Shawn couldn't explain the swirl of emotions as he watched one of his good friends kissing his baby sister deeply. Part of him wished he would be disgusted with that because that was his typical reaction when his baby sister brought a significant other home. Except, looking at this pair he was almost baffled he didn't see it before. Their gravitational pull to each other was undeniable. They had the kind of energy people wrote award winning songs or novels were almost poetic in their tenderness.

Shawn didn't miss Daryl tracing the cut on her cheek after breaking the kiss and the way he leaned his forehead against hers. Shawn shared a look with Merle. They both almost felt like they were intruding on such a private and tender moment, but it was also too fascinating to look away. Shawn didn't want to be a jerk, but he was grateful for the obnoxious ring tone filling the air.

He had no idea why Sasha would be calling Beth at this hour, but her interruption couldn't of been better. Shawn almost felt like the sparks from their stares were going to ignite. He wasn't sure whether those sparks would burn down the apartment or burn each of them up.

"Hey, Sash." Beth greeted as she stifled a giggle as Daryl moved so she was draped over him like a blanket and he could lean back on the love-seat.

Shawn did get concerned whenever Beth started chewing on her thumb. It was an old habit she had that only surfaced when she was receiving bad news or was under a ton of stress. He wondered what Sasha could be telling her. She looked distressed as the call ended.

"Shawn, I need the remote to your television." Beth looked a little green. Daryl rubbed her back quietly but looked a little lost at her request. Shawn tossed the remote over to her.

Beth quietly changed the channel to an infamous gossip station. Shawn wanted to groan. This station was notorious for fabricating stories in general or exaggerating the circumstances.

"Well, this summer has been a crazy time for our favorite pop star Beth Greene. From wearing leather jackets from a mystery beau after an abrupt end to her relationship with EDM singer Zach." The first host paused as pictures of Beth in this leather jacket and beanie displayed on the screen along with shots of Zach with a variety of girls. "We'll sources close to Beth Greene are sealed tight we do have an interview with Zach right after he premiers his newest single." The second host said with a fake laugh as the screen panned to Zach sound checking.

After the song finished Beth turned of the television. Shawn was concerned because Beth was shaking and he couldn't figure out why.

"That bastard stole my songs. He purposefully wrecked that car in Germany so he could keep on of the journals." Beth looked so broken at the idea her songs were in her exes possession.

"Want little brother and me to fuck this kid up? Looks like he could use a black eye or two" Merle offered.

Beth shook her head. Shawn swore at the audacity Zach had. Beth poured everything into her song lyrics and especially on the cusp of her sophomore album.

"How much are you going to have to rework for the album?" Daryl asked softly.

"Only a few songs, but one of the songs he stole I was slated to sing Friday on Rosita's morning show." Beth's despondence turned to fire when Sasha texted her the headline for a gossip magazine where Zach had been spreading lies about the break up and playing the role of the victim.

"You know what, I'm going to make him regret the day he thought I would be the girl who would just cry over him. I'm gonna show him. I'll probably be locked in the studio for the next few days, but I'll have Sasha save tickets for you guys so you can see the show." Beth told them more than asked. She separated herself from Daryl before leaning down and kissing him briefly.

She went to the room she typically stayed in and emerged a few minutes later with the negligee tucked into a pair of boyfriend jeans, the leather jacket, and a pair of converse sneakers. She grabbed her phone and purse and waved goodbye to everyone in the apartment.

"What the fuck just happened?" Merle asked.

"Someone is about to find out they messed with the wrong girl." Daryl smirked.

Beth hadn't been joking about going to the studio. She had spent night and day reworking the song she was performing. She wrote an entirely new piece but saved a section for her old song. Zach had played it like a mourning break up song, but the song had fully intended to be an anthem of anger and getting over someone. She felt always felt a jolt of nervous energy before performing, but this was more than the performance.

This was showing the world she wasn't someone who would be a doormat. She was happy and she would show the world that. She heard her name being announced and she knew it was time. She smiled as she entered the stage and saw in a small VIP box her brother, the members of Walking Dead, Maggie and her newest boyfriend Glenn, and a few others. She locked eyes with Daryl and smiled before grabbing the mic and beginning her song.

If I were a boy even just for one day

I'd roll out of bed in the morning

And throw on what I wanted

And go drink beer with the guys

And chase after girls

I'd kick it with who I wanted

And I'd never get confronted for it

'Cause they stick up for me

Oh, if I were a boy

I think I could understand

How it feels to love a girl

I swear I'd be a better man

I'd listen to her

'Cause I know how it hurts

When you lose the one you wanted

'Cause you've taking her for granted

And everything you had got destroyed

If I were a boy

I would turn off my phone

Tell everyone it's broken

So they'd think that I was sleeping alone, yeah right

I'd put myself first

And make the rules as I go

'Cause I know that she'd be faithful

Waiting for me to come home

To come home, to come home, to come home

It's a little too late for you to come back

Say it's just a mistake, think I'd forgive you like that

If you thought I would wait for you, you thought wrong

I want you to know that I'm happy for you

And I want nothing but the best for you both

Another version of me, Mr. Duplicity

I hate to bug you in the middle of dinner

It was a slap in the face how quickly I was replaced

Baby, weren't you thinking of me when you, what?

'Cause the love that you gave that we made

Wasn't able to make it enough for you to be open wide, no

And every time you speak her name

Does she know how you told me you'd hold me until you died

Till you died but you're still alive

And I'm here to remind you

Of the mess you left when you went away

It's not fair to deny me

Of the cross you bear when you did that

You, you, you oughta know

It's for just a boy, baby, you don't understand

Until you lose the one you wanted

'Cause you've taken her for granted

And everything you had got destroyed

The crowd's applause was deafening in her ears. Beth gave a little bow before exiting the stage and heading to the area were her family was seated. She threw her arms around Daryl's neck in the privacy of the VIP box.

"How was it?" Beth asked trying to gauge everyone's reactions.

"Well, remind me to never fuck with you. I don't think that little shit can publicly show his face no more." Merle exclaimed while there were shouts of agreements across the room.

"You were perfect." Daryl's words much quieter than the rest of the room, but they meant so much to her. She leaned up and kissed him deeply.

There was throat clearing and at the entrance was Sasha, Amy, and her father.

"What in the hell is going on?" Hershel asked.

A/N: I'm trying to keep on a schedule for every Saturday updating this story! A huge thank you to Christy (bethgreenewarriorprincess) who read over this chapter and bounced ideas back and forth for the next several chapters. You're an incredible beta and an even better friend. I can't thank you enough! And a huge thank you to everyone who read. The response was so sweet and supportive and I can't thank you guys enough either.