Thanks to everyone who followed/favorited/reviewed my first chapter! I really appreciate it! Just a side note that I'll probably switch back and forth between Beth and Daryl's POV, so heads up for that! Hope y'all enjoy! :)
Beth stepped carefully out of the car, leaning into Daryl for support. She still felt dizzy from her earlier fall.
Everyone in front of the church stopped what they were doing and looked in her direction. Beth couldn't believe it; her group had somehow found each other again. Carl stood next to Michonne, baby Judith held tightly in his arms. Glenn and Maggie stood among several people Beth didn't recognize, but who all looked as happy to see her as if they'd known her their whole lives.
She felt her emotions welling up inside her, threatening to overwhelm her. Tears fell hot and wet down her face as her sister ran to her. Beth stepped away from Daryl, reaching out her uninjured arm to wrap Maggie in a tight embrace. Maggie was sobbing into Beth's right shoulder as Glenn came up and wrapped both sisters in a hug.
Everyone else came forward then to welcome her back or, in the newcomers' case, introduce themselves.
Beth couldn't stop smiling. She had held out hope that her family had all made it out of the prison alive. She had even believed that maybe they could somehow find each other again. But when she woke up in that hospital, she accepted that she may never be part of that equation. This was more than she could have ever hoped for.
Maggie ushered Beth inside, insisting that she and Carol both needed a bite to eat and to relax.
As she enjoyed a can of apple pie filling, she listened to everything that had happened to the group since the prison. Beth's stomach turned when she heard about what the Terminus people did to those they captured, which unfortunately included Bob. She looked to Sasha and saw the grief that filled her face at the mention of Bob; she felt terrible for her. She had found someone who made her happy in this bleak and terrible world only to have him snatched away from her in an instant. And not even by walkers. . . by people.
She silently looked to Daryl then. She could see why he found it hard to believe there were still good people out there.
He couldn't sleep. Beth and Carol were back safe and sound, the whole group together again, and yet Daryl could not relax enough to fall asleep.
Instead he offered to relieve Michonne from her watch.
The night was quiet and the moon was full, casting a faint glow on the steps of the church. It reminded him of his and Beth's night at the moonshiner's cabin. She had told him that she'd be gone someday. That he'd miss her so bad when she was gone. His chest tightened uncomfortably at the thought.
If that bullet had strayed to the left any, Beth might not be with them tonight. He did miss her when she was gone, but he couldn't fathom how much worse it'd be if she had been killed.
As if she knew he had been thinking about her, Beth appeared behind him on the porch, easing the large church doors shut behind her.
"Hey." Beth sat down so close to him their knees were touching.
"Couldn't sleep?"
"Nope, kinda restless. Plus I think my bandages need changin'. You mind?" She asked, holding out some gauze she'd brought with her.
Daryl nodded, setting his crossbow aside and taking the gauze from her. Beth flashed him a smile before slipping her entire arm out of her sleeve.
Daryl felt his face warm up at the sight of her exposed shoulder; except for the stitches, her skin was smooth and perfect. He felt an incredible urge to reach down and kiss the spot where shoulder met neck. He quickly shook the thought away though, internally scolding himself for even thinkin' something like that while Beth sat there, injured.
She raised her eyebrows in question at Daryl's hesitation. He cleared his throat and set to work wrapping her shoulder up.
"Thanks." she murmured as he helped her ease her arm back into her sleeve.
"Mmhmm."
They fell into a comfortable silence. Beth scooted in closer to Daryl and rested her head on his shoulder. He'd always been uncomfortable with physical affection of any kind; hell, he never got any when he was a kid. But with Beth it felt so natural.
He rested his head on top of hers, letting out a heavy sigh. She weaved her fingers through his, running her thumb idly up and down the back of his hand.
"You were right." he whispered suddenly.
Beth raised her head to look at him. "Bout what?"
Daryl never was good with words. He usually let his actions speak for him, or avoided expressing his emotions altogether. But he could've lost Beth today and he knew he'd regret it if he didn't let her know what he was thinking right then.
"I missed you when you were gone. I missed you real bad."
He lowered his eyes, unable to look at her directly as he said it. She placed her hand under his chin and gently tilted his head up so that he would look at her. Her eyes were bright and she was smiling.
"I missed you too Daryl Dixon." she whispered as she leaned in, gently pressing her lips to his.
