Hey everyone, so I'm re-writing Secret (to a degree) because I did something silly and now I'm regretting it. It will be really different then the first Secret, but it'll be the same concept and I'll probably add in a lot of stuff that I wrote in the last story, only this time it'll be better. I really do hope you enjoy! More notes at the end.

...

"Keep singin'."

"I thought my singin' annoyed you?" She asked.

He laid back in the coffin and shrugged a little." Well, there ain't no juke box so.." He looked over at her almost waiting for her to continue.

She turned back around facing the piano all while wondering what had gotten into him, she saw a big difference in attitude and he even seemed less tense.

Daryl watched her play the piano - fingers moving delicately over the keys, he couldn't help but stare. Then her voice. Her voice soft and melodic, and it was putting him to sleep. She definitely had talent unlike he imagined. Or led himself to believe. He turned and looked up at the ceiling wondering what would have happened if he wasn't there when she ran out of the prison, would she of survived? He didn't want to seem soft or mushy gushy, but, he was glad that he was standing there when she ran out.

She woke up in a haze, or at least it seemed. Her eyes hurt from the direct sunlight filtering in and her head felt fuzzy, was she in heaven? Blinking a few times the haze cleared and she could see - she was in a room. A white room with white floors, the walls were plain as day; not even a picture.

There was a window to her right and she noted that's where the light was coming in from, a sharp pain in her wrist brought her to reality. Her reality. She looked down and noticed a cast.

Confused and feeling fatigued she sat up slowly, she looked around the room taking in all the medical equipment that sat next to her bedside. She rubbed her wrist a little as she tried figuring where she could be, was Daryl here too?

Without much hesitation or a second thought she threw the covers off of her and stepped down on to the cool floor, She wobbled a bit upon standing but gripped the bed for support as she hurried over to the door with fear finally hitting her.

With clenched fists she hit the wooden door, she even tried opening it after she hit it a few times, but it was locked. Frustrated as she was she called out for help, but it sounded more like a cry for help as her panic began bubbling to the surface. She sometimes let her emotions get the best of her.

The sound of keys jiggling on the other side not a minute later prompted her to back away and very quickly, she yanked the needle out from her arm and held it between her fingers, it wasn't much but it gave her the satisfaction that she had something to protect herself with even if it didn't do any damage.

The door swung open and a dark haired woman in a police uniform entered the room, and behind her walked in a Doctor holding a clipboard. Beth swallowed and gripped the pole that held her IV bag.

"Drop it.. Right now." The woman commanded.

Beth obliged letting the needle fall to the ground and she honestly couldn't figure out why she even listened, she watched as the dark haired woman gripped her belt of weapons. She eyed it carefully. But not to be too suspicious at least to the cop, she looked back up slowly and finally over to the Doctor, who was already staring.

"Do you remember your name?" he asked.

"Beth...Where am I?"

He fixed his glasses." Grady... Memorial."

Beth inhaled sharply." Why am I here?" She felt as if they were undoubtedly leaving something important out.

"My men found you on the side of the road, walkers surrounding you." The woman said.

Beth bit her cheek until she tasted some blood, feeling alone and being alone scared her more then all the walkers she could ever face. She looked back up at the Doctor, then to the woman - her eyes beginning to water some with the next question that sat on the tip of her tongue.

"The man I was with... Is he here too?"

The woman tilted her head to the side with a small shake." You were alone, there was no one with you."

She could feel her heart slip into her stomach, the bile in the back of her throat burning as it began surfacing. She was alone? Surely they were mistaking, she remembered clearly that she was with Daryl in a funeral home, it was getting over run with walkers and he yelled for her to get out and that he'd meet her up at the end of the road. He promised her.

"There's one other thing." The Doctor said turning back into her room.

Swallowing the lump in the back of her throat she nodded faintly as she prepped herself for what was about to be said, He sighed and cleared his throat almost like he was buying himself some time, She'd seen this before with Jimmy, Zach...and Daryl.

"You're pregnant." He said with an exhale." And five weeks to be exact."

But, prepping herself wasn't enough for the news she just received. Her breath hitched in her throat preventing her from speaking, he didn't say much more to her after that, he just left the room leaving the dark haired woman behind with her. Beth looked down at the white tiles blinking away the shock, pregnant. And five weeks at that. It was hard to fathom if she was being honest with herself. She always wanted a child, but that was before.

The woman walked over to Beth handing her sea foam green scrubs and a pair of sneakers that had balled up socks inside, Beth looked up at the woman and noticed how intense her eyes were, there was nothing behind them.

"Get dressed.. Make your bed, then come out to the front desk." She said before leaving the room.

Beth exhaled a shaky breath and turned towards her bed, she placed the scrubs at the foot then walked over to the window that over looked the city. She gasped slightly seeing how destroyed it truly was, far different from what she remembered or was used too. Over grown trees that she imagined used to be well kept, broken windows even in the tallest of buildings, litter and darkness clogged the streets. She didn't exactly expect a fairytale, but, she didn't expect this either.

With the city in shambles and probably filled with the dead, it then hit her like a ton of bricks. Trying to leave this place would be that much harder when she was able to, she must've been crazy to want to leave an environment where they have beds and clean sheets and bathrooms in every room, but she knew from spending months out there that she was more suited for the outdoors than she once thought. Inside she felt so out of place and around people she didn't know and didn't feel comfortable with.

When she was out there she knew how to survive, it came as second nature to her. And when she was around walkers she knew what to do, but around people especially people she didn't know, that's when she didn't know what to do. They were more dangerous at times and could turn in an instant, you didn't know if they'd become your friend or enemy.

She looked down at the cast on her wrist and sighed, she never had a sprained anything except for her ankle. It seemed like this year was a year of firsts for her, she slowly turned away from the window looking back at her clothes that were neatly folded on her bed.

Her new clothes.

...

She looked at Daryl wondering why he wasn't saying what changed his mind, he was acting strange far worse than earlier.. She'd seen him at his worst and at his best, but now she didn't know what she was seeing.

"Don't I'unno." She rolled her eyes as she mocked him playfully." What changed your mind?"

He looked up at her as he took a spoonful of jelly, he blinked slowly as he couldn't do much else, He didn't know what was happening, but he liked it.

"Oh." She replied and her smile disappearing into a soft thin line.

After Beth pulled her hair into a ponytail not bothering to put a braid in like she normally does, she walked out of the bathroom her mind still fresh with the memory of her and Daryl. She knew now that he was having trouble with his feelings. And she felt guilty that she didn't get it sooner.

"Oh good, You're dressed."

Startled; she jumped slightly and looked up seeing the Doctor sitting on the edge of her bed, she looked back down paying no mind to him at the moment. She shut the door quietly behind her and walked over to her bed, it was weird having him already in her room. What was he up to? Why was he even in here?

He stood up quickly so she could make her bed."I'm Doctor Edwards, by the way. We really didn't have much a chance for introductions earlier."

"You're an actual Doctor?"

He laughed lightly." Well, yes of course. I was actually working here and on the day that everything went to hell."

Beth nodded as she folded back her sheet, out of the corner of her eye she saw Edwards standing there watching her. She shook her head slightly from side to side, she pulled the white sheet that laid at the foot of the bed up half way then folded it back. She did just how her mother used too.

"Um, That man you mentioned earlier, He is the father I assume?"

Beth looked up at him briefly then looked back down, she didn't really give a yes or no she sort of ignored the question all together or tried, and only because it hurt speaking about Daryl. That wound was still fresh. She knew that he most likely thought she was dead, and really how could she blame him? It bothered her a lot, but, she was always dubbed as the weak one and he knew it too. Sure she proved herself a little with some things, but anyone would have done the same thing.

He was alive though because he will always be, He will always be the last man standing - as she told him that once in a house that they drank moonshine in and later burned it down, it was her first time drinking...Among other things as well, but she told him that he would be the last man standing and not to be mean, but only because he was built for this world and she saw that.

"We'll take care of you, we have a good staff here at Grady."

"Beth sighed." I was fine before."

Doctor Edwards nodded and opened his mouth to speak but ultimately chose not to, he turned slowly after giving a nod and a sympathetic smile. Beth looked up just as he walked out of her room. He left the door open and she could feel a breeze coming in from the hallway, she also heard chatter coming in as well. Meaning that there were indeed others.

She slowly inched her way out of the room feeling like her new surroundings were closing in on her, she rubbed her arms but stopped as her cast scratched her skin leaving little white lines down her forearm. She looked around the place only noticing one picture frame hanging in the hallway, it was an over look of Atlanta...Or what used to be.

Always trust your gut feeling, because it's always right. It'll never steer you wrong.

Beth heard her father's voice playing in her head and honestly she couldn't ignore it, her gut feeling was telling her that this place was shady. And like her Daddy said she should trust it and so she would.

Up ahead at the front desk was Doctor Edwards and an older gentleman, he looked as if to be in his late sixties early seventies what with his white hair and beard to match. He almost reminded her of her father, but he was a far cry from her Daddy. This man resembled more of Santa Clause.

Doctor Edwards looked up from his clipboard and gave Beth a nod." I need you for a second."

"For what?" Beth asked feeling a bit jumpy.

He put the clipboard down on the desk and walked down a narrow hallway, Beth stood there watching him unsure of what he needed. He turned around and motioned for Beth to follow.

Hesitating, Beth nodded and walked down the narrow hallway to meet up with him, and she couldn't help eyeing the police woman behind the desk. Although it wasn't the same woman that came into her room earlier, she couldn't help but feel the same way.

There was a medium size room off to the left that he walked into, and it looked to Beth like an old waiting room due to the soda machine's and countless empty magazine racks. There were a set of double doors up ahead just passed the bathroom that was on her right, it seemed to lead into another hallway. Beth continued following Edwards starting to feel a bit nervous now, he didn't feel like a threat to her.

"We lost a patient today." He finally spoke breaking the unnerving silence.

"How do you lose someone here?"

"Overdose." He replied simply as if it were no big deal, as if at one point it was something they all do.

Beth narrowed her eyes at the man." An' what exactly do you need me for?"

He smiled at her question as he fished out his key from his pocket, she watched- waiting for an answer as he had a rough time unlocking and opening the door. She watched as he jiggled the brass knob a few times before it finally opened for him, it was a small utility closet that he stepped into. it was filled with various cleaning supplies.

When he stepped back out he handed Beth a white sheet that was folded neatly with perfect creases, she looked up at Edwards.

"What's this for?"

"We don't like the others seeing what their peers look like, ultimately what they'll look like when death occurs."

Even though Beth was suspicious she followed him anyways, which was probably not the best idea since her gut was screaming at her to turn back around. The way he spoke, the way he acted seemed as if Beth were already apart of the community and that was starting to bother her. She didn't want to be apart of anything, she wanted to just leave.

"The west wing." He announced as they went through the double doors.

It was very clean and a lot less crowded - almost empty for that matter. She followed him into a bigger room, it seemed similar to hers but there was a sizable difference. A male patient lay on a bed in the same scrubs as Beth and the lady next to him, he was young Beth noted, probably a little older then her. His face and hands were pale almost as white as the sheet she was holding, he had a puncture wound in his head and she knew that they had already put him out, at least she didn't have to see that.

Doctor Edwards took the sheet out of Beth's hands and opened it up, he shook it a bit and for what reason Beth was uncertain. It was cleaner than anything she'd ever seen, even before the turn none of her towels or blankets came out as clean or as perfectly folded as this sheet was. She shook her head. The woman next to the bed held a piece of paper in her hands with a bunch of scribbles in her hand, Beth squinted hoping to read it but failed tremendously.

"Time of Death, 4:10." The woman spoke softly.. Almost too soft, even for Beth.

Edwards started scribbling down something on the clipboard that he carried, Beth was wondering if he even heard but now she knew. She wondered how they even kept time, or the day or month. It didn't really feel that important, before it was all Beth ever was. Keeping track of pep rallies and school dances, sleepovers with her friend's, school assignments etc.

"I'll need help wheeling the gurney."

Beth nodded and did as she was told, she helped him guide the gurney through the door frame so it wouldn't scratch. He mentioned religiously how Dawn would be upset if they did scratch the finish.

"I do appreciate this." He said as they made their way down the hallway.

Beth looked back at him." Why am I even doin' this?"

He sighed." Dawn assigns everyone jobs, if you do them right and the first time, you won't have any problems with her. You don't and you'll have problems." he cleared his throat." Consequences.."

Beth pushed open the double doors for him." Consequences? Even for you?"

He chuckled." No, I usually do what she tells me to do. She's been right more times than I'd like to count."

She nodded wearily as they neared an elevator shaft, nothing seemed to add up. Why was she here? What did they need her for? And why was Dawn this way?

"We throw them down the shaft, it's easier than taking our chances outside trying to burn them."

"They should have a proper burial." She commented as Doctor Edwards lifted the gurney, she watched the once young man fall down the shaft and her stomach lurched into her throat - suddenly wanting to hurl. She couldn't imagine the bodies that resided down there and she didn't even want to start, she looked back at Doctor Edwards who instead of looking remorseful, just gave Beth a sheepish smile. But it seemed like an act.

"I'm sure Dawn has more work for you." he said pulling the gurney away from the elevator." Better hurry."

...

Doctor Edwards was right she thought, Dawn had assigned her to laundry duty with a younger guy maybe about her age maybe a little older, his name was Noah. He was nice and had a great sense of humor, he even made a few jokes that made her smile despite the situation. She had hoped that he didn't feel obligated to do this, she didn't want special treatment.

While they'd been working Noah briefed her in on a little with what this place is and how long it's been up and running and what they do, she was having a hard time with this place before and even more so now.

As she folded some scrubs she wondered how she would even begin to tell Daryl about the baby or how she and he would explain to Maggie and the others, it was just something that happened in all of their anger and fighting. It happened and as soon as it happened there was a change, in both of them. They seemed happier and even relaxed, they were both able to accept the fact that their home was destroyed and that their family may or may not be gone and that there wasn't much they could do.

"So you're pregnant?" Noah finally asked.

She turned around - hair flinging from one side to the other." How'd you know that?"

He shrugged." Word gets around pretty fast...Least here it does."

Sighing with the last statement, Beth turned back to the scrubs that she just folded. Subconsciously she begun picking the lint or in her case lack of off the green material, it was something she did when she was nervous. This time she hoped it would just distract her from the fact that they all know her situation.

"You don't have to worry about me, I ain't like them."

Beth cracked a smile." You are funny.. Not like them."

He shook his head." No, no they aren't. Edwards joke's around sometimes, but the rest of them they don't do that."

"Why?"

"Cause they feel that if we all joke around and shoot the breeze, we're not doing our jobs we're slackers. And that's something Dawn doesn't approve of, she needs every job at least half way done before dinner time."

She swallowed as she folded a shirt, Noah turned back and continued ironing a pair of pants that she'd have to fold next. Joking seemed like a nod to the old world that Noah had down pat, it still puzzled her as to why they wouldn't allow it. Occasionally joking and relaxing would be a nice change to the atmosphere. Beth liked that Noah went out of his way to make other people laugh with a simple joke, not many people could do that.

"So are you from around here?"

"Richmond, actually."

She turned around leaning her hip against the metal table."What're you doin' here then?"

He shrugged and glanced down." They say they found me hurt and on the side of the road."He pulled up his leg revealing a large indent in his leg-a former gash."That was a year ago though."

"A year?" A year was too long. She didn't even want to be here over night. Fear crept over her that they'd try to keep her here like they did Noah, she feared that they'd try to keep her from leaving when she was able.

"Yeah, but time flies by. After a while you don't even know."

Beth turned around and took from the pile of scrubs, she was speechless. How could he be so accepting of where he was? Why was he so accepting of where he was? She could never accept it, and she wouldn't. How could she knowing that her family was still out there, knowing the last thing Daryl ever saw of her was her running through the kitchen after promising she'd never leave him.

Once she got out though, what tracking skills she did learn from Daryl she'd to her advantage. Granted she wasn't the greatest at it, but she knew what little she did know would definitely go a long way.

It would definitely be tough now that she is pregnant, she wouldn't have any medical treatment or vitamins. But she knew she'd be okay if she made sure that she ate, drank and slept when she was supposed to. Anything to get out of Grady.

"He doesn't even know."

"Who?" Noah asked.

Beth swallowed and looked down." Daryl.. About the baby."

"You didn't tell him?"

"No, I didn't even know I was pregnant." She placed the folded pants in the pant pile." I wasn't even havin' any symptoms, except bein' light headed. I just thought that was from not eating like I should have."

Noah placed his hand on Beth's shoulder, she turned around trying to force a smile.

"You'll be alright. You'll get outta here soon."

Wanting to ask how he knew such a thing, She looked back up at him as he stared down at her. She no sooner opened her mouth to speak when the door opened and Dawn walked in. Noah's hand slowly retracted from her shoulder, almost like they were caught doing something they shouldn't.

"Noah, out." She demanded.

He obliged and walked out giving Beth a slight nod before Dawn slammed the door shutting him out, Beth stiffened with her sudden outburst. What did they do? What did she do? She continued folding the shirt that was still in her hands, she told herself she was going to avoid Dawn's icy gaze so she didn't get too upset.

"Did Noah explain that while you're working, there is to be no speaking?"

She hoped the woman wasn't serious, but she remembered what Noah said." Talking makes time go by faster."

"I don't think you understand, Beth. This is not leisure time, this is a time to get things done." She stepped a bit closer to Beth." I don't think you realize what it took to save you and your baby, you almost died if it weren't for my men finding you."

"I didn't need any of your help. I was with someone."

Dawn stared at her and honestly Beth was on edge, she didn't seem like a stable person.

"We don't let anyone die here, we use all of what we have to save them. You and your baby were our priority, we needed to save you and we did...And now you owe us." She stormed out of the room slamming the door shut behind her.

Noah walked back inside a few minutes later, he was quiet oddly enough. He didn't speak to Beth but his presence made things feel calmer, Beth didn't speak to him either, what would they have to say? They decided quickly that it was right for both to just work together in silence until their shift was over.

"Ima give that mutt one more chance." Daryl said as he grabbed the jar of pigs feet.

Beth sighed a little not really wanting him to go or for that matter to stop their conversation, she watched as he stood up disappearing into the hallway. She looked down at her letter and began crumpling it up just as Daryl called out for her, she jumped to her feet and grabbed his crossbow.

"BETH!"

She hurried to the door frame and peered out, he stood there against the door holding it with all of his body weight while walkers tried to enter from the outside. She tossed him his crossbow and watched as he pushed off the door and hurried towards the basement stairs.

"Beth, get yer shit an' go out a window!" He yelled.

"I'm not gonna leave you!"

"Go up the road, I'll meet you!"

...

I hope you enjoyed. As I said It's very different, but I'm still going to take some of what I had and write it into this new and improved Secret.

Now I will explain myself a bit, The reason I deleted Secret is because I was having a very rough time in my personal life and I got some not so fun messages which at the time I took badly. But, as I went over Secret I realized that they were right. So in order to make up for deleting it, I re-wrote it but with a different story...Sorta kinda.

Anyways, I will ask for many reviews to wake up to because I do plan on continuing this story for a while and NO I won't delete this one. That's a promise! Reviews will definitely make me want to write more and quicker that I can assure you my lovelies :D

So please review away!

XoXo