They walked along the sidewalk, hand-in-hand, for several blocks. Neither said a word. Daryl's eyes glanced around for anyone else who might be out and about, but he saw no one. He was thankful for that. Still unsure just how much he was ready or willing for people to know. Hell, he didn't even know what this was yet. Not really. Somewhere in the back of his mind, though, a little voice told him he wouldn't let her go even if someone spotted them. He was mostly past that now.

She squeezed his hand as their house approached and he looked over at her for the first time. The wind caught the hem of her dress and blew it this way and that. The moonlight turned her navy dress into something a bit brighter. And the braid in her hair had come loose. He'd never seen someone look so innocent yet so wild all at once. He couldn't believe that she was here with him by choice.

He paused at the cobblestone path that led to their front porch. They faced each other, but he kept his eyes firmly on the ground.

"See something down there you like?" she teased him gently.

He drew his head up slowly, taking a deep breath. "I ain't never walked a girl home before. Well, not like this anyway."

"And how is this?" She asked.

He shrugged, "You know."

She grabbed his other hand and moved closer to him. "Maybe I do. Maybe I don't. Tell me what you want this to be."

He knew his hands were sweaty and that bothered him. He was too old to be so undone, so inexperienced, so terrified. He tried to find the words; he did. He opened his mouth several times, started to tell her over and over again. But no sound came and no words formed. He closed his eyes and hung his head.

She dropped his hands and his heart sunk. He knew he'd screwed up and now she was done. Would turn from him and disappear inside the same house he was supposed to sleep in as well. But he wouldn't. He'd leave it to her and go find someplace else. Someplace where no one would find him - a place he could hide. And he'd leave her alone. Let her get on with her life without him. It's what he should have done a long time ago. His gut tightened and he swallowed.

But then her smooth, soft hands cupped his cheeks and his eyes darted up, surprised as all hell. "If you can't tell me; show me." She smiled and ran her thumb across his bottom lip. Then she dropped her hands to her side, stood back, and waited for him.

It took him a moment to recover from his previous doubts, to realize that she was still here despite his many, many fuckups. But where words often failed him, actions rarely did. And so he stepped forward, placed his hands on her hips, and pulled her the rest of the way to him. And when her body was pressed against his, he tightened his arms all the way around her waist and buried his face in her neck and just stood there breathing her in. He felt her hands crawl up his chest and then wrap around his neck. And they stood there, holding each other, for the longest, sweetest moment either had ever known.

Since he had made this first move, she made the next. Turning her face into his neck, she kissed the skin just beneath his ear. But she didn't stop there. Instead, she moved on to his jawbone, placing the softest, barely there kisses along his cheek. Nuzzling the coarse, wiry hairs that he never bothered shaving. And eventually, she got to his mouth. But before she made that last, that final move, she found his eyes with hers so that she could know without a doubt that this is what he wanted too. And seeing the raw need there in his eyes touched something almost feral inside her, and she was on him before her eyes had even closed. Her lips pressed against his, and there was zero hesitation on his part as he matched her every move.

The kissed last for ages - starting hard and urgent then settling into sweet and slow. His hands finished unraveling her braid, her ponytail long gone. She smiled through their kisses and enjoyed running her hands over his arms - feeling the strength in them, the safety she'd found in them. She just wanted to stand with him there in this moment forever.

The sounds of laughter eventually drew them apart. Daryl jumped back like he'd been burned. Beth turned to see where the noise was coming from. Maggie and Glenn were approaching them from down the block. "Sorry, y'all. Didn't mean to interrupt." The grin on her face was contagious, and Beth grinned back. They shared a knowing glance before Beth turned back to Daryl. He looked like a deer caught in headlights.

"It's okay. Maggie already knew which meant Glenn already knew." Beth grabbed his hand. He still just stood there not knowing what to say or do.

"It's true, man. But to be honest, it was mostly obvious without the inside information." He patted Daryl on the arm and pulled Maggie off in the direction of the house. Maggie gave them a little wave and followed her husband.

"You're not mad are you? That I told Maggie?" Beth asked.

"No, she's your sister. I just...I ain't never gonna to hear the end of it now." He laced his fingers through hers and tugged her back to him. She went willingly.

"I know you're a private person, Daryl. I get that and respect that. We don't have to make out in front of everyone, but I don't want to hide how I feel about you either. Because I like you, care about you more than I've ever cared about anyone outside of my family. And I'm not ashamed of that." She played with the buttons of his shirt but kept her eyes on his.

"It's not that I'm ashamed of us, Greene. I just ain't never done this before. But I want to. You're just gonna have to be a little patient with me, is all." He ran his hand through her hair and placed his forehead on hers.

"We'll take things slow. Now, let's go inside and crawl into my bed and get warm." She leaned in to give him one last quick peck on the lips before grabbing his hand and pulling him toward the house.

He didn't budge. She looked back. "What's wrong?"

"Slow means I ain't getting in your bed for a long while." His voice had deepened.

She blushed. "I didn't mean we'd do anything. Just sleep next to each other. But if you don't want to, I understand." Understand or not, a brief hint of hurt danced across her face.

"Trust me, I want to. And that's why I can't. But I'll tuck you in and kiss you goodnight." He smiled fully at her and she smiled back.

"You've got a deal, Dixon." They turned together and went inside.