long enough for her to slip inside. Now if she could only get her fingers to cooperate.

"GET INSIDE…"

The door opened and Beth stumbled hitting the tile floor with a groan. "What about you ?" The echo of her words without a reply made her reel around, her heart dropping into her stomach.

She was alone

Outside she saw the dead close around Daryl. He was fighting, knife swinging and blood splattering. On her knees she crawled toward the glass and began pounding.

"OVER HERE ! HEY OVER HERE !" There were too many of them to draw away but still she couldn't sit here and do nothing. Her frantic pounding drew a small group that didn't hesitate to throw their full weight against the glass, moaning and hissing, clawing to get to her. Beth fell backwards onto her ass, startled by the ferocity of their determination. Their collective weight cracked the glass into a spider web that continued to expand. Daryl disappeared into the crowd as a sob rose up in her throat. If she had the time she would have just sat there and cried. This wasn't even for him…he was just trying to help her and her family and look what she'd done. Gone and gotten him killed over medicine that she didn't even have anymore. She was such a piece of shit, she would have stayed there and cried for days if she had a choice. There were no choices anymore, though, just things that needed to be done.

Beth scooted backwards on her ass away from the door eventually finding her strength and scrambling to her feet. She had nothing but her knife left and she quickly unsheathed it knowing that it wouldn't do much good against a whole army of those things. The crack in the glass spread to every corner until it shattered into a million pieces, walkers spilling into the lobby. For a moment, just a fleeting moment, she considers fighting them, all of them. But as they flooded toward her, reality set in and she bolted in the opposite direction. A small office just to the right, 'Security', maybe they have some kind of weapon there. Beth decides, she doesn't even have the luxury to second guess herself as she barely makes it inside slamming the door behind her. It had no lock and she hopes, idly, that it will hold.

A small window to the outside offers minimal lighting and she sees the room is full of monitors and nothing more. Tears well up in her eyes. She's going to die here, of dehydration….starvation… it won't be quick taking days or weeks instead of minutes or hours. The alternative, of course, was to give herself to the dead. Open the door and let them have their way with her. She shuddered as hot tears streamed down her face.

Her mama would never get the medicine she needed and die in terrible pain. Her daddy would forever wonder what happened to her. Maize…her sweet girl Maize, what would happen to her ? Yes she was just a dog, but the thought of her waiting at the door for the rest of her short life made Beth want to burst out in tears.

When the door pushed inward she jumped to her feet, bringing her knife up and wondering how many she could could kill before they swallowed her whole. Her entire body fell slack with relief when she laid eyes on him. The knife clattered to the floor and her knees felt weak as she fell into his chest. A yelp of pure relief passed over her lips as she wrapped her arms around his middle and squeezed.

"It's alright…I'm alright." He soothed her the best he could, his own knees shaking from what had just happened. Daryl's chest heaved with exertion and sheer relief that he was alive, that Beth was alive, and that against all odds they'd found their way back to one another. Still they weren't out of danger yet. "Think I figured out a way out of here…"

It wasn't until that moment that she realized he was covered in blood; thick, black, rotting blood. His shirt was smeared with it, his pants too, and it was applied on his cheeks like war paint. "Is any of it…." She couldn't say the word yours. If it was she knew what that meant, that he'd been bit and would eventually turn into one of those things. A fresh round of tears sprung up in her eyes.

"No…it's not mine." Her eyes fluttered closed in relief as she exhaled. "But it is how we're going to get out of here." Meeting his serious gaze she cocked her head wondering what that meant.

Beth stood there watching Daryl rip apart the walker on the floor. It had been easy enough to kill one, opening the door and bringing the first eager bastard through. Now as he stood over its lifeless body hacking a hole into its stomach, intestines spilling out everywhere, he stopped and a cast a look toward Beth who was looking on with disgust all over her face. Daryl was aware how dire their situation was and survival was almost second nature to him but he also couldn't help but be embarrassed right now. He must look like a fucking animal tearing into what used to be a person like some damn savage. Pausing, his hands went still as he looked between her and the floor, imagining what she was thinking about him right now. It was a strange predicament for Daryl who never cared what anyone thought of him, least of all in a survival situation. But this was Beth…. His Beth. Even under the layer of walker blood he could feel himself blushing furiously.

Another person might not have noticed but Beth knew Daryl better than anyone else left on earth; not that that was saying much anymore. Still, she could see the embarrassment in his posture, the way he refused to meet her eyes, and the red tinge splashed over the tips of his ears. Knowing words would be useless, she silently fell to her knees and stuck both hands into the rotting corpse in front of her. Taking two handfuls she smeared the fetid blood over the front of her shirt and down her arms.

"Like this ?" Her eyes met his and he couldn't help the corners of his lips from twitching up. God…this woman. Not only was she a badass, she was smart and kind and gentle when she had to be. She also had this innate way of knowing exactly what he needed at just the right moment. Dropping down next to her he dipped his own hand into the mess bringing it tentatively toward her face; her beautiful, porcelain face.

He grunted his affirmation. "Close your eyes…" Beth immediately did as she was told, trusting him implicitly. With gentle fingers Daryl smeared the blood across both cheeks and her forehead, not totally ignoring the fact that he was touching her face right now. The ridges of her cheek bones, her tiny nose, the Cupid's bow he'd often stared at while they were working in the fields.

"Good ?" He pulled his hand back like he'd been stung. Daydreaming at a time like this he should be ashamed of himself. Problem was, he was insanely attracted to Beth. More than anyone else in his entire life and he had no idea how to control it.

Beth felt Daryl pull away as he grunted in reply. Her eyes snapping open she saw the way he clenched his hand at his side and the tight set of his shoulders. The words tumbled out of her mouth before he could stop them, "Thank you, Daryl, for everything."

Even with a thick layer of grime he could see the gratitude shining bright in her eyes. And it made him sick. The only think he'd done so far was screw up. Sure he got them here, but everything else he'd royally fucked. They were stuck in a building surrounded by walkers with a half cocked idea and no medicine. He shook his head, "Shouldn't be thanking me…" it was said as one long grunt and before Beth could press him any further he shouldered the cross bow and placed a hand on the door. "Gonna put you in front of me…stay right between my arms…move slow…stay quiet."

Beth tried to keep it all straight as she nodded. "You sure this will work ?"

He gave her a brief glance. "Not sure of anything anymore. We got no choice though."

Beth swallowed hard as she moved in front of Daryl settling herself back against his strong chest. She held her knife ready like he told her to, his own clenched in his right hand while his left hand rested on her shoulder ready to guide her. "We stay together…"

She exhaled a shaky breath. "Always." Daryl paused for a moment his hand resting in the door knob. Once they opened the door they had to commit to this. Walkers would spill into the small security office and there would be no going back.

"Ready ?" He wasn't going to do this until she was although he doubted a person could ever be. Beth offered him a clipped nod not trusting her own voice right now.

She sucked in a shaky breath as the door swung open and a walker immediately came

toward her. Rather than open its mouth, it stumbled sniffing her and then shuffled past them both into the office. Beth let a small puff of air escape her lips. It had worked. From behind she felt Daryl give her a gentle push and she was thankful. Slowly, carefully they shuffled through the lobby meandering right and left around the walkers. She stayed glued to the front of him, somehow managing to actively press herself backwards into his body while still also moving forward. On her shoulder Daryl's hand was heavy and reassuring guiding her out the door and back into the sunlight. The walkers had thinned a bit outside, getting trapped in the maze of streets and alleys, turned around and with no idea which way was up.

A clearing around the bike and Daryl wasn't about to waste it as he bent down next to her ear growling a single word, "Run!"

She didn't question him and didn't hesitate as she broke out into a run across the parking lot getting to the bike first. Daryl came up behind her and shoved something into her arms. Beth didn't bother to look at what it was as she hopped onto the bike threading her arms around his middle and holding on tight. She closed her eyes, pressing her face against his back as the bike roared to life a chorus of hissing and moaning closing in around them.

There was swerving, accelerating and braking, and a few expletives but Beth didn't open her eyes. She didn't move a muscle until the bike stopped and Daryl gently rubbed her hands. " 's ok. We're ok." Reluctantly she pried her eyes open and looked around. They were alongside the highway somewhere between Atlanta and the farm, nothing surrounding them but empty space and green grass. Beth's hands were cramped and it took substantial effort to pry them apart. Swinging his leg over the side of the bike, Daryl rolled his own back out. With Beth attached to his back he'd needed to keep the crossbow around the front and now he was grateful to have the opportunity to stow it on the rear of the bike.

Beth gasped as she looked down, finally realizing what he had thrust into her arms. The pack…her pack…the one that had her mama's medicine in it. She thought for sure it was gone. Looking at him in disbelief she erupted in something between a laugh and cry, high pitched and nothing but pure relief. For someone who was frozen in a cramp just seconds before, Beth jumped off the bike with startling speed and threw herself into his arms.

Daryl had never been hugged this much in his life. He wasn't used to it but that didn't mean he couldn't get used to it. Her tiny body squeezed him hard as he tentatively returned the gesture. "Can't be for nothin' anymore." Before he could stop himself he began rubbing slow circles on her back. Looking off in the distance he sighed. "Everything's gotta mean something now…."

The house was finally quiet as Beth laid down in bed. Both her and Daryl were exhausted and because of that her daddy had agreed to sit on the porch and 'keep an eye on things'. The seriousness of their current situation fully dawning on him when they pulled up to the house half a day past schedule covered in walker blood. He'd stared at them mouth agape before silently taking the bag and the medicine to Annette. Meanwhile both Daryl and Beth disappeared behind the barn to shower the filth off their bodies, the other silently standing guard with their back turned. The passion of their kiss earlier in the day had faded into a thousand other feelings since, leaving them both reeling and grasping to make sense of what was.

Now, safe in her bed the terror of day finally fading away, Beth felt that familiar longing again. Her body literally ached to be near him and throwing the covers back she knew she couldn't temper this forever. Looking in on her mama she saw Annette finally sleeping peacefully, her breathing even and steady. The downstairs area of the farmhouse was illuminated in soft light as a candle burned on the coffee table and the kitchen counter. Seeing her at the bottom or the stairs, Maize lifted her head, tail thumping on the hard wood floor. Through the open screen door she could see her daddy sitting in a rocker on the porch, the shot gun at his side. That had been at Daryl insistence, Hershel clicking his tongue and shaking his head but finally agreeing. Quietly Beth padded across the kitchen and down the two stairs into Daryl's room.

In the moonlight she could see him in bed, his forearm resting across his head. For a moment she thought he was asleep and that she should just go back the way she came. But then he turned toward her, his voice sounding extra thick, "Somethin' wrong?"

Beth rocked back on her heels as an embarrassed smile came to her face. Remembering what she came here for, she suddenly felt shy. "No…nothings wrong. I just…" Her heart fluttered in her chest, was she really doing this ? She took a hesitant step forward hoping that he would give her something although knowing full and well that this was Daryl and that was unlikely. That was why when he scooted over slightly that her heart surged in her chest.

The bed was warm and it smelled like dirt and woods and the worn leather of his motorcycle. Something entirely masculine and completely Daryl. Settling herself back into the pillows she sighed softly. Otis had never been one for luxury and his old bed reflected that. The mattress was simple but soft and broken in. Otis was a big man and could have certainly used a queen but settled on a modest double and because of that there was the barest of space between them right now. She could feel the tension radiating off of him like an electrical current, humming, buzzing, ready to snap. Maybe he was thinking that their kiss had been a mistake, that this wasn't what he wanted and he was trying to find a way to get her out of his bed without hurting her feelings. Beth worked her bottom lip. If that was true he wouldn't have scooted over, wouldn't have held her tightly along the highway, and most of all wouldn't have kissed her back like that.

Rolling onto her side she hesitantly ran the back of her knuckles over his arm. "Daryl…." It was a whisper, a question, and an answer rolled into one.

He let out a strangled sigh, "Ain't right Beth…" She pulled her hand back, stung. Even someone as emotionally backward as Daryl knew how that sounded as he turned on his side, facing her. Wasn't what she thought but it still wasn't right and she needed to understand. "Don't deserve this….almost let you get killed today." His eyes briefly met hers before averting to the sheets.

Beth's eyebrows screwed up for a moment as she tried to understand before a realization dawned on her. "There wasn't anything more you could have done. They were everywhere."

The shame evident on his face, his voice was barely above a whisper. "Took my eyes off you…" He drew in a shaky breath and it was only then that she realize how much this was bothering him. "Maybe if I wouldn't have stopped looking…that's on me." She saw his chin wobble as he did his best to hold it back. "Almost died today because of me…"

Beth cut him off, "That's bull shit and you know it." His eyes met hers. "We can't control what happens out there now. You did everything you could. You're one man, Daryl, you can't take on the whole world." He grunted looking away. "Don't uhhh." Her lips twitched into a smile as she brought her left arm into the moonlight. His curious eyes watched her carefully remove the bracelets. In the silver light coming through the window he saw a thin ragged scar that ran the vertical length of her wrist. Tentatively he placed his thumb against her skin, feeling the raised irregular line. Beth watched him, her lips slightly parted as she sucked a sharp breath in. "I was a dumb kid, convinced that no one cared about me. Convinced that life was moving on and I had been left behind. I was weak and stupid." She met his eyes, a serious look on her face. "I'm not that person anymore, Daryl. I've faced the worst life had to offer and I made it." He let out a long exhale, scooting an inch closer, his knees now knocking against hers. "Funny thing was that I worried about ending up alone and then after Maggie left, after Shawn died, after my mama receded into her disease and my daddy into the bottle I was just that….Alone." Eyes wandering away from his, a blush crept over her face. "And then I met you and that all changed. I know how to fight, Daryl, and I can take care of myself. I want you, though, in every way possible. So don't even think for a second that you don't deserve this because you've already saved me in every way a person can be saved."

Daryl had no response to that. No words he could ever string together that would sound quite as eloquent or meaningful. Bringing his free had around he tangled it in her hair leaning in and kissing her forehead. Next to him, Beth shuddered and relaxed against him. Their foreheads pressed together, their hands intertwined they fell asleep next to one another as the moonlight dissolved into steady darkness.

The next week was probably the best week of Daryl's whole life. The farm was quiet, Annette was taken care of and Beth was happy- the persistent worry lines erased from her face. Every evening, after dinner was cleaned up and her mama was settled into bed, the time of day when the fields were illuminated with golden sunset she came to him. Closing and locking the door quietly this bit of time they'd carved out for each other. Most of the day Daryl spent patrolling the property with Beth tending her mama, the animals, or her garden. He'd had to eliminate a few walkers near the woods but by in large the farm remained idyllic and peaceful.

It was kissing at first, long passionate kisses that he got lost in, and then touching- tentative and unsure leaning what made the other person gasp or moan. All of it had taken place with their clothes on, neither wanting to move too fast and the scare the other one away. In a way they were both like kids, sweet and honest, scared of their own bodies and what they could do. Daryl ran his fingertips down her bare arms making her shiver as she worked his bottom lip licking and nibbling to the point of distraction. He was hard, of course he was hard, he'd been every night and every night after she left him to go and get ready for bed he'd had to relieve himself in the bathroom with a strangled groan. He was't angry…just the opposite in fact…he liked that they were taking it slow. He was scared that he might screw something up, not being able to hide the fact that he was painfully inexperienced.

The room was illuminated in an orange glow as she straddled him. The was new…before they'd just lain next to each other and kissed, their hands wandering chastely over each other's back and arms. He knew they would eventually get here, their kissing becoming more desperate as time had progressed. Still, he felt his heart begin to pound wildly in his chest.

Beth was wearing a tank top and a pair of nylon shots, the farmhouse hot without any air conditioning or working fans. His unsure hands roamed to her thighs as he settled there rubbing them back and forth, watching as the toned muscle flexed under his touch. Those thighs drove him to distraction and this was no different as he had no idea what happened until it happened. Beth had lowered herself onto him, the only thing separating his straining hard length from her was a few layers of material. Daryl's first reaction as to bolt, to get her off of him as quickly as possible, his heart fluttering from sheer embarrassment. But then she rocked forward dragging herself across his hard length and he gasped. The whimper that came out of her mouth was enough to make him go off right there as he needed to take a deep breath to keep himself under control.

"Touch me, Daryl…" Her voice is high and thin and breathy. Well so much for his control. His hands slid up under her tank top to rest against the bare skin of her back. "Touch me." This time it was more demanding and he finally understood what she meant as one tentative, shaking hand came around the front. She was not wearing a bra and he couldn't believe he didn't notice until now. His fingers quickly found her breast and for a moment he was shocked by how small she was. He doesn't show it though, there's no reason for it, no matter what size she's hard….hard for him…and he can't think of anything but that. Rolling, thumbing, pinching her nipple she moans a deep moan as her hips fall into a steady rhythm.

He can't believe this is happening right now. His body feels like it's on fire, every inch of him turned on by her and what's she doing to him. He bites out a whimper as she grinds down harder forcing the fly of his pants into his dick. If it didn't feel so damn good it might hurt. She stops suddenly then, lifting her weight off of him, and placing two hesitant hands on the waist of his pants. She meets his eyes, both of their faces flush with arousal. "Can I? I don't want to hurt you." Daryl shudders, the way she cares about him is a whole other layer to this that he never had before and he quickly finds that it will be his undoing. He nods, not having the ability to form the single syllable of 'yes'. Gently she undoes the button and fly pulling his pants down and over his feet, discarding them on the floor.

They both see the wet mark on his underpants at the same time and there's nothing he can do to hide it. He's embarrassed, squirting a bit out like a horny teenager, but Beth smiles. She sheds her own shorts leaving her in a pair of white cotton panties that he can't take his eyes off of. Coming back to straddle his hips she gently takes his clothed dick and aligns it the way she wants before dropping back down. Daryl can't stop the loud groan that comes from his lips. He can feel every part of her; her mound, her lips and the pooling wetness- just two layers of fabric between them.

Beth leans down next to his ear, her chest flat against his as her hips begin to rock harder back and forth. Hot puffs of breath, high airy moans, and a whimper that sounded a lot like his name. Daryl doesn't know how much more of this he can take and he finds himself relieved when she begin to grind into him frantically, her hands fisting the bedsheets on either side of his head. She moans in his ear, searching desperately for her own release when suddenly her body goes tight and her rhythm becomes short and uncoordinated. He feels the tremor roll down her spine as his own hips come up to meet her, his still hard length stroking her through her orgasm. She jerks and moans, her face coming to rest against his as her chest heaves for air. They stop moving and for a moment they just stay like that, sticky with sweat and glued to one another. Between his legs, Daryl can feel the gush of fluid seeping through her underwear and onto his.

He did that. He made her cum.

Part of him thought that maybe that was it. But when she begins rocking against him again he draws in a ragged breath. "Come on…" Her voice was deep and husky, determined. The wetness between them soaking both their underwear and making the tacky fabric slick. She moves faster, her own eyes fluttering at the stimulation. He bit his bottom lip…was this really what she wanted ? Him cumming in his pants like some high school freshmen ? He didn't recognize his own voice was he spoke, high and desperate, needing affirmation more than anything he'd ever needed before. " 'm gonna cum." She moaned in response quickening her pace and looping her arms around his shoulders so that they were holding one another as close as they could.

"Please cum for me.."

Any foolish pride he was holding onto dissipated in that moment. It started in his feet like it always did, as they spasmed and shook. His legs began to twitch and tremble and then finally his hips. He was desperate, a huge wave of something about to break over top of him. Bucking his hips up into her wildly, he searched for the last bit of friction he needed before exploding. He grunted and moaned into her ear, his entire body shaking beyond his control as his dick spasmed hard against her. Seeing the intensity of his orgasm, Beth couldn't help but drag herself hard against him feeling every contraction and jerk. Hot cum soaked her underwear as she rubbed herself frantically now, feeling her second orgasm building. Daryl trembled with every pump as she held him tight her own body finally taking over and letting her cum a second time. She moaned clenching herself around him. Pure bliss washed over Daryl as a second wave of heat descended in his pelvis. Her frantic grinding causing a second orgasm go build inside him. If didn't all feel so good he might be terrified of how little control he had over his own body. Letting out a deep grunt he thrust himself hard up against her again, his entire body quivering as he let out a strangled cry. She felt another burst of hot cum through her panties and as she held onto him, letting him take whatever he needed right now. Rocking gently against his softening length she stroked every last tremble out of him as they held each other tightly.

Beth's sex life was limited at best, having only two partners before- one being a fumbling mess. Never had a man climaxed for her as hard as Daryl did. Feeling his body spiral out of control because of her had been enough to send her over the edge again and she didn't want it to end. So they lay there together, coming down from their high as their chests heaved for air. The stickiness between them eventually cooling.

Daryl had just cum in his pants. Not once but twice- his body responding to her without the use of his brain. He wanted to be embarrassed as that was the natural thing for him to do but he couldn't. Beth had wanted this just as much as him and the fact that this beautiful woman was laying on top of him right now just as wrecked as he was blew his mind.

Eventually they parted with a sweet kiss and a shy smile. Beth going to her room to clean up and get ready for bed, Daryl wiping himself off and dressing to go up to the roof for his shift on watch. As Beth settled herself into bed, a candle flickering on her dresser, she saw Daryl come through the door crossbow in tow. She kept her eyes on him, wondering to herself how such a wonderful man had come into her life at just the right time. Like he always did, Daryl opened the window and paused looking at her before crawling out. Tonight, though, he leaned down kissing her on the lips softly.

When they parted, Beth was suddenly filled with a certainty, an absolute knowing. Looking into into eyes she lifted a hand a rested it on his cheek. "I love you, Daryl."

Oh yes TBC !

Hope everyone liked that. And don't worry more feelings, domesticity, and smut in the next chapter before chaos ensues once more