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Chapter Five. Beth.

"Merry Christmas, Shane!" Beth calls out as the man heads out the door, the bell tinkling out above his head.

"You, too, Beth," Shane gives her a grin before stepping outside with one final wave and with that, the Greene Family Tree Farm is officially closed for another season.

Shane Walsh is always their last customer. Every year. The tree farm is open from the day after Thanksgiving until December 23rd and every year on the 23rd, around three o'clock, when it's already getting dark outside, Shane shows up with his girlfriend, Amy, and they look at the trees for about a half hour before making their choice. As a deputy on the police force and a nurse in the hospital's ER, Shane and Amy's schedules aren't the easiest to coordinate with the other, but they insist that they always get their Christmas tree together.

Beth takes the money tray from the cash register and goes into her daddy's little office in the back of the building and locks the day's profits in for the day safely away into the safe so Hershel can deposit the money in the bank tomorrow morning.

She hears the bell tinkle and she gets up, making sure the safe is locked up tight before leaving the office. She smiles the instant she sees him and her stomach does a little flip. She wonders how long it will flip because it's been three years since Hershel has hired Daryl to work on the farm and the first time Beth saw him and met him, her stomach flipped and three years later, it still flips.

Daryl stands there, just inside the door. He has pulled his work gloves off and his hat and she almost wants to laugh from the state of his hair now, but she purses her lips together and is able to stop herself before she can.

"'nother year done," he says.

Beth smiles. "I think it gets faster every year."

She takes a step towards him and then stops; as if she's not entirely sure if she should come to stand right in front of him even though that's exactly what she wants to do.

Everyone knows about her and Daryl now. Not just her family, but everyone, and she is still somewhat confused with the whole betting thing and the fact that no one seemed surprised in the least when they found out that she and Daryl are… well, they must be something, but Beth actually isn't entirely sure because they haven't talked about it.

She can't imagine that Daryl is the sort to have those kinds of conversations and that's definitely a problem because Beth is the kind of sort to want those kinds of conversations.

"You all done in here?" Daryl asks and Beth nods. He seems nervous for some reason, clutching his gloves and hat in his hands and not taking one step towards her, and Beth begins to feel nervous in return.

"I am," she answers. "I just need to get my coat."

"I'll wait for you," Daryl says and Beth gives him another smile as she turns to go back into the office to gather all of her outer layers.

There is a small mirror hanging on the wall and Beth finds herself studying her appearance. Why is Daryl nervous? It's never really a good thing when someone is nervous; especially when that someone is the man who has been kissing her and sharing smiles with her for the past couple of weeks and giving her stomach constant flips for the past few years.

Maybe he's regretting it. Maybe it's just been the whole Christmas spirit or something like that or maybe, worse still, he's just been bored and was looking for something to pass the time.

Beth frowns at that. That would be so terrible of him. Her stomach would definitely stop flipping if that turned out to be true. And yet, Beth can't imagine Daryl even thinking of doing something like that; kissing her just to occupy his time. She knows Daryl. He's shy and sweet and such a good man. He grumbles about all of the people who traipse all over the farm, looking for their Christmas tree, but he is the first to help one of the kids who are running and trip over a hidden tree stump or help the man who is sawing down his tree and his arm starts getting tired.

Daryl Dixon is the best man and Beth keeps meaning to thank her daddy for hiring him those years ago. Hershel will never admit that he's getting too old to run the farm by himself, but – even with Shawn having come home to help and having a few other farmhands – Hershel admits at least once a day that he doesn't know what he would do if he didn't have Daryl to help him.

Daryl is a good man.

And he wouldn't just kiss her because he was bored. Beth rolls her eyes at herself for having that thought for even a second.

She zips and buttons up her coat, wraps her scarf securely around her neck, smashes her hat over her head and then holding her gloves – and with one more deep breath – she leaves the office.

Daryl is still standing at the door and it looks as if he is talking to himself. She has no idea what he's saying – he talking far too soft for her to hear anything – but she can see his lips moving.

And then, as if sensing her presence, he lifts his head abruptly and looks at her.

Flip goes her stomach.

She gives him a soft smile.

"Can I walk you home?" Daryl asks and Beth's smile grows.

Without a word, Beth pulls her gloves on and closes the space between them. Daryl gives her his own small smile and she slips her hand into his. She turns the lights off and they step outside and he then waits as she locks the door behind them.

They are quiet as they begin walking through the rows of the trees that remain, heading towards the farmhouse. The snow crunches beneath their boots and Beth finds herself humming I Saw Three Ships. From the corner of her eye, she can see Daryl looking at her every few seconds.

"Is everything alright?" Beth finally asks him.

"Huh?" Daryl asks as if he's barely heard her; so deep in thought. "Yeah. Everythin's fine. Everythin' good with you?"

Beth smiles; almost laughs. "Everything's fine," she echoes. "You seem… nervous."

"Nah, I'm fine," he says, but he doesn't seem fine at all.

"Daryl-" Beth begins to say because he doesn't seem fine at all and the more he says that he is, the less she believes him.

"I got you a Christmas present," Daryl cuts in and stops walking.

"You… You did?" Beth can't help, but be surprised.

Daryl seems surprised that she's surprised. "Yeah. Was that… should I…"

"No! I'm so glad you did! I just wasn't expecting…" Beth stops herself and shakes her head, looking up at him with a smile. "I got you a present, too, but I was waiting for Christmas."

"I didn't want to wait," Daryl then admits and Beth smiles at that. "I didn't wrap it," he then quickly adds as he reaches into his pocket.

"That's okay," she says, almost laughing because he is just so adorable.

She won't tell him that of course – she can just imagine Daryl's reaction at that – but it's the truth. There's just something about a man that is as handsome as Daryl – not to mention someone of Daryl's age – and having him standing in front of her, bumbling a bit.

"'s not that great," Daryl tells her once he pulls whatever the gift is from his pocket.

"I'll be the judge of that," she smiles up at him.

Daryl smirks a little, but she can feel the nerves radiating off of him in waves. Beth knows that no matter what Daryl gives her, she is going to act like it is the best thing she has ever received.

The farm is dark, but the moon is bright and a good size that evening so she's able to see what is in his hand when he opens his fist. She stares at it for a moment and then lifts her eyes to look at him; as if silently questioning him if he really means this.

"Only if you want it though," Daryl says when she doesn't say anything for a few beats.

Beth picks up the key and closes her fingers around it. She looks back up at him. "I definitely want it," she says, her voice quiet; as if amazed by this – and she is.

"The place is nothin' special," Daryl tells her. "And I know it's really soon so maybe, you can come over a couple of nights a week. Or whenever you want. And maybe… maybe you can help me make the place somethin'."

Beth feels tears in her eyes at that and they are completely unexpected and unwanted right now. Now is definitely not the time to start crying. She doesn't want to start crying. Daryl has just given her a key to his place and she didn't even know she wanted this until it was given to her.

Beth wipes at her cheeks, clutching the key in her fist, and then, standing on her toes, she throws her arms his shoulders and crashes her mouth to his. Daryl wraps his arms tightly around her waist and holds her so firmly, he nearly pulls her up to the tips of her toes.

"I got you a pair of gloves and now I have to go and get you something else because I can't give you just gloves after you give me something like this," Beth says once she pulls her head back from his so she can breathe, laughing slightly, and Daryl smiles a little.

"You don't gotta get me anything, Beth. This, right here, is more than enough for me," he says.

Flip goes her stomach once more.

More tears flood her eyes and she has to laugh at herself because she is being so ridiculous. Shaking her head, she leans in so their mouths can meet once more.

"Merry Christmas, Daryl," she murmurs to him, keeping her eyes closed, brushing her nose against his.

And even though her eyes are closed, she can hear Daryl smiling that little smile of his.

"Merry Christmas, Beth."

…

Thank you so much for reading and please take a moment to review! I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and an awesome holiday!