AN: Welcome to what will hopefully be the last installment of The Ampersand Series. This section will be from Daryl's POV - excited to be writing from his perspective again. Thank you, as always, to anyone who reviews/follows/whatever. I really do appreciate it, and all you crazy folks who have stuck around this long... I did not intend for this story to become so... vast.


Daryl doesn't have to pretend not to be watching her anymore. Beth moves around the house, catching his gaze every once in a while, smiling at him, trying not to let her nerves show. But he knows. She cares about everything so she worries about everything. From the baby, to her sister, down to my own dumb ass, Daryl thought to himself. He has to coax her into eating more often than not. For the baby, he always says, and tonight is no different.

"Oughta start thinking about names," Beth said, dipping her spoon into the soup, swirling it around indifferently. "You know, for the bean."

Beth was getting into the later months of her pregnancy. She didn't talk about it too much, other than to tell him the little bean was kicking her something fierce. Daryl had even got to felt it. It was amazing. Damn near took his breath away. His family.

"You're better at that kinda stuff than me," Daryl answered.

"But you're gonna be the daddy," Beth responded. "Don't you think you should have some say in the conversation?"

"Y'could name it Bean, for all I care, long as they're healthy," he answered bluntly, but stopped when he saw her frown. "Suppose I wouldn't mind some say, though."

"For a while, I was thinking about naming it after people we lost," she said quietly. "But I think they deserve a fresh start. No more ghosts."

"No argument here," Daryl agreed.

He tried not to think about it. All the people they had lost - all their names - their smiling faces - the death. You had to put it away. Beth had been right that night in the shack. It was hard though. You wanted to hold on - and they both still did, to parts and pieces, certain memories, but a name... all the time... was a whole world of hurt and they both knew it.

"If it's a girl, I was thinking Matilda," Beth said, wringing her hands, peeking up at him nervously.

"Why?" he asked.

"Have you never seen the movie Matilda?" she questioned him.

Daryl didn't have the heart to tell her again that his childhood hadn't been one of renting videos and having family night. His father seemed to keep the television on an endless loop of The Price Is Right re-runs and when it wasn't, and Merle was around, Daryl had seen more pornos than any twelve year old he knew.

"Nah," Daryl responded, rubbing the back of his neck, willing himself not to feel embarrassed. "Take it ya liked it, then?"

"One of my favorites growing up. It's about a smart, quiet girl who grows up in a bad family, but then discovers she has magical powers. In the end, she goes to live with her teacher Miss Honey, who loves her just as she is and appreciates her."

"Hm," Daryl hums, unsure of what to say. "Guess it's got a good enough message. Gotta make your own family, sometimes."

"Yeah," Beth said, smiling up at him brightly in the way that always made his stomach leap. "Also, since I went through such a big Matilda phase, I know what the name is supposed to mean."

"Care to share that information, Greene?" he asked her with a small smirk.

"It means strength in battle," Beth said.

"Well, don't think it'll get better than that, then."

"And for a boy..." Beth says, "I... I haven't really thought about it."

"Why not?" he asked her.

Beth only shrugged and moved around him, picking up their plates and setting them in the sink. He expected her to return, but when she didn't, he found her standing in front of the window, looking out at the dark treeline.

"Beth," Daryl started, rubbing a hand down the long line of her spine, "talk to me. What's goin' on?"

"I don't want to talk about it," she said firmly.

"Well, I do," he said, not letting her weasel her way out of it. "You're upset. Even I can see that, and I ain't exactly ever been accused of bein' sensitive to others' feelings."

"I just... I worry," Beth said, "... about it being a boy. Given how..."

"Beth," he said gently, heart breaking for her, and placed a hand on her stomach. "Stop."

"You think I'm terrible, don't you?" she asked, tears welling up in her eyes. "I try not to think about it... but..."

He kissed her, cutting off her words. Daryl could taste her tears. He cupped her face, trying to bring her closer to him. He wasn't good with words, but actions - Daryl could do actions. He could show her that she would never be anything less than beautiful to him - a damn angel. Perfect.

"If it's a boy," he said, resting his forehead against hers, "then I'll teach him about bein' kind, and loyal, and honest. But I swear to ya, Beth, he'll already have all that from you. Your light will eat up any shadows in him. Just like it did with me."

"You're a sweet man, Daryl Dixon," she said sniffling at him, making his chest swell with pride. Ya finally said the right thing, you moron. Only took ya your whole life.

Beth stepped closer to wrap her arms around him in a hug that warmed him down to his toes, even with her little belly poking at him. This girl had no idea the effect she had on other people - on him - or the effect she would have on their baby. She was going to be a great mother - a protective mother - a lioness. Daryl could see it now. When she pulled away from him, he wiped away the lingering wetness on her cheeks.

"And I think we should name him Archer," Daryl said, trying to get her to smile again - and it worked - boy, did it ever work. "That's what they called me in Terminus. I kinda liked it."

"Daryl Dixon," she laughed. "You're awful!"

"But that's not a no, right?"