A/N: Because of the amazing response, I've decided to continue this story. Seriously, though, it was really awesome to read the reviews, and I can't thank you enough for all of your kind words. I mean, I guess I can by giving you what you asked for, right?

Pastor Horvath was in rare form today, sermonizing about the dangers of sin. Not just in deed, but also in thought. Beth cast her eyes to the floor, feeling guilty over her harsh feelings towards her sister and her bossy ways. They'd fought again this morning because she'd complained a little about havin' to wear Maggie's hand-me-down dresses that were at least a decade out of fashion and a might too small. But she'd wanted to look especially nice this Sunday.

Her eyes darted to the crowded pews, searching for a head of dark brown hair. Being in the front row of the choir afforded her the privilege of seein' the congregation file in before service started. Except Daryl hadn't been among them. Maybe he was having second thoughts about courting her. Promises made under the moonlight tended to fade away when reason finally set in.

She forced a smile on her face as Pastor Horvath started winding down and signaled her to come forward. The organist pounded out the first few notes of "In the Sweet By and By," and Beth raised her voice to Jesus, singing the lyrics while the choir sang the chorus. She knew it was prideful, but this was the only time when she didn't mind that everyone was looking at her. Her heart lifted and her smile was real by the time the song ended.

After the service, she made her way outside to where Maggie was standing with the preacher and his foreign boy. Actually, Maggie was standing awful close to Glenn as Pastor Horvath greeted his parishioners. Their arms were nearly touching! She was gonna get an earful if Daddy saw them.

"Miss Beth," said Pastor Horvath, clasping her hand gently, "you were lovely today, as always."

"Thank you, sir," she said, the color rising in her cheeks as she tried to stifle her ego. "It's only through the grace of God that I've been blessed to serve Him this way."

"You shouldn't be so modest, little songbird."

Not recognizing the voice, Beth turned to see who'd spoken. He was a large man, broad in the shoulders, with scruff on his chin, unlike the pastor's well-kept beard. Though his clothes were of good material, they were untidy and wrinkled, the collar of his shirt closer to ivory than white. But it was his eyes that gave her a fright. The way they leered at her as if she was some ripe peach he wanted to bite into. She averted her eyes, moving closer to her sister's side.

"Mr. Dixon," said Pastor Horvath, "how good of you to join us. Your sins are not so great that the Lord cannot save you from them."

"Well, Brother Dale, I didn't come here looking for salvation." The man clapped Pastor Horvath on the back, a friendly gesture from anyone else. But not from him. "I came to find out why my little brother dragged hisself out of bed this mornin', wakin' me up with that damn automobile. And your preachin' didn't exactly soothe my aching head. But you, little songbird, I could listen to you all day."

Glenn took a step forward, shielding her and Maggie from the man's view, but not from his words. Beth saw her father glance over and begin to make his way towards them.

"Enough, Merle," said a familiar voice. Beth peeked over Glenn's shoulder to see Daryl standing there, cap in hand, his woolen suit clean and pressed, a crisp bowtie at his neck.

"Dar- um, Mr. Dixon," she said, tugging at the frayed lace of her cuff, "it's so good to see you again."

"Mr. Dixon?" Maggie pushed past Glenn, arching her brow as she looked from Daryl to Beth. "I don't believe we've been introduced. How do you know my sister?"

Beth's eyes darted to his, panic rising in her chest. "It my fault, Maggie," said Beth. Surely, she was goin' to Hell, lying in front of a church, and to a preacher no less. "I was cuttin' through the Johnson's farm last week and twisted my ankle. Mr. Dixon here was kind enough to help me get back on my feet and escort me until I could walk by myself."

"Bethy, how many times have I told you that your shortcuts are simply the quickest way to trouble?" Maggie turned towards Daryl, her demeanor radically changed. "Thank you so much, Mr. Dixon. I'm so sorry if she inconvenienced you. My sister should know better by now."

"Weren't no trouble at all," he said, a slight smile on his thin lips. "She's pleasurable company."

"I'm sure she is, little brother," said Merle. His eyes swept over her, and Beth was glad that her outdated dress had a high collar and long sleeves. "She looks mighty pleasurable indeed."

A flush ran up her cheeks, and she saw Glenn's muscles stiffen. Daryl, meanwhile, was avoiding her eyes, looking away as he licked his lips. Her heart fell as she realized that maybe her honor wasn't worth defending. After all, she had met with him late at night, alone in the hayloft. And she'd kissed him, too! A stranger she'd just met. That wasn't the behavior of a proper woman, not something a person would want in a wife.

"Girls," said Daddy, finally beside them, "I think it's time for us to leave." Though he'd missed the conversation, Beth was sure he was aware of the tension in the air.

"Mr. Greene," Glenn said, shaking Daddy's hand, "I'd be honored to escort Mag—Miss Greene home."

"Thank you, Glenn, but I think the girls and I will be just fine." He offered the pastor and his boy a tight-lipped smile before leading Maggie and Beth away by their elbows.

As they walked away, Beth could feel eyes on her again, could almost hear the whispers of the crowd. She glanced back to see Daryl and his brother watching them leave. Turning 'round, she raised her chin and marched forward. She'd had enough heartache for one lifetime. She wasn't going to pine for somethin' that never was. And the next time Daryl Dixon showed up in her chicken coop, she was gonna send him straight over to the Sheriff.

o)O(o

Daryl had made a mess of things. He'd messed things badly. He shouldn't have taken the car. Merle would've kept on sleepin', none the wiser. Any other time, Merle might've woke up and gone back to sleep, but Daryl had screwed up the run, which left Merle cranky 'cause they needed every drop for the next run. Daryl was just glad he hadn't mentioned leavin' to find a respectable job. That would've really set Merle off, and he'd go on lookin' for a reason.

Except now he'd found the reason. The others might've believed her fib, but Merle knew him better than that. Daryl weren't in town last week, and if he were, he wouldn't a been walkin'.

She'd looked so damn fine standin' up there at the front of the church, her hair like a golden halo. And her voice. Ain't nothin' on earth sounded as sweet as Beth Greene singin'. He ain't never had much use for religion, 'specially since his pa kept quotin' the Bible while he was doling out punishment to him and Merle. 'Sin' was just a word that kept him and Merle in business, all those souls lookin' for reasons to be saved. But he'd happily spend every Sunday at worship if it meant hearin' her voice.

Now that Merle had gone and run off his big mouth, Sundays was probably the only time he'd be able to see her. Not like he weren't nervous enough, trying to act proper in front of that preacher and her sister. He'd wanted to take her hand and tell her how pretty she looked, how her song made his heart feel light. He'd wanted to brush that lock of hair from her cheek. Hell, he just wanted to touch her. Even it was only her elbow. He wanted to know that she was real, that their moonlit night wasn't some figment of his imagination. He wanted to know if she was just being kind because she was kind or if she was being kind because it was him.

And now he was talkin' in circles. Just like he was walkin' in circles. He looked up and saw a field through a break in the trees. Huh, maybe he hadn't been walkin' quite so aimlessly.

He strode through the forest and across the field, the light of the waning moon guiding his steps. Gathering a few pebbles, he stood in the shadows outside the farmhouse and stared up at the windows on the second floor. But which one was hers? He didn't want to wake her sister, and he certainly didn't want to wake her father.

Just as he was about to give up, one of the windows above the porch opened. A head of dark, curly hair appeared, followed by the rest of Maggie's body, wearing trousers and a heavy coat, too warm for this time of year. No doubt she was tryin' to hide the evidence of her ample chest.

He waited until she'd shimmied down the post and was on the ground before he made himself known. "Evening, Miss Greene."

Maggie let out a little yelp of surprise. "Who are you? What are you doing here?"

"Relax," he said, stepping into the light. "I was hoping I could talk to Miss Beth."

"Oh, Mister Dixon." She looked slightly relieved but still wary. "And why would you be wantin' a word with my sister at this of night?"

"Why would you be sneakin' out your bedroom window at this time of night?" He couldn't help smirking, knowing she didn't have a leg to stand on. Not that he cared one way or the other what she was doin'. Weren't none of his business except that it helped him get to Beth. "Maybe I should just knock on the door, do things proper?"

She quit glarin' and sighed, shimmying back up the column. He followed her up, waiting as she knocked on the window at the other end of the house. It opened and Beth's head popped out.

"Maggie? What are you doin' outside?" asked Beth, sleepily.

"Go get your robe and meet me on the balcony," said Maggie. "You've got a visitor."

Daryl and Maggie climbed over the railing into the balcony that separated the girls' rooms. Maggie pulled out a pocket watch from her coat, checking the time.

"You got somewhere to be? I ain't holdin' you back," he said.

"I ain't leavin' until you're off the farm, and my sister's back in bed." She tucked the watch back in place and continued to frown at him.

"Maggie? What's goin' on?" whispered Beth as she came through the door. "And why're you wearin—Daryl, I mean, Mr. Dixon, what are you doing here?"

He lost all train of thought as she stepped into the moonlight and he saw her hair cascading down her back. "I, um, I wanted to…" He licked his lips, nervously, and tried to focus. "I wanted to apologize for my brother today. He's—"

"Uncouth," said Maggie. She was glaring at him again.

"Maggie, don't be rude." Beth tugged her sister's arm. "And I don't need a chaperone, so you can head off to wherever you was goin' in Shawn's clothes."

"'S alright," he said, laying his hand over hers. "My brother was the rude one, and I never should've let him speak to you that way."

"So why did you?" Maggie shook off Beth's hand, and he reluctantly let his fall back to his side.

"'Cause it's just Merle bein' Merle. He didn't mean nothin' by it." He looked up at Beth, hopin' for a bit of understanding. She looked back at him, arms crossed, with a frown to match her sister's. "Look, we ain't around civil folk too often. Even less around women. Just us boys that run the still—"

"You're a bootlegger?"

"Hush, Maggie, you'll wake Daddy," said Beth. "And I, for one, would like to hear the rest of Daryl's apology."

He winced, realizing that Merle hadn't been the only one in the wrong today. "I mucked things up, alright? I screwed up, my brother screwed up, my whole family is all screwed up." His hand clenched, and he wished he could just drive his fist into something until it started to hurt more than the pain he was feelin' right now. "I just—I just wanted to make a good impression on your family today. And I botched it. So, I'm sorry. 'S all I wanted to say."

He started to make his way off the balcony when he felt a hand on his shoulder. Even without turning around, he knew it was Beth. "Does this mean you still wanna court me?"

"Of course I do." His eyes sought hers, but they got stuck on the brightness of her smile. "But I don't think your Daddy is gonna approve."

"I'm sure there are lots of things goin' on that Daddy wouldn't approve of," she said, casting a glance at Maggie, who managed to look haughty and sheepish at the same time. "I visit the cemetery every Wednesday afternoon. Greene family plot, north side of the old oak tree."

He could lean down and kiss her, she was so close. But he felt her sister's gaze, so he gave Beth a smile instead. "I'll be there."

"Maggie and I had best get to bed then." She pulled away, running her tongue across her lip. It took him a moment to notice that he'd been doing the same thing. "Unless Maggie has somewhere else she'd like to be?"

Maggie fixed her glare on her sister, who held her gaze until finally Maggie spun around and headed for the door, leaving them a warning. "I can hear you from my room."

"I thought she'd never leave." Beth grinned as the door closed behind her. "I didn't wanna wait until Wednesday."

She rose up to meet him, pressing her lips against his. They were soft and warm and everything he imagined they would be. And so much more. He fought the urge to sink his hands into her thick hair, to deepen the kiss and have her open beneath him, to taste the sweetness of her mouth. No, the promise of her lips was enough for now.

"Beth," hissed Maggie from somewhere behind him. He wasn't exactly sure and he really didn't care.

Beth stepped back, a little smile on her lips. "Alright, Maggie. I'm goin' to bed."

She walked backwards to the door, keepin' her eyes on him. He drank his fill of her, thinkin' there were too many days between now and Wednesday. When she reached the door, she waved and slid through the opening, disappearing from view. He sighed and climbed over the balcony railing onto the porch roof.

"Daryl." Maggie was still sitting at her window, but she'd stopped glaring at least.

"What?"

"If you see – someone – waitin' outside the farm, tell him—" Maggie's eyes dropped, and he could see that whoever it was, he was someone important to her. "Tell him I can't make it tonight."

"Ain't too late," he said, looking up at the sky. "You could still sneak out."

"Is that the kind of influence you're gonna be on my sister?"

"Hey, she kissed me." She'd kissed him. Nothin' on earth could wipe the smile off his face right now. "And I ain't gonna be a moonshiner much longer. I aim to make an honest livin' and do right by her."

"I'm glad to hear it." She looked wistfully at the entrance to the farm, then shook her head. "I should stay. But if you see him?"

"I'll tell him you're thinkin' of him."

"Thank you." Maggie smiled at him for the first time that evening, and he could finally see the family resemblance. Then she shut her window and there was nothing left for him to do but leave.

He scooted down to the edge of the roof and leapt to the ground below. Even though it was out of his way, he walked towards the road, searching for Maggie's mysterious friend. He wasn't hard to spot, waitin' under the elm tree just outside the fence. Daryl's eyes narrowed as he got closer. Well, it looked like Beth had been right. Maggie was sweet on that Chinaman.