A/N: Here it is, guys. Don't forget to let me know what you think about the cover art? Took me a lot of editing to get it just right. Whatcha think? :)

"It is with great sadness, that I announce the passing of our beloved Supreme President, Alan Johnson. President Johnson passed away, surrounded by loved ones, in his sleep last night, after a long battle with cancer…," Daryl stood in the back of the room, his arms crossed against his chest, not listening to Stephanie's announcement. He knew what she was going to say anyway. He'd already talked to Rick about it. Then again, he hadn't really been paying attention to that conversation either. How could he?

Daryl kept replaying the shocking moment he had encountered earlier in the day. The moment he saw Beth slide gracefully off of the back of that horse, and pull back her hood to reveal the face he'd been dreaming about for almost a year. Still couldn't believe it had happened. He didn't know how to react. What to do. Must've been why he'd been such an ass. Or at least he thought he was an ass. Hell, he didn't know what he was thinking, or what he was doing since the moment the hood came off.

He said her name, or at least he thought he said her name. She took a step toward him, looking almost confused. He could only imagine what she thought, seeing him standing there, dressed in uniform blues, clear of walker blood and weeks worth of grime.

She looked different to him, too. She looked older, mature. Her hair was no longer braided messily to the side, and she appeared to stand taller then he remembered. But she was still Beth. Still beautiful.

Daryl was in shock. He didn't know what to say or what to do. He was still trying to convince himself that this was real, and she was there, and she wouldn't be whisked away in another gust of wind.

"Darryl?," she whispered, apparently as stunned as he was. When Beth slowly reached out to touch his shoulder, he jerked back, avoiding her touch all together. She put her hand back to her side quickly.

"I'm gonna go get Rick," was all he said, before he turned around and walked back into the building, leaving her standing there wondering what the hell had just happened.

Daryl was wondering the same thing as he hurried through the main lobby and toward the elevators so that he could find Rick and the others. Once the doors closed behind him, he practically fell against the side of the elevator, rubbing his hands over his face and then angrily punching the wall.

He should've brought her with him. He should've said something to her. Something other then I'm gonna go get Rick. Hi, maybe? Hell, he didn't know. But something..

The whole day had passed without them speaking and now he was standing there, staring at the back of her head. She sat with Maggie and Glenn, and a few people he didn't really recognize.

He'd kept an eye on her for most of the day, hiding out in the shadows, still trying to get the vision of her there to register into his brain. But he wouldn't go up to her. He thought about it, but his body wouldn't make the move.

He didn't know what to say to her, but there were so many things he wanted to say. He wanted her to know that he looked for her. He wanted to tell her that she had been right. He had missed the hell out of her. He wanted to know where she was. He wanted to hear her tell him that it was all okay, and that she was okay. But he couldn't bring himself to confront her.

He guessed he'd have to figure it out soon, though, because as soon as the lights came back on and Stephanie signed off, he watched as Beth stood up, and headed straight toward him.

"I don't know how to tell her," Rick said to Michonne as they walked through the 16th floor on their way up to their suite. It was a ritual that Stephanie had developed, walking through the entire Unit on her way up to rest. She told him he didn't have to do it if he didn't want to, but he did it anyway.

"Rip off the bandaid, Rick," Michonne said as she nodded to a woman in passing. "You've already got the poor woman wondering why you requested to speak with her so late at night. You've just got to tell her, and get it over with."

"But she just lost Johnson, and she's happy with Vincent. She's just settlin' into this monstrous role as Supreme President, and I feel like an asshole for bringin' the walls crashin' down on her like that."

"Trust me. She'd much rather you just tell her now and let her face it. This is definitely not something you can keep from her." Rick was silent for a minute. "Not to bring up the past or anything," Michonne treaded carefully. "But something kind of similar to this happened to you, didn't it? Shane and Lori?" Rick looked at her with a raised eyebrow. Michonne shrugged briefly.

" So you've been in Ians shoes. He needs to know his wife is alright. It's probably haunted him since he lost her. And Stephanie told me how much she loved her husband. It sucks for Vincent. He's a good guy, but Ian's her husband, Rick. And Ian's Vincents best friend. They need to know he's alive, and they need to know it as soon as humanly possible because telling them is the right thing to do."

Rick lowered his head, remembering that his similar situation didn't end well for any of them.

"I know you're right," he said softly, taking Michonnes hand as they turned the corner. "I know she needs to know. I just hate bein' the one to hurt her, is all."

"Who's to say it's gonna hurt?," Michonne asked softly, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze. Rick didn't respond, just smiled sadly at her. He knew it was going to hurt. It was going to hurt all three of them. But there was nothing he could do to stop it.

"Hi," Beth said shyly as she walked up to him. The room was clearing around them, and Daryl seemed to be looking everywhere but at her. Some people were clutching tissues and being consoled by loved ones, the Presidents death obviously effecting them. Others ushered their children through the doors and up to bed.

Beth looked behind her, trying to see what he was looking at that was so damned important. All she saw were a bunch of unfamiliar faces, sprinkled with a few faces she thought she would never see again.

"Daryl," she said trying to get his attention. "I said hi."

Daryl looked at her then, fleetingly, before he continued to half-heartedly scan the room.

"Hey," he responded. Beth narrowed her eyes at him, his indifference angering her. She crossed her arms across her chest.

"You know what?," she stated firmly, almost yelling at him, which brought his eyes back to her face. She looked into his eyes and thought she saw something new in the way he was looking at her. Fear maybe. Disbelief? She wasn't sure. But the look stopped the angry tirade she was preparing to unleash on him.

"Ugh!," she stated, throwing her hands up. "Never mind. I'll see you around," she said, turning quickly and walking toward an unfamiliar man whom she was sitting with during the Presidential Address.

'Damn it', Daryl scolded himself, 'Was definitely an ass that time.'

"What's going on, Rick?," Stephanie asked as she sat at her desk. She had been stationed at the Texas Unit, 11, for a little over a month, ever since Johnson's health took a quick decline for the worse. She would be leaving there soon, scheduled to travel over to South America and do a tour of the Units there. "I have to admit, this little impromptu video chat has definitely gotten the best of my curiosity. Everything going okay at 15?," she asked as she leaned forward on her elbows.

Rick ran a hand through his hair, deciding it was probably better that he just get it over with.

"We got a group of survivors this morning," he stated. "Twenty of them." Stephanie smiled.

"That's great," she said cheerfully. "It's always a good thing when people find us." Rick nodded, agreeing.

"One of them asked about you," Rick continued, earning him a confused look.

"I'm sure they did, my name's still on the posters. Just tell them that you're in charge now and I'm sure they'll under…"

"No, Stephanie," Rick interrupted. "Someone asked about Stephanie Malone, not President Malone," he said, trying to make it clear.

"Who, Rick? Why are you acting so…I dunno…Weird…," she continued, still holding on to a small smile. Stephanie watched as Rick waved a hand, indicating someone come to the front of the small camera.

Rick watched as the color drained from Stephanie's face, and a hand covered her mouth.

"Hello, beautiful," Ian said, smiling at her through the screen. Stephanie sat, silently staring at her husband, completely awestruck, as the tears ran down her face.

A/N: So we're back to it, people. How'd it go? Don't be mad at Daryl. You have to remember that losing Beth had been the hardest thing he had ever dealt with, and the idea that she was out there somewhere ate at him every day. Or night, I should say, with his nightmares and all. It's going to take a bit for things to progress for them. Daryls not the proclamation of love type, if ya know what I mean. And who knows what Beth's like these days. A lot happened to her, which you will learn about later…

The ideas are coming… But don't forget to let me know what you'd like to see happen, and I'll see if I can work it in there somewhere. Make sure you review guys! You know how much I love em! ;)

ANNNNDDDDD… G'nite.