I don't own the Walking Dead or anyone or anything having to do with the Walking Dead. I also don't own What the heart Wants by Selena Gomez.

You got me sippin on something

I can't compare to nothing

I've ever known, I'm hoping

That after this fever I'll survive

I know I am acting a bit crazy

Strung out, a little bit hazy

Hand over heart, I'm praying

That I'm gonna make it out alive

The last thing Beth remembered feeling was blinding rage that Dawn would presume to demand that Noah return to the hospital. Then nothing, blank, dark, empty nothingness. As awareness returned she first registered a strange numbness and a disembodied feeling. It slowly gave way to tingles that began in her fingertips and toes, as feeling slowly returned first to her limbs, and then throughout her whole body. As her mind cleared she became aware that she was laying in a prone position on a hard but, not uncomfortable surface. Beth registered voices one high pitched and unfamiliar and another gravely and low, familiar, comforting, even though she was unable to place its owner. She slowly opened her eyes and pulled herself into a sitting position. Taking stock of her surrondings Beth became aware that she was in a small dark room, not much else registered except that a door lay ahead of her, and there was a strange haziness at the edges of her vision. The echo of voices reached her again and she felt a pull low and powerful in her stomach. The voices called to her, drew her like a moth to a flame. She understood intrinsically that she had to see the people whom those voices belonged to. As she struggled to her feet Beth felt strangely awkward like a colt testing out its legs for the first time but, the pull to open the door only grew, so she gamely moved forward towards her destination. When she reached the door she paused briefly as the palm of her hand made contact with the doorknob. A sudden panic she could not fathom snaked through her and her brain screamed at her not to open the door. Something about one of the voices on the other side of that door made her not want to open it , why she didn't understand. While she wasn't completely sure what was going on Beth knew she hadn't been weak in a long time, not since back at the farm, and her heart directed her to turn the knob and open the door.

The first thing Beth was aware of was a blinding light. So bright that at first it stole her breath and made it impossible to see what was beyond the threshold of the door. Then slowly as her eyes adjusted she took in the scene before her. She was standing on a wooden porch decorated with rocking chairs and a single porch swing. Beyond the edge of the porch and down three simple steps was a large open field dotted with wild flowers. The sun was bright in a cloudless sky and horses and cattle grazed contentedly in lush grass pastures with white post and board fencing. Beth became aware of one particular chestnut mare with a blaze that while not Nelly, strongly reminded her of her childhood mount. Then another giggle drew her attention back to the center of the meadow and the two individuals currently inhabiting it. A young girl of no more than five was throwing a stick for a large yellow lab, who eagerly retrieved the item, and patiently waited for the girl to begin the game over again. As the girl spun to throw the stick Beth took in her features crystal clear blue eyes, a petite frame, and an abundance of wild dark hair. Something about the girls features spoke to Beth but, she wasn't able to put her finger on what it was. Then she heard his voice distinct and low as he murmured clearly "Just one more throw Lea your momma will have dinner ready by now, and y know she won't wanna come traipsing out here lookin for us". Lea turned giggling as she ran towards the man sitting in the middle of the meadow, one leg stretched out in front of him, and the other pulled up so that his elbow could rest on his knee. Her arms were outstretched as she threw herself at the man shrieking "You know momma loves it out here Daddy she says it's her piece of heaven on earth, she won't be mad". The man caught the child pulling her into his embrace and turning her so that he could hold her down and tickle her stomach. Peels of childish laughter rent the air and Beth could see the happiness and contentment on the man's face as he pulled both himself and Lea into a standing position. "Don't matter how much momma loves it out here doodlebug" the man stated as he reached down to ruffle Lea's hair affectionately " she'll be sore if she has to come looking for us after she told us dinnerd be ready in an hour. I don't fancy making her so mad she won't let us have some of those amazing cookies I caught her baking while you were taking a nap."

"Cookies" Lea exclaimed excitedly "were they chocolate chip?"

The man pretended to think about this for a moment, scratching his head, before cocking it to the side and looking down at the little girl seriously, even though a smirk pulled at the corner of his lips. "Actually" he breathed dramatically " I think they might have been peanut butter chocolate chip".

The little girl now holding on to her father's hand said "Come on daddy we better hurry then ,you know those are mommas favorites and if we're late she might eat em all before we get there". Smiling the man turned back towards the dog and whistled clearly calling to lab to his side. The dog bounded over happily falling into step with the man and the child as they headed back towards the porch that Beth was currently standing on. They were still quite a distance away but, Beth breathed in sharply as the man's name snapped forcefully to the forefront of her thoughts. Daryl the man's name was Daryl. Beth's stomach lurched as she drank him in, noting his clean but worn clothing, still too long and ruggedly shaggy dark hair, lithe gait as he walked, and masculine features. She noted the ease with which he interacted with the child, his daughter she reminded herself, and the happiness painted across his features for the world to see. The Daryl Beth knew would never be this at ease with a child, for that matter she couldn't even imagine him consenting to fathering a child. The edges of Beth's vision suddenly got hazier and the fog seemed to close in around her again. The image of Daryl and the child, Lea she reminded herself began to fade and Beth began to panic. No they couldn't leave, she wasn't sure why but, she knew they couldn't leave. She was just about to move to step off the porch to go to them when a voice stopped her.

"I am sorry Bethy but, you can't go to them. I know you want to but, that isn't how this works."

Beth's pulse began to pound as she spun around "Daddy" she gasped as she took in the sight of the man standing before her. Sure enough Herschel stood tall and whole in front of her dressed in his signature slacks, button down shirt, and suspenders, and Beth was unable to stop from launching herself into her father's arms. He caught her, pulling her close, as his arms wrapped securely around her.

"Oh Bethy I missed you so much" he breathed and Beth was unable to stop the tears that formed in her eyes.

"Daddy what's going on. I don't understand any of this. How are you here? Where am I?". Herschel's expression became sad for a moment and Beth registered his sorrow as he prompted her.

"Think about it for a moment Bethy, you know where you are and why you're here". It only took a moment for the memories to flood back and Beth remembered Grady Memorial, Dawn's demands, and then choosing to stab her with the surgical scissors. Then nothing absolutely nothing and with dawning horror she felt her stomach drop to her feet.

She met her father's eyes as she demanded hoarsely "I died didn't I. I am dead. Oh God this can't be happening. Daryl what will this do to him. I promised him that there were still good people out there, that this type of thing wouldn't keep happening. I can't be dead please. I can't". Beth turned to her father desperately and saw the truth on his features. "Why… Why did you bring me here then? Why show me this? Why show me Daryl and that little girl? What is this all about?" Beth would have continued but, Herschel put up a hand to stop her and gently turned her away from him so that she could see the now fading images of Daryl and Lea as they continued to draw nearer.

"Bethy" Herschel demanded firmly "tell me who that little girl is".

" I don't know" Beth screeched half hysterical at the realization of her own death "why should I know who she is?"

"You do" Herschel spoke firmly but, calmly "you do know who she is. Who is she Beth".

In an instant a sudden certain realization crashed down on Beth. She realized what about the little girls features had called to her "Momma "she gasped out "She had momma's facial structure….but how is that possible?" . Beth looked from Lea out in the meadow back to her father and then she knew. She knew as sure as she knew Annette was her mother. "Mine, she's mine, my daughter" Beth chocked out as she looked up at her father.

He nodded slowly before a small smile crossed his features. "She's beautiful. Sometimes there is so much Dixon in her that it's hard to tell there is any Greene at all, but she does favor your mother doesn't she?" Herschel questioned gently.

"How is this possible" Beth demanded "and why are you showing this to me if I am dead. Clearly I don't have a daughter with Daryl and if I am dead I never will. Why are you doing this?". Beth was angry, not so much at her father but, at the situation. She may not have even admitted it to herself before she died but, she had fallen in love with Daryl after the prison fell, while they were surviving together but, separated from the rest of the group. Now she had seen that little girl, that beautiful little girl that was supposed to be hers, and she had seen the love on Daryl's face as he had gazed at the child. What kind of cruel joke was this that she had to die to see what might have been.

Beth watched the dismay cross Herschel's features as he began "I didn't want to. I didn't want to show this to you hunny but, he asked me to. He felt you needed to understand, to see everything before you made a choice. He felt it was only fair".

Herschel let out a soft sigh as Beth continued to stare at him angrily" He who? What are you talking about".

" You know who Bethy the same way you knew that Lea was your child after you thought about it", Herschel prompted gently. Beth did know, she just wasn't in the mood to acknowledge it. But she did know, she had been raised in family with strong faith, and Beth's faith was mighty strong. It was part of what allowed her to hope…no to know that there were still good people out there even if this had happened to her. Beth latched on to part of her fathers statement in an attempt to avoid evaluating the whole of it.

"What else are you suppose to show me" she demanded.

Herschel's expression registered sorrow for a moment before he told her " I don't want to show this to you. You saw what might be first. That is what Lea is. What might be. Now I have to show you what will be, if the current course isn't altered". With that Herschel waved his hand gently and Beth watched as the heavy fog before her began to clear. The scene was a heavily wooded area and Beth saw her family surrounding a campfire obviously in the middle of breakfast. It was hard to tell but, Beth supposed it couldn't be that long after her death as Daryl's hair wasn't really that much longer and she knew he wouldn't cut it without prompting. Beth was vaguely aware that the atmosphere around the campfire was subdued but, all of her attention was focused solely on Daryl.

He sat away from the others, dirty, too thin, and picking at his fingernail instead of breaking his fast. It was clear he was segregating himself from the group and Beth could see the grief written across his features. The low murmur of other voices carried across the camp for a moment or two before it happened. Beth watched in horror as a massive herd of walkers broke from the tree line of the forest into the camp. Daryl had been preoccupied and inattentive and had uncharacteristically missed the signs of the approaching herd. Without warning the camp erupted into chaos. Beth watched as her family struggled to gather what they could and run. There was no chance of fending off a walker herd this large, the only way to survive was to run. That's when Beth saw it, she zeroed in on it despite the yells and screams, and general chaos. She saw Judith unattended, left sitting on the ground by the camp fire, and she saw the walker zeroing in on the toddler. The little girl was sitting on the forest floor, crying helplessly, as large fat tears rolled down her cheeks. Beth saw the moment Daryl realized the little girl was alone and in jeopardy. If he had run in that moment he would have escaped the herd but, instead of running from it, he unholstered his knife and charged into the chaos in an attempt to save Judith. For a short time Beth thought he might be successful. He reached the little girl and scooped her into his arms. He turned trying to escape the overrun camp, fighting off walkers as they advanced, but the others had fled at the first sign of trouble and Daryl was on his own. He was unable to fend off the onslaught of walkers and Beth watched in helpless horror as the man she loved and the little girl that was like her own daughter were overrun. When Daryl collapsed in on himself shielding Judith with his own body she turned from the image unable to watch anymore and met her fathers eyes. He gazed down at her sadly before stating " He is going to be overcome with grief. The whole group, our family, will be shattered and grieving, but Daryl, he is going to lose any semblance of ability to function. He misses you that badly", Herschel gives her a wry smile before continuing "it will cost both him and Judith their lives". Beth shuddered at the thought. At the idea of Judy's life being so short, of the little girl not having the opportunity to really live. She didn't even allow herself to dwell on the horror of Daryl dying as he had just moments before.

"How do I stop this" Beth desperately demanded , "What can I do?".

Herschel hesitated for a moment before stating " I just showed you what will be if nothing changes. Daryl and Judith will pass from that life into the new as you have. And you can all spend eternity here, with those that have come before you..in peace". Beth could tell that her father actually seemed to prefer this idea , which was reinforced when he stated "the battle would be over Beth. You have all fought so hard. You deserve peace and rest. The alternative won't be easy. It won't be like staying here". Herschel understood immediately that he had lost this argument by the dissatisfied and determined look on Beth's face. He was her father after all. He smiled wryly before continuing ," I can tell however, by the look on your face that an eternity of peace and rest for yourself, Daryl, and Judith doesn't appeal to you. He didn't think it would which , is why he has chosen you for such a special destiny. You are strong Beth. Stronger than even you know. Daryl sees it, has nurtured it in you, but it's going to take all of the strength you have to undergo this task". Herschel watched Beth as she continued to stare at him forcefully a clear sign that she wanted him to continue. "Tell me Beth, when you observed what can be what did you notice or more specifically what didn't you notice".

Beth thought about her father's question for a moment before she gasped stating "there weren't any walkers. That's why Daryl was so relaxed and why he didn't have his crossbow with him, he wasn't worried about Lea's safety".

Herschel nodded smiling at his perceptive daughter. "He never planned for the world to go this way Bethy, and now he is looking for someone to help pull it back from the brink. He thinks you can be that person but, I have to warn you it won't be easy. You will have to become a warrior and you will need help, so it will be imperative that you have Daryl at your side. He will give you the strength that you need but, he can only continue to strengthen you if you maintain your faith, something we know is difficult in that world". Herschel paused before taking a deep breath and emphasizing" He wants you to be the one to bring a cure to the world". Beth stares at her father for a long moment before shaking her head in disbelief.

" I must be dead because, I can't believe this is happening. So what your telling me is that I died, that if nothing changes Daryl and Judy will die too in the very near future, and that the creator is willing to bring me back to life, so that I can return and try to find a cure for the zombie apocalypse". Herschel nods calmly but definitively as Beth continues " And if I manage to cure the world and somehow convince Daryl to fall in love with me, I might have a family and a future", Herschel nods again before reiterating " Bethy please consider this, it won't be easy, and it will be a long road. You don't have to do this.".

Beth signed tiredly as a realization hit her, one she didn't even need to think too hard to obtain " Yeah Dad that's the point. I do. I do have to do this. It's why I am here. It's what I was made to do. I am not sure if our destiny is ever really a choice…and Dad I know this is mine."

The bed's getting cold and your not here

The future that we hold is so unclear

But I'm not alive until you call

And I'll bet the odds against it all

Save your advice 'cause I won't hear

You might be right but I don't care

Here's a million reasons why I should give you up

But the heart wants what it wants

" I trust him and if he has faith in me then I can do this. And Dad I want to live. I want to live in a world where the zombie apocalypse is a memory and the future is so much brighter. I don't want to just exist in peace for the rest of eternity, while the world implodes. I want to feel... the good stuff but, the pain as well. I want to experience life to the fullest and I want the opportunity to show that to Daryl as well. I want to see him look at his child with wonder and know that the world can be a good place." Beth ended her speech and stared up at her father with steely determination.

"I love you Bethy. You know that. I have never been prouder of you than I am in this moment. When things get tough….and they will….remember where to draw your faith and strength from. I know you can accomplish the task you are setting out to do. And I know that one day we will be reunited again." Beth smiled up at her father as a wave of peace washed over her.

"I know Dad. I know that we will see each other again. I've always known how much you love me and Maggie too. I love you Dad so much. Thank you for all you did for us our whole lives". Beth reached for Herschel as he pulled her into a final hug, grateful that she finally had the opportunity to say goodbye to her father.

This is a modern fairy tale

No happy endings

No wind in our sails

But I can't imagine a life without

Breathless moments

Breaking me down, down, down, down

As Beth began to pull away from her father's embrace she felt a strange drifting sensation as if she were being carried away. Her father began to fade and as he did so he reached out one last time to brush a few strands of hair from her face. His smile was soft, serene, and loving. But the words Beth heard as her consciousness began to fade away did not come from her father. A voice that she had never heard before but, knew without ever needing to be told whispered "Remember I am always with you if you have faith".

Daryl couldn't see beyond the blur of tears that blinded his vision. He couldn't hear above the roar of his pounding heart. His whole world had contracted to the tiny blood he clutched in his arms, her lifeless body a dead weight. He was vaguely aware of the others surrounding him in the yard outside the hospital. Dimly heard Maggie's keening wails of grief as he collapsed to his knees. Then as if the world was conspiring to drown him he became aware of another facet of his environment. Walkers… Walkers were coming from every direction drawn he supposed by the horrific sounds of Maggie's grief. His family began to scatter grabbing weapons and imploring Daryl to run as well. He considered it for a moment but, then the reality of the situation crashed in on him. In order to run he would have to leave Beth and he wasn't going to do that. He had left her once and look what had happened. He wouldn't leave her again. He watched as the others ran, Glenn dragging a hysterical Maggie, and he came to terms with his decision. He was done. The world had become too much and he was ready for peace. He couldn't go on in a world where innocents like Beth Greene didn't get to make it out of places like Grady Memorial.

When he was younger he believed that right always triumphed over wrong. Sure he didn't get to see a lot of movies like other kids but, he still understood the concept and believed it. But in this post apocalyptic world it seemed like evil won every time. And Daryl was done fighting on the side of a lost cause. As he looked up Daryl saw several walkers closing in only yards away and he glanced down at Beth wanting her face to be the last image he saw, as he was released from this life into the next. He took in her angelic features, blond hair, and almost peaceful expression before his eyes settled on the ugly red gunshot entry wound in her forehead. His gut twisted with grief as his eyes skated to the cross bracelet on Beth's wrist and unable to stop himself he cried out in anguish "Why damit. Why her. Why did it have to be her. She was so good she didn't deserve this."

Daryl recognized of course that the good ones never made it. That saying the good die young came to fruition for a reason, and as unfair as it was, it was more often than not true. But true or not Daryl could not accept it. Beth had always had so much faith but, what good was faith when this was the end result. Overwhelmed and believing that any minute a walker would tear into his flesh Daryl, with hot tears running down his cheeks, rasped out "Beth oh no not Beth… please not Beth."

A snarl drew Daryl's attention to a walker several yards to his left that had noticed him due to his anguished cries. Daryl was assessing the walker a middle aged man who had most likely at one time been a professional judging by the suit and tie when it happened.

"Daryl", his eyes snapped down to Beth's face, he must be losing his mind. He was going to lose it before he died Daryl mused numbly. But then as he was focused on her facial features he saw her eyes twitch beneath her lids and she sucked in a quick, shallow breath, before rasping out again "Daryl" .

It took Daryl a millisecond to realize that he had somehow been granted either a miracle or a temporary reprieve. Beth wasn't dead or at least she wasn't yet however, close she might be, and he had to do something, and it had to be now. Lurching to his feet, clutching Beth to his chest, he turned to sprint away from the walkers, and back towards the hospital. He had to get Beth help, there was no other option. She had to live.