Beth sat there on her cot, her makeshift bed that was once for two. Daryl, her only real love, had once shared this bed with her. Took a lot of convincing to get him to be able to lay down with her, but once he had... She could never regret it. Now, even after everything, she couldn't let herself regret it. She gave him her everything, but like life, it was taken. She remembered the night so well, the night her world altered in this shit of a world.

***A Month Earlier***

Maggie had come to bring Judith to Beth, but decided to have some girl time. Beth had missed Maggie, she hadn't gotten to see her much these past few days. They'd see each other in the kitchen for a moment before Maggie left to go on a run or Beth was watching Judith. When Maggie sat down on the bed as Beth held little Judith to her, Beth couldn't deny she was surprised.

"How are you and Daryl doing," Maggie asked and Beth looked down at the baby in her arms.

"We're great," Beth chuckled, "He's on watch until sundown tonight."

"I still can't believe it," her sister said, and Beth looked up at her with her doe eyes, "You and Daryl being a thing... He's a little old, isn't he?"

"He's older," Beth agreed, "But I really do love him, Maggie... I think he might love me too. I know it might sound crazy, but he's the one for me. If I don't get to have Daryl, I wouldn't want anyone else. He might seem shy, mean, and rude to you guys... but he's so gentle, kind, caring, and loving to me. I just can't picture myself without him."

"It's serious, huh," Maggie asked with a smile and Beth returned it.

"Yeah," Beth sighed, happily, "Very much."

When Maggie left, Beth was waiting for him, waiting until he finally got off watch to join her in their room. Butterflies had been sent through her stomach each time he came to mind. She loved him, more than anyone else. She knew everything he done for their group, he kept them fed, sheltered, and most of all, protected. She couldn't pin point the moment she knew Daryl Dixon was her one and only, she couldn't even understand it, but she would never question why she loved this rough tracker. Beth held Judith, the baby she was raising as her own, when Daryl walked to the door of their cell and stopped. She didn't ask him why he hadn't come all the way in, she just kept humming softly to the baby in her arms until finally she fell asleep. Beth got up and laid Judith in the box, which was being used as a makeshift bed.

"Hey," Beth whispered cheerfully when she turned to her man, but he didn't make eye contact with her, "What's wrong Daryl?"

"We can't be doin' this," he said in his gruff voice, but the statement confused Beth.

"What are you talking about," she asked, taking a shaky step towards him.

"I can't do this with you anymore girl," he said harshly, but Beth didn't want to believe it... She couldn't believe it.

"What do you mean, you can't do this anymore," she asks, tears threatening to spill over.

"I don't want to be with you anymore," he growls loudly, "What the hell don't you get, girl? Are you really that dumb?"

"I thought," her voice breaks, "I thought you loved me."

"I don't," he says, but without him looking at her, she couldn't believe his words, "I don't love you. I never did and never will."

"Fine," she says, focusing on the ceiling to keep the tears from falling, she shook her head in disbelief, "Just go then Daryl. If I mean nothing to you, just stay away from me... I can't, I don't want to look at you anymore... You're gonna miss me so bad when I'm gone, Daryl Dixon... Just remember that."

She waited until she heard his soft footsteps leave the doorway. She didn't want to cry in front of him, she didn't want him to know how weak she really was. She grabbed a pillow from her bed and through it against the wall, before she too fell to the ground. She hated the power Daryl Dixon had over her, she wanted to just run into a hoard of walkers without anything to protect her... She just wanted her life to either end or be easier.

***Present Day***

When Beth finally decided to go into the huge kitchen area for breakfast, she saw Maggie and her dad sitting at a table across from Rick and Glenn. She took hesitant steps to join them, watching their concerned faces as they continued the conversation. Maggie was the first to look over her shoulder at Beth, before moving over to let her sit between her and their dad.

"Hey Bethy," Maggie said in her southern drawl, "Ya hungry?"

"Famished," Beth laughed as Maggie passed her over her half-eaten plate, "Thanks... What were you guys talking about?"

Everyone looked at one another with worried expressions, letting Beth know it wasn't a what, but rather a who. They were all tip toeing over Beth when it came to Daryl, but she didn't understand why because it wasn't like she was crying all the time anymore. Finally, Rick cleared his throat and Beth looked at him with her doe eyes.

"We were talking about finding Daryl and Carol in the watch tower this morning," Rick stated and Beth nodded before looking around the room, but she couldn't find the hunter, "He's having to rest."

"I'm sure," Glenn said in his cheerful voice, "After the night him and Carol had, I'm surprised she was able to fix this breakfast... Sorry Beth."

"It's fine," she shrugs, but she felt trapped by all their eyes on her, "I forgot something back in my room... I'll see you guys later."

Before they can say another word to convince Beth to stay, she was already up and making her exit. She kept her head down as she walked, trying to hide the tears. She didn't want anyone knowing Daryl could still break her heart, but she always had a challenging time hearing his name. Suddenly, something hit her and before she could even look up to apologize, she heard the voice that haunted her dreams.

"Watch it girl," Daryl growled lowly before she looked up at his tired face.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, and she noticed that he must have come out of Carol's room, which didn't help matters.

"What's with the tears," he asks in a soft tone that reminded her of the late nights from when they were together.

"Oh, it's nothing," she said hurriedly before looking back at Carol's cell, "So... You and Carol?"

"It's not," he begins, but she cut him off before he could finish, she knew he was going to tell it wasn't her business.

"I'm happy for you," she lies, "I just want you to be happy... Even if it's not with me. That's all I've ever wanted for you and if she makes you happy... Well, she's lucky."

Beth knew she made him a little uncomfortable by him shifting from one foot to the other. Beth had always worn her heart on her sleeve, not even the dead walking the earth could change that. She looked over at Carol's cell once more, imagining how happy she was making Daryl. Beth finally looked back up at Daryl through tear filled eyes.

"Goodbye, Daryl," she whispered in a shaky voice as she stood up on her tip toes and kissed his cheek.

She scurried away as quickly as she could with a hand over her mouth to hold back the sobs. Once she was on the first step, she turned to see Daryl watching her. She knew that her eyes were lying to her, but she would have sworn that he had his own tears in his eyes. After a moment of just watching her, Daryl turned his back and walked away which only hurt Beth more.

"Who am I to stand in your way," she whispered softly, but she knew Daryl would never hear her, "I can't... I won't be that girl."

Beth ran up the stairs and done the exact thing her mind went to. She searched her room for a pin and piece of paper before she began writing a note. She couldn't let herself become breakable, she had to be shatterproof. So, that's exactly what she was going to do. Once she finished writing her letter, she read over it carefully, making sure she didn't leave anything out. Once the letter seemed to be perfect, she began picking out everything to take with her before she made her way towards the prison yard. She searched the area, seeing only a small woman at the top of the guard tower, but Beth managed to sneak past her and run to the nearest woods.

"Here I go," she whispered to herself as she ran.

A/N: I was inspired by two different songs when writing this, "Who Am I to Stand in Your Way" by Chestersee and "I Don't Want to See You with Her" by Maria Mena. Just in case you guys wanted to listen to these amazing songs while you're reading. Thank you guys so much for reading this, I love you all.

xo hannahagee01