A/N: We made it! I hope you all enjoy this one! I had every intention of posting this last weekend, but then, life happened!

OH! And there's a small homage to one sweet and funny review, early-recoil! See if you can spot it! ;)

It's been a wonderful adventure for me - thank you all! Please review!

DISCLAIMER: Any and all canon events and characters herein belong to the great minds at AMC. I own absolutely NOTHING related to The Walking Dead. However, The Walking Dead very much owns me.

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I wish they'd all just quit staring at me. Beth was irritated; and Beth was never irritated. She considered herself a pretty patient person, but this was getting old. Quick. The only person who didn't treat her like some porcelain doll, or a damn ghost, was Michonne. Well, and Judith. Judy. Her sweet girl. Her family. It was everything Beth had dreamed of, hoped for; and it terrified her. At night she tossed and turned, afraid to go to sleep. Afraid she'd wake up and this would be just another disappointing dream and her family would be gone again. He'd be gone again. And she would be back at the church praying for spring so she could continue her search. Her pitiful excuse for tracking. Practicing, trying to remember everything he taught her so she could find them. Get back to him.

She'd had faith her family was alive. Held on hope that they would find each other. But she knew she would be with him again. Just knew it, like it was some sort of ridiculous fact. The sun would rise, the seasons would change, and Beth Greene would find Daryl Dixon. The last man standing.

And sure enough there he was; chopping wood off behind the house, no more than a hundred yards away. May as well have been 100 miles away as far as Beth was concerned. Since that first day, she had tried to approach him, break the ice. But there were always others around and he was all monosyllables and grunts. Practically ran from her, suddenly occupied by some mundane task. She should have known better. Daryl wasn't one for public displays. Or small talk. "It's what people do... you know, to feel normal." "Never felt normal to me."

She had imagined it a hundred different ways. What it would be like when they found each other. When she saw him there in the yard of the church, it was like her heart no longer existed within her, but stood there before her. Daryl. For the briefest moment she thought it was a dream. Or her heart wanting him so badly that she was imagining him there. The look on his face tore her open. Had anyone ever looked at her like that before? The moment their eyes locked it was there; the same thing between them that night at the funeral home, only... more. But it was just that - a moment. Then reality had flooded back. And since then it was like they couldn't get it back. Hell, he wouldn't even try. He was avoiding her. Damn him.

Beth slammed the cans down on the old wooden deck, making Glenn jump. They'd been tasked with organizing food supplies. Prepping for the winter.

"You ok over there?" Glenn asked tentatively, squinting, a slight smirk on his face.

"Uh, yeah. Fine." Beth grumbled, wiping her forehead with the back of her hand.

"When Maggie says she's 'fine', that usually means she's the exact opposite of fine," Glenn prodded, unloading another cardboard box from the back of the truck.

Beth sighed, "It's stupid... I'm glad to be back, be with my family..."

"But..."

"But, it's been days and everyone is still... hovering... 'specially Maggie"

Glenn threw his hands up defensively, smirk still firmly in place, "Don't look at me, I've tired to tell her."

Her eyes found Maggie, off across the yard loading the firewood. Watching her again, smiling brightly at her. Beth suddenly felt a twinge of guilt. She understood it, she did. Tried to tolerate it, but it was starting to get annoying as hell. Maggie was like a damn mother hen. Suffocating her. Couldn't they tell she'd changed? She was stronger, more independent. She'd had to be. The only reason she and Gabriel had survived this long was because of her. And him. Beth couldn't help the exasperated sigh that escaped her lips. Damn him.

Beth was trying to be understanding. Give him time, space. Let him come to her when he was ready. But instead he walked around like he was so pissed at everyone. Especially her. Lie. He felt guilty, ashamed, whatever. Get over it. Right now, all Beth wanted to do was throw herself at him. Take off across the yard, yank that axe outta his hands and plant one on him. Maybe even smack him when she was done. You know, for good measure. She wanted to scream at him. Call him out for being a stubborn ass. Blow up in his face like that night at the shack, drunk on moonshine. Hug him tight and make him admit it all. Never leave his side again.

But they didn't have any 'shine now... Beth cursed herself. Pathetic. Maybe she hadn't changed that much.

Beth felt herself grow more irritated, "It's just... I can't even go to the damn bathroom alone," she looked back down at the array of cans at her feet, "She's always... watchin' me!"

Glenn tried and failed to muffle his laughter, huffing as he lifted another box, "Yeah, well... She's not the only one."

She knew that all too well. Those blue eyes were always on her, following her, tracking her movements, burning through her. Like a sixth sense she could feel it, like he had reached out and physically touched her. But every time she turned, every time he was caught, he looked away. And every time it felt like a punch in her gut. The way he was acting, his silence, it was so... false.

"Yeah... It's bullshit," Beth muttered under her breath, getting back to work.

xxxx

Everyone was settling for the night. The long day of prepping had exhausted them all. Beth looked around the living room, taking in the tired faces of her family. Her eyes fell on Rick; he looked older, haunted. But the way his features softened as he gazed down and Judith in his arms made Beth's heart swell. She could see the hope there. It was small, but present. Michonne and Carl were near him, sitting on the floor speaking in hushed tones. Beth couldn't help being glad he had found someone to talk to. He had grown so hard, cold. But when he was with Michonne, Beth could see remnants of the boy he used to be. Carol and Tyreese sat next to each other in the shadows of the corner if the room. They were silent, but the looks they exchanged every so often spoke volumes. She observed as Tyreese quietly reached over and covered Carol's hand with his own. There was a forgiveness and a remembrance in him that left Beth in complete awe. It was beautiful.

Gabriel sat away from the others. Quietly reading his worn Bible from his spot on the piano bench. He seemed to be adjusting well, the constant fear and regret in his eyes starting to recede some. Well, at least when Daryl wasn't around. Daryl. As her eyes shifted to the piano, it's worn ivory keys and cracking wood, Beth felt a pain in her chest. She hadn't played since their night at the funeral home. "Why don'cha play some more... keep singin'..." There was a piano back at the church, but she never could bring herself to play it; it didn't feel right. Like somehow that part of herself was reserved for her family. For him...

It was Maggie's soft voice that stirred her, "Bethy..."

Beth tore her eyes from the instrument, "Hmm?"

"Why don't you go play something?"

"I- I donno, Maggie..." Beth murmured, eyes focusing on her hands twisting in the lap.

"Ya should." Maggie said firmly.

Beth sighed to herself and rose from her spot on the dusty couch. When he saw her approach, Gabriel lifted his eyes from his scripture, questioningly.

Beth cleared her throat, eyes shifting to the piano, "Maggie... she asked me to play..."

"Oh," he looked surprised as he rose and motioned for her to take the bench,"I didn't know you could."

Beth gifted him a shy smile before sitting, "Yeah..."

Beth felt a familiar comfort wash over her as she reverently skimmed her fingertips across the keys. She had always loved music, a passion she'd inherited from her mother. She knew that, since the turn, most people would consider things like music frivolous. Dumb. A waste of valuable time. Dangerous even. But she didn't. People needed things like this. To remind them that beautiful things, good things, still existed.

As she began the first measure of the song, her mind wandered to him.

"What changed your mind?" Of course she knew. It was me. She had reminded him that there were still beautiful things, good people. But he couldn't tell her that; he wasn't a tender man. At least, not with words. But on the inside... Beth knew better. He was so much more. More than he even knew or could admit to himself. She wanted him to see that so badly. Wanted him to realize it. "See, I told you... there are still good people." She knew Daryl would never be some prince on a white horse, all flowery words and grand gestures. And she was ok with that. She didn't need or want that. That sort of affection was for another world, one that didn't exist anymore. But he did feel something. Something for her. And Beth very much suspected, it was the same thing she felt for him.

Tomorrow. He will talk to me tomorrow.

xxxx

It was dark and quiet in the house. Judging from the murky blue light filtering through the boarded up windows of the farmhouse, Beth figured it must be almost sunrise. The room she shared with Maggie, Glenn, and Tara had once been the dining room. Now it was where the four of them slept on scavenged box springs and tarps. Beth listened to their even breathing and soft snores as her eyes traced patterns on the ceiling. She hadn't slept a wink. All she could think of was him and how she was over waiting. Now was as good a time as any. Very quietly she rose from her bedding and tiptoed toward the door, pausing when Maggie began to stir, holding her breath. When Maggie settled back down, she slipped out, making her way toward the front door.

The screen creaked as she opened it. Beth paused again, waiting, but no one came. Almost there. She knew he'd be out here. Already awake. As she crept across the wide porch toward the steps, her heart began beating wildly. Maybe she should have prepared more. Like... a speech or... something. She was so consumed with her own thoughts she almost shrieked when his gravelly voice found her ears.

"Shouldn't be out here."

Beth's hand flew to her chest. "Jesus, Daryl!" she gasped, her breath creating small puffs of steam in the cool morning air.

He was standing in the grass, crossbow slung across his back. Beth couldn't help but think how wild he looked, like an apparition in the misty light.

"You should go back in. Sun ain't up yet." He was shifting uncomfortably. Nervous.

"We need to talk, Daryl."

"M'busy. Headin' out to hunt. An' you should get some sleep," he said, turning and starting to walk off.

He wasn't going to make this easy. Beth rolled her eyes and walked after him, away from the house. "You've been busy all damn week!"

He stopped dead in his tracks and slowly turned toward her. Beth felt a shiver that had nothing to do with the cold morning.

"What you say to me?" he asked, eyes narrowing.

Beth steeled herself, "I said, you have been busy. All. Damn. Week."

"Whatchu think this is, girl? Another one of your fucking games? A goddamn campin' trip? Somebody's gotta keep us safe, Beth! Fuckin' fed!"

"You don't think I know that?" Beth hissed, motioning for him to lower his voice.

"Go back in the house, Beth. We will talk later." He turned, continuing toward the tree line.

She felt her own anger rise as she hurried after him. How dare he dismiss her like that! "NO. We will talk right now. I am not taking this, not from you!"

He turned and stalked back toward her, "Not from me, huh? And what am I doin'?"

"You're... you're... Hidin' from me!" she exclaimed, exasperated.

At that, Daryl got right up in her face. "Ain't hidin' from no little girl!" he spat.

Beth tilted her chin defiantly, "I'm not a little girl and I'm not scared of you, Daryl Dixon."

"Well, maybe you fuckin' oughta be," he growled lowly.

"No," Beth edged closer, her voice firm, "I know you, an' this... isn't who you are."

Daryl scoffed, backing away. When he whipped back to her again, Beth silently thanked God they were further away from the house.

"What so I told ya some shit drunk one night an' now you know me, huh? You don't know a fuckin' thing!" He yelled, one finger jutting toward her nose.

"Don't do that! Don't push me away, Daryl! I'm done with that!" Beth's own voice loud now, eyes combing his features, willing him to understand, "You don't get to- to do that anymore! The way things are now... you can lose everything, everyone in a heartbeat..."

"Don'tcha think I know that?!" he roared, "Don'tcha think I felt that every damn day?!"

He was pacing now, avoiding her searching gaze and running his hands through his long hair. "What do ya want from me, Beth?!"

The tears were stinging her eyes. "I want it to be like before," she said quietly, her voice trembling.

He stopped pacing and met her eyes. His look made her heart break. When he finally tore his gaze from hers, his voice was hard, "Can't be like that no more."

"Why not? Don't you care at all?!"

Apparently, that was all it took to break whatever restraint he had left, "That what you think?! You think me lookin' for ya every damn day ain't caring?! You think me fightin' with every one of 'em who said you was dead, to give up, ain't caring?!"

The look on his face stole the air from her lungs; he wasn't angry. He was hurt. Then his voice started to crack, "You think... you think I wouldn'ta died tryin' to get to ya?"

"Daryl..."

"Naw, Beth! You think what you want about me but don't you ever fuckin' say I ain't care! I care more about you than I care about ME!"

"Daryl!"

"Damn it, Beth! I tried... I TRIED! And then Terminus? The shit we saw? The shit we had to do?! Don't ya know I did it for you? So I could get to ya?!" Beth couldn't tell if he was talking to her or to himself anymore. "What if I didn't make it, huh? What then? That'd been on me!"

"You found me!"

"I shouldn'tve lost ya in the first place!" he argued, "Should've kept ya safe! It was my job- keepin' ya safe! And I couldn't!"

"Ya did!" she insisted

"Ya got taken, Beth!"

Beth could no longer control the desperation in her voice or the fat tears rolling down her face, "Yeah, and how do you think I made it?! You! You taught me... everythin'! You are the reason I'm here! You are every reason! Don't you think I wanted to- to just give up?! How could I, knowing you were out there? Don't you get it?! I had to find you, I had to! You and me... Daryl, I... I..."

"YOU WHAT?" he barked, eyes boring into her.

"I love you," the words tumbled from her lips unbidden, something between a gasp and a growl.

Daryl's jaw slacked, like he'd been smacked. He looked utterly stunned; his permanent glare giving in to wide eyed disbelief. Under any other circumstance it may have looked comical; right now it was anything but. His recovery was slow, painful. His eyes slipped from hers like sand through a sieve, finding the ground. The silence felt like an eternity, settling heavy on Beth's shoulders. The tears flowed freely down her cheeks.

"Say something?" her voice barely a whisper.

She could see his jaw ticking, his hands fisted at his sides, as he studied the damp ground. He looked... defeated.

"Why?" his voice sounded strained.

"Daryl..."

"Why? Why did you say that?" he tried to meet her eyes, failing miserably. She knew this was difficult for him.

Beth shrugged, "It's true."

"But... Why?" When he finally forced his eyes to meet hers, he looked... afraid.

"Because..." Her eyes searched the ground in front of her before snapping back up to his, "because you changed my mind, too." And she'd never meant anything more in her entire life.

She knew the moment it happened. The moment he gave up the fight, the light in his eyes changed. It was like storm clouds rolling off the sea, beautiful and frightening all at once. His hands abandoned their tireless clenching at his sides and he made it to her in two strides, never breaking eye contact. Very slowly his hands came up to gently clutch her elbows. The emotion rolled off him, crashing into her wave after wave, making it impossible to breathe. Slowly his head descended until his forehead came to rest against hers. His breath was ragged, stirring the loose strands around her face. Beth was sure the beating of her heart was so loud it would draw every walker in the state of Georgia. And damn if she cared.

"Ain't right," he murmured.

Beth closed her eyes, "It is."

"Naw. It ain't."

"Don't say that."

"You're... you're so... you're good, Beth," his voice was shaking now.

"Hey... Daryl, look at me." Her slim hands found the worn planes of his face, angling him to look at her, "We... we are good."

His eyes were searching hers now. Looking for the lie. But she knew he wouldn't find it. Very cautiously, Beth leaned up. When her lips brushed his cheek, his eyes fluttered closed. She could feel his whole body trembling. Slowly, she let her lips ghost over his face; his stubbled cheeks, his forehead, the crooked bridge of his nose. As if she could commit them all to memory. When they came to rest more firmly at the corner of his mouth, she felt him go completely still. It took a minute, but the tension eventually left him. He trusts me. Encouraged, she let her lips flutter across his. He made a soft noise in his throat and Beth felt his fingers dig into her arms. It took her by surprise when she felt his mouth slowly start to move, lips clinging to hers.

Beth pulled back slowly, her eyes taking in his face. He had such a handsome face. When his eyes met hers, she couldn't help thinking how young he looked in this moment, so unsure. She wanted more, everything. And she knew he did, too. But, this - just being together - it was enough. For now, anyway.

Beth smiled, "I mean it."

For a while they just stood there, staring at each other, her fingertips grazing the sides of his face. She could see the tension there, the fear, under the surface. It was almost laughable; how could anyone be afraid of her? But it wasn't her, not really. Her love terrified him. Maybe no one had told him that before, that he was worthy of loving. It felt like a tremendous responsibility but that only made it more precious to her. She couldn't help the small smile on her face. She would gladly spend the rest of her life, no matter how short, proving to him that he was.

"Me too," he finally whispered.

"Hmm?"

"Ya know, that thing. The thing ya said. Me too." Beth felt her heart flutter in her chest and she opened her mouth to speak, but he continued, "I'm- I'm no good at this... But I don't know how to be without ya, not no more."

Beth nodded. She knew. "Ain't goin' anywhere," she promised quietly.

"You were right... I missed ya so bad when you were gone."

End.

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A/N: I hope you enjoyed reading my little fic as much as I enjoyed writing it! This has been a very cool experience! To every one of you who read, followed, favorited, reviewed: Thank you from the bottom of my Bethyl shipping heart! I feel honored and humbled that anyone would take the time to read my nonsense. Bless you all!

I have another little fic spinning around in my brain, but I make no promises on ETA. It's Bethyl, of course. It would be solely Daryl POV, dark and angsty based on the song "Take Me to Church" by Hozier, set during the events of "Us" and "A". Give it a listen and let me know if there is any interest! :)

Thank you all again! Much love, always. -T.