It was exactly like the first time she escaped. The sun was too bright for her eyes but she didn't care. It felt good to have too much sun in her eyes. A few words from an old folk song came back to her. I wish that sunlight was burning in my eyes...instead of shades black faces of the sky… Another 45 miles to go. Another 45 miles to go before I'm home. She was going home. It was real. But this time, she wasn't running alone. She wasn't going home because she was going back to her farm house. She was going home because she was running away with her family.

She saw Carol in the hospital. That was her first sign that she wasn't going mad and imagined her life before Grady.

Noah? Was it possible? How did they cross paths? Destiny, probably…It couldn't be anything else. It was strange, yet it seemed natural to see him there, in the middle of the whole bunch. It was like he found his family too.

And Rick. The reassuring father figure. Maybe then Judith was alive. And Carl. Otherwise, she didn't think Rick could have been able to be standing there, alive, helping others. Again.

Ty was there too. He looked older. Stronger. And his sister, always by his side. She looked…not tired, no. It was more than that. Overwhelmed. Like a ghost. Beth promised herself she would take a moment with her to ask what went wrong.

And of course Daryl was there. She wasn't surprised to see him at all. Of course he got out of there alive. Of course he found them. Of course he found her. Not for one second she thought maybe he had given up on her. She had to find the time and place to show him how thankful she was.

What she didn't hope was to see her entire family. Anyone who could possibly be alive. Once they were outside, they were all there. Carl, Judith, Glenn…and Maggie. She saw her sister drop her weapon and fall on her knees. It was too much for her. Beth was the one with more strength, she was the one who had had at least one meal in the last 24 hours. She even found the strength to run to her. She got down on her knees too and the two reunited sisters embraced with all the energy they had left. The group gathered around them. The only persons who weren't crying were people whose faces Beth couldn't recognise. New people. And Daryl. Cause he wasn't one to cry a lot. But she caught a glimpse of his face and could see that he was holding something.

They all left together, except for Noah. He wanted to go on his own. Find his family. He wanted to help first, before leaving, he told Beth. Now that she was out too, and that Dawn was dead, he could go in peace. Beth gave him a hug.

"You saved my life. You simply, literally, saved my life."

"And you saved mine."

"We can go with you, and protect you, while you look for your family. You don't have to do this alone."

"I want to. I have to. If I ever find them dead…it's something I have to do on my own. "

"I understand."

"Good luck, Beth. You'll make it."

"We both will."

Then Rick approached them.

"We're heading East. For the coast. Just in case…you change your mind. Stay off the main roads. "

They could start hearing walkers growling. Daryl, who stayed close to them the whole time, quickly brushed her arm, almost didn't touch her at all.

"Com'on."

One group could fit in the fire truck and the others in two other cars. They were supposed to go to Washington, D. C. That was the plan at first, she heard. Wherever, it didn't matter to her right now. She only wanted to be surrounded with nice and trusting people. She felt safe. Finally. For the first time since that night at the funeral home.

...

AN: This is my 1st fanfic ever. English not my 1st language. Please be indulgent ;) Thx for your reviews. Go bethyl! Love to ship them and always will.

The song Beth is referring to is Another 45 miles by Golden Earring.