A/N- this kinda started with my mom ranting about how she couldn't support the ship, because of age difference, and Smarta** that i am, pointed out that she was fine with it in Jane Eyre, and amid much giggling... this happened... I hope you enjoy this as much as we did

-Wolfgirl

"You know." Beth said, sitting near him, but not touching as they both stared into the flickering firelight. "I used to think the age difference between Mr. Rochester and Jane Eyre was gross. But now I kinda get it."

She heard his snort.

"Who?" He asked, his voice distant, as if he was just paying attention.

"Jane Eyre." She answered, throwing the leaf she was playing with into the fire and watching it flare.

"That some book or somethen'?" he asked, turning to eye her.

"Yep. I had to read it for English right before… "She shrugged and he nodded. "Maggie said it was romantic. I thought it was gross. Jane was so… innocent and he was so worldly. And he was like twenty years older." Beth grinned.

"And now?" he asked, watching her.

In answer she reached a hesitant hand out to his and gripped it.

"Now, I think she had the right of it."

"You are pretty innocent." Darryl agreed. She withdrew her hand to whack his shoulder.

"Not so." She said glaring at his answering snort.

"Sounds like a boring book." He observed, turning back to the fire.

"It's not terrible." She argued. "She was the nanny that fell in love with her employer."

"You're not in love with Rick are you?" he asked in his gruff voice. It took her a moment to catch the teasing glint in his serious eyes.

"Gross." She stated. "Anyway, after the crazy wife burned down the house, they ended up together."

"Well that happened." Daryl said.

"How so?" Beth questioned.

"Well, the governor did burn down the prison." Daryl pointed out. "He was pretty crazy... wasn't married to him though." He added as an afterthought.

Beth nodded, thinking this was probably the strangest conversation she had had for a while.

After they had both sat, staring at the fire for a while Beth stood and stretched, before holding her hand out to Daryl, "Ready to turn in, Mr. Rochester?" She asked.