good night & joy be to you all

built to fall apart | p8

built to fall apart | p8

don't be alarmed if i fall head over feet | p7

no one has to know what we do | p6

Daryl had meant the kiss on her neck to be innocent – a sweet gesture to show Beth how deeply he cared for her without actually having to say the words. But it quickly turned into more. He stopped kissing her neck briefly, but his lips were still parted against her skin. She smelled good – warm and inviting. He heard her say his name, and he let out a shaky breath against her skin. He let his left hand trail up and down her side slowly, before it came to a stop at her waist. Her shirt had come up slightly with his movements, so his hands had settled on her exposed skin. It was a small spot – barely enough for anyone to have noticed – but he could feel her warm skin beneath his rough hand. His right hand rested over hers, on his chest. He began to trail his hot mouth along her neck, slowly, searching for any indication that she might want him to stop. His breaths were shallow and, for the first time, nervous. Daryl wouldn’t take it too far with Beth. Not here. Not unless she’d asked him to. But the amount of tension that had built up between the two – he almost felt like the two could indulge in a little bit of selfishness, even if it didn’t make things easier. “We can go down whenever you want…” he whispered again, finally pulling away from her skin, his eyes searching for her gaze in the dark.

Beth felt her body betray her before she could give him any kind of answer, pressing herself closer to him if it was even possible. He was only barely touching her, but her heart was beating so loudly, she was surprised he couldn’t hear it. She knew what had to happen next, she knew what she wanted next. Reminding herself this wasn’t the right place, she looked into Daryl’s dark blue eyes and was surprised at how calm she felt about her decision. Letting her hand that had found his hair, trail back to his cheek, she leaned in ever so slightly and pressed her lips to his. It couldn’t be anything less than an innocent, quick kiss - or else she knew she wouldn’t be able to stop again. Letting her lips slide from his own, to his cheek, Beth let out a slightly shaky breath against his jaw. “...will you take me to the barn tonight?” She had hoped the question would come out strangely confident, but it was still only a breathless whisper that she could produce. They both knew what it meant, what she was asking. Truthfully, she had known for a little bit now, there was only one man she had truly wanted to embark on this next step with. Jimmy. Zach. Even Spencer had tried, but Beth knew it wasn’t just a quick fuck she was looking for. The amount of lust building between her and Daryl was almost unbearable, but it was more than just that. There was an overflowing amount of love. Beth’s eyes widened at the realization and she pulled away slightly to get a look at his eyes, to try and guess what it was he was thinking. “After Maggie and Glenn go to bed...” She mumbled, her gaze getting lost onto him. Her fingers begging to trail over his tan skin. Reminding herself yet again, if she didn’t end this here, it wouldn’t - she pulled away from him completely and picked up the towel she dropped. Turning back to the door, she looked over her shoulder and smiled at him, before disappearing back into the hallway and down the stairs.

no one has to know what we do | p6

Daryl’s heart practically beat right out of his chest at words. She’d missed him. Someone, in this completely fucked up world, had longed for his presence, and that person had been Beth. Of all the things she had probably done that day, she took a moment to miss him. It made Daryl feel something swirl inside his chest, a mix between sheer excitement and helplessness. “I missed you,” he responded, clearing his throat. Everyone downstairs seemed to be preoccupied with their dinners – laughing and talking about each other’s days. And Daryl and Beth were hidden away in an incredibly dark bathroom, standing inches away from each other. As Beth leaned forward, Daryl began reaching towards her waist, but she subtly dodged his mouth and reached behind him for a towel. He bit the inside of his cheek, almost laughing. Did she know what she was doing to him, or was it just in Beth Greene’s innocent nature? He let out a breath as she turned around and got the towel wet. “Didn’t have to ruin it,” he said, shrugging as his eyes fell down on the shirt, which had started to stick to her skin. It was dark, but it didn’t take much for Daryl’s imagination to run rampant with thoughts of Beth. It was no secret that there’d been a built up tension between the pair, gradually, since they embarked on their new relationship. Daryl had been doing his best to respect her – keep his distance, but it was near impossible. Daryl closed the gap between their bodies, one hand sliding slowly down her side. She was a lot smaller than him, so his head ducked down significantly to place a kiss on the side of her face. He was sure that if she reached out and touched his chest – she’d feel how hard it was pounding. He was treading on incredibly dangerous waters, but the only thing running through Daryl’s head was how badly he’d wanted to kiss her again. “We should go back downstairs soon…” he murmured against her skin, his lips trailing down to her neck where he let his tongue gently graze over her skin briefly.

Daryl had told her he missed her too and that alone was enough to make her want to never stop smiling for the rest of her life. She knew the two had some strange, undefined relationship brewing, but that didn’t mean he was her boyfriend. She hadn’t expected him to necessarily be suddenly openly loving with her, but to know she had been on his mind at some point that day - caused a warm feeling to spread through her chest. She made a mental note; it was a feeling she had never felt with any of her other boyfriends. Beth instantly froze as his hand touched her side again. Then his lips touched her neck and time seemed to stand still. She was still learning which lines Daryl was willing to cross with ease and which were harder for him. Despite whatever inner demons he was battling with, she knew he still struggled with being able to not only verbally express emotions, but physically. There were times in the past that she’d hug him and he’d instantly tense up completely. Slowly, though, she had began to notice slight changes in him. Was Daryl finally feeling comfortable around her? “Y-Yeah...downstairs...”  Inhaling sharply as Beth felt his tongue touch her skin, his warm breath fan over her, she held back the moan she was sure was forming in her throat. It wasn’t an idea she entertained a lot, but he obviously was far more experienced than she was and just in that small gesture alone - she knew she was in trouble. The towel fell from her hands and one of her hands found his chest, the other - his hair. Her fingers tangled into his dark locks, her nails gently scratching against his scalp. “Daryl...” She had meant for the whisper to come out as a warning, a warning that this was not the place they’d ever want to get caught in each other’s embrace, but it came out more as a plea. 

no one has to know what we do | p6

Beth almost let out a squeal as a hand covered her face and another pulled her into the dark bathroom. He shushed her and she silently laughed, happily intertwining his fingers with hers. Holding hands had become a thing for them, no matter what the mood was, what the situation was, her hand would always automatically be drawn to his. It gave her a feeling of security, warmth, confidence. Daryl kissed her then and Beth couldn’t help the sigh that escaped from her lips, her free hand rising to push some hair from his eyes. “I missed you today...” She said quietly, her fingers trailing down his jaw line. He pulled away slightly and Beth swallowed hard at the mere sound of his voice. Glancing down at her shirt after his observation, she nodded, struggling to find words all of the sudden. This had been happening more and more lately, a tension that was building up and up, and sometimes she swore she could feel it in the air around them. “I...I had to have a good excuse to get out of there...” She said gently, forcing herself to not let her eyes fall to his lips. For a moment, Beth felt like they were back on the run. It was after the farm fell, but before they had stumbled onto the prison. Any interaction she had with Daryl left her nervous and tripping over her words. All he had to do was look at her sometimes and she could feel her heart race. Letting out a shaky breath she didn’t even realize she was holding in, Beth leaned in closer to him. Almost kissing him, she stopped, and pulled a small hand towel off a rack behind him. Turning around, she turned on the sink and wet the cloth a little. Turning back towards him, she started to dab at the stains for a moment and then laughed again, quietly. “I just ruined a perfectly good shirt for you.”

no one has to know what we do | p6

It was strange, the idea of needing to touch and be touched by Beth. Rick was grinning sheepishly, but thankfully, aside from Maggie, Glenn, and Rick, no one else had caught on. And he figured Rick was just teasing him, anyway. He decided not to dwell on it any longer, serving himself a second helping of Beth’s mashed potatoes. They really were the best damn thing on his plate. The conversation shifted, and Carol glanced over at Daryl. “Daryl, you told everyone about your run in with the blood sucking dog back in Atlanta?” The room was filled with an eruption of laughter, and he simply shook his head. “Y’all keep laughin’. Simple minded assholes is what you are. I saw what I saw,” he said defensively, downing a large swig of beer. “One these days I’ma prove it to y’all. Just you wait,” he said, grinning a little as he set his fork back down on the plate. He was pretty full, between the mashed potatoes, bread, chicken, and vegetables. That’s when he felt Beth’s hand settle on his thigh – she began to trace circles on the fabric of his jeans. He coughed a little, clearing his throat – his own feeble attempt at masking whatever fucking noise left his mouth. His heart was pounding. Beth drove him crazy. And he wondered if she knew. If she did it on purpose. Regardless, Daryl knew that if he kept sitting there, with her hand on his thigh, he’d be unable to keep his composure. So he stood suddenly, taking a large swig of the beer. “Gotta take a piss,” he announced to the entire table, evoking a few disgusted groans from some of the people, followed by someone saying, “we’re eating, Daryl.” He glanced down at Beth, quickly and subtly, hoping she’d take the hint to follow him after a couple of minutes.

no one has to know what we do | p6

It was nice – just talking to Beth for a few minutes, holding hands under the table. He could feel Maggie staring Beth down, so when she let go of his hand, he wasn’t disappointed. He cleared his throat, taking another mouthful of the mashed potatoes. “It’s the best damn thing on my plate,” he assured her, shooting her a quick smirk – one that only she could’ve caught, before he focused back on the food. A part of him wished they didn’t have to hide, but another part of him was glad. Because it meant that this – whatever it was for them – was only between the two of them. They owed no one any explanations. “Yeah, was fine. Was a few walkers, but we got ‘em. Nothin’ I couldn’t handle.” Daryl glanced up at Maggie, who was now talking to Glenn about something. So he daringly reached over to her leg, which was leaning against his. He rested the palm of his hand on her leg, gently rubbing her knee with his thumb. His heart was beating so damn fast, and he was sure that he felt his face growing hot – he hoped no one would notice. He knew it was a risk – Carl was sitting on the other side of him, but he seemed to be preoccupied – talking to Michonne about some comic book character. “Daryl, can you pass me the gravy?” He heard Rick’s voice, who’d apparently been staring at him the whole time. It was probably obvious now. He removed his hand from Beth’s leg as subtly as he possibly could, before standing up and handing Rick the gravy. The look on Rick’s face was so fucking smug – he wanted to knock him right in the mouth.  

Beth couldn’t get the smile to fall from her face, no matter how hard she tried. It just was what it was in Daryl’s company. He made her so undeniably happy, it was almost too exhausting to try and contain that. As he complimented her food, she bit her lip, trying to hide her smile. She was beginning to notice Rick, Glenn, and Maggie’s stares. The looks she couldn’t quite make out. Then Daryl’s hand crept onto her leg and Beth covered her mouth with her napkin as quickly as she could, trying to hide whatever sound her body was trying to make in reaction. It was hard to describe, she adored Daryl, everything about him. She cared so deeply about him, yet lately it had been more than her emotions. It had been her body. She’d get chills down her spine just from the mere thought of him. Then Rick’s voice interrupted through whatever trance the two had fallen into from the mere slight physical contact and the moment ended. Slightly pouting from the lack of his warm hand, Beth couldn’t help but to notice the exchange of facial expressions Rick and Daryl were giving each other. Turning her head, Beth began to spark conversation with Eugene and Abraham, though she wasn’t listening to anything either were saying. While she had her head turned away, as Daryl sat back down, her hand found his thigh. Tracing small circles onto the denim of his jeans, she couldn’t see his face, but she could only imagine this was beginning to get as difficult for him as it was for her. “Wow, Eugene. That’s so interesting!” She exclaimed excitedly, having no idea what he had even said to begin with.

no one has to know what we do | p6

Daryl’s hand grabbed hers and it took every ounce of strength Beth had to not lean in closer to him. She wondered what all of it meant, especially the fact she was already practically ready to jump him after being without him for a couple of hours. Happy to simply have him in her presence again, Beth’s thumb gently rubbed the back of his hand. “Mm, the potatoes...” She said gently, knowing talking wasn’t a crime, but wanting to really only talk to him. “My momma’s recipe. If I’d have tried to cook that chicken, you probably wouldn’t be eatin’ it, I can’t cook a chicken to save my life.” Grinning, Beth glanced around to see if anyone’s eyes were on them. “How did the trap setting go? Did ya’ll see any walkers?” Feeling Maggie’s eyes on her again, Beth glanced at her sister, giving her a questioning look. Though, honestly, she knew her sister wasn’t dumb. Maggie had gestured to her arm that was slightly closer to Daryl then it probably should have been. Dropping his hand, she put her hands in her lap and looked to her unfinished food. It was becoming torturous and the last thing she wanted was for him to think she didn’t want this, but Maggie’s staring was beginning to make her uncomfortable. Moving her leg nearest to him closer, she pressed her thigh against his.

no one has to know what we do | p6

what could you do with those hands? | p5

Underneath his rugged exterior, Daryl Dixon was a good man with a caring soul. All his life he’d been placed in situations that had hardened him – taught him lessons. He’d never seen the good in himself – in fact, he always believed that he and Merle were lost causes. They’d been drifters, before the apocalypse. And as odd as it might’ve sounded – living in this post-apocalyptic world was the closest thing to stability that Daryl Dixon had ever had. Hearing Beth asking him to just be himself was altogether frightening and comforting. Comforting because it meant she accepted him – she’d wanted to see more of Daryl. But frightening because there was a lot to him that she still didn’t know. “Mm,” he grunted, his own version of “yes.” He’d probably have to get better with his words, too, but he didn’t see that happening in the foreseeable future. Not yet, at least. Daryl pulled her away from him slightly, cupping the side of her face with his calloused hand. He ran his thumb over the pink scar on her cheek. He couldn’t see it, but he could feel it – the new skin, slightly raised. He wanted to kiss her again, almost leaned in, but given where she was sitting, he didn’t think it was such a wise idea. “We should sleep,” he finally said, after a few moments of silence, his hand falling down to his side. “We can head out early. Clear the area out by the pond ‘fore it gets too hot.” Daryl remained perfectly still, making no movement to lay down on her bed. It was stupid – they’d slept together before, but he still felt uncomfortable at the idea of just sprawling out on her bed like he owned it. So he gave her a quick, panicked look, before his eyes fell down on his clothes. He was always dirty, but somehow, that never seemed to bother Beth.

Beth was surprised as his hand touched her cheek, despite the amount of intimate moments they had been sharing since she returned, sometimes she still felt shocked at how gentle Daryl could be. She felt him touch the scar on her cheek and for a moment, felt slightly self conscious. Like him, the scars on her face reminded her of the pain, the hurt. Reminded her that she shouldn’t be sitting there. The reminder of death continued to loom around her, especially when she caught sight of her scars. It reminded her of the evil that still existed in the world, the evil that was far worse than the walkers that wanted to devour them. The evil that humans could turn on each other in that way. Swallowing hard, she wasn’t sure how much longer she could sit silently under his inspection, thankfully his hand retreated. “We should sleep.” She agreed happily, remembering her best sleep was with him next to her. He grew very quiet after that and she caught only a brief sight of him courtesy of some moonlight streaming in through the window. He looked as he did most times she’d insist he sleep with her, unsure. Not unsure with what he wanted, but simply unsure if he was in the wrong. It made her sad he felt such inner turmoil over her, so she decided to make it easier on him. Pulling the blanket down enough that she could crawl under it, Beth climbed off his lap and scooted over to the unoccupied side of the bed, sliding under the covers. Yawning, she noted she hadn’t changed out of her clothes either, but at this point - she didn’t care one bit. Rolling onto her belly, she turned her head so she could see him and smiled widely, patting the spot next to her. “You’re stuck with me now, Daryl Dixon.”

what could you do with those hands? | p5

Hearing Beth say that she’d only do it again made him smile. However, he didn’t want her to lose that general softness of her. He’d remembered back at the prison, after telling her that Zack had died – how she’d reacted. “I don’t cry anymore, Daryl,” she’d said. He sighed softy, nodding. “You don’t gotta look out for me,” he began, mumbling as he spoke. A part of him still felt guilty – for asking her to kill for him. Daryl’s hand trailed up to the side of her neck. His thumb slowly traced over her jawline. Daryl wasn’t sure he’d ever get used to the idea of being with Beth. “The reason I told you we were a mistake… I dunno. Seein’ you kill those guys. I know we all gotta do it, but… it felt bad when you did it. I jus’ kept seeing Hershel’s face, man. They weren’t good people. I know that. Just… stay you, alright, Beth? Change the parts you need to. But stay you.”    

“’Course I gotta look after you, I think sometimes you think you can’t die. Like you’re invincible. Someone’s gotta keep remindin’ you.” Beth’s smile faded slightly at the mention of her Daddy. Would he be proud of who’d she become? Would he praise her for her choices or shame her? “Daddy would want me to fight for what’s right.” She said, her eyes shutting as she felt his hand against her face. “He would’a killed for you too, Daryl.” Hershel had gained a soft spot for Rick, Glenn, and Daryl. Rick as a confidant, Glenn as a son, and Daryl as... Beth wondered what he’d thought of Daryl as? He was always lookin’ out for him, too. Always trying to show him what was best to do. Could it have been possible he’d known? Known that maybe one day, Beth would be here, in Daryl’s arms? But stay you. She’d wanted to change so much, the thought often pushed her in the toughest times. Everyone always had to tell her how weak she was, even Daryl had been guilty of it at a time. Dawn didn’t believe in her. Sometimes she wondered if Hershel doubted her skills, too. The world had changed so drastically and Beth realized, the weak could not survive. Still, he had asked her to not change. She wondered why he wouldn’t her more tough, more like Andrea or Michonne. The women that surrounded them that killed without a second thought. Her heart skipped a beat at the thought and that was the reason why. Beth still believed in the good, she always had, and as a downfall - figured she might always will. Her mind thought back to the trailer again, what she had told him on the porch in a drunken ramble. “I haven’t changed...remember? Still not enough, at least.” Half drifting into sleep now, she had almost forgotten it had been days since she slept properly. “I’ll stay the way I am, if you stay the way you are. An’ I mean who you really are. Not fakin’ being mean or lyin’ to me.” Peeking one eye back open, she grinned at him, even if he couldn’t see it in the dark. “You got me, Daryl Dixon?”

what could you do with those hands? | p5

Daryl froze as her hands slid down to his chest. Her touch alone made him want to go fucking crazy. But on the surface, Daryl appeared calm – like always – despite the fact that his heart was beating at a mile per minute. “Tomorrow, then,” he began, gazing down at the dog, chest rising and falling. He could even hear the guy snoring, just a little bit. “But we’re clearing the area. An’ we don’t split up. You’re carrying a gun, too.” Those were really his only conditions. He knew that if Beth was directly beside him, armed, the chances of something bad happening to her diminished. Daryl sighed as she grew quiet for a moment, and then she was thanking him. “Ain’t gotta thank me for nothin’,” he said, shrugging. “I wanted to.” His hands wrapped around her, settling on the small of her back. Being soft and gentle with women was something Daryl wasn’t very good at – but with Beth, it just felt right. It was no secret that his feelings for her had increased drastically. It wasn’t just an attraction – it was more. His heart ached at the idea of her being with another man, of her not wanting him back. “Should be thankin’ you, Greene. You’re the one that saved me.”

“Whatever you want, Mr. Dixon.” She said, remembering when he was ordering her around at the moonshine trailer. Whatever his circumstances were, she knew she’d do it. Beth smiled as he thanked her, one of her hands finding it’s way to his hair, she gently brushed her fingers through the dark, unruly strands. “Ain’t nothin...” She mumbled, teasing him with his signature response to thank yous. Killing those men had driven her nuts for almost two days, but the more she thought about it, the more she realized if she hadn’t - Daryl probably wouldn’t have been there with her. And that’s when she knew, if it ever came down to Daryl and another human life again, there was no doubt what her choice would be. It was somewhat selfish, but Beth decided if there was ever a person to be selfish with, it was him. Despite what he believed, he was one of the best people she’d ever gotten to know in the whole apocalypse. “...I’d do it again. In a heartbeat.”

what could you do with those hands? | p5

Daryl was glad that she didn’t let the fact that she didn’t remember her mother get to her. She’d remember, and he’d help her. Maggie, too. There wasn’t a shortage of people in the world who’d help Beth Greene. Daryl’s breath caught in his throat as Beth began kissing him. She shifted so that she was straddling him. He was sure that his cheeks had flushed a bright red, and he hoped that she wouldn’t notice in the darkness of the bedroom. Daryl placed his hands above her waist, doing his best to not think about how bad he wanted her. It was fucked up – they’d been talking about how awful his parents were and how she couldn’t even remember hers – and the only thing on Daryl’s mind now was how badly he needed her. Regardless, he cleared his throat. “Yeah. We can go back whenever.” As he spoke, the only thing on his mind was that he hoped to God that Beth didn’t move around. Not while she was on his lap like that. Still, he returned her kiss with an innocent one on the lips, hoping to move past the presence of her straddling him. He could make it normal. Besides, knowing Beth - she probably didn’t know any better. He lifted his hand so that it was on her shoulder, dragging it down her arm slowly. “Maybe we can even go tomorrow,” he said quietly, his mind elsewhere.

Beth unexpectedly shivered when he ran his hand down her arm, realizing there was no excuse this time. It was as hot as most nights had been in Virginia, her body was thinking on it’s own accord now. “I’d like to go tomorrow...” She mumbled, her hands moved to his shoulders, sliding slowly to this chest. The amount of strength he had in his upper body had always intrigued her, the amount of strength he had to have to always be wielding and reloading the bulky crossbow. Then again, there wasn’t much he did that didn’t intrigue her. “Maybe this time we could set up some more traps, clean the place up a little, bring the dog...” She smiled, glancing up at him from her hands. The room was dark, nothing lighting it up but the moonlight. Leaning forward, she rest her head on his shoulder, exhaling sharply into his collarbone. There was only one truth to the matter and she was starting to realize it more and more, flashing back to a conversation that had taken place so many years ago. Could it really have already been years? “You should sleep with Joey.” Mary Anne had teased Beth, the two girls standing awkwardly at a farm party that they were truthfully a few years too young to be at. “You can’t wait your whole life for the right person, Beth. They won’t come.” Little would Mary Anne know, the world would literally end before she could make that decision. But sitting on this bed, a real bed that she had lived for so long without, with this incredible man holding her close, she knew this was it. No matter what happened next in their relationship, Beth had decided she had found the first real love of her life. “Thank you for everything, Daryl. For...helping me, for coming home.”

what could you do with those hands? | p5

Daryl wasn’t sure what to say whenever Beth mentioned that she didn’t remember what her mother had looked like. He swallowed, feeling anger rush through him at the thought of Dawn. This was her fucking fault. He clenched his fists, but that’s when he realized this wasn’t the reaction that Beth had needed. She needed for him to be there – to comfort her. Something that Daryl wasn’t too good at, but if Beth needed it… He scooted closer to her, careful and slow, before wrapping an arm around her and pulling her into his lap. “She had dark hair. Kinda looked red. Maybe brown,” he began. “There was a picture of her… and your daddy, too – back at the farm. In that room where I stayed, after getting shot. That’s all I can remember…” he trailed off. She wouldn’t have to ask Maggie – he’d do it for her. But maybe that small bit of information was enough for Beth. “You’ll remember,” he assured her, running his bandaged hand down her arm, resting it on top of her hand. This was all still so fucking foreign to Daryl. Holding her, comforting her. He felt out of place, awkward, and far too tense. But if it was helping Beth, he’d sit through it for a few more minutes. “Don’t go gettin’ sad on me now. Tonight… it’s a good night now.”

Beth looked at him slightly surprised as he grabbed her and pulled her into his lap. She hadn’t been expecting that at all, but she enjoyed it none the less. The warmth and safety that radiated from him was something she could never get enough of. As he spoke, she couldn’t help the corners of her mouth twitching up to a small smile. People always assumed Daryl was cold, stand offish. But, Beth was beginning to see more and more of how loving he truly was and she knew she was absolutely screwed now, she didn’t want to spend another day of her life without him. As he mentioned her dark hair, she felt a slight tug in her chest and the smile grew slightly. “Like Shawn’s...” She murmured slightly. They had kept a picture of him on the fridge back at the house, she constantly was staring at it in her mourning of her big brother. Right before the farm fell, she had folded the picture up and put it in her small diary. She suddenly was left wondering what happened to that little notebook, but decided she’d think about it more tomorrow. He was right...it was a good night. Raising a hand to touch his scruffy cheek, she let her fingers linger there as she turned her head and placed a quick kiss to the base of his throat. Then his cheek. Then his lips. She had now turned herself around just enough that she was more or less straddling him, but her naive nature when it came to men and the alcohol she had consumed earlier made her blind to her risky and forward movement. Besides, it felt too right for it to be wrong. That thought made her blush lightly and she wasn’t entirely sure why. “Maybe...maybe one of these days we could go back to that pretty pond?”