"Can't get rid of me that easy, Daryl Dixon" she let out a short laugh and her smile quickly turned down as the tears finally escaped her eyes and she quickly took the remaining steps to him as he was frozen in place and wrapped her arms around his waist tightly sniffling on the leather of his vest, nails digging into the angel wings on the back holding him together. "I missed you" her words were muffled by his shirt but he heard them all the same. She felt real she felt alive and he dropped his crossbow and returned the embrace with all the strength left in him, hands gripping onto her as if she might vanish any second, crying into her tangled hair because she was okay.

Because she was never just another dead girl

Following the sound of a throat clearing Beth slowly pulled away from Daryl with a final sniff as she wiped the tears from her face tugging the sleeves of her sweater over her palms and breaking into a subtle smile, a pink blush forming on her cheeks. Daryl gathered his serious composure, drying his face with the back of his hand and quickly lowering his gaze away from their intrigued audience, picking up his forgotten crossbow and playing with its weight in his grip. "It's getting late Daryl we should probably head back," Aaron paused looking back and forth between Beth and Morgan, "That is of course if you two would like to come with us? To Alexandria"

Daryl replied without a second of hesitation, "Course they're comin'," and then lowering his voice a bit he added, "ain't lettin' ya outta my sight, Greene" He tilted his head a fraction to look into her kind round eyes, the same way he had that night in the funeral home when she had asked him what changed his mind and their unbroken eye contact had provoked a soft "oh", heavy with understanding and the hope of more time from Beth. Daryl broke the moment by flicking his gaze over at Morgan and back to her, asking for her approval. "He's one of the good ones" she confirmed with a curt nod. "Then it's settled" Aaron started, "Our community's about five miles out from here. We have shelter, food, water. Rick is there with everyone else"

"Everyone's okay? Maggie? Judith?" Beth looked at Daryl desperately "They're alright, but we lost Tyreese and Noah soon after…" He couldn't finish but it wouldn't have mattered because at the news of Noah's death Beth let out a small gasp, tears sparkling in her eyes and the group got silent. After a moment Beth pushed back the tears and her face went stiff, "It's gonna get dark soon."

"Better head off then" Morgan replied, as Aaron returned his gun to him

As they headed to the car they would take back to Alexandria, treading a bit behind Morgan and Aaron, Daryl and Beth walked in silence. Not wanting to push him too far, Beth took comfort in his close proximity and frequent side glances. It seemed like he was having to remind himself that she was really walking next to him. She took the quiet time to study his face. His skin was covered in grime, his grease ridden dark hair had grown to tickle the bottom of his cheekbones trailing out over his eyes in some places. The scruff on his chin longer than she had ever seen it, Daryl had seen better days.

However, the thing that stood out the most to her was how tired he looked, not only physically but emotionally as well, since the last time they were together something had worn him down and aged him, though she understood, she had changed too, from the scars that littered her face to the ones she bore inside, their time apart had irrevocably made them into different people. Though he attempted to conceal his vulnerable state with a stony expression there were cracks in the protective wall he was desperately trying to keep up that Beth could see through and she inched to her right a bit so that their arms were close enough to brush every now and then, in a way letting him know that she wasn't going anywhere and that she understood and it seemed to help him relax a bit. Still, regardless of the fact that he could feel the gentle contact their arms made as they walked, he continued to peek over at her every few minutes to remind himself she was real.

They headed back to Alexandria swiftly, Aaron and Morgan up front in the small car while Daryl sat in the back with Beth after making it clear he wasn't going to leave her side. He watched her as she leaned her head against the window, looking out. The setting sun was warming the skin of her face, highlighting the harsh scars that now marred her gentle features, the newest one a permanent reminder of the moment they almost lost her. She closed her eyes breathing deeply.

He wanted to ask her how she had survived when they had all thought she was dead. How she had found her way back to them but he couldn't get the words out. All he knew was that he had left her when she needed him the most. It was his fault she had to go through it all on her own, his fault she was ever in that hospital in the first place. If he had only paid more attention to the walkers right outside instead of throwing the door open unarmed like they weren't living in the world they were. Like everything could be safe and normal. Her delicate "oh" had made him forget. She had made him forget the dangerous damaged world on the outside of those walls. He shouldn't have let his guard down, but damn she made it easy. If he had only stayed by her side none of this would have happened. Daryl, clenching his jaw slightly, continued to mull over everything he should have done differently and as they reached the high standing walls of their home she boldly reached out as she had once before, when they had found that gravestone reminding her of the father she had lost, and laced her fingers in his. Daryl looked from their interlaced fingers to her face, her eyes full of cautious hope and nervousness for what lay beyond those walls and the people she hadn't seen for a long time. He gave her hand a squeeze as he looked out his window.

Their hands separated as they got out of the car but not a moment later Daryl briefly laid his hand gently on her spine just beneath her shoulder blades leading her towards the tall barriers of Alexandria. "Got a lotta people that'll be wantin' ta see ya" Beth hummed in response staring up at the entrance to her new home.

This one didn't flow out at smoothly as the first but I hope it didn't come off that way.

Thanks for reading and following and reviewing I love you all! Wasn't going to continue this fic but you all changed my mind, just like Beth changed Daryl's. PLEASE continue to review and tell me what you think even if all you can say is that you hate it and why so I can better this story. Reviews are like virtual serious piggybacks. Okay I'll stop now.