Chapter one.

Daryl's pov

It was another day in the stifling Georgia heat. Daryl wiped the sweat off his forehead as he walked up to the shaded area in the prisons courtyard. Rick, Tyrese, and Carol were going over inventory. "We will need to go out on a run soon." Rick stated. Daryl's only reply was to turn and look at Rick. Rick will tell us what to do. It was more wishful thinking that crossed Daryl's mind than anything else. Rick had backed into a corner the last few months. It seemed like he wanted nothing to do with being the leader. "I'm not your governor." How could Daryl forget that day?

"Daryl, what do you think? " Carol sounded irritated. "Huh?" he was caught off guard, again. This woman seemed unusually irritable lately. "I was saying that Tyrese, Michonne, Rick and Maggie could head north to that large subdivision we passed on our last run. You and I could hit up that strip mall right off the highway that's a little south of that. It looks like it hasn't been looted yet." Carol sounded almost excited. Daryl ringed his hands, not sure how to answer.

He wasn't sure why, but Carol seemed to have been pushy lately. It seemed like any opportunity she had, she tried to be alone with him. It was beginning to annoy him. He was spared for an answer when they heard a coo, and giggling. Beth walked up with Judith in her arms. Daryl stood up and immediately grabbed the infant from her arms. The little girl looked at him and smiled. He didn't know love until the first time he had held her. "Careful Daryl, I just fed-" Beth's words were interrupted when Judith spit up all over the front of his shirt. Daryl smiled. It was weak, but it was there. He never thought he would be ok with being spit up all over. He could just imagine Merle if he was still alive. "You've gone soft little brother. You're supposed to be out hunting, not tending to babies." Daryl frowned at the memory, although he missed Merle, he didn't miss being heckled.

Daryl watched as Carol took Judith from him and tried to pass her off to Michonne, who just shook her head. Daryl came to the conclusion that she just wasn't a baby person. She never wanted anything to do with Judith. Rick cradled Judith in his arms, at the same time Carol started unbuttoning Daryl's shirt. "Damn woman, a man can unbutton his own shirt." He sounded a little gruffer than he had meant to. Daryl took the shirt off, glad to be rid of it in the Georgia heat. Beth handed him a new shirt. "What did ya fly back here er what girl?" Beth looked down at her feet. "I just went to grab one of your shirts off the line." She said quietly. "Thanks, Beth. But I think I'll go without a shirt for now." Beth blushed. He didn't even turn around. He could feel Carol's eyes burning into him.

It was at that moment, he had noticed what Beth was wearing. A pretty pale blue, and lacey tank top. One of her pink bra straps was starting to slide off her shoulder. very short shorts. They were almost too short. He could see her long legs, they were starting to tan from all the time she had been helping her father and Rick with the gardening. It was very different, compared to what she usually wore. He shook his head, and drew his eyes up to look at her face. "Daryl, Rick, I was wondering if maybe..." Beth trailed off. She looked at Judith, then back at Daryl. "Would it be possible for me to come on the next run?" Rick looked like he could have dropped Judith out of pure shock. At that same moment, Hershel appeared out of nowhere. "Bethany Elizabeth Greene, you will not leave the prison as long as you are my daughter!" Hershel boomed.

Beth jumped back, nearly tripping over her own feet. "It's bad enough your wearing clothes like that, Your sister was the one that convinced me to let you wear that in this heat, there is no way I am letting you leave these walls to go on a run." It was at that moment that Rick chose to speak up. "With all due respect, Beth is pretty good with a gun as well as her knife. I know you don't like the idea of her going, but my baby needs things, and Beth would know the most about what she needs, she takes care of her the most. And Beth needs to know how to go on a run, how to defend herself. If the governor ever tries to attack us again, every single one of us needs to be prepared." Hershel shifted from foot to foot. Daryl could tell he was thinking it over. Carol suddenly brushed up against Daryl. "Me and Beth could go to that little strip mall off the highway. I saw a department store 'round that area too. Looked like it might be a kid's store. She is gonna need diapers and formula soon I reckon. Beth knows what she needs." Beth looked at Daryl, as if she was saying 'thank you' with her eyes.

"Daryl I know you'll keep her safe, but I simply request that her sister go with you two to that strip mall and department store, to give me peace of mind. Now, there are a lot of requests from most of the folks here as well as myself. I will get a list, if you don't mind. When did you plan on going?" Again, Carol brushed up against him. "We plan on going tomorrow." She stated.

"Ok Carol, we only have room for six. You can stay here, tend to the fences, and help Bob and Hershel with the sick. We still have a few bodies that we need to clean out of the sick ward yet. "Rick got a dirty look in return to his statement. Tyrese suddenly had a voice then. "I'll sit this one out. Sasha is still recovering and I would rather be here. After losing Karen I would rather be close." Rick nodded in response.

"Tomorrow it is. Let's get the truck ready. "Rick looked up at Daryl, then back to Hershel. Daryl could not believe Hershel's youngest daughter was going on a run, or that he was the one who gave the final push for Hershel's approval in Beth coming. Truthfully, Beth coming just made Daryl weary; he had never seen Beth fend for herself. Not outside the prison at least. Even before they found the prison, she hung back and cooked or did laundry. He only saw her take a walker down once and that was only because Carl had been able to distract it. But Rick was not a liar. He wouldn't say she could defend herself if she couldn't. But his biggest reason for speaking up, was also making damn sure Carol wasn't getting alone with him, even if it did mean babysitting Beth Greene.

Beth's pov

"C'mon Beth, we got to get going." She was shaken awake by Carol. Beth rolled over in her cell. She looked out and couldn't see the sun. "What time is it?" Beth yawned, rubbing her eyes. For now they were lucky enough to still be able to tell time, due to one of the Woodbury residents who used to work as a jeweler before the turn. He not only knew how to change watch batteries, but had a vast collection of beautiful watches. He was lucky enough to still have the possessions after the turn. Beth picked up the watch he had given her shortly after he arrived at the prison. "5:47 am. Geez Carol, I was up with Judith a little over an over ago, can I sleep another hour maybe?" Beth rolled back over, and was then grabbed under the shoulders and sat up by Maggie. "Beth Greene you wanted to go on a run this is what we gotta do. We go early so we can get back by sunset. Now get your little ass up and get dressed. There's some peaches for breakfast and Carol made Orange Juice, now get up."

"Yes mom." Beth replied sarcastically. Peaches and oranges. It had been one of the few things they had lived off for the last few months. "I'll have to look for something else to eat today." Beth thought to herself. A few months back they had let in a lone survivor, Quinn, Beth was sure her name was. She had tons of food. A lot of canned food, bulk bags of rice, water, grain, even cheese. What a treat that had been. The first few days it had been easy to ration the food out, but hunger and desire for something else overtook everyone and the twenty-four days it lasted seemed to have disappeared fast. The woman went out in the woods just a few days ago to pick some berries for tea and had never come back. Neither Beth nor any of the other folks at the prison took her for someone who would just up and run. The walkers had been thick the last few days and all she had was knife to protect had nearly knocked down the fence three times. It was a shame she was gone, she had brought enough food to last over 30 people almost a month and she was just gone. Beth had prayed that third night she was gone, that she hadn't become one of them, although she knew the chances of that were slim.

Beth slipped on pants and a long sleeve shirt. The temperatures were reaching well into hundreds, without the humidity, by ten am most days, but she hated getting walker blood all over her bare skin. "Best wanna change outta that shit girl." Daryl mumbled. "I don't want blood all over me." Beth said, quiet, but almost angered. She sat on the thought for a minute, and then found a pair of shorts that hit just above the knee, and a short sleeved shirt. By this time, Maggie and Carol had both looked ready to drag her out. Beth slammed the orange juice and hastily ate the peaches. What she wouldn't do for a warm mug of coffee right now. "Here Bethy, Maggie, here's your cups of coffee, 2 teaspoons of sugar and a little Irish cream. Shawn, your mug of hot coco will be coming right up." Beth savored that memory of Annette. She still sometimes had nightmares of the moment her mother came out of the barn, snarling and grabbing for anything she could get her hands on. It was at that moment she realized her father had been wrong, they weren't sick, they were dead. Her mother was just a corpse that wanted to eat her. It was something she didn't think she'd ever forget.

Beth rubbed the sleep out of her eyes as she walked through the courtyard. "Beth, I know you were up with Judy last night, and I appreciate that, but you need to stay alert when we get out there. It will be about an hour drive, so you can sleep on the ride up, but once we get out of the truck you will need to be alert. Your dad would have my neck if something happened to you." Rick lectured. It was going to be a long day. Michonne was on her horse, ready to go. Beth climbed into the back of the cab of the truck, between Maggie and Carol. Daryl jumped in the driver's seat with Rick in the passenger's seat. This was not comfortable, by any means; she put her feet on the center counsel anyway, not caring who would lecture her. Before they even got to the front gates, Beth had passed out, with her head on Maggie's shoulder.

6/18/14

a/n The medicine run with Daryl, Bob, Michonne, and Tyrese was completed already, and Rick kicking Carol out will be happen within the coming chapters. The timeline will be tweaked in a few places, and some stuff is cannon while other stuff isn't. And we will get to see Daryl's thoughts about Carol getting kicked out, but it will be minimal. I"m basing the first chapter off about 10 days before the fall of the prison fall and a week or so after the medicine run. I have written alot before, but this is my first fanfiction ever, so i hope I did good. Constructive criticism is welcome.

Daryl and Beth will switch pov randomly. I could do only a few paragraphs, or whole chapters. Also, I only plan out about 3 or 4 chapters at once. I Have chapters 2 and 3 completed, and have started the 4th. I will aim for updates every 4-7 days, but don't hold me to anything.