I know this is amazing.
I'm updating after six months of silence!
Honestly it's been a weird kind of year so far.
I moved to Indiana to be with my boyfriend. Got there a week and then was admitted to the hospital!
Yay for kidney damage and high blood pressure!
Season 5 of TWD killed me.
Rick went inShane and the whole thing seemed kind of meh to me.
This is dedicated to everyone who has read and reviewed.
You bring a smile to my face on my bad days and give me the giggles on my good ones.
Also dedicated to JaimeK45, the best fanfiction friend a girl could have.

Daryl wasn't usually one to sleep naked but the lure of Beth's smooth, soft skin against his was too much to resist. As the pale light of dawn began to filter through the trees surrounding the house Daryl cracked a single eye open and groaned.

He knew that soon he would have to get up and get dressed but he wanted to stay like this for as long as possible. While he slept Daryl had covered Beth as much as he could, spooning her with one arm wrapped around her chest and the other possessively molded to her stomach, fingers barely skimming the tight blonde curls that hid her womanhood.

Tightening his arms just a little Daryl allowed himself to think of the future after the Governor was gone. He wanted to marry his mate and he wanted to pup her. His blood began to pound as he thought of what Rick had said the other day, how there was nothing better in the world than knowing a piece of you was inside the one you loved, creating a life.

Daryl could imagine Beth swelling with their child, could almost feel a little kick under his palm.

Before he realized it Daryl was rocking his hips against Beth's pert ass, his erection so hard it was almost painful.

Nuzzling into her neck he growled out her name, desperate for her to wake so he could take her.

Beth never slept as well as she did when she slept with Daryl. He was so tall and broad it felt like he was sheltering her with his body. She was surrounded by him; his body, his scent wrapping around her.

"Beth" she heard as she struggled to wake.

As she tried to discern whether or not she was dreaming Beth became aware of two things; 1. Daryl was awake and 2. That meant every single part of him.

Moaning softly she tried to turn around but Daryl stopped her.

"Need you so much baby girl. Can't stand not being inside you much longer." he almost whimpered.

Beth's breath began to come out in gasps, so turned on she could barely breathe.

"Please", she whispered. "Need you too."

Daryl could smell how aroused his mate was and it caused him to shiver with the knowledge of the power she had over him and vice versa. Sliding a hand to cradle one her perfect breasts he used his other to test her readiness.

"Christ girl, you're so fucking wet. You want me that much?"

Beth could barely think so she simply nodded and laced her hand with his, helping him knead her tits and pluck her already swollen nipples.

Daryl latched on to her already marked neck and began to gently suck. She would always wear his mark, always be saturated in his scent. Everyone would know she was his and he was hers and no one would ever take her from him.

The very thought of someone getting close to her added to his growing desperation. Grabbing one of Beth's silky legs he hitched it over his own and entered her all in one move.

Daryl struggled to stay quiet, wanting so badly to roar out that he was finally where he belonged.

Beth's head was swimming as Daryl unexpectedly slid inside her. This position caused him to hit all the spots she could never reach herself. She knew they both needed to be quiet but it was so hard when he was leisurely stroking in and out of her, building the fire inside them to a fever pitch.

Bringing his hand to her mouth to stifle her gasps Beth tried to move with Daryl but he held her still.

"Nah baby" his voice rumbled in her ear. "Let me do this. Let me take care a'you."

Moaning against his hand Beth went limp and let Daryl have his way. She never thought of herself as a submissive person but there was something about giving into Daryl she loved. He made her feel safe and cherished.

Daryl groaned against Beth's skin as she sagged against him. He was so close but he would never let himself come without Beth. She was his mate and he was made to care for her and he would always make sure she came first in everything.

Nipping at the shell of her ear he almost snarled, "You close sweetheart? Gonna come all over me? "

Daryl ran his palm down to cover her sopping pussy and with every thrust her clit slid against her hand, giving her that little extra push she needed to come hard for him.

As stars burst behind her eyelids Beth vaguely heard Daryl's choked off growl as he slammed into her two, three more times before once again biting into her neck to muffle himself as he came violently, his entire body shuddering.

When Daryl came back to himself he gently lapped at the bite wound he had left on his mate's neck. A part of him felt bad for breaking her skin and making her bleed but a greater part of him was pleased. She was covered in his sweat and filled with his come and he was covered in her juices with her taste in his mouth.

As her breathing calmed Beth began to giggle, softly at first and then growing in merriment.

Raising an eyebrow Daryl slid out of her and turned her around.

"What's so funny?"

Beth beamed and Daryl and kissed the tip of his nose.

"That was the best wake up call I've ever gotten."

Stretching languorously Beth seemed unaware of the look Daryl was giving her.

"This woman is going to kill me", he thought as he watched her petite body unfold in front of him with almost feline grace.

Daryl sighed as he heard a door open down the hallway. It was time to get up and face the world.

Breakfast was interesting to say the least. Beth and Daryl both were obviously well fucked but everyone was politely ignoring the blissed out looks in their eyes. Merle did allow himself to pointedly sniff at his brother and grin at him.

He figured it was his prerogative as an older brother to give his little bro some shit for the goofy look on his face.

Rick, however, looked horrible. His eyes were bloodshot and it was obvious he hadn't slept that night.

Upon seeing him Annette began to cluck at him, raising her hand to his forehead to check his temperature as if he were a child.

Michonne smiled wryly.

Rick may have been a fully grown wolf but he was still a man who sometimes needed a little motherly coddling.

"I'm fine Miss Annette. I just stayed up all night to watch over Lori and the kids." he said before taking a large gulp of his coffee.

As if they were summoned Lori came down with Judith in her arms and a sleepy Carl in tow.

The second Judith got near Beth she began to squirm and make grabby hands.

Lori and Rick both chuckled.

"Seems like there's some competition for little Miss Judith's affections." Hershel said smilingly.

His Bethy always had a way about her with children and it wasn't hard to imagine her with her own; a thought he was becoming increasingly ok with.

Beth giggled as she stood. "I can take her for a bit so you can eat some breakfast, Lori."

Lori nodded and gently transferred Judith over. She knew her husband wasn't going to sleep at all the night before so she tried to stay up with him.

Rick had gotten like this before once or twice. He'd get so worried about his family he'd become almost feral. Always prowling the perimeter, so focused on protecting what was his he'd forgo sleeping and eating.

"Dad?" Carl said. "You shouldn't worry so much. Between you and Mr. Merle and Daryl and Michonne no one stands a chance! You're like...like the Justice League or something!"

Everyone broke into a grin.

"I better be Wonder Woman" Michonne said flatly.

Carl practically vibrated with excitement.

"Of course you're Wonder Woman! Dad's Batman because they're both like detectives. Mr. Daryl is Green Arrow and that means Beth can be Black Canary."

Everyone was a little shocked at how much thought Carl had put into this but Rick simply smiled. His heart filled with love for a son who still saw him as an invincible superhero.

"I didn't hear my name pup. Ole' Merle not part of the Justice League?" Merle said with a mock look of sorrow.

Carl's face screwed up in thought.

"I think you're like Wolverine."

Beth muttered, "No crossovers" as Michonne placed her hand on her heart and fake gasped.

"Crossing DC/Marvel lines? You rebel!"

It was obvious Michonne and Carl were bonding over their mutual love of comics and both Rick and Lori liked the fact that Carl was bringing some measure of happiness to the usually stoic woman.

Breakfast continued on and despite the anxiety caused by the day before everyone was feeling confident that this Phillip would never get close enough to hurt any of them.

This peace was shattered when an unfamiliar vehicle drove up to the farmhouse.

Immediately everyone went for their weapons while Beth, Lori, and Annette grabbed Carl and Judith and retreated upstairs.

All the women were competent with firearms but they knew their mates and husbands wouldn't even consider letting them stay close to a potentially dangerous visitor.

Michonne and the men waited with baited breath as they watched the car halt in front of the house.

The engine cut off and everyone was completely surprised at the man who timidly exited.

He was visibly tense and sweating and had an air of desperation about him.

Raising his hands in the air he spoke with a wavering voice, "My name is Dr. Milton Mamet and I have some information that could help you."

Rick gave the man a long, considering look and lowered his Colt. This man was obviously not a threat for any of them. He honestly looked about to wet himself just being in their presence.

"What kind of information?"

Gingerly coming closer the doctor looked Rick right in the eye.

"It's about Phillip. About the Governor and what he's done and what he wants to do."

As the rest of the group relaxed their stances Hershel nodded at Milton.

"I suppose you'd best come in Dr. Mamet."

Not hearing any gunshots or yelling the women upstairs came down and looked quizzically at the unprepossessing man in front of them.

As he sat at the kitchen table the doctor began to nervously clean his glasses.

"I met Phillip four years ago. He's a very wealthy man and he said he needed a researcher for a rare blood condition in his family. At first I couldn't believe what I saw when he brought in the blood samples. The regenerative capabilities alone were breathtaking!"

Milton's eyes were unfocused as he considered his past research.

"I didn't know then what he was giving me. I didn't know..."

Sighing the man put his glasses back on.

"It wasn't blood from anyone from his family. He didn't even have a family anymore. When he finally told me what I was actually testing I didn't believe him but then he showed me where all the blood was coming from."

As Dr. Mamet tried to still his shaking hands Daryl's voice pierced the silence.

"It was shifter blood, wasn't it?" he growled out lowly.

"Yes, it was Homo Lupus. The Governor was obsessed with the idea of finding a way to slow or even stop completely the healing factor found in Lycan blood. "

Audibly gulping the doctor looked past Daryl and Rick to meet Michonne's gaze.

"I didn't know exactly what he was doing until I met your friend, Andrea."

A vicious snarl broke from the usually stoic woman's throat and it was only through Merle's quick intervention that Milton wasn't eviscerated right there in the kitchen.

Barely holding an enraged Michonne back Merle looked straight at Milton.

"What you say next, boy, will determine whether I let her go or not."

Mamet was a shade beyond white and Hershel and Beth both worried that he would pass out before he could finish sharing what he knew.

All of a sudden the scent of salt was in the air. Milton shook his head.

"You should let her go. I deserve it. All those people. I'm supposed to ask questions but I never asked the right ones. " his voice shuddered out.

"Andrea was...kind and beautiful and I couldn't let him continue what he was doing to her. He'd bleed them dry slowly, over time, and if I came up with something I thought could counteract the healing properties in their blood he'd use it just to see what would happen. I knew he wanted to keep her around to attract others and I didn't want her to suffer anymore. He left one weekend, I don't know where and I made sure she died peacefully. I told him her heart simply couldn't take it anymore, she went into cardiac arrest and there was nothing I could do."

Beth's heart ached for the man. She knew he would carry this pain, this guilt for the rest of his life.

Grabbing a handful of napkins she gently placed them in front of the silently sobbing man.

Daryl was torn. This man had experimented on wolves and even if he didn't know what he was doing at the time a piece of Daryl blamed him for all the death and all the fear the Governor had wrought. However there was another part of him, the human side, that understood and was even a little grateful that Mamet had stopped Andrea's suffering. He may not have met the woman but she was obviously deeply loved by Michonne.

Giving one last look of anguish Michonne ripped herself out of Merle's hold and walked out the door, shedding her clothes as she went. It was obvious she needed some time alone. Before she shifted Daryl called out to her, "Stay close Michonne. That bastard doesn't deserve to get another shot at you."

The dark skinned woman simply nodded once and shifted quickly. Andrea had been the first person she allowed herself to care for since Mike and her son died in the accident Mike himself had caused. She had been so numb for so long and the first time she let herself bond with someone they were taken from her.

Throwing her sleek head back Michonne howled out a challenge. The Governor would pay and she would be there to see him draw his last breath.

Hershel watched as Michonne ran into the woods behind the house and he sent a prayer up to God that she would find some measure of peace in her life. A thought struck him and he turned back to face Milton.

"Now Doctor, you said something about 'counteracting' a wolf's healing?"

Doctor Mamet cleared his throat and hastily wiped his eyes with the napkins Beth had laid on the table.

"Yes, the last trials showed a significant retardation of the regenerative capabilities in the Lycan blood."

Beth's hand went to her mouth in shock.

"So...so you mean they won't heal if they get injected with whatever you made?" she whispered.

Daryl, Rick, and Merle were visibly shocked. How could they fight something that would keep them from healing?

Rick's calm demeanor broke. All he could think of was his children, his friends not being able to mend. He thought of the possibility he would leave his family alone and without his protection.

The sheriff grabbed Milton's shirt with a snarl and lifted him until they were nose to nose.

"How. Does. It. Work?" he ground out, shaking the terrified man with each word.

Rick was very close to just snapping the doctor's neck but he felt a cool hand slide on top of his own and the scent of his mate gave him some measure of calm back.

"Let him go Rick." Lori said gently. "He can't help us unless you let him talk."

Rick sighed and released Doctor Mamet and stepped back from him.

Sweating profusely Milton gathered himself together to finish what he came her to do.

"It doesn't stop the healing altogether but it does slow it down considerably. Phillip likes to coat his knives and bullets and those of the men with him with the serum."

Standing up on shaky feet he turned to leave.

"He doesn't know I'm here right now so I'll do what I can from the inside but you have to stop him. He's irrational and growing more and more psychotic everyday. Even the men who follow him stay with him out of fear more than true belief now."

After delivering his message Milton got back into his car and drove away leaving only silence in his wake.

Rick gathered Lori to him and started upstairs to check on his children leaving the others in the kitchen to deal with the bombshell that had just been dropped on them.

Beth saw that Daryl's thoughts were far away and brought her hands to his face.

Brushing his hair out of his eyes Beth gently kissed his chin to bring him back to her.

Hershel and Merle both retreated to the other room to allow the two the appearance of privacy.

Even Annette left the room, understanding that Beth and Daryl needed to be alone with each other right now.

Daryl snapped back and met Beth's eyes.

His hold on her was almost too hard as he crushed her to his chest. His need to protect her almost overwhelming. If he had his way he'd lock her away from everything that could ever possibly harm her but he knew it would kill her spirit so he swallowed his fear down and threaded his fingers through her golden hair.

With Beth at his side he could face anything.