Beth remembered the day Hope was born, she thrashed around on the hospital table screaming that she would not have her daughter here. That Daryl needed to be here, her Daryl needed to be there to see his daughter being born. Dawn stood at the corner of the room staring at Beth as she panted and sweated screaming at them to leave her alone. They wouldn't.

The doctors gathered around telling Beth to push but she refused. Hope would not see these people first, Hope would see her father first. Beth cried as she had to push, Hope was born into the arms of a stranger and then passed to Beth. Her daughter, her baby girl, her Hope. Her gray eyes stared back at Beth's as blonde whips of hair clung to her tiny face. Hopes screams echoed in the room as the doctors talked in code to each other, Beth just held her close to her for dear life. They would not take Beth's baby away from her. They left the room as Dawn lingered behind.

"Congratulations Beth," Dawn spat as she left the room. Beth held her daughter close protecting her from the vile elements to the hospital. She fed her and burped her. She then attempted to sleep for a few hours.

•••

Gun shots sounded as Beth rushed put Hope in the incubator they'd fetched up for her. Beth pulled on the scrubs they'd left for her and stood in front of Hope. Beth pulled the knife from under her bed standing in front of her as her cries echoed in the room. The door burst open and in came him, Daryl Dixon. Beth was swaying on her feet when he shut the door, pushing a chair underneath the handle. Beth sat on the bed as he rushed into her arms.

"Beth," he cried. "Oh god." Beth stroked the back of his hair.

"I'm here," her voice broke. "We're here." Beth gestured to the incubator as Daryl stood up reaching for the tiny bundle wrapped in pink blankets.

"Is this..." he trailed. Beth nodded smiling at them as Daryl pressed a kiss to her tiny face as silent tears rolled down his face. "When was she born?" Beth looked at the clock.

"About 5 hours ago," Beth smiled. Daryl held their daughter in his arms and pressed a sloppy kiss to Beth's forehead.

"She's lucky, she looks like you," Daryl said stroking his daughters cheek with his rough finger.

"She got your eyes," Beth whispered her. Hope's cheeks were rosy as her tiny hand wrapped it's self around Daryl's finger. Daryl's attention snapped towards the door, three knocks were the signal they'd agreed. Daryl stood up handing Hope to Beth. Beth rocked Hope back and forth as she started to fuss.

"It's Rick," Daryl opened the door to be met with one of the doctors. He kicked them backwards and looked down the corridor, Rick and the others ran down the corridor as Daryl signaled for them to join them. Beth stood up feeling weak, she handed Hope to Daryl heading out into the corridor, knife in hand. She searched for the linen closet soon locating it, Noah had mentioned her clothes were there, she pulled on her clothes which were folded on the bottom of the rack. A black size 8 shirt, she was so tiny even though she was pregnant. Skinny jeans, her leather jacket and her boots. Noah ran into her, handing her a baby carrier.

"The prenatal ward had these, I figured you may need one. Go!" Noah said as Beth slowly attempted to walk back, her legs felt like jelly. She found the room strapping the baby carrier onto herself she grasped hope pulling her in, in casing Hope in her leather jacket for extra heat.

"We need to get out, now," Beth was getting weaker but she couldn't stop. She needed to protect her daughter. She lead the way, her knife laying protectively in her hand as Hope slept on her chest, the carrier was a bit big, but the blanket kept her in. Beth lead the way down the stairs rushing down the stabbing walkers in the head as she went. When she came across Dawn, she halted letting Rick and Daryl go in front to shoot her in the head before following them. She would have killed her, but Hope was her priority. They got out of the hospital and dashed to the cars before walkers could grab their attention. Beth sat in the passenger seat as Daryl sat in the drivers seat. Beth held her daughter close with one hand and let Daryl hold the other. Noah ran being chased by a few walkers when Beth slung open the door and let Noah slide in. They took off at speed away from Atlanta, Beth breathing and her lower half throbbing and aching in pain. Beth let silent tears roll down her face cradling her daughter close to her as they turned left off the road heading towards Washington DC.

"Daryl... Where's my sister?" Beth asked.

"She was with us, when we were at the church. She took off with Glenn to go to DC. We'll find her," Daryl said. Daryl's hand rested on Beth's thigh as Beth used her free hand to support Hope and attempt to keep from freezing. The road was bumpy with the occasional walker but the high way was the worst. Car's packed themselves into confined spaces with the hisses and moans echoing between the rusting metals. Beth's breathing hitched as the car came to a halt. Daryl waved his hand to stop out of the window. "You stay here, you get out," Daryl said gesturing to Noah.

"Okay," Beth said as Hope's soft cries began she was hungry. Beth felt like crying, now was not the time for Hope to feed. Beth decided to feed her and Daryl stood talking with Rick while walkers began to approach. Beth winced in pain and pulled out her knife from her sheath. Walkers began to walk closer and closer. Beth grasped the wooden handle of the knife pushing into her side. Daryl walked in front of the car making eye contact with Beth, silently asking if she was okay. Beth nodded and held up her knife. Slowly, the group managed to walk around the car and picked off the walkers. Beth sank back in her seat her hand covering any sight of Hope they may have seen. She felt so helpless just sitting there when she should be fighting against them! For the sake of her daughter, she would fight. She'd kill anyone that attempted to hurt her daughter. Daryl was fighting with a walker and Beth's heart leapt into her mouth as its jaws snapped and chopped at him. Rick stabbed it in the head pulling Daryl to his feet. Beth relaxed until a child walker passed. Beth looked away as the girl with blonde matted hair and clouded eyes headed towards the group. She was the last one. The herd vanished and Beth relaxed as the group slowly moved the cars of the road. Daryl sat in the drivers seat looking at Beth and peaked inside her jacket looking at Hope who was soundly asleep laying against Beth's skin.

Rick handed a car seat to Daryl. Beth smiled at Rick who gave her a sad smile before heading back to hisown vehicle. Beth took her daughter out from the baby carrier wrapping her in her jacket again for extra warmth. Daryl strapped in Hope and made eye contact with Noah, they silently agreed that Noah would protect Hope at all costs while he sat in the back.

"Get some sleep Beth, we got a long road ahead of us."